Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-04
COLONEL PAINE R's RETIREMENT
RECALLS LONG PUBLIC
\ CAREER.
KINDERGARTEN LESSONS
As TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR
Beaten Only Once in Long Career a.
Candidate For omies, and Then BY
Three Votes Only - Parole Board
ouItniss Reassn For Refusal 70
Grant Freedom 70 Betsy Smith.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Jan. 4.-When the as
sociates Of Col. David J. Palmer in the
office Of railroad commissioner pre-.
scented him with splendid pigskin
grip, on the occasion Of his retirement,
and signed up little address to him,
only one mistake was made. No one
of the party was old enough to have
memory reaching back to the time
when the colonel really commenced
serving the public. Not referring to
his service in the war-and he has
one of the most interesting war rec
ords-his public service commenced
not when he was elected county audi
tor in 1876 but long prior to that when
he was elected road supervisor and
later held the high and honorable po-
sition of township assessor. These
were his kindergarten lessons on poll
tics. So, as matter of fact, Colonel
Palmer held office most OF the time
for near to forty-five years. Another.
chapter in his career was missed, also,
for he ran for one office and was beat
en-. That was member of the house.
He lacked three Of having as many
votes as the democrat; but had the
consolation Of a lot of his friends tell
ing him they voted for the other fellow
as a personal compliment and never
dreamed of electing hin. Then the
colonel, as defeated candidate for
representative, ran for the state senate
ano was elected by 1900 plurality.
Governor Shaw took him out of the
senate to make him a member OF the
railroad commission.
Few of all the men about the state
house have ever been SO we'll and SO
fayorably known, so we'll beloved by
his associates or with such warm
friends.
The refusal of the state parole board
to recommend release of Mrs. Betsy
Smith, of this city, life termer, who
has served twenty years or more, for
first degree murder, caused no sur
prise; but the action taken Is not re-
garded as in any way either in an
tagonism to the position Of the COVER
nor or a reversal Of previous policies.
It will be recalled that the governor
pardoned Orman Mcpherson, after the
board had recommended no clemency
in his case. He was a first degree lifer.
In the case Of Betsy Smith the board
put it on record that all the onditions
for parole were present--good con-
duct, home, prospect OF proper life.
But here are the reasons made of rec
! ord for not granting clemsncy:
| For reasons stated frequently to
you and your predecessors, we think
60; of ho
laws of this state is that when pris-
oner has been found gully of murder
| in the first degree and there is moth
| ing to support claim that the offense
could have been of any less degree,
and the jury has seen fit to relieve the
accused of the death pnalty. the per-
son should not be released. We do not
want to be understood as claiming the
! life sentence should be served as pun
ishment, but rather that by the COM
mission of such an offense, the perpe-
traitor has, under the law Of this state,
!, forfeited his right to again mingle with
his fellows. If in the case Of murder
in the first degree the jury should con-
clude to inflict the death penalty the
court would not reverse, il the legal
rights of the defendant had been given
him,
prisoners in our state are humanely
cared for, and while it is serious thing
! to deprive fellow man of his liberty,
yet it was a much more serious thing
to premeditately and maliciously de-
prive man of his life.
IF it be the desire of the people
I of this state to provide that persons
found guilty of murder in the first de-
gree shall be, after serving a certain
period of life sentence, or when age
/ has come upon them, released of inn
prisonment and allowed liberty with
or without conditions, they can SO de-
| clare thru the general assembly. This
does not mean in no case of verdict
| of guilty of murder In the first degree
should clemency be extended, because
it will occur that new facts may arise
showing the crime that has been
one of less degree, or even of absolute
innocense, or that owing to excitement
and prejudice existing because of the
killing, 1t might be said that these in
| fuenced the verdict. We<dO not want
| to be understood as holding that you
could not, or should not. under such
circumstances, extend clemency as you
might think right and just. both to the
| prisoner and to the state"
| 49,
Attorney General Cosson is Of the
opinion that unless it can be definitely
shown that the Atlantic Southern rail-
way can be operated without net loss,
1t is hardly worth while to pursue the
effort Of patrons living along the line
to force the owners Of the property to
continue running trains. The issue was
first called to the attention Of the state
OFFICIALS in October and it has been
under investigation some time. The
owners have announced intention to
abandon operation soon. Mr.. Cosson
has advised that competent engineer
be employed to make an investigation
and report on the cost of putting the
line into disable condition and ac-
countants investigate as to what has
been the business done on the line and
1l6E lN!Do oRS1
X ~ IN. .zESinTn0toS n