Evening star., 1951-10-14
oIeroted Corruption
Already an Issue
Writer Sees HolIey's compoign
A Challenge to Trumon
By Frank R. Kent

It is agreed that on the State as well
are deeply concerned over the revela-
tions Of cheap graft, influence peddling
and tolerated corruption" in the Tru-
man administration. A test as to
whether people generally are in revolt
against this sort Of thing will be had in
New York next month in the candidacy
for president Of the City Council Of
Rudolph HALEY. famous counsel for the
Kefauver Crime Committee.
1t was through Mr.. HALEY that the
Kefauver committee revealed the link
between the Democratic organizations
and corrupt gangsters Of the Costello
type and disclosed the unsavory fact
that the Democratic campaign was
largely financed by gamblers and rack
eteers. Recently other scandals have
increased the smell of rottenness. There
have been disclosures Of crookedness
among the police and fremen; Of a de-
graded alliance between the big gang.
sters and city officials; Of politicians
selling favors, and Of the narcotics
racket. Mr.. HALEY is the candidate Of
the Liberal, City Fusion and Inde-
pendent Parties and he has made the
1ssue-corruption graft, bribery and the
Tammany- Costello type Of government.
+
He Is violently opposed by the power.
ful Democratic machine, but he Is max
ing an effective campaign, has strong
newspaper support and Is given q fair
chance Of winning. Should he bs
elected. it would be unmistakable evi-
dence that the voters really can be
aroused on q moral issue and 1t will
greatly increase the alarm Of the already
alarmed Democratic managers about the
1852 elections. Arthur Krock Of the
New York Times points out that the
tolerated corruption" began in le4S
when the President started to issue par
dons to members Of the Pendereast
machine Of Kansas City convicted of
vote fraud In Mr.. Truman's home
county.
Altogether there has been uncovered
an unprecedented six-year record Of doc.
umented crookedneSs within this admin.
istration. More shocking-and more I'm.
portant than the crookedness itself-is
the TACT that 1t, In effect, Is condoned
and ignored by the President and his
party aides. Mr.. Krock's phrase, "tol-
Grated corruption" correctly describes
the administration attitude. At no time
has Mr.. Truman shown Indignation over
the disclosures. In no instance has he
acted to remove or rebuke those close
to him charged with unethical-to use
mild word-conduct.
To offset all this. the Truman Admin.
1stratlon has evolved three different
lines OF general defense. % It is al
legged that those who speak or print
tnese charges are "assassins of charac-
ter and hate mongers" 1t Is asserted
by the President that the whole business
is lust pack Of lies" (2) It is alleged
that the Republicans were even more
crooked In the Harding Administration
and that Republican Chairman Gabriel
son was as equally involved with the
RFC as Democratic Chairman BOYLE.
which is not true. (3) It is alleged that
these charges are really trivial and do
narm by diverting attention from for
elgn policy as the main issue in the
coming campaign.
AS to the first Of these, the point Is
MADE that name calling is not an an
swer to specific charges made by re-
sponsible people. AS to the second. the
point is that the Harding scandals were
not tolerated or condoned, but that the
thieves OF that administration were
prosecuted and either put in jail or
swept out while the Republicans were
sui IN power. AS to the third, the point
is not only that the proven facts are ,ob
IN themselves trivial but that their bland
liberation by the President is indefensi-
bic. With those responsible for this
tolerated corruption" still in positions
OF influence and with this administra-
ton asking to be retained in power on
its record, 1t seems incredible that anv
one who believes in decent government
could want to sweep aside this issue
as unimportant.