The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-10-27
LOOK TO THE PARDON BOARD
The Duty of Honest Citizens in the Present
Crisis Clearly and Vigorously
Pointed Out - sLet No
Guilty Man Escape"

There are many things the people of
Pennsylvania should bear in mind at
this time. At the Jenks and reform
mass meeting at Jenkintown on Tues
day last Edwin K. Hart, the we'll
known independent Republican editor
of Philadelphia. spoke as follows:
There is one point rising in the minds
of the people of Pennsylvania at this
time of great Importance. and under
the circumstances full of suggestive
ness. There is no page in the history
of the state more disgraceful than that
which records the action Of the pardon
board in defeating the ends Of Justice
in connection with the riot bill con-
spirators of 20 years ago. The average
citizen has no conception of what was
going on at that time, out Of sight of
the public, but the terrific pressure
brought to bear in behalf of justly con-
victed men was only indicative of the
tremendous power exercised by the po-
litical machine, and which at that time
did not begin to compare in strength
and general viciousness with what 1t Is
today. Influential men in every depart
ment of political, business and social
life were dragooned into irdorsing the
unrghteous demand for the instant
release of the notorious William H.
Kemble and his co-partners in shame
less guilt. Shall history repeat itself?
1t surely will, in case the men charged
with criminal wrongdoing in relation to
the state treasury should be convicted,
as there Is every reason to believe they
will be, and should the Quay machine
continue in power at the state capital.
The pardon board Ia composed of the
attorney general and secretary of the
commonwealth, appointed by the gov
ernor; the lieutenant governor and the
secretary of internal affairs, who will
be elected this fall. Does any sane man
believe that the nominees on the Re-
publican ticket for the last two places
named, Goblin and Latta, the obedient
servants of Quay In all things, and the
other two members of the pardon board
who would be appointed by the Quay
governor to act with them. would re-
fuse the demand for immediate re-
lease, IL the Peoples bank defendants
should be behind prison walls? And
not only in such a case. but IN all
others Of like character, the pardon
board, under machine control, would
be subservient to the master and would
do whatever was demanded of II sooner
or later. OF this there can be no man
ner of doubt. The people of this great
state are not vindictive; they believe
in justice to all men. high and low. but
they are profoundly convinced that the
power of the political machine should
not be permitted to interfere with the
administration Of justice. 1t Is, there
fore, their privilege and their duty to
see to 1t that the state government.
when the day Of reckoning comes.
shall not be controlled by those whose
interest 1t may be to mock the courts
and to defy the popular will. NThe par
don board must not pass into the hands
of men who may be tempted and COM
manded. as others before them in like
position were. to violate their oaths
Of office and to say that those duly
convicted of high crime shall not be
punished. because the power which
they serve is stronger than that lodged
within the organization of the state
government itself. With George A.
jerks in the executive chair there
would be no prostitution of the powers
Of the pardon board, or of any other
department of the state government.
No man has ever been before the peo-
thoroughly imbedded In the funda-
mental principles of honest govern
ment. His administration would be
wise. Just. economical. safe and hon
orable throughout, and his associates
on the state ticket are all abundantly
worthy of the united support of the
honest citizenship of the common
wealth. With such a man for governor,
and faithful Sowden. heroic DeLacy.
and two honest untramelled and trust
worthy associates in the pardon board.
its motto would be the courageous in
junction Of the greatest soldier of the
union armies, when, as president. re-
ferrfng to the betrayal of trust by Belk-
nap and others. he patriotically and
firmly declared. Let no guilty man es-
cape" No public malefactor. no mat
ter how high his position. the measure
Of his influence or the strength of his
political pull" would be permitted to
break the laws with impunity, defy the