Detroit evening times., 1945-08-15
vxyr~rnDn.x u,r Fair
w ES ARDUN E'aEn Enough

WHENthe story of the Roose-
W velt administration is fully
developed, even this incurable re-
public, with its perverse pride in
its picturesque rascals in public
office. for once may vince and
seriously consider whether such
corruption is merely minor
by-product of free government
or system OF grievous civic
disease.
notwithstanding the indiffer-
ence of Congress and the guilty
unconcern of a department of
justice tarred by the same stick,
the disclosures of shakedowns,
commissions and graft in hun
dred guiseS will continue under
private enterprise until a record
has been assembled which will
make the larcenies of tho
Harding administration and the
so-called Ohio gang seem frlu-
lous by comparison.
After all, Harding, at his
worst. has been depicted AS
stupid man with an unfortunate
preference for the social COM
pany of a coterie Of rogues who
abused his confidence and i'm
posed on his friendship.
His worst enemies never ac-
cused him of active connivance
in the exploitation Of the presi-
dency by crooks and adven-
turers and L. S. Grant gave up
his farm, his home, house that
belonged TO his wife, even his
swords and trophies. in his at
tempt 10 pay off debts incurred
in association with a swindler
who deceived him no less than
the other victims.
4 s 10 Franklin ID. Roosevelt,
"A however. the very fanatics
who defy him should be the last
10 assert in defense of his MEM
ory that, like Harding and
Grant. he was gullible and
confding man who didn't SuS-
pect that others close about him
were grabbing money with the
frenzied avarlce OF looters in
riot.
He was shrewd, he was wise
and he knew the ways of graft
crs for he had denounced them
in pietistical orationS and, in
particular. had voiced his scorn
for "a public official who allows
a member of his family TO
obtain fees or benefits through
his political influence"
THE graft that went on
L throughout his time in the
White House would have been
disgrace TO any administration
but, in judging this particular
case. the people must consider
the contrast between profession
and performance. and the ver-
dict. if the facts are not dis
puted,. as none has been TO date.
must be accordingly m ore
severe.
Here was an administration
which declared war on want
and yet deemed $4,000 year
10 be a pittance for a young
man with no record of business
or executive ability or perform
ance and blandly tolerated. even
encouraged. enormous gifts of
tribute masked AS loans or in
veStments and the employment
of its protegeS in mock jobs by
supplicant and miscreant buSi-
ness interests AT salaries Suffi-
cient to hire matured executives
of established reputation and
integrity.
There were two standards in
this regime, one for the lower
classes, personified by that poll
tical myth, the common man;
the other, for the ruling group.
TO ENTICE the votes of that
Il credulous hay chaser and
keep him plodding through three
terms and four elections. these
cynical imposters kept promis-
ing him roses round his door,
dignity and steady work and,
for extra, two weeks at sec
ond-rate summer resort.
He got, instead, a tin shack.
a trailer or a cubicle in a COM
munical barracks. war wages
minus war taxes and subject 10
inflationary costs, and a set Of
chains which bind him 10 his