Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-01-17
commencement Of NV administra tim

commencement of my administration,
in addition to full pardons and COM
mutations of sentence, 1874 convicts
had been released conditionally, most
of them in the very recent past. Of
this number eight had been returned
under reyocations, and l have re-
turned one more. The remainder
have been investigated, and their
whereabouts, their conduct and their
standing have been very carefully in
CURED into. Very favorable and sat
isfactory reports have been received
from SO, and to these have granted
full and unconditional pardons and
restoration to citizenship. The term
for which six others were commit
ted has not yet expired. Eleven are
dead or insane. Only meager reports,
not sufficient to justify action, were
received from IA. l have been unable
to locate OF get any reports from 2s.
1t does not follow, however, that all
of these are leading vicious lives. The
reports received from the so and more
to whom full pardon has been grant
ed were most gratifying. Several
wrote using letter heads that bore
their names. Others were holding re-
sponsible and trusted positions with
prominent business houses and indus
trial corporations. One was the in
cumbent of an official position of
trust and responsibility in New
England city of more than 100000 in
habitants. Many were reported to
have become industrious citizens, and
to have won the full confidence
and esteem of the communities in
which they reside.
Very few pardons and less commu-
tations have been granted during the
past biennium; but, encouraged by
the action of the legislature, have
been quite liberal in granting pa
roles; and have released 201 on con-
ditions more or less exacting. Suit
able employment has usually been Sc
cured before the release, and the pa
role has been upon condition that the
recipient employ his time industri-
ously, spend his evenings at home,
| absent himself from all places where
Intoxicating liquors are sold or kept
for sale, and report every 80 days to
this Office the amount earned and the
disposition thereof. In addition I
have . number Of bcnevolently dis
| posed persons in each county who,
unbeknown to others, watch the con-
duct of paroled prisoners, and report
| their conduct to this office. The re-
| suit in most instances has been very
satisfactory. OF the 2O1 paroled, I'M
favorable reports have been received
from 81, and they have been returned
to serve out the unexpired portions
of their sentences. The present
| whereabouts of Is others is unknown.
Most of these had but few months
of their terms remaining, and they
were released in the hope that the
conditions imposed and the system of
| surveillance inaugurated might have
helpful influence. The remaining
1875 are doing reasonably well, and
many of them excellently. Some of
them. however, if they should chance
to be thrown out of employment,
would very likely lapse into vice. A
|
be as interesting as romance of the
| transforms tion In some of these lives.
have extended full pardon to quite
number whose terms would have ex-
pired, and who have acquitted them
selves creditably. 1t has not been my
purpose to extend clemency to those
who have deliberately embarked upon
career of vice, but to sift out such
as appear to have been in sense ac-
cidental criminals. Some of them, it
is believed, were innocent of the
crimes charged. A detailed list, Civ
ing the names of all persons to whom
executive clemency has been extend
ed, and my reasons therefor, is this
day submitted to your honora BILE body
subject here as preliminary to the
following suggestions and recon.
mendations. / think additional legis.
lation should be had, but do not ia.
vor encumbering the parole system
with specific restrictions. l think the
chief executive should have absolute
authority to release at pleasure any
murder in the first degree, and to re.
turn him to the penitentiary at his
discretion. The statutory provision
for shortening the term because OF
good conduct should be so amended
as to permit the governor to declare
the same forfeited in case the con-
duct of the prisoner when on parole
is not satisfactory. Each case is dis.
tinct from all others, and no plan can
be formulated with sufficient elias,
ITCHY to meet the requirements Of
changed and ever changing condi
tions. Under statutory provisions
as distinguished from free exercise Of
an unrestrained discretion, it is as
easy for the Intentionally vicious tc
earn release as for those of honor
able and virtuous instincts. I have
paroled several before they have ever
seen the penitentiary. This I have
not done, however, except upon the
recommendation of the trial judge
and the county attorney who prose.
cuted. There are two distinct classes
of criminals; the one deliberately and
permanently vicious, the other te
some extent the creature Of circum.
stances, and no law can be made that
will enable chief executive or par.
don board to discriminate wisely
Mistakes will be made at best, but on
the whole I believe in the greatest