CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS UPHELD BY READING

Declaring that muddy thinking on the subject of capital punishment has clouded the issues involved, A. K. Reading, LL.B. '12, District Attorney of Massachusetts, stated to a CRIMSON reporter last night that he was personally convinced of the justice of the supreme penalty. "In my opinion," added Reading, "the question is not debateable, but I shall meet Clarence Darrow in Symphony Hall in an effort to clear the public mind of misconceptions on this important subject."

Reading pointed out that jurymen, summoned to sit on capital cases, have recently refused to serve, and that this situation has become a serious menace in the prosecution of justice.

"Public sentiment inclines not to favour capital punishment but I have done things highly unpopular with the public before, and I think that is one reason for my appointment as District Attorney," Reading continued.

Asked whether he would use statistical material in support of his statements, Reading replied that he did not consider statistics vital. "As a matter of fact, the available figures, while not well compiled, favor my side of the argument. The statistics compiled by the Census Department in Washington are useful, but they include all homicide," Mr. Reading continued. "A child may run in front of your car, which may have the best brakes in the world, and yet you have extinguished a life. That's not murder, yet a case of that sort would be included in the Census Department statistics. On Tuesday we are talking about real killing."