New Britain herald., 1917-09-27
ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
Rechtenwalt Would Right the World
BY Abolishdng the Gallows and Elec-
trio Chair; Not in Accordance
With Christian Ideals.

To the Editor Of the Herald:
Would you pull the lever or push
the button that would send a soul OR
brother into eternity? Do you believe
that this custom belongs to our mod-
ern civilization? The Governor of
Missouri has signed the bill that will
do away with this relic of the dark
age. The big men of eleven of our
most progressive states could see no
arguments in favor of the death PEN
atty, and repealed the act. If capital
punishment were a benefit to the
state, the great state of Wisconsin,
which abolished the death penalty
years ago would show larger percen-
tage per capita of homicides, than
does Illinois, whose territory borders
on hers. Statistics show that in 81
of the states having the largest num-
Der Of crimes per capita, not one state
has abolished capital punishment.
If capital punishment Is necessary
and right why shouldn't we let all the
people witness the act. If legal exc
cution is right and a good thing it
should take place out in a large field
where all can view the scene and prof
it by the experience. Why continue
brutalizing form Of punishment
when 1t serves no economic, moral or
other good purpose? No plan for
dealing with crime can rightfully be
maintained simply because it is VEN
cradle. 1t does not protect society
from it's actual or possible murderers.
1t is not deterrent of the crime for
which it is the punishment. 1t is not
in accordance with Christian and hu-
name twentieth century policies for
dealing with offenders. Can you mag
inc Christ dealing out this kind Of
punishment, and yet He said to follow
him. The Attorney Generals of 16
out of 90 states interviewed, state in
their opinion that capital punishment
does not tend to diminish crime. 1t is
working on the wrong end. on the eff
feet instead of the cause. Did it ever
occur to you that a criminal might be
a young soul in the race family, and
that he needs instruction and Guilt
walton instead of suppression and
death? He is a spark Of the divine
which cannot be destroyed, only tenn
porarily set up to break forth again in
some form In the future.
AS the Good" people Of our coun-
try our responsibility is something
appalling. We, as an organized socie-
ty invite human souls to come to
earth through the gateway of birth.
into hideously dirty conditions, sur
rounded by evil influences. fathered by
criminals, whom we have allowed to
propagate. When these children
grow up without guidance or re-
straint, except when they come against
the lawn some building where in
toxicants are sold which is licensed
BY the law-when Lhese boys and
girls become men and women in this
sort of environment, Ind then go
forth ed-graduated-to crime
under the Indifference The sanction Of
our making officials, any thinking
person would say that the last straw
has been piled onto the camels back
of lega1ized wrong. when the law takes
these state manufactured criminals out
and kills them. Hate ceases not by
hate, but by love. The way cor our
modern Christian civilization to lessen
and finally stop the crime Of murder
is to stop setting the example, ''Abol-
ish Capital Punishment" 81
Ex-Warden Mark Rice. Gays Seven