 Marshall was a strong opponent of Indiana 's recently passed eugenics and sterilization laws , and ordered state institutions not to follow them . He was an early , high @-@ profile opponent of eugenics laws , and he carried his opposition into the vice @-@ presidency . His governorship was the first in which no state executions took place , due to his opposition to capital punishment and his practice of pardoning and commuting the sentences of people condemned to execution . He regularly attacked corporations and used recently created anti @-@ trust laws to attempt to break several large businesses . He participated in a number of ceremonial events , including personally laying the final golden brick to complete the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1909 . 
