Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-10-30
THAT CARTER CASE.
BIO REPUBLICANS INVOLVED,
NO DOUBT.
That Is the Reason Why tho Convicted
Army onicer Still Draws His Pay and
Does Not Go to Prison - Cause OF
Better" Times.

The people of the United States must
read with wonder and incredulity the
statement of Attorney General Criggs
concerning the present status of the
Carter case, says the Atlanta Consti-
tuition. Over eighteen months ago this
man, who has been trusted by his
government and advanced to high
place in its service, was found guilty
OF having defrauded it of over 81, ,600,-
600. In the evidence which developed
the facts upon his trial it was shown
that from first to last he leagued with
men whose purpose was to rob the
government through his connivance
The verdict Of guilty which was won
from an unwilling court-unwilling in
the sense that its members were re-
luctant to see a brother officers rec
ord smirched because it would be a re-
hection upon the service-was reaf-
frmed in every channel through which
1t went on its way to the president,
and then came a mysterious halt, dur
ing which time a convicted thief has
walked forth brazenly in the full uni
form of the United States military
service and has drawn his pay from
the treasury on an equality with hon
est men now in the service, as well as
those who have laid their lives down
upon the field Of duty. Since the date
of that trial. humble privates, without
powerful influences, have been rail-
roaded through the various meshes of
court-martial and have been forgotten.
Officers of rank have been rushed out
Of the service, and everywhere has
been found celerity except in the one
case Of Capt. Oberlin M. Carter. What
great and powerful influence is it that
stands behind this man which should
make a president hesitate in the en-
forcement Of a just verdict? Why
should he have opportunities of revi-
sion and reconsideration which are no.
equally open to other men? In speak
ing thus plainly the Constitution does
so from the standpoint of perfect
friendliness for the president of the
United States. Coming into office as
he did, when great international ques-
tions were to be decided, it was no
time for partisan contention, which
might have been allowable in time of
peace. Therefore the Constitution has
uniformly upheld the hand of the pres
ident. because, in the face of the foe,
there should be no division in our
ranks. The words which we employ
regarding Capt. Carter are no stronger
than those which have been hurled at
him by the leading Republican news
papers of the country; but we have a
special right to insist upon justice to
him which does not belong to other
states. In the distribution of the pub
lie funds for public improvement
Georgia is entitled to her equal share.
AS developed upon the trial of Capt.
Carter, he engaged deliberately in the
theft of over $1,600,000 of money ap-
propriated to the state of Georgia. He
has abused the confidence of the gem
eral government which sent him into
Georgia. He has robbed this state OF
the money which was appropriated to
its betterment, and the loss of which
we must suffer for all time. His
offense, therefore, was a crime against
the state of Georgia, for which we
have right to demand, now that he
has been convicted by every legal
channel, that sentence shall be en-
forced. What is the president going
OF do about it? Is he going to permit
the influences which are ever ready
to rob the government to shield the
criminal. and thus smirch the admin
istration? The president might as we'll
understand that such talk as that en-
gagged in by Attorney General Griggs
will not be relshed by the people.
They are in no humor to have a Grim
inal given his freedom because a dila-
tory lawyer wants to take trip to
Europe. If that lawyer wants to do
business, let him get to his post. If
not, some one else can take his place.
The public will hold the president to
responsibility for the acts of his agents
unless he intervenes at once and shows
by decision that he is uninfuenced by
the unworthy element which would
smirch his name and character.