The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1907-11-09
Making a Citizen.

penitentiary, Emmett Dalton the Coffeyville bank
robber has been pardoned by Governor. Hoch. Dali
tons interesting from many stand
points and has attracted the earnest attention of
prison reformers throughout the country. 1t has
raised the question of what is the real object of
Imprisonment of criminals; and the concensus of
opinion seems to be that Governor Hoch has solved
the individual problem of the Dalton case
For four months prior to his pardon, Dalton had
been out of the pententiary parole granted
by Governor Hoch so that he might have an injured
arm treated at Topeka hospital The not
entirely we'll and Dalton had good reason to believe
that the parole would be extended but true to
promise made to the Governor he reported at the
penitentary at the appointed time to his long
term of imprisonment for a crime of which he had
years since repented He had been exemplary
prisoner; he had realized his punishment was just;
and his one ambition since being told by his friends
that he might obtain a pardon had been that he
might show to the world that he could be good
citizen and make glad the last years of his aged
mother. Her love and faith had failed him
during the term of his confinement she had cheered
him with letter every day of those dreary fifteen
years. she had kept alive in his heart faith in
humanity which otherwise might have died. And
this faith in humanity strengthened by Gov
ernor Hoch when he granted Dalton his parole; it
received the best of treatment at everybodys hands
until he to the happy assurance that humanity
is sympathetic and that almost every man is willing
to help fellow man in trouble.
He was brought to full realization of the value
of law He that the law that punished
him had protected his people, and that it was a
thing to be upheld for its own sake and not through
fear of it. He had learned through hard experience
the consolation of the hand-claSp of an honest man
and of being able to return it in kind.
In fact, he ripe for duties Of good citizenship
as he had never been before his Imprisonment
and as the world needs good citizens what further
use was there of keeping this one in place where
his worth to the world would be lost?
Certainly such cases as this one of Daltons give
the crimnologists something upon which to reflect;
and it is encouraging to know that they are think
ing about it and handling the problem with more
and wisdom all the time. They have come to
realize that the purpose of Imprisonment is not
merely to keep criminal from renewing his activi-
ties but to reform him if possible. They can read
a great lesson, therefore, from the of this man
Dalton, whose reformation not brought about
because of his punishment so much as by the SYM
oathy and encouragement of thoughtful friends, of
wise officials, and by the greatness of mothers
owe.
1t would be unwise, it must be granted, to par
Ion all criminals when it seems that they have
-eformed. There are other things to be considered
n some instances besides the fact that a criminal
las repented and wishes to have another chance in
he world. Some things must be done for an ex-
mpe. 1t is dangerous in the extreme to pardon the
old-blooded murderer except under the most ex-
raordnary circumstances. He has taken human