Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-06-27
Was the Governor Ashamed ,


While IL il not the official or personal
',,tv Of the governor OF Delaware TO fur
nish information TO the press, VIZ feel con-
virce-d that Governor Townsend made a
mistake in not causing announcement to
be n,sde, at the time, of his granting OF a
pardon TO Rev Howard Lowber of
Srnvrna, Negro preacher who wss serv-
ing term of three years in the New
Castle County Workhouse, following con-
vIction on al indictment for gross i'm
morality. We believe that II he had caused
public announcement to be made at the
tine he issued the pardon or at some time
subsequent. when appeals were made TO
him 10 disregard the recommendation Of
clernencv and allow the law to take lts
course. he would havr stood much higher
in public estimation today.
The circumstances Of this case are most
unusual On Thursday. June s, the Board
of PMdons, hv = partisan vote-thls con
y1cted Negro preacher bad been an in
terrsted and valuable worker for the
Republican party IN Kent county-rec-
commended pardon. This action seemed
TO have been influenced more BY the active
work OF Republican politicians in his be
half than by evidence serving 70 throw
tho slightest doubt on his guilt, or re-
vealing extenuatIng circumstances cal
culated 10 hold him Up as a convicted
offender who was entitled TO clcmency
From that day until announcement
wss made IN Every Evening, on Tuesday,
that Lowber had been released from the
workhouse on Friday, June s, by virtue Of
pardon extended to him by the governor,
it was generally supposed by the public
that Governor Townsend was holding the
recommendation under ADJUSTMENT The
impression also prevailed that he was tax
ing due time for consideration IN view OF
the partisan influences involved IN the
case, and hesitated TO exercise the func-
tons OF ms high Office at the beheSt or for
the interests OF partisan political workers
Meanwhile, some newspapers on the State,
Every Evening among them, were calling
upon the governor 10 continue his con1d |
Grafton. and not grant the pardon unless |
he could be thoroughly convinced there |
was real merit IN the case
And all this tInle tho pardon had been !
granted and the convicted preacher WAS 8 |
free man lie was released from the work /
house or Saturday June 8, which shows
that Governor Townsend had lost DO time /
u ha ~ h.
Republican politicians The action OF the
Board OF PsrGons was taken on the after
moon Of Thursday, June e. AS the pardon
was received at the wOrkbousc Saturday
morning. the governor must have issued
IT the day following the partisan action
taken by the Board OF Pardons.
AS we have said, it is not the official or
personal duty of the governor TO furnish
information to the public press But why
should he have remained silent when
newspapers were calling upon him to
withhold his approval? Why should be
have said nothing while newspapers were
condemning the partisan action OF the
Board of Pardons and urging him TO main
tain the cause of justice by refusing 10
yield2
Can it be that Governor Townsend was
of his official action? lie must
have known, as all other citizens, even
including the partisan politicians who
worked so hard for tins convicted offender
knew, that Lowber had had far trial
and that on appeal the judgment Of the
court below had been sustained by the
Supreme Court OF the State He must
have known, as other citizens knew. that
there was no real merit IN the application
Tor pardon Yet he granted the pardon |
Immediately after the recommendation
came TO his hands. and looked upon a
public misunderstanding Of the situation I
ior nearly three weeks, without saying a
word to correct IL.
Really, the situation is one that gives
Use to the inference that Governor Town
'end was ashamed of his action in grant
ng clemency to this righteously convicted
,tfender Ii not, he should have been.