The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-25
STATE REFORMATORY.
\ Curfew Law Commended rs Good
For the Young.
Edenton, n. c.. Dec. 10, 1898

For the Young.
Edenton, n. c.. Dec 10, 1898.
To the Editor: In your issue of the
18th instant, appeared the following
statement. under the heading, "RefOrma-
tory Needed 1t is said that there are
over two hundred convicts in the State
prison now who are minors, many Of
them mere boys, according to Warden
Russelrs statement, these boys begin
to get worse as soon as they come to The
prison" Only this week one little white
boy, eleven years old, and small for his
age. at that, was received at the prison
to serve Il five-year sentence" In this
day of enlightment and progress, this is
a deplorable record to- be entered up
against our good old State, whose peo-
pie compare favorably with any other
people ON the face of the globe, in intel
ligence, enlightment and what goes to
make up the civilization of the present
day, among nations and people. As |
stated in a former article. THE very
warp and wool of the nation is wrapped
up in them (the boys. and it is certain
that the national life cannot rise higher
than the source from which it springs"
and certainly no higher duty deyolves
upon a State, or nation, than that Of
elevating and unfolding its citizenship.
1t might be asked when shall the work
begin. and to this question / would an
swer in the enactment of wholesome
laws looking to the protection of the
children of the land. The enactment
of a "curfew law" empowering the
cities and towns of the State to enact
ordinances requiring the children under
fifteen years of age to be in their homes
by eight o'clock in the summer, and not
later than half vast seven in the win
ter, unless accompanied by parents or
guardian, or have leave of absence
| This would stop the children from being
on the streets and gathering around the
groceries and other places OF comA-on
resort, where gossip in its worst form
is INDUCED in by worthless fellows. who
have no useful occupation and who do
| not desire any. We all know how sus-
ceptible the young are and what vivid
| imaginations they have, and that they
are robustly proud to take in and absorb
such things with lasting harm to them
| selves Now the ''Curfew Law" is no
idle dream, for it has long since passed
the experimental stage and been in sue
| United States for several years, with the
practical benefit of decreasing crime
among the young. The arrests decreas-
ing in some cities, as much as seventy
/ five per cent The practical test seems
/ to indicate that it is one of the most
| important steps for municipal reform
| promoted during this century. To the
| observant it will be seen that properly
I ~ Il 1.
| great aid and adjunct to State re-
| formatory. This is one step for the pro-
| lection of the young. and another, ana
| perhaps the greatest is to enact a law
| establishing a RefOrmatory, or State
| Training School for young criminals. 1t
| is well known fact when applied to the
| young, the criminal law is not reforma-
tive, as the article copied from your pa
per too plainly shows. 1t has been well
said, "The more brutal forms of punish
| ment seems TO harden, rather than to
correct" Therefore by some method
| the heart must be reached. and the am
bition to higher and nobler deeds must
| be inStilled. This can be done, and has
| been done; and among those who have
enabled these higher ambitions and no.
| bier purposes, was Bishop Wakefield.
| What a grand and noble life his was, and
| what a useful citizen of the British EN-
| pire he became. is now a matter of his
tory This is only one instance of the
many, where the individual life has been
| cleared of the criminal tainu, and made
| more perfect and useful. Can anything
be of more Importance than the accom-
| plishment of this high and holy purpose
| The Reformatory should be established
near some enterprising city or town,
| when the busy hum of the Industry may
be heard, teaching that to be useful, is to
be happy. 1t would not do to have the
| young criminals to come in contact with
| anything that would tend to decrease
| their respect for the law, or inspire them
| to violate its provisions, and for this
| reason | do earnestly hope that our law.
makers will not consider any proposition
to make the Reformatory part of the
| penitentiary. 1t would be a crime, and
objectionable in this day Of progress.
| No inducement of economy should not
| have any weight in this matter, for
| every dollar spent in this cause will be
| repaid to the State one hundred fold.
Let the Reformatory be established
without delay, so that the good work
may go forward. Trusting that all good
| men will take a hand in the promotion
of this cause, and that the newspapers
may do what they can in this behalf.
| am, respectfully,
WM. j. LEARY.