The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-11-30
WANTED, 4 REFORM SCHOOL.
The State Federation of Women's
Clubs Working for the Estab-
Iishment of an Institution
to Save Youthful
maIefact0rs.

About seven years ago the women of
Alabama, seeing the great evil done
TO Youthful law breakers by associa-
ton with adult criminals, inaugural.
ed a movement for the establishment
Of an industrial school for white boys.
A committee was appoirted, which
presented to certain Legislators the
great need of suca an institution. The
Legislature granted q charter for a
reformatory and industrial school,
to be established under the care OF the
State of Alabama : for the
benefit of orphan, helpless and way
ward children,' and said school to
ssreceive and provide for the welfare
of white children between the ages of
eight and sixteen, who, by reason Of
their conduct or surroundings, are
likely to become base or criminal, or
hurtful to the State or the best in
terssts of society or such
children as snail have committed
petty offences or crimes:' said chill
dren to be committed to the school or
reformatory by any Judge or other
proper officer.
The Legislature appropriated three
thousand dollars for this school,
which appropriation was supplemented
By contributions from public-spirlted
citizens. and a school was established
at East Lake, near Birmingham. The
Legislature has since mado increasing
appropriately and now ninety boys
are being clothed, boarded, educated
and trained in useful industries. A
prominent Judge recently said that
Alabama could better do away with
every other public institution than the
industrial school.
Tennessee has had an industrial
school for fifteen years. Careful re-
cords kept of the subsequent careers
of the thousand boys dismissed show
that less than per cent reverted to
evil ways. Experience having shown
that it is cheaper to prevent crime than
to punish the criminal, all save four
teen of the United States have estab-
lished such schools.
In She last fifteen years how many
South Carolina boys have been allow
ed to commit one petty offence after
another. and left unpunished and m
cared for, until old enough to. perpe-
trate crimes leading to terms IN the
Penitentiary?
The South Carolina Federation Of
Women's Clubs, having undertaken
the work of securing a school, model
ed Oh the lines of the one successfully
operated in Alabama, asks and conf
IDENTIFY expects, the hearty support OF
all citizens of South Carolina.
1t is proposed to form an industrial
school association, with vice presi-
dent for each county, which vice
president will organize the work in
every county, endeavoring to arouse in
terest in the movement. The follow
ing committee urges the cooperation
of all women in South Carolina who
believe in giving every boy chance:
Mrs. M. F. Ansel, Greenville; Mrs.
". B. Wilson, Rock Hill; Mrs. Ira
3. Jones, Lancaster: Mrs. J. N. Wis
anska, Charleston Miss E. McClintock,
Columbia; Miss M. E. Waterhouse,
Beaufort; Mrs. John G. White, Ches-
ter; Mrs B G. Clifford, Union; Mrs.
Chas. Petty, Spartanburg, Miss NJ.
Caroline McIver, Darlington; Mrs.
Mortimer Glover. Orangeburg; Mrs.
A. F. McKinie, Greenwood, Mrs. R.
D. Wright, Newberry; Mrs. S. Blec-
ley, Anderson; Mrs. F. ". P. Butter,
EdgeGeld; Mrs. W. H. Carroll, Ben
netsville; Miss Duecie Noise, Sumter;
Mrs. J. .. G. Fleming. Laurens; Mrs.
Marther Orr Peterson, Greenvile,
chairman.