The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-21
THE MEASURE URGED
Men And Women From all Parts of
the State Present Urgent Argu-
ment for the Establishment OF
State Retormatory
for Youths

House To DISCUSS the question VI d
reformatory for youthful criminals in
North Carolina.
There We're present many friends OF
the measure, in the audience being
both ladies and gentlemen who are
seeking to have 4 ,.eformatory estab-
lished. Many of these coming from
a distance to participate in the meet
ing and 10 express their views.
Delegations from the Kings Daugh-
tiers and the W. c. II. L. were pres
ent. among the delegates being some
who for fifteen years have sought to
have q reformatorl established. Some
of the ladies spoke and all by their
presence and their applause testified
their interest.
The joint committee was vsibly i'm
pressed, but as the meeting was sim
ply for conference no action was ia
ken on any bill. a subcommittee
was appointed, this to consider all
bills presented, prepare suitable
bill, and present this at meeting OF
the committee To be held in the next
ten days.
Among the ladies present We're
Mrs w. H. Burgwyn, of Weldon, State
Secretary OF the Kings Daughters;
Mrs. j. n. Bridgers. of Henderson, the
State Treasurer o. the order; Mrs.
Moseley, of Durham; Miss Shaw, of
Rockingham; Mrs. III. A. Foushee, of
Durham, Mrs. FAB HolloWell. of
Goldsboro; Mrs. c. II. Gattis. Mrs.
w. y. Gattis. Miss Daisy benson. Sec
rotary State Board of Charities; Mrs.
/. G. Blair. Mrs. y. f. Dixon, Mrs. Lu
Wright, Mrs John e. Ray, Mrs. VI. \.
Edwards. Mrs. j. w. Foy. Mrs. w. H.
Worth, Mrs. G.. A. Strickland. Among
the gentlemen interest ed present We're:
Bishop Joseph Blount Cheshire, Mr..
]. X. Young. Mr.. r. II. Battle, Col. A.
ii. Boyden, of Salisbury; Rev. A. j.
McKelway. of Charlotte; Rev. j. w.
Jenkins, Mr.. John T. Pulien, Mr.. A.
y. Thompson, Mr.. Carey j. Hunter
Rev r.. W. Hogue, of Wilmington.
and sOthers.
Peering at the gathering with dull
wonder in his eyes, sat a lone figure
in the gallery reserved for negroes. A
negro boy in tatters and rags sat there
all alone. and with his white sur
roundings he was a fitting symbol of
the blackness from which efforts are
being made to rescue the youthful
criminals of the State. The very sight
of his isolation, his blackness. his igno-
rance, his sitting beyond the circle
pointed a moral.
Many Pleas Arc Made.
by Senator Gillian. of Edgecombe. The
purpose of the pending bill, that of
Senator Scales, Of Guilford. being re-
ferred an invitation was extended to
any present to spaek on the matter. A
letter from Senator Scales was read
i'm which he expressed regret that mis-
absence as Chairman of the Educa-
tional Committee prevented his being
able to be present and explain the
bill but that he desired to do so be-
fore a bill was reported.
Mr.. Glenn, of BuncOmbe. said that
it would be best TO consider no bill,
but to hear remarks on sthe general
subject, the committee to pass a nee
essary bill afterwards. This view was
adopted.
Mr.. j. r. Young, State Insurance
Commissioner, said he had asked for
this meeting following out the desire
of the Kings Daughters, who had no
pet scheme, but simply wished TO
urge that reformatory be established.
The organization had on hand $3.50 and
would raise $3.50 more to be used in
a carpenter shop at the reformatofy,
and would also give a deed for 80
acres of land on the Seaboard road
midway between Raleigh and Hamlet.
He suggested that it would be wise to
send at the request OF the King $
Daughters a committee of thre to
the reformatory at Laurel, in Virginia,
To study the institution conducted
there.
AS to the need for reformatory
M. Young told of the endorsement by
Judge Fred Moore, of ASheville, Solic-
itor Armistead Jones and others
Mr.. A. A. Thompson, of Raleigh,
said that manner OF the bill did not
concern him, but that tehre was a
necessity for legislation to take care
of the youthful criminal. He did not
believe that North Carolina was will
ing to save money at the cost of MAX
ing criminals. He spoke of cases with
i'm his own knowledge that needed at
tention and forcibly urged the need Of
a reformatory under some plan that
would put this in shape.
Miss Daisy DenSon. of Raleigh, Sec
rotary of the State Board of Charities,
spoke fora reformatory and said this
was Il desire close TO the heart if the
State Board of Health. which forstour-
teen years had sought this object. De-
tails were not the essentials now but
that Il reformatory was an absolute
need. She spoke of her personal de-
sire for this. and of the deep concern
in the matter of her beloved father.
the late c. B. benson, for many years
the Secretary of the State Board of
Public Health.
Here Ii was suggested tnat the Dill
of Senator Scales be read, and this
was done by Senator Empie OF New
Hanover. 1t has heretofore been pub
lished in full in these columns. 1t
provides for reformatories for Juvenile
criminals of both races, $4,000 of
state Bonds, from money now on hand
i'm the states Prise n,to be voted to
establi~S these.
Mr. III. Battle declared the bill
that &nthroplSt and states
man, Nected credit or Mr..
Scales. sa. be a fitting bill to
be passed jus, ; stood. Mr.. Bat
tie recounted the establishment of in
sane asylums, told of the good done
and Their presented various phases OF
the cases in which reformatories would
he of advantage. He told of Judges
in certain Northwestern States being
simply given the duty of hearing
juvenile cases.
In continuing his pea for a reform