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Show Th Ktynctt of Gr&ft. Grand Rapids, Miclv, is a town that for years was a hotbed at municipal corruption. City officials found out that it was easy .to graft, and they grafted. . Finally the espese csone. The accused officials were indicted.' Many of them liave been tried and convicted. The ringleader has turned State's evidence. evi-dence. " He is L. K. Salsbury, formerly City Attorney. Attor-ney. Former Mayor Perry is now on trial on a charge of bribery, and in testifying against him recently Kalsbury said Terry had repeatedly declared in his hearing that "WHEN MEN COME HERE TO BUY, -CITY OFFICIALS ARE' JUSTIFIED IN , TAKING THEIR MONEY." That is the keynote of graft. TIIE MAX ACCEPTING THE BRIBE SATISFIES SATIS-FIES HIS CONSCIENCE BY MAKING HIM-. HIM-. SELF BELIEVE THE OTHER MAN IS THE GUILTY ONE. He reasons that the money is going to be used, and that if he does not take it some one else will. Such men would not be dishonest in business. They would not beat their grocer out of his bill. They would not fail to meet an obligation promptly. But put them in office and their point of view changes. They think they are justified because the man who approaches them shows by his act that he is dishonest. . THEY REGARD IT AS NO CRIME TO TAKE MONEY FROM A MAN WHO IS-WILLING TO RESORT TO BRIBERY. They say to themselves, "We would be foolish if we didn't take it. No one will know, and we might awell have it as see it go to others." St. Louis, Minneapolis, Grand Rapids and other cities have found the boodlers out, but think how many other cities there are where, the expose has not yet come. Men in whom all have confidence are elected to office and straightway they forget their duty to the public, to their families and to their friends, and graft because they think they are Justified Justi-fied in taking the money when men come to buy. IT RUINS REPUTATIONS AND FAMILIES, IT DESTROYS THE FAITH OF MEN IN EACH - OTHER AND IT CAUSES STIGMA TO ATTACH TO OFFICIALS WHO ARE REALLY HONEST. THE ACCEPTANCE OF BRIBES IS-ONE OF THE GRAVEST CRIMES AGAINST THE MORAL MOR-AL LAW THATCANJfUCOilinTTEp. |