The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-07-19
COMMENTS
ON CONVICT
TRACY
An Epidemic of Newspaper
Discussion
with Some Incidental Re,
marks on BlOOdh0undS
(Portland Journal.D

A correspondent writes from Seattle
story of the chase after Tracy, and
refers to the doged persistency of
Jake Williams, an Oregon reservation
Indian, who from the day when first
they went after the convict has stuck
to the trail. He is wasted with ia.
tigue, emaciated with hardship, and
presents so deporabe an aspect as tc
move the correspondent to tears, and
also to indulge in such maudin senti.
ment as to refer to the Indian and his
connection with the now remarkable
pursuit as a touching" incident In
the event Tracy were captured by this
noble redskin then would the state of
Oregon be touched deeply-to the ex.
tent of several thousand dollars
But, the most remarkable more re.
markable even than the correspond.
ent's effusion, was that letter that
went to Governor Geer from one H..
r. Turner, of Seattle, purporting to be
president of the Seattle Hygienic
Association. That letter should 60
into the archives as the noblest work
Of literary and philanthropic man.
This man, who is at the head of an
institution that is based upon physi.
cal sanitation, certainly proves that
he has mastered the principles of
spiritual sanitation as well and that
he knows what is good for the saliva.
tion Of society.
President Turner thus wrote to
Governor Geer:
The so-called outlaw, Harry Tracy.
has conducted himself in and around
Seattle so as TO have won the sym.
pathy of the great mass of thoughtful
people. On everS side we hear the
expression: Tracy is a brick; he
is a jewel; a prosecuted man who
has abilities like that should not be
hunted by bloodhounds and bounty
seekers, dead or alive"
Why not issue an edlct of pardon
for him and place him i'm some re.
sponsible position where his qualih.
cations and ability can be put to use
for the benefit of humanity? He will
appreciate the position and opportu.
nifty, and that big heart of his, and
great soul, would be a great benefit
to the race, perhaps, as a detective.
He concludes with this climax of
appeal:
Every great man has but one oppor.
tunity to do a universal good TO his |
fellowmen. This is, | believe, your
great opportunity.
The Governor ought to pardon
Tracy, by all means. Tracy has now
no opportunity to do any amount of !
good in the world. He is hampered. |
somewhat, by the bloodhounds that
yelp upon his trail, and by a number
of men who follow him with 3O-3O
rifles, loaded, and holding them ready |
to send hot lead into Tracy's fleeing
body whenever he heaves in sight.
Now, a man cannot attend to the
good OF his fellows under such condi
tions, and therefore Governor Geer
ought to pardon Tracy and place him
in such circumstances as would enable
him to bring his good qualities into
play He might superintend a Sunday
school, or teach a Bible class, or teach
secular school, or, perhaps, study for
the ministry. In some of these rela-
uons, Tracy would be able to do much
good, and il would be a whole lot
nicer than to sleep in swamps, and
spend day and night trying to battle
hounds and armed pursuers. BY all
means pardon Tracy, and put an end
to the touching incident of that red
skin.