The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-30
GOVERNOR HAS
TENDER HEART
Patterson of Tennessee Opens
the Door of Freedom to Big
Bunch of ConViCtS.
PARDON RECORD is BROKEN
CHARACTERISTIC INCIDENT AT
STATE PRISON.

Nashville, Tenn. Aug. - Ham
Patterson's heart!" This has been a
familiar exclamation in Tennessee since
the present governor assumed the di-
rection of the states affairs. II orig
mated in derision with his enemies,
and was spoken with a sneer by them
whenever a fresh pardon received the
executive signature. But, like certain
historical terms, such as rebel and
'rOundhead," applied in contempt by
enemies it has been accepted by the
friends of Governor Patterson, and
they declare their readiness TO biazon
it on his banner in the approaching
campaign and go before the people on
the issue of Ham Patterson's
heart"
Governor Patterson has used the
pardoning power freely since the pen
was placed in his hand. He has par
doned some noted murdererS and
crooks" and in some cases Undoubt-
eddy deserves some measure of the
censure he has received from a hostile
press and from his political enemies.
He has always accompanied the par
don with a reason for his action. He
has broken the record for pardons in
the time he has been in office. the total
number being 206. Gov. Bob" Taylor
held the record before this, he hav-
ing pardoned seventy-five cOnvicts in
approximately the same period of
time They used to censure Bob" for
the too free exercise of clemency, but
they were never able to best him when
he went before the people for indorse-
ment.
Lets Out Bunch of SO.
Governor Patterson has just pardoned
thirty-eight convicts in a bunch, a
thing unparalleled in this or perhaps
any other state. But his enemies will
scarcely have the temerity to sheer at
" Ham Petterson's heart in connec-
ton with this act.
Until Governor Patterson's accession
to office Tennessee had made no pro-
vision for the separation of tubercu-
losis cases at the state prisons. There
were many of these cases-whites, ne
groes, old, friendless and on the verge
of the grave. Again, there are scores
of boys in the state prison, from 10 TO
16 years. whose prison records are
good. who are not incorrigfble, and yet
who are friendless. Governor Patter-
son announced more than month ago
that he would personally inspect the
prisons and the state mines for the
purpose of interesting himself in the
cases of boys and the victims of dis
ease and accident who had no friends
TO appeal to him in their behalf.
He kept his word. He made several
trips to the prisons and mines, OBJ
served many cases in person and Sc
cured from the wardens the records
of the prisoners. These the governor
went into carefully, and the result
was the issue of thirty-eight pardons
in a single day. These pardons mclud-
ed eighteen boys between the ages of
IL and IS years: five veteran prisoners,
between the ages of so and so years,
who had served long parts of their
time and who had no friends TO plead
for ciemency; thirteen convicts al
1icted with tuberculosis, the majority
of them colored: two convicts who had
been injured while working in the
state mines.
Characteristic Incident.
Governor Patterson stated on the
dav these pardons were issued that he
had not considered in taking this ac-
ton how it would be received; he
had exercised the power placed in his
hands by the people in the interest
of humanity, and in the interest of
bovs who might be reclaimed; he
would continue to exercise this Glenn
encv whenever he was satisfied that
the case was worthy. Before the
BOYS were liberated from the prison
thev were brought before the governor,
who spoke to them feelingly and sym
patheticaIly of their past offenses, ana
gave them wholesome advice as to
their future lives. The boys were VS.
iblv moved by the governors words,
and each promised that he should
never regret his clemencY.
A characteristic incident occurred at
one of the governors visits to the
state prison. Passing through the
main corridor he was approached by
s'Sbinnv" Hite. one of the most noted
crooks in stripes and one of the
most plausible of prisoners. When
Patterson was states attorney at
Memphis he had sent Skinny up
for a long term for burglary. Skin
NV advanced with a smile, shook
hands with the governor and was en-
tering upon a plea for clemency when
GoveTnOr Patterson interrupted him.
Hold, on, Skinny 1t isn't your
turn now. 1 am here to look into
cases that 1 am less familiar with
than yours" The convict turned
SADLY away "Wait a minute, skin
nv" And the governor fumbled in
his pocket. Take this" skinny
found himself the possessor OF 30
note as the governor moved on.
Since these occurrences little mas
been heard from the governors polit-
zeal enemies about Ham Patterson's
heart"
...- ,-11OArINM NMnRKC