New-York tribune., 1903-03-02
THE BEDFORD REFoRMATORY.
Some Facts of It's History and Plea for
It's Continuance.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The New-York State Reformatory for women
at Bedford owes its existence chiefly to the enors
Of Mrs. Abby Hopper Gibbons. daughter OF isaac
T. Hopper. whom the older Tribune readers VIII
remember prominent Friend and Antl-0IaFeEy
agtator before the Civil War. Mrs Gibbons heF-
self was q philanthropst Of national reputauOh'
prominent in the work Of the Sanitary Commis
sion during the war; and In the later years OF
her life in that >of the Women's Prison Assocla-
ton. She had become impressed with the heeu
OF something different from the prisons Tor women
condemned by the courts, and previous 10 1883
she had obtained the passage OF law providing
for women's reforIsatory, but 1t was vetoed oy
Governor Hill. In 1892 when she was IN her
ninetieth year, she again urged the matter DeIore
committees Of the legislature and was again sue
cessfuI, and the bill approved by Governor
Flower. Her letters to various friends published
in her biography, edited by her daughter Mrs.
Emerson, make grateful reference to the interest
taken in the enterprise by Senators Sloan ana
Hendricks, Assemblymen Hustled and Sulzer ana
others Mrs Gibbons died in the early part Of 1SS3
and after that time the work Of preparation went
on more or less ftfuly, with many Delays
and It was not until May, 1901. that the reforna-
tory was opened Since that time there have been
24S inmates. There 1877 at present. eighteen
have been paroled, five transferred to other IN
stitutions, and the rest discharged. Those VINO
have been paroled have mostly conducted tnem-
selves satisfactorily.
In accordance with the terms OF the law there
have always been two women on the board OF
managers, among them Miss Alice Sanford, VINO
was suggested by Mrs Gibbons and Mrs. Josephine
Shaw Lowell, both Of whom have been prominent
in philanthrOpc work for many years: -. .u
board of managers: "a reformatory pure and SIM, n
pie IS my aim. The word prison pray keep IN IN
are by association and treatment. Let US turn
over a new leaf and remember that they are
human" In this spirit and purpose the Managers gers
Superintendent, Miss Katharine Bement Davis. Pm.
D., was chosen because she had prepared her-
self for this work by years OF dliigent stuuy UI
and in Europe and, besides, had acquired extended
practical experience. Moreover. she had unbounded
mate success to a large degree; In CONDUCTING e
this institution. the attempt has been made 70
teach self-control, to incucate seit-respect ana
lives. It has been the aim to obtain the con
fidence and not the enmity OF those VINO were
to be helped Other methods Sea1 aid ss{de
as tending debase and degrade rather than ,, 70
upIift. For year and three-quarters THIS pohcy
the view of those competent to Judge. this effort
has produced encoura ging results. ana now: 10
the astonshment Of the friends OF the 1msrfna ~
discouraging delays of the years of preparation,
and who have now begun to rejoice In the promise
of success, the reformatory IS to be wiped OUT OUT
out of sympathy with its spirit or unaware OF IT'S It's
reason stated is economy. 49,
Perhaps If is not surprising that men In the
strife and stress of public hte busy YIN ~ IT'S
ciafe the feelings and purposes OF men and women
who believe in matters like these. But 1t is some
what strange though not by any m aa 5ractica
politicians should fail to take INTO accouLe @ te
existence Of these worthy though perhaps ylSl0haiS
memories good. - d.
NeW-York, Feb Il, 19OS