Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-03-16
CHARITY AND CORRECTIONS
A. |. Phillips, Delegate to the
New Orleans Conference,
REPORTS TO THE GOVERNOR
The Result and Informs Him of Southern
Conference Organized, of Which
He Is President.

Following is a report to his excellency,
Gov. Joseph r. Johnston. on the New
Orleans meeting of the National Confer
ence of Charities and Correction, by A. L..
Phillips, OF, Tusca loosa, who was enc of
the delegates
To His Exeellency Gov Joseph F. john
ston, Governor OF Alabama:
In submitting TO yeu this brief report
concerning the meeting of the National
Conference of Charities and Correction.
/ wish first of all to express to you my
most sincere thanks for appointing me
a delegate from the state at large, and
my apprecia ton of the honor thus con-
ferred upon me- The state was further
represented by Miss Julia Tutwiler, DIT.
j. 7. Searcy and Mr.. Bromberg, of Mo
bile Miss Tutwiler read a paper on
..Jails ard Aims Houses" which was
most favora bly,. received DR.. Searcy
made a deep impression by most ad-
rnirable paper ON the state Care OF the
Insane"
The sessions of the conference. oocu-
pied three days, March to o, inclusive.
There were some sixty delegates present,
besides fair audience OF Intelligent anu
earnest people from the city. some OF
the foremost men in charity and penodogy
on this continent were present ana con-
trlbuted freely of their stores OF prac-
tical knowledge We were greatly en-
ughtenad by the narratives of what has
been done in the union fer the insane, fcr
dependent children, for epileptics and
for the poor by organized charity. l
never before SO clearly realized that
new science-sociolngy fast develop
ing full of promise for the future. So
FAR as / could gather the essence of pro-
gressive thought and practice concern
ing the criminal classes is punishment by
hard labor for productive purposes under
exclusive state control and the reform of
youthful delnquents. state care and
control of dependent children was ably
advocated and illustrated by what is be-
ing done in Canada, Indiana, Ohio, Ten
neSsee and elsewhere. Are we not be-
hind the lines i'm this respect? Perhaps
the most hopeful suggestions THAT heard
were in regard to the dispensing of aid to
the poor. The methods pursued by many
of US tend ra Their to the ultimate increa SO
of pauperiSm. 1t would be a most excel
lent thing if the charitable people eff our
towns and cities in Alabama would study
the methods in use in Louisville and
Boston
The southern delegates felt that there
was need for the organiDati ton of a south
eTn Conference of Charities and CoTrec-
ton in order that we might take up and
study scientifically the peculiar condl-
lions about us. Too LITTLE is known of the
great excellence of many of cur institu-
tons and laws ON the one hand, and
on the other we have not given unitsd
study to the facts about u.s.
We organized q southern conference.
The distinguished honor of being it's first
president was conferred upon me. Our
first meeting will be held in Nashville
Tenn. in October next. May l not ex-
press the hope that your excellency will
favor this progressive movement in all
possible ways?
cannc. close this report without say
ing that in many important respects the
convict laws and government in our state
are admirable even when compared with
the rneSt progressive principles. The ac-
tive participate in such meetings as
this by cur commissioners and wa rdens
viii be helpful to all concerned.
In one important respect Ala bama ac-
knGwledges no superior, and that is in
thu equipment and management of our
Aiabama-Bryce Hospital for the Insane
at Tuscaloosa. According 20 expert testi-
mony in this country and abroad, it Is a
model in humanity and in scientific
adapta ton in economy. Dr. Searcy and
his splendid corps of assistants in every
department deserve the love and conf
dence Of every citizen Of this noble state.
In concluding, | wish to say, sir, tina
the people OF New Orleans entertained us
in elegant style and won the hearts of
all who attended the meetings.
With profound respect, I am your fell
low citizen A. l.. PHILLIPS.
Tuscaloosa. Ala. March 12 1897.