The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-09-24
PRISON REFORM.

throughout this country, by represent
alive men and women, is under dis
cussion by various journals, and pro-
posed reforms in dozens of ways are
advocated by those whose duty it is
to preside as wardens, jailors and sup
erintendents of penal institutions.
With all this discussion and the
proposed plans of the enthusiasts in
this movement, one man has started
out upon lines altogether different from
those suggested by men and women
who have studied, the question. This
man, John l.. Whitman, in charge of
the Cook county Jail in Chicago, has
ideas of his own which he is putting
into practice. He believes that a
man incarcerated in a penal institu-
ton should not be reminded continu-
ally of the crime or misdemeanor for
which he is undergoing punishment;
and, that those unfortunates who
come under his care may be taught
again the principles of good citizen
ship, he has formed among his prison
ers what he sees fit to term 1.-THE
John L. Whitman Moral Improvement
Association. " This association is not
an organization of enthusiasts upon
the question of prison reform, but is
composed of the inmates of Cook
county Jail. The object Of this as
ISOLATION is to give words of cheer
and hope, aud outline system where
by better life may be led by every
prisoner upon his leaving the institu-
ton. Every inmate is made to feel
a responsibility as member of the
association. The work of Mr.. Whit
man, during the fourteen months of
the life of this new association, has
been a striking example OF the fruits
of what may be termed practical
Christianity. Not content with
minS ling among the inmates and try
ing to inculate among them desire
to tdrn over new leaves, he has these
men and women under his charge
mingle with each other and discuss
the affairs of the world and make
suggestions for the betterment OF
their condition when they shall be
allowed by the law to 60 free.
The founder of this association has
interested the representative men,
bers of the bar of Illinois in his
work, who in turn have taken such
an interest in the Within an scheme of
reform that the inmates of Cook
county Jail have had the opportunity
of listening to words of wholesome
advice from the judges of the circuit
and superior courts of Illinois. These
men have voluntarily appeared be-
fore the assembled prisoners in
this institution, explained to them
the object of law and impressed upon
their listeners the truth that the laws
and their enforcement are necessary
for the maintenance of government, a
thing not understood clearly by many
who had violated the laws.
That this association has succeeded
in making better men and woman of
those, who, by misfortune or other
wise, have become inmates of the Jail
no one will doubt when it is known
that upon the death of the late Presi-
dent Mckinley these people, felons,
deprived of their liberty and denied
the ordinary pleasures of life, mani
tested depth of feeling and grief
over the nations loss that was truly
marvellous. These people, as members
OF this association, drew up a set of
resolutions embodying their feelings
upon that occasion and held a me-
mortal service in honor of the dead
President. This is only one of per-
haps hundred examples that might be
given concerning the results of this
new association which bids fair to
be the pioneer of prison reform.
The founder of this association is in
receipt of many letters from men and
women who have left his charge to
make new start in the battle of life,
and as one reads copies of these letters
published in the monthly journal
which is edited by members of the
association, the influence of John L.
Whitman and his Moral Improve
ment Association can be discerned
in every line. Mr. Whitman has
started out to educate those in his
charge and is doing so not in COM
pulsory way but by showing them the
advantages accruing from such an ed
ucation. Press, pulpit, bar, and
public in Illinois are contriving in
every possible way to further Mr..
Whitman ideas as to prison reform
and his efforts are being crowned
with success from the fact that his
prisoners, becoming imbued with the
thought that there are people outside
the institutions walls who take an
interest in them, have taken an inter-
est in themselves and have adopted the
associations motto, Better late than
never.