Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-26
DESPERATE EFFORTS MADE TO
Break DOWN INpErERMlNArE
SENTENCE SYSTEM.
/. w. w. ORGANIZATION
MisLEp ~ POOR ADVISERS
Force City offieiaIs and Newspapers
70 Join in Demands For Release Of
Three Tsamsts-s Gent 20 Prison For
Riotins-Dsmand Exercise Of Powers
Which Governor Docs Not Pesssss.

:
remarkable situation 10 presented here
In relation to the systematic effort to
break down the reformatory and inde-
terminate principle in the penal system
Of Iowa. It illustrates the desperate
lengths to which reactionary elements
are yelling to go to staJ the tide OF
progress.
The situation circles around an Ell
fort to secure released from prison OF
three teamsiers sentenced in district
court for short terms for violence IN
connection with q strike. The cause ID
q, worthy one, for while the men were
guilty they deserved probably q hSM
tail sentence rather thana prison term.
Certain it is they were much less gull
ty than others involved in the same
troubles.
But the cause Of the men was taken
up by the Independent Workers or the
World and, apparently upon advice
from some source, they have set out on
the theory that the only way to secure
justice for their fellows is to resort to
political influence and politica! pres
sure. Instead Of having the matter
presented as q matter Of right. 1t Is be-
ing exploited, privately II not pubic
~. as g. matter involving so many
votes for those who are or may be can
didates for Office. That this threat Is
not without force is shown by the fact
that they were able to compel three
judges Of the district court, who will
be candidates next year. to Sign an ap-
peal for release Of the men, and thus
to discredit another member Of the
same bench: and they were able to
lead to the state house at the head Of
their committee, three Of the city
council. Mayor Hanna and Councilmen
Roe and Van Liew, all Of whom will
be candidates again very soon.
No Politics Permitted.
Still further following out the idea
that pardons are q matter for consid-
GRAFTON as political questions purely.
the committee went to the governor
ard passed over the proper channels
for investigation.
Why" said one Of the committee.
we've been told that the governor
doesn't have to pay any attention at
all to the parole board and he can ~
sue gardens at any time and in any
way he wants to without paying any
attention to the law. We've taken adj
vice from good lawyers and they say
the parole board has nothing to do
with it And we have read in our daily
papers here that the governor has It
all in his own hands. That IL the way
it used to be anyway
The leadeA Of the !. w. w. have
been able to force first one local news
paper and then another to join In the
effort to have the entire underestimate
sentence and parole system broken
down by q return to the archaic sys-
team Of granting pardons for political
purposes. The pressure upon the gov
ernor to yield to this demand has been
enormous. The drst effort made thru
the refusal OF many district judges to
recognise this new law proved q fail
ure for the supreme court promptiy
declared the new system to be const1-
tutional. Now the plan 10 to first,
have the governor nulhfy the law, then
to have the legislature abolish the pa
role board and restore the old plan
with criminals and detectives.
The !. w. w. 10 said to have become
powerful in local politics and to con-
troll great many votes. It will take
an active hand in city politics next
spring. 1t has no members outside a
few Of the cities Of the state