The Sentinel=record., 1911-05-25
TWO PARDONS
ARE REFUSED
EXECUTIVE CLEMENcY is De
MED BANKERS WALSH AND
MORSE.
President Taft Says National Bank.
ing Laws Were Made to Affect
Rich as Well as Poor---Both
Must Serve Time

Washington, May "a President
Taft tonight denied the applications
for pardon of Charles w Morse OF
New York and John R. Wash OF CHI
cago, the two most prominent bank
|ers ever convicted and sent to federal
penitentiaries under The national
banking laws.
Not only did the president refuse
to pardon either Morse or Walsh, bur
he also declined at this time to exer-
else any other sort of executive clem-
ency in these casa or to shorten the
sentences imposed upon the two men
In denying the pardons the presi-
dent took firm stand that the ma
ticnai banking laws or any other
laws must be upheld when they affect
the rich man. even more than when
they effect the poor The record in
the Walsh case the president said in
"a long opinion, shows moral turpl-
tude of that insilious and dangerous
kind to punish which the national
banking laws were especially enact
ed In consideration the case OF
Morse. the president said from
consideration Of facts in. each case, /
have no 'oubt that Morse should
have received a heavier sentence
than Walsh. Indeed, the methods
taken by Morse tend to show that
more keely than Walsh did he real
ize the evil Of what he was doing.'
In his opinion in the Walsh case.
the president protested against the
failure to discriminate between legiti-
mate business and improper gain
"The truth is said he, that in the
mad rush for wealth in the last few
decades, the lines between profit
from legitimate business and improp-
er gain from undue use Of trust con-
troll over other peoples's property and
money has sometimes been dmmed
and the interest of society requires
that whenever opportunity offers,
those charged with the enforcement
OF the law should emphasize the DIS
tinction between honest business and
dishonest breaches of trust"
The presidents denial of the par
don application 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 Leayenworth penitenuary IN
January, 1910 and under the federal
parole law is eligible for parole next
September, the presidents action to-
night having no bearing whatever up
on future application for parole
Morse began his fifteen year term n
the Atlanta penitentiary in January,
1910. also. In denying his application
the president granted leave TO renew
it aft~~ January. 1913. Under the pa
role law Morse would be eligible Tor
release in 1915.
Both Morse and Walsh made strong
efforts to have the president exer-
else clemency. He was besieged by
friends and attorneys OF both men.
Mrs Morse got up monster petit
ton which was signed by scores OF
members OF congress and other
prominent persons and former Sena-
tor Hale of Maine did much in her
behalf. The pleas Of ill-health and re-
endorsement of all depositors in the
Morse and Walsh banks We're made
in both cases.
Both applications were scannel
closely at the department OF justice
| by Attorney General Wickersham
and his assistants and both were read
with care by the president himseif.
His action tonight was in accord With
the recommendation of Mr.. Wicked
sham.