The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-04
Tho EImira rmatory.

During the existence OF the Emire he
formatory. by far the greater share OF ex-
pressed opinion concerning 1t has been
most favorable. 1t has received the warm
est praise from those men OF all civilized
countries who have made prison legislation
and the treatment Of prisoners their
special study, and who. after heightened
visits at the Reformatory. have passed upon
the system pursued there q judgment OF un-
qualified approval. tits signiflcant. too. that
in the midst Of the bitter warfare now
waged against the institution, the Prison
Association OF New York. body composed
OF humane. enlightened. and philanthropic
men. infinitely better qualified to give judg-
ment than the State Board OF Charities.
fully endorses Mr.. BRocKwAY, and asks
competent investigation in his behalf. Mr..
BRocKwAy also finds Of great value the
warm defence Of his services just made by
Commissioner FRANK B. SANBoRN OF Mas
sachusetts. q man who has spent lifetime
In the alienation OF prison abuses, and is
not likely to be prejudiced In favor OF
prison superintendent.
1t is true that charges of all sorts against
the Reformatory have frequently been
made. The system OF corporal punishment
prevailing there is we'll known. and 1t is not
uncommon for criminals who have whole
some dread Of its righteous inHiction. to ask
before their sentence not to be sent to
place where they may be fogged. Sto-
ries OF alleged cruelty have been told many
times by inmates Of the Reformatory, and
allowed to 60 uncontradicted. The bodily
punishment OF q young man Is not pleas
ant thing for refined person to witness or
even to think about, and 1t Is easily posi-
BILE for malicious individual to describe 1t
and to accumulate instances Of 1t. 80 that
when 1t is administered In the most
humane manner and with the most beneh-
cent results. IL shall seem to consist only OF
q cruel and wanton torture. Other branches
OF the system at the Reformatory are such
novelties In prison management. that they
often excite unjust criticism from those
who witness their operation for the first
time. At first sight It may seem unwise
that there should be lodged In the hands Of
any board OF men the right to say whether
q convict. after his sentence begins. should
serve one year or five years In prison. Like
wise 1t may seem an extraordinary use OF
power to take back to prison from homo one
who has been released on parole. and who
has proved unfaithful to his pledge. In these
ways there has undoubtedly arisen in the
minds OF many kind-hearted persons. who
are strangers to the real management Of
the Elmira Reformatory. and ignorant Of
what 1t has accomplished. a prejudice
against tho system which obtains there and
the man who executes 1t.
It is possible. and even likely. that legis-
lative Investigation into the affairs Of the
Reformatory may prove the necessity Of
greater checks In the administration OF
punishment. and result In the adoption OF
rules toward that end. 1t may be that Mr..
BRoCKwAY has depended too much upon
whipping as means of discipline and ref
ormation. We should not be surprised II
he had. But to those who have read that
Mr.. BRocKwAY has confessed to innu-
merable barbarities. and that the shallow
LIrcHFIELD report Is based upon Mr..
BRoCKwAYs own admissions. let us point
out. once and for all. that he has confessed
nothing. During his incumbency ut the
Reformatory he has coTporally punished q
great many men. There has never been
any secret about this. Public records have
been kept OF all such instances, and Mr..
BRocKwAY has detailed them time and
time again. In print, and personally to all
visitors at the Reformatory. Unless cor
poral punishment ofany kind Is declared to
be intrinsically cruel. the mere enumera-
ton OF many instances Of Its infection 10 no
evidence OF barbarity. So. too. when a
sullen and rebellious convict barricades
himself In his cell. or assaults a keeper.
or In any way obdurately opposes his
will to the rules Of the institution. the
executive head OF 1t deserves praise.
rather than blame. II he does not yield to
his prisoner. and perseveres until the stub
born malefactOr Is subdued. even by I'M
usual methods II necessary.
Our position In this matter Is clear. We
have no desire to shield Mr.. BRoCKwAY
from dismissal II he Is proved TO be an unit
and brutal man. though We insist that this
fact should be reasonably established. as
now it is not. We demand for Mr.. BROCK
WAY in the face OF whatever popular
prejudice is momsntarily and falsely eX-
cited. a fair and Just trial It may be.
but We do not think 1t probable. that the
experts In prison management who have
commended the Elmira Reformatory for
years, have been wofully deceived. 1t
may be. but We do not believe 1t. that cor
poral punishment for prisoners Of q certain
| age ought b be entirely abolished. as liable
| TO abuse; and that there should DO substi-
tuted therefor the dark cell and the solitary
confinement with their hideous features. 1t
may be. but ne do not expect 1t. that II cor
porai punishment is retained. there will be
found a man to intiiet it upon intraetable
and murdsrous criminals invariably with
the precise dignity Hnd formality that Is
theoretically and sendmentally demanded.
The Unsupported wholesale accusations
against the Elmira Reformatory should be
carefully investigated and their truth or
falsity fully demonstrated. We warn those
in authority at Albany that II, needing the
threats and Inducements Of ignoble men.
and the demands OF what they conceive to
be the petty party politics OF the moment.
they TepudiAts the rules and forms OF ius-
tioe. and suiIer the wreck Of = great pub
lie institutioaA and 81 the sroditAhls -