Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-10-11
Mr.. HAYES'S ADDRESS
Before the National Prison ASSOcia-
ton Meeting.
THE CRIMINALS PROPER PLACE
Is in Prison till hs is Cured Of his Habit,
Rvsn il he Have to bs Kept There all his
Lifs-Prisons May bs Made Reforms
toriss-Polnlsd SuggsstiOnS

PITTSBURG PA, october lU.-Ine L Weu-
ty-First Annual Congress Of the Natonal
Prison Association opened this evening IN
Carnegie hall, Allegheny. At eight O'CLOCK
the handsome Music Hall was completely
filled with the members of the Association,
their friends and those interested in prison
work. The delegates to the Congress num-
bered about go.
After an organ prelude by City Organistt
Eckert. Henry NJ. Warner. Chairman OF
the Reception Committee, introduced
Bishop Whitehead, who delivered the
opening PRAYER. Mr.. Warner then an
nounced that Governor Pattison, VINO was
10 receive the delegates on behalt OF the
State, had been unavoidably detained 0y
other business, but that he would De aoly
represented by Adiutant-General 'McClel-
land.
In the course of his remarks Gen. Nc
Clelland said: ut is matter OF regret 10
me that Governor PattisOn is not here TINS
evening TO extend to you an official greet
ing. l know how greatly interested ne is
in your work, and also that it was his de-
sire to be with you tonight. AT his re-
quest am here to proffer you welcome
70 Pennsylvania. Your association is con-
stituted by the voluntary coming together
of large-bearted, unselhsh Americans, and
the country at large is the better that your
associ alton was organized.
In conclusion. as requested, extend 10
YOU, one and all, a most cordial welcome 10
Pennsylvania"
When Gen. Mcolelland finished, MI.
Warner next introduced Mayor Gourley.
who welcomed the delegates in behalf Of
the people of Pittsburg and Allewheny.
The President of the Association, eX-
President Rutherford B. Hayes, and then
introduced and delivered his annual ad-
dress.
In the course of his remarks, he said ;
"The case of professional criminals mas
been largely discussed and is we'll under
stood bv prison officers and those VINO are
specially interested in prison reform. But
it does not attract the attention Of hegon-
eral public, nor of law makers.
THE salient facts are universally " known;
Professional pickpockets, burglars, ana
thieves, thoroughly known as such by po-
lice detectives, are In all the large cIIles
plying their vocation: They haunt al sreaI "a.
assemblies. Recently at Detroit, on an
occasion that drew multitudes to the city,
in one day over forty professional crlnl'
mails were identified, arrested, and held IN
custody several days and until the croWus
of visitors dispersed TO their homes.
"No specific crime could be proved
against them, they were released without
prosecution, but of course no suits Tor
false Imprisonment were brought against
the officers who detained them. Such facts
as these are daily spread before the puott
by the press. But this blot upon our Grim
inal- iupispI.ndence still remains. Hence
call public attention, TO arouse pubic IN
terest, to bring TO bear public opinion upoI
this monsurous abuse.
The professional criminal belongs IL
prison, where he should be kept at work
earning an honest living. How long snoulC
he be kept therel the answer is plain un
til he is cured of his criminal habits, if il
keeps him a convict until the end Of hi:
life.
To the unrefecting all this may seem
hard, stated bluntly as l have given it. But
this is clearly one Of the cases in which the
way of the transgressor, if now safe anC
pleasant, should in the interest OF
society, De made "hard." Merit, ability,
and experience ought to be the control
ing considerating in all appointments oi
prison officers. Mere partisan appoint
ments corrupt the prison and add nc
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
q better prison, even under q bad system
than a poor warden, under the best system.
The spoils doctrine is nowhere more out OF
place than when it controls the appointment
of prison officials.
"Finally the vital question:is: Will soci-
ETY. take up the subject and see that its rep
resentatives and agents who make and ex-
ecute the laws shall understand and do their
whole duty with respect TO the causes of
crime and tho treatment of the criminal.
Society and its members suffer greatly by
crime and in every community they are in
some substantial degree responsible for the
crimes by which they suffer. Crime, its
causes, its results and its treatment are in
very real and deep sense part of the busi-
ness of every community and Of ell its
members"
This afternoon, there was a meeting OF
the Board of Directors, which was presid-
ed over by General Hayes. Invitations
were received from Baltimore and Denver,
for the next annual meeting, but no action
was taken Nothing else of Importance
was done