The Washington herald., 1911-01-07
PRESIDENT DENIES
LENITY FOR RICH
Refuses to Intervene in
Peonage Case.
SAYS HARLAN MUST SUFFER
Expressing n Belief that Fines Are
Not Sufficient Punishment for
Wealthy Men and imprisonment
Necessary When Guilty. President
Says SOutherner Must Suffer.

In refusing the application for the par
don of w. s.. Harlan. convicted of viola
ton of the peonage laws and sentenced to
pay Il fine of 5000 and be imprisoned for
eighteen months. President Taft. yester-
day expressed his belief that fines are not
sufficient punishment for wealthy men.
and that Imprisonment is necessary where
violation of a criminal statute is proved.
Harlan Is manager of a great lumber
and turpentine company doing business
in Florida and Alabama.
The Presidents decision says i'm par:
Mr.. Harlan is a man of great enter
prise. and of good business reputation.
and has invoked and secured the SYM
pathy and assistance of all who favor
the industrial development Of the country
in the neighborhood of his activities in
the South. as well as of many prominent
citizens Of Iowa where he was born ana
lived for large part of his life.l They
have intervened with much earnestness in
his behalf. All this has led me to exam
inc the case with great care.
Mr.. Harlan was indicted on two
charges of conspiracy He was tried
twice on different indictments. He was
convicted on the first indictment and ac-
covered the same general subject mat
ter and the records in the two cases en-
braced about 1.SOO printed pages of evil
dence. I have read the records in full
in each case
Forced Men to Work.
The President reviews the evidence in
the case. which shows that Harian's COM
pany got $50 labOrers in New York. the
most of them immigrants, and brought
them south to Florida and Alabama On
the way south number attempted to
escape and were physically detained and
brought to the place of work.
The testimony, says the President.
was specific and detailed in cases of at
tempted escape of such laborers showing
their pursuit. capture. terrorism by dis
play of revolverS. and. in one or more
instances. actual whippings.''
Rudolph Lanninger was one of the men
who attempted to escape and it was on
the treatment meted out to him that
formed the basis of the indictment and
conviction of Harlan. The President says
that in reading the case his conviction
has been strengthened that Harlan was
privy to the whole peonaGe plan. Nr.
Taft said:
THE government of the United States
has been at great pains and cost to sup
to be maintained successfully Where AS
in these cases. the laborerers are for
eignerS and do not speak English and
hardly know their rights 1t is a king
of offenses that is regarded lightly in
some communities. IL permitted to live
at all. 1t will spread rapidly its demoral-
izingf influence
when, therefore. man Of high busi-
ness standing and large enterprises IS
convicted of the offense. the punishment
should be such as to deter others from
the ractice. Fines are not effective against
men Of wealth. Imprisonment is neces-
sary. I am well aware Of ~ grievous
character OF confinement in Jail 10 man
of Mr.. Harlan's standing. and l should be
glad to yield to- the urgent appeals of his
many friends. but cannot do so.
Taft Believes Him Guilty.
II believe him to be guilty of the charge
of which he has been convicted. To re-
tain and enforce the imprisonment part OF
the sentence will operate powerfully to
prevent a recurrence of such offenses by
men of large affairs and business stand
ing. To relieve such a one from the pen
atty Of Imprisonment when properly con-
victed and sentenced would be to break
down the authority of the law with those
Of power and influence. and would tempt
worse. it would give real ground for the
the poor criminals who are really pun
iShed.
..As l have already said, / signed upon