The Washington times., 1911-06-10

Letters from readers interested in
the Lomax case continue to arrive at
The Times office in large numbers
with every mail. A few of those re-
ceived today follow:
Calls It Barbarous.
To the Editor Of THE TINES:
The Washington Times shows a pro-
gressive spirit in its protest against the
hanging Of a woman in the District Of
Columbia, or anywhere under the Fed
eral authority. The interest aroused
already is most encouraging. indicating
that 1t needed but the occasion to
awaken the growing conviction into
forcible expression. not only in protest
against the hanging of Matte Lomax.
but against the hanging of anyone, as
mode Of punishment, here or elsewhere.
Volumes might be written, as vol
umes have been written, pleading that
the barbarism OF this revolving mode Of
judicial death by hanging be soon and
forever abolished. The occasion seems
to be most favorable for healthy, nor
NAL agitation of this subject, that will
result in nationwide action in changing
the statute to one Of less barbarity and
Of greater humanity.
Is II not astonishing how these revolt
ing features of the criminal law sur
vive to US, from the ruder vengeful
practices Of a cruder and crueler age;
how we cling to them, while they thrust
their ugly mandates upon US, ignoring
the pleading impulses of our better ma
ture in the more humane manner of
these modern times.
To reflect but a moment; what noble
minded man or woman, teacher, writer,
al % otV,
put up any argument today In support
Of this revolving method Of criminal
punishment? What good end does Il
serve? What interest does 1t preservef
Is IT not inherently revolving. brutaliz-
ing, and demoralizing; is II not simply
and executed, in cold blood-for what?
1t never can cure the moral sickness
that breeds criminals-for fear never re-
fines but hardens the soul. and fouls
the fountains OF tenderness toward
others. The criminal is not normal, and
deeds.
eye For An Eye"
Does a great nation need to stoop to
the barbarity of hanging its citizens to
maintain its dignity? Do we wish to
confess that we know no better now
than in that age when IAN eye for an
eye" was the rule, and to take
vengeance was honorable? And If we
are to 60 to ancient" authority for
''blood-for-blood" justice. why not go
back to Cain and Abel and read.
"seven-fold vengeance upon the one
who Stays Cain!'
To protect the integrity and safety OF
the state, the individual must be sacri-
feed, is the old maxim that comes to
US with its load Of dust and its burden
of curses to undo US. But why kill
two? Why not save. and not sacrifice?
Conditions and heredity make criminals,
and we all make the conditions. Would
not the safety Of the state be better
conserved If we spent half the energy
time, and means saving the criminal
that we do now spend judicially kill
ing him? Anyhow, If one must die, why
not allow the victim choice OF method?
Why insist UPON the ignominy and bar
barism of hanging?
It is argued that 1t is no worse to
hang a woman than to hang a man!
Possibly II is no worse-in abstract JUS
tice-or injustice-but both are bad!
And why do we submit to either? It Is
a sorry comment upon our selfish
ness. We don't care! We do not give
the case was ours? Is 1t not elo-
quently significant that one of the first
to come to the front to plead for the
committing Of the death penalty of
Matte Lomax was frank enough to ad-
NIT that he did SO because he knew
what he was pleading for; he had sat
In the shadow of the gallows himself
for years, though now free man.
Now, IL we could only awake to the
fact that this is our law, and any day
1t may serve us-hang one of our
family-we could the better awake to
our individual responsibilities for allow
Ing II to continue upon the statute
books Why should Caleb Powers be
more interested than any one of us In
this poor. distracted, and friendless coll
ored woman? If we had had her in
heritance, and had to bear her griefs,
would we have done hobler, or q
baser, thing than she did?
Mrs. Bradley's Case.
In that same courtroom several years
ago. a jury acquitted the ably defend
ed Mrs Anna NJ. Bradley. though she
had shot to his death. in this city, ex-
Senator Arthur NJ. Brown.
II Matte Lomax were white and had
money. or the prestige Of powerful