The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-01-19

James A. Finch, pardon attorney of
the Department of Justice, is nearing
the completion of the hardest series
of cases in his entire career.
Within a short time, the question of
whether the last two of the score of
men convicted in the ironworkers
dynamite conspiracy shall be pardon
ed is to be decided.
This case, involving the considera-
ton of the merits of twenty men who
sued for pardon, produced testimony
weighing nearly goo pounds
He is the "Outer Guard" on the
gate way beyond which lies 1.-The Pres
ident's mercy"
His very dingy office on the second
floor of the Department of Justice is
a confessional, where he listens day
in and day out to the condolences of
the wives and mothers, and sisters,
and friends of men convicted of muir.
der, robbery, counterfeiting, snug
gling-the elite of the criminal class;
as well as those interested in obtain
ing executive clemency for offenders
of the petty stripe.
And there in his little office, he
must winnow the wheat from the
] chaff. He must detect unerringly the
false note in the pleas for pardons, be-
cause his duty consists of safeguard
ing the President against mistakes in
the exercise of his highest official pro-
rogative-the pardon power.
No Place Fer Red Tape.
James A. Finch, upon whom have
| fallen the manifold duties of the par
don attorney through three Pres don.
tial administrations, is a quiet, friend
ly man, at times almost repressed,
and he regards his official position as
one of grave responsibility. Yet he is
no believer in departmental red tape,
and is willing to give ear to the moor
est suppiant as quickly as to the quar-.
er-million-retaining-fe lawyer who Is
irving to strike the shackles from the
limbs of some malefactor of great
wealth. !
This office of mine is not the place |
for formality." he says. at is a place |
for humanity and sympathy. And yet |
the exercise of these qualities must |
not be permitted to obscure the merits
of the pleas which engender them"
Every application for pardon
which comes before Mr.. Finch is treat
ed as an individual case. and is given
personal consideration before his rec
concentration, which through one of /
the assistant attorney generals and
then through the head of the depart
ment himself finds its way ultimately
to the President, is made.
When he has investigated a plea for
executive clemency he calls in those
interested, and, to use his words, az
spread my cards on the table before
them" adding, 81 may have an errone- |,
Gus idea which the friends of the
man seeking pardon might be able
to explain away to my satisfaction"
Started as Teacher.
Finch's earlier years of manhood
were spent in a quiet New York "up-
state" community, as a teacher in a
rural school. But later having stud
led law, he obtained a position in
Washington, and not very long there.
after began editing the bills and de-
bates in Congress relating to trusts.
He also edited the first two volumes
of the antitrust decisions and the
orinions of the attorney general, as
well as digest of that matter.
When Charles ]. Bonaparte was
bead Of the Department OF Justice
under Roosevelt, he saw in the work
Mr.. Finch had been doing some special
for the post of pardon
attorney, and appointed him, since
which time. undisturbed through three
he has continued with
the work.
His everyday life has brought he
Gre him a phase Of Presidential chaw I
,cter seen but little even by the Elk
scutive's closest political advisers.
That phase is the compassionate, mer-
'lful side of the Chief Executive. n
President Wilson. says Mr. Finch, t
s the most merciful of all Presidents
'ince the days of Lincoln and McKin-
ey.
While President Taft had a record
" many pardons and was known dur '
ng his administration as "The Merci- :
ul President" he never allowed the
JUDICIAL side of his nature to be moved
jot from the strict letter OF the law.
nd. frequently refusing pardon up
IN same IaoaJ faobpiooI;t,, ~ co,.x, III