New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-17
EX-PRESIDENT HAYES IN NASHVILLE
DELIVERING THE ANNUAL ADDRESS BEFORE
TILE NATIONAL PRISON ASsOCIATION

| THE NATIONAL PRISON ASSOCIATION.
| Nashville Tenn Nov 1G.-About 100 members Of
the Prison Association met in the Senao Chahper oi
| the Capitol this morning. The Rev. J. j. Mniigah
chaplain Of the Western state Prison of Philadelphia
led in prayer. Joseph Nicholson, superintendent oil
the Detroit House of Correction ana president OF Inc
Wariens, Association was chairman. X. W. Nc
Cloughrey of Huntingdon, Penn, the secretary real
| the minutes of the last called meeting President
| Nicholson then delivered his annual address, in
which he spoke of the necessity for some positive
| means for the identification of criminals,
The secretary offered resolution which was adopted,
authorizing the appointment OF committee to take
| into consideration the suggestions Of the president
| I'm his annual address At the Broad Street Amusement
Hail. this evening addresses of welcome delivered
| by the Governor and Mayor General Rutherford b.
Hayes was introduced and delivered the annual all
dress He said in part
surrounded as | am by active friends OF the cause
who engaged In the prac al management OF prisons
and IefOrmdtOries, need not employ many worls IN
protesting that this body OF men and women ar, not
| sentimcntasts visionary enthusiasts, who ar,
prepared for the work of dealing with cOnNicts and Of
improving the m thods Of criminal procedure merely
by the study of books and by the distant contemplation
OF facts Of which they have personal knowl;dgc
| The value of those meetings IS largely due TO the
fact that the lamp OF experience Is always with us
Contrasting the prisons of the United states and
their discipline in former years with the prisons and
with encouragement and confidence estimate with
some approach to accuracy the possible progress OF
Among the obstacles which. other occasions,
have called attention. | am convinced that one Of the
chief was named by Governor seymour, Of Nrw.lork,
I'm his admirable address president Of this society.
fifteen years ago at Baltimore. This wa his en-
phatc statement: NO feels that there Is IN the
country clear strong, even flow OF the adminiSir-
ton Of criminal law Mheiever this opinion pre-
walls and TO the extent that IS found stand, in
the way Of all reforms looking 10 the amclioraton OF
dence in the fairness and justice of criminal trial
begets crime. IL embOldens the criminal
classes and leads TO lawlcss violence and an
endless train Of other caamlIic, II Justice fails in
the courts public sentiment Will justly or at least
tolerate mObS and lynch law The delays in criminal
proc ceilings I'm these days when wealth has such power
offer temptation 10 brbe giving and bride 'ahng, ana
thus the administration of justice Is corrupted and
1t is Of the specified objects Of this society to
improve the mode OF procedure Icy which criminal laws
are enforced. Let the jury system De wisely but cN-
ensiyely modified. Already In few states the lcch-
nicality that no man can s ON jury who reads ne
newspapers has been expunged from the statute books
and The rational rule has taken IT'S place, VIZ: any
citizen, Notwithstanding opinions formed rom feahIs
newspapers, Is qualified 10 sit on jury, n he
is able 10 decide the case without prejudice or
Iatah,y upon the sworn testimony snonllted,. , II
would be far more reasonable to exclude from luri,
the men who do not read newspapers, AMI who DO MOI
form OF express opinions iiOm whai they rag. Isn4'
ance not intelligence, should lie shut out from tl'
Jury box. again If hve-SNths Of Jury or i9' re,
fourths, all agree upon verdict Of guilty, ana II me
presiding Judge approves the verdict. why shall It mo-
s,a1 onHer our hepubllcan system Inc gam nn
questions aicctng peace ana war the properly, happ,
ness and lives Of millions Of human beings. are DEF led
finally by bare majority vote of the citizens. These
REFORMS depend at last on the popular judgment arr
the popular Will As long as unjust advantage under
the law given the laWbrcaker. long TRIALS
are needless. expensive and attended with long delays
and marked uncertainty OF result there VIII be "a
| vindicfivc feeling toward the convict which VIII
hamper all humane and Christian efforts for MS
reformation and reinstatement In the ranks OF goOd
citizenship.
The chief aim in the treatment Of convicts is 10
protect society against It's avOwcd enemy-the cllm
inal The advocates Of improved prisons aud prison
discipline add 10 this specific statement. They
would reform all convcts whom they can reform 10y
wise systems wisely administered. Those VINO can
not thus BE- reclaimed should remain under TIER son
conviction
by labor and do harm society i this a hard
do'rlh"t Is it not just and humane! Is II nor
soou sense To say as long you a,c criminal 80
! ione 'hal you be convict
| ~ must never be forgotten that the essential lhr
inlNpcIbable factor In the reform Of the ci1nini j.
iinGr As T. it, Application IN prison. 80 many
plpIhcS ana pecuniaiy Interests are touched or up
iD@'d 10 he tOnched by IL that the question has III
leI1d dSaStouSly with Wholesome prison discipline
81 III some cases. has been the source OF gieh ms
ch',L liut discussion and and experiment ar" ~,
pVsIus OF H. The notion that honest labor oul ~
". prisons N3 gain by supporting I'm idlene'S con
eo'en criminals. IS now rejected In quarters most IN
/ nu'nual on This subject.
but with all the eO'd influences which wisdom ana
humanity can provide within prison walls mum.
po,' perhaps very large number OF conNici>. Sum-
uei DeIately and I'm weakness. when they pass
~ OF prison Will leave all good resolutions behind
,heh ana return to crime enemies 10 society more
mmosuic ana more dangerous than ever before. rs 20
ms class have already suggested re faith OF the
! PRISON refOrmcr and the remedy Of society. II is
% rule that convict, unless II II evident that
| reformation has INTERVIEWED. alWa "a convict.