Phoenix tribune., 1923-02-03
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS NOT TO Be
ABOLISHED IN STATE OF ARIZONA
ACCORDING TO DECISION OF JUDGES

eve have met the enemy and they are ours said an
American general or words to that effect All this is
merely introduction to the following article,
ing the big debate held last Tuesday night at the Zion
Methodist church. between Rev. Major Jones and A. r.
Smith, editor and publisher of the Phoenix Tribune
The local branch N.A.AC.P. put her best foot for
ward Tuesday night when the debate: ''Shoud Capital
Punishment Be Abolished in Arizona was the headlin
Two old rivals Major Jones and A. r. Smith, met in
mortal combat, with Jones supporting the affirmative
and Smith the negative When the smoke Of battle had
cleared away and the judges rendered their decision,
was found that Smith had hands down. smothering
Jones under avalanche of points
The judges, Mr.. G. E. Lytten, Mrs M. M. Rodgers
and Mrs c. W. Hawkins, paid the Rev. Jones great
compliment for his effort and credited him with having
made eloquent speech Jones based his argument on
the theory that capital punishment wrong in that
the killing of human being justifiable wheth
er done by the state any of it's citizens He
quoted several passages of scriptures to prove his claim
and made profound impression the audience.
Smith confined his argument to Arizona, and proved
beyond the shadow of doubt that it would be unwise
to again abolish capital punishment in Arizona He
showed by the records from the attorney generals office
how the list of homcdes in Arizona had than doub
led when the state experimental with the abolition Of
capital punishment He also showed that capital punish
ment the only effective method of dealing with first
degree OF murderers and that it acts a detrrent
for crime He cited instance after instance to prove his
claim and produced array of evidence that was
founding His argument unaswerable and the learn
ed judges unanimous in procaimng him the victor
in this great debate
The church was filled to capacity with mixed au-
dence, many prominent members of the Caucasian
being present Governor Hunt, who had received spe
cia invitation to attend the meeting unable to attend
and represented by Mrs Stevens of the state w c.
T. .. After the debate, Mrs Stevens asked to make
few remarks which she did in few appropriate words
Among other things she said that she disappointed
in that the decision Of the judges contrary to her
personal belief, and she that Governor Hunt
spared further grief in not being present to hear the
decision of the judges which also contrary his be-
lief. She complmented the its achievement and
paid glowing tribute to the work Of the local branch
of the National Association for the Advancement of Col
ored People
short program preceded the debate After the in
vocation by the Rev NJ. Thompson pastor of the c. NJ
e. church, Mrs Ruby Jones sang solo ladies chorus
rendered several jubilee selections that well re-
ceived.
After the judges had retired to render their decision
the president Prof G. w. Hawkins, made short talk
in which he explained the object of the association and
made plea for new members. His talk interesting
instructive and gem of rhetorical excellence.
1t announced that the next meeting of the asso-
citation will be held Tuesday night Feb g. when another
interesting subject will be discussed All invited to at
tend these meetings which held at the Zion Methodist
church, 10th street and Washington After the meeting
last Tuesday evening, committe Of ladies served re