The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-07
THE PARDON PROBLEM

Use or abuse of the pardoning
power-nearly everywhere a timely
topic-is being discussed anew by
someof our Mississippi contempora-
ries. Gov. Brewers pardon record.
has been criticised frequently and at
times very harshly during the past
two or three years. His issuance of
pardons to the convicts who volun-
teered for DR.. Goidberger's pellagra
experiment caused 4 renewal of the
attack in some quarters. From that
particular case the discussion has
marched into the wider general field.
There is the usual suggestion that
the pardoning power be transferred
! from, the executive to pardons
board, the usual specific citations of
alleged abuse or misuse of the pre-
rogative-and now Of late the usual
reminder that the public must share
with the pardoning authority the
blame for promisous or unwise par
dons.
The Vicksburg Times-Democrat re-
calls the constitutional provision
that pardon petitions must be pub
lished for five weeks before the par
don may issue. IF within that
time" it contends, ''the critics do
not earnestly oppose the granting of
the Petition, then alb criticism
after the granting of the pardon is
but a waste of time" The Green
Vile Democrat explains the prelimi-
naries more fully. In addition to
the published notice of the applica-
toon for pardon. it points out, "the
officers of the court, or at least some
Of them, and the citizens of the com
munity among whom the prisoner
lived when he committed the crime,
are expected to sign the petition
and as a rule do so before
a pardon is granted. And what
ever may be said about the value of
petitions, 1t is the petition placed in
the bands of the governor that the
governor must accept as the desire
of the people most directly interest
ed" 1t concludes therefore, that
"the people themselves are large
ly responsible for the pardons grant
ed" III Mississippi.
Thia proposition considered apart
from the pardon record of any par
ticular governor or any particular
state, is so sound that, so far as we
recall, it has never been seriously
disputed. 1t is as old and familiar
as the pardons discussion Unhap-
PLY the average man however
fiercely he may criticise the other
fellow for signing any petition that
is poked under his nose, rejects the
idea that the same criticism applies
to his own readiness to sign. And
thea. craze member of the average
community. knowing that one of his
communitys own undertakes is ap-
plying for pardon, usually joins in !
the application, or refrains from OPP
posing it, for fear of hurting some
dogs feelings.
The governor or the pardons board
cannot shoulder all Of the respon-
sibility for mistaken pardons or glar-
ing abuses Of the pardonine power
off upon the petition signers The
man or the board vested with exer-
else of clemency is sworn to its wise
and prduent exercise and must take
liberal share of the responsibility
and blame for it's abuse But if the
public would break itself of the petit
tion signing habit pardons abuses
would grow beautifully rarer, we
think and people could criticise
the fragrant instances thereof with
better grace and greater effect
New Orleans Times Picayune.