Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-09-13
PARDON METHOD
is RAP AT LAW
MCulloch at Lebanon Flags
Goodrich Vote Magnet.
Special to The Times.

special TO Inc T1meS.
LEBANON. Ind, Sept. 13.-Gov. Good
rich has brought regard for the law to
a very low ebb by the profuse distribu-
ton Of pardons, reprieves and paroles for
political purposes" declared DR.. Carleton
eB. MeCulloch, Democratic candidate for
Governor, in an address here Saturday
night.
People of the lowest type, morally,
have been turned loose because of the
fact that they control a certain number
Of votes in their neighborhOod,' DR.. Me
CuT1och said.
pardon system by the present executive,
the speaker said:
dalton Of law and order. without this
respect we would be in a midst of con-
tinuous turmoil and civic chaos.
What becomes of law and order.
what becomes of public peace when this
respect is dissipated by the indiScrimi-
nate and political use of the pardOning
power?
regard for the law to a very low ebb
by the profuse distribution of pardOns
reprieves and paroles for political pur-
poses.
the Governor for use in exceptional cir
cumstances. There are occasions when
Justice miscarries, there are instances
where punishment has been too severe
there are occasions when true Repentance
coupled with family circumstances make
parole juStihable, and no one can
Justly cr1ticise the executive for exer-
cising his prerogative of mercy under
such conditions. But the wholesale way
IN which clemency has been extended
during the present administration has
brought the dictum of our courts into
disregard.
criminal does nto take his SEN
tence seriously when he feels that po-
Htical influence can secure his releas Sc
within Few months or even before the
gates Of the penitentiary clang behind
him.
Five hundred and eight persons re-
leased in 1919! More in that one year
than in eight years of democratic adj
ninistration That is the reason We
have so many holdups on our public
streets. That is the reason why auto
mobiles are stolen daily. Twenty six
per cent of the persons SO released have
been sent back to prison for violation
Of their parole or on reconviction One
hundred and seventy persons relea sed in
the first two-thirds of the year 1920
Possibly some Of these men were de-
serving OF clemency, but not more than
d small percentage.
This matter is of the greatest concern
TO the state because IL undermines the
confidence of the people in its stability
of the sentences of the court, and be-
cause it is an incentive on the part of
the criminal minded to 1out the law
Bfany of these above cited cases have
been made over the protest Of the trial
Judge: many Of them have been released
without consultation with the Judge or
the prosecuting attorney.
Where releases for sentence have been
given many of them have been fiimsy
His business needed him" is the ex-
cuse given in E-ore than one instance.
Bad eyesight" was another.
Innumerable cases are of the purely
political type, people of the lowest order
morally have been turned lose because
Of the fact that they control a certain
number of votes in their neighborhOod
If elected Governor / pledge that the
pardoning power shall be exercised only
in the most worthy of cases and with the
utmost discrimination.
I will do my part to uphold the
dignity of the law, by respecting its
Ben n. scifres. Democratic candidate
for Congress in the Ninth district who
also spoke at the meeting, criticised the
stand Of Senator Harding on the League
Of Nations
LEAGUE NOT ABANDONED,
sCIFRES SAYS.
He quoted Harding as saying that the
League of Nations already has been
abandoned in Europe.
This is a strange statement coming
from a man who is running for Presi-
dent" Mr.. Scifres said
1T would, no doubt, be an interesting
bit Of news to Mr.. Balfour, who. on
Aug. ). at San Sebastian, before a meet
ing of the council, announced that the
council would again meet on Sept. 16.
1T would be news to the financial
&c g.
Brussels conference, which has been
called by the league for Sept. "a.
1T would be news to the Socialists of
the second international, who, at Geneva
In August passed this resolution: The
Treaty of Versailles has created
League of Nations which the working
classes, in the interests of peace, can
rot regard with hostility or with in
difference
Senator Harding must have overlooked
the labor conference of 1919, which at its
first meeting showed its interest in a
sensible program that harmonizes with
the trend of modern economic thought
by adopting a treaty against child labor,
providing for an eight-hour day, and by
prohibiting night work by women and
young persons. Other important work
was performed by this body. Again, the
International Labor Conference is in
operation, and it has justified its exist
ence by warning the wage earners of the
world against the Russian soviet sys-
TEN Of government.
Senator Harding failed to mention
that the international court Of Justice
which Elfhu Root Is helping to set up
1 sa product of the league Of nations,
article IA Of which provides in part as
Follows: The council shall formulate and
submit to the members of the league for
adoption plans for the establishment of
permanent court of Justice
Every one seems to know that the
league is functioning except Senator
Harding and a few other rabid oppon-
ents Of the great covenant.
"As an evidence that it's work is meet
ing with the approval of people every
where, there are at least twelve nations
ROW asking for membership, and their
applications will be acted upon by the
assembly at its first meeting in Novem-
Der. These twelve want to join the
thirty nine that have already ratified
Senator Harding failed to point out that
the leagues timely support and moral
pressure prevented a catastrophe to Po-
land, at the same time making it clear
that Poland must accept the boundaries
laid down by the treaty, and that Rus
Ella must not be subjected to dismem-