New-York tribune., 1912-02-11
TRANSPORTATION.
Suggested as a Substitute for Capital
Punishment and Life Imprisonment.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The article by ex-Ambassador White
on the spread of crime In the United States
which appeared in your issue OF this morn
Ing, should call forth wide discussion 10
the end that more effective means shall De
provided for checking this tendency than
have so far been employed. DR.. White mas
IN no way exaggerated the seriousness OF
the present situation, and his plea for
more promptness and certainty in dealing
with the perpetrators of murder and as
sault should have the attention and support
of every right thinking citizen.
However, the contention that this pun
ishment should take the form of the death
sentence is certainly open TO very strong
criticism. There are too many considera-
tons which combine TO produce the Grim
inal state of mind and. more pertinent per-
haps, there are too many possibilities for
justice to miscarry TO justify passing
sentence which cannot be recalled In the
light OF later developments. In the pres
ent state of advancement of the race there
are no twelve men qualified TO pass tudg-
ment Of life or death on any one OF their
fellow men. or to decide In even the worst
crimes Just where the original fault lay
or where the largest blame should be
placed
A large and increasing number OF people
are looking at this matter in this light. and
il may we'll be that the present iaxity is
more TO be blamed to the want of suit
able alternative to the death sentence than
TO a commendable public desire to break
away from one OF the relics OF barbarism.
II this is true any criticism OF the present
penalty IS OF small moment unless at the
same time some possible means for replac-
ing It can be offered. The points which
must be considered in suggesting proper
penalty for the crimes or murder and as
sault are first, that 1t shall be so severe
as 20 act as an efficient deterrent: second,
that it shall contain nothing that smacks
in the least OF revenge or Is In the least
brutalizing: third, that 1t shall be OF a
nature such that. II necessary, II can be at
least partially RENTED should later de-
velopments justify this action. and. fourth,
that It shall be Of such a nature as to re-
move the offenders completely from con-
tact with the main body OF citizens and
also from public attention.
Confinement In prison falls in at least two
OF these points. The death penalty fails IN
tho three first and most important AS
possible solution OF the difficulty, what are
the essential defects In the plan OF de-
porting murderers and commuters OF as
sault TO some Of our island posseSSons-
males and females effectually separated
aud supplying them with adequate means
for working for an existence II they choose
10 do so? This plan squares with all OF
the above conditions and provides against
the propa cation Of criminals as we'll as
either OF the two penalties now imposed.
or course. no penalty can serve 10 check
tho wave OF crime unless II is backed up
by nxlty OF court decisions and sane
public sentiment in favor of law and order
and the punishment OF offenders. While
there must be certain defects In the pro-
posed plan it is believed that this method
OF dealing with this class Of criminals
would meet with wider approval than either
OF the two penalties now in use are enjoy
ing Dr. Whites criticism OF this plan
would be most welcome and would certainly
throw some light on the correct solution
OF this very serious problem.
DAVID DARRIN.
New York. Feb s. 1912