New-York tribune., 1911-10-18
PRISON REFORMS URGED
Attorney General Wickersham
Addresses Congress at Omaha.
WOULD EXTEND PAROLE PLAN
Favors It's Application to Life
Sentences-Other Prob
lens Discussed.

omaha. oct FIN the battles Of eco
nomic forces for supremacy the law must
he obeyed even though it seems to favor
cne class as against another This view
was expressed by Attorney General Wick
ersham in a speech before the American
Prison Association here tonight Punish
ment in some form. the Attorney General
declared. IS still necessary to prevent
crime. He spoke in part as follows:
This is especially tte case in a COM
munity and at a time when divers econ
omic forces are struggling with each other
for the mastery in the state. and where
laws are enacted through the influence OF
one class or classes 10 control the acuoh
of another class, who arc unwilling 10 ac-
cent them as rules Of action hecause un-
convinced of the wisdom or Justice of the
legislative policy which they embody Yet
4 consideration of the nature Of soclal
organization viii demonstrate the absolute
necessity Of al classes Of society con
forming to requirements prescribed ny the
duly constituted authorities, however wise
or unwise those regulations may appear
TO those whose conduct is sought 10 he
controlled by them But within its con
stitutional SCOPE the acts Of the Legislat-
ure stand until repealed as the mandate
Of organized society, and the continued
effectiveness Of organized society requires
that obedience 10 such laws be compelled.
Inc AttCInfN 'TFIfIdi DlSFuSSSO iliF VI 'N'
question Of punishment for crime and the
administration Of tho federal parole law.
Modern penal Legislation. he said. is based
on a recognition Of the expediency ~ en-
deavoring to reform the criminal. and so
great stress has been laid on that feat
ure in dealing with criminals that we
sometimes forget that in order that punish
ment may act as a deterrent upon others
il must appear az a badge Of disgrace.
and not simply the bestowal Of benevo-
ence."
Mr. Wickersham favored the extension
Of the parole law to include life prisoners.
He regarded II as an incongruity that
prisoners sentenced TO long terms for
vicious crimes should be eligible for parole.
when the man convicted Of second degree
murder must remain in prison for life.
He added
If the lawrna king power considers re
formation. conditional liberation and rem
statement TO a normal position in society
possible in these cases, IL Is dlhcult 10 sdS
on what principle the same possibility ana
hope Of reformation. liberation and for
giVeneSS should not be extended 10 one
guilty Of murder under circumstances nv
punishable by death. While there Is ne
there should he hope. It may be lar OF,
DELAYED dim. distant possibility. but ~
would seem that that hope should he helo
out as a possible attainment TO the mean
est wretch who is allowed to live. Inc
Justice Of man should aim at the peTIeSlon
of divine Justice. and though finite WISDOM,
not knowing the hearts Of men, may not
always deal Justly with offenders, yet ~
should not shut the gates of mercy
against the meanest Of Gods creatures
Mr. Wickersham expressed the behel
that the parole boards should be enlarged
by adding two unofficial persons selected
from among prominent citizens OF inc
locality in which the prison is situated
Quoting President Taft as saying 'h''
"the administration Of criminal law in THIS
country is a disgrace to civilization. {. A.
De COurcy, Of Lawrence, Mass, justice OF
the Superior Court of Massachusetts
nointed out that the United States was
conspicuous for the great number or un-
punished murderers. The defence OF IN
sanity. the limitation Of the power OF
Judges and the character Of testimony al
lowed 10 he introduced in behalf Of the de-
| fendant. were some Of the evils which he
| said. ought to he rectifed. He suggested
some criminal law reforms, which included
simpler forms Of indictments changes III
the selections of juries and in the rules
governing pleadngs.