The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1912-10-10
PEOPLES FORUM
DISCUSS BILLS

out Of business. That would necessar-
lily give the larger hotels a monopoly
OF the business, with the result of a
higher rate to patrons. In addition, il
provided a number of fat salary Jobs
to inspectors which would cost the
state about Sl4,00 a year. lie thought
the bill as a whole was against public
policy. and should be defeated. After
a few remarks by +. A. Baker, of the
Hotel Oregon, aud others, the subject
was passed.
The convict labor bill next came up.
This bill, also. brought out a one-sided
discussion, those speaking on the sub
leet being IN favor of its passage. A.
/. Mason said that convict labor wae
contracted to stove firm at four and
a half cents an hour, the state furnish
ing guards, about halt the machinery
and all expenses of the prisoners, Civ
ing the firm an undue advantage in
competing against honest labor.
The bill prohibiting out door meet
ings in streets and public places
brought out considerable opposition.
speakers taking the stand that il inter.
ferred with the constitutional right of
free speech. Attorney Wilbur took the
view that the law now gave the police
the right to disperse public meetings
that disturbed the peace, and that
places where the right OF free speech
on almost any subject was freely al
lowed, there was much less trouble
than where these gatherings were for
hidden. He cited Russia as an example
where ii is unlawful to express one 5
self even quietly. and records show
that there are more outrages commit
ted by anarchists than in the free
| countries.
The meeting up to this time was
one-slded, not opposition having devel
/ oped on any of the subjects discussed
The next subject. that of capital pun
ishment, brought out different views
aud injected a little ginger into tn,
meeting, waking up some of the sleepy
ones.
Rev. H. A. Macdonald opened tn,
debate in favor of abolishiug capita
! punishment in Oregon. His remark
took up the moral side of the question
taking the stand that the execution o
criminals by the state was barbarou
and morally wrong That the horrible
details of executions had a bad elfec
upon the young, even causing children
to initiate hangings in their play stat
ing that after bloody battles of th
civil war, children all over the countr
would play war aud try to enact tn
scenes of the battle fields. He sal
that criminals were not deferred froG
murder by the possibility of being exc
cuted; the murderer did not expect {
be caught. He said that the executio
of criminal was revenge by the stat
for the atrocious crime.
Attorney Wilbur followed, in rep
: to Mr.. Onthank's 8 request to give q
/, legal side of the question. Mr.. WilbI
stated that he would not attempt
argue the right or wrong of the cas-
from the legal standpoint The jur
was sworn to make its findings frol
the evidence, according to law, and III
judge had no option but to pronounc
sentence according to the findings q
the jury.
Attorney Hartwig brought out th
point that many murderers were III
doubtedly freed because of the reiuC
tance of the jury to find verdict tha
would carry death sentence.
Roy Smith at this point stated tha
a question had now come up wher
there was ground for argument, and b
took issue with the speakers on th
question. He said that he certainl
was against nhicting the death penalt,
on circumstantial evidence where al
innocent man might we hanged. Bu
he thought there was too much seuti
ment displayed of late in dealing will
murderers. He cited recent convictions
where murderers were let off will
light sentences, through the sentiment
of the jury. He thought that the bes
effect upon criminals, as deterrent tt
future crime, was a 'short shift" anC
speedy execution. The safety of or
ganized society demanded the riddini
of the community of desperate charac
ters. He cited the moral effect Of
strict martial law in the frontier days
when crime became rampant and hu,
man lie was regarded lightly. Mr.
Smith, however, said he would be it
favor Of life imprisonment If there was
no possibility of the murderer being
pardoned or escaping, but that no jail
could be made so strong but that some
one would escape, and the murd erer at
large had the opportunity of repeating
| his crime.
Next Friday evening at 1880 other
bills will be taken up with the object
of enlightening the voter. A motion
"a have tho pnpeting on ou racord on
each measure discussed by a vote for
and against the proposed bill, was
ruled out of order by Chairman David
son, onsthe ground that the object of
the meeting was to bring out free
discussion Of these measures, hearing
both sides, and then leave the matter
to the judgment Of each individual
voter.