Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1910-10-13
PARDON BROKERS.

the eogs of his machine, constitute
well organized pardon brokerage
system. 1t is well understood all
over this State that the man who
wants pardon must get up as
large a fee as he can, and employ
one of the Governors political par
don brokers to present his case.
There may be numerous attorneys
IN his home county competent and
convenient to do his work, but they
are not possessed of the requisite
pull they do not belong to the ma
chine. We have, therefore, seen
the friends of an applicant for ex-
ecutive clemency seek and employ
counsel in the very opposite end OF
the State, and that for the sole rea-
son that such counsel was known to
stand next to the throne. In many
instances, the fee paid is so out of
proportion to the service rendered
that considerable part of the
amount must necessarily represent
compensation for the pull rather
than for legal service. This is
very simple and sure way of fur
nishing grease for the machine. 1t
is really easier than frying the fat
out of brewery. This system of
pardon brokerage and lax enforce
ment of the law has resulted in lin
ing up the criminal elements of the
State practically to man in sup
port of the Governors machine.
On the other hand, it has resulted,
thank God, in rallying and unifying
the great majority of the God-fear-
ing, State-loving and law-abiding
citizens of this commonwealth in
battle array against the Governors
criminal autocracy.
1t seems to me that Governor
Patterson has totally misconceiVed
the spirit of the constitutional pro-
vision that conferS upon the Gov
ernor the pardoning power. | do
not believe that the builders of our
Constitution ever contemplated the
Governor setting himself up as an
Appellate, superior to the Supreme
Court Of the State. Now, this is
evidently the Governor conception
of his power of pardon. He does
not content himself with granting
a pardon only in such cases as some
new fact appears in favor OF the
defendant of which the Supreme
Court could not or did not have
the benefit, for example, new
proof of his innocence, the fact
of his loss of health, his having
been manned in the mines, or his
extreme youth; but he takes up a
case alone upon the record of the
court, tries it on that record, re-
verses the court and pardonS the
criminal. This is exactly what he
did in the Cooper case. He may
have the absolute power to grant
such a pardon, but | believe that
his act was contrary to the spirit of
our Constitution and an encroach- |
>ment on the judicial department of
our government.
The platform upon which my |
candidacy rests condemns the abuse |
of the pardoning power. When |
am elected Governor | will faith
fully abide by this utterance. EX-
ecutive clemency shall be more
sparingly and carefully extended.
1t shall not be given as political
favor and no man anywhere in this |
State shall set himself up as par
don broker to wiring exorbltant |
fees from the unfortunate friends |
of convicted men.
| shall not constitute myself a
super-Supreme Court and spit upon
the decisions of the highest judicial
tribunal Of our State When it be-
comes we'll understood, as it soon
will, that the pardoning power is to
be administered along these lines,
the battle for law enforcement will
be half won.