The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-11-23
THE PRISON REFORMS
Advocated by the National Re-
form Association.
EX-PREST HAYES ADDRESS
At the Convention in Chicago-somo
Practical Views Laid Down.
He Believes in Non.partIsan
Management of Prisons.

CHICAGO, Nov. 22.-Fully $500 peopl,
were assembled in Farwell Hall thil
evening to hear ex-P President Rutherford
B. Hayes address on "Prison Reforms.
Mr.. Hayes was given rousing cheer by
the audience as he mounted the plat
form.
The speaker explained the aims Of the
National Prison Reform Association-tc
improve the criminal law, to better the
methods Of procedure, to facilitate the
discipline in the State institutions, and
to care for the prisoners after discharge
While there was SO vast an expenditure
Of the peoples money on account Of
prisons, It seemed surprising so little
interest was taken in the prisoners
themselves. Perhaps the reason is the
doubt in the public mind that there is
an even, exact, prompt execution OF the
laws. This lack Of confidence possibly
is what leads people to have less re-
gard for prisoners aud by indifference to
virtually say TO them when by chance
they are caught, "You have made your
bed, now lie upon It,"
The speaker alluded to the oft repeat
ed escapes, generally TO Canada, OF those
guilty OF bribing city councils and State
Legislatures, OF savings banks embezzlers
and the like. Could it be possible that
the two great English speaking neighbor
countries to be always unable to protect
their innocent citizens and must each
receive the refuse OF the other? Could
they not contrive to break up these
cities OF refuge for this large and re-
markable class OF criminals?. But what
was the result even when we did--the
INSIDERS, postponement and technical
tiles till the people were weary! Men
fittest to serve on juries were refused be
cause iorsooth they had read the pa
pers. This lcaningto the side OF the ac-
cused was an abomination in this Goun-
try, in this age. 1t had come down 10
us from the days OF the worst OF the
English Kings, when the humanity OF
Judges invented the teChniCalitics us
then-necessary shields against tyranny.
The evil now was emphatically not the
danger OF the conviction OF innocent
men. The danger here is the probable
escape Of the guilty. Nine out OF ten OF
these old British preCedents acted ut
present to protect the guilty, not the
innocent, and such practices should be
swept away. The speaker dwelt at
length on the anamoly OF great numbers
OF habitual criminals being at large, and
though known to moral certainly to
be pursuing their fearful avocationE, but
only molested when caught in an overt
act. When man by repeated convic-
tions had been proven for practical pur-
poses irreformable, the place for him is
prison for life. There, rs least, they
would not be teachers OF crime. They
would he warnings, aud on our
side OF the question, not against u.s. The
nation should see to it that every boy
and every girl, rich and poor, was made
able by skilled labor to earn an honest
living. This principle of manual train
ing extended further. 1twas more than
absurd to put cOnvicts in prison as he
feared they were doing in New York,
SAYING to them, "You shall do no work, y
and giving them over to the devil and
his works. One thing that could
not be affected in a broad
sense by the people is to prevent
skilled labor in the prisons. Differ us
the members OF the National Reform
Association might on some points, they
were all agreed on this. The Speaker
did not rs a general thing belieyein non
partizanship. ave don't" said he, "be'
tieye the mans head is level who don't
know where he belongs on election
day." [Cheers. But there was things
that should not be subject to the eXi'
gencies Of partizanship, and chief among
them we're the prisons and the police.