DECEMBER 14, 1905
G6j Nebraska. Indopcndcrtt
PAGE 3
'fieials they arc compelled, to provide funds in the form of taxes to
pay the legitimate expenses of the city and the illegitimate expenses
of the grafters. Municipal corruption brings home to the taxpayer
"the evils of graft. But the. national graft" permitted by a tariff sys
tem, a watered stock system or a privileged banking monopoly,
has an element of remoteness that does not appeal so keenly to the
people, and thus it is that from year to year they are robbed without
being aroused to determined opposition.
'X'
$ . ;
EVIL DAYS FOR JUSTICE
' The Bartley bondsmen have at last made good their technicali
ties arid have been released by the supreme court of Nebraska from
the obligation of paying into' the state treasury over $600,000. This
is another illustration of the growing disparity between law and
justice in this country. Justice is an ideal of which law is tho real.
However much men may respect the ideal they cannot but" feel how
poorly hurrian devices work to attain this ideal.
There is much nonsense uttered iih(rltranirvkiveajt
respect for the law. Justice is divine ; law is human. Men respect
justice; but their respect for law is, and should always be, mingled
with discrimination. There is a" growing suspicion not only among
the people but among lawyers that our system of law is inadequate
to the requirements of the age. Admitting all the restrictions of the
human intellect, they yet , argue that radical changes : in our legal
system would bo fruitful of much good, for they- recognize that
the system operated more beneficiently years ago than' it does today.
Some blame must attach to those who make the' laws and to those
who fail to enforce them justly and intelligently, but much of the
machinery of the law is outworn; the machinery ha3 been patched
bo often that its product is frequently botch-work.
It is an old saying that possession is nine points of the law, ,
and yet it may not be one point of justice. In this country it is
possible for a man to seize the property of his neighbor in his neigh
bor's absence and to hold it indefinitely. If the mah who is despoiled
Uses violence he may recover his property without much delay, but
he may be killed by the usurper. If ho appeals to the courts he
will probably find that the thief has nine points of the law in his
favor. : .'.v.-. ;
Jfr tit ' ' .
MR. ECKELS AS AN APOLOGIST
When President McCurdy of the Mutual Life insurance com
pany resigned, it was reported that James Eckels, who was comp
troller of the currency under Cleveland would be chosen in his
place. A worse selection hardly could be made. Mr. Eckels has
.been and still is one of the stout, hide-bound defenders of predatory
wealth who fancy that the inspiring -motive of all protest against dis
honest finance is envy. .... r r ':
A few days ago he spoke before "the New York city group of
the New York State Bankers' association." The theme of his dis
course was what he termed "the regulation of business by statute."
He deplored the fact that the government was becoming " a partner"
in private enterprises in which it did not have a dollar invested.
Mr. Eckels would have business entirely unfettered and he argued
that because some business men had been found to be dishonest
is no good reason why all business men be made victims of federal
supervision. ; "These statutes," said Mr. Eckels, "are founded upon
the curiously contradictory theory that demonstrated success in the
business world, large investment and risk of personal capital and
reputation and wide experience, not only unfit an individuaVfor tho
proper and wise conduct of his own business, but deaden his senso
of patriotism and make him an enemy of tho republic." - - '
Mr. Eckels once called himself a democrat and denounced
pwial. privileges. What he is now we must judge by his peeehes,
for we no longer hear from him denunciation of tho special privi
leges which have mado it possiblo for tho successful business men,
honest and dishonest, to accumulate fortunes that would not have
leen possihleunder a "squaw deal." '
Thero was a time when tho newspaper referred slightingly
to "the young" and "the youthful'' Mr, Eckel, but ho h not so
young now, although ho stiil continues to 'iiarp upon tho tmMihWed
string" of hU youthful prejudice. Ho ha Keen tho valiant de
fender of the rich and their ways and ho has profited enormously,
aud, it U to be hoped, within the limit of tho law. But -Mr.
Ecktk like many of hi kind, hm a bad habit of niih'preeritiug
hU countrymen and hi min piewntatioiiii ought not to go mtehal
lenged. In hi New York discourse ho said smuo things that were
true, oven though they did not ring true toming from hi- lip ; but
when he aid that the pron'tit protest against dihowty in laiin'
is "indiscriminate denunciation of success wherever found, or wealth
wherever acquired" and that "all success . is placed in the attitude of
being a crime and all acquirement of wealth is denouncedas crim
inal," he resorted to a cheap and common method of reviling those
whose arguments he does not dare to answer.
. Mr. Eckels could not say that the Dcpews, McCurdys, McCalls,
Odclls .and their ilk were honest and respectable itizens, but he
could say that the "American people cannot afford to bo led. by
mountebanks, nor yield sway to business or political blackmaiL"
Keither can the American people afford, Mr. Eckels, to be led. by
toady apologists for corruption. Ho would havo the public under
stand that much of the. money misspent by insurance officials was
wrung from them by blackmailers, but the dishonesty and corrup
tion existed before the blackmailing, and the blackmailing arose in
the ranks of those who knew that among the "rich" and "successful"
there were many who posed as respectable citizens while acquiring
their "riches" and "success" through corruption and theft. Mr.
Eckels attempts to re-whiten the sepulchres, but he merely soils his
hands, lie has played with pitch, and has become defiled. No apolo
gist for McCurdy, practices sjiould replace McCurdy as president of
the Mutual Life. . - " - '
t j
' , Ebcn W, Martin of South Dakota has introduced a bill which,
if it becomes a law, will give the government effective control over
corporations, but it Js so radical that congress is startled. Tho pres
ent congress, especially the senate, is apt to be startled by any meas
ure that is honestly designed to control corporations
v If Secretary Cortelyou is not to be a witness before the Arm
strong committee in New York, he should take the president's sug
gestion regarding publicity as a hint and publish the list of those
who contributed to the "republican national campaign fund.
' The case against the Nebraska grain trust was submitted in
the supreme court without argument. It is to be hoped that the
sudden calm which has fallen upon everything connected with this
case is not "a conspiracy of silence" to cover a fiasco,
It is reported that the czar's household is now the scene of
some .family spats. ' The report, that the czar seriously contemplates
flight from Russia must therefore bo Wfcll-ounded.
Mayor Dunne, of Chicago, is still striving for municipal owner
ship, but finds a corrupt council ready to check him at every step.
The United States senate will pay no tribute of respect to poor
Senator Mitchell who was so unlucky as to "be found out.". .
President Roosevelt is apt to meet with more success in regu
lating football than in regulating the railways.
Tho standpatters who awaited the president's message with deep
anxiety, will heave a sigh of relief, . .
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