Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-07-27
illegal" GRAFT.

Governor Len Small of Illinois, says that he has
been guilty of no illegal graft. There seems to be
some doubts on that subject. A grand jury charges
that he is guilty. The governor, claiming immunity
because of his position governor fails to face that
charge in open court He merely talks, saying that
he has done nothing ILLEGAL.
There seems to be doubt about the facts He
placed the money of the state in bank" in which
he was interested The state received 5000 00O Mr.
Small $500 900 However the governor insists that
the law did not forbid such transaction.
The Journal does not know the provisions Of the
Illinois code but It does know that men have sunk
to low moral level when they measure their con-
duct by the standard of mere legality. What is right
just and decent is not the criterion of SUCH Can
III do and still stay out of ail?" is the question they
ask.
Anybody knows that it was graft for Small to
place the states money in his "bank' at per cent
and then to loan for cent to the packers The
bank gave the state bond to insure the safety of
the money. The note of the packers was the only
thing the state really had. Where did Small get
right to any part of the interest when he was but
agent of the people? The transaction may may not
have been legal. II 1t legal it 'egaP graft.
In New Mexico the crowd in the saddle makes
the law the way they want It, Then they rghteousy
obey the law and with sanctimonous air, say they
have done nothing wrong-meanng, of course, moth
ing Illegal.
For many years the funds of the state and other
hands
in favored banks, chiefly without any interest pay
ment whatever No later than last fall Nelson Field,
commissioner of the land office, admitted that several
hundred thousands of dollars in his possession and
placed in the banks receiving no interest Yet
Mr.. Field prides himself being an honest Of
fical.
when election time comes on. these banks can
be depended upon to come across" In other words,
the interest the taxpayer is entitled to have in the
public treasury to tighten his burdens is divided
between the banker and the corruptng organization
Just as the mine-owners come across" with SUBJ
stantial out Of what they have saved by having
the law fixed to exempt them from their proper
share of taxes Perhaps 1t is all legal" but 1t is
graft of the worst and most corrupting kind
Making graft legal is part Of the graft 1t is not
right merely because it is legal 1t is legal because
the grafters made 1t legal
In the past twenty years New Mexico has been
defrauded out of many hundreds of thousands of
dollars by the illegal" graft of favored deposits.
The last legislature created a finance board. 1t
was made its duty to pro rate state monies among all
the banks conforming to the law and to procure the
current interest rate thereon. Will some one who
knows tell us whether this law is being complied
with? We hope it is.
Are any state or federal office holders procuring
any personal loans by reason of reciprocal deposits
Of state funds in the bank making the loans? The
journal intends to find out, way or another and
give the public the truth.
Until the public becomes scandalized beyond fur
Their endurance by graft, legal or illegal in this
state, a better condition is not to be expected
With the state bankrupt multiplicity of Of
fcias fall over each other in the state house They
get in each others way.
Taxes not levied or collected against Favored
individuals. scandalous Compromises" which are
merely tax rebates to the favored few, are per-
mitted on delinquent taxes This is all legal graft
How long will the people tolerate those conditions?
Illinois has attacked the higher-ups with criminal
prosecutions New Mexico needs the to tackle
the same job.
Showing their teeth and swapping back ought to
Brighten no one who has the spirit of courageous
service to the people, Such animals only fight when
cornered.