The herald., 1895-02-18
THE. TRAMP QUESTION
Professor TcCIatchie of Throop Polytechnic
Talks on the Subject

Talks on the Subject
Pasadena Feb. 17.-Professor l.. A. Nc
Claiche of Throop Polytechnic delivered
a very interesting lecture at the Universal
isl Church Friday evening upon Our Duty
TO the So-Called Criminal Element Owing
TO Misunderstanding as to the nature of
tle meeting the audience was not as large
as t should have been, and Mr.. Nc
Catche has consented to repeat it on Fri
day evening, March LIST.
I'm considering this subject " said the
FuoHEer 1--WE have to take into cOnsidera-
tuD two duties, one to ourselves or the
cYWmuuity and the other to the criminal.
Ai human beings are composed of three
yuct natures, the physical, mental and
Al. In each or all OF these he may be-
dcranged, that is by breaking the
I= of nature which govern either he
produce disease.
his disease may also become fastened
him through no neglect or abuse of
own, but through the law of heredity
contact These different methods of
ug Il victim of disease are as readily
cable to the one nature as the other.
question arises here, How shall we
lroal these diseased members? At pres
,1ey are not safe to themselves or So
fne whole medical fraternity stands as
object lesssn to what is being done
treat the physically deranged. The
grd, of trained nurses, the loving, So
si nd living Interpretation of the
g4r> being done to make the physical
lai we'll and safe to himself and society.
or those mentally deranged we all
lDV of the attempt being made through
ilms for the insane to assist these back
f)& normal condition.
But what are we doing for those who
morally deranged, or the criminal
Ile uberS, as they are usually termed? |
h4ye recently examined the records of
TIL criminal court proceedings of our own
c,ts 0i Pasadena and | must say that
sulc cases of prosecution under our pres
tllt va grant laws were brought to my nt.
dice bY one of our Judges which stand Il
burning shame to the civilization of this
V.Utury and to the Christian city in
which we live. The Judge. himself who
was my informant imposed the sentence.
As am officer of the law he is obliged to
enforce its mandates. When these men
are brought in by petty constables, only
eager for the fee they get of a couple of
dollars or So, who prefer the charges and
suain them, there is nothing for him to
do bat sentence, although, he said
III know some of these men just as
good as you or [, and look and behave
fully well as we would or could under
the same circumstances. All the crime
these men have committed is that they
have not succeeded in getting work, so as
to maintain themselves according to the
demands OF the law. These unfortunate
len receive the same sentence that others
fif1 WHO are morally uerdnSeu anu neeulnE
moral treatment. .
Forced to closely mingle with these dis
eased ones through the law of contact
many morally well men become diseased
through our present moral laws. This
Was ViVidly demonstrated to me in a visit
SO our county and city jails. AS | was
ueherad in to the corridor, where a num-
b-r oi prisoners were trying to kill time,
said TO the attendant who was ushering
ne through: Who is that man sitting
= ,..,.i+b fba UI ,ic-a 10
tle fellow waiting trial for the train
wrecl,ing up ut Roscoe. And who is that
restless man nervously passing up and
Gown the room? Why, that is man in
Tuf murder. And that other man sitting
tlora on the floor with such a vicious,
terrible countenance? Oh, he is a pro-
lcssiona burglar. And those two boys
over there, what have they done? Oh, they
arc accused of stealing a harness and are
awaiting trial. Can one conceive of more
wFetshed method of dealing with the
morally diseased? Think of placing young
boys and girls under the influence OF such
companions.
When arrived at the City Jail was in
formed it was past the hour for visitors.
lul when the general, as they called him,
round that | was very anxious to get in,
hp rAciousy told me, as well as he could
Ullef the circumstances, for to all ap-
laarlnces he had imbibed rather freely of
iao huid which does not make men wise,
n tiat he would write me pass that
Y aid 90 through, and that he didn't
II we cuss what | said about them" The
= alAe condition of all stages and phases of
lal arrangement mingling closely to-
her, both male and female, exists.
bon these diseased persons have served
a certain period of time under such
able conditions they are turned loose
l upon society.
aking up the reform side, the speaker
s In Elmira, n. Y, there is now
M asttution established by a private
ydual and recognized by the state, so
many prisoners are sent there for
tnent. In this institution everything
done to develop the man physically,
nttlly and morally that is possible, and
fe GOOD results which have followed from
treatment stand out in beautiful con-
la TO those which inevitably follow
t.e one now in use by the state, although
reforma;ion is greatly hampered be-
r-ae OF present laws.
n flowing Mr.. McClatchie's address sew
prominent citizens made short re-
\ ll.s, among the speakers being Rev.
I aence kollock, Mr.. Gaylord and 9TH
" he interest aroused demanded an
Jemeeting of the same nature for fur
discussion, and if possible some def
SI.s mode of action.