Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-10-06

fornia. After the formation of the Ameri-
can Volunteers she again turned her
thoughts toward the inmates of prisons
and longed IN make the work of reforming
and helping them practically one of the
chief anche of the labors of the Volun-
teers.
During the past two months Mrs. Booth
has spent considerable time at Sing Sing.
and as a result of her Investigations has
rmulate two plans, one for the benef
of discharged convicts, and the other for
the benefit of those still in confinement.
For discharged convicts she proposes to es-
tablish homes. To these homes convicts
may go As soon as they have secured their
release. There the discharged convict will
be surrounded with Christian influences.
When he has shown that no has u sincere
desire to reform and earn an honest living,
Mrs. Booth will cndcavor to find employ
ment for him. She fully appreciates how
difficult in most cases this will be. She
proposes to put herself in communication
with the chief employers Of labor and TO Sc
cure their cooperation if possible. No INA
will be recommended for employment who
has not shown in the prison home hat he
Will if he gets IL chance be glad to become
a law abiding citizen.
The first of the homes was opened in
New York recently. 1t is appropriately
named Hope Hall, ard is beautifully stu
ated in the upper part of the city, overlook
ing the Hudson. Speaking of her plans
for the assistance of released conyicts Mrs.
Booth said:
"Whcn they come to me here, they will
fill out u blank describing themselves. A
corresponding blank will be filled ont by
the warden of the prison from which they
have been released, and there I shall have
their records. / do not expect them to re-
main at the hall any longer than is neces-
sary for them to obtain a situation by
earnest search. 1t shall be no place for a
man to live in idleness. There will he
much for them to do. The cultivation of
the grounds about the house and the care
of the building will keep them busy when
not hunting for work.
what hope Is there for ex-cOnvicts If
N that should open to an honest liv-
J ing are closed before them? shall know
those with whom l deal. Many I shall
have watched through months or years in
prison. l shall have the warJien's testi.
mony as to their prison record and then
our own knowledge of them while inmates
of Hope Hall, SO l shall I've able to speak
with some knowledge and certainty re.
garding their sincerity. Surely / shall
find some who will help Inc by Offering
them employment and who will help them
by forgetting they ever had the name OF
convicts.
when n prisoner is released, he must
find work or beg or starve. 1t is hard t.
t~realize, except from experience, how nexl
to impossible it is fora man once in prison
to obtain employment He may try hi.
best to hide the disgrace of his life, and
may live within the strictest letter Of tn,
law, but the murder will ou., and no firm
al him in its employ. The man, IL
spite OF his best efforts TO make a living
respectfully, will he reduced To beggary
Then, tno often, there will crop out thu
criminal< instinct which FIST carried hin
tn prison, and he will steal.
1T is the testimony of prison Official
that from so to 90 per cent of release