Sunday Washington globe., 1902-02-23

tried and found wanting,
ReformatorY systems have been generally
speaking, applied TO the young on TIE sup
position apparently that nothing could be
done for the children of larger growth. 2
When Mr. Coffin took control Of the Ohio
Penitentiary he found the same old system
prevailing that was in vogue more than
sixty years ago, and the rules. with but
triaing changes, were the same as those
published in the printed report Of the
Board Of Directors Of the prison in 1884.
The system had its advantages. II was
convenient-foE the officials. II solved all
problems by the turning Of a key Nothing
could be simpler or easier for the head Of
the institution TO endure When you had
your man locked up, there was an end Of
all argument, and you could go 10 sleep in
peace or recline safely in your easy chair.
AS for his wants, hopes. desires, griev-
ances, anxieties about his family-what
business had convict with any Of tkeseY
Such privileges were for the sree
Legislation of late years has prescribed
that the prison should be conducted in
such manner as, If possible, TO secure the
reformation Of the prisoner.
Society can be adequately protected only
by the reformation of the criminal, aud
that such reformation must use, as a foun-
dation, the restored self-respeCt of the
prisoner. When you have laid that foun-
dation, you have something reliable to
build upon without it. you have nothing.
There is an old saying: When a man
respects himself, he respects others"
When he has lost the priceless possession
Of self-respect, he has lost all respect for
the rights of the people, and has become
dangerous ANIMAL more dangerous than
any wild beast, because more intelligent
Undue severity. harsh measures and
harsh language destroy the selfrespect Of
the man who is obliged TO hear them with
out protest or reply They absolutely, and
from the start, preclude the possibility Of
softening the criminals Callous nature;
hence gentleness, mingled with 6Tmness,
should mark the proper demeanor Of Of
fcials and guards toward the prisoner.
ME convicted man is sufficiently pun
ished by the loss of his liberty, his for
feited intercourse with his family his
enforced and ill-paid toll, and the constant
discipline to which he is subjected
The law of Ohio provides that the SEN
tenee Of a prisoner, who conducts himself
properly, shall be diminished by certain
number of days per month. If his term is
for one year, he shall be allowed deduc-
tion of five days from each of the twelve
months of his sentence, A two-year SEN
tence may be reduced by six days from each
month; three-year sentence by eight days;
a four-year sentence by nine days, 1--WE
year sentence by ten days. and six-year
sentence and upward eleven days per
month. The prisoners have great respect
for this law, and the loss Of their good time
is not lightly regarded. Its loss means
longer deprivation of liberty, and the most
hardened man loves his freedom as dearly
as his milder brother does. 1t is scarcely
possible to over-rate the restraining in
auence exercised by the officials in depriv-
ing prisoner of portion of his good time
as one Of the punishments for misconduct.
II is powerful lever in their hands.
1t is obvious that if the good time, or any
portion thereof that has been forfeited, is
lightly restored-given back without any
special merit on the prisoners part-thc
restraining effect of such penalty will be
destroyed and the last state of that man will
be worse than the first. But the knowl-
edge that il may be restored for meritorious
conduct is a potent agent in promoting the
habit Of selfrestraint and self-improve-
ment in the man who has once lost il by
lapse of his department.
If a prisoner, who has lost good time,
walks thereafter with conspicuous order
liness showing thereby as ensible penitence
for his wrong doing a portion, at least, of
his good time may be restored TO him
The good time law is one Of the wisest
and most humane measures ever enacted
by a modern legislature II takes the place
of a hundred guards, by the self-restraint
that it awakens in the prisoners breast; it
makes unn ecessary some precautions for
merly deemed necessary to prevent out
breaks among prisoners; II obviates danger
Gus conspiracies to escape it makes the
prisoner who might otherwise be inclined
to desperation, reflect upon the weight Of
the loss he would sustain If he did not curb
himself, but allowed his passion to break
forth in unruly behavior; il mitigates too
severe sentences imposed upon convicted
men by courts during periods of local pre-
judice; it is the voice of mercy heard in
every sentences il offers an incentive to
quiet conduct that nothing else could
bestow; il kindles hope in the waiting
prisoners heart as the months or years 20
by, and finally, when he is discharged, he
feels that he is the recipient Of precious
reward that-he has earned as an upright
man, and this, in itself. is a bright factor in
his reformation.
The most embittering experience of the
prisoner is the putting on, for the FIRST time
of the striped garb Of a convict, thing that
in itself almost precludes the possibility of
his reformation. He feels that he has put
off the last remnant of his self-respect with
his civilians dress, and henceforth he is
likely to live for revenge and depreciation
He loses all care for his personal appear
ance. How could he do otherwise, with his
hideous, zebra-like coat confronting him
every time he combs his scant hair before a
glassl The man, who might at one time
have been the Beau Brummel of his set
has now a slouching gait and a hang-dog
look Nothing could make the garb attrac-
tive to the eye the more the clothes brush
was used the more painfully apparent the
stripes became, and the more pronounced
the wearers degradation. While we may
say 1T is the heart and not the coat that
makes the man, clothes play an important
part in maintaining a mans self-respect. If
he has presentable coat on his back he
feels more respectable than in rags or mot