The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-05-14

perS on opposing SIDES accuse the RI
val political leaders with using their
authority to shield the offenders.
The greatest indignation, however,
has been aroused by the revelations
in the Dominion parliament concern
ing the war supplies scandal, in which
Irregularities have been discovered in
the sale of drugs to the military, the
purchase of boots for the soldiers and
binoculars for the officers; and it is
said that old and useless horses were
purchased for the Canadian contin-
gent. At the final session of the Do
minion parliament the premier, Sir
Robert Borden, dealt very faithfully
and candidly with the charges and ex-
coriated two members of parliament,
both of his own party, for their con-
nection with the scandals. In the
course of his speech he promised a
thorough investigation of all charges,
and declared that the responsibility
should be fixed and, as reported in the
AOhtTedl Stdf, continued.
II want to say, so far as those men
are concerned, two things: First, IL
the laws of this country permit the
courts of justice to enforce restitution
against them, restitution will be en-
forced secondly, if the laws of this
country permit the walls of the peni-
tertiary to encircle these men, they
will go there"
The premier's stand has received the
cordial approval of the whole country,
regardless of political differences. The
London (Ontl Free Press remarks:
THE premier sets a standard of
public honesty that will give encour-
agement to the people of Canada to
believe that the reign of graft in this
country is at an end. They may at
least be assured that, so far as the
government of Sir Robert Borden is
concerned, the CRATER takes his per-
sonal liberty in his hands"
The Hamilton Spectator thinks:
"Sir Robert Borden has done just
what he was expected to do just
what the Conservative party wanted
him to do-just what his own chival-
rous nature impelled him to do He
has cleared the government of any
completely with the wrong-doing,
which has been revealed in connection
with war-contracts. and he has re-
pudiated two members of parliament
of his own party, whose connection
with such wrong-doing has apparently
been too intimate"
The sentiment of approval is equal
ly strong among the political oppo-
nents of the premier, as, for example,
this extract from the Toronto Globe
shows:
Even the war-graft and wasteful-
ness uncovered during the present
session of parliament may react in
something not altogether damning to
Canadian life If the straightforward
and uncompromising declarations of
Sir Wilfrid Laurier and of Sir Robert
Borden are made the dominent note in
Canadian politics. Let us all. Lib
erals and Conservatives together, clean
up Canadian politics..
How strong feeling has been rous-
ed among the people can be judged
from the opinions expressed by the
Montreal Star:
"A CRATER at any time is a thief
and traitor. But he becomes a
double traitor and an alder and abet-
tor of his country's enemies and
potential assassin of the brave lads
who have gone out to fight his battles
for him, when his graft takes the
form of reducing the quality of his
equipment in which these lads are to
face the Germans. When he steals in
such a way as to make it possible that
the poorer article supplied may result
In exposing our soldiers to greater
danger or more bitter hardship, he
might as we'll steal the cartridges from
their pouches as they go into action
and, for such men, the penitentiary is
too good"
The government has taken steps to
prevent the recurrence of unfortunate
incidents" by confiding the purchase
Of supplies for the Canadian troops to
a commission of three, composed of a
government official of high rank and
two practical business men of long ex-
perience.
Meanwhile the Ottawa Evening Citi-
zen considers that the hue and cry is
raised largely for political effect, and
thus laments the conditions of Canad-
ian public life:
Politics in Canada just now are in
peculiar, if not pathetic, condition
Briefly, each side is shouting Thief"
at the other That in truth, seems to