Omaha daily bee., 1920-11-19
SAVE THE PAROLE, LAW.

H Inc very existence OF a parole law in Ne
Rraska, with its humanitarian purpose, has been
Rravely endangered by the unwse acts and ut
erances accredited to the state officers who have
ipeen charged with its administration. For sew
Ifral years. under successive administrations. the
dealing out of pardons and paroles has tended
70 disturb the public conscience, when it did not
fh fact arouse positive disapproval.
I rlhe public has direct concern in the matter
xAs The Bee has frequently pointed out, the law
Hoes not seek vengeance on a culprit; an Of
FENDER IS not pursued with the single purpose of
revenge. He must be punished, because his sin,
2whatever it is, calls for punishment This is
divne as well as human law. Vet just as the
sdivine law provides for mercy and forgiveness,
ikhen fruits meet for repentance have been
brought forth and by penitence and contrition
Nhe offender has expiated his sin, so does the
l!human law take into consideration the possible
Yty OF reformation and in imitation Of the Most
Fiigh extends clemency to the prisoner who by
Ibis acss shows himself worthy of confidence to
Ashat extent Few men have hearts so indurated
sthat they can not conceive Of amendment on
spart of wrongdoer, and it still is true that
Earthly power seems lkest Gods when mercy
isseasons justice"
;si This, however, is no excuse for the maudlin,
tkmawkish sentimentality that blinds the reason
sof some to their obligations to society and leads
them to see only an opportunity to help an erring
II Brother. Too often this tender sentiment is
sabused, both by the, administrator and the
srecipient-the one failing to discriminate be-
jstween offenses, the other deliberately seeking
flavor that he may be free to prey on peaceful
Tcitizens once more. Medical science, and. the
l.law as WELL takes cognizance of the fact that
;sthere are men whose liberty~is as dangerous. to
issocial peace as would be a, wild beast at large
lsNhen one of these is finally sequestered, the
humane application Of the law requires that he
ssbe held. So it is with other phases of the
.sproblem.
III Our law as it exists, loosely drawn though
lift may be, and carelessy administered as it has
tsbeen, holds the germ of-protecton, both for the
Ifpublc and the prisoner. Administered with
l:prudence and Care, it provides forsthe rights of
,sboth. Proposals such as that said to have been
ifmade by Commissioner sOberlies and Warden
;sFenton, that future proceedings be surrounded
eby secrecy, out the whole plan into such
tsieopardy as its friends hope il will be relieved
ssof promptly and forever.
;s. When prisoner is released on parole, it
lfshould be because he merits such favor, and he
lSshould face the world with his head up, in a
,tserious attempt to convince his fellowmen OF
;ilhe sincerity of his reformation, and thereby
lSwin again the confidence he forfeited by his
.ferime. To surround his release by secrecy is to
Tinake him also a partner to the deceptons of the
tspubic, to undermine his moral force at the out
3sek and to SO do him serious wrong at the be-
3einning. Character can not be soundly>buift on
.Aalsehood. Let us save the parole law if we can
Through seeing that it is not abused by mistaken
kphiianthropists. ~