Evening journal., 1894-09-26
Light on the Criminal Subject.


At the recent meeting of the Social
Science Association at saratoga Springs.
Charles Dudley Warner discussed what
has come to be known as the Elmira
system for the treatment Of criminals,
In an elaborate essay. Mr.. Warner has
made a careful study Of this system and
has become convinced of it's effectiveness.
His paper was written with much force
and defended the system from some
recent attacks which have been made on
It, He says at the outset that poverty
assumes more hideous aspect, perhaps,
in contrast with our materialiatic
achievements and crime increases, or
seems to increase. perhapsI in contrast
with our general enlightenment He
treats the criminal as a more or less
finished product, when his own conduct
authorizes society to lay it's hand on him
for its own protection. The Elmira system
he considers as 8 system under which
for the first time In history the criminal
is subjected to strictly scientific treat
ment, and where science does not come
into conflict with humanitarIanism or
religion.
The law in treating criminals treats
them in the mass 1t deals with crime
and not with individuals. IL is un.
scientific In practically aiming at punish
ment rather than reform. II fails
in the work Of protecting society be-
cause nothing is real protection except
permanent relief from attacks on its
lives and its property. This results in
creating and solldifying our criminal
class, and one may say OF licensing crime
by putting a tax on 1t. The criminal
pays his penalty Of imprisonment and
then goes on with his business. The
Elmira system differs from this in
establishing a reformatory In which the
criminal shall be shut up for an in
definite time until the day comes when
the criminal habit is weaker in him than
the law-abiding habit. What the
criminal needs in his own interest and
that Of society is trial In conditions
favorable to his reform.
Mr.. Warner says that "the Elmira
system rests upon two simple PROPOSE
tions. The FIRST is that the object Of
imprisonment is not punishment, but the
protection Of society and the change Of
the criminal into a law-abiding citizen.
The second is that It is possible to
change and create habits by coercive
measures long enough applied to produce
what psychologists call structural
changes, physical and mental. For the
protection Of society the Imprisonment
must be coextensive with the criminal
intention Of the imprisoned. The term
must necessarily vary with each individ.
nal case"
The teaching under this system first
relates TO physical development; second,
to intellectual development; third, to
moral development. Its inception was
due to z. + Broekway, who had had 9
long practical training in prison manage
ment in Albany and Detroit and is pro
foundly acquainted with the nature OF
the law-breaking classes. 1t has had g
gradual and healthy growth for eighteen
Jcakn uAbiis Ae MT W AIutE says ~
has attained its present magnificent pro-
portions, and is to-day the most inter
esting educational institution in tbs
world"
Without being as confident Of its sue
cess as Mr. Warner is we feel assured
that the principle upon which this sys.
tenn is based is the correct one. Revenge
leads us TO punish, while conscienc
should teach us to reform criminals
That this latter is possible in many case
that are turned out Of our prisons, onl,
to pursue their old lives OF wicked
ness, is fast getting to be the opinion o
those who have studied the subject. on
prisons and penitentisries are now littl
more than schools fer crime and it !
evident, that in the Interest Of society
even If we have no charity for the un
fortunate victims Of sin, there must be
different mode established for the treat
ment of criminals.