Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-06-28

Governor Morrow and

The Blair Case
(From the Lexington Leader.D
Newspaper readers are tamil
lar with the facts, in so far as
they have been made public, re
Iating to the pardon issued to
Frank Blair by Gov. Morrow.
For his action in this case
Gov. Morrow has been severely
criticised by the democratic press
and the Lexington Leader regrets
that it is unable to go to his de
Tense.
Granting that the Governor
was misled or imposed upon, he Is
none the less responsible for what
in its best aspect was an incXcus-
able blunder.
This newspaper, with a fair
appreciation of the temperament
iof Governor Morrow, is satisfied
that in the Blair case he was NOV.
ed by generous impulses which.
for the moment, caused him t.
overlook a higher dutytoWard the
cause of-laW and order and to the
people who intrusted him with the
power which. he is now at liberty
to exercise.
ct is likewise true that one
Imisstep should not forever, con.
denim a public official, no more
than one good deed should pro
Itect him perpetually from attack
for official wrong doing.
"The Blair episode and its IN
happy consequences should warn
Governor Morrow against some
of the pitfalls which beset politi-
cal pathway. He IS himself wise
enough to recognize them. If
he has not iii fact already sensed
some OF them he is not big
enough to serve ont his term Of
office. The degree to which he is
henceforth true OF the his state.
his real friends and to his own
fortunes will be the measure Of
the esteem in which he will be
held during the years to come.
ED Morrow, the man, is one
person. Edwin ?. Morrow, Gov
ernOr of Kentucky. Is another in
dividual Altogether. In the iudg-
ment C the Lexington Leader
there ale influences at work in the
republican party in Kentucky.
with highly potential democratic
relationships, which seek 10 at
tach themselves like parasites to
the administration Of Governor
Morrow, These influences, if
not overridden by the Governor,
will wreck both him and his par
ty. II they succeed in their de
signs both he and his party will
deservedly be driven from places
of power in this state.
Whether Mr., Morrow propos-
es to be real Governor, holding
every department and every sub
ordinate official to strict account
ability for faithful observance Of
the laws, and himself free from
all sinister influences, the course
OF his administration to its END
must show.
MIR Morrow, as the republican
nominee for Governor, was cor
daily and energetically supported
by the Lexington Leader. It be
lieved that he would fulfill the ex-
pectations of his friends. 1t be-
lives today that he is capable of
discharging the duties of his high
office with credit to himself and to
the satisfaction of those who
placed their trust in him.
To-day he is or should be
standing where two roads meet
and cross. He can follow the,
one which beckoned to him when
he signed the Blair pardon, or he
can take the other and choose
courageously to serve the highest
interests of his Commonwealth,
of all other consider
political or personal.
ED Morrow, if he so elects, can
be a great and respected Gov err
nor. Will he decide to be merely
a good fellow-following a pirate
crew which has nailed to its mast
head The Public Be Damnedi'