Evening star., 1924-05-22
ny WILLIAM GIBBS McADOO.
Secretary Of the Treasury Under
Prenident WOS,d row WiisOn.

The cause of progressive de-
mocracy is at stake in the forth
coming election. and the destiny of
America and the world will be pro-
foundly influenced by the verdict of
the American people in November,
1874 We must know whom and
what we are voting for in the Dem
ocratic national convention and in
the next presidential election. The
reactlonary element in the Demo-
cratic party, small in numbers but
powerful in resources, allied with
the bosses. Wall Street and big
business, and making common
cause with the powerfully organ
lied wet forces in the country, is
determined to name reactionary
Democrat on a reactionary plat
form and thereby make certain the
ire-eIection OF a reactionary Repub-
lican administration.
The first duty is to bring the
government back to honesty. to
Drive graft and corruption out of
washington. Bribe-taking public
omclais not alone disgrace the ma
tion. but they strike at the very
foundations of democratic institu-
tions. Political power cannot be
poisoned at the source by corrup-
tion without destroying the conf
dence OF the people in their govern
ment. Whether we are Democrats
or Republicans, we are vitality in
terested in clean government. 1t is
not partisan question-it is a mat
ter OF saving the great heritage OF
liberty and democracy our fore
fathers handed down to us. and Of
transmitting it unimpaired to our
children and to our children's chill
dren.
Public apprehension of the shock
ing scandals at Washington would be
just as severe if the administration
was Democratic instead Of RepubIi-
can. The fact that the scandal has
occurred in a Republican administra-
tion, that high officials of the admin
istration are seriously involved, puts
the responsibility upon Republican
leadership, not as a partisan matter,
but as 4 moral question. The effort
to make the American people believe
that the scandal is bipartisan is as
unworthy as it is false. The scandal
is exclusively Republican, because At
is officials of the Harding Coolidge
administration. and no others, who
have betrayed their public trusts. Any
other claim is transparent device
to divert attention from the real
criminals. Those who have betrayed
the public interest or have stolen
vital resources belonging to the peo-
pie must be ruthiessly exposed and
mercilessly punished.
The Teapot Dome and California
naval oil lands were preserved in
their entirety by the Woodrow Will
son administration, and turned over
to the Harding Coolidge administra-
ton clean. clear and unincumbered.
The public interest was scrupulously
and faithfully protected. If high Of
ficialS of this administration were so
weak that they could not resist the
temptation of making away with the
peoples resources which the Demo-
Gratis. in the honest performance of
their public duty, turned over to the
Republicans, it is not the fault of the
Democrats. They cannot be held re-
sponsible for lack of honesty or
weakness on the part of the Repub-
lican officials.
But the oil leases are not the only
scandals that are rending the admin
istration. The Veterans Bureau scan
dal is even meaner and more con-
temptible, although the amount of
money involved is NOT so great. The
scandals in this bureau have not been
hushed. No punishment is severe
enough for those who steal from sick
and helples soldiers.
Prohibition enforcement is ma
tion-w scandal. One of the chief
reasons for this corruption is the
fact that men are being appointed
for political reasons to positions on
the prohibition inspection force. when
they should be appointed only for
character and fidelity to the public