Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-25
Holds That Law Must Be Up
held Against Rich VioIators
Even More Than When They
\ Affect The Poor People.
'srse's and Walsh's Deeds Scored
Morse May Apply Again Later.

Washington. May 24.-President
Taft tonight denied the applications
for the pardon of Charles w. Morse of
New York, and John II. Walsh of Chi
eago the two most prominent bank
ers ever convicted and sent to federal
penitentiaries under the National
Banking laws. Not only did the Presi-
dent refuse to pardon either Morse or
Walsh. but he also declined at this
tirae to exercise any other sort of
Executive clemency in these cases or
to shorten the sentences imposed upon
the two men by the courts in which
they We're convicted.
In denying the pardons the President
took firm stand that the national
banking laws or any other laws must
be upheld when they affect the rich
man, even more. than when they affect
the poor. The record in the Walsh
case. the President said, in long
opinion. shows moral turpitude Of
that insidious and dangerous kind, TO
punish which the national banking
laws were especially enacted"
In considering the case of Morse,
the President said:
THAT from a consideration of the
facts In each case. / have no doubt
that Morse should have received a
heavier sentence than Walsh. Indeed
the methods taken By Morse tend to
show that more keenIy than Wafsh/id
he realize the evil of what he was {. =
ing"
In his opinion. in the Walsh case.
tho President protested against the
failure TO discriminate between legit
innate BUSINESS and improper gain.
The truth is" said he, that in the
mad rush for wealth in the last few
deeaGes. the lines between profit
ffpn legitimate business and improp-
4 er gain from undue use AZ trust con-
ii efols over other peoples property and
i nancy has sometimes Been dimmed
and the Interest of society requires
that Whenever opportunity offers. those
charged with~the enforcement of the
law should empYRsize the distinction
{ Between honest business and dlshon-
b eAt breachessef trust.
bid Presidents Genial of the APP
3 (catinn 81 Morse and Walsh for
4f1on does not mean that they must
: atay In prison until the end of their
terms Walsh began sentence of
FIVE Years in the Leavenworth peni-
tertiary in January, 1910. and under
tho Federal parole Law is eligible for
parole next September. The Presi-
dents action tonight has no bearing
whatever upon future application for
parole. Morse began his .15-vear term
in the Atlanta pententarv in Jan
uary. 1910. also. In denying his ap-
plication, the President granted him
leave to renew it after Jan. 1. 1919.
Under the parole law Morse will be
eligible for release in 1915
Both Morse and Walsh made strong
efforts TO have the President exercise
clemeney. He was besieged by friends
and attorneys of both men. Mrs. Morse
got up monster petition which was
signed by scores of members of Con-
gross and other prominent persons and
ex-senator Hale of Maine did much
in her behalf. The pleas of ill-health
and reimbursement of all depositors
in the Morse and Walsh banks were
made in both cases.
Both applications were scanned
closely at the department of Justice by
Attorney General Wickersham and his
assistants and both were read with
care by the President himself His ac-
ton tonight was in accordance with
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