Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-12-01
HIGHLY IMPORTANT.
The Subject of ii Boys Reformatory
for East Tennessee.
Its Great Beneilts...How May We Sc.
cure Them.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Dec. 1. 1s91

KNOXVILLE, TENN, Dec. /, 1901.
To all Justices in East Tennessee
Greeting:
Gentlemen:-We come before you in
the cause of humanity, entreating you
seriously to consider the subject.
For long time we have, with sor-
row, watched the rapidly increasing
Roll of Youthful Criminals, nand can
find no relief provided by law-only-
crime shall be punished. Hence, how
ever trivial the offence, if once in the
clutches of the law, the end is almost
invariablv-jail or penitentary. So
you see, rather than correcting vice, it
creates criminals. We do not desire
the law repealed, but bespeak modi-
tication, or milder application in some
instances particularly those under 1S
years of age, not charged with capital
offences. And realizing the response
bilities resting on us East Tennesseeans,
in permitting this state of affairs, have
determined it shall exist no longer,
hence this circular, as also the call is
sued August IS, 1891, and responded to
by the citizens of Knoxville, at the
rooms of the Y. NJ. G. A. With Rev.
o. l.. Haily in the chair, and w. o.
Smith as secretary, the following paper
was read and adopted:
Whereas, in our opinion protection
should be guaranteed the youth, who
for misdemeanor, or even an offence
chargeable as a crime, when by reason
of his tender years, ought not to be
classed as criminal; we respectfully
ask that immediate steps be taken for
the relief of such, by an act of legisla-
tion, creating law for milder form
OF imprisonment, and a more humane
treatment, than is now adopted. The
manner of treatment to operate as
reformation rather than transforming
him into felon. And we ask that a
reformatory be established in Knox
County, on a substantial basis, for the
benefit of the young of East Tennessee,
and of Knox County in particular; and
to this end would suggest, that at this
meeting, committee be selected to
draft suitable memorial, and present
it to the special session of the legisla-
ture soon to convene; claiming this
privilege under the Governors Procla-
nation, clauses y and 8.
Signed WRIGHT o. SMITH,
L. G. SHEPARD.
Committees were appointed to wait
on the several labor organizations, to
enlist their support, also to request our
representative to prepare and present
to the legislature bill fully covering
all the points.
AT a subsequent meeting, August
Goth, presided over by Rev. E. A. Ell
more, j. G. McClannahan, Esq, stated
that Knox County had taken the initia-
tive by assessing special tax for 10
cents on the hundred dollars. They
realized over 1924, 800 wherewith to i'm
prove the county farm, and finding the
cost of buildings for the poor something
under $4,000, they have remaining Oh
hand more than $14,5OO with which
they will begin the erection of re-
formatory. When complete in air its
parts, it will cost between fifty and
sixty thousand dollars. And as ground
is to be broken in the spring, the plan
and specifications are already adopted,
and the site, eligibly situated-healthy
spot, plentiful supply of water, with
power sufficient for dynamo, and other
light machinery; location some 10 miles
north of the city of Knoxville, on the
K, c. G. & L. railroad.
1t would be well to insert right here
clipping from the Knoxville Journal
of October 29th.
KNOX CoUNTY's REFoRMAToRY.
ut should be made an East Tennes-
see institution. The Knox County re-
formatory in the Knoxville Journal of
the Goth ultimo, was termed grand
structure, when referring to the plans
and specifications submitted to the
County Court for approval. That it
will be building to be proud of, and
an ornament to this part of the State;
rejecting great credit on the architects,
w. Chamberlain & Co., who designed
it; yet, 1t granduer will not rest solely
in the brick and stone of which it is
composed, or its massive and elegant
proportions, but in the conception, and
putting into operation, the sublime
idea of retaining the young, and sweep
ing back the tide of crime. It is not
only stemming the current, or arrest
ing the course of vice, but the rolling
away of reproach, and substituting
therefor a strong moral influence, in
bringing back to the paths of virtue,
the youth, who otherwise might be
lost
Knox County Court, comprehending
the vastness of the enterprise, and also
recognizing its imperative need, has
calmly, resolutely, and intelligently
grappled with the problem, and ere
long the demonstration of it will be
practically made, in the laying of its
foundation of solid rock, and all this is