Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-06-22
TALK ABOUT CRIME
The National Prison Association
Holding Its Annual Session
at St. Paul.
Distinguished Penologists From All
Parts Of the Country in
Attendance.
President Brinkerhofrs Address Deals
With Prevention and SCure-The
kindergarten.

ST. PAUL, June g1s.-Of all the nu-
merous conventions and congresses
which have been held this year, and
for which St. Paul has been 9 sort Of
headquarters, none has been so impor-
tant and none likely to be SO far, reach
ing in results beneficial to on country
as that Of the National Prison Associa-
ton Of America, whose opening session
wal held Saturday evening at the state
capitol, and which will continue until
Wednesday, June 20.
The congress is composed of the best
known end most able prison men and
pathological students of the country.
Ex-President Hayes was for 10 years
president of the association, and took
great interest in the matters within its
province.
The congress was called to order by
the local chairman, Hon. A. G. Kick
man. After prayer, Governor Nelson
welcomed the delegates on behalf Of the
state, and Mayor Smith on behalf of
the City of St. Paul.
General Brinkerhofrs Address.
The principal event of the evening
was the opening speech of General
BTinkerhof of Ohio, president of the
association.
After briefly responding to the adj
dresses of welcome and stating the OBJ
jects of the prison congress, General
Brinkerhof said that the Importance of
the prison question could not well be
exaggerated, and that the perpetuity Of
the republic depends upon its solution.
Other questions are important, but the
country can live under Republicanism
or Democracy, but it cannot survive a
demoralized people, with crime in the
ascendant.
The Increase of Crime.
According sto the census of these
United States in 1850 there was one
prisoner to every 3,442 Of population; in
1860 l out of every l,647; in 1870 l out
OF every LII; in 1880 l out of every
o55 and in 1890 l out of every 757.
If this increase is to be continued the
decades can be counted upon the fin
gers Of a single hand, when Meme,
Meme, tekel upharsin, will tie written
upon the banquet hall OF the republic.
The prison question, is not limited to
the consideration, merely, of prisons
and prisoners, but reaches out into the
larger field of preventive measuses,
which includes jurisprudence, and edu-
cation, and religion. and psychology,
aud physiology, and everything else
that has an influence upon the conduct
and character of men.
Some Propositions Stated.
The conclusions of the prison con-
gress are never formed into a creed,
but a certain concensus of opinion has
been formed, which may be given as
illustrations of the problem sought to
he solved. The first of these is that &C.
tion. in regard to the criminal should
not be the old requirement of an eye for
an eye and 9 tooth for q tooth, but the
protection of society.
The second proposition is that Grim
inals are as diverse in characteristics, as
other classes of people, and that there.
fore graded prisons are as necessary as
graded schools.
Another proposition is that produc-
tive labor is q moral and hygienic ne
cessity, ana industrial training indis-
pensable.
The Prevention Of Crime.
From the treatment Of criminals
General Brinkerhof turned his atten-
ton to the prevention Of crime. 1.-The
most potential influence in the proven
ton of crime" he said lis doubtless.
education. Many of our wisest penolo-
gists believe that if society would deal
with its children Al it is possible to deal
with them, the present swelling river
of crime could be reduced to a rivulet
in a single generation. To do this great
changes will have to be made in our
entire educational system. I am more
and more impressed with the conviction
that half of the moral influence of our
public schools is lost by commencing
TOO late, and that the first great advance
must be made
II the Direction of Kindergartens.
The best example that I know of in
this direction is in the city Of San
Francisco, where private kindergartens,
under the inspiration and supervision
of one heroic Christian woman, have,
practically, reconstructed and civilized
some Of the darkest wards Of that COS.
mopolitan city.
What SarahB. Cooper has done fol
San Francisco ought to be initiated in
every other city.
AS Mrs. Cooper says, '''the whole de-
sign Of the kindergarten system is te
rear ~virtuous self-governing, law abid.
ing citizens. The kindergarten system,
ii faithfully followed, would prevent
criminals. We have reformatory insti
t%utions, prisons, jails and houses Of cor.
r~ection, and I bless God for every one Q,
these agencies. But, after all, these arr
but repair shops, Their work is second,
AIRY, not primal. It is trying to straighter
the crooked tree. It is trying t
atraiahten faulty foundations. How
much better il. is to Dulla new 81. uv
lures than to repair old ones. 1t is fa1
N L.