The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-21
FRIENDS OF THE BAD BOYS
How They Can Be Brought to Help Them
selves in Becoming Useful Citizens.
AWOrk That Appeals Strongly to the Philan-
thropic, and Which Has Received Generous
Support from q Few Wealthy People.

and Employment Association, yesterday, wniie
the attendance at any one time was only mod
crate, the audience varied considerably, and
those present at all times manifested an earnest,
practical interest in the WORK discussed. In the
morning fresh testimonials were read from OH
GERS in many cities, as to the efficiency OF the
association. The first speaker was Rev. ID. II.
Lucas, who spoke on the question Should boys
or girls, when able bodied, be supplied with food
and clothing gratuitously, and without first CIV
ing them q chance 10 earn these articlesF
In the course Of his remarks the
Doctor strongly emphasized the statement
that it was always u great evil, IN Its enects,
both on the individual and on society in general,
to permit any one to think be was an 'object or
charity" O.he. things being equal, it was an
inexorable law that everybody should work
for what he gets, and that q public charity
is but too often a public evil. Mrs. Wiley ex.
pressed her agreement with this view, and SAID
that she would assist dependent classes, but en-
gender self-respect by making it necessary for
them TO earn assistance.
At the suggestion of DR.. Jenckes. the discus
sion was suspended, ard the convention unanl-
mouslJ adopted the synopsis OF needed lsgisiation
passed by the convention at Chicago. last year,
in regard to the establishment OF schools for de-
pendent children. and laws Cor the prevention
Of ~tranping, truancy and vagrency among
minors. A committee, consisting OF Rev. ID. Il.
Lucas, Colonel Johnson and Colonel Hogeland,
was then appointed to correspond with the min
isterial associations ct the State capitals, asking
them to bring the need OF such laws before their
respective legislatures.
Col John ": Ray then discussed the que'-
ton. "How best to encourage boys to
put q portion OF their earnings IN saw
ings banks?' He said that there was
reed OF compulsory education in this state.
Ii would be the best means OF compelling boys
to form right habits. 4 large number of youth
under the present conditions, was undoubtedly
growing up TO be a menace to the peace OF soei
ETY.. DR.. Haines, Col. johnson, Mr.. klnesbury
and Mrs. Wiley then followed in bries discus
sion of the same theme. after which the convon-
ton adjourned.
In the afternoon T. J. Charlton. OF the In
diana Reform School. at Plainfeld, gave some
thing Of his experience in this work. IN general.
He said There IS no doubt but that reform
schools for children reform. AT Elmlra,
n. T., there is a school OF that KIND
which is for young men. whers the records show
that 81 per cent. OF all the inmates 1t has had
havs become permanently reformed ara are law
abiding citizens today. Among younger boys
this percentage is much greater. probably not
less than 80 per cent. IN our Institution we
have from 500 to 900 in each year. who are
brought under good influences, and the result Is
an actual reform iu nearly every case. The
people hear of a boy here and there In the pa
pers Who has gone astray after getting out, and
they infer, without the slightest ground,
that that is rhe rule, whereas nothing
could De further from the truth. l
would rather 60 into a work for
the reformation OF young men from our prisons
than into any other work l could enter. Boys
who can not read or have not learned TO enjoy
reading. go TO the streets for their education
and enjoyment would get boys interested in
reading. not merely SunGay-schooi sheets, bat
tho newspapers. for sooner or later they must
come in contact with that peculiar tissue OF
good and bad material. We take $50 daily
papers every day at Plainfsld, and the boys
love to read them. They know the news before
We do ourselves. and is is astonishing
how soon they learn to take an intelli-
gent grasp on the news OF the day.
What we need ia this country are fixed
homes of some kind for all boys. At Plainfislc
We are making al especial effort to getting EN-
ployment for the boys when they leave us.
This entirely removes any suggestion Of stigma
that might be supposed by some to attach to
them, and we attribute in a large degree the
nearly uniform permanence Of our results to
this course. Good conduct is always rewarded
by us. and bad conduct brings the boy trouble.
and, what Is more important, causes him to
loose standing with his fellows. l think truan-
cy Is a great cause of boys starting down ward"
Prof. Charlton also attributed the downfall
OF boys TO the hereditary tendency TO ntemper
ance. eve had & case OF a boy from Lafay-
cite" he snid, 'who. rs soon as he was ont OF
our control and set free, would get drunk.
Hs has repeated this several times. He
has just been given his freedom once
more, and We watch with great interest 10
see what will be the result. We need, in In
diana, q stringent law TO compel children 70 at
tend school. Boys can be reformed. Skeptical
people. who doubt this, generally know least
about il. Men who are to-day in the work itself
have every faith 10 its success. Recently q very
wealthy man went to tbs House of Refuge in
Philadelphia and was much impressed with its
good work. That man was looking for q place
to give some money where is could do
the most for mankind. He gave that
institution 800. coo. and the example thus set,
donations flowed in, until to-day the contribu-
tions amount to $500, 0O0."
Colonel Hoeeland suggested tha, to protect
those who come from the care of the homes of
reclamation from any possible odium it was
or SCHOOLS Of Mechanic Arts Regarding
the success OF tbs work, he said
that the enthusiasm is increasing. and that the
officers of the association felt greatly encour-
A short time ago he held a mestine in Chicago,
getser. Of all nationsIi,i.s p''s and re-.
ligious. Toward the close of the meet
ing a gentleman came upon the stage aud said:
IL hold in nv hand a deed to o farm twenty
miles from Chicago, free of debt, and worth
500. 600. i give this farm to this association to
build thereon a reform school" When the
Colonel was in the South q man came to him
after O meeting and said: Here is my check
for $50. 600. Take IL Colonel, and use it to the
best advantage for helping these boys and girls
possible" In that way Tennessee got her first,
aud. TO this day. her only reform school.
DIR. Jenckes here announced that a committee
of the Knights of Labor waited with greetings
from that body in the ante-room. The conven-
ton unanimously invited the Knights ir, and
the president introduced Robert d. Layton. or
Pit.sburg, Pa, and A. W. Wright, of Toronto,
Canada. MIR. Wright said that they had been
cent by the knights Of Labor TO wish the asso-
citation Godspeed. I'VE are endeavorine to
change the conditions from which the waits Of
society are born he continued, ''you are eudeav-
oring to care for the waits themselves. We are
trying to stop the first necessity for the
remedy which you are trying to ap-
ply. We feel that the workingman
has suffered a great wrong, and you witness
the result of that wrong in bis children" at
the Close of Dir. Wrights remarks, he and bis
colleague received the warm thanks of the con-
yentioD. and 8 committee, consist
ing OF DR.. Jenckes and Colonel
the visl, CT the Knights. They will be received
by the Knights OF Labor at . o'clock this after
noon.
In the evening the delegates 10 the ~associa-
ton were present at a devotional meeting at the
brief consideration was given 10 the convict
been extended 20 tho executive commit
Second Presbyterian Church, it was announced
that IL would be hold there on Sunday evening
next. Pastors OF various churches will take
part, and nearly all the churches will probably
suspend their services 10 attend the meeting.
II vas dacided vesfardav N hold IN. naxe