The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-10-18
OBEY THE LAWS
RIGHT OR WRONG
Effectiveness Of Organized Soci-
ETY. Requires Obedience
Says WickerSham
FAyORS The PAROLE SYSTEM
Believes il Should be Extended to Life
Prisoners, Such as Practie-
ed in Michigan.

Omaha, Neb. Oct I'm the battles
Of economic forces for supremacy. the
law must obeyed, even though it
seems to favor one class as against
another. This view was expressed by
Attorney Wickersham in a speech be-
fore the American Prison Association
here last night.
Punishment in some form. declared
the attorney general, is still necessary
| to prevent crime. This is especially
the case" he added, lin a community
and at a time. when divers economic
forces are struggling with each other
for the mastery in the state. and where
laws are etacted through the influence
Of one class or classes TO control the
| action of another class who are un-
willing to accept them as rules Of ac-
| tion-because unconvinced of the wis
| dom or justice Of the legislative policy
which they embody. Yet a considera-
tion OF the nature of social organiza-
tion will demonstrate the absolute nec-
essity of all classes Of society con-
forming to requirements prescribed by
the duly constituted authorities
| however wise or unwise those regula-
| tions may appear TO those whose con-
duct Is sought to be controlled by
them. But within it's constitutional
scope, the acts of the legislature stand
until repealed as the mandate Of or
ganized society and the continued ef-
fectiveness Of organized society re-
quires that obedience to such laws be
compelled
The attorney general lengthlly dis
cussed the broad question of punish
ment for crime and the administra-
tien of the federal parole law.
Extension Of Parole System.
Modern penal legislation. he said. is
based on a recognition Of the expe-
diency Of endeavoring TO reform the
criminal. and so great a stress has
been laid on that feature in dealing
with criminals, that eve sometimes
forget that in order that punishment
may act as a deterrent upon others IL
must appear as a badge Of disgrace,
and not simply the bestowal OF benevo-
lence."
Mr.. Wickersham favored the extern
sion OF the parole law 70 include life
prisoners. He regarded it as an IN
congruity that prisoners sentenced to
lone terms for vicious crimes should
be eligible for parole, when the man
convicted Of second decree murder
must remain in prison for life.
II the law making power continued
Mr.. Wickersham. considers refo~ma
ton, conditional liberation and rein
rtatement to a normal position in So
cietv possible in these cases. cit is diff
fcult to say on what principle the
same possibility and hope Of reforma-
tion. liberation and forgiveness should
not be extended 10 one guilty Of mur-
der under circumstances not punish
able by death. While there is life
there should be hope IL may be far
off delayed n dim, distant possibility.
but il would seem that that hope
should be held out as a possible at
tainment to the meanest wretch who
is allowed TO live. The justice of man
should aim at the perfection of divine
Justice. and though finite wisdom not
knowing the hearts Of men. may not
always deal justly with offenders, yet
IL should not shut the gates of mercy
against the meanest Of Gods crea-
tures,'
Since the parole law was placed In
operation last autumn. the attorney
general said, but one prisoner had vio-
lated his parole. The 200 prisoners
who we're paroled from the time the
law was put into effect in the autumn
OF 1910 to June 30 earned nearly s22,-
600. where as. II they had remained in
prison. the attorney general pointed
out. they would have been a charge
on the government
Mr.. wickersham expressed the be-
lief that the parole boards should be
enlarger bv adding two unofficial per-
sons selected from among prominent
citizens Of the locality in which the
prison is situated.
Many Unpublished Murderers.
Quoting President Taft as saying
that The administration OF criminal
law i'm this country is a disgrace TO
civilization" Judge c. A. De Courcy. OF
Lawrence Mass. Justice Of the Supe-
rior court Of Massachusetts,, before the
American Prison association last night
pointed out that the United states
was conspicuous for the great num-
Der Of unpublished murderers.
THE defense Of insanity the limita-
ton Of the power OF JUDGES and the
character of testimony allowed TO he
introduced In behalf Of the defendant
were some Of the evils which he said,
ought 10 he rectihed.
The number Of homicides in this
country for 1910 were S.975-an in