Page images
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[graphic]

THE M.C. B. ASSOCIATION

RECOMMENDS A

KNUCKLE OPENER

"Which will throw the knuckle completely open and
operate under all conditions of wear and service.”

THIS RECOMMENDATION EXACTLY DESCRIBES THE OPER. ATION OF THE

T

PITT COUPLER

O make the operation of opening the knuckle by means of a "Kicker" as safe as it has always been by hand it is essential that the "Kickers" should work every time. The failure to do so has been the cause of many serious accidents.

We find many switchmen who, taught by experience, disregard the presence of any "Knuckle-Opener" or "Kicker" and open the knuckle, always, by hand. Thus, in a very practical way is made manifest the necessity for a safe design in a "safety-appliance."

The "Knuckle Opener" in the Pitt Coupler is positive in its operation and pushes the knuckle open to its fullest range of movement either from a fully closed position or from any partially open position regardless of rust.

With the Pitt Coupler the switchmen will never be obliged to reach in-on sudden impulse-at the last moment and when the car is in motion to open the knuckle by hand.

Manufactured Only by

The McConway & Torley Co.

PITTSBURGH, PA.

The RAILWAY

CONDUCTOR

Vol. XXII.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, NOVEMBER, 1905.

No. 11.

REAL CAUSES OF MUNICIPAL CORRUPTION.

BY DR. JOHN B. ROBERTS, OF PHILADELPHIA, IN "THE COMMONS," OCTOBER, 1905.

"What is needed now is recognition of the fact that our bad government is due to the men within the circle of our own friends and associates. The ward leaders, the division workers and the poverty-stricken voters of the slums are merely the tools with which our acquaintances rob us of our liberties and unnecessarily increase our taxes."

It is claimed by many that corruption in a city is due to the stolid allegiance of partisan voters to national party, and that separation of municipal from state and national issues is the panacea. That this is fallacious is evident from the fact that state and national governments are as honeycombed with corruption as city councils. The unprejudiced observer

will find the same deals, the same lobbies, the same bribery, the same corruption in Congress, in legislatures, and in town councils.

Some superficial thinkers consider the impecunious and ignorant voter, who is bought by campaign funds, the factor which is to be eliminated to insure honest elections. They believe that cessation of political assessment of office holders, prevention of sale of votes, and disorganization of bands of paid repeaters would work a political millennium.

Those who hold this view see only the puppets and fail to recognize the intellectual and educational strength which is required to effectively move them. Successful political corruption requires acumen, strategy, mental equipment, and courage of the highest type. These qualities are not found in the ignorant classes, but are the characteristics of men of affairs.

It is neither the love of party nor the intellectual deficiency of the vote-seller that permits the election frauds of the present day. These characteristics are not sufficient to drive the average citizen to spontaneous activity.

PERSONAL SELFISHNESS AND INDIFFER

ENCE.

The basic causes of corrupt politics are personal selfishness and indifference to the rights of others. What cares the manufacturer for the economic principles of political parties, if he can succeed in having a high tariff or a state license exclude competition? What matters it to the supplier of coal or petroleum how soon a rival corporation becomes bankrupt, if he can force a secret rebate from the railroad, which carries the product of both? Does anybody believe that the ignorant voter, who sells his vote, is an unsolicited salesman? A much higher intelligence is needed to organize the systematic buying and selling of votes which elects judges, legislators and officers, and enacts laws. It demands for its success the same type of mind as is found in the captains of industry and the presidents of great corporations. The leaders of the corrupt political system of a city and the heads of the indus

trial and corporate enterprises, which are its pride, are often the same individuals. Hence it is so difficult to root out political vices. The men who are seen on the surface are not the real criminals. The latter are respected merchants, trusted bankers, successful manufacturers, envied doctors, well-known lawyers; and even men of conspicuous religious habits, who hypocritically pose as, and pass for, honorable citizens.

The present interest taken in municipal affairs by patriotic citizens makes it necessary to consider this phase of the question. Much energy will be wasted and worthy enthusiasm will be cooled, if the attempts to reform Philadelphia, for instance, are restricted to the elimination of partisanship, the conviction of sellers of votes at twenty-five cents each, and the defeat of condidates of the machine for city offices.

THE PROSECUTION OF BRIBERS.

The cure of city corruption would be almost instantaneous if reform committees, citizens' unions and municipal leagues would secure evidence of bribery, bring to trial and secure conviction of the president and directors of a single large railroad or electric lighting company; or the officers of a bank or trust company that gives illegal interest to officials.

Such a course of action will necessarily require most astute detective service, the employment of legal counsel of the highest and most incorruptible character, and the expenditure of large sums of money. It must be admitted at the start that men who will bribe councils, legislatures, congressmen and courts will not hesitate to bribe the detectives and lawyers employed by any reform organization which attempts to put in jail the leaders of society, the pillars of the church, the promoters of charity, and the skillful of the professions.

The influence and means of the political criminals of whom I speak are almost boundless; but they can be dragged down from their apparently secure position if courage, intelligence and integrity are reinforced by sufficient funds.

What is needed now is recognition of

the fact that our bad government is due to men within the circle of our own friends and associates. The ward leaders, the division workers and the povertystricken voters of the slums are merely the tools with which our acquaintances rob us of our liberties and unnecessarily increase our taxes. Why try to convict of petty criminalities these unimportant persons? If they should perchance be convicted, they are willing to take the penalty of the law and receive reward from our friends for vicarious suffering.

JAIL, NOT FINES, NEEDED.

It is not great inconvenience to such convicted ones to pay a fine, contributed by our financial and business colleagues for protection from personal disgrace. Even should they suffer imprisonment, they need not despair; for are they not taken care of with the contributions of powerful corporations, and as soon as their enforced vacation at government expense is ended are they not given a good job at a fair wage by your friends and mine?

It is well enough to work for the improvement of city charters, the systematizing of municipal accounts, personal registration of voters, a true Australian ballot, the defeat of unworthy candidates and the prevention of ballot frauds. These aims are worthy, but we must shoot at a higher mark. I hope to live to see a railroad president or two, three or four directors of public service corporations, and a couple of lawyers or bank presidents landed in jail, notwithstanding the frantic efforts of highpriced lawyers and physicians to save them by legal technicalities and certificates of mental aberration.

GETTING AT THE REAL CULPRITS. Criticism has heretofore been aimed at

the wrong persons. It has been blaming the bribe-takers instead of the bribegivers, the "hush-money" handlers instead of the "hush-money" raisers; the political servants of the corporations instead of the directors of banks, hospitals, railroads and public utility corporations who employ them. The first state that enacts a law to punish the bribe

« PreviousContinue »