Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-11
GENERAL HAYES VIEWS.

Some Valuable Points About Prison
Reform-Society Is Responsible for the
Existing Wrongs.
When Mayor Gourley had concluded, Mr.
Warner said that the President of the asso-
citation needed no introduction. 1t was the
ex-President of the United States, Ruther-
ford D. Hayes. Mr.. Hayes came forward
and was received with applause. In appro-
pirate and complimentary language he re-
piled in behalf of the association to the
welcome extended by Mavor Gourley and
General McClelland, and delivered his an
nu6l address. He said:
The subject of prison reform lacks the
interest of novelty. This is espec1ally true
in this community where it has been mace
familiar by the discussions of the press, OF
the pulpit, and by the presence in your CITY
of one of the noted penal institutions OF our
country-an institution which very nlgh
authority Rev. Fred II. Wines, speaks OF as,
perhaps the finest prison structure, IN It's
general arrangement, and in all its details,
on this continent" Although the phrase;
prison reform, and the general 13cts anu anu
arguments relating to it, are well under
stood the need for more knowledge does hos
grow less The benefcient influences OF
local. State and National societies upon
prison discipline and management ar :
plainly visible in Pennsylvania, Massachu-
setts, New York, Maryland and other states,
but fter all it is safe to say that large
majority of the prisoners accused or con- nc
victed of crime in the United States are
dealt with in defiance of just and wise prln-
ciples in these four vital particulars:
-FOUR GREAT ERRORS.
First-The young and the thoughtless, the
beginners in law breaking, and the acciden'
tai criminals, suspected of guilt, are arrest
ed and lodged in city prisons or county1alls,
and there detained for trial, h1ddieo 70
,, ,,-StH oil nd ho ON
be educated and trained in the whole art
and mystery of criminal life.
Second-Professional criminals are SEN
fenced for short terms according to the sup
posed enormity of their respective crimes,
and at the end of their terms are sent forth
to prey again upon society.
Third-Prisuners are discharged at the eno
of their terms under such circumstances that
the imminent chances OF eX-convlctS, with
all the world against them, are that they
will be compelled to make living by re-
turn to their evil ways.
Fourth-0ur prisons in many cases are I'M
der wardens and other prison officers who
hold their places as political appointments,
without regard to qualifications or expert
ence
These four pregnant facts. even ifno other
causes were in operation, would sufhclently
explain the increase of crime in the United
States. If the iails and lock-ups in our
countrv-4 900 or 5000 in number-are in
truth schools OF crime, we shall have from
this quarter alone, an accession in each de-
CAde
Surely, almost any change on dealing with
the young-with the beginners in law break
ing would be an Improvement in the pre-
vailing system. Jails and prisons so con-
structed and managed as to keep separate
their inmates, such as are found in several
States and in Europe, would afford an ade-
Quate remedy
PLAN FOR PROFESSIONALS.
The case OF professional criminals is well
understood by those specially interested in
prison reform. But it does not attract the
attention of the general public nor of law
makers. Professional pickpockets, burglars
and thieves, thoroughly known as such by
police detectives, are in all the large cities.
Recently at Detroit, on an occasion that
drew multitudes to that city, in one day over
40 professional criminals were identified, ar
rested and held in custody several day 5 and
until the crowds of visitors dispersed. No
specific crime could be proved against them
they were released without prosecution
but of course no suits for false imprisonment
were brought against the officers who de-
tanned them. The professional criminal be-
longs in prison, where he should he kept at
work until he is cured of his criminal habits.
To the unreflecting all this may seem
hard, stated bluntly as have given it. But
this is clearly one OF the cases in which the
way OF the transgreSsor, if now safe and
pleasant, should in the interest of society be
made "hard.' There is ample scope for the
indulgence of human feeling and the prac-
tlce OF CnarlIy WIFI our DTOUn0TS,
the criminals, in those testing days of temp
tation and peril when we see our convicts
passing out of the safety of the prison into
the dangers of freedom.
POLITICS SHOULD BE BARRED.
Merit, ability, experience, ought to be the
controlling consideration in appointments
of prison officers. Mere partisan appoint
ments corrupt the prison and add n strength
or prestige to the political party that makes
them. 1t was said in the War a good Colonel
makes a good regiment. A good warden,
with ample power, will make better prison,
even under bad system, than poor war
den under the best system.
When prison reform began its work in Eu-
rope and America no words could ade-
Quately describe the condition of the pris-
ons in even the most enlightened nations.
1t was horrible and shocking beyond the
power of language to tell. The prevailing
sentiment with those who questioned the
for reform was that the valid
motive TO deter the guilty from crime was
the fear of punishment. No doubt the dread
OF punishment is an element to be regarded
in all prison discipline. But its power has
been in all the past, and still is greatly over
rated.
Mr.. Fred H. Wines said: "AIl human mo-
tives in the last analysis may be reduced TO
two-hope and fear. OF these two hope is by
Tar the greater and most ennobling." For
in prison he wisely SAYS, the
bases are Tabor. education and religion"
To prevent crime-to remove temptation
the same means, labor, education, religion,
with the added stimulus which hope gives
where employment and opportunity are
within the reach of all, will furnish society
its surest relief
SOCIETY IS RESPONSIBLE.
Finally, the vital question is: VIII society
take up the subject and see that its repre-
sentatives and agents who make and exc
cute the laws shall understand the causes of
crime and the treatment of the criminal?
Crime, its causes its results and its treat
ment are part of the business OF every com
and of all its members.
Society cannot safely neglect its criminals.
The cost of crime is burden on every pub
lie treasury, and finds its way to every mans
pocket. Its calamities are no respecters of
persons. They reach the purest domestic
circles and the happiest homes. The golden
rule is as sound in the eye of true public
and private self interest as it is in religion
The doctrine of Cain is no more false in re-
ligion than it is in philosophy and common
sense. I'VE are indeed our brothers keep
ers."
When Mr. Hayes had finished he was
loudly applauded. Rev. Mr.. Milligan next
announced the slight changes in the pro-
gramme. George A. Kelly invited the visi-
tors to inspect the Riverside Penitentiary
tomorrow afternoon. They will go by the
steamer Mayhower, leaving the wharf at 2
O'Clock. This concluded the opening session
of the Congress.
Nobody Knows Hutton.
H. T. Hutton, found unconscious on