Albuquerque morning journal., 1913-05-18
rNroncnMI.NT on LAW.

other state In proportion 20 pope
latlon. has 10 much crime u tbi
worst sort al New Mexico The rea
son usually given for such condition
l. the failure 10 enforce the law. I
has been The habit 20 let criminal
20 free. OF. IL convicted, 20 pardon
them from tho penitentiary when Z
small part of their sentences hai
been served
on what appears TO be- coed au'
thoriiy. Il Is stated that eonyicta sen.
fenced for Ife have served usually les
than five years. and that IN most
case. the fieht Of citzenshlp has
been restored 10 them.
Bccsuao men guilty Of capital Of
feusca have been lee or frequently
nilh comparatively light punishment
hy an Inefficient and dlsgraccful
abuse 81 the jury pstem, il is foolish
y argued that all men convicted for
IIke offenses should be- placed on az
o4ual footing by court Of executive
action. In other words. Il iurles that
arc disgrace to civilized country
zee ne 10 find sefdieis not common
sufaie with the crime OF which the
accused q guilty thereby thwartlng
justice. it Is argued that care should
Be taken that man convicted ae-
eurdlng 20 law should have his eeu-
tence commuicd 20 INST twin not be
more severe than that u the man
who did not receive So much punish
ment ~ the lass prescribed for the
offcnse
The time has come fof such nom
sense to ceasc For the protection Of
society. the law must be- enforced. re-.
eardless Of race or color rich or
poor. hish or ion. bond Or free The
man who commits q crime must suf.
fer Tor a. and in proportion 70 the
crime committed The slckly sent.
mentality that would have Il other
eise should be ffownsd upon by all
who have the good of this state at
heart
IN the past political considerations
have done much 90 defeat the ends
uf Justice Efforts IN that line arc
opt Of place today Just as IL is out
Ut place fof nny one % attempt to
ereak personal spite by stirring up
prejudice asainst o Judge or q prose.
cutting attorney or a governor be-
cause be Is trying 10 DO his duty.
Particularly should such attempts
q thwart Justice be discountcnanced
nhen they are bolsiercd up by vii.
ful and malicious faisehood
A. examples Of hos Oar purely SEN
iimcntai appeals may ho made. not
long ago a preacher vas convicted In
Massachusetts q having murdered
his sweetheart n was an atrocious
crime with no exlenuatlng clrcum-
stances Thousands OF petitions were
sent 70 the governor Tor commuta-
iipn The governor was opposed to
lnfliciing tine death penalty. but he
could not c0ngcien,iously SET aside
the mandate of the court Riehcson
Was eleciroeutcd.
Not far from the same time. q
young man in Richmond, Va. on
purely eireumstaniial evidence. was
convicted of numbering his wife. The
family WAS rich and powerful and
respectable. The father was a friend
of Governor Mann Every effort was
made 70 have the death penalty COM
mutcd 20 NE imprisonment The
governor refused und Realty was ex-
ecutcd.
only "a short time ago two of the
Virginia Allen gang wore executed.
strong appeals were made to the gov.
cfnor % commute tho sentonec be.
ease other iuries Ind found other
menhefH # the glne guilty If nur
den in The second degree. The gov
elnor refused elpmency aud father
end son died n the chair.
The tendency now 81 TO execute the
law - Il is found upon the statute
b1ohf. aud that tendency should be
carried 20 the fuil extent ln New Mex
leo ir order 20 ehtcl1 criminal actions
Jet It be known that when man
oisfesards tie law he must accept
the consequences