The Hartford republican., 1915-09-17
JUDGE BENTON'S
Instructions
y'Ivl
Wants Grand Jury To In
vestigate Primary.
" ..lf--" "-%.: l..
Asserts Law Must Lay Heavy
Hand on All Of
A. tenders.

Winchester. KY. Sept. i3.-De-
claring that no more corrupt cleo
tior was ever held in Clark county
Than the primary of August 7 last
Circuit Judge James NJ. Benton, in
his charge to the grand jury directed
a searching investigation into the
corrupt practices such as were noto-
riously engaged in by those who
sought to control the recent election
by means required to accomplish
their purpose.
Judge BentOn's instructions on in
vestigating the primary were strong
and explicit. He said he would be
remiss in his duty If he failed to give
such instructions. after his pledges
AT former terms of the court that
such Investigations would be made.
Judge Benton touched generally on
all phases of law-breaking. but his
principal charge was in regard to
the primary election.
Judge Bentons charge to the grand
jury follows:
"The most important matter that
you will be called upon to consider
Is the investigation of the primary
election that was held in this county
on the 7th day of August.
While the lawmakers It is the duty
OF the Circuit Judge to call attention
OF the grand jury to the statutory
provisions that have been enacted in
order to prevent corrupt practices,
both in general and primary elections
the grand jurors are not required to
wait for a suggestion or a recommen-
dation from the Judge of the court
before they have authority to inves-
tigate any election. for the oath
which you have taken makes it your
svlrn duty to diligently inquire of
and present al treasons, felonies. mis-
deamors and breaches of the penal
laws which shall have been commit
ted within the limits Of the juris-
.diction OF this county. of which you
have knowledge or may receive infor-
nation and that certainly covers all
election offenses.
Keeps Pledge Given Judge.
"At this particular time would be
remiss in my obligation to you and
all other citizens of this county IL !
failed to urge this duty upon you. for
I gave the pledge to the grand jur-
les that we had in February and APP
ril that this question would be pre-
scented to this grand jury. | had en-
tertained the hope that the law
would be strictly regarded in this
election, and ! could not permit my
self to believe that any citizens of
this county, in view of the sentiment |
that prevails here would deliberately I
violate the law. and deiantly shock
the moral senses of the county by
such corrupt practices as were no
torYously engaged in by those who
sought to control the recent election
by means required to accomplish their
purpose.
"My hope for a clean election was
nok realized and my confidence in
some of the citizens of this county as
men was shaken, for 1t
is a matter of public knowledge that
no more corrupt election was ever
held in this county than the recent
primary, and It is known that the
leaders in the corrupt work were the
ones who were the chief offenders
two years ago.
Moral SuasiOn Ineffective.
Their conduct in this election,
after the agitation of the last two
years and after the pledges and prom
Ises ITO be good" that had been given
clearly that reforms
along this line cannot be accom-
plished by moral suasion, and that
Il our country is to be rid of corrupt
conduct in elections, the law must
lay it's hands heavily upon the often
iers, and they must be shown that
heir conduct will be no longer toll I
srable. This cannot be unless the
members of the grand jury take a
,&ira geous and fearless stand and
,eal with the conditions with a high
iegree of intelligence and deter
nination to reach and condemn all
,ffenders. The work Of cleaning up ,
..& he dome m that way, but In no