The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1919-02-25
Random Remarks

Assemblyman Foxhall, of Passaic,
which has in view the compelling
every citizen of a legal age to vote at
the general elections each year. The
penalty for failure is fixed at ten dol
lars. In order 10 have this fine col
lected the bill contains clause which
requires municipal clerks to file with
the prosecutor of the pleas the names
and residences of all persons who have
failed to vote. The exceptions that
will be all owed will be to those who
are out of town on registration days,
soldiers and sailors on duty away from
home and those disabled or suffering
from illness. AT first this might look
like joke but the gentleman who
sponsors the bill claims that if men
will not take the trouble TO exercise
one of the greatest privileges they en-
JOY they should be compelled to do SO.
That many of the best citizens stay
away from the polls without just ex-
cuse is noticed every year. Assembly
man Foxhall insists that it is a duty
that is owed to the community for
every citizen to go the polls and give
expression to his choice of candidates
The idea is good one.
Much has been said about "obstruct-
ing justice" and from some of the re-
marks it might be thought that seri-
Gus damage has been done by one or
two persons But when you come to
look at the matter in an impartial way
an inquiry may easily be asked wheth-
er Justice cannot be obstructed by the
state as we'll as by the defence. There
are many cases brought into court
where the prisoners have been inter
viewed in advance and induced to
sign waiver of indictment and then
they have come into court and pleaded
guilty. In each instance that is put
down as victory for the state but in
manv of the cases if the defendants
had been given the privilege of counsel
before signinga waiver-and two-thirdt
of them did not know the meaning d
"waiver" never could have beer
convicted. Several girls have beer
punished-properly it must be admit
ted simply because they pleaded
guilty. Had they denied their gull
} the state could not, in majority Q
the cases, have secured conviction
This brings the question up to tn
: point that has been presented not onl,
in these columns but has been consid
cred by at least one session of the Leg
: islature and that is that person
! charged with crime should be give
counsel at once in order to ascertai
/ their rights. This Is a privilege tina
r the constitution of the state give
: where it says SIN all criminal prosecu
/ tions the accused shall have the RICH
: to speedy and public trial by an in
:. partial jury; to be informed of tn
It nature and cause OF the accusation; I
d against him; to have compulsory pr,
5. cess for obtaining witnesses in his fay,
e and to have the assistance of couns
II in his defence" The last few wore
lie are those upon which stress is lai
a The defendants have in all cas-
De had the nature of their offence put
fore them and by some means ha'
n agreed to go into court and plead gui
ID ty, but how many of them have bee
is given the privilege of counsel befo
" the agreement to thus plead has BET
is made? And when counsel, with pc
IN feet LEGALITY, does go and talk with i
at clients and even get statements fro
IT. them, he is denounced in open cou
40 as ''obstructing justice"