The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-02-09
Burlington Free Press. J

Those two words have tremendous sig
nificance for the commonwealth of Yer
mont and the people thereof. Not only
former governor of the state, but also
the people of Vermont were on trial. 1t
was an unfortunate case where either one
or the other must stand convicted.
If a state official could take money
from the state treasury under cover of
department orders and put it into
bank and check against the deposit for
the payment of his private bills, and
have Vermont jury pronounce the of
fender innocent of offence, then it would
follow that the public moral tone of our
people had reached a low ebb indeed.
The conviction of Graham, wholly out
side of all other consideration, is there
fore moral triumph for Vermont and
Vermont's people.
This triumph is all the greater on ac-
count of the conditions against which
/ Attorney General Archibald and former
Attorney General Barber were forced to
contend in securing verdict of guilty.
/ The attorneys for the state are to be
congratulated on the fine way in which
they handled the case. 1t is no secret
that some people were short sighted
enough to hold it would hurt the Repub-
lean party if the party did its own pc
litical house cleaning. From the very be
ginning of the disclosures in connection
with the case, strong political influence
was brought to bear in one way or an
other Indeed, Graham's popularity was
so pronounced that not a few people
would have supported him for re election
despite the disclosure on the ground that
he was the victim of campaign mud
singing. They would not believe the
!; charges.
As regards efficiency in the executive
office in the war period Graham made
one of the most satisfactory governor
) the state had in long time. But for Thu
. shadow nothing could have stopped hin
from election to represent Vermont il
congress in one branch or the other. Tha
such development which probably be
) gan in mere carelessness in handling
funds entrusted to his care as so Otter
happens, should have blighted so prom
ising career is indeed pathetic. All thes
!, considerations and sympathy entered in
to the case and made successful prose
cution difficult
:. The fact that Graham is found guilt,
g after this prolonged period is anothe
illustration of the profound need of NOR
speedy Justice in Vermont. There is al
J. ways the danger of the disappearance o
death of important witnesses and othe
barriers to successful prosecution in de
laying trials The outcome of this case
abundant justification of those newspa
J. pers that in consideration of the goo
r name of Vermont insisted over and owe
e again that the state should vindicat
V it's claim to impartial justice for hig
= and low. by trying Graham the same a
Y any ordinary man.
e 1t is remarkable coincidence that til
'. man who as a candidate for governo
l. ear the beginning of the century brougf
e charges against Graham's manner of cor
IS Quoting the auditors Office should /
Is governor when that official was hrougi
1t to trial for the outgrowth of a question
able system nearly two decades later
is still more significant that he shoul
G be one of those who contributed to tt
fund to help make good to the stat
treasury the funds which the former al
al ditor had manipulated,
1T When Governor Clement took his pre-
IN ent office, there was general feeliI
De that there was Something rotten in De-
IF mark" and that he should rip l
ne things" The conviction of Graham af
as er so much political pressure to prevel
g it, and the disclosures made in that co.
neetion have changed this suspicion in
profound certainty. It is UP to Il
Republican party in Vermont to cor
plete the political house cleaning 1t HI
now so auspiciously begun. Nothil
I'd short of this will remove the stain fro
ID our commonwealth, which stood f
1t honest as well as courageous America
&c ism.
l. Glorious Vermont; here she stand
at proud of her history as the first re
it Independent republic on the Americ'
continent as well as the mother of hero
men and noble women. 1t is for til
generation to pass on that grand heritaI
to future sons and daughters of We