The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-05-25
REFUSES To FREE
WALSH AND MORSE
President Taft Denounces Their Acts
and Declines To Shorten Their
Sentences.

WASHINGTON, May 25.-President
Taft last night denied the applications
for the pardon of Charles w. Morse'
OF New York, and John H. walsh
OF Chicago, the most prominent bank
ers ever convicted and sent to the
federal penitentiaries under the ma
tional banking laws or any otner
president refuse to pardon either
Morse or Walsh, but he also deeiiheu
AT this time 10 exercise any other sor,
OF executive clemency In their cases
or to shorten the sentences imposeu
on the two men by the courts IN
which they were convicted.
In denying the pardons, the presl-
dent took a firm stand that the ma
tional banking laws or any other
laws must be upheld when they al
feet the rich man even more than
when they affect the poor. The rec
ord In the Walsh case. the president
said In a long opinion, shows morai
turpitude OF that insidious and dan
gerous kind, to punish which the
national banking laws were especial
ly enacted" In considering the case
of Morse the president said that
from 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 keenly than Walsh
did he realize the evil Of what he was
doing"
In his opinion In the Walsh case
the president protested against the
failure to discriminate between legi'
innate business and improper gain
The truth Is" said he. that In the
mad rush for wealth In the last few
decades, the lines between prom
from legitimate business and Inn
proper gain from undue use OF trust
control over other peoples property
and money has sometimes been dim
med, and the interest OF society re
quires that whenever opportunity
offers, those charged with the en-
forcement of the law should empha
size the distinction between honest
business and dishonest breaches oi
trust"
The presidents denial OF the par
don applications of Morse and Walsh
does not mean that they must stay In
prison until the end of their terms
Walsh began a sentence OF five years
In the Leavenworth penitentiary II
January, 1910, and under the fedora
parole law is eligible for parole next
September, the presidents action las
night having no bearing whatever or
future application for parole. Morse
began his 15-year term in the Atlantis
penitentiary in January. 1910, also. II
denying his application the presden
granted leave to renew 1t after Jan
uary 1, 1913. Under the parole Law
Morse would be eligible for RELEASE
in 1915.
Both Morse and Walsh made stront
efforts to have the president exercise
clemency. He was beseiged by friends
and attorneys OF both men. Mrs
Morse got up a monster petition which
! was signed by scores of members o
congress and other prominent person!
and former Senator Hale, OF Maine
did much in her behalf. The pleas O
! ill-health and reimbursement OF al
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 anc
his assistants and both were read with
care by the president himself. His
action last night was in accord with
the recommendations of Mr.. Wicker
sham.