New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-13
DIX AIMS SHAFT At
UNLICENSED PRESS"
Governor Declares Commenda.
ton of Citizens 0utweiqhs
Newspaper Criticisms.
FAV0RS BOARD OF PARDONs
Uses the Abrams Case to De.
fend His Course Toward Ap.
plicants for Commute.
tons of Sentences.

Albany, Dec. 12-Replying to an open
letter sent 10 him by the Commi ss,onsrs
Of Accounts Of New York City, critcis,ns
his action In committing the sentence
Of Louis ]. Abrams, convicted Of holdlnr
mock auction In New York, Governor
Dix, In statement tonight, discus,.s
the question OF executive clemency.
The Governor says Abrams's applloa.
ton for Communication was presented BY
Gustavus A. gers. a New York attor.
ney. and was signed by a number Of
reputable business men and accompanied
by strong letters Of Endorsement from
many prominent firms"
At the time Abrams was convicted an.
other man pleaded guilty to the same OF.
fence and was permitted TO go with 4
fine OF So the Governor says while
Abrams was fined 500 and sentenced 10
jail for thirty days. Justice Henry Stein.
ert, Of the Court OF General Sessions
where Abrams was sentenced recon.
mended the Communication OF the ii..pr!son.
mcnt part of the sentence, according /,
the Governor, who says:
I desire to take advantage Of this lltu,
case to state that In each and every Az
plication for executive clemency which
have investigated ] have given the most
earnest consideration TO all the circum.
stances and data on f1le in this Office and
have attempted TO reach conclusions
which felt 70 be In keeping with The best
interests OF justice not only to the people
but TO the prisoner and his relatives who.
I regret 20 say, are usually the chief SUI
ferers In these circumstances.
After two years as Governor Of this
greatest state in the Union ! am thor
.lx,s1 hat rdn Mas
should be created by constitutional
amendment TO consider all applications
for pardon, Communication OF sentence,
restoration to citizenship and parole.
L have received a great number OF let
tiers from distinguished citizens Of this
state. I'm all walks of life. whose COM
mendation has been indeed gratifying,
and, coming as they do from individuals
Of the highest standing In their respective
communities, far more than outweigh the
cavil and criticism Of an unlicensed prsss
which publishes statements without In
vestigation.
The Governor quotes a letter received
from a former District Attorney OF Bris
County, which says In part:
Many governors in the past have b.
lieyed that the granting of pardons wO
more matter Of favor than duty. and a.
a result of this view and inattention In
this direction on the part of some OF gu,
recent governors, and In some cases called
to my particular attention, very great In.
justice has been done. I simply make the
point that no criticism should be offered
a governor who acts conscienuorsY E
the exercise Of this great duty.
In closing, the Governor says:
"As this is probably the last word whisA
I will have 70 say on this topic as Cor.
ernor Of this state, can only add that
IL Is my sincere hope that the consct
sntlpus efforts which have made to 90
Justice to q most trying situation viii
necessity of taking action through thsif
representatives looking to the early COZ
summation Of the plan which have sug.
gested"