The record-union., 1893-06-09
A CASE WHERE THE TUNE HAS
CHANGED.

The REcoRD-UNION is inclined to
laugh; it has every reason for merriment:
indeed, if it deemed such procedure wise,
or If it entertained such feeling, it might
indulge in a good deal of bitterness
toward many of its contemporaries.
Last winter when the parole bill was
introduced in the Legislature the
RECORD UNION was the only paper in the
State-with two or three exceptions, if
we mistake not-that supported and
urged the passage of the bill. If there
were any other than two or three Jour
nails that favored and labored for it, the
fact escaped our attention. Certainly
ninety mine out of every hundred of the
State press opposed the bill, or accepted
the claim of the sensational press that it
was bad. The opposition was dogmatic,
cruel, unjust. Its papers advanced not
single reason for their animosity; they
did not reply to a single reason given for
the bill. Though it was shown that it
could be abused only by the Board of
Parole Commissioners corruptly COM
bining with the prison officials to that
end, the bill was denounced in round
terms.
In vain did the RECORD UNION, and
the few working with it, quote the opin-
ions of all leading penologists in sup
port in vain was it shown that the same
law works well in Ohio and New York:
in vain was it pointed out that it gave no
convict the absolute right to discharge;
that it did not limit or restrict punish
ment or shorten terms; that it was di-
rectly and positively retormatory and
economic; that its..whole tendency would
be TO prevent the return of men to prison
as criminals, but would strengthen good
resolve and help on in that great end
OF society-the prevention of crime,
In spite of all these arguments the State
press, as a rule, denounced the bill as one
for general Jail delivery" as Infamous,
monstrous, disgrace and shame" The
San Francisco press fairly roared in its
angry opposition; it daily beseeched Gov
ernor Markham to veto the measure. and
threatened him if he did not. The bill
was scSurged as we have never known
another to be since the days of the old
"bulkhead. bill" The press and men
who supported it were condemned,
abused and misrepresented, and con-
temptuously treated. Journals that claim
something for dignity and truthfulness
and fair play in their conduct, fell upon
the bill teeth and nail. and visited upon
its supporters all manner of opprobrium.
Indeed. one paper went so far as to de-
mand that Governor Markham be called
to the bar of public opinion through the
agency of mass meetings and warned not
to approve the measure.
But the bill passed and the Governor
approved it, for the reasons that he be-
lieyed the principle to be sound and the
experiment worth making, and that the
Governor of Ohio informed him that it
worked well in that State
Under this new law the Board of Prison
Directors have set up code of rules and
regulations. through observance of which
only certain prisoners may be paroled.
And now precisely that has happened
which we knew would come to pass;
every last one of the journals that de-
nounced the law; that refused to read it
Alright: that misrepresented its provisions;
that insisted with vituperative energy
that it was scheme TO flood the State
with desperate criminals, and rob society
of all security against them-every one OF
these Journals now exclaim, in effect:
"Oh! if that is the way the law is to be
applied, it is all right; under these board
rules and regulations it becomes good
law. OH that's all right; indeed, most
admirable, economic and wise legislation
is this parole law"
Yet the plain provisions Of the law