Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-02

Harry r. Sinclair's plea to the Presl-
dent for freedom on the ground that
Jail life Is impairing his health aWakens
no approving echo Of public opinion.
Newspaper comment generally Is en-
phaticaily unfavorable, though a few
editors argue for unbiased consideration
of the application on its merits.
why should clemency be extended?
asks the Louisville Times. Joe Jefter-
son received a telegram from his son,
William, according to legend, asking Tor
an immediate remittance OF $500. what
for?' wired the irritated father. Came
the prompt reply, For Willie Perhaps
Harry Sinclair. if asked the question
which Joe Jefferson asked his son, would
say, For Harry"
Mr.. Sinclair should complete his SEN
tence for the good name OF justice IN
America" contends the Albany Evening
News. Three months is not long
sentence in his case. In view OF the
Supreme Courts labelling of his oil lease
transaction as tainted with fraud and
corruption Mr.. Sinclair has escaped
very lightly, inasmuch as ne Is pun
, ished only for contempt OF the Senate
and for Jury shadowing.' The Morgan
town New Dominion agrees that ne
should serve out his term" and that
any other action would be poor pubic
pOllCy anu dSduloI puDI4N AAASNASSS'
Referring to the prison report that
"the applicant is in reasonably good
health and spirits and is suffering no
serious bodily or mental damage by his
confinement the New Orleans Times
Picayune voices the view of most
Americans" that mfr. Sinclair should
be required to serve his sentence unless
the warden's diagnosis is proved wholly
and fatally mistaken" That paper sees
mo justification for treating him with
any greater tenderness than his prison
comrades enjoy. or in reducing pun
ishment generally approved at the time
as its assessment" It is recalled that
many felt that the oil magnate had got
of lightly"
picture as he stands with his defiance
crushed asking for mercy" in the opin-
ion of the Santa Barbara Daily News,
which comedies that Ito man who for
years has enjoyed the good things of
life that unlimited riches can give this
strain of confinement under prison dis
cipline, the routine behind stone walls
and iron bars must be irksome." The
prisoner should "serve the last day of
the penalty imposed" Is the belief of
the Hartford Times, which sees mo ex-
"it was taken for granted that Sinclair
and Day, his associate, would fight as
hard to get out of jail as they did to
keep from landing there"
ut is said that Mr.. Sinclair hasn't
missed q day at his easy job and has not
spent the fraction of a day in bed" the
Birmingham News observes. Probably
the truth of the matter is that Mr..
Sinclair's only Inconvenience is that he
dc Nf
wants pardon. Every fellow locked be-
hind prison doors wants a pardon, 1t
doesn't matter whether he is in for 80
days or life The difference is that all
classes agree the friendless criminal
ought to pay the penalty, but some
people can't understand why a million
aire like Mr.. Sinclair should pay the
price,"
HE showed little desire to consider
across the scandalous Teapot Dome
deals" remarks the Trenton Evening
Times, branding him as one who has
offended against the law and against
public morality" The Asbury Park
Press, observing that the plea sis based
on the claim that Mr.. Sinclair is In poor
health and that continued confinement
may find him In loss of weight and
spirits AYERS that "a glance at his pic
Gufe before the euLcTeQ Jdu Wouiu u.u
cate that he lacked neither. and that
the prophesied loss may be witnstood."
y y
1--WE may be sorry for Harry Sinclair;
we are sorry for him" states the Terre
Haute star, "but 1t is more important
that the law should be seen an equal In
its pressure upon persons Of whatever
degree than that our sorrow or his UNI
happiness should be relieved by treating
him as though he were entitled to spe-
ciai consideration. Above all. the larger
privileges that Mr.. Sinclair enjoyed by
season Of his wealth imposed upon him