The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-05-23


fathers day. we suggest that a col
lection would be an appropriate part
of the celebration.-Danviile RegisteR
Teddy's statement that he is the
country's only hope should prove to
us how bad off we are.-Fredericks-
burg Star.
While Mr.. Roosevelt has been duly
initiated onto the Ananias Club by the
President, II is hoped that he will not
insist on doing all the lying for the
Observation-Disclosures Courier.
Glass eyes have gone down to 20
cents piece, in fact they seem to be
the only thing in sight that have been
.-Ledger-Dispatch.
The once proud egg can now look
at the beef-steak and form a fair
estimate of the height from which it
has fallen.-Petersburg Progress.
A Wisconsin rest rant keeper ad-
vertises that he uses an aeroplane
to get a fresh supply of fish every
Friday. He must be serving flying
fish.-U. n. Press.
Roosevelt. Louisiana. has been
swamped. Let us hope that there is
something in this sign at least.-Vir-
ginian-Pilot.
The House of Representatives yes
terday by a vote of 237 TO SO adopted
a joint resolution providing for an
amendment to the Federal Constitu-
ton to elect Senators in Congress by
direct vote Of the people. The reso-
luton has already passed the Senate
and when signed by the President
Will be submitted TO the Legislatures
of the several States for ratification.
This is what the people long have
sought, but the Senate put a fly into
the ointment when il injected an
amendment giving the Federal gov
eminent supervision over elections.
The Southern States have had a
rough experience in such supervision
of their elections and for that reason
they will hardly ratify the amend
ment.-Times-He
by his conduct at the time and
after his cOld-blOoded murder of Avis
Linnell. Richeson showed conclusively
that he knew his crime was against
the law, even If there had been any
question before as to his sanity, which
there was not. And if he was sane
enough 70 know that he was COM
hitting a grave offense against the
law and was in danger OF severe pun
ishment, Of which there can be no
extreme penalty Of the law.
Whether the law should infict
death upon any man is q moot Ques-
ton. But the law of NIassa chusetts
provides the death penalty for pre-
meditated and deliberate murder and
while the law stands il would be a
gross miscarriage Of justice If Rich
eson should be permitted to escape
the electric chair.-Herald-Co
The further the probe Of inquiry
reaches into the charges pending
against Judge Archibald, of the Com
merce Court. the more unfortunate his
conception of judicial obligation APP
pears. There may be some satisfac-
tory explanation of the evidence ad-
duced against him within the past few
days, and we hope there is-but at
present the prospects for such an out
come appear anything but encourage
ing. In this connection IL bears say
ing that it doesn't help the cause of
the suspected jurist in the least 10
maintain that he was lured into an
improper transaction through the
covert wiles of a bitter enemy The
charge, If true, would simply bring
two men under the ban of reproach
instead of one. Judge Archibald is
supposed TO know the difference be-
tween right and wrong, and TO be
able to adhere TO the one and resist
the other, regardless of whether the
prOmpungs of temptation come from
unwise friend or hidden foe.-Lynch-
burg News.
If RichesOn be insane, every clever
crook and murderer on earth is also
insane; each prompting OF a malic-
ious heart is an evidence of an UNI
sound mind, and the hand that steals
and kills is the helpless Instrument
of a disordered brain. If Richeson
be insane, iails and peniteRtiaries,
and the electric chair are institutions
of barbarOus error and punishment
for crime a fearful mistake. Should
the insanity plea in his case prevail.
we should tear down bars and walls
abolish police departments. and elm
mate all judicial systems. Protection
for society should come only from
scientific analysis of brain cells and
brain storms.
Richeson's motive, his conception
of the crime. his methods and the
self-control exhibited by him imme-
diately before and after his arrest
were the products OF orderly thought
far removed from the emotions and
impulses of diseased mentality From
every viewpoint they seem the out
growth of perverted morality and in
tense selhshness.-Roanoke World
An American citizen is robbed in
Mexico City and Immediately there is
talk OF American Intervention.
Millions Of 90