Weekly journal-miner., 1913-05-07


 candidate for mayor of Prescott, crowded mass meeting of represen tative citizens last night, at tn superior court room, severely cen sured Governor Hunt for his veto o the Penal Code, containing th, death penalty, and commended th' Legislature of Arizona for continu ing in force the death penalty in tn, statutes, urging that body to retair 1t there
 Resolutions.
 Whereas, Since the dawn of his, tory organized society has decreed she death penalty as a punishment and deterrent for certain crimes in order that society itself might be justly and amply protected; and
 Whereas, The principle Of self preservation which is the justihca- tion and necessity for all law, is recognized by Holy Writ given to mankind from on High, wherein an all merciful God has laid down the law under which the transgressor must be punished, both because such punishment is deserved and because society must be protected; and
 Whereas, In other nations and states where the death penalty has been abolished crime has increased 10 such an extent that in some cas- es the penalty has been re-establish- ed, but not until many lives have been sacrificed; and
 Whereas, There are now in the State Prison of Arizona awaiting ex- ecution some half dozen brutal, cold blooded murderers whose sentences would be commuted, and who would, in all probability, once more be re- leased to become a menace to the public, should the death penalty be abolished; and
 Whereas, The records show sev- eral instances of late where cold blooded murderers have been releas- ed, either through absolute pa, don or by executive pleasure in violation and in disregard of the letter and the spirit of the law; and
 Whereas. The Chief Executive of this State has repeatedly reprieved homicides, tried, convicted and sen fenced under a capital punishment statute in force at the time such Chief Executive took the oath of office, swearing to uphold and en- force the laws of Arizona, and which statute is still in force; and has once vetoed the Penal Code passed by the Legislature at its recent spe- cial session, which code contained and continued in force the death penalty statute and also removed from executive control the power 10 reprieve or commute sentence of death, except upon new evidence tending to show the accused inno- cent of the crime; and
 "Whereas, It is deemed best for Ihe punishment of crime and the protection of society that this Code be passed intact and the pardoning power be restricted in order that no one man, however conscientious he may be, may by mistaken views, thwart the will of the people; and
 Whereas, We believe that the abolishment of capital punishment will increase crime and render thosel responsible for such abolishment in directly answerable for many inno- cent lives,
 Now Therefore, Be it Resolved:
 That we commend and congratu- late the Senate and House of Rep resentatives for their action in pass ing the law as outlined above; and
 Be it further resolved, That we the citizens of Yavapai County, call upon the Governor of the State of Arizona, Honorable George w. P. Hunt, to execute the will of the people and allow the Penal Code as passed by the Legislature to become a law; but should this code again re- oeive executive disapproval, we most earnestly call upon and enjoin the Legislature, and especially the mem bers from Yavapai County, Sena- tors M. c. Cunniff and H. R. Wood and Representatives H. H. Linney, Perry Hall, A. A. Moore and P. s. Wren, to again pass the code; the veto of the Governor to the con- trary notwithstanding; and
 "Be it further resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmit ted to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives