Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-29
THE OBJECTIONS TO GOING ABRoAD
FOR SKILL.

Ahe EtOPoSitioh 10 SICK COIN pSISAt I
Prison Warden outside the State has en-
countered some objections 50 curiously
narrow, provincial, and unreasonable, as to
justify astonishment. In the first place
this proposition rests entirely upon the as
sumption that there is no trained pencil
ogist i'll the State, available for the posi-
ton. If that assumption can be disproyed
the proposition to look abroad for help
must fall to the ground. But no effort has
been made to disprove it, and for the very
conclusive reason that the local lack of the
peculiar kind OF training demanded is no.
torious and undeniable. The opponents of
the proposition do not venture to assert
that there is no need for special training in
the Office OF Warden. They cannot dis
pute the obvious truth that the inaugura-
ton of prison reform must depend mainly
upon the knowledge of penology
possessed by those who are to
administer the system. But they
say that there ought to be
the requisite skill and training somewhere
in the State, and they intimate vaguely
that some mysterious humiliation would
be involved in importing a stranger from
New York or elsewhere to fill the office.
The only logical inference from this kind
of objection Is, that the State ought to be
regarded as possessing whatever talent of
any kind it may need, and that it should
never look abroad for help in anything.
Yet little reflection VIII SHOW that this
theory is not only ridiculous in itself, but
that the State has ignored it in the past
whenever it was necessary to do so. For
example, when We wanted a President for
our State University, We did not confne
ourselves to local talent, but went abroad
and imported Professor Gilman. Again,
when we wanted Professor Of English
Literature and Bellies Lettres, we did
not avail ourselves of the latent lit
erary genius to be found in the
community, but we took citizen Of New
York, and put him in that chair. When
we needed all the experience and skill that
could be brought to bear upon those en-
cheering problems which perplex the
State, we did not satisfy ourselves
with the services of local professional men,
but we went abroad and engaged the as
sistance of Captain Eads. When our
wealthy citizens build themselves costly
houses, and desire to beautify them with
mural decorations, they do not so to local
artists if they can find better ones, but
they send for the most renowned and skill
full fresco painters of Italy and France.
When some important undertaking is on
foot, requiring special knowledge on the
part of the superintendent, the first thing
sought BY the projectors is competence,
and they look all over the world for what
they need, until they find it.
The same rule holds good in all similar
cases. 1t is a rule born of common bust
ness sagacity. and it is recognized as being
essential to success in any enterprise In
the present case it is undoubtedly the fact
that we have no man in the State who
understands the science of penology prac-
tically. 1t is also the fact that there are
men who understand that science in other
States. 1t is equally true that unless we
put trained penologist in the Office of
Warden we cannot expect to begin our ef-
forts at prison reform at all hopefully, or
upon common sense basis. We sup
pose it will not be contested that the re-
form OF the State Prison is the fun
damental requirement. Ii that is so,
however, it follows inevitably that the best
way to secure that reform must be the only
right way and plainly the best way is to
put at the head Of the work man who
knows how TO do it. and who has not got TO
learn everything. 1t has seemed to us
throughout the discussion Of this question
that it was one about which there ought |
to be no possibility of doubt. When once
it was shown that the State might be able
to secure the services of prison super
intendent of well-tested capacity and life
long experience, we should have thought |
that the only remaining question would
have been, "Can we induce such man
to take the position ?" 1t is no
disparagemcnt to Californians to say
that they are not fit for such an office, any
more than it is disparagement to say of
lawyer that he is not an architect, or OF
soldier that he is not a chemist. But it
would certainly be discreditable to our in
telligence as community if we failed to
see the wisdom and desirability of putting
the right man in the right place in case
of so much Importance. And that is really
the only practical consideration in the
premises. Not possessing the necessary
talent, we ought to seek for it wherever it |
is to be found, and having found it we
ought to secure and bring it here That is
how success is attained wherever it is at |
tanned, and in no other way can it be ex-
pected that our prison system will be made
credit to the State.
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