Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-09-25
GATHERED BY THE WAYSIDE

Des Moines. Sept 25,-In making re-
port on the Betsy Smith pardon case
= sha governor the board of parole
adhered again 10 the position taken
right from the start in regard to up
holding the integrity OF the courts.
and decided that since Betsy was
found guilty of first degree murder
and there was no new evidence 10
show that this was an unjust verdict
she must remain in prison. TIE posi-
Ton Is. in brief. that as to all other
classes Of convicted persons the board
has the right and duty OF fixing
termination Of sentence different
from that OF the court or the Law, upon
a showing Of circumstances or condi-
tons warranting clernency: but the
- dcre nor GO 60 or as 20 include
those who are so unfortunate as to
.:t1 sentence against them
Putting il another way-if convict
has life sentence against him, II
matters not that he has reformed or
that il is shown he would be good
citizen or that there we're extenuatns
circumstances surrounding his ofense
or that it was q conviction on circun-
stantial evidence. But If in the next
cell there is a convict VINO mas thir-
ty-vear sentence ar one for twenty
wears Or any other fixed time. then the
board snail take all these things into
consideration and act accordingly. The
theory is that the law has been made
-,n-roseIv infexible as TO life sentences
and also DurposeIy made flexible as 10
all others There should he q distinct
understanding of this situation. 1t
viii save trouble and expense in many
I cases
The chief executives of the state,
| however. have not taken quite the
| same view Of the matter. Governor
| Cummins acted in life cases and fixed
| a terminable period for Incarceration
even against the protest Of the parole
| board and adverse report. Governor
Clarke has done the same thing in sew
eral notable instances. This goes back
, 70 the very essence Of the pardoning
power and retains the old feudal idea
that the state-or head Of the state
| has some arbitrary authority to deal
| with the lives Of individuals.
Some day the legislative bodies prob
ably will revise the whole scheme and
evolve something in accord with 100 :
ern ideas. The whole penal code OF
Iowa. as Of other states. is two CEN
turtles behind the times.
whatever else may be said of him
the fact remains that George duiiiiia
lis making an excellent postmaster OF
Des Moines 1t will be recalled tha'
when announcement was made OF his
selection for the place by President
Wilson there was a big hubbuh started
and some srlurging about getting thf
administration to take it hack and ap'
point some one wanted by the "busi'
ness interests of the city. Some In
HuentiaI democrats who had been iden'
tilted with the booster clubs Of the cit!
were greatly indignant over the selec
ton of Huffman since they had ad'
yised differently-and besides. HUH
man was an original and persisten
: Wilson man before the convention a!
well as after the election. But ever!
, day Huffman goes to the postoffic
bright and early and he puts in goot
) hard days work. really doing thing
and personally supervising the >entir
: business OF the biggest postoffice i,
! Iowa. There has been no complain
!, on the part Of the booster clubs sine