Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-02-15
THINGS TALKED ABOUT.

It is understood that the Grand
lJury had laid before it last week
complaints against more than one
4 hundred citizens, alleged to be guilty
of technical violation of the Geran
election law. We believe these. citi-
zens would be required to plead guilty
/ had the Grand Inquest returned true
bills against them. This being so,
some good citizens, who take a mar
row, view of the duty of a Grand
Jury. will feel that that body, failed
in its duty to the people by, ignoring
these, complaints The more we CON
slider the facts, we must. confess that
our admiration for the members OF
+ this Grand jury is increased. Be
cause :f,sts4 ss.sif;.1s sg M
1st. In no instance is the charge
made that the delinquent candidates
had violated the essential provisions
Eof the law. There is not the. least
implication that one fof8these delin-
hquenta candidates had 4 improperly
sought to influence vote; indeed,
most of them We're not even active IN
1 the election. They upheld the law,
and its most stringent provisions
against bribery and are opposed to
1.-THE almost universal trickery that has
/ heretofore disgraeed our elective sys-
| tenn, and in this election, for the first
| time in many years, such acts We're
| eliminated.
I'd. The Grand jury is representa-
tive of the people. 1t has right t
listen to the public voice-be in touch
with the public conscience and act in
response with the public will and for
! the public welfare Would any good
purpose be served in adding to tt
criminal annals of the county any
such record as wholesale present
ment on these lines would involve?
| Would any good purpose have been
| served in lining up one hundred good
men before the Bar of our county
courts, and imposing on them the
minimum penalty, or even a suspen-
sion of sentence? We doubt if there
lis reputable citizen in the county
who would derive any satisfaction
| from such an exhibit of legal exact
ness. t
Sd. The Statement Eof Expenses
Idea is altogether new in our. political
methods, and what is more natural to
ithe honest candidate than to reach
the conclusion that because he has
incurred no expense, that statement
{ is not required. He will reasons 6 I
FIhave expended nothing, how can
render a statement ~ Nothing more
natural. to the innocent mind.
We are sure no reader will get the
impression from what we have above
said that the Gloucester County DEM
ocrat stands for a loose construction
iof the Geran election law. and we are
sure, too, that no citizen will get. the
notion that future Grand Jnries are
! to deal as leniently with violators of
this provision as the last has done.
! There is no disposition in this Office
NOR do | believe In any right-minded
/ citizen, to weaken one of its provis-
| ions for safes guarding the ballot.
There is no disposition to shield the
! bribe-giver nor taker, or weaken a
single protective provision Of the act.
fBut this first year Of its operation We
! feel that to relinquish the penaly for
this peculiar feature is not only wise.
but just, and will tend not only to
promote respect for law but also for
| its administration in this county.
Not only did the Court Judge Starr
and Prosecutor Rogers do their full
| duty, but the Grand Jury stood where
Fit is expected to stand-in the admin
| istration of Justice, and it deserves
| commendation for clear seeing and
wise action.
A large land owner Of our county
| has employed an expert toananage his
/ farms. The man is a graduate. of
Cornell Agricultural College ,and he
will direct all farm operations. We
believe this is the first large land
owner in this county to employ such
help, and put his, agricultural opera
tions on a thoroughly scientific basis.
THE results will no doubt be watched
| signed x, Y, p, in this paper, is for
an assistant to the expert. Not tneces-
lsarily young man is wanted, butca
reliable man to live on the farm and
| to perform certain specific duties.
*sa
| So many of the patrons OF our short
adver service write Have more re
j niles to adv than | can accommodate
that we feel it our duty to make its
gasue to our readers who have any
/ thing for sale, or want anything,
known. At least 10000 people read
thie paper every week, and all are do
ling something worth while We feel
sure that people who have anything
for sale, or want anything, will find
it a useful means Of obtaining their
needs.
/, Tunneling the Delaware, from Phil
IAdelphia, to Camden, is again a sub
Hbect of agitation because ferry ac-
Recommendations are proving inadequate
Ito properly transport the people who
glcros ssbetween the two cities, fespec-
TALLY in morning, and evening The
people are now fairly herded on the