Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-03-02
M,HT TO EXECUTE
ONE GIVES RIGHT
IOHANG ALLCLAlN

~ IuHtS
.,,,,s right under the law to hang
: ..son who is guilty OF muir
ose ~, Il is right and should be
y ,,.ory to hang ALL persons SO
- according to the argument
9Th the secretary of states Of
las uonday morning for publication
nee off,cial voters pampnie. in OPP
D a.s .,., "a the proposed constitutional
Pss.'sa Psa,snt restoring capital punish
nta. s,asar !. the proposed law. the argu-
osrs, =. notnts out murderer possessed
nsAs as,th influence or ability to pay
! !. ,ba sentiments or prejudices On
u%s ,',v will be enabled to escape the
.-s,ne -. penalty and TO pay for his
~. a.,s only BY life Imprisonment where
: more unfortunate person would
: : compelled to hang for the same
crime.
% rha argument which was prepared
:. ,ba legislative committee composed
i ssnator w. H. Strayer and Repre-
q ss.tatIves Mrs. Alexander Thompson
md Eugene L. Smith, follows in fuiG
Capital punishment was abolished
IN tbe state Of oregon by the vote of
,bs people on November 3. 1914. 1t
s6onld be noted that this vote was
EAST on a general election day after a |
ypry thorough campaign had been |
made both for and against and at |
which time as full a vote as might be
reasonably expected was cast. The vote
ior abolishment Of capital punishment
was 100525 and the vote against WAS
lOo.ss5, or In other words capital pun
ishrsnt was abolished In Oregon by
NE slight margin of 157 votes.
because of well defined call from
the people for an opportunity to again
mass on the matter the legislature dur
ug its special session provided that the
oupstion should again be submitted to
th4 people, as per the proposed am
sndment herein contained, but because
of the further fact that the people had
hpen so evenly divided on the PROPOSE
finn in 1914 the legislature took 1t to
be fair both to opponents and propon-
euts Of capital punishment that argu-
mqnts both for and against should be
prepared and published in the official
pamphlet by special committees ap-
Ointed for that purpose. The under
signed the committee appointed for
the purpose of submitting negative ar
guments, begs leave to submit the fol-
owingarguments against the proposed
adoption of this specific amendment
to our constitution relating to the res
toring Of capital punishment:
First, the people should be very I
careful and jealous of circumvention
Of the power to amend their organic
law, the constitution of our state, q 4
power which is directly reposed only
in themselves. This question, after a
memorable campaign during which
The matter of abolishment of capital
punishment was the main or one of
lhe main issues, was once decided py I
ihe people, Any proposed reversal Of /
the peoples Judgment of them should
Oe taken under as nearly as possible i
lne same circumstances with the same
opportunity for a clear understanding
of the question involved as was given L
before This is not true of the now /
proposed reversal of judgment. 1t is j
proposed and made mandatory that |
'he question shall be decided at q spe- (
eai election to be held on the same
aale as the national and state elections
WIN other matters of direct import :
ance 10 the people on the ballot: and 1t
Y safe to assume that this question. s
nough vital one, will not receive the =,
:, attention II deserves from the minds OF
he people, over-shadowed as it will !
~ Even those who in principle favor
Sapltai punishment should, in our judg
=. neh'' vote against this measure and
.Au' discourage and rebuke any ele-
mtnt ., indirectly taking advantage Of
sl4es s. oi stress (when the peoples {
~, minus are so occupied and stirred bv
',l p'ler matters) to put over a PROPOSE ,
~, !, s 'ney favor such as this, which is /
. usep' moral question.
~ second the law proposed is not a |
"eu ~" thought out law. 1t reads: The {
,sa,, ,s"ai.y ior murder in the first degree /
'%a'i sia, oe death. excepting when the !
.,s' r"1 Jury Shall in its verdict recon-
~. .,i'a NE Imprisonment, in which ease
N.Y.. NY u'e penalty shall be life imprison- !
",.a aen'- In the Judgment Of this com. J,
%s.ee m',. i jury finds that person IN
,H'' !, !, q murder in the first degree and / !
M = right under the law to hang |
II 1,,l.,. person who is thus adjudged | /
ON @ aSn, sneh It is right and should be Z
adres'ry d'ory 10 hang all persons so adj /
: sss. i :. ana our organic law should not | /
nca "oroed that murderer Of influ- |
nj -. y one Possessed Of wealth. or
ent;.no ~ may make an appeal to the I
S''s or prejudices Of the Jury. 4