"THE SHAME AND GLORY OF AMERICA."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 128, 21 May 1908, Page 4

"THE SHAME AND GLORY OF AMERICA."

What Mr. Smalley. tile Xew York cor-..-.pondciil of the. London Times, wrioi. contrasting the New I'ork Tenements Kxhibilion with the arrival of the United States battleship licet at San Francisco, termed "the slianm and glory of America'' has been further illustrated. At a time when, the vast majority of the people are given over to welcoming the ollicers and men ot the licet, and when the whole of the coastal cities are gay with bunlling and lluwers, the ''gratters'' ami criminals who have dragged llui fair fame of San Francisco in the nnid continue, their work of plotting and c oiii-piracy. They are in a tight corner., and arc desperate. So far they ha\o succeeded ill defeating the reformers, in defying the courts, and in' trampling on public opinion. One last vigorous effort and the game would lie won. Sclimilz. and Knell' are at largo, honest citizens despair of their punishment, and "graft'' ami "grafters" still rule the city. If.

therefore, a few inconvenient witnesses could be got out of the way, victory is certain. In American "politics" an ini-peiliiin-nt of this s"il is easily removed. Whal in Crcal Britain would be recog--em- no dilliculties in. the United State-. If the witness cannot be bribed, then lii s extinction by assassination may follow. That is the American way, and that is the plan the San Francisco grafters have fallen back on. Mr. (oilhigher, the chief Slate witness against a high ollicial in the United Kailraid graft cases, not being amenable to iintmcial pcrsua-ioii. wa.s marked for assassinaiion. lie has escaped with his life, but both he and his wife were injured, and his house was dynamited to pieces. The incident is typical of the methods adopted in the ever-present war in America between Labor and Capital and between Honesty and Dishonesty.