The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-24

established a Sunday school class among the convicts at Pratt Mines. She realized at once that it was calamjtous for the young hoys. who were only sentenced for misdemeanors and petty crimes. to spend their hours of work and recreation cheek by jowl with liars, highwaymen. rapists and murdercrs.
 She appeared before a Legislative Com mittee and begged the State to establish separate place of imprisonment for the youthful convicts. Still no action was taken.
 Assisting Miss Tutwiler in the Sunday school work among the convicts was Mrs. R. D. Johnston of Birmingham For ten years she has never missed a Sunday af ternoon from her class at the mines. and like Miss cutwiler felt the crying need of q reformatory.
 She reckened with three potent factors in making the fight for this end viz. the power of women, numbers and public opinion. She consolidated the two former when she enlisted the Alabama Fedora . ton of Womens Clubs in her ranks. She hypnotized the press with her irresistible smile, In9sicaf voice and earpest spurnese. Our columns a re yours" she vas told by the gallant Press Association after it had heard her at their annual session. and thus public opinion was quickened on the subject. She went before the Alabama Fedora ton of Women's Clubs and con vinced them with one incident As it Is a true story and the one that is almost the corner stone of the school. 1 shall tell it to you.
 Pathetic Tale of Urchin Sentenced
 to Gallows Death.
 There was a little boy in q State adJoin- ing Alabama who was tried for murder and sentenced ''to be hanged by the neck until dead" He was young. he was poor, he was friendless, he was afraid. As he was being dragged to the galiows he clutched at the hands of the minister who was with him all the way in prayer. and in piping little childish voice pleaded for his life. "Oh, mister, mister. I ain't never had no chance, nohow."
 When Mrs. Johnston concluded her talk to those women with that story she said
 Women of Ala hama. there are boys in your penitentiary who will come out hard ened criminals because they have no chance to he made better.
 There are boys all over your State who are going to ruin for lack of a chance to learn self-control. industry and morals. Will you stand still and consent unto their \ death? Or will you join with me in an : effort to establish a place of refuge and safety for them?'
 She left the convention hall with the pledge of the Federation. 12O0 strong. to help her. When the Legislature met again she appeared promptly in the lobby. but to use the "women's clubs" as a word to coniure the rural representatives with was like shaking red rag at a mad bull That was several years ago when g the mission of women's clubs was not understood. and Mrs. Johnston met much discoura cement.
 Toward the latter part of the session X having failed in securing a committed
 
 ing upon tho historic star which com \ menoratrs the spot on the capitol portico G where Jefferson Davis took the oath Of office as President of the Confederate A States she felt like she. too had to deal with a lost cause. At this iuncture onC of the Legislators approached. and she told him how sad she was over her faii- ure.
 But. my dear madam. you can't move these legislators to giving you an appro- priation to establish a State institution tc K he under the control of a woTnan's board K of trustees and then be empowered tc N take children without parental authority s no matter how irresponsible and bad the parents may he. Or incorrtRibie or way ward the boys may be
 's God who can move those hills. car M move the hearts of these men. and Hs will -- face in silence a moment; then he said in a husky voice.
 Yes. He will. Come with me to se: the gpen ker.
 Mre' Johnston got hearing and all sh' asked for
 She thus appeared before tine next an nual convention of the Alabama Fedora tion of Women Clubs and told them Sh' \ had procured a charter and 5000. Thc , Federation then pledged itself to help bes lumber, brick and other building mate rials to put up the building and use thu