Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-06-29
OUTSIDE POINT OF VIEW.

tVlNl VI YAENyef
Ss-e-s-s-e-e-s-s-s-s-ss-e- $500 e-s-s-s-s-s
Written for the Times Republican.
1t can hardly be disputed that civili-
cation, so-called, brings with it certain
methods of criminality different in ex-
ecution from those of savage nations.
To illustrate. the South Sea islander
uses a club to kill an unfaithful spouse,
while the product Of civilization in one
of our big cities accomplishes the same
result by box of poisoned candy.
Speaking comparatively, New Eng
lands method in crime is different from
those of the west. In other words, the
states prison at Netherstield, Conn.,.
contains today a number of men and
women who have outdone in fiendish-
ness the same number confined in our
psntentiary at Anamosa for the same
crime. We may exceed in the number
OF crimes per capita (Which can be
doubted), but the argument is this: Az
Stunning that the east represents more
culture, when it comes TO wife murder.
for Instance. in point of revolving cruel
~ and devilishness the east can be
counted on to excel IN crime as we'll az
culture, those engaging in the same act
IN the western part of this country.
While being cultured they have also
learned the refinement of cruelty
And so, admitting the preface, they
are better Judges of penalties and neces-7
|sary punishment. Recently under the
head of Matters for conneeticut'sCo Con-
|sideration.'' the Hartford Courant said
|editorially:
We wish to give ali possible publicity,
advertisement and Endorsement to GER
tain conclusions reached by commit
tee of Intelligent Connecticut Congre-
sationalists after study of the pan
ishmen ts nov provided by our laws. We
ask every Connecticut citizen tosp,lt his
thinking cap on when he reads them.
Here they are.
That the law should provide for
private, as a mode of punishment tn
which Juvenile offenders may be sem
ltenced for petty offences in lieu of m-
prisonment.
THAT the whipping Is also an appro-
pirate mode of punishment for the ruff
fan class.
That fines can, in many casss. be.
better worked out by outside labor UNI
in jail,
THAT the efficiency of our police and
justice courts could be increased by the.
|employment of probation officers from
whom The court might ask information.
and who would keep watch of any who.
might be released under a provisional,
suspension of sentence.
That habitual and incorr.sible
~ tes ~ to- ft.t
offenses become thereby subject 10 the
right of the state to restrain their lib
erly for the remainder of their lives,
and to take such measures as will ef-
fectually cut them off from further OPP
porturities of doing mischief to the
community. as Well az from perpetuat-
ing their kind in unhappy offspring.
THAT the Laws of this state need
such amendment as Will serve the ends
above state.
The authorshipof the committees re-
port liz attributed to Judge Simeon L.
Baldwin i says that wilful murderers
Should continue TO go toathe gallows.
oidlnaiN felons TO state prison. az at
present. II points OUT that the fine
which is really no punishment at all to.
athe petty offender whSs is rich-as far
az regards the mere parting with the
mones---is Very serious matter TO the
petty offender who is poor Often. usu-
ally, he cannot pay II. Either innocent
persons-his kinsfolk or friends--pay
III for him out of their acanty savings or
he goes to jail TO work it out. In most
eases he gets a jail sentence. any way.
lit vas not 30, says the report. in the
early years of the present century, here
cor anywhere cise in the world. Petty
offenders We're land always had beeD
subjected to some kind of brief bodily
pain or discomfort, and then released"
The moral atmosphere of the ordinary
Jail is not Wholesome for juvenile Of
tenders: we are all agreed about that.
Considered as hospital for the cure OF
crminalitS, the Jail is not yielding re-
suits which the least exigent can call
satisfactory. Very often the grown up
offenders sent to Jail have those who are
more or less wholly dependent upon
them for support, and the worst Of the
punishment really falls on the innocent
persons outside the jail walls The re-
forms advised by the committee would
reduce this injustice and suffering to a
minimum. The problem of the habtual.
criminal would be solved in the best
way-both for society and for The de-
generate himself-suggested as get by
any student of these matters. The pro-
posal to fog Juvenile offenders and ruff
Itianly offenders twife- beaters and ssuch)I
in private, az we now hang murd.1ars
lin private. makes junk Of the stock ar
gument of the sentimentalists tina; "the
public whipping post is 80 brutalizing
!, for the spectators! You can't brutal
! .ize" a wife-beater you may hurt him
and scare him into reforming his wife
/ beating habits. AS for the juvenile Of
fender, all the really wise men from Sol
onion time tell US that the rod is med
licinal for him. In any case 1t must be
better for him than n week or a month
| in the enforced companionship of older
offenders
We hope and expect to see these sem
sible, civilized reforms embodied in
Connecticut law, and we shall not de-
sist from striving to bring about that
| result until 1t Is brought about.
Aswe grow older in civilization, as we
| become more "cultured,'' an increase in
| the number Of crimes that call for the
whipping post can be depended upon.
4 Present and future legislators In lows,
can study this question to advantage.
And it is by no means question wheth-