Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-06

given every opportunity to evade the arm
OF justice If so disposed. Immediately
In sister States point to
the fact that rot only Is our Lieutenant
governor under the menace of the law. but
other public officers as we'll. The name of
Vermont is dragged In the mud of snccr
and !nuendo. and for what?
Under evidence that Is now declared by
the district attorney as worthless in the
law, these grave charges are made. this
high official is placed under arrest. the
name and fame or our state assailed.
What docs this indicate. Sons, grave
structural weakness in the findings Of
grand juries? Let us examine the indict
r cnts found against James y. Donowny
our own states attorney. Here is an ex-
actly similar case. The indictments are
found. the officer is arraigned In court
with what result? That the prosecution
finds the evidence insufficient and Graves
mere time to collect the data Of the case.
IF good enough to find indictments. why is
the evidence not good enough to sustain
the broad glare of open courtY
II we arc supporting incompetent star
chambers In the guise OF grand juries ami
prosecuting officers II Is certainly time the
matter was sifted to the lotion. 1t Is no
light thing to drag men into court under
indictments that mean nothing but sur
mise and spell nothing but incompetence.
If these accused men are finally acquitted,
who Is going to make up to them the dam
age in loss of time. money and reputation
involved In trials Of such Importance as
those referred to?
If. on the other hand, these men are
guilty. and were always guilty, most
alarming condition in our courts is
limited at
Suppose Vermontcrs look this matter
over with calm and level gaze.
a u =
perienced in Railroad Affairs.
(F'rom the Vergennes Enterprise)
The Burlington News allows there is
nothing but cold. hard business in the mat
ter Of locating the Rutland railroad shops
in Rutland. Correct The Rutland raj
road Is apt to be businesslike. But whc n
the News allows the question is still open
and the Queen City stands a chance Of
securing the coveted industry we opinc
that our brother Johnsons hat has become
a conversational medium.
THE GOVERNORSHIP EXCEPTED OF
COURSE.
(From the Swanton Courrier.)
1t is a lamentable feature of politics,
or rather what is called politics, that the
men best fitted for public office are the
ones who Will seldom accept office.
GEN. CIRCUITS SENATORIAL LETTER.
GTrom the Argus.)
His statement regarding becoming a
candidate for the Senate Is very plain
intimation that he Will be candidate
under certain conditions. The coming ncy
must be the success of DIR. Webb. 1t i,
not probable that he would enter another
contest if General Mccullough should be-
succo ssful.
There is general feeling that Grout is
likely To be IN the field again and already
the possible consequences and results are
being felt and considered. Senatorial pi eff
crences will influence the election of many
a selectman next month
Gen. Grout. or any other man, has ar
absolute right to become candidate TO,
any office he desires or for which he thinks
the people desire him. Yet it is greatly
to be deplored that we are likely to hav,
another Senatorial contest this year The
Legislature of 1900 was elected almost solely
on the Senatorial issue. and it was the
most incompetent legislature that has sa
in Montpelier for years When "A senator
had been elected many members consid
cred that their work was done, that they
had accomplished all they were sent tC
Montpelier to perform.
EDUCATIONAL SUICIDE.
(From the Barre Times)
! 1t appears that some of the good people
of Groton are contemplating intellectual
suicide by cutting off their high school
claiming that the town is unable to pay
the expense. Undoubtedly the better sen
timent will prevail and the high school b,
continued The high school as the round
ing out of a public school education is {
necessity and it would be better to ge
along without some other thing than to dc
prive any town of this means of self bet
terment. This higher department of pub
lie instruction is a decided step forward
in the complete educational scheme and il
would be a pity indeed If a town, once
having a high school, should make a re-
trograde movement by abolishing 1t. Th'
better the school system that a town has
the better will be the general tone of thu
community.