New-York tribune., 1903-04-03
TO RECLAIM CRIMINALS.
TzUo Thousand Dollars Subscribed
for Hrs. Booths Prison Work.

= know that in ten twenty years this work
viii revolutionize the conditions Of our country
said Mrs BeIington Booth yesterday afternoon al
2 meeting held in the interest Of prison Work, II
the rooms Of the Board Of Trade and Transporta-
ton 1T is now seven years old. and Is no longer
an experiment. I have had the Joy OF seeing thou-
sands Of men who were looked upon as hopeless
take their place in the world as useful clt1zens'
and fourteen thousand men within prison walls are
enrolled in our prison league. while Of those who
have passed through our hands not per cent have
gone back to their OLD lives. In every prison Wnere
the work has been started IL has the Endorsement
and cooperation Of the wardens, ano IN HlaIS
States it is approved by the board OF prison con-
-rol We have proved to the world that the pris-
oners can be reformed
There is nothing sentimental about this Work
continued Mrs Booth We do not so 10 Judges OF
Governors 10 ask for the shortening Of sentences
We only want 20 give the prisoners d chance we
lnovr that many have become habitual criminals
because they could be nothing else have known
men 70 tramp for days looking for WORK ana 70
lose place after place when their past HE De-
came known, until they were literally forced INTO
he underworld TO gain a living know aiso'
that BY stimulating hope in the minds OF prls-
opers and by giving them little help at the rlght
time might, 70 great extent reduce OLf N0st
prison population Of eighty-four thousand anu
lessen the tremendous expense which il now oc-
casions the country
Mrs Booth explained that she begins her work
IN prison first by giving an address in the prison
chapel and then by corresponding with or taking
re-sonsIIv with any who desire her help She
-7,1s becomes acquainted with them. and IS the
better able 20 help them when they come out'
When -hat time comes the men are received IN
homes three OF which have been established IN as
rrsnx states and where they stay until work can
~ cf,rafred for them they are physlcaliy NJ Io
Two cases Mrs Booth mentioned as being par
bic one being that OF an educated
~ s-co-nrlished criminal. anC the other from the
more ordinary criminal class Both were consloereq
.hsolr5re7v hopeless and desperate cases. put ooth
77oUv resrected and useful citizens Inc HlSl
[ae -epafneS his former position IN the world ana
- second changed IN appearance Nilel d
s.Ta--i,-a Who rad knOxn him in his criminal days
fsslA5 recently 70 recognize him But without as
sigtarce when leaving prison poth fnlglt laE 80
turned TO the criminal ranks ana coSl tNS 0'0'7
thousands OF dollars
Mrs Booth was followed by MIS- T. A eIc+4TiIi. ~
-z7o made 2 strong appeal for nnanclai ald me
work had been maintained. hlJtlerto ene a
-os- entirely by Mrs Booth, or the Little A17IleI,
- Mrs afcAlpn called her. using the term mos
- -ro-ev rso5fred almost at the cost OF her
-ffe bz- Ie-turing and had thereby oeen sIeaIis
nsnpered is her personal work IN the prisons, -.
disappointed Al ltle SL-ldll d
tendance. although Two tLi7 ~ .Iesc
been sent out but upward Of sZbjy was i7NettiieS9
subscribed AZ the close Of the meeting . -
William Jav SChiefelin preSlceo' anu VIII az a.
treasurer o. the fund s.1ro,-+,,g
The invita- ftOns were 1n0Orseo D% tLe
~ the meetirg
Stephen Baker. Robert c Ogoen-
2 Fulton Cutting. John T. FaIso- L,s,,
A Frissen George roster IfaNo'''
Dr. VII 2. Huntington. o,IstaN ID SShSso.
7FC--is K TesIr fI)r- Ernest N Sflres
General = A McAluin-