The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-10-06
grand organization. the WOmans
Christian Temperance union
PRISON CONGRESS

AT the meetings OF the Congress Of
] the National Prison association, held the
I last OF September. in Hartford Conn.
| some very important subjects ana plans
| were carefully considered by those who
have given intelligent Thought and a
| life study 10 the various phases Of pris-
| on life; also by those who In their life
| work had stood between the criminal
| classes and the state.
The humane and intelligent treatment
| of evil dOers I'm our prisons today is "A
great contrast 10 that given in the last
| century. and while the condition OF
| prisoners Is ameliorated, pun simmer MT is
! not eliminated and detention made
agreeable to those convicted OF henous
offence but the more hopeful criminals
are given every announcement TO re-
form. They are supplied with the me-
cessities and simpler comforts OF life,
and are managed by the kind, but
strong hans of discipline, while held as
servants Of the state
In the subjects presented the follow
Ing thought was expressed: Criminals
in general are not sane people. The
mind is of rs proper balance, and the
power of Distinguishing right and
wrong is very weak. and commonly the
will Is so nervelcss as to make the con-
Wet often appear irresponsible. Such
people should be kept constantly In Sc
curity."
I'm the study Of prison labor for more
than "A score OF years Hon. Carroll II.
Wright. United States Commissioner OF
Labor, has drawn the following conclu-
sions:
That for incorri glbles and recidivists
that form Of labor should be adopted
which requires the largest expenditure
OF muscle i'm proportion TO tho cost OF
raw materials, and the least outlay OF
capital.
That very many men now sent to
prison by the courts should be sent 10
the insane asylum.
That It Is the interest OF labor and
capital TO reduce the number Of prison.
ers rather than constantly TO attack the
systems OF prison labor
That I'm the conduct OF prisons and
the employment OF prisoners the ply
sician's point of view should be fol-
lowed: that is, the cure OF the moral
maladies i'm state prisons, as Well as the
cure Of mental and physical maladies in.
other inst buttons should be the basis
of management.
That i'm the\ employment or convicts
the effects upon the treasury should
be incidental to the best effect upon the
community at large.
That the state should always conduct
it's prison and especially employ its
prisoners in such a way that the IN
divdual shall not be degraded.
The Rev. III. ~ Kelsey spoke OF The |
Work OF Prison Chaplain from a Pas
tors Point of View saying that some |
convicts VIII often respond TO kind |
ness they have never known, thelr |
minds Viii intuitively grasp at truths |
about God and Christ and the laws and |
the facts and possibilities Of noble liv- /
ing which they have never before had
opportunity to learn.
Rev. w. j. Bait said I'm his address |
upon THE Permanent Motive tor |
Prison Work." "All the study Of pris- |
oners that expert scientists can make |
we welcome. No such study will be In |
vain. The better We understand wrong !
dDerS the more we can do for them. 1
Prisoners are not 20 be regarded as a |
class set apart bv themselves. but as |
a part Of the great mass OF people for |
whom love bids US work
other speakers expressed the thought I
that the great need OF the hour is not |
the devising Of methods for dealing |
with discharged prisoners. 1t is such
an Improvement of public sentiment |
as shall make II possible for the eX- /
prisoner to have fair chance in the |
world TO bring this about there must |
be much educational work done. The
community must understand the criml-
nal better before il will treat him
wisely. before. during and after inn
prisonmcnt.
The discharged prisoner generally
expresses a desire TO lead better life. |
but the trouble is there is no ono TO |
assist him when he leaves the prison.
No one will employ him and he gets
discOura gcd. Ii becomes necessary for |
him to commit crime and he goes back
to prison. The parole system adopted
in switzerland relieves one of the dim
culties.
Massachusetts, appropri0tes Sl1 600
Annually to care for the discharged
prisoners. The agent talks with each
man and learns II he has a home and
employment in view. The agent visits
the home. If he has Cle. to ascertain
II the home is a proper one and to in
vestlgate the character of the employ
ment. II the conditions are not suitable
the prisoner is nor discharged. Caring
for the discharged prisoner is the
greatest Of reform work. The surprise
Is that so MANY 60 right
The Prisoners League" q society
formed by Mrs. Ballingtor Booth IN
institutions THAI she has
visited. is doing good work for dis
rusCners The prisoners wnu
iOin are taken TO New York and placed !
i'm one OF Mrs Booths homes whore
thev are all wed 90 remain until they |
obtain emplovmert.
IF social science were not blended |
by tradition nor hampered by custom.
it would quickly establish the one Tgnt !
method OF dealing with crime Since
every mans liberty is a Sqcrol right
as Tar as il IS consistent with IN rights
&C his fellows. IL would di~cc- that no
man be mprs ned unless . is r,C1r
that his FIRE" l1p is dangerous Co 9th
ers. aud that when once imprisoned no
man be freed until the dams 'r Is pass
ed.
"Th all but extreme odscs az doprav-
ity what is needed is that The social
motives i'm The man bc awakened and
strengthened thar tho hab'f ~ fore
sight. the sense oc rcspoarih.li'y, the
l-ci RI For tnc esteem )f h,I fc,lutS.
The sympathy with mankind. b. aroIs-
ad and called 90 constant artioE."
THE AMERICAN BOARD.
The fact that this splendid orglli-
zation for tho advance Of Christ -flng-
lom In the world is in debt recalls tho
annual meeting in Providence In iN,1
and the sDlendid success which then
the efforts TO cancel that debt
Tho generous Clft rendered nv Gvy
Mr.. Pulian. the recent Rev. Thomas
Laurie D. D.. OF one-third of his cs-
tate 5000 Will. V-a trust In folfaur.I