The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-06-28
CAsTING orr THE sHACKLEs.

CASTING OFF THE SHACkLES.
Bribery is a nasty word. 1t contains more
of moral turpitude than any crime in the cate
cory of the criminal code. A man may MUIR
der in the heat of passion, man may steal
to aid his family or to satisfy his own desires
but the man who brides does it with no idea
in view but the advancement of his own selfish
interests. The man who sells "honor and faith
and sure intent for a handful of money or a
promise of official preferment is loathsome to
his fellow citizens. The man who offers a bride
no matter whether he throws roll of green
backs over a back fence or holds the lutte of
profitable employment is just as loathsome as
the man who accepts the bride.
Senator RidgWay Of this district made seri-
Gus accusations on the floor of the senate the
other day. They followed similar suggestions
from other members of the legislature who de-
clare that efforts have been made to influence
their action in making laws for Wisconsin.
If any man from the ordinary walks of life
would walk into Madison and offer member
of the legislature five thousand dollar job in
return for his support of certain measures he
would properly be person for contempt on
the part of all of his fellow citizens. A party
or a fractional whip should not have bribery as
one of it's tongs.
We have no information to say that any one
directly connected with a state office has Of
fered bride to any of the members of the
legislature but there is sufficient evidence to
say that efforts have been made to influence
the vote of members Of both bodies Of the leg
jsature.
The statements in regard to these offers con-
stitute a blot on the escutcheon of Wisconsin
and that blot should be removed. There should
be no attempt to hush up these statements.
They should be opened to the light of day. If
men in high official position have sought to
use the powers they have to make bond men Of
members of the legislature the people should
know the full facts and if men are guilty they
should bear the full punishment The enact
nent of one piece of legislation-no matter
how important it may be-is of little conse-
quence in comparison with the proving of these
charges as true or false.
The people of Wisconsin sent free men to
the legislature. They want them to be able to
remain free men rather than to subject their
manhood and their official power to someone
else. Clearly the issue should be drawn and
the assembly and the senate should meet it
land demand the fullest Investigations
There is no desire to return verdict con-
NVlctlng any one without hearing. This hear
ing means vindication as well as conviction
and the men most interested in the statement
which have been made should insist that all
the facts be barred to the light of day Any at
tempt to conceal will only give to the people
THE idea that it is guilt covering itself
The members of the assembly and the SEN
ate may be worn out by the work of an unusu-
ally long session but in justice to themselves
they should elect to stay right on the Job I'M
til all the facts of alleged attempts to influence
the vote of members of the two houses have
been probed and the guilt or innocence of the
people named established
The charges made are charges which can
not be laughed off and which can not be for
gotten as part of political propaganda They
hit at the integrity of state and there should
be no hesitancy to clear up the atmosphere.