The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-10-23
SULZER'S CONVICTION.

ed to do
He was convicted by the Court of
lmpeachment not for what he had
refused to do but for what he had
done.
1t is a just verdict.
Whatever differences of opinion
there may be about certain intricate
questions of law, there can be no
substantial differences of opinion
about the facts in the case.
MIR. Sulzer as candidate for gov
ernor collected in secret large sums
Of money which he diverted to his
private use. He knowingly sWore to
a false statement OF his campaign
contributions, he nulllfied the Cor
rupt Practices law of the state. and
as governor he used his influence and
power to smother the proof of his
transgreSsiOns.
Not only are the facts fully estab-
lished, but when Mr.. SulZer refused
to take the witness stand to meet
the charges against his personal and
Off cial honesty he confessed his guilt
and invited his removal from office.
Had the people of New York
known that Mr.. Sulzer was taking
thousands of dollars from Ryan,
from the attorney of the great tele-
graph and telephone interests, from
Wall street bankers, from brewers
and corporation lawyers, to use in
Wall street speculation; had they
known he was going up and down
New York like political street
walker, soliciting money from every
body he met, he would never have
been elected to the great office that
he has disgraced. When the Court
of Impeachment removes him it will
have recalled a governor who never
could have been governor had the
voters of his state known the truth
about his campaign methods and his
campaign practices.
Mr. Suffers moral unfitness for
the office of governor was established
before the assembly impeached him.
His legal unfitness is now establish
ed by the Court of mpeachment af-
ter a full and fair trial When the
court completes its work nothing Of
him will remain to veX the governor
ship of New York except the contin-
uing shame and humiliation in which
he has involved the state.
While we regard it as unfortunate
that the judges of the Court of APP
peals should have divided on the
question of Mr.. Suffers legal guilt,
there was practically no division of
opinion about his moral guilt. Much
as we respect the learning and char
acter of the great judges who were
unwilling to broaden the causes of
impeachment to acts committed by
a candidate, we regard the new pre-
cedent as sound and wholesome. This
country needs more mpeachments,
not fewer mpeachments, and II the
power is ciTcumScribed as some OF
these excellent judges sought to cir
cumscribe it, the restriction would
make for corruption in government,
not for purity Of government.
If the broader powers of impeach-
ment are ever abuse, it is for the
people to deal with that offense, it
is for the people to deal with the
motives of Suffers accusers, while
the Court of Impeachment did not
and could not take into account.
The Court of Impeachment has
dealt with William Sulzer wisely,
Justly and properly. 1t now remains
for the people of New York to deal
with Murphy as the court has dealt
with Sulzer; for Suffers conviction
only strengthens the case against the
host who destroyed him.
In Suffers downfall the people of
New York have concrete illustra-
ton Of the fate that overtakes Tam
office holders when they Wav-
CT in their subserviency to Tammany
and to Tammany's boss. Had Sui
yer continued to take orders from
Murphy he would never have been
impeached. Had the corruption and
scandal of his campaign-fund exploits
become public, Tammany would have |
protected him. Had charges been ,
preferred against him, Murphy would !
have "vindicated' him, as Murphy !
'vindicated" StilWell, who is now in !,
Sing Sing.
The rogues who turned the light
upon William Suffers secret record
If corruption would not have cared
he stole $4,000 Of $780, +!
100 in campaign funds, provided he
obeyed orders and gave them the ac-
cess to the state treasury that they
He could have had every
lar as they were concerned, If he had
governor in name and al
Owed Murphy to be governor in fact.
1t was only when he rebelled that
hey dragged him from his high Of |
ice to merited shame and disgrace. |
IMeir motives do not excuse Sui /
,er, but Suffers conviction makes |
heir infamy only the blacker. He ,
alone has been punished. They are
still sleek and snug and powerful, !
with the state government at their !
feet and their hands reaching forth !
70 the city government, a veritable !
empire in contracts, graft and plum |
der.
1t is their turn next. If New York
is fit for elf-government, if it is fit
FOR liberty and justice, the wrath of
an outraged people will never be
auenched until the political corpse of
Tammany is likewise hanging upon
a gibbet of shame.-New York
World.
Without hesitancy Col. Roosevelt
III