Salt Lake Telegram | 1924-01-29 | Page 8 | The Best Policy

I The Best Policy J RECENT O disclosures in n th the Teapot dome investigation in in- f but serve to emphasize an anA anold A i. i old truth Honesty is was and always will be bethe the best policy In public or private life the upright course is the only one which leads to enduring success success The oil disclosures redirect redirect re rc- re- re direct attention to a dangerous element which besets American government Certain public officials draw fine finc distinctions i ii their individual individual indi indi- vidual acts Graft very often is defended as being the natural reward of public service The Teapot dome scandal is one oni of the most shocking in the history of f our govern- govern ment lent It cannot be passed over lightly Nothing Nothing Nothing Noth Noth- ing but a public prosecution of the charges will ever satisfy the le people There j is an ran indication th that t this feeling is shared by President Coolidge and that th the whole nasty mess mess will be probed to o the bottom It It is a wholesome indication indic that the president means to have the case considered free of I political and partisan considerations He apparently will engage counsel who hold the respect and confidence of the AmerI American Amer Amer- I ican people with instruction to act freely and ind andin indin in compI complete te accord with the intent of the laws of the nation regardless of who who may suffer No other course can b be pursued There can be no friendships and nd no partisan considerations in things which reflect on th the integrity of or v American statesmanship Things look bla black blackfor blackfor K for Mr Fall Fan He is the central figure in our i gr greatest national scandal Innocent or guilty the suffering he is undergoing undergoing un- un is worth infinitely more than any figure which has as yet been mentioned But ButI I cven even cven as he suffers he cannot be foe spared the scrutiny of the law He must face hi his his' accusers accusers ac ac- c. c in court and bear the full fun responsibility of his acts no matter maner what it costs him These particular elements should be understood by every public official and every aspiring politic politician c clan cian m for they poi point t to ti the e disaster which l lurks i in n the path of the man who resorts to questionable questionable questionable ques- ques i acts in n the service of the public J 1 We Ve have had entirely too much graft in public office It has been found in city state and national governments It is t to be punished punished punished pun pun- to the fullest extent of the law Here Herein in Utah we have had much of pf dishonesty We Ve have been inclined to forgive and forget and this g gets ts us nowhere encouraging rather than discouraging graft and corruption in the pub- pub lie Bc service In his own mind every man manthe j knows the great difference between right and nd wrong rong and those who accept special emoluments ments for performing public d duties ties ties' will al alJ als always al- al J ways ys s be subject to doubt i