Evening star., 1915-05-18
Clarence S. DarroW Believes
Day Is Coming When Prisons
Will Be Abolished.
RESUMES HIS STATEMENT
TO FEDERAL COMMISSION
Interest Today Centers in Expected
Additional Testimony by John
D. Rockefeller, Jr.

Clarence s. Darrow told the indus
trial relations commission today that
he believed the day was not far dis
tant when jails and prisons would be
abolished and hospitals substituted
therefor
Il don't mean that some people won't
be confined" he said. but they will
be treated for their social Ills and not
punished. Punishment Is barbarism
and the people generally are begin
ming to realize this. Some day we
will try to wipe out the cause of crime
and doctor criminals instead of abus-
ing and misjudging them"
Most people believed themselves in
nocent no matter what they did, Darrow
argued
Il believe Rockefeller and Standard
OIL have most evil social influence.
but Mr.. Rockefeller thinks he is as in
nocent as any one, and justifles HIM
self unto himself. Everybody thinks
himself innocent"
Resistance Sometimes Justifa BILE.
Resistance of military and other con-
stituted authority if that authority was
abusive. Mr.. Darrow urged. as justi-
fable. arguing that liberty always had
of the first steps toward an ideal social
community he urged public ownership
of lands, mines. forests and railroads.
He urged the Industrial commission to
make radical recommendations for in
duStrial cures because of public opln-
ion, arguing that the more radical the
recommendation, the more forceful on
public opinion.
There is no final remedy for un-
clared.
Recall of Mr.. Rockefeller.
Much interest in the hearing today
centered in the scheduled temperance
of John d. Rockefeller. jr., for the ex-
animation in connection with the Colo
RADIO coal strike correspondence sub
mitted to the commission since Mr..
Rockefellers former appearance formed
the basis of the inquiry. The witness
had prepared a detailed statement in
connection with the Colorado labor
trouble which he was to read when he
resumed his testimony late today.
Gail Crime Has Cause"
TT is said today that you punish a
man to keep some one else from COM
mitting a similar crime" continued Mr..
Darrow. But what Justice is there in
furnishing you. for instance. to keep me
straight? There is a cause for all
crime. just as there is a cause for
typhoid fever. There Is a cause for
burglary and for robbery just as much
al there Is a cause for going to church.
Some time we will discover the cause
of crimes and we will do better. Now
we are only cruel
He said he would wipe out all pun
ishments.
Il don't mean that I would not con-
fine some persons" said Mr.. Darrow,
but ] would have them confined as
the sick are placed in hospitals, and l
would not have them let out unless
they We're cured"
Mr. Weinstock suggested that courts
and juries did not act in bitterness in
trying criminals.
How much did you receive for de-
Tending the McNamaras." asked Mr..
Weinstock.
For twenty-five years have handled
cases for laboring people," replied Mr..
Darrow. "and / expect that one-third.
or even one-half of all that time l
have given free of charge for the de-
fense OF poor people. In only three big
labor cases have ! received something
for the work ! did. Not that the labor
unions would not have paid me, but /
knew that in a strike the money was
needed to feed the women and chill
drsn.