Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-09

A marked division of opinion as to
the wisdom of the parole granted to
former Gov. Warren T. McCray OF
Indiana appears in the press. He
had served three years and four
months Of 10-year sentence for un
lawful use of the mails and other
illegal acts in private financial
crisis. Those who upheld the parole
contend that consideration Of the
character of his offense and his con
| duct in prison fully warranted giving
the former governor the benefit OF
such leniency as the law allows
Others insist that public officials who
betray trust should suffer the full
penalty of the law.
"McCray's offense was untainted by
political corruption" explains the
Birmingham News Oemocratic). mot
a dollar of public funds was lost by
reason of his financial undertakings
The worst that might be said of him
on this score is that he did use his
office as governor to induce friends of
his to extend him credit that was not
Justly his. Unhappily for
McCray, his illegalities came to light
in Indiana at a time when the oil
scandals and Veterans Bureau scan
dals at Washington were in the public
eye. ." 1t is his avowed pur-
pose to retrieve his lost fortune
and to repay every cent of his obliga'
tons. In this resolution OF his is
manifest the man of honesty and OF
honor that McCrays real friends still
believe him to be. He deserves the
good wishes of good men in the new
life he now sets out to live"
n X y X
"He took his punishment like a
man, and his record in prison has
been exemplary" according to the
South Bend Tribune independent Re-
publican). and the Indianapolis News
independently, points out that he has
not been pardoned, 80 that justice
Is in no way compromised by the
action of the Government. The News
believes "he has paid the penalty"
To those who think he was dealt
with too leniently," the Roanoke
Times independent Democratic), ad-
dresses the words: LET it pass. The
man has sinned, but he has been
punished in way that must have
been CALLING to his pride"
Whether McCray can, as he hopes,
News.Sentinel Republican), 1--WE have
no way of knowing. But we do be-
lieve, that, grave as were his faults.
he has suffered enough" The Buff
falo Evening News Republican,,
argues: 1.-THE claim that his frauds
were the result of temporary bust
ness reverses which he intended and
would have been able to make good
does not improve the ethical side of
his case, but 1t strengthens the plea
for mercy; and parole is not pardon,
but merely an act of generosity on the
part of the Government"
** y X
There is no reason why Mr.. Nc.
GRAY should be treated more harshly
than any one else would be under the
same circumstances" contends the
Indianapolis Star, with the explana-
ton that under the conditions ANY
prisoner Is entitled to parole, provided
his record is good" while the Fort
Wayne Journal-Gazette Democratic)
says: I'VE trust he may find the way,
as he has declared his purpose to be,
that his fortune may be recovered and
what he had wrorgfully taken may be
restored. We believe he will try to
do that. No generous mind can wish
that fate will deal ungenerously by
him."
The circumstances under which Nc
Cray returns are emphasized by the
Baltimore Evening Sun independent
Democratic), which states: 'He has
been away three years. but he finds In
diana politicians still being charged |
with high crimes and misdemeanors,
still being investigated by grand juries,
still in danger of going to Jail. Per-
haps he will hardly be able to believe |
that he has been away, for nothing is |
changed"
While recognizing the peculiar |
status of the pubic official who violates
the law he has sworn to uphold, the
' Gazette independent |
Dsmocratic) shes the fact that INC |