The Southern herald., 1913-08-22
GRAFT IN GERMANY
Claim Made That There Is but
Little Of It There.
City Officials Are ExempIary-Reason
for CommotIon Caused by the
Krupp ReVelatlons--Vlews Of
Well-Known Journalist.

Berlin, Germany-The wave of dis
pleasure among Germans which fol-
lowed the Krupp revelations in the
reichstag was due more to the innate
adherence of corruption than to the
Importance OF the revelations them
selves. Long and stinging editorials
have been written pointing to the in
eliminating fact that Krupp's Berlin
agent was paid salary Of $2,5O0 a
year, with an expense account OF
$3.50, and 1t has been considered suf-
fcient cause for YSrJ aurtu 1o->~AEnia-
tions to know that some subalterns
have received Christmas presents OF
SIS. To an American, these sums are
beneath notice and smack of scan
dal, hpneath the county commissioners
of some forgotten countryside.
"a German official would rather
commit murder or blow safes than to
hold out his hand in an official ca
pacity," said a well-known German
journalist-who writes "agin the gov
ernment"-in explaining what seemed
q phenomenal disturbance over a very
small matter. There may be more
behind the Krupp affair than the pub
lie knows. Personally, l have little
doubt that If the whole truth were
known some would be implicated who
hold titles Of considerable more i'm
portance than subalterns. But that
there has been, as you call 1t, petty
graft is enough for the Germans. The
inside story Of the Krupp affair will
never be known, but the general pub
lie does not even need to suspect 1t to
feel outraged"
But you have vice in Berlin, and 1t
is more open than in Paris, If that is
possible" was suggested to him.
You think that is prima facie evi-
dence of corruption" he asked. "Ab-
solutely impossible Ausgeschlossen!
In Germany 1t is an honor to be an
official. City administrators are chos-
en- for their ability, and the man who
was convicted Of dishonesty would
be a pariah. The mayor OF Berlin
believes in restricted vice. He says
the tourists want it, and SO he salts
fies the want. And he believes that
it is easier to control If 1t runs open.
ly. Consequently one of the most
immoral of European amusement pal.
aces is openly conducted on a princi-
pal downtown street, and advertises
in all theatrical journals and on the
pillars. But that there is money in
1t for the officials! You don't under
stand us.
"Of course, now and then a mem
Der Of the morals police will hold
out his hand. That ia to be expected
They have thousands of women un
der control, and large force is need
ed to watch them. But graft as you
understand the world" And h'
laughed uproariously. Then he wen
on to explain.
when large German city loses iti
mayor 1t is Is though some grea
manufacturing enterprise had lost iti
chief engineer, There is immediate
response. Municipal experts ali eve
the nation who have had experienc,
apply for the vacancy. It doesn'
matter If the applicant is resident o
the city or not. He may have made
surprisingly good record as mayor o
some smaller city, or he may hav
been assistant to the last mayor. An
when he is elected it is on his rec
l ord and not for his party alliances
) Party hasn't anything to do with Il
. That hits off the ideal OF oficialdor
in Germany.
+ THE great crying need in German
| now is self-government, and the grea
i est obstacle in the way Of 1t Is goo
government. II It were not for th