The Washington times., 1911-06-11
Jewish Leader, Half Century
in Capital, Seeks Com
mutation.
URGES EDUCATION
AS CRIME REMEDY
Only Other Hanging Of Woman
Here Was for Assassination, Not
Murder, He Claims.
Continued from First Page.)

II have given the LomaX case some
attention. l understand this woman
had been assaulted bv her husband re-
peatedly; that. their domestic life had
been unhappy, and that she may have
been soaded to desperation. This is all
the more reason why she should not be
hanged. But if she had committed muir
der in cold blood. after deliberate prep
aration and in malice aforethought, l
would still advocate the Communication
of her sentence, for the reasons 1 give
for my opposition to capital punish
ment
Cheapens Womanhood.
"All that feel against taking human
life as a penalty of law, as theoretical
protection to society, l feel with in
creased ardor when the victim is a wo-
man. The act brutalizes and coarsens
humanity; it cannot be otherwise. II
cheapens womanhoOd.
Il was here in Washington when Mrs
Surratt was hanged. and l know the
awful impression left upon the conf
munity by that act 1t is true there
was a strong sentiment in favor Of
hanging her, but it was not against
the woman that this sentiment was di-
Tected: ii was not the woman that had
aroused 1t. The sentiment was against
the ASA ssnatiOn of Lincoln. Mrs. Sur
raft was not tried. The crime was tried
But there always has remained in the
District of Columbia and in the country
at large a sense of shame and mortifi-
cation and regret over the hanging Of
Mrs. Surratt; 1t is broad and deep
seated.
That is the only time a woman has
been hanged in Washington, and she
would not have been hanged had her
offense been any ordinary crime. This
LomaX wOman's crime was very OTdi-
nary. There is no sentiment that de-
mands revenge for a revolving afro
strongly for communication Of her SEN
tence, and that is the reason l feel con-
fident President Taft will spare her life.
Remedy Is Education.
Taking human life does not square
with our modern ideas Of progress. 1t
IS not the remedy. The remedy is edu-
cation. in the school and in the home.
The remedy is amelioratiOn of social
conditions. The remedy is to bring So
ciety to such a state that we will have
no people of the moral and mental linn
itations Of those who commit murder:
to bring it to such state that 1t will
not produce Matte LOmaxes. To put a
rope around Matte LomaX's neck now
and choke out her life would not make
society better. On the contrary, it would
make society worse.
Il believe that murderers, like all
other delinquents, should be restrained
and given a chance for reformation. /
believe they should be required to work,
In order that their energy should pro-
duce something for the good of society.
The value created by their labor. how
ever, l believe, should be devoted to the
support and assistance of those who
need help. l would have the products
of prison labor used for charitable,
philanthropic, and correctional en-
deavor. l would make the erring sup
ply the funds with which to prevent
others from committing similar errors.
Il would be glad said Mr.. Wolf, in
conclusion, IF The Times would convey
10 Matte Lomax's lawyers the offer of
my services. l would be glad to help
them in any way possible, by direct,
personal appeal to the President If they
desire it"