Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-10-15
PRISON PROBLEM.
The National Congress Considering
the Case of "Bin Sykes"
The GREAT INCREASE OF CRIME.
Statistics Unable to Afford an idea Bale
full Effects of the Collision of Politicians
and Criminals-wardens Elect
Officers-Etc.


national prison congress opened Chair
man Charles E. FELTON,, of Chicago, pre-
sented the report of the standing COM
mittee on police. 1t declares that the
leading superintendent of police are
almost unit in placing the chief detri-
ments to police management to poll
tics, RIGHTEOUSNESS and gam bling. In
cidentally, if not primarily, the two
leading vices which disturb public
thought and are embarrassing in police
management in several of the
cities are RIGHTEOUSNESS and gam
bling. These forces, especially
the latter, are made a part
of the unwritten platform of parties,
and are utilized by candidates for Office
and officials more especially for pecu-
mary ends. Nearly every change of
municipal administration causes a
change of policy in regard to these Of
lenses As a result the larger cities
are rapidly falling into line with those
in Europe in the magnitude of the So
cial evil, and public gam bling has not de-
creased. The number of fallen women
has alarmingly increased in the past
few years, the causes not being
altogether of a political nature, but
the result of lax administration, of de-
moralizing social and industrial con-
ditions and of a confusing sentiment of
opinion in the public mind as followed
by the authorities in treating the diff
Guilty.
The committee believes that the So
cial evil can be suppressed in some
communities, but not in running dis
tricts and in cities where the popula-
ton is Heterogeneous and cosmopolitan.
Public gambling is open to similar criti-
cism and cuts more prominent figure
in politics than the social evil and
ought to be suppressed but for the col
fusion between gamblers and office
holders. Crime is most prevalent where
these vices are most encouraged, and
it is increasing in this country beyond
the public belief and statistics are
not sufficient to determine its extent.
In this country other causes favoring
the increase of crime are the ease with
which habitual criminals avoid arrest,
the lightness of sentences, laxity of
discipline in prisons, the present sense
less views of the public and the acts of
as to systems of prison
labors and its ease to the prisoner, the
comfortable quarters and quality of
food, their easy access of visitation and
the readiness with which sympathetic
public accepts as true the complaints of
prisoners.
At the conclusion of the report it was
announced that the following officers
had been elected by the wardens' asso-
citation: President Joseph Nicholson;
vice presidents, J. H. Patterson, of
New Jersey; James Massie, of Ontario;
B. S Lawson, of Alabama, and E. S.
Wright, of the Riverside penitentiary;
r. w. McClaughey, of Chi
cago; treasurer, John c. Wilton, of
Massachusetts,. 1t was also announced
that the board of directors had selected
Baltimore as the place of next meeting
in 1892 and Chicago in 1898.
Capt. J. w. Pope, of the United
States army, then read a paper on
Crime and Criminals in the American |
Army" detailing the various classes of |
crime and their punishment
A resolution that the worlds fair
be requested to ask the
French government to have an exhib- |
It of the workings of the Bertellon sys- |
tenn of measurements as a means of |
for prisoners at the fair
was adopted. The system was referred |
TO the association by the wardens and |
S recommended for all prisoners.
In the evening Mrs. Ellen C. John
son, superintendent of the reformatory |
prison for women, Sherborn, Mass, |
-ead a paper on discipline in Female |
Prisons"
Mrs. johnson said: 1--WE aim to give
Zach woman the mental and moral
treatment best suited to repress evil
endencies; to arouse aspirations after
better life; to move her to practical re-
,entanee and convince her that Justice
md not revenge calls her to account for
-iolated law. We bear in mind these
that in the majority of
ases, circumstances make the criminal;
econd, that the purpose of punishment
hould be to operate upon the mental
nd moral nature of the criminal; third,
hat, except in aggravated cases, such
S we rarely encounter, the punishment
which follows Immediately upon the
ffense is seldom wise one"
Mrs. johnson then outlined in detail
ONE of her methods, such as the use of
overs, the companionship of domestic
nimals, the sight of children in the
ursery, good music in the chapel, etc,
nth the purpose of touching the hearts
the offenders This done, the hard
st part of the problem was solved In
onclusion, she said that If time were
flowed and suitable persons could be
ound for positions of responsibility,
o woman would pass out of the doors
-ithout having at least the purpose to
lad an upright life,