The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-08-14
CHARITY BOARDS
ARE TO MEET.
Stark County Visiting Commit
tees Will be There.
SOME IMPORTANT MATTERs
Will be Discussed and Prison Reform vii
He One Of Them Duties Of on
GERS of Municipsli-

GERS of Municipali-
ties.
Arrangements are now being made
for the tenth annual conference of the
board of charities and correction In
Ohio. 1t is to be held in Dayton Octo-
Der 9, 10, IL and IL. All boards Of char
tiles, prison boards, infirmary boards,
visiting committees and the like are
expected to be present. The Ohio Bull
letin, devoted to the subject Of prison
methods and reforms, has just been is
sued and 1t contains some valuable
suggestions along the line of the cor
rection of the lives of those who have
gone wrong and become social outcasts.
One of the first things in the bulletin is
long discussion on the subject of
"Lawlessness in the Courts"
The subject Is opened as follows:
Is it not a serious matter when the
police magistrates of our state, more
particularly those of the larger cities of
Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus,
not only ignore. but openly defy state
law for the enforcement of which
they are especially responsible-a law
enacted for the protection Of our COM
munities from the
LAWLESS AND VICIOUS,
and the operation of which contributes
to the general peace and comfort of the
community, and the safety of it's homes
and citizens?
What is the attitude Of the vicious
and criminal element of our cities to-
ward administrations that openly re-
fuse to enforce or quietly ignore laws
non taI I1ty 1nNHc 90 ,tvrl atxtn
and reduce viciousness, drunkenness
and crime?
What good reason or excuse is there
for this quiet encouragement, for en-
couragement 1t Is, intentional or not,
of the criminal class by magistrates?
How far has justice allowed the band
age to slip from her eyes in order that
she may see the influence and number
the votes Of the delinquent and law
less?
Attention was then called to the
cumulative sentence law which pro-
vides that offenders may have their
sentences doubled up upon every reap
pearance before the magistrate for mis-
demeanors.
STATISTICS ARE CITED
to show how some criminals have been
sent to the workhouse as many as 100
times under the prevailing short time
sentences. Still magistrates fail to en-
force the cumulative sentence law.
One Of the best things in the bulletin
is an article from penitentiary inmate
who signs himself Bill Nye, 30,1SS. His
theme is why are so many Men Re-
turned to Prison Second Timer" He
says:
Are they returned because their
criminal tendencies and characteristics
could not be cured by their first term OF
| Imprisonment? Oh, no. That is not
| the cause. The real cause of the return
| of the majority is the lack OF encour-
agement by the public upon their re-
lease. They are turned adrift without
any visible means Of support, or funds
| sufficient to reach a place of employ
ment where, at reduced wages, they
may earn enough money to buy the nec-
essaries Of life.
"Give discharged prisoners some kind
| Of work. even at reduced wages, and
you will find they will lead honest lives
as long as they can earn a living. But
| turn them out into the snow, rain and
sleet, hungry and without the price OF
meal in their possession, to earn a
| living, and what are they 10 do? 1t is
probable they will steal before they will
| starve. How many are there who
would not do the same under like cir
cumstances? There is something wrong
with our social and industrial system
which needs many changes.
GIVE MEN EMPLOYMENT
and you will find the doors of our re-
formatories, penal institutions, county
jails and city prisons open and the for
mer occupants engaged in earning ar
honest living and they become taxpay-
ers instead Of tax consumers.
How many men have resolved to
lead an honest life after leaving prison
What Is the result? Nothing with
which to start anew in life; Stunned
and scoffed at by reason Of their mis-
fortune; reduced to poverty and star
| walton, what must they do? There is
not one man in thousand, In case OF
| actual want for the care of his family
but who will appeal to some dishonora-
BILE means to appease his hunger. Nc
| man will see his little children starve.
Men who say they would starve before
they would steal have never had the ex-
perience to test their faith in this line
| by a keen appetite. This Is the cordi-
tion of ninety-nine out Of every HUH
dred men discharged from the prisons
Of our land at the present time.
"There has been too much injustice
practiced upon the supposed criminals
by the press Of the country because
| they have once fallen. That should not
be sufficient reason why they cannot re-
turn to the same society that once con
| demned them, and become good citizens
IL only given a chance and encouraged
to do so. If the public and press will
take some interest In discharged pris-
| oners not one out of a hundred would
again be returned to prison for COM
mitting crime. The question now
confronting us is, will they do it?"
Willis Kinks Dead.
Willie Kinks, a son OF Mrs Carl Kinks,
visiting Anton TurataSki re-