The Washington times., 1911-06-07
Continued from First Page.)

philanthropic. correctional, and chartt-
able service, today expressed himself
as opposed to the death sentence on
Matte E. Lomax, who has been con-
demned to die on the gallows on July
q for the murder OF her husband or on
anyone else.
Mr.. Edison declared himself doubly
opposed to capital punishment when
the victim is woman, either
white or black. His statement
published herewith, is Of particular
interest because of Mr.. Edsons
well-known activities in philanthropic'
SecsSESs0Haf Seca1se Of the O long, close study
he has made of criminology and penal
reform, and because OF his warm per
There is probably no private citizen OF
Washington in whom President TAFT
places greater confidence than Mr Ed
son. and there is probably. none whose
opinion Higp on local tbe f@eSWGhis Wbite aouse
Mr.. Edson's interview today, therefore
should have marked influence upon the
movement for Communication OF the
Lomax sentence.
Il have been much interested in the
editorials, interviews, and letters pub
Iished in The Times" said Mr.. Ed
son, land l willingly add my state
ment to them l hope 1t Will help pre-
vent what I feel is an inhuman SEN
tence.
City Should Be Model.
ct hope that soon the law may be
changed to make hanging impossible
md to enable the District to offer
model in this, as in other things.
Mr. Edson's qualifications as cit-
zen OF progressive ideas and as stu
dent of penal reform were recognized
by Colonel Roosevelt when he was in
the White House. With Colonel
Roosevelt. as with President TAFT;
Mr. Edison enjoyed the most cordlal
personal friendship, and was looked
to then. as he is now, when the ChleI
Executive wanted Information anu
advice as to the District Of Colum bia
Colonel Roosevelt appointed Mr: Ed
son a member of. his famous private
commission and while serving on thaI
body Mr. Edison visited forty penal
institutions in various parts OF tne
country, talked with governors, par
don boards, courts, wardens, and prls-
oners and contributed large amount
of the information, data, and Ideas 10
the commissions report. For many
years he has been one OF the mos5
Charities, and of the District Board
of Charities. When he speaks on such
a subject as capital punishment, there-
fore his words are worth attention.
The Whipping Post.
I'm Wilmington" resumed Mr.. Ed
son, when people are whipped at the
whipping post. I do not exaggerate
when say that almost instantly
can be seen the EQUALIZATION OF
the public which results. 1t has long
been recognized that the old practice
of putting offenders in stocks before
nublic view was demoralizing and
brutalizipg, and the whipping posi-
and hanging of criminals. 1 am con
vinced has the same effect; Even
though a hanging is not puonc, IT'S
influence upon society Is bound 70 De
bad. It is a practice which l oeheNe
cannot fail to brutalize humanity.
"Of course, the argument for capitai
punishment is that it acts as a deter
rent to crime: that II causes people 10
hesitate to kill for fear of being kllIed.
This has not been proved. 1t is meIeiE
q theory. I believe that the certainty
of punishment for crime Is a mucLI
more potent influence in the prevent2n
| Of crime than the severity of punlsnI =
ment Even granting, for the sake OF
arpument. that the death penalty acts
as deterrent, I believe that lts pao
! influence far outweighs Its sood IN
| fuence.