Salt Lake Telegram | 1926-11-27 | Page 12 | The Right Idea

r Jf TI- The Right Idea 1 i T swift and certain punishment will go t 4 l- l J a long ways toward end ending ng crime is the conclusion of Edward E. E Gore president of the Chicago crime commission a recent visitor visitor tor in Salt Lake It is an old fashioned opinion but one that is still good and one that promises greater reforms than all of the conjectures and excuses of modern senti sentimentalists men men- and Undoubtedly the lack of it is reflected in the current trend in m criminal punishment which seeks to make scolding parents of our courts and playgrounds playgrounds playgrounds play play- grounds of ot our prisons According to Mr Gore Chicago has f found und the turning point and despite the wild and arid weird activities of her criminals is on the way yay back to a safe and sound footing Through the organization of the crime commission commission com corn mission the business men of Chicago hope to cast off the yoke of crime that sentimental sob sisters have put upon them Convictions according to Mr Gore have increased from 23 per cent to 4 49 per cent since the organization of the commission 1 It seems to be a sad commentary on on American life that after electing men to public public pub pub- li lic offices to enforce the law it is necessary to build special organizations to see that they do their duty and the public itself keeps its hands off of the prosecutors Nevertheless this is is' the state of affairs that appears to exist as s evidenced by the Chicago commission and anda a similar organization in New York Here in Utah we have no commission but the record of justice is is- isso so blotted that there is app apparent rent need of it We appear to be endeavoring to establish a sort of individual treatment of criminals being disposed to deal more compassionately with friends who go gp wrong than strangers We spend thou- thou and thousands of dollars obtaining con- con only to release the culprits culprit within a a. a J. J months We Ve are too compassionate for i t own good and the th general welfare of if We Ve extend undue undue concessions concessions to men meno J iwho 10 o have resorted to crime simply because v pp e knew them a as respectable citizens f while hile we punish lesser Jesser offenses sternly not f knowing or caring who the culprits w were re I perhaps Utah could take a lesson from Chit Chic Chi Chi- t c t go Swift and certain punishment might forestall pardons and parol paroles s and encourage prosecutions ultimately attaining the desired end aId t 1