The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-10-27
OREGON
PRISON
REFORM
Subject Discussed by a
Salem Minister
Says FlOgging of Prisoners
IS BarbarOuSly Cruel
DenunciatiOn of Saloons as
Cause of All Crimes


Prison Reform" was the theme of
the Sunday morning discourse of Rev.
II. A Ketchum, pastor of the First
Presbyterian church. The subject was
suggested by the National Conference
.of Charities, which had requested that
the various churches of the country
set aside as Prison Sunday" the last
Sabbath Of October, and preach an
appropriate sermon on that occasion.
The speaker said that he was not
disposed to critcise the management
of any one penal institution, but to
suggest only what he thought would
be beneficial in the conduct of such
reformatories. He said further that he
was acquainted with only the superin-
tendent of the Oregon state prison,
whom he knew to be a most estimable
man, but ne did not know any of the
other officials at that institution. In
discussing the subject, DR.. Ketchum
said in part:
Webster has defined penitentiary
as a place for the penitent, an institu-
ton of confinement, punishment and
reformation for violators of the law.
Some men, who have been committed
to the prison, may realize that the way
of the transgressor is hard, and come
away from the place better men, but
so far as the prison fails in this pur-
pose IL is a failure. There are several
classes OF criminals. Among them
are those who are innocent of the
crimes of which they have been con
victed; another class consists of Of
tenders and violators OF the law, who
are victims largely of other mems
crimes. They are deserving of punish
ment but are not criminals There is
third class of criminals, those who
take delight in committing crime and
for this class the penitcntiary is prob
ably the only agency by which n refor-
nation can be accomplished.
Ohicials Of these prisons, who are
kept In their places by political pulls
will probably say that outsiders know
nothing about the management of
such places, that the officials are
called upon TO deal with an exception
al class. II is true that a large per
centage of the criminals in the prisons
are of an exceptional class, still
where there Is one dangerous, corrupt
and vicious man within the prison
walls, there are 10 or more outside,
and the minister is also called upon
to deal with an exceptional class.
nave visited three state penitentaries,
and have failed TO note any apparent
desire or purpose on the part of the
officials 20 reform the men under their
charge No incentive or encourage
ment Is given the criminal to lead a
better, nobler purer life. one great
fault in the management of prisons is
tween the different classes OF Grimm
ais.
Tho laws Of Oregon make no pro
vision for spiritual adviser and
teacher for the prison. A minister
visiting the state prison here Is not
allowed to converse with a prisoner
except I'm the presence of a guard, and
this places the convict on the defen-
sive and defeats more effective relig |
lous work. There should be for the
state penitantiary regularly employed !
chaplain. who should have access 10 |
the prison at all times.
Men cannot be reformed by cOmpul- |
sion. The logging Of men In prisons
Is cruel and brutal. The officials have
no right TO be cruel. The tying OF
men by their hands and lashing them
until the blood runs down their backs, !
is barbarous and inhuman, and Is a !
mode OF punishment that belongs 10 /
the dark ages Men may be tortured |
into submission. but never into refOr- |
nation. Men OF pure and chaste char |
acters should be placed in charge OF
prisons. The sentence Of the court Is |
enough. without officers assuming the |
right 10 use obscene language around |
the prisoners and inflict upon them eN- |
crutiating torture TO embitter and ag
grayate the men. len in prisons are |
sick morally, and cruelty and violence |
only harden their hearts. While gull (
" men deserve punishment, still pun !
Ishment is not tae object Of the pris- !
On. but rather reformation and regen- |
Grafton. Men In prisons should be |
taught a useful trade or occupation,
and when discharged should be given |
an equal chance with others 10 become |
useful citizens. Under present cOndi- |
ions IN lnlh bNdltt lllfH ar l'i'o"'N
rom the state penitentiary with no
money. friends or occupation, which Is
,nly 10 invite further crime The
public should not discard a man be
.ause he has been in prison. Rev
<etchum next declared that the sa-
oCn places more men In the peni-
entiary. Jail, asylum and poor farm
han an the other works Of the flesh
md the devil combined, THE saloon
5 the cause Of all causes Of the social
wills today. and, while II exists, little
oWard reform will be done The con
rol and management Of prisons is
argely i'm the hands OF the politicians.
Politics are largely controlled by the
aloon. which is the feeder OF the pen
tenuary. Present conditions suggest
he old adage, an ounce Of preyen.
ion Is worth a pound yes a ton, Of
ure. The salvation of the country |
nd Improvement In conditions gener
lly lies In the saving OF the boys,
The saloons and the gambling dens OF /
he city rob tne boys OF their charac-
er and their money and then the prls- /
N doors open 20 receive them. The |
aylng of the boys means the saving /
II the men. and then the church and /
he country are saved
There was a good attendance al the /
eryice which included a solo by Mrs.
2 A Virgins. who sang There Were
D..