Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-02-10
"HEARTS WIN"
Results and Lessons Drawn from the
Recent Reprieve Conflict.

Editor Reformer:
Now that the battle is over and the
smoke cleared away from the scene
of action, 1t may not be amiss to con-
slider the results and the lessons to be
learned from the conflict.
In the first place, the statement has
gone the rounds of the press that the
efforts of those outside the state, In
behalf of Mrs. Rogers, had "A detri-
mental influence with Gov Bell, and
that scores have written him that
they would have petitioned him for
reprieve but for desire to ''rebukc
the band wagon crusade from outside
the state"
If above is true l blush for those
concerned in It, and would inquire
upon what principle the governor and
those scores pretended to act? Had
they no consideration for the merits
of the case or were they governed by
motives of personal spite? Is there
single one of those scores VINO VIII
come out and give his name TO the
public as favoring such course or
action? Reprieve was asked for Mrs.
Rogers solely upon the ground of fnr
play and honor for the reputation OF
the state.
Does anyone dare say that he re
fused to favor il because others ia
vored it,--no matter whether from
within or without the state?
JTpon the contrary, in opposition To
this illiberal and short sighted line OF
action. let us glory in the fact that
those outside are interested IN our
welfare that, especially, those sons
and daughters of our grand old hiils
who have left us for homes outside,
still look back with interest ana love
to the scenes of their youth. ana when
they give us an appeal for proposed
action let us say to them, I'VE wei
come your words of advice. SPEAK
now and speak again, and be wen
assured that whenever you speak We
will listen"
Another statement, extensively cir
culated. that had 1t not been Tor tne
unjust preponderance of the back
towns in the last legislature, the law
against capital punishment would
have been repealed, and the state,
consequently, spared all this strife, we
resent The chief leader in supporting
the law was the gentleman from
Brattleboro, assisted by the gentlemen
from Remington, Montpelier, Yer
gennes. Middlebury, st. Johnsbury'
Bellows Falls, Proctor, Ludlow, Ches-
ter. etc.-thus showing a far larger
per cent from the large places imam
the small ones opposing the abolition
of a law looked upon with odlum py
the state at large. Rutland, burning
ton, st. Adams and Barre, aithougn
democratic, voted to abolish the law,
standing almost alone among the
large places. Democracy is not always
failure, and is sometimes service
able MS leaven. We certainly ala
not have too many democrats IN our
last legislature The few we had were
Obliged TO get a standing by lheir
brains and personal character ana
they did 1t,
As 10 the mass of the legislators.
l. they were a grand set of men: anu
To their credit be 1t said that three.
fourths of them have given persoiial
assurances that early last week they
Individually wrote TO the governor
requesting a reprieve IN accofu VIZ, WIZ
| the house resolution unanimously
nassed Hardly any refused excepting
| those supposed to be under iniiu-
ences"
| Whether this action had anything
| To do with the hole" that the gov
ernor Is said to have been put mo-
| Is matter for inquiry.
After all, this commotion may De
productive of good results Inc Lora
reigns and His ways are inscrutanle'
II has caused a virtual referendum
and has stirred up forces never pc
fore moved by an event of this kind'
And this through no maudlin senu-
ment of personal sympathy for the
woman as an individual; but through
the sense of pure devotion TO the
principle of defense for the weak ana ,
helpless pity for the degraded
through force of circumstances ana
adherence for the doctrine OF retri-
butive punishment. .,o
with a single word of admiration
for the truly brave and noble coIiuuu,
of the sheriff and his deputies, l WI,
close by saving that l believe that
the whole situation is best summed
I'm bv the two words that head TINS
article hearts win" Back Town