The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-12-15
10 GRAFT IN
| OLD ENGLAND
libel Laws Are so Strict That News
papers Are Afraid to Speak
Out on Certain
Topics.
fHE MARCoNI SCANDAL
Wireless Contract for Twenty Years
Seems to Have Been Manipulat-
ed for the Benefit of
Somebody.

by Ed. L. Keen. London correspon-
dent of the United Press.l
LONDON, Dec. 14.-It has long
cen the proud boast of Englishmen
hat their parliament is absolutely
rec from graft.
Although rival politicians have
ometimes accused each other-wftn
ntire truth-of using their official
ositions to annex relatives an0
iends to the government payroll,
one has gone so far as to intimate
hat the minister or legislator con-
erned was profiting personally by
UGH manifestations of favoritism.
lso, it has frequently been alleged
hat legislation favoring big business
hterests has been put on the statute
t. ooks, but there has been no public
ccusation Of personal corruption.
In fact, SO firmly intrenched has be-
pine the belief in the general integ-
bty Of the men who guide the poll
> les Of the government and make its
Lws, that it is considered very repre-
= ensible journalism for newspaper
hereby to suggest the existence OF
rookedness in these sacred quarters.
wen the most sensational journals
re exceedingly shy of making such
Illusions. OF course, the severity OF
he English libel laws may be partial
responsible for this attitude.
But several incidents recently come
light have had a tendency to shake
he wonted eomplaeency of the aver
&c Britisher. At least they have
hused him to do a lot of thinking
nd he is beginning to regard 1t as
ute possible for even members OF
lie most incorruptible ministry to
Jake mistakes of Judgment. if moth
pg worse. The Marconi contrac,
eandal and the conduct of the India
ffice since the advent of Il. Scott
ontagl as under secretary are cases
point.
With regard to the first instance
has been suggested that the Mar
PM Company owed its 20 years ex
usive wireless contract with the
british government solely to the fact
bat Managing Director Godfrey
eaacs was brother OF Attorney Gen
ral Isaacs, and it was even limited
pat he Attorney General and Post
baster General Herbert Samuel anc
haneellor of the Exchequer DAVE
lloyd George had used their inside
FORMATION about the company's
nance Of getting the contract, tc
fade profitably in Marconi stock.
These things have been publicl.
bid vigorously denied by the minis
ers concerned and as they are mer
unblenished reputation their de
ials have been readily accepted BY
ven their worst political foes. Bu'
Fbile the ministers probably did no
bake or seek to make personal pro
out OF the transaction, the inquiry
parliamentary committee which
hey courted has already produced
overall remarkable disclosures in 9th
directions. 1t is indicated pretty
lainly that although the government
as supposed to have considered 9th
tenders, the Marconi company was
T. be only one that had any real chance
Fom the start For instance, ST
lexander King, secretary TO the post
ffice department, admitted that ad
biralty. war office and postofflce ex
erts who examined the Poulsen sys
I'm reported that it was as good ae
I'D would be about s150,000 cheape
ban, the Marconi system. Yet thl
eport was never submitted to tn
hperial wireless committee whicl
as arranging the Marconi deal. TIL
easury, which had to put up tn
oney and the postoffice department
Self never saw the report.
This does not incriminate the mir
tiers nor show anything more thai
Diligence on the part OF their sui
ldiates. but the connection of Posl
aster General Samuel with the dea
{ build not fail to cause comment. San
is probably perfectly honest pei
pnally but he is a member OF tn
mous Samuel or Montagu family Q
panciers and the Samuels are loon
b very large in politics right now.
When reminded OF the pt
hancial houses which contre
Pyernments one naturally ma
mind first of the Roth'
Ids, as regards England. But ther
{ |e others. The Lubbocks Of whoI