The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-07
A PRISON. REF0RMAT0RY
VISITOR TO ELMIRA COMMENTS on
THE PRISON METHODS.
The system that which Is Being
Tried I'm Most WelI-Conducted
Prisons To-Day.
F. A. Mckenzie, in London Mail.

r. "A. MchenZle, IN LOIluOu MALL
Elmira Reformatory is truly prison OF
paradoxes.
Here one sees prisoners carrying weapons
and warders going unarmed. There is the
strictest discipline, and yet luxuries are
provided which leave a stranger amazed.
The criminals confined here have their band
and banners; they have their own weekly
newspaper, edited and printed In the es-
tablishment, and very fine gymnasium. a
splendid Turkish bath is provided, with
marble walls, slabs and floor, and with
shower and needle baths. fit for the great
est captain of industry. The best of the in
mates are allowed to choose their own food
from fairly elaborate bills Of fare; their
intellectual needs are catered for by an
extensive library, by illustrated lectures.
and by classes in many subjects, including
nature study. stenography and telegraphy.
The very names of prison and prisoners
are discarded here. Elmira scorns the title
of prison; 1t is an institution. The men are
not prisoners, but inmates.
Yet the cells are doubly locked and have
doors of strong open iron bars, resembling
the cage doors of wild animals. And there
are high walls all around, on which guards
walk all day long. rife in hand. ready to
shoot any who might attempt to escape.
For Elmira is no nerveless. philanthropic
attempt to wash crime away with rose
water. Behind its walls are over fifteen
hundred men, largely drawn from the
worst centers of New York city. The faces
of many of them alone proclaim that they
are of the lowest criminal type The big
jaw and low. sloping forehead of the hooli-
gan can here be all sides. The
ferret eyes and knowing air of the
crook" the skilled criminal. are prom
inent. A study of the records shows that
of the most odious and repulsive Of
lenses. merely philanthropic rule
would crumble in a day; Elmira has en-
dured for over thirty years.
The basis of the Elmira sytem is that
crime is not alone an offense against So
ciety, but is also a disease. and a disease
are between sixteen and thirty years old,
still in the years of hope. The idea of
punishment is eliminated. Men are not
here to be punished; they are sent TO be
cured and restored to society as good men.
Accordingly the convicts are not sentenced
for any set term. Within certain limits
they are sent to remain until they are re-
stored to their right minds. No one is
| released in less than year, and the long
| est time they can be kept is the Maximum
| sentence under the law in ordinary prisons
| Within these limits all depends on the in
| mates themselves.
CRIME A DISEASE.
| DR.. Robertson, the warden, and his asso-
| ciates recognize that the first thing is to
make the inmate physically strong. Per-
| verted health has often more to do with
| making men criminals than many of us
realize. So those not up to good phys
ical standard are on entry sent to the gym
nasium for long exercise day after day.
Once fit they are put to trades.
There are trade schools at Elmira In be-
| tween thirty and forty. different subjects.
including bricklaying. plumbing, stone ma
sorry, iron molding, carpentry and cabinet
making.
The inmates have certain definite courses
| of study to go through and examinations
| to pass. On the results of the examina-
tions. among other things. depends their
length of confinement. There are free in
| structors in each department but a large
part of the teaching is done by other in
mates, for IL is cardinal part of the Ell
mira system that the convicts shall be
sible. By this their fitness for life outside
can be better estimated. The quality OF
the work may be judged by the fact that
houses outside the institution for heads OF
the staff. Some of the work 1 saw in the
Elmira schools was very good, although
| much or IT, or course, was the prentice
| effort Of men learning a trade.
| The one great weakness in the trade
schools is that the men lack the final
| stimulus of knowing that their handicraft
| will serve some purpose. A little of the
output can be used for the place or for
other other prisons; But the greater part of the
| tons caused the passing of law that
prison,made goods are not to be sold out
side-this is to prevent their competing
with free labor. Hence. in Elmira the
| bricklayer builds a wall only to null IL
! down again. The carpenters erect beauti-
full frame houses and then pull them all
in granting a window sash. but for an
other to rub all the paint off. The none
tary loss of this waste is the least. 1t
removes the crowning dignity of labor.
DOES 1T ANSWER?
On admission a man is given a blue suit.
which marks his grade. An account is
formally opened with him. certain
amount is allowed for his maintenance.
and against this is charged all he uses
and eats. He has a copy of the account
There is a system of fines varying from
25 cents to 81 Us to 4s), which are debited
TO him for all manner of offenses. OF
course, no money actually passes. hut anv
money that stands to the credit of the
man Is paid TO him on his release.
| , Ter remaining six months I'm the blue
SUITS an inmate may, IL his record has been
very good. be promoted to the gray suits
Here he Is allowed many privileges larger
pay, ana the choice Of his own food II
ne remains six months in gray he may be-
recommended for a conditional pardon pro-
vided there are good prospects of his being
] @DiO " earn living outside. III he remains
honest outside for six months he is as a
rule, given an unconditional release The
man who misbehaves, on the other hand Is
degraded TO a red suit from which II
takes MIN six months at least to work his
way 10 the blue. Very few get througb in
the minimum time. Many serve almost
their maximum, although the longest neriod
man has remained in the prison has heen
little over nine years
HOW does the Elra system answer Does
IL really REFORM? DR.. Robertson tells me
tnat, taking his actual records ~ ner cent
OF the men conditionally pardoned reuained
honest at the end OF six months F1IrtheT
man this no record can be had. for the
men go Tree; AT least. they leave the prison
Stronger ana ADLER. physically and mentally
than when they entered
Does any one think that the alienation.
Oh E.lmlra make prison the less terrfbIe7
Walk look IN the afternoon with the
DOCTOR would disillusion him we went
aicng 10 the punishment cells In one he
nind the iron grating I'm a hare room a
young italian lay on the floor HIS sunner
uhtoucned, his unconscious face an endiIr-
ing picture of misery What Was the
matter! Nothing but an overpowerinr hvs-
.erlcal longing for home and freedom FOR
so,ne slgnt or sound outside this place
we went into the hospital Anon otbers
young consumptive was sitting there. Re
mao comforts that would be amazing in an
FE.nsnsn prison hospital But nv ewes were
taseeheo on the pathetic figure of tho lad
siowIy dymg. no woman near to comfort.