Sunday Washington globe., 1902-03-30
GOVERNOR AND CONVICT.
We Know Both Men and Play the
Convict for the Better of the
TwO-The Case Of Marion
Britton vs. George X
Nash

When Governor Bushnell was Governor
of Ohio he acted promptly on the recon-
mendations of the State Board of Pardons.
This board was created by law to examine
the cases Of applicants for executive elem.
eucy and to share or shoulder the response.
bility heretofore thrown on the shoulders of
the Governor alone. Governor Bushnell very
properly and, as stated promptly acted on the
recommendation OF findings of the board,
which, of course, ASSUMED the RESPONSE
bility; the Governor simply performed the
perfunctory act of signing the pardons ap.
proved of by the state board.
His successor Mark Hanna S stipendiary,
George K. Nash former reporter on the
STATE /OHyHdi and subsequently lawyer of
limited practice, has adopted the usual DO.
lcy Of small minds Insignificant in per-
soual appearance he is equelly little in heart
and having risen to a station his widest
dreams of ambition could never reasonably
aspire to he is now playing with the great
duties of Chief Executive of the state To
high minded humane man there is no
duty so pleasant and agreeable as the ex-
tension of clemeucy to the erring and re-
pentaut especially when the responsibility
is shared by an equally high minded board
of fellow officials So thought and acted
Governor Bushnell
But Governor Nash, otherwise of color
less and negative mentality. has the peev-
is instincts of the physically and dyspep-
tically Insignificant, and gloats over the
physical and mental agony he causes the
prisoner recommended for clemency, by
keeping him months in suspense after his
case has been acted favorably upon by the
Pardon Board. There are several pathetic
and worthy cases lying on his table for
months unacted upon, while the prisoners
recommended are eating their hearts out
with the fond longings and hopes that the
dreary years spent behind the walls will
every day end in a happy restoration to
their families, relatives and friends. IL
mercy IS of God as Christianity teaches,
Governor Nash will have to put up a strong
case to the Great PardOning Power of all
to justify his refusal aud neglect in these
cases. We know one of the individuals
recommended. And we know George X.
Nash. We have committed penitentiary
ottenses with George X. Nash in political
campaigns, but with the man whose pardon
he ueglects to sign we learned to regret the
enormity Of our oHenses, and to respect
and believe for the hrst time in our life, in
the sincerity Of a protesting Christian
And prisoner Brittou's Christianity was not
acquired in prison.
He brought it in with him and he prac-
ticed It on the outside. He was one of the
most respected farmers in Highland (Sena-
tor Foraker's uative) county, and his whole
life is an open book. Honest, conservative
and a sincere Christian and kindly ueighbor
he was respected aud loved In a paroxy-
ism of mingled fear and outrage he fred a
single shot az the man whose life study was
to persecute and drive him to desperation.
The lawyers did the rest and through the
unparalleled villaiuy Of the notorious
criminal lawyer Charles Blackburne and the
conscieuceless manipulation of that corrupt
and Infamous blot upon the Ohio judiciary
| David + Pugh Britton was given a life
sentence. He has already served more
than double the average sentence Of life
| prisoners. His application was acted on
/ favorably by the honorable Board Of Par
dons months ago aud he Is still in prisonl
We have no hesitation in being placed
/ on record as affirming that Britton was the
one only and protesting Christian in the
/ Ohio peniteutary whose sincerity was be-
lieved III bv both officials and prisoners AND
Chairman Of the Republican Campaign
Committee George X Nash, now governor
Of the state, with whom we purchased tn,
! venal pens Of editors and brbed political
| heelers IS too conscientious. TO sign the
recommended pardon Of Marion Brittou
Weil-if the devil does not shape tn,
destinies Of this planet where Nash IS gov
ernor and Britton is convict, then the l. orc
Is an easy mark for any old bunco game!