New-York tribune., 1918-10-12
Justice for
MUionaires

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Even though the war has first call
upon our thoughts and energies, it is we'll
to give an occasional thought to other i'm
portnnt matters There is local good gov
ernment, for instance. In this connection
the decision of Justice Finch, Of the Su-
preme Court, turning down the Indictment
of William Hamin Childs has not re-
ceived nearly the attention it deserves It
Is rather important, after ALL to find that
even combination Of William Randolph
Hearst and District Attorney does not
necessarily deprive citizen of his legal
rights.
1t is not to be expected that the public
will take any deep interest in the wrong
done n millionaire. though it was the
latter's lavish spending of his time and
money in clearly disinterestcd effort to
promote public welfare that got him into
the District Attorneys bad graccs. The
time has not yet arrived when the man in
the street is willing to credit the man OF
wealth with his own pure flame of unset
hsh patriotism. But times changing
The war has done something to influence
public opinion away from it's hitherto firm
faith in the inherent wckedncss Of all
"capitalsts"
The facts that Mr Davson OF j. p Nor
gan IL Co., stopped the picking up of mill
ions to devote his days and nights to man
aging the Red Cross; that MI Schwab is
giving his talents to building our ships and
Ryan his to our aircraft; that thousands
of lesser millouaircs have perspired
through breathless nights in Washington
this summer at a salary of dollar year,
will no doubt bear fruit. The spirit of CO.
operation is abroad. VIC are discovering
that we are all good Americans-that n
man may have the altruistc spirit whether
he digs bitches or plans the development
of Il continent
But the changed attitude is not vet firm
1y fixed No one can foretell how long the
present tendency will continue. Glass
antagonism has been too consistently and
thoroughly developed by Hearst and his
followers to be easily driven out. The
same powerful influences are still work
ing toward the same end. They will fight
strenuously to maintain their hold
They have been cunning enough for
some time past to leave alone the Schwabs.
the Ryans and the others whose work for
the public veal was too manifest to be in
doubt. For the time being these are safe
from attack. But men like Mr. Childs CON
tlnued to furnish fine targets for yellow
journal craftsmanship. There was the
further advantage too, in keeping at them
that there was good chance of silencine
them permanently.
The impertnence of men like Cnilds and
Cleveland Dodge in promoting fusion in
New York, in supporting Mitchell and fight
ing Hearst and Tammany, could not be con-
doned. Hence this Indictment, now thrown
out of court That it was unwarranted by
the facts, Justice Finch said in his de-
cision, nobody knew better than Hears.
ana Swami. That it would be quashed
they knew equally we'll But in the mean
nme the public mind would be poisoned
1t would be believed Of these milionaires
that they had violated that election law
whose sustained purity has ever been so
dear to Hearst and Tammany And. best
OF all, these millionares would be put 10
SO much annoyance that it was = safe
wager they would be out Of politics ever
after There would be no moro fnancinr
OF campaigns for future Mitchels. Fusion
would be dead and there would be no moro
denial OF the spoils to the legitimate DO
htical bosses
That is why Justice Finchs decision is
OF great public Importance Until that
came Hearst and Tammany were justified
IN thelr conviction. The Indictment of
lillian Hamlin Chlds and its reflection
upon all his associates did kill fusion in
New York. 1t did make it extremely i'm
probable that any effort to provide eff
clent non-partsan municipal government
would be attempted for years to come
Certainly the promoters of Mr. Mitchel,s
candidacy were done with the sacrifice that
resulted only in humiliation and oppro-
brlum. Let US hope that Justice Finch's
act, eloquent Of the determination of our
higher courts to that justice shall be
denied no man-not even the millionaire
Will rclnvigorate the men who stood he
hind gallant John Mitchell and nerve them
for renewing the fight for good govern
ment CHARLES r ROSERAI71T
Kew York, Oct. 3, 1918