Britton Weekly Sentinel. (Britton, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 18, Ed. 1 Friday, July 10, 1908 Page: 6 of 8
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P '
DTNC SCENES
IN POLITICS
I.LLO, Hlllj
moan the sal-
ary—to h—II with the sal
ary; but what is there in
it for you 'on the side0' "
"Not a cent, .lust the
salary, that's all."
"Come off! Why, two of
had gotten away with
forty or fifty thousand dol-
lars, It was an entirely
different proposition. He
could then put up a good,
stiff "blufT." In the first
place, it was "up to him"
to pooh-pooh all rumors or
assertions which had been
made against his office.
Next, to explain that all
this talk about "graft"
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4
THE CHSAP
ANY flvENDS
IIP
Truth and
Quality
appeal to the Well-informed in every
walk of life and are essential to permanent
success and creditable standing. Accor-
ingly, it is not claimed that Syrup of l'ig*
and Elixir of Senna is the only remedy of
I known value, but one of many reasons ^at
I why it is the best of personal and family Bobby—I had to,
I laxatives i* the fact that it cleanses, bad hold of my hair!
sweetens and relieves the internal organs
on which it acts without any debilitating
after effects and without having to increase
\he quantity from time to time.
It acts pleasantly and naturally and
truly as a laxative, and its component
parts are known to and approved by
physicians, as it is free from all objection-
able substances. To get its beneficial
any friends. In the first
place, he had not stolen
enough so as to lay away
anything for high-priced
lawyers, so he could
neither pose as a martyr,
nor go into court and make
a fight. Usually he "lost
his job for quite a while,"
his petty peculations were
laughed at, and he found
himself in the street, an effects always purchase the genuine
object of contempt and manufactured by the California Fig Syrup
jeers. Ilut when a roan , Q[Jy> anJ for ^ by all luaJing Jrug
Father—I told you not to go with
father, 'cause ht
Never Fails.
"There is one remedy, and only on®
I have ever found, to cure without fail
such troubles in my family as eczema,
ringworm and all others of an itching
character. That remedy is Hunt's
Cure We always use it and it never
fails." W. M. CHRISTIAN.
50c per box. Rutherford, Tenn.
that last bunch cleaned up ten thousand apiece be-
foro they walked the plank."
j "Well, it's a new deal. No side issues for me.
(Just the little old four thou. That's all."
"Why, you ain't honest, are you. Jack?"
"Well, I never had Honest John' tacked onto
mo for a handicap, but 1 don't want to go along
the street looking back to see if anyone's following
jne."
"But those fellows are alive and well today, and
the statute of limitations has run on 'em
"Yes, maybe; but it would be Just my luck to
get 'snaked.' My tailor says stripes are unbecoming
on tall men. anyway."
"You're foolish, Jack."
"A regular lobster. Hilly; but when I'm let out
I want to Bleep nights, without listening for some
one to ring the door-bell and ask how about it?'"
The foregoing conversation is verbally a correct
transcript between an appointee to u city office and
a political acquaintance, the well-known and almost
"dlsbaried" attorney, the Hon. William "Skiphis-
name." It occurred Just as written down, and is
merely given to illustrate the general idea prev-
alent among the crooked, the crafty and the un-
scrupulous that public office was a private "snap."
The salary was sup|>08ed to be merely expense
money for being in the political game; the real
"money" was to be gotten out of "side deals,''
schemes where the official was to use bis influence
and his opportunities to get into "something good."
whereby for favors either directly or indirectly
granted he got what is known sometimes as his
"rake-off," or his "bit."
If he was in a position where contracts were to
be let "to the lowest bidder" it was bis business,
If a "grafter," to see that his "man" was the low
est bidder, or to have a "combination" among the
bidders so that the contracts would bo divided
among two or three favored firms or Individuals;
or to work in some one as sub-contractor, or in
various ways "get a finger in the pie," so that he
could "hoip up" somebody for "a divvy." Where
Individual officials had the entire control of their
offices, their opportunities for "graft" were, of
course, extensive; where officials were co-associated
in city work, there had to be either a complete and
general understanding as to "crooked work." or
there might be underhand work by one or two
men which was hidden from the rest.
The public had weird and unique ideas about
"graft." The fact that "grafting" was carried on
In city ball and city departments to a greater or
less extent during every political administration
was a fact that was" undeniable. Sometimes an ad-
ministration was especially corrupt; sometimes the
administration was headed by a man who was even
by his bitterest enemies acknowledged to be strict-
ly honest. Hut as no one man could oversee the
Ins and outs of every department in the city, there
was bound to be some "grafting." however petty,
somewhere in the various offices or departments.
' But the public generally seemed to be of the opin-
ion that the instant a man was appointed or elect
ed to office his entire nature changed. The people
Imagined, apparently, that a business man whose
Integrity, through many years, had never been
questioned became "crooked" the instant he took
the oath of office. ..ml because of this, the most
Insulting and libelous statements were being ban-
died back and forth by irresponsible parties, con-
cerning men who were honestly and conscientiouslv
doing their duty in public offices.
Citizens who appropriated without any legal right
the sidewalks in front of their stores for shipping
purposes—men who would follow an alderman for
weeks in order to get a bay-window put in a down-
town shop contrary to the ordinances, people who
hung about the city hall from dawn to twilight try-
ing to get a railroad pass, would enter a public
office with the air of Daniel going down the eleva-
tor into the lions' den. And if a question was asked
them when they stated their business, they always
imagined it had a hint of graft in It. Well, now.
let me tell you. These folks that are always scent-
ing "graft" In every public office and officer these
"Holy Willies" that assume such an "unco guid '
air, they are often the people that will bear watch-
ing themselves.
The fact of the matter was that that real "graft"
was handled by men who worked it so that nearly
always it was entirely legal, in the strict letter
of the law. A measley five or ten-dollar bill handed
here and there for soiue favor was a mere bagatelle.
And as for "graft" in politics, the legislatures of the
various states are as might) universities to kin-
dergartens compared to city administrations. As
for the United States senate—but that is the "king
row" on the political checker board, and not a mat-
ter for comment in this article
Money Is the cheapest and least dangerous form
of "graft." 1 mean money that buys favors; bribes.
In a word. Hig ' graft" concerns itself with shares,
"stock," "interests"—things that cannot be traced
so easily to corrupt sources. Hig grafters are afraid
of cold cash They mailt something that can be
^ists.
A Cold Lunch.
The pupils of a distinguished pro-
fessor of zoology, a man well known
for his eccentricities, noted one day
two tidy parcels lying on their in
structor's desk as they passed out at
the noon hour. On their return to
the laboratory for the afternoon lec
ture they saw but one. This the pro
fessor took carefully up in his hand
as he opened his lecture.
"In the study of vertebrata we have
taken the frog as a type. Let us now
examine the gastrocnemius muscle of
this dessected specimen."
So saying the professor untied the
string of his neat parcel and disclosed
to view a ham sandwich and a boiled
egg.
"But I have eaten my lunch," said
the learned man bewilderedly.—Lip
pincott's.
DOCTOR SAID "USE CUTICURA"
/f\1 "wtinr s ths coN<sr/ rur/ON
manipulated fo that the ugly word "mon-
ey'' ran be eliminated in case of an ex- M
posure. Cash is a hard commodity to "jussle
hut shares and stocks can be better explained
to a jury. So only the ignorant or most brazen
of the big ' grafters" go after the money in the
form of I . S bank bills. Records are telltales;
and money taken wrongfully and unaccounted for
often returns to plague the hypothecator with a
penitentiary sentence.
Another thins that seems to be overlooked is
that legislation will not cure "grafting. True,
it can and does punish the Individual; but noth-
ing but an aroused spirit of higher citizenship will
effect a general cure of the evil. If you want to
know how many people In your city and county
are out after "something for nothing" get into a
political position which either actually gives you
chances for bestowing favors, or apparently offers
the opportunity. Ninety-five per cent, of the peo-
ple who call on you come for the purpose of hav-
ing you do them some favor, either for them-
selves or others; and they are not at all particu-
lar about how the favor is done, so that it be
done. For myself, 1 know I was bombarded day
and night after I got into office with requests that
ranged all the way from the Impudent to the Ig-
norant. Requests to aid in the way of evading
or ignoring city ordinances were matters of dally
occurrence. And the charming thing about it
was that the parlies assumed that this was a mat-
ter of course in the routine business of the city
hall. It was not merely "what's the constitution
between friends?" but "what's honesty between
acquaintances?"
"Skate" No. 1 would introduce "Skate" No. 2,
and the latter would unfold a scheme to "pull
off" something in some other department of the
city hail, which was not only against all canons
of decency as regarded common honesty, but so
ridiculously apparent that no one but an ignoram-
us would concoct such a plan. Now these things
happened so often that if you got mad at each
occurrence you would be In a slate of semi apo-
plexy half the time The only thing to do was to
cut the interview short by saying "I haven't any-
thing to do with that department; if you have
any business with that end of the city go there
yourself."
But when you come to pin down any great
amount of "graft" in most of the city administra-
tions' offices you failed, from the simple reason
that there was comparatively little of it. Was it
because greater publicity and greater vigilance
was being had through a hostile press and a
watchful opposite party? Or was it because an
improvement was being made In the character of
the men elected and appointed? Or was it both?
At any rate, there was a steady advance for the
better during the cycle of at least eight years of
my experience in politics. Given an able and
vigilant man at the head of a city's affairs, and
"graft" will be reduced to a minimum during his
term of office. Given any other kind of a man,
and once more "graft" will lift its hydra head.
It is a curiuus thing about manifestation, that the
tendency to make "a little on the side" seems to
lie apparent in all administrations, but is either
dormant or •'active as the man at the helm is
either alert or Inattentive, I.Ike yellow fever In
Cuba, it is always present, even if only one case
of It.
The cheap "grafter." when found out, never had
In Bad Case of Eczema on Child—
Disease Had Reached a Fearful
State—His Order Resulted
in Complete Cure.
"When I was small I was troubled
with eczema for about three months.
It was all over my face and covered
nearly all of my head. It reached
Buch a state that it was Ju3t a large
scab all over, and the pain and itching
were terrible. I doctored with an able I
physician for some time and was then j
advised by him to use the Cuticura j
Remedies which I did and I was en-
tirely cured. I have not been bothered
with it since. I used Cuticura Soap j
and Cuticura Ointment but do not j
know exactly how much was used to
complete the cure. I can safely say
that Cuticura did a lot for me. Miss
Anabel Wilson, North Branch, Mich.,
Oct. 20. 1907."
Certainly.
"Why do you always read the new*
paper criticisms of the opera so caro
fully after you have attended a per.
formance?"
' People will be sure to ask about It,
and one must be able to answer as
if one understood something about It*
you know."
One Bottle or Lest.
Malaria is easy to contract in soma
localities, and hard to get rid of—
that is, if the proper remedy is not
used. Cheatham's Chill Tonic frees
any one from It promptly and thor-
oughly. It is guaranteed to cure any
kind of Chills. One bottle or less
will do it. _
The Word of Excuse.
Ascum—I've often wondered what a
diplomat really means when he speaks
of expediency.
Wise—Usually it means that his di-
plomacy has failed.
TO RTSTKMt.
Take the Old Standard liKOVB'rf TASTKLKSd
< HILL TON 10. Y.ui know what you are taking.
Tin- tomiula Is nlainly printed on every bottlu,
thowinK't simply yulnin unJ Iron In a taht«*iem
form, and t m most ••ffectual form, fcor grown
pvcpluuml children- 60c.
A girl will forgive a young man
quicker for kissing her against her
will than for not being interested
enough to try.
was the work of political enemies or "a dis-
charged employe seeking revenge." A very fine
article of "rosy talk" was usually indulged in by
a "grafter" who "was on the run."
Then, when he was finally indicted, his lawyers
would consent to tell what an outrage It was that
their client should be so persecuted. All criminal
proceedings which seek to bring a "grafter" to
"book" are known by his lawyers as "man-hunts."
The big "grafter's" friends flock to the court-
room, and quite frequently the utmost courtesy
is extended to him by officials high up in Jail
circles; especially if he be of the same party as
the jail officials. If he happens to be on the other
side of the political fence, these courtesies are
omitted.
After a big "grafter" is convicted there is the
usual appeal to the higher courts and a lot of
skirmishing to keep him out of the penitentiary,
but he gets there just the same. He may, after
serving a year of his sentence, become so ill
that he will have to be pardoned. If he has re-
turned part of the money he stole, this is a chance
not to be overlooked. But if he is "stiff-necked"
and insists on hanging on to what he got, the
chances are not so favorable. Only a ridiculously
small percentage of the big "grafters" have been
punished. Some of the biggest of them all have
absorbed their graft legally. But it was "graft,"
nevertheless. On many, the statute of limitations
has "run," and prosecution made impossible. But
it is cheering to relate that "grafting" is not quite
so fashionable as it used to be by reason of these
prosecutions; and much as the "reformer" has
been held up to ridicule, it has been the reformer
and the reform organizations that have made
"grafting," if not unpopular, at least dangerous.
Petty "grafting" can never be wholly stamped
out, as It can be handed around by means of
presents, privileges, etc., in such a way that it
cannot be traced so as to provide ground for
criminal prosecutions.
The technical term "graft." while peculiarly
applied to politics, is not confined to that sphere
only, llusiness, banking and railroad circles have
the disease. In city administrations the spot
where it is liable to make most Insidious headway
is in city councils. There it may be found either
indirectly or directly apparent. And it is there,
after all, that it is most dangerous, because affect-
ing an entire city. If a public official steals from
his office, it is not such a direct injury to the
public man as the man who "sells out" to jam a
franchise through a council.
And so, In the last analysis, the eyes of the re-
formers and the citizens should be fixed steadily
on city councils. The best candidates for alder-
men are none too good; the salary should be
such that a man could give all of his time to the
work and be well and even handsomely paid. If
the public expects a man to give >5,000 worth
of time in the city council for J3.000 salary, they
are merely putting a premium on "grafting."
The day of the brazen "grafter" has gone by.
The new regime is making for better things. The
only way that "grafting" can flourish nowadays
Is by having a city administration In full accord
with the most influential newspapers of a city,
apply the "graft" legally, pocket the "rake-off,"
point to the "statutes In such case made and pro-
vided," and so far as the public is concerned, "let
the galled Jade wine#."
The reward which life holds out for
work, is not idleness nor rest nor Im-
munity from work, but Increased ca-
pacity, greater difficulties, more work.
—Powers.
GOOD HOltSEKREPRIIS.
lTee the best. That's why they buy Red
L'rou Ball Blue. At leading grocers 5 cents.
It's surprising how brave the av-
erage man is when there isn't any
real danger in sight.
Smokers appreciate the quality value of
Lewis' Single Binder cigar. \our dealer
or Lewis' Factory, Peoria, 111.
Being bitten by a toothless dog
must be a soft snap.
Proof is inexhaustible that
Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable
Compound carries women safely
through the Change of Life.
Read the letter Sirs. E. Hanson,
304 E. Long St., Columbus, Ohio,
writes to Mrs. I'inkham:
" I was passing through the Change
of Life, and suffered from nervous- :
ness, headaches, and other annoying
symptoms. My doctor told me that
Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Com-
pound was good for me, and since tak- i
ing it I feel so much better, and I can j
again do my own work. I never forget
to tell my friends what Lydia E. Pink-
ham's Vegetable Compound did for me
during this trying period."
FACTS FOR SICK WOMEN.
For thirty years Lydia E. Pink-
ham's Vegetable Compound, made
from roots and herbs, has been the
standard remedy for female ills,
and has positively cured thousands of
women who have been troubled with
displacements, inflammation, ulcera-
tion, fibroid tumors, irregularities,
periodic pains, backache, that bear- 1
ing-down feeling, flatulency, indiges-
tion, dizziness or nervous prostration.
Why don't you try it ?
Mrs. Pinkham invites all sick
women to write lioi- for advice.
She lias guided thousands to
health. Address, Ly uii, Mass.
Food
Products
Libby's Cooked
Corned Beef
There's a big differ-
ence between just
corned beef—the kind
sold in bulk — and
Libby's Cooked Corned
Beef. The difference
is in the taste, quality of
meat and natural flavorl
Every fiber of the
meat of Libby's Cooked
Corned Beef is evenly
and mildly cured,
cooked scientifica lly
and carefully packed in
Libby's Greal While Kitchen
It forms an appetiz-
ing dish, rich in food
value and makes a sum-
mer meal that satisfies!
For Quick Serving:—
Libby's Cooked Corn-
ed Beef, cut into thin
slices. Arrange on a
platter and garnish with
Libby's Chow Chowi
A tempting dish for
luncheon,dinner,supper
Write for free
bookie t—'Horn
to Male Good,
T\biij9 t J£uL"
Insist o
libby's el
y«ur dealers.
Libby. McNeill i
Libby, Chicago
DR. A. D. YOUNG
NERVOUS AND MENTAL DISEASES.
OKLAHOMA CITY. « OKLAHOMA.
Long Distance Phone. P. B. X. 98.
PENSIONS
Toxns Voluntoprs. lfttt-fiO entitled. Wrlto Nathnu
Ultkforil, l44 N. Y. Ave., WASUl.NUIOfi., U. U
New taws
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Vincent, Zilpah M. Britton Weekly Sentinel. (Britton, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 18, Ed. 1 Friday, July 10, 1908, newspaper, July 10, 1908; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc142352/m1/6/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.