Digital Extra: The Journal's 175th Anniversary

07.21.2004

1912. Assembly accused of graft -- imagine that

The front-page political cartoon on April 9, 1912, depicted a hairy black crab-like monster devouring the Rhode Island State House.

The monster's name was GRAFT.

"Out in the open," the headline read. "A good time to smash it."

Subtle? No.

But neither was the graft contained in a public utilities bill that had passed the House and was heading to a Senate committee. A section of the bill would have required railroad companies "to give free transportation to members of the Legislature," The Journal reported.

"We have heard about railroads attempting to coerce Legislatures. Here is a case, it appears, where individual legislators are able to coerce the railroads."

A sarcastic Journal editorial suggested that the "pass grabbers at the State House" should have been more specific in drafting the bill. Would the free rail requirement apply to legislators who took street cars? Maybe not, The Journal said.

"It would be a pity," the paper suggested, "to miss any part of the possible graft."

Journal files

This political cartoon, prompted by a proposed bill that would have forced railroads to give free rides to legislators, was published April 9, 1912, on the front page of The Journal.

The "pass graft" measure did not survive the publicity: the state Senate quietly killed the amendment.