The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-14

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vogue In almost every prison In the coun-
try. This system was the whole under
lying principle OF prison reform.
After the hundred OF years OF the penal
system In this country with little real
chance for reform. more good has been
arrived at through the work of the Pris-
oners' Aid association In the 21 years Of
Its life than In all the other time put to-
gether.
A RANK FAILURE.
For 100 years the prison system in this
country was rank failure. the criminal
classes increasing faster in pgoportion
to the population, than the population
of the country. The whole idea seemed
10 be 10 destroy the individuality of the
prison.
The association is trying to make the
criminal believe that there Is man in
him, TO SO shape the criminal laws as-te
make the criminal believe and to fill tine
prisons with this idea from foundation TO
capstone. said the speaker.
The speaker protested against the GRIM
inal class being made class by them
selves and apart from the rest OF us It
is the duty of the Christians OF our city
to look out for the 400 criminals in the
state institutions at Cranston. There is
a safe spot in all OF them, ne said. and
even when we see them marching I'm lock
step. they are bound to the same place
that we are. the grave.
The yearning for the same heaven ana
the possibility of the same God are I'm
them.
- The speaker told of going once to a
gathering and taking with him a large
number OF measurements of the criminal
class according to the Bertillon system
The heads OF IL OF the distinguished men
Anf
system and nine of them came within
the criminal measurements
There are but two ways to remove the
criminal class. Mr.. Round said, one way
is 10 reform them. The criminal, he saiu
Is the most innocent man in the worto
outside OF his profession, and yet these
innocent ones are the hardest TO re-
form.
PRISONER A MACHINE.
The whole system of the mass idea Is
to make the prisoner a money making
machine for the state, and in one wear
In that system $50, 900 was made in the
prisoners of the state of New York and bur
lS per cent were known to have been le-
claimed out OF over 1000 criminals in the
prison
Under the old system a prisoner WAS
sentenced 70 any number of years accord
ing to the digestion and the temper or
the judge. The undermining note sys-
tenn In New York is working splendidly
the speaker said. A prisoner found rum,
Is sent to prison for an indefinite time
not longer than the statutes say, and is
released when the officials of the prison
think he has sufficiently reformed and
wall make a good citizen. no matter IL he
has only been there one year
Since this system has been IN
vogue the figures of reformation have
peen reversed and 81 per cent can now
be said TO leave the prisons reclaimed
Eleven states have adopted the system
ar and IN all OF them the system has work
The speaker said that he had often been
asked II there were many of the crimi,
nails so bad as to be nreclaimab Bile and
gave II as his opinion that not more. than
Mr.. Round closed with an appeal FOR the
criminal coming out OF the prison brand
ed with shame.
There are plenty of criminals in the
world with blasted manhood. who are
looking for a place in society" he said
They come out with high hopes and re
solves. Many senumentalists, who talk
10 them OF the willingness of the world
TO receive them, do much unthinking
harm.
II always tell them they are going to
have hard time OF 1t. and prepare for H.
You may not care - take the man into
your employ. but there. must be some
oners' Aid society to make provision for
him. The loneliness and utter desoiation
OF the convict returning TO the world is
awful stretch out hand to these men
struggling on the lowest round OF respec-
liability" He urged the formation OF a
Prisoners AID society in this city.
The annual election OF officers was the
last business TO be taken up. and on the
recommendation OF the nominating com
elected:
First vice-president. Rev. J. j. woolley;
second vice-nresident. Robert w. Ru-,
bank; secretary. Royal N. Gladding;
treasurer. Charles II. Philbrick: executive |
committee. Charles r. Angel William u !
Flagg. Henry ID, Hervey, Richard Z. Ly |
tlenold. Walter II. Durfee Harry NJ |
HUtch.ns. Samuel r. Prentice: auditor, |
William Il. Goodwin.
According 10 custom the president was /
elected from the noor. and Prof. Nathan /
el T.. Davis OF Brown was elected for the !
ensuing year. adjournment then being /
Iakcn.