The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-12
TIE GRAND JURY.
The PerAirious Movement TO Introduce Into
II CnrenI CInsA DlatInctIona.

NHTChl u
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sfr: Having
served on the Grand Jury for many years. and
being familiar with the character Of the men
upon the panel from which grand jurors are
drawn, and knowing the supreme Importance OF
the Grand Inquest 20 the peace and order OF this
community, ! beg to call your attention to an
attempt to pervert it from its true purpose by
making 1t representative Of classes" instead of
the whole body of the community.
zee in the World OF this morning that some OF
the labor organizations have been melted to me-
morialize the Board OF Commissioners OF Grand
Jurors. asking that they shall have special rep
rcscntntion on the panel OF Grand Jurors which
is about to be made up. on the ground that the
panel as now existing does not recognize labor
distinctively. The memoria also presents n list
OF names representative Of the labor organiza-
tions for the consideration of that Board.
cannot conceive 1t possible that the Mayor,
the Recorder, and the Judges composing this
Board will heed the request which 80 far departs
from the theory and custom always governing
the selection OF the Grand Jury panel. In the
first place. there Is in reality no such classihca-
ton In this country as that memorial assumes
TO make. There is here no class or Labor, for
there arc 10 classes. The Grand Jury has always
represented and should always represent the
community MS n whole; its best intelligence. its
sobriety, its wisdom. and its sense oi justice.
As 1t now is. according to my long experience
upon 1t. TO such distinctions ever appear In II
or affect It's Judgments ia the slightest degree.
1t Ia invariably IL very serious body. profoundly
impressed with a consciousness of its RESPONSE
blllties to all the community, and beyond the
reach OF influences prejudicial to any, favorRbly
or unfavorably: Influences. moreover, which
could not Affect the Grand Jurors without caus-
Ing them to violate their solemn oaths. II the
lauel WerA mazda nm in accordance with this
memorials request, that is, made representative
OF the citizens with reference to their occupa-
tons specifically. its true character as II bulwerk
OF order and justice would be lost. II would
become the scene OF discussions utterly foreign
to its purpose and function and destructive OF
Its usefulness. 1t would DO used for purposes of
injustice ana oppression.
IL the Board should listen to this memorial it
would assume the responsibility OF striking a
mortal blow at one Of the most essential and
conservative bulwarks or our CIVILIZATION; 1t
would strike ut the very foundations OF the
Grand Jury system. planted. rs thoy are. in the
confidence OF society. and drawing thence the
nourishment essential TO it, vitality.
The only discrimination which should be used
In the selection OF the Grand Jury panel con-
Germs ftness. moral and intellectual. The
utterly false aud wholly pernicious classified
ton introduced by deinHIoEies cannot ne re-
EardeL ny the (rmmlsslOnerS without peril ln
society ~! ,Io!cnce 10 our pOllt cal system ana
the sOclal system which har grown. mp under II:
The memorial is evil wholly; thO Board Hllohld
lRleful consequences which would result from
listening to 1t would bring lasting ana we'll
deserved reprOach ON all the Commissioners.
NEW YORK, Nov. IL. GRAND JUROR.