The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-11
AID FOR CONNECTS
Warden BcCIaughry Says Give
Them a Chance.
Labor in Prison Is Also Upheld
by the Warden.
Is THEIR SALVATION.
Also Go After Them With Book
and Wash Tub.
1t Is the LOaflng Class That
Makes the Criminal.
IS THEIR SALVATION.

kansas city, Kan. Sept IL ne
passage OF the parole law was the Des1
thing that ever happened, not only loi
the prisoners, but for the people OF the
United States"
Major r. w. MeC1aughry, warden OF
the United states penitentiary at Fort
Iesvenworth. who made this declara-
ton. was. applauded by the clapplng oil
many hands in the Cumberland Pres
bvtarian church at Tenth street and
Farnett avenue last night Major NC
rsfaup-77v was addressing the Presby-
terrain league on the subject, Inc
States Duty to Society and me wrong
Doer" 1t was elders night, ana
the warden was introduced as a Pres
byJerian elder.
The Treatment of Boys a Crime.
ssOue of the greatest crimes of our
cities is the treatment OF boys MAJOR
McClauxhry said. DO you know that
when you lock boy in a city jail or
holdover behind grated bars you set
that boy away back yonder in crime.
for the grating of the jail door makes
an imprint on his soul that Is mighty
hard to wash out. Fathers must look
after their boys If by neglect a boy
drifts into a life Of crime it is the
father who is the real criminal In my
experience I have known hundreds OF
men who had my sympathy because
they were brought into crime through
the neglect of parents. 7 GU have time
enough you should take time enough,
to set their feet Alright, and to teach
them their responsibility to the fellow
men and to their God"
Major McClaughry contrasted the
modern methods of prison life and
prison reform with the old methods,
which he declared were cruel and
barbarous.
But some people say we should
keep the prisoners in idleness-wh ny,
work is the salvation of men, he said,
sand then some say that we keep them
in luxury; that the prisoners are treat
ed too well. Is there a person who
wants to trade places with the prison
ers? If he does let him go to Leaven-
worth and he'll get trade in less than
a minute.
The Can to Labor.
what are prisoners expected to
do2a he asked. Men are cared for as
children are cared for. Their health,
their cleanliness, their education, are
looked after. Don't tell me that the
world has grown more cruel.
MY theory is to go after the man
in prison with the school book, the
plane and the hammer. In an expert
ence in which I have discharged 90
coo prisoners 80 per cent Of them
came to me not knowing how to do a
useful thing with their hands. At
LeavenwoTth 1 have been particularly
interested in the Indian prisoners.
About all some of them knew when
they came to me was to ride a pony
It was a difficult thing to know what
to do with them. But strange as it
may seem. the Indian developed q
wonderful talent for stone cutting
now have sixty Indians cutting stone
and three times that number who have
been discharged are now earning $3.50
TO 81 a day cutting stone in the terri
tory. They know something now that
makes them self-sustaining. They are
good citizens and their people are
proud Of them.
is there any harm in an instruc-
ton that teaches a prisoner to do
something useful. We don't call men
to Christ as you ministers do. but we
call them to do honorable work In
stead of being competitors of labor
they are helpers. No man is well CT
dered unless he works. It is the loaf
ing class that is criminal. The strong
firm hand of discipline and the kind
warm hand of religion does much for
mem, but there is nothing more or
thOdOx than work.