Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-07-19
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

Sentimentalists who have placed
an anti-capital punishment law on
the ballot might direct attention
to the case of Jack Roberts in
support of their measure. Rob-
erts has Just been sentenced to
hang, and is as much entitled to
clemency as the majority of those
sentenced to death. He attempt
ed highway robbery Ca crime
which a century ago was punish
ed with death) and when his vic
Tins refused to halt poured load
of buckshot into the automobile
in which they rode. Two promis-
ing young lives were snuffed out
and yet it is argued this cold
blooded wretch should receive
consideration and be kept in COM
fort for a few years, to be turned
loose to repeat his crime when
memory of the one of which he
has been convicted dies out
Hillsboro Independent
argument CD used by newspapers
and individuals to support their con-
tention for the inliction of the death
penalty 1t consists of tissue of
false representations and silly utter
ances. The supporters of legalized
murder take supreme pleasure in re-
ferring to those who oppose it, as
"sentimentalists" using the term in a
cerned, the opponents of capital pun
ishment care nothing, but when the
opponents Of the doctrine add mis-
representation to their arguments, Sc
rious objection is made.
In the first place. the men and
women who do not believe i'm legal
i2ed murder do not for a moment
advocate consideration" for the
criminal and to declare that they do,
is either to confess ignorance or to
utter deliberate falsehood. The
last portion of the above article
from the Independent, is one of the
most silly utterances that The OBJ
server has yet noticed in the public
press. and cannot impress anybody
with an ounce of brains, il they have
studied the question at all Roberts
committed crime. lie killed two
promising young lives" it is true. and
every opponent of capital punishment
believes he should pay the penalty.
II is only i'm the method of that PEN
atty that the difference comes. on
the one hand. it is urged that the law
should step i'm and take the life of
Roberts because he murdered those
young men while. those opposed to
that idea. hclive that Roberts should
be removed from the pale of civiIiza-
tion and be compelled to pass the
balance of his life i'm solitary confne-
ment, completely cut OF from all
communication with humanity. They
do not advocate that he he kept i'm
comfort for few years to he turned
loose" and the writer ot those lines
must know it. or stand branded as
one who deliberately misrepresents.
The position oT those who oppose
capital punishment is simply that the
law should not take away that which
IL cannot give. They believe that Ic-
galizcd murder does not atone for a
crime, and that those who take
part I'm II are. iu a measure. as guilty
as the thug who fires a load of buck
shot into his victim. They believe
that the perpctratnr nt the murder
should be removed as further men
ace TO society. and that his punish
ment should be complete and perpet-
ual for his life time. hut they de not
believe that society will be benefited
nor the crime avenged 10y the cNpe-
iient Of 'hanginE" the murderer by
he neck until he is dead"
Thou shalt not KIN" Is the Divine
aw and IL is difficult 10 see wherein
killing legalized by the laws Of man
an overshadow the command of
God As The Observer has hereto
ore maintained-there are worse
than death u the man
rho commits murder realized that
onviction Tor the crime meant GER
ain and sure Imprisonment for the
smainder Of his life in a solitary cell.
ith no hope. no light az the end
nd only an unnamed mound in the
rison cemetery as his reward 81 he
new that his life in the glad free
.orId was over; that no more for
i'm would the seasons pass in end
- succession. that while the storms .
/ winter and the smiling June sun T
line would beat upon his earthly I
iamber Or hattie its walls in its
armth. 20 him an seasons would 4