The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-12-08
Some More Letters
From Star Readers
Imposing the Death Penalty

lation which lacks tho moral sense
20 restrain its own criminal tendcn
cicn thru its own free will
Next. Il II worth remembering that
no law n honorod with obedience By
those prone Go break A. unless en-.
forced by sufficient penalties for its
infraetion TO make u clearly mat.
ter OF cifinterest not 10 break Il.
The first concern OF society IN 20
protect Itself against malefactora.
and since all mhiofactors do wrong
from selfish motives which are
about tho only motives to which they
| rospond--it u necessary Go make il
to their svif.tnterest TO do right
When any person demonstrates
that either his temper or HIS selfish
ness Il 40 uncomfortable ms to lead
him 70 the commission OF murder 4.
has at tho same time been demon.
strated that that person il a perma
nentiy unsafe member OF society. and
society II under the necessity OF pro.
vidins for Its permanent nelfnrotoo
tion against that person.
To socur. conviction OF even a
small portion Of the guilty " costly
and tedious process. and when con
viction can lead only 20 so-cnlled ''lifu
Imprisonment" n h doubtful pro.
cess as well. considered as a protce
ton. Escapes OF tho desperate guilty
from prison. TO say nothing OF NJ
deserved later pardonn. SECURED com.
monty thru underground influence.
rob imprisonment of It's value as
sure measure OF protection against
the vicious.
The death penalty IN appropriate
cases DOES protect.
n VIII not deter all criminals from
committing crimes which merit IT.
nothing will. but lt will prevent those
on whom n - inflicted from murder.
lng anybody else--it viii protest 40
cicty from them. and do IL absolutely
They won't like 70 have Il inflicted.
society doesn't like 90 infiict u, but
society does like the protection Il
gives from further attack BY the
murderer.
And whenever and wherever 80
cisty. by whatever process. makes
/ punishment by death for murder sure
and quick. then and there murdercrn
become scarce.
San Francisco proved this with its
~ariyday vigiianten ana early Seattle
proved u BY a triple public hanging
Tho bad effect OF cary penalties
and lax law enforcement N seen not
only In plentiful crime. but also In
ultimate lynch law. when the mob
undertakes. 20 make sure what courts
have made uncertain
when criminals In our prisons
complain about the terror prison
hAnglng~ bring 10 them. would Il not
DO well for them 10 consider the ter.
ror they themselves brought to our
frye population. 70 eliminate which
terror society pu; them behind the
barsT They ala no, consider society.
Yet now thay expect society TO con
slider thsm--snd only theml
Right away. n Mr.. Average Man.
who is b~ans -fsld up nightly b.
armed hixhwaymsn and assaulted.
shot ana robbed w~re property
armed himself. and duly watehful,
and shot ana shot 20 XIII when &c.
oo~tcd By hixhwaymen. there would
b. . quick slump In bold.ups.
/ Policemen oAnnot b evcrywhere
They cannot tell Who ,s ana who IL
not honest They DO their be~s--oui
shey cannot protect us adequately
A. long - Mr.. Average Man II .
nice. fat Juicy shecp. incapabls Of
adequate seis -defsnsn. the wolf high
vsyrnan VIII 70 out nightly after
mutton--~nd will g-t u. and got Y
easily and. IN the main. safely.
/ Society cannot protect Itself b.
/ kind words and gentle measures.
Il Even It's AUTOMOBILES accidents
death list will continue high until
harsh penalties surely enforced com
T! pei Observance u law.
|. Very respectfully yours.
II A. CITIZEN.