Arizona republican., 1914-08-25
The Capital Punishment Issue.

Next in popular interest the prohibition amendment is the proposition abolish capital pun ishment in this state and which, the campaign proceeds, will probably take foremost place in the discussion. It is the issue closely linked with the fortunes of candidate for office. It the only one of the proposed laws amendments on which any candidate has so far committed him. self. Governor Hunt has declared his advocacy of 1t, and in the course of the campaign if nominated or if not nominated, he will probably vigorously urge it's adoption. The governor appears to have largely staked his fortunes this issue.
 As the leader of his party in the state the gov ernor cannot appeal his party to support this amendment to support himself as the chief advo- cate of it. The democrats of the party in Arizona have before them a higher authority, still greater democratic leader whose views or, at least. whose official with respect to condemned murderers are quite different from those of Governor Hunt President Wilson has permitted two judicial execu- uons, two "egalized murders to take place in Arizona. notwithstanding appeals were made to him for clemency.
 The president has the same power of commute uon and reprieve that which Governor Hunt enjoys. but he used it differently. No doubt the president is taking human life as Governor Hunt but he has truer conception of
 
 a vehicle for the expression of his sentiments but in order that justice defined by existing may be done. It the verdict of jures and the order of courts that the Globe murderers should be hanged and the president reason why the decree unjust
 The governor is unfortunate in that in the less than three years in which capital punishment has been suspended in Arizona, the state has gained a particularly black homicide record, probably worse than that of any equal population in the country There eight nine in the penitentiary under suspended death sentences. There many under life for crimes as fiendsh There have been acquittals of other defendants who were guilty any of those who have been convicted We may well believe that many of these murders would not have been committed but for the knowledge that if captured and convicted the murderers could not be hanged
 We have had the of Mexican murderer in this county who lightly and jokngly, piled to his attorney while the matter of retainer being discussed, that his not so very serious since he could be hanged in Arizona No doubt he had that in mind when he fired shot into the back of enemy who lay asleep.
 We also believe that but for that assurance that gang of Mexican woodcutters would not have dered in the most fendsh four American citizens, one of them officer of the law in Pina county last week.
 But for this three years bloody record, there might be d chance that the anti-capita punishment amendment would be adopted. The taking of human life. even the galows, is distasteful to the average citizen it is to the governor. But duty is frequently distasefu1 and it has become plainly and painfully evident that the lives of law-abding citizens. in this state at least be rendered more only by the performance of distastefu duty.