Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-17

Since Harry F. Sinclair began serv-
ing 90 days in the District Of Columbia
iail for contempt of the Senate the
press again has reflected the satisfac-
ton of the public over finding that "a
hundred million dollars actually can be
locked up" Through the comment. too,
run suggestions that the oil magnate
has done himself no harm by the way
In which he is taking his punishment.
I'm an era when we fear rot at
the roots Of character" says the Detroit
News, lit is encouraging that the Harry
Sinclair of today feels the abasement.
Probably he would trade it all in
power in the oil world and the $780,
600 ,0OO-to be the old Harry again,
young, free and clean. AS to the puollc
side. the time to be vindictive about II
has passed. Not only million. nun
dred million, has been convicted in this
country! Let it go at that.
When he arrived at the District OF
Columbia jail" the Kansas City journal
Post observes "he rode in limousine,
preceded and followed by retinue in
automobiles. But he could not hire
anybody to do his bit in jail. For once
there was no substitute who would be
acceptable to the authorities, although
there were doubtless persons VINO
would willingly have offered theme
selves. either for hire or out OF pure
spirit of toadyiSm. But for once the
doctrine of equal rights to all and
special privileges to none wlthstood IN
sidious assaults. Harry F. Sinclair ana
he alone must serve in jail. He
was assigned to assist the jail druggist
There is no elaborate soda fountain,
and the serving of refreshments is no
part of the duty of the jail druggist
1t is an old-fashioned sort OF place,
which dispenses simple but effective
drugs to jailbircs But it beats a rock
pile as a means of spending 80 days.
Harry Sinclair is lucky. even in the
hour of his gloom"
"But Mr.. Sinclair" advises the Hart
ford Times. lis not a prisoner like John
Bunyan, exactly, or the Man in the
Iron Mask There is disgrace con-
nected with his plight. which weighs
heavily upon him and always will. He
feels it keenly. and the country thinks
the better of him because he does" The
Chattanooga Times, viewing the oil
case as a whole, suggests: Whether the
result of the criminal trial would nave
been different il he had not defied the
Senate committee can never he known.
But 1t may be reasonably assumed that
Harry F. Sinclair, as he lies upon his
cot or walks the floor of his cell, spends
much time trying - understand how II
happens that he alone of all that oily
bunch happens to be in prison. 1t may
also be assumed that a great many
other people are thinking slrlGar
thoughts and are coming to the con-
clusion that the Government labored
and brought forth g mouse
X x x X
"In the public mind" as interpreted
by the Buffalo Courier Express, Sin
clair has come to be symbol rather
than a mana symbol OF corrupt rela-
tons between big business and politics,
a symbol OF arrogant confidence in the
power of money to prevail over law and
Justice" The Little Rock Arkansas
Democrat, addressing the prisoner from
its editorial page, says Maybe, when
YOU get out you will have learned that
there is just bit of justice left in this
world. If you have learned that, then
your 'martyrdom will not have been in
vain"
1T is not always, perhaps not often"
declares the Omaha World-Herald,
that the SINS of powerful and promi-
nent people are so severely punished
and the public right and interest so
handsomely served. But there does
come a time. now and then. when Truth
Is saved from the scatfold and Vice is
kicked off the throne. Such occasions,
especially when they are SO notable as
this one. bring encouragement to old
fashioned folk who retain their faith i'll
the theory that crime is crime. no mat
ter who commits it, and that govern
ment is dedicated to honest and faith
full service"
Sinclair was a." recalls the Santa
Barbara Daily News, when he def1ed
the Senate's authority, to protect him
self and &hers who, like him, had a
hand IN tE grab at the Nations oil re-