The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-19
The Reformer and the Crank.

or all men in this world the man who
starts out to reform certain evils or
abuses In 1t most needs mental and moral
balance. IL he lacks either he is sure,
which separates the reformer from the
crank. And over that road there are no
return passes issued.
This appears to be what is the matter
with Gov. Pingree of Michigan He is
probably at the end of his public career.
as consequence of the absence not only
of practical wisdom, but Of those ele-
ments of saving common sense and COM
mon justice that are indispensable to use
fulness There were many things to adj
mire and approve about Pingree, although
from the first he inclined to novel schemes
of Industrial salvation. Witness his re-
generation OF society by the potato-patch
method, now almost forgotten. Yet, he
had right impulses possessed extraordi-
nary and indefatigable industry. and won
much Fespect anu coiiHuciicc rum .nc
people.
In his larger and more ambitious pro-
| jec.s he has signally failed. The Michi-
gan Legislature did not carry into effect
his ideas of the proper method of tax'"g
| corporations. He called them in special
session to consider this once more. The
senate refused to pass the bill, and the
! whole plan falls, with much OF right in
| it's fundamental principle. which was to
oblige corporations TO contribute their
1 proper share to the revenues of the state,
there were faults of method. an inability
| to see the problem as whole that DOOM
ed it to defeat. Thb success of Gov.
| Roosevelt. through intelligence and mod
Grafton. Is In marked contrast with the
progress of Gov. Pingree against a blind
wall.
1 An incident of the last few weeks shows
why the people cannot trust either the
motives or methods OF Pingree; throws q
strong side light upon his ability to make
Roadway, even with the support that the
people for some years have given TO him
literally The country was astonished by
his pardon issued to two criminals who
were convicted of defrauding the state.
They entered into a conspiracy with a
company which furnished clothing for the
troops raised during the war with Spain,
and one OF them confessed bis guilt in
court. The governor released them both.
s,ipulating only that they should pay
their fines.
The reason given by the executive was
not that there was a doubt about the
guilt Of the parties. but there were othes
guilty parties who had not been brought
to book. Unless all were equally punish
ed he would not permit the punishment:
Of any. From which 1t appears plainly.
as had long been suspected, that Pin.
gree has dritted OF, Of the reforming busl-
ness and enrolled himself finally in the
ignohle army Of cranks. The principle
upon which he acted would open aide the
door Of every prison cell IN the United
states. There is not man serving time
anywhere In this country who has not,
somewhere. his equal in guilt al liberty.
II that is 10 be bar to punishment, then
laws and courts and prisons might as well
be abolished az once.
OF course the public can no longer re.
tain confidence in any respect In a man
whose mind and conscience are under the
control Of such vagaries as this He is
hopeless; and even when he sets himself &c
follow a praise~orthy object. no one dare
follow him. No one can know at what mo.
] msns he VIII DART away after . sog-llgns