The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-17

IN.
for their own sake and that of The State is
that they should be released after a short
term and thereby permitted to work their
Will upon society again. / know of one man
who was sentenced to the states prison SIX
times for a term OF one year each time on
seventh occasion he was sentenced for
period of from one to fourteen years. If
this sentence had been possible six years
ago he would have been saved from re-
peated criminal acts, the State would have
been saved from large expense in the way
OF prosecutions, and society would have
been protected against the mans criminal
depredatlons. / wish just here TO emphasize
the opinion gained from experience, as well
as observation, that no parole law can be
enforced IN the most practical way unless
partisan basis. No man should ever be
released as political or personal favor,
either toward himself or some friend, and
the selection of officers must be entirely
free from political bias
For the best results from the parole law
great care must be exercised in the appoint
ment of all officials The prison officers
should be selected on their merits only,
with reference to the reformation of the
prisoners, and all who have forgotten or
have never learned that human nature
within and without a prison is essentially
the same, that reformation is always posi-
Bile, and that the mercy of God is not sus-
pended by a sentence of the court should
at once be discharged. Let it not be said
that this Is a theory too refined to be
adapted to depraVed and degraded conyicts.
Convicts are men; the most depraved and
degraded are men; they are born social be-
IdSIlOnGQ
Creator; their minds are moved by the same
springs that give activity to those of others;
they avoid pain with the same care and
pursue pleasure with the same aVidity that
actuates. their fellow-men. 1t is the false
direction only of these great motives that
produces the criminal actions which they
prompt. To turn them into a course that
will promote the true happiness of the in
dividual by making him cease to injure that
of society should be the great object of our
penal institutions, as all penal institutions
TefOrmAtOfV
best system which human Sagacity could
devise will produce reformation in every
case, that there will not be numerous ex-
ceptionS to its general effect would be to
indulge the visionary belief of moral
panacea applicable to all vices and all
crimes; and although this would be quack
cry in legislation, as absurd as any that
has appeared in medicine, yet to say that
there are no general rules by which refor
nation of the mind may be produced is as
great and fatal an error as to assert that
there are In the healing art no useful rules
for preserving the general health and bodily
vigor of the patient.
1--WE believe that the work undertaken by
and which engages the attention of the In
diana Reformatory is work founded in wis
DOM that it is practical and has great
value for individuals and the State. We are
confident that the true way to deal with
criminals is to attempt their reformation;
that large per cent. of convicted men can
be reformed. We are also confident that
the methods of the Reformatory are the
right methods to use for the accomplish
ment of the work given 1t to do. We be-
lieve that larger endeavor and more
thoroughness along the present lines of
effort are the demands upon u.s. The needs
of the prisoner appear greater than they
formerly appeared to US Our educational
strengthened by special and ample trade
teachings, so that the men released from
the RefOrmatory will be fully equipped for
self-support and thereby removed in great
er degree from liability to further commit
crime"
w. C. Ball, of Terre Haute one of the
trustees of the Reform School at Plain
field, spoke of some new measures which he
believed will be of benefit to his institution.
One of the chief difficulties of the school is
the fact that as an inmate approaches the
age of twenty-one he realizes that what
ever his conduct, he will soon be free. He
loses respect for the authority which is try
ing to make him obeden> to law and on ac-
count of this the purpose of the school is
to a great degree baked. To remedy the
evil Mr.. Bell suggested that unless the in
mate of the Reform School conducts him
self properly for a certain period before he
reaches the age of twenty-one he shall be
sent to the Indiana Reformatory at Jeffer
sonville. If he still is rebellious, he shall
finally be placed in the State Prison. Mr..
Ball also thought that the age limit for the
inmates Of the Reformatory should be re-
moved, and all first offenders and people
who are not incorrigible should be placed
there.
Superintendent Hert said, in reply to Mr.
Ball, that the age limit was placed at thirty
because it was found that the proper num-
Der of persons was thereby allowed for the
two prisons. Mr.. Ellison added that after
a man is thirty years old 1t Is very hard to
reform his mind and habits.
POLITICAL SIDE OF REFORM.
c. f. Shiveley, who is a member of the
Indiana Reformatory board of trustees,
made a short talk upon the political side of
the reform movement. He reviewed the
measures which have been before the Leg
islature, and said that the chief trouble is
the presence of politics in the management
of the benevolent and penal institutions of
the State. Eliminate politics and the
changes necessary to the institutions will
almost come of their own accord. Mr.
Shiveley also recommended that a single
board be allowed the control of the penal
institutions of the State and another board
be given control of the benevolent institu-
tons
Yesterday afternoon was spent by the
members of the conference In visiting va
riods institutions of the city. This morn
ing the Practical Charity Workers will hold
a round table at o'clock, in Plymouth
Church. The regular morning session at 8
o'clock will consider Child Saving" The
afternoon will be devoted to the blind, deaf
and insane.
CARD OF THE POOR.
The morning session of the Indiana Con-
ference of Charities and Corrections at the
Plymouth Church was devoted to the dis
cussion of indiscriminate giving. 1t was
generally agreed that the results of the
pTdcllC0 WHCE6 lTl6U nave nearly always
been injury to the person receiving aid.
After a short paper by H. NJ. Griswold, Of
Terre Haute, upon Poor Relief Under the
Present Law" discussion of the subject
took place. 1t was the general opinion that
better results could be obtained from the
money expended by township trustees if aid
were not thoughtlessly given to professional
beggarS who work upon the SympathieS of
business men and secure their assistance in
getting something from the officials. Amos
w. Butler and James r. Carnahan spoke
concerning the care of the insane in the
nounced, and it was suggested that the
Legislature be called upon to make pro-
vision for the insane of the State. Rev. r.
V. Hunter spoke about 'Tramps." He sug-
gested the establishment of Inns where the
tramp could receive food and lodging If he
would work and upon no other condition.
Reception for Miss Wilson.
A large reception was given yesterday
afternoon at the Bates House in honor of
Miss Mary Wilson, of Evansville, the first
woman president of the State Conference of
Charities. Mrs. w. A Peelle introduced
Miss Wilson, and assisting in receiving were
Mrs. Anna Wilson, Miss Alice Wilson, Mrs.
Hennessy and Mrs. Britt. The reception
! parlor was decorated with palms and yellow
decorated with yellow and white flowers.
J Assisting in the several parlors were Mrs.
/ Susan McKernan, who has been longest con-
nected with charity work in this city, Mrs.
A. NJ. Sweeney, Mrs. Frank Kenny, Mrs. e.
7. Kenny, Mrs; S. K. Shepard, Mrs: NJ. j.