The Washington herald., 1907-01-06
ABOLISH EXECUTIONS
Warden Harris Is Opposed to
Capital Punishment.
FAvORS LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Suggests That ConVicts lie Employed
I'm building Good Roads from One
Legislation by states and General
GOVernment-ReIief to Taxpayers.

The warden of the most famous prison
in the United States would be greatly
gratiied if a state CT Federal law was
passed abolishing capital punishment.
Capt. James H. Harris. who advises
this action. has for nearly ten years been
warden Of the District of Columbia jail
The District of Columbia Jail, where
Capt. Harris exercises, with recognized
ability. the authority Of chief executive
and executiouer is veritable bastile on
the banks Of the Potomac. IL is a grim
old structure wherein have been recorded
some Of the saddest pages Of American
history. 1t was within this prison that
Charles J. Guiteau was confined after the
murder OF President Garfield. and in one
Of the narrow area ways Of the instim-
ton stiIl stands the gallOws from which
Guiteau expiated his crime
From this same gallows Capt. Harris,
since he has been warden. has hanged
fourteen men. and every time he sprung
the trap that sent "a soul into eternity.
he has felt that society. by taking "a
human life. has committed q crime almost
as great as that committed by the
murderer.
Executions Degrade society.
Capt Harris has made a careful study
Of the effect of capital punishment. and
he declares that executions not only de-
grade society. but invariably foster crime.
re regards capital punishment as re-
voting relic of barbarism and "a dis
couraging reminder that Christianity has
stincts of men.
He would be pleased il his own State
OF Indiana would start a movement that
might become national in scope, having
for its purpose the relegation of MI forms
OF capital punishment. In an interview
yesterday he said
No Tendency to lessen Crime.
My experience teaches me that capital
punishment has no tendency whatever 20
lessen crime. To my mind it has exactly
the opposite effect. Only a few days ago.
Mrs Bradley shot and killed ex-senator
Arthur Brown. of Utah, in this city.
Since that time three other murders have
/ been committed in this community. The
fear Of the gaHows has no restraining
/ influence over the man who is bent ou
doing murder.
4 fail 20 see how any one who has
seriously investigated the subject can
fail 10 reach the conclusion that when
We resort 90 capital punishment which
means 90 take a life by physical force.
we necessarily demoraIize the finer sensi-
biIities of men, and when we have done
that. we have certainly laid the founda-
1 ton for an undesirable moral status IN
/ the community.
I Everything connected with capital
/ punishment is revolving. It's effect is %
/ pollute and debasc society. We are taught
I TO believe that the law Of an eye for an
eye and a tooth for n tooth has become
| obsolete. I believe that the law Of the
new dispensauOu should bee accepted by
our governmental authorities. and that
/ the proper safeguards should De framed
I into the statutes by our legislatures so
/ that it would not be found necessary or
/ eXpedient 10 undertake To cure one crime
/ by the commission of another
Other Means of Punishment.
TO my mind there is a narrow margin
/ between the taking Of a life without law
/ and taking It by an edict of law. I think
! that other means of punishment could
easily be resorted TO, SD that the moral
/ effect would be greater and more lasting.
| Is there anything in the Christian idea IF
( love for our fellow-man? II so, cannot
/ we restrain our fellow-mau without killing
/ him? Shall we not consider that which Is
/ beneficial 20 him?
/ Il have now ten murderers in jail. Look
/ ing them all over and studying as best !
/ can the causes of the crimes-admitting
/ always that strong drink enters largely
/ INF Iss II dor Z IN
! the conclusion that a general immoral
| status exists in the community, and
/ haven't the slightest doubt that capital
/ punishment has much 20 DO with bring
/ ing about that immoral tendency that
/ seems TO pcrvade the atmosphere in
/ which We live"
/ What form OF punishment would you
substitute for death in a case of willful
| murder" Capt Harris was asked
May BE Taught to Become Better.
/ There is no doubt" said he, that an
/ individual may so conduct himself that
/ ne will have forfeited his right to dwell
! In open society. In that case the fndivid-
uaI should be placed where society win
/ not come in contact with him as an in
/ dividual or with his influence in any re-
! spect. At the same time the criminal may
| be taught 70 become a better man, and
! since society may have been largely re-
| sponsible for his failure in life. could
! society do less than to strive TO make
/ him what ne should be?
| i would recommend as a substitute for
] the death penalty life imprisonment at
| hard .Sbor. and I have u very decided
/ opinion as to what that labor should be.
| believe that all prison labor should be
/ directed TO building good roads, great
! thoroughfares from one large city to an
| other. all over the country. Our army
| engineers in time of peace should be en-
/ ployed In performing the engineering
] work of laying off these great thorough
fares. Temporary movable prisons should
be established. and the prisoners should
be put to work building the roads
Give Prisoners Work.
Il think that there should be legisla-
ton by the State and the general gov
| eminent on the subject; that the govern
ment should make appropriations with
which to buy such implements and fur
nish such materials as would be neces-
sary, the States to supply such prisoners
as they may have to work on these high
ways under proper restrictions of law
Nothing could be further from right
than to hold men in prison without Civ
/ ing them labor to perform and any sort
of manufacturing where the products Of
| prison labor are to be placed upon the
| market is certain to be detrimental TO
| what is termed honest labor because
| prison-made products can be put on the
market much cheaper than those made by
| honest men who want to provide for their
families in a reasonable way
Certainly no laboring man would object
TO prisoners building good roads. because
| all would be benefited alike in the pos
session Of good roads in the country.