The record-union., 1896-09-20
THE PRISON GATE HOME
Plan Of the Salvation Army for Redeem
ing Criminals.
How Society Can Aid the Movement
and Protect Itself by
So Doing.

In conversation with Record
Union" reporter yesterday, speaking Of
the Prison Gate Home" and the move
ment to extend it's work, a Salvation
Army officer said:
"a work that is Of benefit to every cit
izen of Sacramento is about to be start
ed by the Salvation Army in this State.
I'VE all know the menace and detri-
ment that the State Prison at Folsom is
so near this city, owing to the fact that
the men are dumped upon us often with
out the means to go farther. Even when
a discharged man is desirous Of living
an honest life he is Handicapped at every
turn. The suit he gets when leaving the
prison is known to the police and to
nearly every citizen, and tells it's tale of
degradation wherever he goes to look
for employment. The employers do not
care to employ him, and if they could be
prevailed upon to take him the en-
ployeS would object and if they be-
loEged to a union insist upon his dis
charge.
mo later than yesterday man told
us that he had been working on the dock
at San Francisco driving an engine,
and had given every satisfaction to his
employers. He had gone so far as to
put in his application to join the union,
but owing to the fee being so high he
was unable to pay all at once, and had
arranged to pay it in installments, but
to his utter amazement some person had
told that he was a discharged pris-
oner.
He was discharged by his employer
and found it impossible to get anything
to do in the same line. The result was
that he became embittered against so
ciety in general and started in to prey
upon what he considered his legitimate
enemy, which resulted in his being
landed in the prison again, and we
know that this is the testimony of many
who would, if they had a helping hand
when leaving the prison, lead an honest
life, but owing to the past they have
no chance, and seek friendship and sup
port in the old haunts and ways.
What the Salvation Army proposes
to do-and in fact, what it is doing
is to have a band of organized officers
throughout the State, who will come in
contact with the man Immediately on
his arrest and follow him all through
his prison life and take charge of him
when released, taking him to the 'Pris
on Gate Home" till he has established
his character and they can confidential
l. recommend him to such a position
as they are able to obtain for him.
"The home will be founded midway
between the two principal prisons, out
of the way of the tramp and criminal
class.
1T already has the use of 400 acres
of land, with buildings, etc, upon it,
but they want to fit it up and stock it
with the necessary implements and live
stock, SO that it can be profitably work.
ed and as far as possible be self-sup-
porting. There are a great many ex-
penses connected with the work that it
would be out of the question to expect
the farm to pay. There will be the
travelling expenses of the officer who
visits the prisons, the railroad expenses
of the man himself to the home and to
the situation that may be found for
him, which is usually as far away from
his old associates and haunts as possi-
BILE, that the man may start a new life,
In a new country, and among new
friends.
1.-The Army already this year has
taken care of twenty-five men who
have been discharged from San Quen-
tin, and out of the twenty-five but one
has proved himself unsatisfactory. Some
have been sent as far as Denver, British
Columbia, Puget Sound and MendocinO
County. This work has been very sue
cessfully carried on by the Salvation
Army in England, South Africa and
Australia.
I'm Australia the Government thinks
so highly of it that 1t has State aid, and
in the minor offenses the men are often
sent to the Salvation Army Home in
stead OF being committed to prison,
which is a very high testimony of the
Army's ability in reforming the GRIM
inal.
"Out of the large number handled by
the Army so per cent. have turned out
become good citizens and go out of the
50 per cent. have become good Chris
tians.
Surely, it is patent to every person
that the Salvation Army is able to ac-
complish what it undertakes if the citi-
zens will only supply it with the finan-
cial aid required. Helping this work
will be work of self-preservatiOn. 1t
is the duty Of every property owner to
help the Army, SO that it may remove
the criminal from Sacramento. Other
wise they will remain here, as they
have done in the past, and prey upon
our property"
Kindergarten Training School.