The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-30
For Practical Reform.

To the Editor of The Age-Herald.
In a late issue Of your paper there are
two articles which, of course, uninten-
tionally give to the reader Impressions
not in accord with the facts. A CONVERSE
ton of two or three friends around the
tea table of a private residence assumes
the proportions of a formal conference
between appointed representatives OF a
wel-organized movement. attended and
reported by newspaper representative.
In regard to a reformatory for colored
children. the facts are as follows: Judge
Feagin, whose whole heart Is enlisted in
the effort to elevate our state In the
scale Of morality, mentioned to me that
some wealthy and worthy colored citi~
zens of Birmingham are considering es-
tablishing a reform school for their race
similar to the one at East Lake for white
boys. l mentioned the fact that 1 had 100
acres of land which / would be glad to
donate to such an institution II the
founders could make use of 1t. had Of
fered 1t once for white reformatory.
but 1t was considered to be too far re-
mote from the center OF population. do
not even know the names of the worthy
promoters Of this scheme nor whether
they can avail themselves Of such gift.
However. 1 do know that nothing Is
needed more in this state than such an
institution. Crimes OF violence will never
cease so long as the state maintains sew
eral universities for the training Of crimi-
mails In its prisons and mining barracks
and sixty-six common schools for the
same purpose in its county Jails 1 have
seen children years old sent to herd
with the vilest beings on earth. These
children go to the prisons as bad boys
they come away little devils.
No paper in the state would print or
should print what l have learned of the
wives of our prison missionaries of the
horrible denominations Of prison life for
these children.
| have seen thirty boys locked In
bare room for the whole of Sunday with
out the presence of even an older con-
vict to control them. l do not advocate
costly buildings or expensive education
for these wards Of the state. Their sur
roundings should be such as they will
have when they are released, only with
the addition Of cleanliness. few large
double log cabins, erected by the labor
of the boys themselves in secluded re-
gion, a tract of arabic land woodland
enough for firewood. a good running
spring of water near at hand--these con-
ditlons would be ideal for this purpose.
A man ana woman OF their own race,
with head and heart essential to the sue
cess of the work. should be found tor take
charge of these boys. IL good results en-
sued the state would doubtless finally
give its support to the work.
Another subject discussed by the little
circle of friends was the change from
the fee system to the salary system,
which has taken place In some of our
states. The guardians of our poorhouses
and jaEs suffer manifest injustice under
the present system where great part OF
their salasies depends on what remains
after feeding the inmates of the institu-
tions under xheir charge. A very simple
illustration will show this fact: In our
county, the keeper of the poorhouse re-
ceives IS per month for the board and
clothing of each inmate. Nov, IL he has
twenty inmates he can keep them In
comfort and also provide for his own
family; but II their number Is reduced to
five, he is forced to stint either his fam
fly or the unfortunates committed to his
care; either alternative il painful to q
man of kind heart, as | thank God. are
meat Of the county officials Of the south.