Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-13
BELIEVES GREAT INJUSTICE
is DONE TO j. WEISS MOORE

HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 12.-TEditor
Herald: Doubtless the arrest of j.
Wess Moore, a prisoner recently pa
rolled from San Quentin penitentiary,
will be a surprise to few, especially
those fully conYersant with existing
prison conditions in California. In
fact, one needs only be surprised when
he takes into consideration the fact
that Moore had remained at liberty for
nearly year, that during that time
he has remained unmolested by the
political barnacles who administer the
affairs of one Of the blackest institu-
tions of its kind in America, those who
try to adjust and operate that rusty
machine of graft, corruption and cruel
ty commonly known as San Quentin. -
1t Is understood, though no official
statement has been made that his vio-
lation Of parole consisted in not having
"a permanent place of employment "
For that he is eligible to serve the re-
naming days of his life within the
walls Of the arsenal at Green Brea.
If the parole law of California con-
tains a technical provision making the
perpetuation of such a condition an
ultimate necessity" 1t should, for the
benefit and welfare of those who as
siduously strive to conduct themselves
even though 1t act as temporary shield
for the unworthy who think it best to
cast aside the priceless privileges ac-
corded them by the parole law in gen
eral. And even that could be OBJ
liberated by subsequent legislation.
Though Moore was sentenced for
life as the result of killing a man, he
is now generally understood to be re-
formed in so far as society is concerned
J,V7f -,
board of prison directors who would
seal his lips for all time to come, thus
preventing him from further dissent
mating truth relative to prevalent con-
ditions at the two state peniteniaries,
Folsom and San Quenin, and of like
conditions existing elsewhere.
He would ameliorate those condi-
tions. He would lessen the cumbrous
burdens of those who are suffering as
he once suffered, and which he may
again have to endure. But his per-
tinacity has cost him his liberty-an
heroic sacrifice to say the least: but
shall such forever be his reward?
If he is the man we think he is, i. e..
reformed, if he has "made good" if his
contentious and promulgations of fact
do not SAVIOR of slander or libel, and
are not the pleas and solicitations Of
a heart filled with malignity and vim
ulCllNCutSS against lllOSG WHO ollOulC
If they have not been, his benefactors
then surely he should speedily enlist
the sympathies and moral support OF
the major portion of the population
Of this state, and to that end secure
his release that he might continue his
apparently altruistic crusade.
Howard, in advocating prison re-
form, immortalized his name, but only
after a lifelong struggle with just
such pernicious forces as prevail in
this land of ours today-this land
which cannot pride itself as supporting
a system of modern penology but
which must submit uncomplainingly
to the indictment that. "our pena,
system is one of the most backward
of all the elements of modern civili-
zation."
Howard's glorious achievements arc
worthy of emulation, and the undeco-
rated truth points to the fact that j