The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-20
BRANDON LEADS l
 KILBY Z TO 1 IN PAROLES HSIJEI|
During First Year Cover
 nor Granted 378 Par
 GOns, Records Show
WANTS TO GIVE MEM
 CHANGE TO REFORM
Brandon Shows Readines| To Revoke Paroles If
 1t Is Necessary
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU
 THE AGE-H RRALO Mopt1OmorN. Ala. Ian lnl

Gov. William W. Brandon durin
 the the first year of his administration
 granted more than twice as many ps
 roles and pardons as did his predece
 sor, Gov. Thomas F. Kilby, accordin
 to figures compiled from records in th office of the secretary of state. God ernor Brandon was also well ahead a Gov. Charles Henderson in the numbe of paroles, while the records show tha| Governor Kilby granted consideI| ably fewer paroles than either his in mediate predecessor of his successor i} the gubernatorial chair.
 The number of paroles and pardonI granted by Governor Brandon in tht first year from his inauguration i} January, 1923, was 37S. In the samI period during his administration, Goy| ernor Kilby granted 1SO paroles and pardons, \and Governor Henderso} granted 253.
 Temporary Paroles Included
 These figures do not include tempo| rary paroles. There were also a nun. Der of cases where fines were remitted or reduced, which were not included iI the figures given, the figures for all three governors including only case} where men were paroled from the stat} prisons, or where county sentence} were remitted; in other words, wher} the beneficiary by reason of the parol} was released from prison, or where ful1 pardons with restoration of civil and political rights were granted to con1 victs. F e4tte
 It is pointed out that while Cover nor Brandon has granted more parole1 than either Kilby or Henderson, he ha also shown a readiness to revoke pa] roles when the convict proves unl worthy of liberty. During the first| year of his administration Governor| Brandon revoked 25 paroles, while i1l the same time Governor Kilby revoked ID and Governor Henderson, sixl Friends of Governor Brandon statd with reference to his pardoning recordl that he believes in giving the convict c chance to "come back" and attribute the large number of paroles which hel he has granted to the natural kindlij ness of his disposition. They say alsd that by granting parole before a senJ tence IS completed, conditioned on good behavior, and holding over the parol1 ed mans head the prospect of agaiul 'AS"AiiS AiiC LAuh pEtsuU UdES II He SOdI wrong, the man is given a great stimul Jus to leading the right kind of life.
 Pathetic Pleas Made
 Pathetic pleas brought to the gov, ernor in some cases by wives and chill dren of destitute prisoners are alsd cited as reasons for his clemency. Ad1 vocates of policy of granting parolea on an extensive scale, in defending thid policy, it is noted, generally cite thd reformation which may result in thd individual convict and benefits to hid family from the parole, and ignore thd effect upon potential lawbreakers and upon general respect for law, of seeine criminals sentenced by the courts for| specific number of years and often escaping large part of the penalty| imposed through intervention of thc pardoning power
 The records show that in number of] death sentences commuted, Governor| Brandon is far ahead of either of his| two predecessors mentioned above, In| the first year of his administration he has saved seven men, or rather six men and a woman, from the gallows, where| they would have paid the supreme pen- alty but for his intervention. In theI same period, Governor Kilby commuted two death sentences and Governor Henderson one