The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-06
TO AID EX-CONVICTS.
PUSHING WORK FOR RELEASED
PRISONERS.
Organized Friends Of EK-Prisoners he
Iieve IL Is Cheaper TO Keep a Man
Out Of Prison Than It Is to Keep
him In.

In a recently published opinion
George A. shideler. warden Of the In
diana state penitentiary, advocated
the formation Of an association Of
philanthropists. composed Of represen-
iatiye business men in the various
elites Of Indiana. for the purpose Of
reclaiming paroled and discharged
convicts by furnishing them with
situations at the critical period, just
after they have left the prison and
may be Influenced to lead honest lives
4 the opportunity of work is given
them.
This interview came to the notice
Of the officials Of the Central Howard
Association Of Chicago. an organiza-
tion formed about the first OF the year
Tor the purpose OF doing the work sug-
gested by Mr. shideler, says the Chi
eago News. The members commune
Gated with Mr. shideler, telling him Of
their association and inviting him to
Join It. He was greatly interested.
and after a visit of Dr. r. Emory
Lyon to Indianapolis accepted a po-
sition as member Of the board OF di-
rectors d.. Lyon has returned from
tour Of organization in Indiana and
Iowa.
The association sets forth its pur-
poses as follows:
To awaken public sentiment in be-
half Of the worthy ex-prisoner.
To secure employment for ex-pris-
oners, especially acting as first
friend" TO men entitled to parole.
To extend the advantages Of the
parole law and the indeterminate SEN
tence, and the juvenile court law.
To encourage measures for the con-
tinued improvement OF prison build
ings and discipline. particularly ia
county jails and city prisons, where il
is most needed.
To facilitate the organization OF 10
cal and state prisoners aid societies
and to act as d bureau Of cooperation
between them.
The association goes on the theory
that 1T is cheaper to keep a man out
OF prison than it is to keep him in
far better to make him a producing
factor IN society than a ward OF the
state" John l.. TAFT, secretary Of the
association, In speaking OF It's work,
said The point should be empha-
sized that In order 10 do anything for
ex-convicts or paroled prisoners II is
necessary for society TO recognize the
fact that a man is not forever lost as
useful member OF society because he
has been in prison once. There is no
doubt that the first few days after a
convict Is released brings a crisis in
his life. Becoming desperate through
his inability 10 secure work. meeting
only cold looks from his fellow men,
and soon exhausting the paltry means
AZ his command, be Is driven back 70
crime 70 that instead OF 80 per cent
Of such men being reclaimed to honest
lives. as there might be. not more than
half that number have been saved as
members OF society Although our
work is In It's infancy. we have met
with nattering success thus far Our
plan has been most heartily commend
ed BY prison authorities and criminol-
ogists all over the country. and we are
getting excellent support and co-opera-
tion from all the business men whom
We have been able to approach. be-
lieve that society. generally Is gradu- I
ally awakening 10 the importance OF I
this work. and people are being edu-
Gated up to that view OF the subject /
where they will be willing to give a 1
man who has once fallen another /
chance. instead OF forcing him to ex-
tend and round out his career in 1
crime. We have already secured posi- 4
tions FOR a number OF paroled men and /
ex-convicts in the city and surrounding
country and have received the most
satisfactory reports from the men
themselves and their employers"
The society Is named after the Brit
lsh Howard society. which was found
ed IN 1860. and bears the name OF the
great English prison reformer. John
Howard. who died in 1880 There are
other associations in this country hav-
Ing similar aims. The officers OF the
association are as follows. President.
Ephraim Banning; vice-president, S.
r. Winchell. secretary. John L. TAFT:
auditor. W. NJ R. French: counsel
Frederick A. Brown. chaplain. B F.
Boiler: superintendent. F. Emory Ly-
on; board OF directors. Ephraim Ban
ming. s r. Winchell. W. NJ. r. French.
Frederick A. Brown. B. f. Boiler
James S. Bullock Judge r. S. TuthW.
Frank s. komp. Francis A. Keller
George A. Shideler J. l. Whitman
and the Rev. H. W. Thomas.