New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-07
THE ELMIRA SYSTEM.
CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER DISCUSSES
IT AT SARATOGA
TIE PURPOSE OF THE REFoRMAToRY AND
WHAT IT ACCoMPLrsHEs-THE RECENT
ATTACKS UPON IT AND WHAT
THEY SIGNIFY.

THEY SIGNIFY.
Saratoga Springs Sept 6 (SpeclaD-At the meet
Ing OF the American Social Science Association here
this evening. paper by Charles Dudley Warner
presented In the Department OF Jurisprudence
on The Emlra System" After discussing the
causes OF crime and the proper and scientific treat
ment OF criminals by the State. from psychology
lcal point Of view Mr. Warner continued In part as
follows
When TO the Reformatory at Elm,ra we
M, h me most .n',res,ms 'nS mo mos conyted crm
inals that has ever anywhere been tried IL con
forms 10 sound theories. and rs results nave pen
good beyond all expectations 1t was not however
built upon theory Its Inception vas due 10 ,,h e
had a long practical training in prison manage
mcnt In Albany and Detroit and was PROFOUNDLY ac-
| the word genius advsedly because II re-
OURS sane genius TO apply knoTn p , that t'
was begun as an experiment IN tne iaGt o sTep
tcism that always atienis ne drpnr'Ire ,h ana oa II
traditions of prison life and the radically tasi niras
gradual and healthy growth for eighteen years.
development step by step. always on ,he or'S.a' IN,
Il has attained its present magnificent proportions
and Is today the most Interesting elucauGnH n III,
many OF the profoundest problems 81 SOCIOLOGY
which claim the attention OF sclshtnc ha b
II We're asked by n foreigner 10 say VIM! LAY
been the most important contribution OF the nic'i
States In this century 20 deains wa, b nf noint t
the Elmira Reformatory. ! fear that we :Uaiyrf
begin realize the value or TINS plo'fe
METHODS EMPLOYED AT ELMIRA
! will give brief outline Of the reformatory for
the benefit OF those whose attention has never been
/ called 20 T.. Those sent there must be between the
ages Of sixteen and thirty. and on the first conv'c'
ton Of felony They may bc detained there for the
| fun term for which they could have been sentenced
10 a State prison. They may b. released In one
each having distinctions Of lodgings dress FOOD ana
privileges The new comer Is pat INTO the sec2ma
yscal intellectual ana moral ana Is n ,t,,, as
signed 70 the cf f5r whih ~ is nrst bI t.
Instructed IN the rules ~ conduct AZ that moment
hcrn4 u f.! s,rct!y marked ror reriorm1nce in
the school. IN he shop ana IN conduct: ana u ne
rank II he maintains the standard SIX months ne
is promoted the hrst grade. and i h. mttntalns
! on parole This Is granted by the Board * Tru',
tees. on an examination OF nm %nn ms fnr him I
/ There must be- a satisfactory report monthly OF ms
G2ndnGi f2T f r Sn'pf his 0 "onaac IS no, salts
! factory nj any time In the six months Hrobation
~ Iht,v rs.nfs tho st-onRest osshie in Iuccment
to personal Improvement II would De IN most ASS
nate iiu, besides this the whole atmosphere OF
tn rorormatory T. hopeful calculated TO nrani,,e
t to- sc l1ql'1 a9' an S' ma MIN "'
\ CONTRAST WITH OTHER PRISONS
r, the most casual visitor the physical alertnes'
and the hopeful mental attltud" Of the inmates ar"
On strong contrast 10 conditions found IN cth"r
prisons Mind and body are kept wholesorn"ly oc-
cuploI and little by iil" the new NE has It's erect
upon the most iutractable material II an inmate IS
/ wholly ptIuratc and VIII not submit 10 IN" ns-
cplne. h"rr GO the physical force IN reserve ana In
. strap. the innir'ion Of physical pan, has most
qnck"nng me, lIon 10" ',I b en- ain ~ n,
essential part ~ the Elmira SYSTEM. II an innate
proves nuny ncorrrihc be can b" transt'fr'' 20 "
The rc-ult Of tho comprehensive and philosopher
titan tF nFfF ne
OF thc inmate. become Laws abiding c.tiz n. mat Is
over 80 per cent hay" behaved wei ater iea nbb '
! usually for 4 year and when they have passed ont
/ ne has boon changed would doubtless be increased
uniform, record Of the rcformatory since Il was
go, into good working order
cArsEs OF THE ATTACKS.
Tho Elmra R.formatory. after running for many
years as the mos' interesting object lesson IN pc
,ol,gv ana with the Increasing approval - experts
aal Of the general public. has ately been attacked.
This attack IS due 10 three couse'.
FIRST The hunget % make money AMI notori"ty
by exploiting a sensation ,.,,.. -, ro,or,,o.
S.. ul The determination % bring the Teiof!'h.
/ tory into 'h. control ~ IN" political machine" maj
n mas h. iisl as the state Ienitentl'cs ar" used
efyg I'm Ts, m in"n,a.'s Who arc tar most lis
cour ding clement 90 any robust vital reformltory
IS to the nr-t I've no commen IS ,' c o,sGy
Tn motives are naked and 10 no' need any e'u'''a-
Tee -enumcn.asts generally 2rc "c;uat ,,l.. by
snl max the world better They are simply mis-
lei bv ,xcrss ~ emotion AMI 10y ienorance Of the
1gn nta n,'G ,rers is wa - "oaxine men to
! De good without discipline Of cAnnsing the nants
Of ihe bal without continua! coercNe prt'S. h,
| They have disease which = Common IN tn.1
r'up'ry nhl when may re u.3.lNr ,a,fv
rs mo al mushlDess- 'king pttho.osl, any, q itt,!
Degeneration % me hear, In,y are E.n"Ft,y aiI
proved boy the criminal ca.s wn9 w1h , ,% b,h,
treated but 10 1't want 10 'h'A.r thri i HIM.
Thcy have no conception ina, IN" iru' an N nI
in tn" discipline % The hum2n race. hh'y AZ" en-
couragcrs Of nwessaess Thgy ar" 'h' "''''s''N
| and the lntcrcess0rs for AnarrhiS's.
THE ALLEGED CRUELTY TO PRISONERS
The point selected for the attack on the Reforma-
tory IS alleged cruelty in the lnnction Of corpora.
punshlnent; but there IL wider attempt to as
credit the institution with the public and to take
rs administration away from the general Managers
on the ground that it r. place Of arbitrary Vran-
meal AMI excessv. discipline. The use OF corporal
punishment when all other mcGn. L II ne crnS gHr
have. seen no testimony yet. worthy " cr"'i'nc".
have a different aspect under fun statement Oh
the facts Much Of has been shown 10 De n,"n u,
| testimony from the inmates Of prs rs ana re-
fornatores But wish 70 say th1 hoen n1cstVr
castlgat lions ana sudden blows which no Just p'rS9n
| could defend my confidence VIII not be shaken IN
| ,bn rimIra system In Guiding its necessary use
OF force In the Elmra keiormat9ry' nor II me
lie +. human he Is liable to err, ami In View oi ~;
! great purpose ana his long-tred character cou,'
! forgive him though do not eXpect II VIII rN.' p
! n.ccssary-a passionate moment lie ~ not 10y
nature cruel he Is not brutal on the contrary ne ne
! is .mlnrntv humane. and has most synlpa,nr.c
spirit ana he has the invaluable quality OF ar3us
| ing In others an enthusiasm for better NJ" fs
| ruling purpo-e, his anxiety day ana night Is 70
| benefit VERY criminal put into his charg'. ana make
| him a law-abiling citizen
THE PURPOSE OF ELMIRA
| I ask you FOR moment 10 cohSld"r tue pu'P''
| ~ the ElmIra Institution and the material II mas
| 10 deaf with. The purpose Is n radical chahSe Ia
! the thoughts. habits and direction oil men lives.
| II r. this more than nnything else. that MAKES "
| hateful IN IN. average criminal. Il s not because
he has passivcly to endure sonethhg ioSs 81 -. ~,
| nr,y and severe regimen. but that ne mas 70 mar
| an aciiv. effort to change all hl1 haDl'S ne ~
| nects occasional punishment IN his career Nha'