The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-03
Average Circulation
-. of
THE. JOURNAL
for. month of August
!. 555,4F57
A Great Grand Jury.

PEOPLE with an inclination for the theat-
rical were probably just little d1sap-
pointed because the remarkable April
term grand jury adjourned without in
dulging in some striking and burning
rhetoric. They thought that the jury
which has done so much might have fit
tingly wound up its labors with flaming
peroration, thus putting pretty and I'M
pressive climax to its accumulation OF
solid results. People like hard talk and
sensational charges. Judging by the way
popular interest in reform and punishment
Of evil doors sometimes wanes, they have
more fondness for talk than for deeds,
would rather see a derelict public official
'.roasted" to a turn than put behind prison
bars.
Our grand jury HAS left 1t to the news
papers and the appreciation Of the people
to give full credit to their labors. 1t con-
tents itself with saying that 1t returned
thirty indictments and that some corrupt
officials escaped Instead Of the scathing
arraignment Of the police force, which
would have been justified, the grand jury
remarks with great reserve that it's dis
cipline and efficiency had been completely
destroyed. Except for compliments for
the district court, the sheriffs office and
the county attorney, here is the substance
Of the report Of the most indefatigable,
most successful, most faithful grand jury
the county has had in recent years, If not
during it's whole history.
There Is modesty for you!
We do not think that the people Of the
county will be SO reserved in reviewing
the grand jury's work as that body is
itself. There have been grand juries be-
fore that had opportunities to serve the
community and distinguish themselves
that were as good as those Of the April
term jury. At least one Of it's prede-
cessors had a chance to open up an In
vestigation of the rotten Ames administra-
tion But it remained for the late grand
jury to perform.
1t didn't content itself with that an
cient and honorable excuse of grand juries
that, I'VE are morally sure that some
thing is wrong, but couldn't get a hold
Of evidence that would convict"
. This jury got right down to business
and dug, and it dug hard, too.
1t slapped indictment on top Of indict.
1lent. 1t got evidence that convicted ir
: some cases and should or will convict
in others.
While the rest Of us were holding oul
noses and contentlng ourselves with dep.
recatory talk the members Of the grand
fury were pulling up police corruption b,
the roots. They were proving that there
Is ample machinery of law for detecting
and Furnishing the most strongly but
tressed wrong doing.
=. While the rest Of us were talking abou
better government these men were max
ing it better.
While we were bewailing the low estat
l. OF our police force they were regenerat
: ing it.
While we wer. expressing disgust an
contempt for the mayor and chief Of polio
they were calling them to account for thei
+ nisdeeds.
= These grand jurymen have given US a.
splendid, shining example Of public dut
we'll and thoroughly done.
Z They have at once given us a purifie
police force, struck a paralyzing bio,
at corruption and inefflciency and laugh
= us that it requires nauglt but attention
= to public business to keep it clean an
orderly.
May we have: many more such gran
5uries and public officers like them in a
, Offices.