Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-10-04
DRASTIC AND MOMENTous

sldered the most Important news in
Monday mornings paper. Was It the
parading Of the ku Klux Khan
masked and ROBBED and carrying the
American flag and shooting the off,
GERS who ondeavored TO have their
identity revealed? That was an i'm
portant report, foreshadowing as it
does the approach OF the time when
that sort Of occurrence Will TO longer
be permitted, when it will not be per-
mitted to fellows with pillow cases
over their heads TO go about the
country on the pretcxt that the laws
are not enforced and that it devoives
on them secretly to impose the de-
cree Of justice.
In another column of that issue is
the report Of the finding Of the Su-
prene Court Of Massachusetts, result
ing in the removal Of q district at
torney in that state, the sole matter
for inquiry" being The public welfare
as affected by the moral, intellectual
and professional characteristic and
conduct Of the man in question. Such
characteristics and conduct need not
be confined to his administration of
the ONCE, nor to the period of his Of
fetal service" say the court.
This was a very significant act
Those who have been in a way to
rear report and rumor respecting the
condition of things in the legal ma
chinery in that commonwealth may
have concluded no way of improve
ment could be had through the regu-
lar channels for such purpose. And
had the Ku klux. in the face of such
reported conditions, arisen in Massa-
chusetts. it might have appealed to
the minimizing. And so, considera-
ton brings US to the conclusion that
this finding by the court is really of
tremendous Importance. the biggest
and one Of the best news reports car
RED in the columns of the daily press
for many a week.
"Americansm," which the Ku Klux
hypocritioally endorses while in fact
smirching, would mean little if our
bar should allow its members to
practise blackmail. and those chosen
to positions of public trust under the
laws should fa-antly disregard
those laws. The printed reports of
the trial OF the Tufts case have not
been pleasant reading. And it is said
many were of the opinion that Moth
ing worth while could come of it,
that all the energy and sacrifice re-
quired for the prosecution, all the
sweltering days passed by the court
in hearing the evidence would go for
nausht or worse than naught.
Such fears are now dispelled.
~Anaerieanisnl" means more than it
did. in Massachusetts,, in every part
Of the country where that report is
read-and it should be read in every
hamlet throughout the broad land.
Tho court resorted to drastic meas
ures Drastic measures were needed;
the court has justified the confidence
placed therein by those who laid the
foundation Of our government Mas
sachusetts may we'll rejoice and the
blush of shame pass from her.
Here is the moment to let the
words Of the court respecting the
powers and privileges of a district
attorney sink into our consciousness
and become impressed on the men,
Dry:
"rhe powers of district attorney
under our laws are very extensive.
They affect TO a high degree the lib
erty of the individual. the sood order
OF society and the safety of the com
munity. His natural influence with
the grand jury and the confidence
commonly reposed in his recon-
mendations by judges, afford the uu
scrupulous, the weak. or the wicked
incumbent Of the office, vast oppor-
tunity to Cypress the innocent and
to shield the guilty. TO trouble his
enemies and to make the interests Of
the public subservient to his personal
desires. his Individual ambitions and
his private advantage.
THE authority invested in him by
law to refuse on his own Judgment
alone to prosecute a complaint or in
dictr,ent enables him to end any
criminal proceedings without appeal
and without the approval of another
Official. Powers SO great impose re-
sponsibilities correspondingly grave.
They demand character incorrupti-
ble reputation unsullied, a high
standard of professional ethics, and
the sound judgment of no mean or
der.
profound learning and unusual in
tenectual acumen, although eminent
ly desirable, are less essential. A dis
trict attorney cannot treat that Office
a. his selfish affair. 1t is a public
trust The Office is not private prop
erty, but is held and administered
only in the interest of the people at
hrge, and with an eye single to their
welfare
This Demand for incorruptible
character and high standard OF
ethics. as requirements Of those rep