The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-12-09
Wanted-A Reform School.

About seven years ago the women o.
Alabama, seeing the great evil done to
youthful lawbreakers by association with
Tu!t criminals, inaugurated move.
nsnt for the establishment of an indus
rial school for white boys. A commit
tee was appointed, which presented t.
certain legislators the great need of such
IN institution. The legislature granted
charter for ''reformatory and indus
trial school, to be established under the
care of the State Of Alabama for
the bene fit Of orphan, helpless and way
ward Children" and said scnool "to re-
ceive and provide for the welfare of
white children bet |een the ages Of eight
md sixteen, who, by reason of their con-
tnct or surroundings, are likely to be-
ome base or criminal, or hurtful to the
state or the best interests of society n"
'r such children as shall have committed
,etty ofenses or crmes;;" said children
e. be committed to the school or reform
,tory by any judge OF other proper Off
Ger.
The legislature appropriated three
thousand dollars for this school, which
appropriation was supplemented by COR
tributions from public-splrited citizens,
,nd school was established at E. st
Lake, near Birmingham. The legisla-
rnre bas since made increasing appropri-
atoms, aud now ninety boys are being
clothed, boarded, educated and trair ed
in useful industries. A prominent juds 9
recently said that Alab ANA could bet' er
10 away with everv other public insti u
ton than the industrial school.
Tennessee has had an industrial scrCol
for fifteen years. Careful records kept
OF the subsequent careers of the thou
sand boys dismissed show that less than
two per cent. reverted to evil ways. Ex-
perience having shown that it is ch ,aptr
to prevent crime than to punish the
criminal, all save fourteen of the United
States have established such schools.
In the last fifteen years, how many
South Carolina boys have been allowt d
to commit one petty offense after an
other, and left unpunished and uncared
for, until old enough to perpetrate
crimes leading to terms in the peniten-
tary.
The South Carolina Federation of
Women's Clubs, having undertaken tie
work Of securing school modelled on
the lines Of the one successfully operated
in Alabama, asks and conlidentaliy ex-
poets, the hearty support of all citizens
Of South Carolina.
1t Is proposed to form an industrial
school association, with vice president
for each county, which vice-president
will organize the work in her county,
endeavoriIg to arouse interest in the
movement. The following committee
urges the cooperation of all women in
South Carolina who believe in giving
every boy chance:
Mrs. M. F. Ansel, Greenville; Mis-.
w. b. Wilson, Rock Hill; Mrs. Ira B.
Jones, Lancaster: Mrs. j. Nj. Visanska.
Charleston; Miss E. McClintock, Column
bia; Miss M. f. Waterhouse, Beaufort;
Mrs. John G. White, Chester; Mrs. b.
G.. Clifford, Union; Mrs. Chas. Petty,
Spartanburg; Miss M. Caroline McIver,
Darlington; Mrs. Mortimer Glover,
Orangeburg; Mrs. A. F. McKiltrlck.
Greenwood; Mrs. r. D. Wright, New
berry; Mrs. S. Bleckley, Anderson; Mrs.
F. w. P. Butler, Edgefeld; Mrs. w. H.
Carroll, Bennettsville; Miss Du!cs Noise,
Sumter; Mrs. ]. o. G. Fleming, Laur
ems; Mrs. Martha Orr Patterson, Green