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Show w 4 A THE CITIZEN experiments and hurried shipbuilding when the crisis came, would not have been necessary. The real fault, therefore, of the shipping fiasco of war times, lies in the neglect of the people of the United States through their representatives in the government; in failing to see that there was a real merchant marine on the high seas, flying thfcp American flag. And we are now again confronted with the question of what we are going to do about keeping the Stars and Stripes on the committed. ocean. It is generally admitted that goverment direction, or increase? crime Every some sort of federal aid will be necessary to maintain an adeUnder such conditions, why shouldnt incentive is offered to breed criminals. quate merchant marine. in aid Have you ever had the experience in soliciting police The reasons for it are both patriotic and economic. We need truth! the know Then criminal? of a arrest you securing the the marine because it will protect us from foreign shipping his home to make a trip A few days ago a businessman left monopolies which could just as easily gouge us as the rubber childtwo and house the in about the state, leaving two women monopoly did. drove automobile an his up ren. A night or so after departure, And then we need the marine for national defense. With There to the curb in front of the house and parked for the night. out it we will be as helpless if we are suddenly plunged in anbecame women The car. the in two drunks naturally were other war as we were in the last, and the shipping fiasco may be the four times, called and up police headquarters frightened Money spent in advance, therefore, on a merchant malast call being made at two oclock in the morning. Finally, repeated. rine will be economically and wisely invested. becoming fatigued, they retired, but when they got up at seven These occasional million dollar bonfires of war time ships oclock in the morning the car was still there and at eight oclock ought to impress upon the American people the advisability of the soaks left. having at all times an adequate merchant marine. The two women will never be made to believe that Commissioner Burton is the right man in the right place. To hear him EXPENSIVE JOBS. tell it, it is an unforgiveable crime to make a bet or to play a game of cards. What is there about a political job that is worth the price If the police department is not subject to calls in cases of this kind, then we would like to know what we have a force for paid for it? Why do some office seekers spend many times the amount at all. Surely we should not expect to pay big wages to men whose chief duty is to mark automobiles on streets that are twice they receive in salaries? It cost about $3,000,000 to be mayor of New York City ! It as wide as streets of other large cities. Another case that has come to our attention is where a home cost about $3, 000,000. The salary of a New York mayor is was robbed early one evening. A small boy that was awakened Senator in Pennsylvaia ! took a shot at the burglar. The father returned soon after and People are doing a great deal of thinking these days about called police lieadjuarters and it took him just fifteen minutes the way and the price paid for political jobs. There is no denyto get the office. The man was so infuriated that he requested ing that the recent expose of the expenditures, connected with the telephone operator to make a record of the time. Finally the primary campaign in Pennsylvania, have astonished and diswhen the office was secured, he was informed to call the sheriffs tressed a great many people. Some of our local Democratic frieds are pointing to the exoffice. It would appear that Burton takes the entire night shift travagance of the Pennsylvania Republican would-b- e senators out for scout duty, but some one ought to be left in charge of who have spent fortunes in securing a nomiation, but these Democrats forget that to elect a Democrat mayor in New York City the office. Commissioner Burton may think lie is making a hit but the costs about $3,000,000. The salary of a New York mayor is term, yet 120 times more is only way he can make a hit is to round up the real thugs and $25,000 per year for a four-yecriminals. spent to be elected than the superficial cost of the job is worth. How can it be done? It is claimed that it is impossible to secure the arrest of Yet the big contrast cited in salary and election costs in several well known bootleggers, but if any of the sniff hounds spy a flask on the hip there is a big capture. Or if some one is New York cannot be regarded as a justification of the Pennsylcaught betting on a horse race or a ball game he is instantly vania totals. It is said that nobody maintains that the candidates in yanked into the calaboose. Any official or officer that wants to establish a record for Pennsylvania spent money on their own volition, but under our efficiency must show results by capturing the real criminals and present system of direct primary nominations involved all the place them behind the bars. expenses which go with an election. If the candidates dont put up the money, do their friends BURNING MONEY put up the money because they expect to receive favors in return ? Who pays for the favors ? Why, of course, the people. How millions of the taxpayers hard earned money is being It is said that the people demand primary elections, but that wasted is shown in press dispatches that carry the story of the is a bugaboo. The primary system was invented to control local destruction, on Hendersons Bay, near Tacoma, Wash., of thir- conditions and a poor man has no chance in a nomination beteen ships which cost the people of the United States $4,250,000. cause he has not the price, nor can he get it. These were war-tim- e The people favor conventions, but the people are gradually ships intended to carry supplies to the American troops overseas, but which never left their home ports for losing their voice in government and we are surely drifting away the reason that the war ended before they could be put into use. from the good old Constitution of the United States. The boats had been purchased from the government by a private In Indiana, in appreciation of the double expense and the concern and were burned to salvage scrap in them. elimination of few men as possible candidates, both Democratic', No matter what one may think about our shipping policy and Republican party platforms contain planks condemning the during the World War, it must be admitted that if the United primary system, and asking for a return of the nominating conStates had possessed an adequate merchant marine of its own ventions for the selection of candidates. at the outbreak of the conflict, the expenditure of billions upon We ought to return to the convention in this state, or else These tramps who walk around in the daytime to see what they can pick up at night can never be trusted, and the only place where their behavior is good and where they remain honest is behind the prison bars. Thousands of criminals are given another chance to make does not good every year in this country, until now even murder create any unusual excitement. In fact it is hard to secure the arrest of a criminal, and if one is taken occasionally, his sentence and term if imprisonment is a joke as compared with the crime law. ar |