Evening star., 1921-07-30
Editorial Digest
The Charge Against Gov. Small.

Indictment of Gov. Small of Illi-
funds when he held the office of
treasurer has stirred up comment
from the east. west and south, as
well as the prairie states themselves.
For the most part, the newspapers
seem to think that il the facts are
as stated the governor and his as
sociates are bound to suffer political
death whether or not they are found
technically guilty of crime. The fact
that the accused official explained
the accusation as an attempt at "pO-
litical assassination" does not help
his case with most of the news
papers.
whether the indictments are sup
ported or not" says the Philadelphia
will come as crippling blow to the
staggering Sman-Thompson pres
tige," and with Chicago turning
finally and definitely against Thomp-
son; with the man he made governor
under Indictment. and the political
creeks out of their banks all over
the state. 'Thompsonism' is all set
for a bad year in 1922" Granting
that IAN indictment is by no means
d conviction the Roanoke Va.)
IlmeS (uemOCrauc) leelS tnat tne
development will shake the state of
Illinois and will quicken the move
ment gradually taking shape to
smash the Thompson machine into
junk at the first opportunity"
Regarding the matter from the legal
side. the Springfield Republican tre-
publican) declares that "if the facts
are as alleged Small and Sterling have
apparently violated the spirit. If not
the letter" of the Illinois constitu-
ton. which plainly asserts that the
state treasurer shall not receive for
his own use any fees. perquisites or
other compensations." If. then. it is
that he and his companions have
feathered their own nests at the
states expense" whatever the courts
| may decide "as to the technical le-
gality of the alleged transaction the
political assassination which the
governor charges is being attempted
has been fairly earned. Taking a
similar view. the Des Moines Capital
(republican) says that even if the
| facts are established the accused men
| may get out of it on a technicality."
selves in public opinion" by such
means.
Though there may have been no
"malfeasance," the New York World
(democratic) considers "the methods
used in banking the money of Illinois
port are in themselves an invitation
| to fraud" The New York Post (inde-
pendenD is of the opinion that merely
"unethicaT though not illegal prac-
tices are enough to give "a body blow
to "the most hated political machine
ton"
The fact that this hate exists and
because of the bitter fight between
| the Lundin-Thompson machine and
the Lowdenites' cause the New York
Times independent democratic) to
government. necessarily sympathiz-
ing with the opponent of the machine,
are more bound to be guarded in their
comments on the indictments
The Peoria Transcript Gndepend-
enD stands steadfastly by the COVER
would be criminal and TO defend
him unnecessary" concluding that
i"all that remains for the citizen to
do is to reserve judgment. remem-
bering that Len Small is governor OF
the state of Illinois and that 1t Is the
to the governor"
On the other hand. however. some
writer's feel that Gov. Small has al
ready aroused suspicion by the nature
of his statements and the fact that
he at first resisted arrest. This was
quite improper" says the Wheeling
Register (democratic). for the inno-
cent man is not afraid Of the law
and as to the statements. his reti-
cence," adds the Rockford Ill.) Star
GndependenD on vital points makes
his shrieking about criminal prof.
teers' and character assassins' sound
like hollow brass.
The Syracuse Herald independently
considers it a "flimsy subterfuge" to
assume that the governor lis perse-
cuted by making him the defendant
| in a criminal case that will be ulti-
mately adjudic Gated by the courts"
In any case, If disgrace is to come
| to the state of Illinois" through the
conviction of two officials. the ma
! jority Of the voters of the common
| wealth have themselves to blame"
says the Sioux City Journal (repub-
lican). for the recommendation of
the Thompson Lundin crowd of
Len Small should have been warning
enough