The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-12-02
AsrATE REFoRMAToRY.
women's Federation Actively Pro.
noting suoh an Establishment.

About seven years ago the women
OF Alabama, seeing the great evil
done to youthful law-breakers by as,
sociation with adult criminals, inaug.
urated movement for the establish.
ment of an industri IL school for white
boys. A committee was appointed,
which presented to certain legislators
the great need of such an institution.
The Legislature granted charter
for q "reformatory and Industrial
school, to be- established under the
care Of the State of Alabama
Tor the benefit Of orphan, helpless and
waYward Children" and said school
10 receive and provide for the vel.
fare Of white children between the
ages Of eight and sixteen who, by rea.
son Of their conduct or surroundings,
are likely to become base or criminal,
CT hurtful to the State or the best In.
teIests Of society = or such chill.
dren as shall have committed petty
offel.ces or crlmes;" said children to
oe Committed to the school or refor.
matory by any judge or other proper
officer.
The Legislature appropriated three
thou sand dollars for this school,
appropriation WIS supplemented by
contributions from public.spirited
citizens, aud school was established at
East Lake, near Birmilgnam. The
Legislature has since made increasing
appropriations, and now ninety boys
are being clothed, boarded, educat ed
and trained In useful Industries. A
promi..ent judge recently said that
Alabama could better do away with
every other p 2lic institution than the
industrial school.
Tennessee has had an Industrial
school for fifteen years. Careful re-:
cords kept of tie subsequent careers
or the thousand boys dismissed show
that less than two per cent. reverted
to evil ways. Experience having
.hown that 1t Is cheaper to prevent
crime tnan TO punish the criminal, all
save fourteen Of the United States
have est. blished such schools.
In the last fifteen years, how many
South Ci'olina boys have been allowed
o commit one petty offence after an
'ther, and left unpunished and un-
cared for, until old enough to perpe-
rate crimes leading to terms In the
oenitentiary?
The South Carolina Federation OF
Women's Clubs, having undertaken
he work + securing a school modelled
IN the lines Of the one successfully
operated In Alabama, asks and conf.
IDENTIFY exp, Gus, the hearty support of
all citizens OF South Carolina.
1t Is proposed to form an Industrial
school association, with vice presi-
lent for each county, which vice pres
ident will organize the work in her
county, endeayoring to arouse inter-
st In the movement. The following
committee urges the CO. operation OF
all women In South Carolina who be-
lieve In giving every boy chance:
Mrs. M. f. Ansel, Greenville; Mrs
W. B. Wilson, Rock Hill; Mrs. Ira B.
Jones, Lancaster; Mrs. j. NJ. v SIN
ka, Charleston; Mis-, E. McClintock,
Columbia; Miss M. E. Waterhouse,
Beaufort; Mrs. John G. White, Ches-
Ger; Mrs. B. G. Clifford, Union; Mrs.
CHARTS Petty, Spartanburg; Miss M
Caroline McIver, Darlington; Mrs.
Mortimer Glover, Orangeburg; Mrs.
A. f. McKissick, Greenwood; Mrs.
&. D. Wright, Newberry; Mrs. S.
Bleckley, Anderson; Mrs. f. w. P.
Butler, Edgefielu; Mrs. w. II. Car.
Toll, Bennettsville; Miss Dulce Noise,
Sumter; Mrs. j. o. G. Fleming, Laur-
Gus; Mrs. Martha Orr Patterson,
Gieenvllle, chairman.