THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Tuesday, February 2, 1909. CORRUPTION IN THE UNITED ESTATES.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12454, 2 February 1909, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Tuesday, February 2, 1909. CORRUPTION IN THE UNITED ESTATES.

To the long and unsavoury list 1 corrupt practices -in the : political life of the United States, brought to light recently, additions are promised by the advocates of an enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the purchase of the Panama Canal. Although Congress has authorised the setting up of a Commission of Enquiry, it is hoped and believed that the charges -will- prove -to be merely j the -spiteful and vindictive concoctions of disappointed politicians, and to have 'no foundation in fact; in as far as- least as they implicate high officials of State. The political affairs of America during the recent Presidenti:d election were ransacked for discreditable , transactions, and exposed' before the bar, of .public opinion with a thoroughness and system that has not been exhibited in any of the attacks upon: political immorality which have occurred ,-formany yonrs past with such distressing regullarity and ■ re-: suits. Tihe greatest sensation of tho campaign, was the divulgation by Mr W. B : ,. Hearst of letters from Mr Archbold, of the Standard Oil Trust, to certain politicians." It is no wonder that they roused a storm of indignainon. throughout ' the country. "My dear Senator, 1 "' runs a letter to Mr Foraker, "here is .still another very objectionable Bill. It is so outrageo us as to be ridiculous. But it needs, to be looked after. I hope there will be no difficulty in killing it;" Three years later Mr Archbold writ as to Mr Foraker : "We are'sur- j prised beyond measure to learn that Sihi'th.W. Bennett, brother-in-law of B. S. Bennett, recently AttorneyGen era/I of Ohio, is in the race for the "Att orney-Generalship of Ohio on the Republican ticket. Bennett -was associate )d with Moimett in the case 'against "us in- Ohio, and I would like ,to tell y«ou something of our experiences arh d impressions of the man gained in that case. If you know him at al 1 I am sure you will agree j that his > candidacy ought not to be seriously considered from any point i of view/ Referring to ; a Bill introduced' intc • the Senate to curb the Trusts, JVli' r Archbold writes that it seems "v» ry unnecessarily severe, oven vicioii s," and hopes. Mr Foraker will oppoiso it.' Several of the letters .contain i rei -y, large payments. Mr Foraker ex, plained that these letters and pay ments referred' to professional sendees rendered to the Trust, liufe the statement failed to satisfy 1 jho pViblic,..who were not in a mood to toi^sider any explanation in the i ! ace O £V such Evidence. Mr James £liWoy,a. Pennsylvania politician, is describex.l by the correspondent of ' r 'T"he Times" as having been Democratic >. and Republican in turn, |,bu.t alw'aye'r a Standard Oil man. "A United 'Sta tes Senator came to me to- ' day to ma' ke a loan of 1000 dollars," writes Mr Sibley to the Standard Oil magaa .te. I told him I did not 1 have it, t rat would try and get it, for him, : and would let him have it in a day or two- Would youwant to make' £ he investment? He is/me that weaK I do anything in the world that is rfg 1 ht for his friends if need-, cd. Pleas c telegraph me Tes' or 'No' I w ill give you-the name when I see ytsuV' ' It is not recorded whether thff S itandard Oil nia'de the investment*