New Britain herald., 1924-02-08
AT THE MekINLEY DINNER.

i ident Of the United States, was mur' dered. His last words spoken just be- l fore his body ceased to feel pain ans
 his spirit passed to the place where . love and charity and fair dealing bring an atmosphere of beauty to all i things, were words of forgivcncss for those who had conspircd to kill him Last night. at q gat herring of men
 banded together in political bonds,
 words were spoken directly repugnant to the ideal of the great man whose name is inscribed upon that organi-
 zation's banner. In the light of char ity, love. honor, characteristic of Will
 liam Mckinley the spirit there dis
 played was an insult to his name And
 added to this unsccmlincss is the fact
 that it is but few days since another
 great idcalist. another President Of
 the Unitcd States. died. The memory
 of William Mckinley could not have
 been in the minds of men who ap-
 plauded an attempt, made for poiti- cal purposes. to stretch the mantle Of disgrace which has fallen over former Secretary of the Interior Fall, so that it would cover and taint others. not the wrongs alleged to have been per petrated by the man Fall.
 Congressman William Johnson Ora ham is reported to have said. prac- tically in these words, that "tentacles of the oil octopus extended into the cabinet of the last democratic admin istration, reaching many of them with it's slimy touch." And, it is presumed. many good, regular republicans sat back and smiled in satisfaction that such vivid picture was presented of the situation as they would like to have il. Shades of William Mckinley, with his straightforward dealing. his refusal to think evil of anyone until the evil in him had been shown. One who honors his memory, whether democrat or republican. can not but feel that shame should have silenced the voice before it uttered words which seem to so distort the facts as far as they are known.
 The facts. out of which this speak CT drew his attempted eloqucnce, are that a former republican high cabinet official is accused of dishonest acts, and the testimony, the circumstances Of the case as if stands today indi- cate that h. has been guilty of a breach Of trust in his office. Other republican officials are accused Of They are still in office. Their actions are proper subject Of inquiry.
 But, so far as one is advised, no tontacle Of any "oi octopus" has touched with it's slime" any former member of the cabinet of the last democratic administration. The 'simy tcntaclc" may have been feel. ing about crawling and wrigEling to gain hold. IL may not have been rcpuscd, even. But 50 far as one has seen in the news Of the day nothing or the octopus slime" even remained 10 smirch with its 'iilth" any man of the former democratic adminis1 ration while he was in office.
 The most that has been said Is that after leaving public office certain l members Of that administration i served the oil interests in matters en- tirely disassociated from inc Teapot | Dome matter now under discussion. ! AS formerly stated in this newspaper i an impossible situation would be cre- l ated were men who had once been in l office required to thereafter conduct 1 their affairs as though they were still | in office. Men must change their The public prosecutor of | today may be. honorably the oppo. 1 nent Of the public prosecutor Of to- Action absolutely improper, or worse, by one in office. may boz come right after that person leaves office.
 Whomsoevcr the ugly tentacles'' ! Of the disgusting oil octopus" | touches. or whornsoevcr # is shown l To have touched while that person | was in a position the duties Of which compelled him to keep himself clean of it's 'slime"-such persons should ! be held before the people as an ob. feet of cOntemp' When it is proven others virtually sold their political prestige or power 10 the oil interests they too should be objects Of con- .empt. But not until it is shown they have virtually sold their high office. not their personal a'tainme nts.