The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-17
HUNDREDS KILLED |STUBBSONPl
Armenian Quarters of Adana Governor Discusses
Destroyed by Fire. Serious Profile
They Made Good Fight, But Had to Refuse Mother
We're Oyerpowered for Sons Rele,
ATTACK CHRISTIANS. HE DRAWS TIL
MussuImans Burn Over Two of Extend Clemency o.
Their Villayets. circumstances Wa
Mos Eaarod New Suggestion for
Governor Discusses His Most
Serious Problem.
Had to Refuse Mother Who Asks
for Sons Release.
HE DRAWS THE LINE
Extend Clemency Only When
Circumstances Warrant.
New Suggestion for Memorial
Building Site.

| "The exercise of the pardoning
power is the most serious problem in
| connection with the executive Office
said Governor Stubs during a lull in
his audience hour this morning. There
| was no particular case in the COVER
| nor's mind when he made the declara-
ton above. but there are a great many
application for pardon and parole now
| before him for consideration and
something had brought the matter to
| his mind.
Every new governor must dispose of
the old appeals for pardon that fell
on the deaf ears of his predecessor
and then there are new ones every
week
The governor slid down in his chair
and looked thoughtfully out of the
| window with half closed eyes. When
he spoke again it was in introspective
| fashion
| You know" he said, 'that 1 have
spent many years in charge of thou
sands of the toughest men in the
world on railroad grades and public
works and 1 have seen fights that end
ed in handShakes and others that
| ended in tragedies with prison bars
often for the victor, who had struck
| harder than he intended in the heat.
\ of battle. Well. now. take a case of
this kind, where some big hearted, big
listed young fellow has been sent to
| states prison for manslaughter and
| his old mother, who loves him more
| than ever, comes to me and begs for
her boys freedom. These dear old
ladies with their shoulders bended by
years of work and trouble, their tired
| eyes and the patient pleading in every
word they utter; tell you they get
| right next to me and / get busy and
] look up the cases of their boys with
| all the care in the world and try hard
always to find enough in favor of the
|
| chance by parole or pardon
| 1T is not very hard to refuse an
applicant for job, or a dozen of them
| for that matter, although it is dis
agreeable to have to deny a worthy
| man with good credentials a place,
| but it is very, very hard to refuse these
mothers the liberty they ask for their
| boys. You can not argue with these
women or point out the stern facts in
| the case to them. They can only see
their boys side of the story.
think every man who has en-
tered prison through some slip of
fate or sudden fit of rage should be
given another chance to do what is
right. The parole plan as practiced
in Kansas is a great thing. 1t is a
long step toward a pardon rather than
chance in the world. He is under the
eye of the officials and can be yanked
back without the formality of a trial
if he drops back into his old ways
again. One chance is enough for any
of them If they return to their old
trade then there appears to be little
hope that they will ever make good
citizens again. But on the other
hand If the ex-convict shows dis
position to do what is right and tries
hard to be honest and decent then L
think that the man who signed his
parole has done bigger, better thing
than can be compassed by any act
of mere craftsmanship. The people
l.
politics, but the old mother will never
forget the chance he gave her son.
ct may grant few or many pardons.
I cannot tell. but 1t Is certain that
will weigh each application carefully
and ma,:e full investigation in every
case.
ST can plunge ahead and make an
appointment or decide on a course as
it affects the business Of the state and
let 1t go at that. I do the best I can
and worry about it no longer after It
has been done. But in this matter of
paroles and pardons I walk slowly
and fearfu1ly. and am never entirely
satisfied. might be too lenient. or
what is worse, might be too stern"
At this moment Charlie Gibbs, the
governors personal secretary, and
executive clerk came in with a paper
for him to sign. Gov. Stubs quickly
affixed his signature to the document,
writing with the paper resting on q
book on his lap. It was a parole for
a young man serving time for a petty
crime. 'T guess this is right" muir
INJURED the governor, anyway, I Will
give him a chance.
Charlie, you rascal, (thiS to the
pleasant faced Mr.. Gibbs who was
waiting for the return Of the paper)
believe you know was talking
about pardons and took this oppor-
tunity to catch me and thrust that
paper into my hand just at the time
when I would be sure to sign It,"
The governor smiled at his secretary,
while Mr.. Gibbs went away with an
answering smile on his face. He ap-
peared like a man who was well
satisfied with what he had done.
A prominent citizen of Topeka. speak
ing today about the failure of the COM
mission to secure a site for the pro-
posed memorial building, advanced the
idea that the new structure be built on
capitol square rather than facing the
square and gave logical reasons in sup
port of his plan. The main objection to
this idea is the fact that the commits
sion has no powers in the matter not
granted by the legislature and that
body appropriated 200 for site and
made no provision in the bill for its
location on the capitol grounds It is
doubtful II the commission could use
the state house square for this building
without special permission from the
legislature. The Topeka mans views.
however. are worth printing and are as
follows:
Years ago when Edward Wilder Sc
cured permission from the legislature
to erect the public library on state
house square, many Topeka people reg
istered kick, claiming that 1t would
destroy the architectural effect of the
capital building. When the building
was erected this objection vanished and
if Mr.. Wilder, with far-sighted vision.
had not secured this location Topeka
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