Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-01-05

the Governor says: "Looking ovel
these five hundred men, (thOse pa.
rolled In, number $40 every one Of
whome a few years ago entered upon
life Of crime and under the old sys'
tenn would yet be criminals, a men
ace and burden to society; seeing
these men reclaimed, now be-
come lawablding citizens, earning
honest livings, cannot refrain from
thanking God that such a law
exists.
If we are 10 weigh cost in questions
of so vital Importance, we haye the
strongest argumentin its favor. The
most conservative figures show that
criminal trials and processes will he
reduced in number and cost one
half. But there Is a higher and bet
ter way to look at the matter than
over dollars and cents and yet, in at
tanning the higher object, making
honest men out Of criminals, the
saving necessarily follows.
The organic law of Oregon declares
that all punishments shall be reme-
dial. In other words the aim shall
be to reform criminal, make an hon
est man of him and so prevent crime.
This is the law but what are the
facts? In all Oregon's history there
has not been one single effort made
to reclaim criminals. This Is n
sweeping statement, but it is true.
In practice the convict is sent to
prison for a term of years, not to
reform him. not to teach him better
way of life, not to give him IA useful
trade and 30 fit him for earning an
honest living-he is sent rs "A penalty
as punishment for his wrongdoing
and not one inducement is offered to
him to lead better life when his
term expires. Our convicts enter the
prison. There are no grades, all are
on the same dead level of moral de-
pravity. There are men in every
prison Innocent Of any crime. There
are Others not criminals but morally
weak, and needlnga little encourage
ment, II little up-holding of hands
to become good citizens. Yet under
the wiseand humane (?) provisions of
the present convict system, they are
on the same footing, have the same
treatment with rape flends, sodom-
lists and those Of earth's vilest
wretches, The law knows no diff
ference, they are all convlcts. When
the convict enters prison every in
tluence IL downward. His surround
lngs are evil, he must associate with,
come In daily contact with, perhaps
have as II cell.mate. the lowest of
the most degraded wretches aud
worse than all, know that now that
he Is u convict, no matter what his
character, the ravisher of little
child is rs good as he H. tie knows
That he Is an outcast, that there is no
way for him TO recover his lost place
n the world, try he ever SO hard. |
What n system for the enlightened
nineteenth century Not single
nducement toa better life, only the
old bare taking divergence, for that
= what II amounts to, upon him for
MS violation of law. His stay In pris.
m with Its evil influences and none
or good, becomes simply course in
rhine, He acquires the knowledge
n expert criminals, they are his
iaily, hourly associates and the only
nhueuoe upon him is that which
hey exert, When his time expires
AIS education Is finished aud he Is
ready, equipped with u fund of in
ormation, derived from hundred
Experts, to enter upon career of
hievery, robbery and general law
'reaklng, Again, | repeat, under
'ur present laws there are no efforts
made TO give the convict moral
raining, 10 better his condition in
my way, TO teach HIM trade, to
II him for an honest life when his
erm expires. | wish TO impress
his fact upon the minds of all who
cad this article. Under the present
'ystem OF convict government il is
impossible for convict 10 serve a
In our state prison aud not
'o'he OUT n mr worse man la every