The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-08

ents. Eighty per cent. of the convicts
of France are ilegitimate offspring, and
seventy per cent. of the criminals Of
this country either don't know their
parents or were born of parents who
We're divorced.
Another reason is the evil education
which the young malefactor receives by
being cast into prison with older Of
tenders. We have a fashion of doing
that here in this city and state, and it's
a burning shame that it cannot be
stopped.
Another reason is the management
of our prisons, which Is placed in the
hands of worn-out, low-down hacks of
politicians, whose only qualification is
a political pull. These institutions
should be managed by men who have
made criminology a study and who
would be able to make a practical ap-
plication of their knowledge.
"Then there is the system itself. 1t
is old and miserable and has not ad-
vanced one step beyond what it was a
hundred years ago, except in few
scattered instances. Instead of turn
ing out reformed men and women it
turns them out, as q general rule,
worse than when they entered. If a
physician were treating us for dis
ease and if, instead of curing us, his
treatment made us worse and caused a
spread of the disorder among our
household. we'd tell him to get out in
short order. And yet, crime is being
multiplied every year and only few
have auglt to say about the wrong
methods in force for the cure of crime.
THE LIQUOR EVIL.
"Then there is liquor, which, ac-
cording to the lowest possible estimate,
has caused fifty per cent. of the ciim-
mails to commit crimes. Who is re-
sponsible for the selling of this strong
drink? You and L. WHO permits it?
All of us. 1t is, fguratively said that
because of the great cost of maintain
ing the German army every German
citizen carries u soldier on his back.
1t can be said, with equal truth, that
every honest and industrious American
citizen carries a drunken man on his
back.
II wish we could all feel our indi
vidual responsibility in this matter.
God isn't going to send all the people
who go to Jail to hell but He is going
to send to hell a good many of the
people who helped send them to Jail.
THE problem of the reformation of
criminals is a vast one. It's too big
to be solved by Il few people going into
a Jail, saying a few prayers, singing
some hymns and distributing flowers.
That's all very well in it's own way,
but it's appreciable effect is not great.
I should like to state briefly few
things that will bring about great re-
suits and that a federation of churches
can bring about
The first thing that DR.. Lansing ad-
vised was the separation and isolation
of the known criminal men and the
known criminal women, so that they
could never have children. He offered
no suggestion as to a method for the
accomplishment of this
He advised the incorporation of more
religion and moral training into the
education of children in the public
schools, and the establishment of
prison system which would have for it's
basis the reclaiming of the men and
women convicted of crimes and which
would keep them confined until they
gave proof of their reformation. The
teaching of trades liz prison and of
paying the men for work done in them,
he also favored.