San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-06-07
THE PRISON CONGRESS.
General Brinkerhof7 Eulogy of its
Former Executive, Hon. R. B.
HAYES

CHICAGO, June THE National
prison congress is in session in the
new art building. The opening
hours were devoted to memorial
addresses in honor of its late presi-
dent, Gen. Rutherford b. Hayes.
The successor of eX-President
Hayes, General BrinkerhOff, in lieu
of the annual address delivered
glowing eulogy upon the dead, his
theme being "Rutherford B. Hayes,
as philontropic and friend" In the
course of his brilliant grafton
General Brinkerhoff reviewed the
services, rendered all philanthrOpic
effort by Mr.. Hayes, particularly
his work for prison reform which
dated back to 1867, when he was
first elected Governor of Ohio.
Some idea of his interest in work
of this character may be CLEANED
from the fact stated in this ad-
dress, that when he was impor-
tuned to come to the Ohio meeting
of charities and correction one year
ago, he was at that time the presi-
dent of the Board of Trustees of the
Slater fund, which took up weeks
of time and travel every year; the
president of the Indian Confer
ence; the president of the Negro
conference; the president of the
Ohio Archaeological and Historical
society the president of the Ma
tional Prison association; the COM
mander of the Loyal Legion, and
an active members of boards of
trustees for half a dozen colleges
and an annual participant in scores
pf military organizations and con-
Btantly in demand for all sorts of
gatherings, civil and religious.
His heart, however, was mainly in
philanthropic work, because in his
view it was for God and humanity.
To this work he deliberately de-
Voted his life after he left the
presidential, chair, and upon his
Feturn to Ohio he declared that
he only public office he would
gain be willing to accept would
be to become a member of the
Board of State Charities.
In 1870, when the National
Prison Congress was organized at
'incinnati, Governor Hayes was
resent and was selected to pre-
ide over it's deliberations and was
eeply interested in it's proceed
hgs.
In 1883, when the National PriS-
n Association was reOrganiZed,
e became it's president and was
detected annually until he died.
During the past ten years he
as been present at every one of
ur annual meetings, and the
riceless value of his services is
nOwn to all our members.
In this annual addresses he dis
PISSED all the various phases Of
he prison question in a broad
inded, practical way, and his
pnclusions rarely failed to carry
bnviction to his audience.
While he was no theorist or SEN
mentalist, still his purView of
,isOn questions was from lofty
andpoint, and dealt with causes
ther than remedies, prevention
His favorite theme, or hobby, as
sometimes called it, was educa-
Dn, and especially industrial ed.
atiOn. l do not remember an
nual address in which he did not
fer to it in some form.
In 1885, at Detroit, he said: off |
pre-. asked to name a measure of
form which is practically within
+ reach and best fitted to pre-
MT, or at least largely diminish,
me, l would say let our young
ople of both sexes and of all con-
lions be taught as part of their
ucatiOn to know the value of
Drk, to catch the spirit of work
d to form the habit of work, not
ly with their brains, but also
tn their hands and eyes. The
ung man who despises labor car
S with him into every walk OF
3 one of the most dangerous
nptations to crime"
n 1887, at Toronto, he said !:
ociety is silent and inactive in
presence of many recognized
Is, because society has no faith ;
~ are accepted as inevitable
b endured, because they are be-
we'd to be beyond cure. But in
5ord that God governs, no nation
be more false or harmful; in
DIS world what ought to be done
be done. The longer it may
le to remedy recognized evil,
right an admitted wrong, the
ner will wise men set about it
harder the task, the more