Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1915-12-04
Saturday, December 4, 1915.
ARIZONA COURTS HELPLESS
tEl Paso HERALD


Osl Paso Herald)
How much better the man who deliberately crcum-
vents the execution of the laws mandate than the
brought up in many minds in recent months as result
of the in Arizona where Governor Hunt few
his ntmates posing as the only humanarians the
part Of the United States have themselves
up as saviors of condemned murderers.
Capital punishment may be wrong; there S wide a
divergence of opinion on this subject as over
whether democratic the republican party is right.
officials of state are elected enforce the Of
petty subterfuse prevent the execution of
the laws enough make the average individual want
to say that mob may not be far from wrong after
all.
The delay in melting justice is the very of
mob law When men do believe prisoner will se;
his hands the law they led by pas
sion to mete out to him what they think he deserves
There are seldom any lynchngs in a community where
the laws are enforced and of the law
carried out.
Arizona courts have time and again passed approva
upon prisoners in that who have been adjudged
guilty murders yet there have been eXecu
lions since George w p and his cotere of office
holders have power During the first months
of period office, the governor declined to permit
the law to be carried the ground that he did not
believe the people capital punishment Then nc
said they did favor IT, Then the governor who has heic
ol the matter people and by their votes they
himself greater chan all people Of the state straight
way asserted that he corporations" had stuffed hebal
lot boxes and the will the people had been crcumyent
ed this in face Of the fact himself is largely
the father of the Arizona system by which the people
are permitted to vote upon every law of the state.
Hunts insistence original was that the people
should express themselves upon all matters Of egsla
ton even to the recall of their offcals-iudges includ
cd But the first time the failed to please the gov
ernor he was the first to besmrch the system he ha
caused TO be created in the state; the assert tina
the people could be trusted vote their sentiments
With the refusal Of the people to abolish capital pur
ishment the governor then began to take every know
step to prevent the LAW being and he has cue
ceeded up the present time in preventing any mandat
of court being executed in such cases. In the case
Faltin whose execution set for last Friday he wa
given every legal clear himself and when thi
failed and the state pardon board refused clemency
the condemned man, the governors prison warden wa
thrown into the breach setting himself against a
the courts of the state-aong with his governor frien
and asserting in effect that 'ths man shall not pa
The penalty Of his crime
There was no execution the courts were deIiberate'
dened. The governor hastens 10 issue statement
The effect that he had already informed The pardon boar
that he would not ntcrferethrows the onus Of the az
upon the warden aone-but the people are not going
blame Sims for anything than being the 'ooI OF II
governor
Attorney General Wiley Jones has evidenced The pro
er spirit by taking steps bring before the supren
court the men responsible for defying the courts O
dors. n remains 10 be seen whether be viii carry IL
tine end u win also be interesting 10 see what the eou
win do It is time the courts OF Arizona we're assertiI
themselyes u is not so much that the people want
few condemned murdercra hang that they are grown
tired OF seeing George w. T. Hunt or amy other ma
arrogate to himself The power Of debating 70 an emit
state.
The laws Of arizona provide for punishment for crime
The governor has attempted through bis own pet met
DDS 10 wipe out these laws and has famed, yet he sim
hes the courts ana says they shall NOT enforce The law
Nothing could sooner create anarchy a desregard 3
laws generally When the example s set by man W
bias been honored by his people with the highest Off
within their gin, what must expect when others
hIbf d contempt tor law