Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-30
WOULD ABOLISH
DEATH PENALTY
PRISON REFORM LEAGUE IN
VIGOROUS CAMPAIGN
cHAFlN, soBIEsKI AND GRIFFITH
LEAD MOVEMENT
Noted Publicists Throughout the
Country viii Be Enlisted in Cam
paign to Prevent Capita
Punishment

Here in Los Angeles has been 1nstl-
tuted another movement for the pct
terment of social conditions, ana one
that is national in it's scope AS the
result of a series of meetings between
Eugene w. Chain, recently Prohibi-
ton candidate for president; Col John
Sobieski, Col. Griffith j. Griffith and
others interested in securing humaner
treatment of prisoners, PRISON Ike
form league has been launched.
The leagues main object is the abo-
lition of capital punishment, but 1t
will endeavor incidentally to educate
public opinion to the conception that
not revenge but the reformation OF
offenders should be the laws guiding
principle.
Printed declarations to that effect
are now in circulation, and the sigma
lures of many we'll known men and Wo-
men-one just returned to the office
bears those of Judge John d. Works,
Samuel Rees, r. H. Heron, G. A.
Hart and others-have been obtained
already. The cooperation of both
sexes is invited, and it is announced
specifically that the movement is strict
ly on-sectarian and non-part1san.
When a thousand signatures have been
secured a meeting will be held and a
California State Prison Reform league
formed.
To Form National League
Similar action will be taken in other
states, and as soon as ten state leagues
have come into existence national
league will be organized. Col. Griffith
j. Griffith is acting for the time being
as secretary of the movement, with 443
South Main street as the address.
Correspondence has been opened with
noted publicists at various points,
steps have been taken already for the
establishment of a lecture bureau. and
it is believed that public opinion
throughout the country is ripe for the
simple program announced.
1t is pointed out by the promoters of
the movement that five states-Michi-
gan, Wisconsin, Maine, Rhode Island
and Kansas-have abolished capital
punishment and that in several others
the infliotion of the death penalty has
been hedged round with such restric-
tions that it is fast falling into disuse.
1t is claimed further that crimes, and
especially crimes of violence, have de-
creased in those states since the
change, and that there has been a
marked Improvement in the general
moral tone of the communities.
Appeal to Public
The following statement has been is
sued by the Prison Reform league:
1.-THE objects of this league are:
81 The abolition of capital punish
ment, that the state may no longer
swell the list of murders by becoming
itself murderer.
"2. Reform of the administration of
criminal law, a task that the United
States has not undertaken since it be-
came a nation.
SO. Restraint to be for the sole pur-
pose of protecting society and reform
ing the offender.
There shall be no fees or dues, and
the officers of the league shall receive
no salaries, but those who have ex-
pressed their sympathy with the objects
of the league by signing will be ex-
pected, in honor and as proof of their
sincerity, to contribute voluntarily to
the cost of printing literature and other
unavoidable expenses.
ANY person 16 years of age or over
may become a member of this league
by signing the foregoing declaration of
principles.
"As soon as 1000 signatures to this
declaration have been obtained in any
particular state a meeting shall be
called in such state and a state league
organized.
when ten state leagues have been
organized a meeting shall be called at
which national league shall be or
ganized.
1.-The provisional committee charged
with the launching of this movement is
as follows: Eugene w. Chain, Chi
cago, ILL.,; John Sobieski, Los Angeles,
and Griffith j. Griffith, Los Angeles.
The last named will act as treasurer
and secretary until such time as the
1000 signatures have been obtained and
state league has been formed, after
which it is proposed that such league
appoint it's own officers to continue the
work according to it's own plans"