Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-19
PROBLEM OF BAD GIRLS
Discussion as to What Age
Should Determine the Time
iof Their Release.
Heads Of Institutions Discussing
Reform School Problems
at Des Moines.
The Spauldins Litigation in Cir.
cum1ocution..Iowa Man APP
pointed by President.
speciaffo Times-Repbulican.


atory for. girls came in for a short but
breezy fiittle discussion at the confer
ence Of heads of institutions here, ana
at this discussion it was developed
rather unexpectedly that there is wide
difference Of opinion among those who
are making a special study of this and
similar questions. superintendent
Fitzgerald, of the Iowa Industrial
school for girls, read an able paper in
which he advocated that the age limit
for girls should be the same as for
boys or in other words, that 1t ought
to be II. the power of the officials TO
keep q. girl who needs reforming at
Mitchellville until she Is 81, and not
be forced to turn her loose, perhaps
and illiterate. at the age OF
1S. Mr.. Fitzgerald had obtained from
the heads of similar institutions else
where in. the United States statistics
showing that 95 per cent OF them think
that 81 should be considered the time
for releasing inmates, that all OF them
believe reform is the only salvation or
the girls, that most of the girls on en-
tering the reformatories are illiterate,
that most Of them are devoid of do
mestic accomplishments, and that the
proper field for such school is to edu-
cate as we'll as restrain. He stated
that the most of the girls received at
are from 15 to l6 years
old and not younger. AT the boys re-
form school the inmates may be kept
until they are 81. Why should those at
the girls school be turned adrift at Is
to make their way in the world? But
Mr.. COwnie stated that he thought
there should be two distinct institu-
tions-a reformatory or school for the
men, and that after they have been
turned out from the girls school they
should be returned to the reformatory
soi ss ,1a'e5 = shcs nGAj fCTther cor-
rection. Judge Robinson did not agree
with Mr.. Cownie in this view. Here
is the real question as to whether or
not the state of Iowa should have the
reformatory for women at
Anamosa. There are not a sufficient
number of women there now to make
it necessary. Superintendent Fttzger
aid says there are no inmates Of his
school who should be sent to the pro-
posed acknowledgement one. Unless
can explain how subjects for
a female reformatory can be secured
in Iowa the project to have one must
fail.
Judge Ben S. Baker, of Omaha, who
has just received the appointment of
Judge of the United States court for
New Mexico, is an Iowa man, a gradu-
ate of the law class of 1874 at the Iowa
State University, and we'll known in the
state, tho he has lived in Nebraska
some years. A few years ago Judge Ba-
ker was candidate for the republican
for governor of Nebraska,
and received the loyal SUPPORT of the
county delegation. He is very
popular in Omaha. 1t is probable that
in part the appointment of Baker to the
federal position In New Mexico Is due to
another former Iowa man, a friend of
Judge Baker. Capt. William II. Level
len, United States attorney for the
southern district Of New Mexico. Capt.
Lewellen started out in a career of
in southwestern Iowa,
then drifted into Omaha, where he be-
came town marshal, later helped round
up the Bat Masterson gang of train rob
ber, in Northern Nebraska and Wag
finally sent to New Mexico to take care
of one of the meanest Indian resefva-
tiOns in the world. A few years ago
Lewellen was speaker of the house III
New Mexico, He was captain in one of
the genuine cowboy companies that
went to Cuba with Roosevelt. He was
in Washington a few days ago and took
dinner with his former chief of the
rough riders and had the honor of being
invited by Mrs Roosevelt to accompany
her to the theater. No one familiar with
the situation can doubt that Capt. Lew
ellen said good word while in Wash
ington for his old friend Ben Baker, of
Omaha. And Baker will fill the position
with entire satisfaction.
John Hayes, of Red Oak, who was
recently beaten in the supreme court in
his litigation with the University OF
Illinois, was at the state house yester-
[iay and inquired as to the costs In the
case, etc, and announced that he will
not ask for rehearing, tho notice of
intention to file such a motion had been
given. The case will go back for re-
trial. The decision of the New Hamp-
shire court, diametrically opposed to
the view taken by the Iowa court, has
not yet been received here, but the case
will go back to Montgomery county for
a retrial and then perhaps be taken
back to the supreme court a second
time. The case grows out of the de-
falcation OF Treasurer Spaulding, who
served a term in the penitentiary for
failing to account for a little matter OF
a half million dollars.
Today the Octogenearian Club. of Des
Moines paid it's respects to the vener-
able Noah Brockaway Bacon, the Oldest
man Of the state, aged 102. this being
the anniversary of his birth. Mr.. Ba-
con is now so feeble that he lies help
less on a bed at the home of his son. A
wear ago the Octogenarian Club called
ON him and the members We're greeted
by; the old man pleasantly. but this
yearshe is past the recognition Of any
one.
The portrait Of Judge 6. s. Robinson