The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-04-11

this former bank presidents sincerity.
| although there may be many ques-
tons about the wisdom and the use
fulness of his reforming crusade.
What is Frank A. Vanderbilt, one
time Chicago reporter, one-time as
sistant secretary of the treasury. and
one-time president of one of the big
gest banks of the world, trying to do?
Mr.. Vanderlip's word is that his whole
desire Is to expose corruption In gov
eminent wherever 1t may exist and
thereby to keep governmental activi-
ties consistently and continuously eff
| cient and honest.
The words used in explaining the
intentions Of the head of the new
Citizens Federal Research Bureau"
are not exactly the words of Mr. Van
deriip, but they give his thoughts ON
the subject and one is quite sure that
they express his exact meaning
Permanent Agency to Keep Watch.
The writer of this has known Mr..
yanderlip for thirty-fve years and
known him fairly well. Once on a
time the two were fellow reporters on
the same Chicago newspaper. l have
just seen Frank Vanderlip TO ask him
How about it?" Possibly the chief
piece of information included in the
statement In answer to the question
is that the Citizens Federal Research
Bureau Is to be a permanent institu-
ton and that it is not simply an an
mex to the present investigating activ-
tiles of the United States senate.
So 1t seems that Washington is to
have within its borders this time an
agency, backed unquestionably by
ample funds, the duty of which shall
be to keep an eye on the various ac-
tivities of Uncle Sans servants and TO
let the public know instantly If their
feet are straying from the paths Of
rectitude.
The founder of the Federal Research
Bureau seems to be certain that his
scheme will go through and make
good. Seemingly his belief is that
the fact that such an organization ex-
lists will in itself serve to keep men
walking straight. Naturally enough
one of the criticisms of such an or
ganiZation is that it will quickly fall
under the suspicion of being spying in
its nature and that the resentment
which may come will serve to undo it.
Mr.. Vanderlip seems to have no fear
Of any such outcome for he has been
explicit in his statement that the
agency will not muckrake. 1t will be
wholly scientific, he says, in it's pro-
cedures and extremely careful that
none shall suffer from its activities ex-
cept those who deserve to suffer-
His View of the Press.
In the talk with Mr. Vanderlip he
said with emphasis what he has said
once or twice before, that the newspa-
pers of today are no longer the in
vestigating agencies that once they
were. His idea seems to be that Wash
ington correspondents and newspaper
writer's in other places no longer are
interested in turning guilt to the light
of day but are chiefly concerned in
writing news which is interesting bu.
more or less inconsequentiaL
A life of twenty-one years In the
Washington news field makes one
think that Mr.. Vanderlip's view Of
this particular matter is somewhat dis
torted. To the credit of the newspa-
pers of the country are good many
exposures of shady things in the capt.
tai and elsewhere. 1t was not so long
ago that the turning TO the light Of
things unsavory by Washington CORE
spondents and others was called, by
the directors to the practice, muck
raking Some of it was useless and
ill-advised, but much of 1t made for
good government. There have been
reforms of procedure and of morals
which probably never would have come
If it had not been for the men called
muckrakers
The writer is not one of those who
thinks there is anything insincere or
unstable in the intention of Frank A.
Vanderlip. Already he has established
bureau that is working. Whether
or not he will succeed in making his
organization permanent and effective
along useful lines remains to be seen.
So far as the present day interest Is
concerned, it may be said that Van
derlip intends to go ahead, and that
in the past intention with him has
meant subsequent action.