Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-05

many years and have not profited by
the experience of other states in the re-
| form work. There has been a great deal
said In the senate about the uselessnesS
| of trying to reform those who have
| committed serious crimes. Now the
| fact is as shown by the records at the
reformatories those who have commit
| ted serious crimes are the very ones
who are reformed and become good
citizens. 1t is the petty criminal, the
one who is stealing all kinds of little
things, who has had the tendency to
crime bred in him, that never reforms
and finally lands in the penitentiary.
where he belongs. Much of what has
been said about the proposed reforma-
tory is by men who know nothing at all
about the subject, and who do not un-
derstand the purposes of the reforna-
tory. Some of them have assumed
that the reformatory would be a pleas
ant place and that it would be almost
sought by the criminals. But the re-
formatories in other states are places
of punishment as we'll as of reform, and
if there is the indeterminate sentence
plan followed so that every criminal
will know that he must behave himself
and reform or he will remain an indefi-
mite time, the results are excellent. The
theory is that 1T is much better to have
a good citizen than to have a criminal
or convict behind the bars. This is all
there is to the plan. Iowa will certainly
come to the plan in due time. We hope
some day to have a board of pardons
and this work of handling. the paroles
can be transferred to that board, but
until that Is done we should get the
work started in the best way we can
In the discussion of the measure thus
far it has been assumed that the chief
purpose of the reformatory is to make
it extremely easy for the convicts so
that they will not want to get out. Sen
ators Young of Washington and Bishop
of Clayton spoke against the bill along
this line. Both felt quite sure that the
reformatory would result in a great
increase in lynchings in Iowa. If the
people found that the criminals were
being sent to a reformatory instead of
being punished for their crimes they
would break down jails and mob the
prisoners. Senator Young. who is a
devout Methodist, completely secuted
and regeneration to men convicted of
crimes in Iowa, and expressed the old
fashioned belief that the only thing to
do with persons who violate the law is
to scourge them to the limit.
Senator Emmert, who has charge of
the bill, is continuing his work in the
senate as If the committee on the con-
test had not decided adversely to him.
And incidentally it may be mentioned
that the committee is not going to do
another thing until the senate makes
demand for a report. Hardly any one
seems to ge kicking on Emmert con-
tinuing his place.
The house committee on elections Is
at work on the promary election meas
ure. AS prepared by Senator Crossley
and Representative Greene, the meas
ure appeared to-have many defects and
: liie committee la, already decided ON
a committee substitute. This bill will
provide that all nominations for county,
judicial and state offices shall be made
annually on the second Monday in June
at primary elections to be held under
the auspices of the state. The regular
election judges and clerks will have
charge and open the poll books the same
as usual. There will be provision for
filing nomination papers and for print
ing of official ballots and the count of
votes and declaration of the result.
Provision will be made for selection of
candidates and all such matters. In
Minnesota this plan was followed, but
n 4 all 49, aylo
on different tickets and representing
different parties or no parties should be
on one slip of paper. This resulted in
voting across the lines. Democrats
might vote for republican candidates,
and vice versa. The plan favored by
the house committee contemplates sep
arate tickets for each party and sep
arate ballot boxes. Candidates will
have to put up for expenses The sys-
tenn would extend even to nomination
of state officers. There is no expecta-
ton that such a radical reform measure
will get thru the legislature. but the
members believe it would do no harm
to have it discussed and placed before
the voters.
The Secor pure food bill has been ap-
proved by the house agricultural COM
mittee. This is another radical reform
measure, of which there are goodly
number. The pure food bill has been
opposed by number of interests which
would feel it's effects. and for this rea-
son. II for no other, 1t is much favored
in some quarters. 1t prohibits adulter-
ations and misinformation in regard to
foods and mixtures that are not APP
proved. 1t has been prepared with care
and covers wide range.
FOR SUPREME COURT CLERK.
John c. Crockett, of EIdora, Mentioned