Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-05-29
LET JUSTICE BE IMPARTIAL

Burlington is not alone in being forced
to struggle perpetually against the plea
that there is one standard of justice and
morals for the powerful and wealthy and
altogether different standard for the
weak and the impoverished. You and we,
say what we may to the contrary, are all
respecters of persons We excuse things
in the governor and the president that
we would not tolerate in water front So
cety. AS the average Briton is said to
dearly love a lord" so we instinctively
give our seat in a street car to a lady in
silks more eagerly than we move for
q washwoman, even though the latter may
be in reality the superior of the two. One
phase of this situation is we'll brought
out by the Enosburg Standard as follows:
Newspaper reports of the Barre case
highest social circles whatever they may
be. The truth or falsity Of this may not
be revealed by the investigation. but prob
ably many communities are familiar with
IdSTdHt anu COHtlNueu OHeH6eS against
public morality and decency on the part
of members of the respectable element.
while the dragnet, when systematically
thrown out. gathers in only those from
the lower stratum.
This is a recognition Of double stand
ard. which not only makes a byword Of
justice and breeds contempt for law, but
serves as an encouragement for the prac-
tice of vice and immortality"
Still another illustration Of discriminat-
tory justice or a double standard is
shown by the cases of Burlington wom-
an and former State officials. In this con-
nection the Bratteboro Reformer says:
"a young woman of Burlington has just
been sentenced to several months in the
House of Correction for larceny of GUS
toners rocketbooks in Burlington stores.
While the lawis expected to take it's course
this would seem to be case where justice
should be tempered with mercy. She was
married at the age Of IA. is the mother Of
ak children, is clothed in rags and has a
drunken husband who has not worked for
Ave years and whom she has supported.
She says she stole for her family. It's a
wonder she didn't do worse"
This leads the Burlington Clipper to
say:
''She stole for her family. She stole that
her little Riddles might have bread. She
to1o to y, !, hue
band was drunk. She was arrested and
convicted-and they call that justice. Her
case was not passed along but Justice
came with a swift hand.
Now, just look at another picture. Two
prominent officials Of the State are under
indictment for using money that did not
belong to them Maybe they did not in
tend to steal, probably did not. yet they
are charged with about the same offense
"a this woman who did steal to keep the
wolf from the door. The cases Of these
high officials have been put over two terms
of court and nearly a year has passed
since the indictments were returned. The
cases cannot now be tried until Septem.
Der and rumors are afloat that nothing
will come out of it,
Can it be that Vermont justice is o.
one brand for one kind Of criminals ant
is gong to be of another sort for a differ
ent kind? There are just a few things il
high official life that ought to be cleaned
up and cleaned up right"
One Of the most difficult things for indi
viduals and communities alike is to avoit
double standards Or life. Of judging and o
Justice. Sooner or later the double stand
ard undermnes society and shakes on
faith In humanity We owe 1t to our
selves. to our community and to our Stat
to insist upon a single standard ant
especially single standard of morals an
Justice.