Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-27
Two pIo%ur.,-Look at Thorn!

Two Pioturss-look At Thorn!
Charles A. White: A country boy
born and bred. without much educa-
ton, yet with . mind that strove to
think; disposition cropping vaguely
about for opportunity. Not much real
character, but with latent capabilities
of development. The biggest thing on
his narrow horizon was the little Ia
Dor world in southern Illinois. He got
into it-besame an active labor man.
Labor means professional politics. and
professional politics led him to Spring
field.
It was a great day for him. no doubt
when he took the oath OF office. An
ambitious dream had been realized
Doubtless, according to his lights, he
was filled with zeal for the public SER
vice. He felt his horizon broadened,
his opportunities growing. Plastic. In
experienced he fell under the control
Of ADLER minds into the hands Of Lee
O'Neil Browne. F1attered, he did not
hesitate to stand for everything the po
litical leaders stood for. Crumbs fell
from their tables and he took them
eagerly.
Possibly he didn't realize what was
he was still true to the interests of
those who had sent him there. But
step by step he was learning the les
son OF political debauchery. Day by
day he was being trained as a tool for
those to whom public service means
private gain. The training was thor
ough. Today all the world knows what
came OF the instruction that he got
there and of the examples that he fol-
lowed.
AS the original "squealer" in the
Lorimer case be attained a national
notoriety. He was fattered by 1t and
thought 1t eminence. He chung to his
rather pitiful story that he had ac-
cepted the bride in order to make an
exposure OF corruption; some Of his
country boys scruples even then re-
NAMED And thruout the whole Lori
mer affair he stood to his guns man.
fully. He had q certain pluck and per-
sistency; he refused to be inundated.
Look at Charles A. White today! A
broken, ruined man; man without a
job and without the prospect OF one.
He IL a.iathema to the politicians who
once befriended him. No more letters
about music and flowers" such as he
once received from a leading patron.
The flowers are withered by want and
the music Is stilled by the constant
evidence Of public contempt A pitiful
picture: and all not because he did
wrong, but because he "squealed' after
he did IT.
Lee O'Neil Browne: A lawyer
shrewd. cunning and experienced: q
because OF his afYability and sauvity.
No cropping about for opportunity with
him, but the eye to see, the will to
seize and the mind to create it. Skilled
in politics OF a certain sort: the type
Of man to which those who want
things" in the legislature instinctirely
turn; the incarnation Of partisanship at
elections and bipartfsanship in the leg.
isiature.
Surprised the public saw him en-
tangled in the legal meshes OF the Lor-
liner case. Surprised principally be-
cause he was thought to be too shrewd
a lawyer to give even grounds for an
Indictment His activities in behalf OF
Lorimer had been a thousand times
greater than those OF White. But what
Of that? He wasn't mere labor legis-
! lator like White. He was the leader
Of the democratic party In the house
and the friend and familiar of large
section of the opposition party.
He was tried, nevertheless. On the
stand he carried Off the part Of the
lofty. injured, innocent defendant
bounded by wicked adversares. 1t was
humorous spectacle-that OF this
skilled politician and shrewd attorney
being defended by men not so skillful
and shrewd as he. The Jury acquitted
him. but not until his name had become
as familiar turnout the country as that
OF Charles A. White. the man whose
revelations had opened up the whole
, affair.
Look at Lee o'Neil Browne now! Re
turned by his constituency. back to the
| legislature leader not only OF his own
| party but OF a number OF recalcitrant
republicans! He isn't looking for
work: he isn't suffering apparently
from general contempt. Still a prorni :
nent lawyer. still one OF the leading
| lawmakers OF the commonwealth, still
| man OF influence with his fellows. A
| candidate even for the highest place In
the legislative body to which he be-
lonYs-a seriously considered candi-
date.
The Lee O'Neil Browne OF Ave years
ago. The juggernaut that has passed
over Charles A. White has not even
ruffled Brownies serenity. When one
reads the reports from Springfield !,
! seems as II the whole Lorinner AFFAIR
must have been piece OF fction-not
a ghastly fact. Two men were grind
ing at the mill; one was taken and
the other was left!
What does 1t mean? These two pic.
lures are thought provoking. The,
leave q sense of large, unanswered
questions There is vague accuse
ton in the minds reflection of these
two images: a feeling that the demand s
OF poetic justice have not been alto.
gether met in the working out OF tn,
events OF the Lorimer drama in thu
lives OF two OF the leading characters
Brownies present position spoils tn,
tragedy; Whites wrecked existence
ruins the comedy.
4 Where lies the fault? In the reatii
ness with which small constituent,
Will react to local political considera
4 tons rather than TO larger views Of OF
ficial fitness? In the idea of the aver
4 age politician that; no question OF poll
tical fitness or propriety can survive
jury verdict Of mot guilty?' In the to,
great willingness OF the public to forge
what 1t might not be willing to forgive
In the tendency OF things to slip bael