Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-01-18
A Communication.
70 the Editor Of che St. Mary.

10 the Editor of the st. Mary's
BEACON
Before dismissing the Subject Of
electoral corruption some further
observations remain to be made
As in later letters will lie pointed
out, misuse Of power in connection
with elections is incident to multi
plicity Of officers elected and the re-
wards to be gained from Office hold
ing. Nevertheless the true source
Of the major corruption in elections
lis to be found in the great adyanta-
ges to be secured to particular per-
sons or interests through legislation.
We have, therefore, ag9reeations
Of wealth fighting to increase their
power by control Of government.
The corrupt voter feels and knows
th.s, does not perceive remedies,
and vulgarly wants his, " lie ar
CUES that if the larger interests may
make money through elections, there
Is no reason why he should not
share in a moderate degree the gain
that is theirs. The origin of cor
ruption thus lies far buck Of election
day. and fundamental relief is not
to be lad short Of public apprecia-
ton Of the fact of unjust wealth;
the intelligent understanding Of So
cial remedies therefore and i thor
ough national and state ogerhaaling.
n, as il is claimed, a single indi-
yidaal contributed ssoo, 600 10 the
campaign 10 the recent presidential
election, we may know that that iu.
diyhlual expected 70 multiply his IN
yestment through control Of public
fayors, and if, as Senator Owen Ia.
dicstes, one man collected and dis
bursed outside Of campaign commit
tees, 10000, 900, we may form
slight conception Of the trsmendou.
interests concerned in eorrupting ii,
public conscience. Bread and cir.
cases" vas the cry Of the corrupted
citizenship Of Rome as it was beina
robbed Of the public lands and
wealth. Graft and rreeubacks'
is our cry today as we lose 10 a rev
our vast natural resources.
1t is not part, however, Of ms
purpose to discuss nov At least thess
gigantic social questions almost
battling answer II will suffice Cos
present purposes 10 remember that
the Lillinu,ians were able with theii
whip-cords and their great numbers
TO bind down Guliiyer. The train.
ing Of the pablo conscience through
law and outside OF law will give rs
the whip.cord.
A notable instance Of the PERSIST.
ence Of beliefs educated into rs a.
against tl,e evidence o. our senses i
found in the idca that tie people to.
day rule ii Maryland. Il is true
some certain relatively minor reform
they are likely after a while 70 OBJ
tain IL IN way which "keeps the
word Of promise 10 the ear to break
il to the hope. A striking illus.
tration Of this Il found ii tho cor.
rupt practices act Of which / have
written. We nave the form with
out the substance II remains true
that only by active aud yirile insist
cnee can real reform in this respect
or any other be secured by the pco-
pie. This insistenee meanwhile Is
regarded az sort Of imper,iueuee
by those who actively control tie
destinies Of The people, that Is 70
say, the party machine.
Our constitution says nothing Of
bosses" or organizations" Or
machines, /" but these extra consli-
tutional institutions furnish as our
rulers. Direct primaries are on
their slow way 20 help bring about
an alienation Of this condition au1
government ia process OF g6ing
where il belongs, ID the who'll mass
Of the people. The abolition 81 al
primaries by The preferential ballot
IA subject only commencing 10 De
discassed---gill d. more. A corrupt
practices act with real teeth, instead
Of brittle store molars and CANNES
with India rubber backing, would
also help.
Our attacks on bosses and ms
chimes are singularly ineTeetive
From time 70 time we indulge III
spasms Of virtue and by attacking
personalities, cultivate in ourselves
a conscious feeling Of righteousness,
but the net result Of an this, il it