Arizona republican., 1918-06-10
Where the People
 May Have Hearing
Capital Punishment

Editor Republican:
 It is the duty of a citizen to study conditions of life. and assist in the ad- vancement or betterment of mankind. esteem it great privilege to be all l lowed to give expression to my views through the columns of this paper, and l further hope to have some influence Tn the issue before the people at our next state election. A late issue of the paper had an article bearing on the subject of capital punishment, and as usual. which is a proven error. the writer views it from a religious stand point. In matters of business, war. or domestic issues. long experience should show the deniZens of this sphere that our God has placed us here with capa- bllltles to work out our own salvation. lie gives us power over all living and material things, and we claim to be in the image of Him. No one dare deny | that if Scripture is truth, He did not | sanction and enforce through sacrifice and punishment. the death theory. but to present conditions. I must confine myself.
 Why do religious theorists always advocate one method for punishment of all errors, crimes, or sins? Because one child is influenced by love- and one criminal is penitent by conditions bearing upon him under confinement. does it follow that all must be treated | alike? Great stress is laid on the fact
 that at different times. which are | brought to notice, criminality is at low ebb. Very correct. not only in that, but every other issue. Science has demon strated that thought Is carried by cleo tric currents in waves, and therfore | urI1i oh int | ests a people. soon Is developed as i; | were, spontaneously, everywhere; then why should we wonder that at periodi- cal times all penitentiaries are flood | ed. while at other intervals they are
 only partially filled? No issue will be taken by me on the injustice of law as | applied to different victims, but in this form of government. show me the remedy.
 A monarchical government vests powers in the will of individuals. and although I do not propose, or set forth changes. to my thinking. yet I do be- moan the fact that more discriminatory | power is not given to our judges in criminal affairs; for I contend-yes. I 1 know. that in thusands of cases the criminal is not a criminal. the condi- tions and surroundings alone being re- sponsible for his errors, landmark this | in the lining of your hat--you would often have done the same thing fsthe
 temptation and conditions met you, | Now. does this thought apply to the
 man who deliberately takes your life? TX. L." says. Life is a sacred thing" 1 My friend, the murderer who stops
 there is indeed a murderer. but if he | can place other scalps on his belt. he
 is hero. You must needs reverse
 your theory. Punishment promised us l by God is inflicted with all the imag 1 inable torments possible to the huma T
 mind. From Him is obtained example
 and guidance for our lives. Is it re-
 venge that propmts His acts? Ven
 geance is mine, saith the Lord" I have
 asked many a Christian these ques-
 tions: Is it the fear of God, or love of God. which keeps you in the paths of
 righteousness? Invariably the reply is Both" Do you think from all
 criminal records that deprivation of liberty alone (when the probability oi short incarceration thru church influ- ence is assured) acts as the only bar rier to be feared. lessens his crime give you a little information. Scien-
 tific examination of murderous brains discloses the fact that all possess ar
 excess of matter, marked and detected through phrenology, on the outer GOV
 ering. Then criminals beget criminals
 eh? A greater truth never was ut-
 tered, the same as disease breeds dis
 ease, and in all common sense should
 be by destruction of the source eXter-
 minated, Criminals allowed to bring
 forth children, Good God. have we nc