The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-25
The Legislature
ne Legislature
SUING FOR JUSTICE j
G. E. Faulkner Presents the Needs Of
a Reformatory for Women to
Senate Committee.
He Is Opposed to Plan Of Connecting
It With Girls Training
School.

G.. e. Faulkner of the Washburn nome,
Minneapolis, made a statement to-day
before the senate committee on finance.
strongly favoring the plan to establish
a reformatory for women. Mr.. Faulkner
said, in substance:
I'm presenting a prayer for the estap-
lishment of a reforma tory for women, as
provided for In the bill under considera-
ton, we are not here. to beg for grace,
but to sue for justice.
1T is a self-evident fact with which
you gentlemen. and every thoughtful man
is acquainted, that women who do wrong
and are willing and anxious to reform,
suffer a handicap in public esteem which
does not bear with equal severity upon
men. The common Jail, the city lookup.
and the worlxhouse, which under existing
conditions constitute the sole provision
for the detention, care. treatment ana
disposition of offending women not guilty
of felonies, are in truth the graveyards
of most that is pure, affectionate, tender
and trusting in the persons, ambitions
and hopes of unfortunate women.
I'm anticipation Of some probable effort
to secure the establishment of reform
atory for women, the state board OF con-
troll has advised in an official report 70
the governor and legislature that II such
an institution be established, II may prop
erly be located with, and placed under
the same management as training
school for girls.
= Mr., Faulkner here adduced reasons for
the conclusion that it is nelther WISE
nor kind, to consider a plan Whlch pro-
poses to use the power OF the state as q
public guardian to place in compulsory
association under the same management
the inma ties of a, training school Tor
girls. and those of a womens reforma
tory He then takes up the question OF
the need Of a reformatory for women
answering it III part as follows:
''First of all reasons is that the estab
! lshment of such an institution would De
an interference Of mercy. to temper JUS
tice to the peculiar needs OF women. II
would remove these cases entirely from
the jurisdiction of men, and place then
under the proper study, and treatment OF
those of their own sex, and under cir
cumstances where they could neither be
tempted to wrong doing by evil disposed
men, or themselves prove temptation
ito others of the opposite sex. A state
institution would afford conveniences fo
teaching domestic, and household econo
my, fruit culture, garden culture, ant
such careful educa ton of the head
the he:tst, and the hands, that all posi-
BILE means to arrest and to hold the in
terest of an offending woman in the .worl
of her own redemption, and her future
salvation would be brought to bear upoi
lher in the most persuasive, and effective
manner. 1t would Immediately attrac
land command sympathy, and the sub
stantial support of the Christian woman
hood of Minnesota in the difficult task O.
finding suitable homes and employment
for discharged inmates. It's reasona BIZ
az kacttVeness Cor the Accomplishment
Eof fthe salvation of women would SO ap
Ipcal to the minds of those who Judge ant
sentence women. that unlike the Jail
and the workl1ouse, it's kindly light woult
encourage a prompt committal, of thos
who stood in greatest need of it's shelter
Term sentences could appropria tely ID
heightened, and the cumulative, or i'll
Discriminate sentence be introduced i
dealing with criminal offenses.tI Sue
an institution would serve a great salu
to the social good sin deterring intiner
ant wrong doors who infest cities,s froh
including Minnesota as an easy, and con
genial state in which to operate.E Fin
ally, reformatory for women, designe
in recognition OF the maxim the protec
ton Of society, and the reformation G
the offender. lis the end Of prison disci
pline. would place Minnesota In line Wit
the progressive thought Of tile day.
In anticipation of a suggestion tina
Minnesota has not yet reached tina t poi,
In age and population, as to render TIL
necessity a reformatory for wome
urgent refer You sto>the statistics of tn
trial courts Of the state -
MI. Faulkner here; produced strikin
figures from the 'workhouses of Mime
= apolis and st. Paul, emphasizing strons
Ivy the need of such an institution as tina
Il Inc was urging upon the committee