Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-11
SHIPS AND GRAFT

SOONER or later in the wake Of every war
~ there is a humping graft scandal to
prove that human character has a reverse
side altogether unlike that which Is turned
to the world in the patriotic orations.
At this distance, the carpet -baggers' in
vason Of the South after the Civil War Is
an appalling spectacle. The embalmcd beef
scandal broke out in the midst OF our fight
with Spain. For time it seemed that no
really shameful abuses Of power or authority
attended the efforts Of the United States in
the European war. Investigations by Con-
gress revealed frightful waste, costly plans
gone wrong and general inefficiency in many
departments of the government. Many
people were disposed to forgive that sort Of
thing because of the nature Of the emer
gency and the need for haste in a stupen-
dous task. But unless all signs are mis-
leading. the old law of prcccdcnts will hold
and we shall have another national scandal
of war graft and graftcrs. The elaborate
organization of the United States Shipping
Board seems to have been the hiding and
breeding place for the latest crop of plum
dcrers.
Evidence presented to the congressional
committee established to look into the affairs
OF the shipping board is clearly suggestive
Of betrayed trusts, Of conspiracies, of neg
lect and stupidity in many OF the fields Of
activity over which the board had complete
authority. The tribes which exist only to
get the money are not yet extinct That
! much is plain even though none of the SEN
Rational allegations made at the opening OF
the investigation have been proved.
Some such revelations as now are prom
sed were to be expected. Money flew during
the period of preparation for war. Wash
ington was the center Of an orgy Of spend
ing. The sight Of dollars falling like rain
on every hand turned the heads of good
many people, and even while the armies
were still in the trenches there was horrible
scramble for quick riches that included all
sorts of the people who stayed nt home. IL
greed finally made plottcrs and criminals OF
men who could not resist the temptation OF
that open handed period, history has only
repeated itself. But why should loose and
lax system Of administration been per
mitted to continue at Washington for two
years after the war was over! III there mas
been IN ORGY Of graft in the business OF
government ship control and construction,
why was it permitted to 90 till now?
The implications Of questions like these
will lie heavily on the present national ad-
ministrstion. The illness of President Will
son and the unwilingness of politicians to
permit q movement toward national economy
on the eve Of q general election have served
to keep the unwieldy and cxtravagant special
departments free from change or interfer-
ence for long time. There ought to be
cleaning out of many Of these departments,
and If the shipping board investigation
proves what every one now has reason TO
believe, that cleaning out cannot be long de.
layed. The probe ought to be pushed. ana
If the government was Jobbed ana ch'a'ed U!
the men in whom It was compelled to put
It's trust, then the jails ought to be opened
for considerable number of pseudo
respectable citizens.
II all enemies OF the government could be
treated alike. the need for another ark
probably would be apparent before the con
eressional committee got half through its
work