Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-26

of 100000 barrels of oil
which the Teapot Dome was es-
timated to contain, only about
100000 barrels will become
the property Of the govern
ment. In case of emergency or
threatened danger the country
will have only the doubtful
privilege of buying back from
the interested parties, at their
own prices, the oil which once
it owned.
Disabled Veterans Victims
And after Oil, the veterans, for
whose care in one form or an
other the enormous total of $780,
100000 was provided to be spent,
a sum half as much again as the
budget of either the war depart
ment or the navy and thirty
times the carrying cost of the de-
partment of state. Here was a
rare field for enterprise. A year
and a half after congress had APP
propriated $33,000,000 for build
ing purposes only 200 hospital
beds had been added to the bu-
reau'S equipment and those in a
hospital purchased ready made;
but a friend of Director Forbes
meantime had paid ST., 900 for a
hospital site and sold it to the
government on the same day for
100000; and 100000 had been
paid to an architect who design
ed building SO poor that it was
never built. We may be pardoned
for asking whether it was COM
mon sense to sell at 20 cents n
the dollar sheets for which
wounded men were waiting,
while at the very time others
were being bought to take their
place at five times that price?
The enforcement of the prohi-
bition law gave an opportunity
for action of which the deniZens
of the little green house were
quick to avail themselves. Trade
was brisk and profits were easy
in this particular line, if but one
hale of the stories told by George
Remus, king of the bootleggers,
and others are to be believed.
What is the answer when we
talk of these things? 1t con.
sists, in the first place, of be-
moaning the fact that such I'm.
pleasant topics should be forced
on polite ears. Why not forget
about them? Why not say as
little about them as possible?
Why not pretend that they were
simple indiscretions which should
be overlooked when there are
signs of repentance?
Those who speak in this fash.
ion assume a degree of indiffer-
ence or a lack of interest on the
part of the people which would
be itself a reflection upon pop
ular government. If it be true
that public interest in these
things has waned, is it not a
public duty to see that it is re-
Vlved before the day of iudg.
ment comes?
r Holds Party Responsible
Then we are told with some
complacency that there is no
further need for public concern
because those under suspicion
have been indicted and there is
nothing left to do but wait for
the day, still far in the future,
when they will be tried. We are
invited to believe that there is
no difference between these men
and janitor who has been
caught at night taking change
from the cash drawer. Those
at whose door these charges
were laid were not mere under
HnSS. They were responsible
officers of a great political par
ty, put by it in places of high
power. They were but one re-
moved from the head of that
party himself. What they did
Or failed to do can not justly be
omitted when the record of that
party is reviewed. Diligence in
enforcing the law against the
guilty is fortunately not an I'M
common virtue in our public life.
To be Vigilant in preventing
fraud upon the government and
in assisting its exposure is a
virtue higher still
In so far as the property of
the government and the re.
sources of the nation have been
bartered away, we are told with
equal assurance that an effort
will be made to recover them by
suit. But where is the respon-
slbility TO lie for the fact that
our undisputed title to our naval
oil reserves has been exchanged
for a contested lawsuit to re-
cover them? The policy in
volVcd in this transfer, and the
acts themselves, as we know by
his own declaration, had the eX-
press sanction of the then pres.
ident of the United States. Is
his party not to be held political
ly responsible to- the American
people for their loss?
We Democrats are making
and will make no campaign of
personalities, nor shall l speak
with disreSpect of any occupant
of the presidential chair, wheth-
er living or dead. l am glad to
believe that that high office has
never been unworthily held. We
have, however, the presidents
own authority for the statement
that The only practical way to
secure responsible political ac-
ton is by the formation of par
ties We agree and assert fur
Their that the only way to secure
good government is to hold po-
litical parties responsible.
think I detect in some quarters
hope that without change of
name or much of personnel a re-
organization of a certain politi-
cal concern can he effected, tax
ing over any discoverable assets
and repudiating all unpleasant
liabilities. My experience as A
lawyer has taught me that cred
itors are rarely satisfied with
this convenient method of can
ceiling their claims. The Amer,
lean people can hardly be eX-
pected 10 accept it.
Points Flaws III Tariff
II the fact is that the public
resources have been sQuanGered.
is il AIRY answer To say that a
huucet system has heen in
stalled? lt unfit and corrupt men
have been put in ana kept III