Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1895-03-27
APPOINTMENT o. AM Ex.coNMcT.


APPOINTMENT OF AN Ex-cONVIcT.
Hawatha Journal.
The leaders of the republican party
have had great deal to say about some
of the appointeeS of ex- Governor Lew
elling. In the last campaign the whole
talk was that when Morrill, became
governor Kansas would be redeemed
and regenerated. 1t is being done with
a vengeance.
Behold the appointment of Jess
White of Pratt county, formerly of
Brown county, member of the state
board of pardons.
We have obtained from the records
of the district clerks Office a copy of
the indictment, verdict aud sentence of
Jess White on the criminal charge set
out i'll the indictment. The charge was
very serious one and White barely
escaped going to the penltentiary.
Is such man fit TO sit on the board
of pardons? What confidence can peo-
pie have in such appointments? We
have yet TO hear one citizen OF Brown
county utter word in approval of the
governors action in this case. On the
other hand men of all parties utterly
repudiate and condemn 1t. Outside of
the conviction of this man of the of
Tense charged against him, any man
that knows him says he is wholly un
fitted for such responsible position as
he has been appointed to. Gov. Nor
rill knew the man well and knew what
his record was in Brown county. 1t
will not do for him to say that Jess
White was highly recommended for the
office of grain inspector by the people
of Pratt county. There is very great
difference between grain inspector and
pardon board members. 1t must be
conceded that Gov. Morrill, knew this
material for the pardon board. What
will be result when a case similar TO that
of Jess White Is presented TO the board
of pardons. of which he is member. 1t
will not be difficult to predict the out
come. IL is humiliating TO the people
of Kansas that such a man will have to
consider and decide great questions in
yolving the lives and liberties of her
citizens. 1t is the most responsible Of
flee under the constitution and laws of
Kansas. The board should be COM
posed of the purest and best men in
the state. They should be men that
are above suspicion and especially men
that have not been convicted of serious
crimes themselves. 1t is upon the rec
ommendato1 Of This board that the
governor pardons convicts of the peni-
Tertiary. But this appointment OF
White cannot be considered in any 9TH
er light than as reward for political
services in the nomination for govern
or. Republicans who know HIM will
not talk about Fred Close or Artz any
more, they now have enough to keep
them busy answering questions about
Jess White and the pardon board. We
pity Chas. Smith, who Is one Of the
members as he is said to be a clean,
honest and upright man. He will find
out where he is at before he serves very
long. But the regenerating business Is
fOurlshing and this is business ad.
mlnistratIon, as Sol Miller has said
Good morning business! How is the
pardon board flourishing! We shall
haye more TO say on this subject, as it
is prolific one to consider. Contem-
plate. Let the people of Kansas read
the record that we publish in this issue
of our paper that they re posted on the
pardon board under this business ad-
ministratiOn.'