The Democratic advocate., 1909-06-04
OBJECTS TOFREELUNCH
HAMPSTEAD EDITOR DISCOVERS DIRE
EVIL IN SIMPLE COURTESIES
Afraid Grand Jury Might Be Influenced
by Cakes and Coffee.

A grand jury report is usually a
prosy document and about as un-
emotional as a soda cracker or a hs-
OF soap. Its perussI does not excite
the thrills produced by the reading
Of one OF Laura Jean Idbbeys novels.
II has never been classed i'm literature
among the six best sellers and there
are few inquiries for IL az the news
stands. About the only persons FOR
whom II Possesses an absorbing Infer-
est are guests OF the Hotel de Town
shend, who have allowed their desire
for wealth to outrun their caution.
The ordinary reader skips It without
apology, and the announcement OF its
semi-annual publication excites in
him neither interest nor alarm.
The latest report of this grand in
quest OF Carroll county appeared to be
as innocent and uninviting al any
that have preceded Il, but on one OF
It's small coterie OF readers It has pro-
duced a wonderful effect. Our good
friend. the editor OF the Hampstead
Enterprise. has discovered a great
many items Of interest In that report.
although the same things have ap-
peared in every report that has here
tof0re been handed out TO an eager
and anxious public.
He Is sorely grieved TO learn from
this report that the grand Jury dined
with the sheriff and lunched with the
superintendent of the almshouse. and
he intimates that the edibles and bev-
erages furnished on such occasions
are for the purpose OF influencing the
findings Of the jury We cannot bring
ourselves To believe that the men who
constitute these juries would With
hold proper criticism of either OF
these institutions for so small a price.
To be sure. good dinner is ever a
Joy and delight to the male portion
OF humanity, but II has its limits, and
this limit does not extend to the con-
doning Of wrong doing or maladmin-
lstration In Office.
These dinners and lunches have
been sanctioned by custom and con-
sent for many years, and they have
never caused any loss OF sleep on the
part OF our citizens, because IL IL felt
that the occasion calls for a tender
OF these modest and inexpensive cour-
tesies.
In this connection, we are author
iEed by both Sheriff Townshend and
Superintendent Humbert to say that
everything furnished the grand Jury
was paid for by these two officials. aud
not by the county.
Another important discovery made
by the Enterprislng editor Is that the
officials OF these two county institn-
tions, being apprised of the visit OF
the grand jury, have an opportunity
10 clean house" before that body ar
rives. and thus everything is found
Ia "apple-ple" order, intlmatIng that
this condition does not exist at other
times. As an Offset to this un-
founded and purely presumptiye ac-
cusation We have the evidence OF DR..
A p Herring, secretary to the State
Lunacy Commission. who has visited
every county in the state, and whose
visits we're unannounecd. His Investi-
cations were thorough, and In some
counties the conditions were deplor-
able, but he said the two institutions
OF Carroll county were samong the
cieanest aud best managed IN the
state lt VIII hardly be charged that
the Doctor was influenced by a gen
erons helping Of cofned beef and cab
bage or by the fragrant arma from
Henry Clay.
III the Hampstead editor believes
that either the jail or the amlshouse
Is not properly kept let him present
himself at either institution, at any
old time that may suit his fancy. and
We guarantee that he win be allowed
to visit every part of the buildings,
converse with the inmates, and use
every reasonable means OF ascertain
ms their true condition
AZ 20 the reflection Upon the states
attorney, we make no commnet. be-
cause Wa understand that gentleman
is preparing TO Ylndicate himself IN
a much more effective way than
through the columns OF q newspaper.
In the matter Of these unjust and
unfounded lnsinuations and lnuendoes,
we are forcibly reminded Of the man
who discovered that he could attract
more attention by standing on his
head than by maintaining himself In
the attitude ordained by nature. II is
not dignihed position. but il is often
resorted To by men who would other
wise escape the observation of a dis
terminating public