The Washington times., 1911-06-03
HANGINGPROTESTED|
BY LEADING WOMEN
Mrs. Champ Clark and Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey Both
Speak for Sex Against Capital Punishment in
Nations Capital

Seion VI tne ueath penalty on Matte
Lomax, the negress, who has been con-
oemned to die on the scaffold July 81.
Mr. Douglas is one Of the most promi-
ne henl attorneys at the District bar, and
ne is emphatic in declaring that Mattie
Lonax should not be hanged He on
poses the death sentence on the broad
ground OF opposition to capital punish
mietir ,dent everywhere. m and also because The
vlctim In this case is a woman and is
10 be hanged in the National Capital.
Ihat society recognizes the frailty Of
woman and cherishes and protects
Womannood In its practices and customs
and In many Of its written statutes. is
declared by Mr.. Douglas to be sniff
cient reason why President Taft should
modify the LomaX sentence. In a state
ment to The Times today Mr.. Douglas
said:
Two Broad Reasons.
Il am uualterably opposed to capital
punishment wherever it is applied for
two, principal reasons which 1 believe
outweigh every other consideration. The
first Is that II cheapens society's regard
for human life. and the second is that
1t tends to arouse contempt instead of
respect for law.
The value of law as a means to dis
courage crime Is the certainty OF the
inftction Of its penalty and not the
severity Of that penalty. Just in pro-
portion to the Increased severity of the
law is the certainty of its application
lessened. We all know that turies sim
ply will not convict If they believe the
penalties too severe; the capital punish
ment provision is the extreme illustra-
ton Of this fact.
These broad principles concerning
capital punishment apply with double
U fG tai
death penalty upon a woman. We rec
oSnize the sacredness OF the person of
woman. We recognize that her person
Is more sacred than the person Of man.
We cherish and respect wop1anhood. in
our social contact with her, In our
customs. institutions and in our sta
tutes. 1t Is proper that We recognize
the sacredness of her person in punish
Ing her for murder.
TIC hang woman is abhorrent TO the
mind OF the vast majority of people. II
gives the lie to all our other efforts
tG protect her. II cheapens her person,
Il cheapens her womanhoOd. 1t cannot
help but .oarsen and brutalfze mans
attitude toward her.
Color Has No Bearing.
The fact that this particular woman
is black instead os white has no bearing
on the situation whatever She is a
woman-that is enough. She should be
protested, Just as a white woman snould
be protected: for IL society executes the
death sentence against her 1t executes
the death sentence against womanhood
everywhere. She is entitled 10 the same
consideration that our sisters would be
entitled to were they in the same, un-
fortunate position.
Another reason why this hanging
should not take place is that the Dis
trict Is Federal territory. Washington
is. in fact, tho United States. II this
sentence is executed the nation will
have declared the hanging OF women to
be its policy. l don't believe the people
OF the United States hold to any sucn
barbartc theory.
The time has long passed when meth
ods Of the Middle Ages should be coun--
tenanced in dealing with crime and
with criminals. The whole civilized
world is turning TO the idea of saving
criminals to society by restraint and
moral training. To continue to take the
lives OF criminals Is to repudiate that
principle. That is another reason why
] believe the sentence Of Matte Lonax
should be modified.
Presidents Opportunity.
President Taft has an opportunity. in
this case. to perform an act of far
reaching influence. II he commutes the
LonaX sentence he will give stimulus to
the movement for the aLolishment of
capital punishment in the States. and
even II his example is not followed I'M
mediatelv by legislation, it is bound to
have a wholesome effect on governors,
who have the same opportunity in the
States to prevent capital punishment
that the President has in the District
of Columbia.
The converse Of this Is equally true.
If President Taft does not modify the
I.omax sentence, the cause OF intelli-
gent, humane treatment OF criminals
will suffer Progress will be hindered.
I sincerely hope he will take the ad-
vanced. broad view. and will set aside
the sentence Of the court"