St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-26

HOW TO SAVE THEM.
Interest ng Papers on Vari-
Gus Phases of Criminal
Life Read.
AT ASSOCIATED CHARITIES
Meeting in the Commercial
Club Rooms Last Even
ing.
STUDENTS OF THE SUBJECT
Express Various VieWs--Talks
by County Attorney But
Ter and MIR. Wolfer.

Ter and MIR. Wolfer.
The thirteenth parIor conference
| of the associated, charities was held
| last night at the Commercial club,
and, although the attendance was
| not large one, the excellent treat
| ment given the subject under dis
cussion by the five people who read
| papers was much appreciated. "The
| reformation of the Criminal was
ably discussed by people who have
| had practical experience in dealing
| with that abnormal growth of So
clety. Pierce Butler. who is so
| familiar with criminals generally,
| opened the evenings discussion with
few remarks on 1.-The Criminal and
| the Law" Mr.. Butler gave the au-
| dience a good deal of information
| relating to the handling of these
unfortunates. He insisted espe-
| c1aily that above all things it is nee
| essary that people be taught that
punishment inevitably follows
wrong-doing, his theory being that
In this way number of crimes NAV
De prevented by keeping the fear of
consequences before the people.
Perhaps the most practical paner
| of the evening was that read bv
warden Wolfer, of Saltwater, in
which he dealt with the question of
discipline as Factor in Reforma-
tlon Mr.. Wolfer said in brief.
In order to have a good system of
olsclpilne IN our prisons, first of all
a good staff of officers to administer
1t IS necessary. They should be
honest, conscientious and fearless in
the discharge of all duties. Disci-
pine, as regards the inmates. should
De sufficiently strict to require at all
times and under all conditions a
ready and cheerful obedience to all
rules and regulations. A good citi-
zen is the
PRODUCT OF EVOLUTION
under the influence of discipline A
criminal is product with whose disci-
pine law and order have had little. if
any, success. The lack of discipline il
the prolific cause of deteriora ton
misery and crime. Without 1t as a
moral principle, mental and moral
growth Is out of the question. An evil
or criminal life is the product of I'M
guarded action running riot Moral dis
oroef is the result. Crime is a disorder
rooted In weakness, needing only favor
aple conditions to stimulate it's growth.
The great and crying need. then for
all alike, whether strong or weak. is
discipline. If too weak to care for him
self, compulsory discipline should come
TO the rescue of the criminal, and cor
rect his life, if possible He is a de-
tective, possessing a disease that needs
corrective treatment rather than pun
iShment''
In conclusion, Mr.. Wolfer refers to a
paper on prison discipline. by Cant F
5. Wright, of Pennsylvania. in which
he says: 1.-THE history of American
prisons shows constant progress in the
treatment, and clemency has marked
the course of justice, yet it has TO he
ADMITTED that crime and vice have in
creased in greater ratio than the popu-
latloh OF the country. We are then
brought to this conclusion, that prison
discipline must be placed on sterner
ana more repressive lines to be deter
rent
Rev. j. H. Dewart. of st. Cloud, who
mas Tor years interested himself in the
welfare of the inmates of the reforma-
tory at that place, followed with a pa
per on Religion AS a Factor in Refor-
nation" Mr.. Dewart said:
Religion has exercised a greater in
huence over man than any other force
with which he has come in contact. It
has caused thousands of Christians to
laugh at death, no matter in what form
| it came, and it has been a greater civil
izing influence than any other. What
1t has done for nations, it has also
done for individuals. If this be true.
and if this force be within our reach.
! 1t seems to me unphilosophicaI not to
use it to help people to right living in
this world. The strongest reason WHY
the criminal should be brought under
the power of religion is because it is
absolutely the only power that can
save him from himself. The right life
consists in the proper adjustment of
the spiritual and the animal in man,
and every crime is committed when
the animal has, for the time being
been in the ascendancy"
THE Condition of the Prisoner When
He Leaves the Reformatory" was the
SUBJECT OF William e. Lees paper. Mr.
Lee experience in work that is strict
ly reformatory is very Wide and his
teatment of his subject comprehensive
He spoke of the life of the individual
detached from the life of the race. and
out of harmony with sociaty's institu-
tons. AS
MERE ANIMAL EXISTENCE,
and he called attention to the necessity
OF making the criminal see that every
person about him is his co-laborer. his
partner in business, and that he will
then forget the notions that once Dos
sessed him, and cease to believe that
he is alone in the world, with every
mans hand and society's Institutions
against him.
The list of interesting papers con-
Guided with one by Miss Grace John
stone on 1.-THE Prisoner on Parole"
and from the broad and commemorative
treatment that the subject received at
Miss Johnstone's hands, she has evil
IDENTIFY had a varied experience with
the class of criminals that would re-
Iorm MISS JohnStone'S paper dealt
exclusively with first offenders" that
is, those sentenced either on the re-
formatory plan or on time sentences
who are eligible to release on parole.
She spoke of the idea ever present
with the criminal through his con-
hnement that some day he would be
Tree, and of the great influence the
thought of it had on some of them as
the time drew near for their release.
She referred to the day of his liberty
as the most critical of his life, and of
the dangers that are all around him
from the time, that he is a free man.
Secretary Hart, of the associated
charities, acted as chairman of the
meeting, which was without doubt one
of the most interesting that has been
held this winter.