The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1906-01-11

the Kealy resolution" With the sim.
ilarity Of names that readily suggests
itself the resolution may soon lose It's
pseudonym as "Lexow" affair, and
take unto itself the more pertinent
and happily appropriate distinction
the Kealy cure for Cincinnati"
There's going to be an insurance In
vestigation, too. Like "the Kealy
cure for Cincinnati" 1t will be Joint
legislative committee, three members
OF the house and two of the senate.
So says Rumor. But the senate may
mend the flaw in this proposition by
requiring equal representation. SO that
commission OF this kind would be
less apt to organize itself into a polit.
ical machine. For the house to name
three members, one from the minor.
ity, and the senate to name two, one
from each side. would be to create a
"nonpartisan" inquisition somewhat
after the fashion Of the old German
who. narrating his hair-breadth escape
In falling out of tree. solemnly de.
clared that he landed "a.straddle OF
der fence, NIT both legs on one side"
Such a commission can do nothing
but good II properly constituted But
II 1t Is insidiously designed for a po.
litical machine 1t could do nothing
but harm. It is suggested that the
resolution would carry an appropria.
tion Of $4,000 to defray the expenses;
that Charles 4. Hughes. who conduct.
ed the inquisition recently closed In
New York, would be employed as
counsel to conduct just such an inves-
tigation in Ohio; that Mr.. Hughes has
been consulted with that end in view,
although there is reason to believe
that Ohio has some lawyers equally
as competent as Mr.. Hughes; that
Governor Pattison was sounded on the
subject and that he was favorable to
It; all Of which Rumor says, and
promises proof by realization.
Such committee ought to give its
attention first Of all to the revision Of
insurance laws OF Ohio railroaded
through the legislature two years ago.
Since the development Of New York's
insurance scandals, and a disclosure
as to how paid attorneys and lobbyists
Cooked after legislation" in other
states beside New York, let us know
years ago, and why, and who was
back of it all.
Never before was there such effort
to abolish capital punishment in Ohio
as will be made this winter. The hor-
rifying executions at our own peniten.
tiary within the past two years. after
1t was presumed that the barbaric
mode Of electric killing was developed
to scientific success may have had
some effect But the real stimulus to
the present demand for abolishing
this last lingering relic of barbarism
was the recent execution of Mrs.
Rogers in New Hampshire and the
impending execution of Mrs Tolla in
New Jersey Jan. IL.
The women Of Ohio have taken up
this question with determination.
They protested in vain against the ex.
ecution Of Mrs. Rogers, and are pre-
pairing q protest against the execution
of Mrs. Tolla
Brand Whitlock, author OF some
note. now mayor of Toledo, is taking
up this work where his illustrious pre-.
decessor, Samuel M. Jones. left 1t.
And the forces gather in numbers and
weight of influence.
Well do | remember the last argu.
ment Of Mayor Jones, disciple OF the
Golden Rule" made before the Ohio
legislature in favor OF abolishing capi.
tai punishment. 1t was two years ago
and before the house committee on
prisons and prison reforms, in q hear
ing on a bill introduced by Toledo
member at the request Of the Golden
Rule" mayor. In mild and earnest
voice Mayor Jones pleaded in vain
with the committee to report the bill
to the house, and let it be openly dis.
cusesd there, to let the whole legisla.
ture ect on the proposition instead OF
killing the bill by sticking 1t into Q
pigeon hole of the committee room.
How he argued that the state ought to
take from no man that which 1t can
not restore II ever 1t should be dis
covered that 1t was taken wrongfully;
that 1t were better, 1000 guilty muir
derers should escape the gallows than
that one innocent man should be put
to death; that in so many cases Of
conviction on purely circumstantial
evidence there was always hope left
to the innocent man of some day es.
tablishing his innocence II his life is
spared. even in the disgrace of a con.
vict's cell. but that no human power
could rectify an egregious error to an
innocent man after killing him; that
II 1t is murder to kill against the law.
It must follow that 1t is murder to kill
by the law, and that the state should
not legalize murder by committing
murder.
But these arguments fell on dull
ears and unresponsive hearts. Mem.
bers Of the committee treated the
speaker with scant courtesy, showing
= restiveness which seemed to indi.
cate desire on their part that he