The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-11-23
The Graham Indictment.
burlington Free Press.

burlington Free Press
We approach more in sorrow and right {
eous indignation than in anger the sub !
jcct of the indictment of Horace +. Ora
ham by Ahc grand jury OF Washington
county for alleged grand larceny and en-
bezzlemont of state funds. We would It
were not necessary. Yet, ii this step is
warranted, the sovereign state Of Vermont
could not afford not to take that step
No matter what the sad effects or the
disgrace involved in this action against
the governor Of Vermont, it should never
be said that we have one law Tor the nch
and those In high station and another law
! for the lowv and the poor and the improy-
| ident 1t would have been a misfortune,
| if, under the circumstances, the indlct- /
ment had not been found until after the
end of the governors term OF office. We
say this on the assumption that the lndict-
nent is warranted by the evidence found. I
We would not indct man simply TO VIM
dictate the majesty OF the law or eXempll-
~ the equality Of justice between high
I and low. The indictment being justified
the mere bringing oil it at this particular
time even though at late day, Will help
TO strengthen the moral tone OF our people
On the other hand Horace +. Graham
owed il To the people OF this state to
spare Vermont the odium of having its
governor indicted for enlightenment q
state funds He should have resigned
long ago. Ii he had been intending TO at
tempt TO show that the money has not
, been wrongfully removed from the state
treasury or from the accounts of different
| department funds. the situation would be
: different from what il manitestly is at the
) present time
The fact that restitution of money has
Z been made to the state treasury III behalf
' OF the accused executive speaks FOR itself
I Manifestly il money had not been wrong
r fully removed, money would not bc re-
{ TUNED for the purpose OF making good
the shortage How that shortage IS to b.
A explained is immatcrial. No embezzhng
I bank clerk OF whom we ever heard intend
!, ed TO keep the money at the outset tie
r intended 10 make more money and return
the loan. So far as We can recall 1t IS not
!, customary to excuse an ordinary offender
on this ground The same rule would seem
:, to apply to an extraordinary offender
The resignation of the executive, when
the alleged shortage was disclosed, and a
promise to make restitution, would have
been the least reparation he could make
H. the commonwealth Why he failed to keep
e. his alleged promise to the representatives,
1g OF the state Republican committee, to re-
m sign later on, is not easy to understand.
Ii he hoped restitution Of tie money
through the aid OF friends and the lapse
IS OF time while he remained IN Office wonid
I'd temper the winds OF public dsiavor, he
has failed to appreciate the real spirit oil
- Vermont justice. Our commonwealth I
no respecter OF persons where a question
of guilt is involved
The mere fact that evidence was founC
sufficient to warrant Indictment ON NJ
less than l52 counts in the estimation o
the Washington county grand jury. leaves
those responsible for the public disclosure
| OF the alleged shortage OF Mr. Graham, We
who helped to make up that shortage, II
a very uncnviable position. Why the dts
closure, if not belief Of guilt? Gvel
the belief OF guilt, why attempt to pal
late, shield or condone!
Be all this Is it may the thing that wi
appeal to every patriotic Nermonter WI
be to save the Green Mountain state iu
Their odium. Now that Nh. Graham ha
beeu indicted, he can have no possible g
cuSe Tor further refusal to relieve u
commonwealth of his official presence
Vermont should not be compelled TO stan
before the world as having an indlcte
man occupying the executive chamber
the state capitol The spirit Of all h
predecessors will cry out against his eol
tinued occupancy OF that high office.
Guilty or innocent, but indscreet TO Il
point of erimnality, Horace f. Graha
has brought this odium on the fair nan
OF Vermont If he has the slightest sen
OF the eternal fitness OF things or the lei,
latent ability to blush with shame,
will send his resignation at once to {
secretary OF state.
Meanwhile the Constitution Of Nermo
should be- amended at the first opport
nifty, in 1920, with the present new legis
ture taking the initiative, that Il
state shall never again run the shght'
risk of having dishonest governor on
hands whom it cannot reach by impea(
ment as well as through the crmn
courts.
No true NeTmonter can conceive OF a
executive indicted for grand larceny a
embezzlemcnt OF state funds, delivers
a glbernatorial vaiedictory message to
legislature, emphasizing the necessity
enforcing our criminal laws or recommel
ing in detail the development of any St
prison and other Ieformatory institute
Il The thing is unthinkable.