davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27
President RooseveIt's Opinion.

President Roosevelt. when he was
governor of New York, expressed him
self as follows regarding the execution
of women:-
III woman Is found guilty of Il
crime she should be punished In exact
ly the same manner and degree as n
man. In criminal cases my sympathies
are with the wronged and not with the
wrong -doer have no sympathy what
ever with the mere sentimentality I'm
case of savage brutality or malignancy,
and l look at evidence alone In consid-
ering them. l look at evidence alone.
II the evidence shows deliberate and
premeditated guilt, punishment must
follow. 1t makes no difference to me
whether the criminal happens to be a
woman or a man. 1t Is question of
the degree of guilt. and the punish
ment should fit the guilt. Whenever a
crime of unusual atrocity is committed
a number of persons are sure to appear
and sue for help and sympathy for the
l not only have no re-
gard for such persons, but I gravely
question their right to precipitate
themselves in the path of justice. My
conviction is that there is no sex in
crime and that there should be no dis
tinction of sex in its punishment"
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27
"The Voice of the People"

In a communication in another col
umn, Representative Hapgood declares
the chief point at issue in the case OF
Mrs. Rogers to be whether the gov
ernor shall listen to the voice of the
people, speaking through the unani-
nous vote of the house of representa-
tives, asking for an inquiry into the
mental responsibility of the condemned
woman.
Perhaps the governor, like many of
our citizens who possess memories
and sound nerves. hears in this voice"
the hysterical protest of public feeling
which trembles before the consummd-
ton of an act which public decision
has demanded, rather than a convic-
ton that justice is not quite salts
fed
The mental responsibility of Mrs.
Rogers has thus far been unquestioned
1t seems remarkable. if any room for
doubt on this subject existed, that the
question was not asked and answered
long ago, when a correct decision was
more nearly possible, rather than to
raise it at this unseemly hour, months
after the commission of the crime. IF |
the expert determination of mental
responsibility for crime is necessary
before punishment may be Justly adj
ministered, we move for laws provid-
ing for such determination in all
criminal cases, as soon as possible af
ter the crime is committed
We have no objection to an inquiry
Rogers We do not believe in hanging
and we have no desire to see the
woman thus executed, except as we
desire the honest enforcement of our
laws. But the house having favored !
an inquiry and the senate having
opposed it, the matter is now left to
the mercy, good sense, and justice of
the governor. We are satisfied to leave
it there. He understands the story of $
the case in all its past and pre- 7ent
conditions and it is safe to say that il II
there is yet a demand of justice unful- IT
filed in the matter, he will grant that III
demand, of his own free will. p
We repeat that this eleventh hour u'
panic of public sentiment after ten ~
ong hours of serene satisfaction with u
he progress of the case, is strong p'
tut pitiful argument against the right o
BUSINESS of the death penalty. Ut
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27

The Springfield Republican disap.
proves of the caucus reform" law
passed by the last Vermont legisla-
ture, calling it Cheeky device for as
sisting the political bosses at public
expense" and declares that it's provis-
ion binding voter to a party for a
year neutralizes much that is good in
the act and will ultimately force it's
amendment or repeal. The Troy
Times is equally severe in it's criti-
cism of the measure, comparing the
use of the law by party bosses upon
voters with the branding of sheep
and cattle by their owners. Laws OF
this nature, it asserts, are the kind
enacted by machine legislators for
the machine and not for the public
The great objector," it seems, is not
the only one who sees boss .manipu-
lation in the legislation recently ac-
Will Vermont voters be
blind to what is so apparent to out
siders? Will they feel in the tight
aning of the chains of machine DOM
nation only the drawing of the |
strong cords of loyalty to party?
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27

official residence at the Riggs house
while here attending the Inauguration
ceremonies, The Riggs Is yet consid-
cred first class hotel. though In re-
cent yxlrs Il has been eclipsed by
several, notably the Raleigh and New
willard. The Riggs Is located on the
corner of Fifteenth and @. streets,
exactly opposite the east side Of the
treasury. II is very handily located
as far as accessibility Is concerned
but Is packed into too close neigh
borhood and has seen its best days.
The New Willard. taking the place OF
WIZARDS hotel OF war times and on
the same site. is the finest hotel be-
tween New York and st. Augustine.
| believe the minimum rate Is eight
dollars per day, and from that as high
as you care to go. The Raleigh Is on
Pennsylvania avenue, as Is the New
Willard, the former being two blocks
nearer the capitol and opposite the
postofilce. It is also n most elaborate
establishment with an exorbitant
scale of prices, and is one of the sew
eral first class hotels which have been
constructed In recent years to fill the
demand from congressional residents
or temporary guests who want that
which costs the most, disregarding
the inconsequential fact that they
receive no adequate return for their |
money. In this country, where new |
are being made every |
day, such hotels will thrive off the |
suckers who are being born every
second.
After all, common sense is prefer
lble to money without 1t, and quiet
ways are best. Health, sanity, the
cultivation Of intelligence, the avoid
M ata ri bot /
honesty and directness, plain living
md high thinking are from every
Joint of view the best. They are
What the best balanced brain natur-
lily prefers. Therefore, let us have
'eace. j. Il. Harris.
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27
BRATTLEBoRo, FRIDAY, JAN. 81, 1905
A Whipping Post Record.

The report made some time ago by
the warden of the Wilmington County
Del, workhouse, after the whipping
post had been used there for 10 years
was not such as to give endorsement
to President Roosevelts recommends
ton of the whipping post for the dis
trict of Columbia. The warden de-
clared that men who have been
whipped are never as good prisoners as
before, and that many of the 461 con-
victs whipped by him were whipped a
second time, some a third and fourth
time and one a fifth time. During the
10 years, Delaware's prison population
increased in a higher ratio than that Of
the whole country, and there were but
five states in the union having larger
percentage of prison population, those
five having large cities and a great
foreign population. The warden also
noted the bad influence of the whip
ping on the spectators, who, he de-
clared, grew to regard the laws as in
human and We're never as good cit
liens as before.
While all civilized persons can
sympathize with the presidents de-
testation of the crime of wife beating,
yet it seems doubtful whether one in
humanity can ever be neutralized by
another; or whether if WIFE beating is
demoralizing in it's influence on a
neighborhood, the whipping of GRIM
inals by authorities, whom society is
supposed to respect as dispassionate |
dispensers of justice, would not be even
more demoralizing. The Philadelphia
Public Ledger suggests a better way to
deal with the wife-beater, in the Mas
sachusetts plan of putting him at work
and paying all his wages to his wife.
1t does not appear that man who
beats his wife is morally entitled to ;
home or family. A wife who has been
thus beaten should prefer, if she have
an atom of spirit, to seek a living else
where, at any cost, than beneath the {
roof of a husband who has thus fla t
GRAVITY violated his marriage contract i
We can not see how anything short of /
a change of heart, and certainly not t
The beating of the beaten, could bring
harmony into household where wife
oeating has once played a discordant o
part. n
A man who beats his wife should t,
,e punished for brutal assault accord is
ng to law. His wife should see to it o.
hat he never repeats the crime on her a.
'erson. And here is where the divorce la
avs may properly and beneficently X
cure. y,
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27
Safer and Wiser.
Brandon Union.l

| This new law of course disfran-
chises man until he pays his taxes
and because Of this good many
people are questioning the constitu-
tionality of the law. Some people
claim that the law already provides
means by which the tax collector may
collect his taxes and If he does not
take advantage of them it is no rea-
son why voter be DISTINGUISHED.
Others claim that the right to vote is
a constitutional right which a man
shall not be deprived Of while he re-
tains his citizenship There are al
ways two sides to a question and 1t
is within the possibilities that this
law might be unconstitutional, but 1t
should be remembered that state is
allowed a great deal of latitude in
making its laws. The state of Mas
sachusetts denies the ballot to the
man who cannot read, and certainly
If Massachusetts is permitted to
the ballot from the illiterate
man, otherwise a good citizen, YER
mont should be permitted to with
hold the same from the man who
lodges his taxes: for he can never be
considered a very good citizen. Even
though in the end the law might be
declared unconstitutional it is a
'ocky road for some one to fight 1t |
through, and unless he is a heavy |
axpayer 1t would be cheaper to pay |
axes.
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27

The Vermont Union Signal declares
that the present system of representa-
ton by towns, unjust as it is, is better
for the interests of the state than re.
duction of representation, as long as
the state continues to harbor a politi-
cal combination which seeks to use the
law making body to further its own
ends. 1t thinks it is borne out in this be-
lief by comparison of the two houses
of the last legislature as regards their
to the schemes of corpora
ton lobbyists. We must not forget
that there are different degrees and
kinds of injustice and sometimes a
choice between evils. It is not right
that any state interest-city, country,
Industrial or political, should be al
owed to assert itself at the expense of
he others.
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27
We commend all efforts on the par

| We commend all efforts on the par
of the authorities to restrain the
press in any tendency it may show
toward exaggeration or sensational
ism in connection with the execution
of Mrs Rogers. But full, uncolored
account of the proceedings under the
law is due the law making public. To
know exactly how the laws are exc
cuted should be a part of the public
education for suffrage. There should
be no secrecy about the official exc
cution of murderer, neither should
there be an offensive Haunting of
useless, personal details. Men whose
are well controlled by their
reason and sense of justice should be
selected to give the public, through
the newspapers, an honest and digni-
fled report of the proceedings There
is such thing as dignity, even in
the hanging of a human being, when
one is doing his duty
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27
New England Railway Systems.

springfield, Mass Union.
The passing of control of the Rut-
land railroad to the New Ybrk Central
is railway deal of no small import
ance to New England and may be the
entering wedge of still greater
change in the New England railway
map. Under the Encouragement there
now are just four railway systems in
New England. The New Haven covers
all south of the Boston & Albany with
the exception of the old New London
Northern, which is a long southern
feeder of the Grand Trunk system w.
ing across the northern part of the
territory and cutting diagonally
through Vermont with its Central Yer
mont line. The New York Central pos
sesses the through line from east to
west in the Boston & Albany with its
branches crossing Massachusetts near
ly to the states northern boundary,
and now it gains the Rutland skirting
the western boundary of New England
northward from the Boston & ALBANY
clear to the Canada line and thence
westward from Rouses Point to Og-
densburg on Lake ontario. The rest
of New England is Boston & Maine
territory. The possession of the Rut-
land, with the evident intent of gain
ing direct communication between New
York and Springfield by the building of
A new line, leads to the suggestion that
perhaps the next move may be the alb |
sorption of the Boston & Maine by the |
Vanderbilt system. which deal, if per- |
'ected, would put the New Haven road /
N quite a pocket. Existing connec-
ions, with the Rutland, would give the
Central ample western connections
With all northern New England, while
he New York-Springfield line would
'pen up an avenue through which
rattle between New York or south AMI
southwest and all northern New Eng
and could pass without touching the
lew Haven system.
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27
Senator Smoot recognizes, for al

Senator Smoot recognizes, for all
practical purposes, the supremacy OF
the law of the land, in that land, over
the revelations of God He says, "If
| had a revelation from God, and it
confiicted with the law, l should go to
some other land" Such recognition
would be convenient and satisfactory
in the case of murderously INSPIRED"
religious zealots as well as polyga-
mfsts, who would thus be obliged to
practically abandon civilization in Or
der to make their immortality ODE
dience and the Staying of their VIC
tins sacrifice. The Springfield Re-
publican cites, in connection with
Senator Shoots discrimination, the
doctrine advocated in the north
against the fugitive slave laws in
slavery days, that Christians were
not bound by those laws since they
with the laws of God. We
do not think the breakers and evad-
ers of the slave laws honestly felt
that any excuse or justification of
their course was needed. Public sem
-iment saw the wrong and injustice
IF the system from which these laws !
'prang and rose up against the whole |
but in the case of polyg- /
my the public sense of right. even 1
lmong the Mormons themselves, sets
he other way. They can find no ex-
use for polygamy, or for breaking
he law against it, except that 1t is
revealed" institution.
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27
How to Avoid Pneumonia.

We have never heard of a single
instance of a cold resulting in Pneu-
monia or other lung trouble when
Foley's Honey and Tar has been
taken. 1t not only stops the cough.
but heals and strengthens the lungs.
ASK Tor Foley's Honey and Tar and
refuse any substitute offered. DR.. C.
J. Bishop Of Agnew. Mich. writes. II
have used Foley's Honey and Tar in
three very severe cases of pneumonia
with good results in every case" Sold
by AL Dealers.
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27
Editing a Newspaper,

versatile genius reveals himself
in the following letter-not only a
poet, but a natural-born editor:
Brattleboro, Jan. 20, 1906
Editor of The Reformer:
1t is eminently fitting and proper
that the leading newspaper of the
town which refused to purchase the
masterpiece Of its illustrious son,
Larkin G. Meade, should decline to
print my modest Zines in honor of
The Snow Angel, and devote its space
to a multitude of disgusting details
bearing on putrid scandals. mawkish
murders and revolving rape cases.
God speed the day when the press
shall cease to pander to what is basest
and meanest i'm human nature, and
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27
One on Lille.
[St. Adams Messenger.l

| Mrs Lille Devereaux Blake, ex-
pressing an opinion as to whe ther
Vermont should hang a woman, per-
tinently quotes the precise language
of the constitution of Vermont to the
effect that all citizens shall have self
government, except periurers, the
feeble minded, and women = We
should say that the constitution of
Vermont needs to be amended.--Bos-
ton Globe.
Better read it first. The phrase Mrs
Blake quotes does not appear in the
constitution of Vermont at all, nor
does the word women" or woman"
or any specific exemption of women
from any of its guarantees or privi-
leges.
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27
Delay that May Be Dangerous.

Senator Hopkins has made the tariff
situation exceeding plain-there is an
undoubted sentiment all over the coun-
try in favor of tariff revision, but
congress must wait until this grows
into a demand. 1t might be in order
to remind congress that a demand
growing out of public sentiment most
often has its first expression at the
ballot box.
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27
OLD AGE
Not Time of Life, or Length o
Years, but Condition of BodiI,
Tissues,

Years, but Condition of BodiI,
Tissues,
said a celebrated London physician
and just so long as the bodily tissues
can be kept from wasting and built
up, just so long can old age be kept al
bay, and people will be alert, alive.
active and young.
our well known druggist, George E.
Greene, says: Our cod liver oil
preparation, Vinol, is the greatest
tissue builder and invigorator in the
world for old people. There is moth
ing else known to medicine that can
equal it, because Vinol contains in a
concentrated form all of the body
building, life-giving principles of cod
liver oil actually taken from fresh
Gods livers, and is not a stimulant
which produces bad after effects. We
have letter upon letter from grateful
ola people whom Vinol has strength
ened and blessed with robust health.
Nlnol invigorates the stomach first of
ALL enabling it to separate from the
food the elements needed for rich re
blood. healthy body material and
sound, steady nerves. In this way II
repairs worn tissues, checks the nat
nraI decline and replaces weakness
with strength"
Mr.. A. ]. Barker of Evansville In
llama, says there is no other medi- !
Inc in the world equal to vinol for
I'D people. He would not take a 4
thousand dollars for the good it has
lone him.
The grand-niece of Alexander
hamilton, Mrs. Sarah j. windrom.
avs: "Vinol is a godsend to old
'eople" She is seventy-six years OLD.
M Is active and well. thanks to the
1talizing effects of Vinol.
We wish every man or woman in
who feels old" whetbe,.
hey are so in years. or not. would try
mol on our guarantee to return thei-
ioney II they are not satisfied after
sing 1t George E. Greene. Druggist
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27
More Trouble?


There will be lots of kicking when
the import of the new law relating to
posting streams is fully understood.
No stream can be legally posted that
is not stocked with 1000 trout fry or
300 fingerlings each year and sworn
statement to that effect is filed in the
town clerks office. 1t will practically
make every stream open TO anyone,
as few will stock them according to
law
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27

The letter from a Ludlow man, pub
lished in these columns last week, and
the one this week from Rutland, sug-
gested by it, ought to inaugurate a
valuable discussion of the reasons and
remedies for Vermont's backward
growth. Our columns are always open
to contributions helpful to Vermont
citizens and their interests.
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27
MATTERS OF OPINION.
Selected from the Editorial Columns
of Our Esteemed Contemporaries.
Continuous Performance?
brooklyn Eagle.l

II is not too soon to begin the
work of organizing for the campaigns
Of 1906 and 190S.-Commoner.
BY all means. The country has
nothing else to do. Don't lose a min
ute-every second counts. Think of
it! The campaign of 1908 will be in
full blast in less than four years and
delays are dangerous. The interval
is all too brief. Up guards and at
EN-!
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27

1t is only fair to admit that under
an autocracy, which is the adherence
of all free born Americans. Russia
has done what we could not do, de-
creed emancipation without a war
and abolished capital punishment.
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27

strive to uplift instead Of crush out
honest and honorable ambition,
Respectfully.
Hunt Wilson.
We are not unmindful OF our short
comings nor do we fail to sympathize
with the feelings so aptly expressed
by our correspondent, We have our
selves essayed to write poetry for
publication. with Indifferent success,
Editors are mostly incompetent and
readers frequently prefer trash to
treasure Every poet ought to have
a paper of his own. Meanwhile none
should buy a ticket In the lottery of
Fame unless he is prepared to lose
with good grace.
Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-27
Sometime We Shall Prove 1t.

IRUIIdflu NeWS,I
1t is an undeniable fact that a life
Imprisonment penalty, strictly and
rigidly enforced, would be a more eff
fective statute than the capital punish
ment as poorly enforced as it has been
in Vermont for the past decade or
more.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-26
Not So Bad In South.

The main point of interest on the Sen ate side today was the big weather map which hangs in the Marble room. Every
 morning by 12 o'clock the weather bureau man in charge of the map marks the tenn perature of principal points al lover the United States at o'clock that morning. Shortly after the Senate meets its mem bers go out and take a look at the map to see how the weather Is at home.
 The blizzard in the south caused south ern senators to crowd around the map during the afternoon. Senator Mallory of Florida, Senator Foster of Louisiana and Senator McLaurin of Mississippi found it freezing in their states, while Senators Bate of Tennessee and Overman of North Carolina discovered the ther- mometers at home to be towering around the zero mark. That's bitter cold wealth CT" said Senator Foster and Senator McLaurin agreed with him. Just then Senator McCumber came along and over heard the remark. "Pshaw," said he, That's summer weather you are having. Look what kind of weather we're hay ing in my state" The Senator placed his finger on Devils Lake. North Dako- ia. By the side of it was chalked: 'Thir- ty degrees below zero" The southern senators admitted that it might be worse in the south.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-26
"Pediareew of "Fog."
Inndon Chronicle.

From the London Chronicle
 If any Londoner crawling up to busi- ness by train or tram through the fog turned his idle mind to wondering why It was called fog" he would probably decide that it could not have been called anything else. Fog" is it's obvious name Yet there is much speculation among philologists on this point. Dr. Murrays Dictionary suggests an interesting pedi- gree. As far back as the fourteenth cen- tury fog" meant aftergrass. the rank grass that sprang up after hay harvest or grew up in the winter. while in the north 1t meant moss Then "fbggy'' came to mean boggy; next it was used to mean bloated or puffy, or the flesh of men or animals, and finally, as applied to ale or air, it meant thick, and our modern fog was derived back from this 'foggy." Skeat however, goes straight to the Danish fog as in "snee fog.' a snow storm, from .fyge,' to drift. The worst of London fogs is that they do not drift fast enough.