New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-17
~CAKE HOME IN THEIR ooFFINs."
STARTLING ASSERTION MADE ABOUT Ell
MIRA EEFoRMAroRY BEFORE CHARITY
ORGANIZATION SOCIETY

David Willard, principal OF the Tombs Prison
Echool, yesterday morning made a startling state
1ienI ABOUT the ElHlira Reformatory at a monthly
conterehee OF the Charity Organization Society.
heid IN the United Charities Building No los
East Twenty-second- st He said that two bows
VINO had been taken TO the Elmira Reformatory
came home in their collins and that among the
members Of youthful street gangs with whom he
had intimate acquaintance there was a strong
unshaken feeling that boy would get out
OF that institution alive
me undertaken who had the OF the bodies
OF these two boys the speaker asserted said
mat these young inmates beaten to death"
Principal Willard admitted that he had no personal
knowledge OF any cruelty but" he added II
nave heard the story OF these unfortunate boys
so many tnes-at least ten-and from so widely
dlTerent sources. that I hare come to fear there
Is something to substantiate #. I do not wish TO
make any charges. might investigate the mat
ter myself. Anyway. the Cherry-st gang believe
that one OF their members Hobo who has just
been sent to Elmira, win never return alive"
Mrs. J. H Johnston, president Of the Little
Mothers Aid Society said that superintenG-
eat B-ockway mad the custom OF bluntIy ask
ing man who came up before him for examna-
ton: Does your mother get drunk?'' IT. Mrs.
Johnston continued. the Offender should happen
TO be a Hebrew, who makes reverence for parents
part Of his religI US faith, he VIII strongly
sent the inquiry Superintendent Brockway's idea
is to start the men at the bottom and begin the
reform that place"
AAIeF Ihe meeting Mrs johnston said: II any
thing is 70 be said this matter let Mr.. Brock
way be given the credit of possessing consistency
He is one Of those ancient Calvinists who believe
In hell and even when he is applying a shingle to
a mans hide he feels that he is doing good by
fighting the bad"
One woman speaking in the meeting said that
in treating these unfortunate boys the highest
qualities yet left in them should be stimulated
rather than the basest. This sentiment vigor-
ously applauded.
Walter W-vcxofF of F0rinoa+or
author Of The Workers was the first speaker
introduced by Miss Kate Bond the chairman DR..
Wyckor spoke The Field for Organized Work
in Economic Improvement" These of
the things he said:
The great work Of organized charity is q pal
Hat1ve, a curative. The usual is for m
mediate results and these cries lead to Socialism
and Anarchy. and toward the revolutionizng Of
the prevailing conditions; but the first duty Is
understand the conditions rather than to revolu-
tionize them
1t has been said that all men cannot find work
whenever they want IT, / have found that where
is unattached, without family ties. and
can move about he can find a Job any time and
all the time, and anywhere and everywhere.
Professor Wyckon said that individual charity
was not force. The chief forces educational,
economic and legislative.
Principal Willard said that Bowery boys went in
gangs or pushes" They could not stay in their
homes If they had any, for there
there. He gave the history of each member Of
push in Cherry-st. Now the last Of them
had gone to an institution. Abandoned by their
parents their weak wills could not deliver them
from temptation One cause for crime among
live for few cents a day. The speaker recon-
mended boys CLUBS.