The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1929-02-13
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1929
A QUESTION OF JUSTICE


YAY PUTNAM of the Granite Falls Tribune,
whose heart of sympathy goes out to the
y unfortunate victims of poverty everywhere
was moved to pity for a poor, unfortunate fell
low, who was arrested in Olivia recently for
stealing wheat and later sent to the
penitentiary. Jay knew the fellow as Shorty"
when the latter lived in Granite Falls, and speaks
of the love which "Shorty" bore toward his
family. Jay does not attempt to excuse him
for the crime committed, but he is probably re-
minded of the lines from the poet which read:
"The laws lock up the man or woman,
Who steals a goose from off the common,
But lets the greater william loose,
Who steals the common from the goose"
There was no question about "Shorty's' guilt,
and the penalty he received was deserved, but as
Jay pointed out, punishment does not always
fit the crime. Here is what Jay says:
"A week or SO ago "Shorty" stole a few
bushels of grain to obtain money enough to buy
his wife and little girl Christmas present.
Today Shorty is convict, sentenced to year
at hard labor in Saltwater. In the same prison
there is stock broker from Minneapolis, who
stole more than hundred thousand dollars from
his clients. His term is the same as "Shorty's"
Granite people remember Shorty as an
inofensive young chap devoted to his wife and
little girl Hard up, always, for his earning
power was small, but there was usually enough
money for bag of candy or trinket to make
the heart of the little girl glad. To the little
one Shorty Prince Charming Her Dad
represented all that was good and kind to her.
and when he was not at work. they were together
almost constantly. You probably recall her
perched on her Dads shoulder at the band con-
certs, or walking down the street with him in
hand.
1t is not difficult to get the viewpoint of
Shorty" as the Christmas season approached.
There must be present for the wife and little
girl, regardless of the fact that he had no money.
And there a present for each of them, but
Shorty" went the limit to buy it-he became
a thief
But it does seem as though he is somewhat
less of thief than that other serving the
same sentence. Rich, influenced, living in lux
ury, and with every advantage at his command
the broker stole thousands where "Shorty" stole
cents, but in the eyes of the law their crimes
are identical
If that be justice, it is poor brand-Oliva
Times.
BATTLE WITH CHICAGO is MORE THAN
HALF WON
'HE decision of the United States supreme
court, handed down recently, in which the
court sustained all but one of the major
contentious of the lakes states in their Chicago
diversion suit, is in many ways the most impor-
tant decision to the entire Midwest that has
come from the court in many years.
Not alone does the decision assure an end
to the lowering of the water in the Great Lakes
to the detrlment of shipping in order that Chica-
go may have an inexpensive way of disposing
OF its sewage, but the decision likewise eliminates
very serious obstacle in the negotiations with
Canada for the development of the st. Lawrence
seaway.
The suit to force Chicago to cease its illegal
abstraction of water from Lake Michigan to
flush its sewerage down the Illinois river has
been in the courts for more than twenty years
in one manner or another. The suit Just decided
has been in the courts for several years and was
brought by various states bordering the Great
Lakes, including Minnesota. Former Attorney
General Hilton first represented Minnesota in this
suit, and the work was later carried on by
Attorney General Youngquist
About three years ago the supreme court
appointed Charles Evans Hughes as master in
chancery to conduct the hearings in the case and
report findings. This report was handed down
about year ago, and in later arguments before
the supreme court was opposed by the various
states in many particulars. The decision of the
court follows, is final, and fully sustains the con-
tentions OF the states except as to the rights of
congress to authorize diversion
Under the decision of the court, Chicago
must cease abstracting water for sewerage pur-
poses at as early date is possible to finish
construction of disposal plants the court ordered
constructed five years ago. In fact, the decision
goes much further and in effect bars Chicago
from plea of leniency in time to build such
.,lants for the court declares that the authorities