The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-07-03
TORE ABOUT THE REFORMATORY
Progress i've Farmer.

Progressive fariier.
We are publishing this week two
more letters regarding the re1OrIna-
tory. both OF which reached Us be-
fore last week S Progressive Farmer,
containing our editorial on this SUD
iect was sent out One OF these let
tcrs opposes the refOrmatOry; the
other fayOrs it. And it is, very nat
urallv, a man who has seen the
workings OF such institutions, a pro
gressive young Tennessee farmer,
Who champions the reformatory,
while Mr.. Fleming and Mr. Andrews,
no doubt, are writing from hearsay,
though with the best OF motives. 1t
is very noticeable that the men VINO
see the work of such institutions be
come convinced Of their merit. And
in States which once establish re-
formatOries they are never dlscOn.
timed. And since the testimony OF
men who have seen and tested Il
thing is usually better than that OF
men who have only heard rumors re-
pardinr it. we are inclined to attach
more weight TO the views OF MIR. Mil
Ter than to those of our two other
correspondents.
Mr.. Miller had not seen our edltO-
rial when he wrote, but 1t Is note
worthy that he makes the very same
point that we emphasized last week,
namely, that it is cheaper to pay
S12J "a wear to set IL boy right III Il
| rcfOrmatory than to pay practically
the same sum for his maintenance III
a wOrkhOuse or prison no prepare
him for Il life OF crime.
! Moreover, the Henderson GOLD
LEAF presents the antl-refOrmatOry
| side in its last issue. The proper
ton OF young negro criminals IS SO
much larger than that OF young
white criminals. it says, that 1.-THE
State would not be able to provide
an institution big enough to ac
commodate them But this is not
valid argument. There would be
OF course, two institutions, one 1Ol
each race. But not all youthful
transgressors would go to the re
formatOry; the Judges would us'
their own discretion in such matters
If the State could not easily care To-
all young offenders, the proportion
could be kept in the ratio OF the pop
ulation OF the races-GG per cent
white, 81 per cent. negro-and onl,
the negroes most likely to be bene
fitted taken.
The GOLD LEAF also falls into tn
exploded and grOundless error tina
, the reformatOry would be Il goo'
, 'place to be taken care OF and edu
cated;' but we said enough us t.
this last week. AS Mr.. Miller point
; out III his letter, the training is har
and rigorous enough to keep tn
| place from being attractive, while a
T. the same time the wholesome mtil
ences. hard work and stern discipline
bring out the best that is Ill tt
young offenders. The officers kno
they have wild colts to break, an
Mr.. Andrews ard the GOLD LEAF Ill
Y | seriously i'll error i'll thinking thu
/ only easy namby-pamby training
t given.
! In spite OF all the dust that hi
u been raised. these great facts stan
q out as firm as Il stone wall: The I
O formatory makes good citizens
: thrpe-fourths of the young offender
e the prison doesn't. The reformation
: trains away from crime, the prise
4 towards crime. The reformation
:. spends money to strengthen ana I
/ form erring boys and girls; the pr
# on spends money to make the
II worse.
l. North Carolina needs the reform