Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-06
WHAT OUR NBlenBORS SAY


Enocurage the Lynch spirit.
(rrom the Fair Haven Era.)
Mrs. Mary Rogers is again reprieved.
Governor BclI has fixed the date for her
execution for December s.
No one wants to see Mrs. Rogers hur-
ried out of the world although the crimo
committed by her wac as heartless and
cold blooded as any thai can Ike imagined.
She was fairly tried. She was found
guilty. She was sentenced to death. Some
there were who did not believe in capital
punishment but they knew the law and
they were satisfied to let the law take
its course.
Up to this time everyone thought there
were laws upon the statute books of YER
mont that could not be trifed with. But
the work of some of the brightest legal
minds in Vermont have since proven to
the people that hanging for murder Is
played out in this State. These Same
bright and shining lights have also con-
WINGED the people that no matter what tho
crime one commits. given the money to
buy the right legal talent and there Is no
question but that 1t can be bought, the
chances are that one can be helped to
escape through some loop-hole. purposely
left in laws that are as full of holes as
cullcndor.
For this kind of law no one can or will
have amy respect and IL there Is call
here as there has been at times for taking
the law into ones own hand and becoming
"A law unto ones self the ones to blame
are tho makers of laws that can be twist
ed and turned and made to serve their pur-
pose. no matter what that purpose may
be even though 1t may be the freeing of
one convicted of murder in the first de-
gree.
In the South every man is law unto
himself He is judge. jury and execu-
toner. Set aside the laws in the North
or make them for a time imperative and
how long would II be before the people Of
this and other northern States would be
obliged to take the law into their own
hands.
VERMONT'S WAR GOVERNOR
(From the Springfield Republican,
Tho Philadelphia Press. noting the death
of Ex-Governor Lubbock Of Texas. says
that he was the last of the war governors.
either North or South This statement
needs TO be amended. Vermont's fine old
executive of the war period. Frederick
Holbrook is still living at Brattleboro.
He was born in East Windsor. Conn.,. Feb
ruary Is, 1918.
A PETTY POLICY.
(From the Montpelier Argus)
| If. or when, Mary Rogers is hanged
Sheriff Peck intends to get even with the
newspapers for some criticism of his con-
duct by excluding newspaper men from
he prison. No person known to be con-
nectcd with a newspaper will be admitted
to witness the execution. Rather a petty
policy for public official in IA matter OF
SO much consequence. Having admitted
one newspaper correspondent. having OK
posed himself to just criticism and en-
tangled himself in a question of veracity
he now goes to the other extreme. YET
the newspapers will print the details Of
| the execution.
AN EXCELLENT SELECTION.
(From the Montpelier Journal.)
The people of Vermont are we'll pleased
at the selection by Governor Bell of hi,
daughter. Miss Jennie. to act rs sponsor
at the launching of the battleship Yer
mont in August Here's hoping the chris
tcning will be suspicious of ii ship which
will prove worthy of the name of Yer
mont.
MUDHOLES IN GOOD ROADS.
(From the Swanton Courier)
In the making of good roads in th
country II ere is alwtts "A new ii':,lh OIL
in the way. Wherefore the work move
but slowly. There is steady progress to
ward the desired results, but the mos
Earnest and active figures in the move
ments can hut admit that. considering tn
amount of energy and brains put icto tn
work in decade. results are not wha
they should he. Bad luck, which is appar
lently sometimes sent to test the mettl
of men and measures. has waited upon tn
good roads advocates, and when this oh
vious fact is considered, the degree O
success attained by them in many State
is evidence of an indomitable resolutiO
and an unfalts ring faith in the final tri
umph of public intelligence. II woui
seem. at times. as II the hard roads pee
pie work the hardest to get out of on