The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-05
Maudlin Sympathy Results in
Pard0ns and Paroles.
Criminals Come to Know SEN
fences Are Camouflage.
THIS is OPINION 0. K. SNAYzE
He Says Too Much Catering to
Humanitarian.
Topeka Editor Flags Sob Squad
Tactics.

, "Maudlin sympathy and sob squads
are responsible for too many pardons
( and paroles. Criminals come to know
THAT sentences are a camoufiage"
| This is the opinion of o. K. Swayze
/ of Topeka. editor of the Kansas Off
cia1, publication of the Kansas Official
| Council consisting of the eight asso-
| Citations of county officers in the state
Too Much Sob Squad.
There is too much of catering to
the so-called humanitarian element
that in reality is sob squad composed
of historical sympathizers who make
1t a profession to secure the liberation
| OF criminals, thus gaining a bit of no.
toriety and securing open sesame to
the prisons where their morbid cur
iosity may be satisfied to the FULL"
writes Mr.. Swayze in the current num-
Der of the Kansas Official
Criticising the parole policy of ]. K.
Codding, warden of the state peniten-
tiary at Lansing. who retires soon to
take up public welfare work, Mr..
Swayze continues:
Too Many Paroles Granted.
eve have great regard for Warden
Codding, but his hobby seems to be
the paroling of prisoners, hoping
thereby to win their good behavior
while in prison, and reduce the need
for disciplinary measure. Ninety per
cent of the hardened criminals re-
leased from his institutions. go out and
do something worse than their orig
NAL crime, perhaps, but this phase of
the matter is not considered when
they are loosed upon the community
They are contrife and redeemed I'M
til they get back their freedom: but
released, they are soon back to their
old tricks. Al least this has been the
experience of the peace officers of the
state. They have more trouble with
paroled prisoners than any other class
of criminals. STEPPED in the ways that
are dark. the paroled prisoner teaches
others the best methods to circumvent
to-date method of breaking the laws.
Arguments For and Against.
There are arguments for and
against the patroling of prisoners
from our penal institution, and the
fact that there is a congestion OF in
mates is a very convincing argument
favoring the thinning out of some of
that class least dangerous to the COM
munities they came from. The fact,
too. that it costs the state money to
care for these prisoners, and that
economy enters into the argument.
may influence the opening of the doors
of the prisons to many.
But neither of these arguments is
sufficient excuse to pour out of these
institutions an army of crooks, thugs.
murderers and criminals of all de-
grees. The state is supposed to pay
the expense of keeping these crfni-
nails. The paroling of a prisoner upon
evidence gathered in his favor. with
out any compensating evidence in op-
position to his parole, too often re-
turns to citizenship the worst charac-
ter of criminals. who are free to re-
peat their crimes.
Justice to People.
Towering above other phases of
the parole question is the justice to
the people of a state or community
of subjecting them to the depreda-
lions of the criminal element eternal
ly and repeatedly by the same gangs
individuals or soviets of crime breed
ers. Why are the people who must
pay the penalty Of robbery, murder
or debauchery be compelled to run the
same risk again from the same
source? The expense of keeping the
prisoners behind bars or the erection
of new prisons is far less than the loss
of even one useful life. Paying dou
BILE penalty. taxes and the loss of
property and life. is not sufficient.
We must also be compelled to pay
twice. thrice or even oftener, the same
penalty when one, of these dangerous
criminals is let loose to do over
crime for which we have already paid
handsomely in costs.
'sMaudlin sentiment cannot reduce
crime. and will not compensate the
laws laid down for it's punishment"
says Mr.. Swayze in conclusion. Keep
faith with the people. by keeping the
prisoners in a safe retreat. Make it
safe for people to live and do business
by eliminating the criminal element.
and let the courts sentence mean
what it says