The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-25
REFORMATORY
Is FAVORED
BEFORE PAROLE
10 Oklahoma by Many Who
Have Investigated,
SHOULD Do SOMETHING
For the Young Men Who are
In Prison for the First 0fenSe

Guthrie. O. T. Nay 24.-since the ques-
ton Of paroling prisoners from OkIaho-
ma, now in the Kansas penitentiary,
has been brought up there has been an
unusual amount of discussion on this
proposition. There is decided senti-
ment for and against such a plan; al
though many attorneys have expressed
the hope that something OF this kind will
be carried out in fhe territory
Judge 2. T. Hainer Of Perry one Of
the members OF the supreme court, IA
vors a reformatory for Oklahoma, hav-
ing a law making it optional for the trial
Judge TO sentence a man to the peni-
Tertiary or reformatory. In this man
ner many Of the first crime" men could
be taken care Of. and by the time that
thsy were released from the institution
would be enabled TO go out in the world
and make living at some trade learned
in the reformatory In regard 10 the
matter Judge Hainer says:
4 am in favor Of Oklahoma having a
reformatory. do not know much about
the parole system which is being dis
cussed. but until I look into the matter
am inclined 20 believe that a refo-1natory
with the proper laws regarding the send
ing ef persons to it. would be better for
tbs territory than parole system. There
are convicts in the penitentiary who
should not be there. I do not mean by
this that they were not properly con
Victed. but that it would be much bet
ter were they serving the same length
OF time in a reformatory. At the pres
ent time there are many young men.
mere boys. who. if Oklahoma had a re-
formatory would be learning something
20 be Of immense value to them after.
being released from the institution and
returned to everyday lfe in the territory.
II a law could be made leaving it 70 the
Judges of the courts whether a man
should be sent 10 the penitentfaBy or to
the reformatory, it would be a splendid
thing There are cases where men have
committed crimes which are their fist,
and. had we a reformatory, these men
would be in far better condition when
they serve their time than now. As the
law IS the prisoner convicted by a jury,
with d sentence recommended by a body
of men. the judge has nothing TO do but
pronounce the sentence and send the
man 10 the pententiary. when in some
N-9No l4N NNtAiA i1AaA4l t'ttLNA ~ HN-l'- nm
TO a reformatory. for the Sood Of ire
man and the community at.Iarge."
Governor Ferguson has been consioer-
Ing the advisa blitY OF recommending
20 the next territorial legislature. that
some plan be devised whereby a place
can be arranged to care for the youth
convicted of crime n the territory.
II have often)thought az reformatory
for Oklahoma" said Governor Ferguson.
but have never been able to reach a
decision in regard to the matter. At
this time ] would not care % state what
my actions viii De relative to reforma-
tory. There is no question. however.
but what something should be done 10
take care of the youthful criminals of
Oklahoma, and no better plan has been
suggested than having a reformatory.
1t seems 10 ne that there are too many
boys in the penitenuary. and that some
thing should be done to take care of
them