Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1924-02-14
BLOW AT FAITH OF PEOPLE
IN THEIR GOVERNMENT
Underwood So Characterizes Teapot
Dome Affair, and Says There Could
Be No Greater Offense

WASHINGTON. Feb. 13-Disclos-
urcs have come thick and fast in the
Teapot Dome scandal, and the end is
not yet, apparently. Graver things, it
is whispered among Washington's
knowing ones, are to be dragged into
the public gaze to shock the peoples
imagination.
But regardless of what comes out,
the real offense that has been com
mitted, as Senator Oscar w. Under
wood pointed out in the Senate a few
days ago, lies in the fact that a blow
of terrific proportions has been struck
at the faith of the people in their
government The crime is not m;tigat-
ed blythe blow having been struck in
the dark
Mr.. Underwood declared the oues-
t1"h, as Tar as i concerned the Sen
ate, was not one for lawyers and tech
ncalities. 1t is question, he said,
that goes to the very heart of Gov
eminent"
"A public office is a publ c trust"
continued the Senator, and when an
officer charged with the great respon-
sibility OF Government deals with the
recipients of governmental bounty for
his own benefit, the fraud stands on its
face.
No government can survive where
the people who live under it lose faith
in the governing bodies of the country.
"The only way that faith can be
maintained and sustained is by men
who hold public positions removing
themselves entirely from personal gain
by greed or graft in the administration
of public office.
I'VE have here case where cor
poration was granted great tract
of Government land which the officers
OF the corporation Immediately after
it was turned over to them, declared
was worth more than $l00,000,000 in
excess of what they were to pay for it.
That happened in two cases. Then we
discovered that the heads of the two
corporations were lending money to
the man with whom they were deal
ing on the part of the government, an
officer of the government, and lending
money i'll large amounts without secur-
ity.
1T seems to me that under those cir
it does not take decision
OF the Supreme Court of the United
States and it does not take trial JUS
tice to reach conclusion. 1t is so APP
parent that the man i'll the street may
read as he runs that the officer who
made the grant did not bring to the
decision of the case the disinterested
mind which the American people were
entitled to have at his hands.
This is not case Of technicality. +,
1t is clear as the MONDAY sun that
an officer of the Government has made
a grant of public property that will
greatly enrich the recipients thereof,
and at the same time he was receiving
benefits for himself. 1t should be so
lear to every man that there can be
10 question about it. 1t is not a ques-
ion of prosecution. That is an incident
Of course, the prosecution should be
,arried on, but the issue that lays
before the great lawmaking body OF
he American pepole is whether they,
IS the representatives of the people,
will take a position and declare it in
egard to these contracts.
| shall vote for the joint resolution
most gladly, but | do regret that it
S not in form where could declare
II record that, in my judgement as a
senator of the United States, the tran
,action is fraudulent and void on its
ace"
Mr.. Underwood did nothing more
han to voice an honest conviction@
But he spoke the mind of thinking
and his remarks are accep-
ed as significant of a presidential
this year in which not the
east of the important issues will be !
IN insistent demand for honesty in
Government
Buy in Fitzgerald! It's cheaper and