The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-15
EROA OTHER PENS
THE HAB1rUAL CRIMINAL.


IAN hab.tual, incorrigible enemy of
society should be solemnly adjudged to
be put to death" said Judge George
C. Holt. of the United States district
court Of New York, in an address be-
fore the Wisconsin State Bar associa
ton. Continuing, Judge Holt said:
IT would give him a fair trial.
would require proof that he had been
an habitual criminal for a long term
of years. I would give him an oppor-
tunity to make a full defense, and if
finally it were established by clear
IroOf that the man was one Of those,
numbers of whom exist in modern So
ciety, whose nature has been degrad-
ed by a life of undertaking. wickedness
into that OF a wild beast, incapable of
any substantial improvement or alter
alton, ruch man, in my opinion,
should be solemnly adjudged to be put
to death. But if. in view Of the
squeamish sentimentality OF this age,
such a course be deemed impractical
BILE, I should shut him up for life
where he could do not more evil to
society
Judge Holt may consider it 'squeam-
ism sentimentalitys becauEe society is
not willing to begin a ruthless killing
OF habitual criminals. but the opinion
of the most learned penologists of the
world is against the jurist. Those who
are making careful study Of the con-
firned criminal are not inclined to I'M
load the entire responsibility on the
unfortunate, and there is a view being
eteadily more largely accepted that the
social organization itself. perhaps,
presence of the criminal. Society is
low beginning to learn and to admit
that crilninality and degeneracy are Of
ten the results of an underfed, over
worked, poorly-housed or alcoholized
and sometimes diseased parentage.
Since the habitual criminal was con-
demned at birth in many cases,
thoughtful and kindly people oppose
such drastic action as that proposed by
Judge Holt.-Indiarapclis Star.
30
INFLUENCE OF OUR CENTURY.
Very few citizens of the United
States; unless they have recently ira
versed in foreign lands, have any con-
ception of the influence our country
has in nearly every nation on the globe.
We do not solely refer to the interests
of their people and rulers in our form
of government and in the great success
in all business affairs that our citizens
have had under our republican institu-
tons, but our achievements have been
SO great in science, art and invention,
as well as in commerce, that in the
majority of the countries the inhabi-
tants .concede to our people the position
of the advance guard of progress of the
world.
Whatever antagonism racial preju-
dices have aroused in China and Japan.
however resentful or revengeful the
lower classes in those countries may
be, yet even with them there exists d
wonderfully high estimate of our
prowess in war and our ability in bust
ness. In India, from the submits Of
the Himalayas to the most southern
point of the peninsula, the intelligence
and enterprise of the people of the
United States are discussed. admired
and envied in every city and town by
the Inhabitants.
So all through Europe the men of adj
vanced thought. the men of political
activities, the men of large business
affairs, and the masses of the people
as well, endow QUIZ people with at
tributes that place them far in the
front of others in the present civiliza-
ton. On our own continent our in
fluence is paramount in business. and
our example, politically. has been fol-
lowed by all nations, from the Cana
dian line to Cape Horn, as far as class
ing themselves as republics is con-
cerned.-Cincinnati Enquirer.