The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-07-04

4 uupslcdslO4t3 DOtQ IN lne case or pup
lie and private institutions, but so far
little actual consolidation on the part
OF state institutions has taken place.
What the McNab Telegram Reveals.
Council Bluffs Nonpareil: The tele-
gram of District Attorney McNab to
President Wilson accusing the at
Itorney general of the United States
with favoring men accused of violat-
ing the federal white slave act, re-
yeals some interesting facts in this
as in other directions.
There is always in this connection
some disposition to reach conclusions
hastily. Already, in the minds of
many well meaning people, Mercy
lnoids is guilty of wrong doing A
good deal of evidence sustaining this
view is coming rapidly to the surface
lin California where McNab seems to
stand very high. But this conclusion
| is not yet warranted. Good men fire.
lquently make mistakes. Good men
are frequently deceived and misled.
This may be the case with McReynolds.
Possibly. too. McNab acted too hast
lily. A sound conclusion is not ros-
lsible in the case until all the facts
are made public AT present there is
| little to warrant the conclusion that
McReynolds acted on other than the
best of motives.
Among other revelations In this
connection is the fact that this is a
democratic country McReynolds or
dered prosecution of these cases to be
held up. McNab, a subordinate, APP
pealed to the President over his SUI
perior officer and indirectly over the
Presidents head to the people This
lis permissible in this country. The
case now is before the people as a
jury, JUST as was Ballinger's case
when he }xas trying to discipline his
own srbdfdinates. There can be lit
tie absolutism in our administration of
public affairs. II McReynolds is right
+ he will be sustained; If he is wrong
he will be condemned and McNah sus-
tanned. In the final analysis the poo
pie will rule. Public officials cannot
hank much on vested authority They
must rely on the Justice of their acts.
1t has been demonstrated in this
connection, too, that the people are
keenly alert to any evidence of dere-
LECTION on the part of public officials.
They are demanding at this time
that their service shall be like
Caesars wife-aboye suspicion. 1t
may be said in this connection that
the people are becoming over sensi-
tive, that their minds are too much
1 filed with suspicion. But this con-
clusion is scarcely warranted There
lis much chicanery In the country
There is much white slave traffic in
the land. Such corporations as the
Standard Oil have ridden down OPP
Iponents with such ruthIessness and
defied and defeated efforts of states
and courts and even the federal gov
eminent to curb and control them
with such power and effect that pat
riotic citizens are saying to each 9TH
er: Where is this thing going to
lead? Where will 1t end? This is
mot suspicion; it is fear-fear for the
welfare of the state And fear of
the right sort is the beginning of
wisdom.
/ The stability of our government lies
in the character of our people. This
character Is assaulted and its very
life threatened by the presence and
acts OF people who are governed only
by their passions-tfe basis of white
slave and kindred traffic. 1t is like
wise assailed from another angle by
those who, to satisfy their greed for
!. wealth, would break down the govern
ment itself or prostitute it to their
own ends. The people are simply be-
coming keener sensed to the dangers
which threaten from both these direc-
lions. And because of this sharpened
sense there is demand for higher char
acter In public service II we cannot
trust our public servants, where shall
we turn? If men elected and paid to
, represent the state fail us, how shall
the state be saved and perpetuated?
There are probably few, if any,
men In the country more keenly alive
to their sense OF responsibility In this
line than President Wilson. Whatever
may happen in this case, confidence in
his integrity of purpose will scarcely
be questioned. McReynolds, too,
should not be too harshly or quickly
judged. But If it develops that Nc
Nab was right and McReynolds mis-
; taken, the former should be recalled
to the service In which he sacrificed
his political position rather than fail
In his sworn duty. even through orders
of his superior.
Few people believe President Taft
was wrong In purpose in sustain
ing Ballinger as he did He did his
duty as he saw it-sustained his sec
rotary for disciplinary reasons in a
work which the people wholly disap-
pr(,Ved Taft in this manner made q