The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1906-01-12
DR.. WALLACE TO W0MEK'S CLUBS.
TIE WOfi0rd Political Economist Dis
CnsSes the Proposition for the ES-
tdbliShment Of a RefOrmdtOry
for Youthful Criminals.

Spartanburg, January 4.-Spec-
ial: DR.. d. ID. Wallace, of Wof-
ford College, made an excellent talk
before the women's clubs of the
city. His subject was "R-forma-
tory School for Boys" He first
gave an outline of the savage treat
mcnt of the criminal class, showing
that for centuries they were visited
with scvercst punishment without
any show of mercy. The idea of
reforming and saving criminals and
making good and useful citizens
was evolved very slowly in the his
tory of the world. He then noted
the great waste in the present syS-
tenn of treating criminals. They
are taken out of the industrial
classes and their prison training is
not such as to prepare them Tor
useful occupations after they are re-
leased. There have always been
recognized two classes Of criminals,
the responsible and the irrcspunsi
bic. But students Of tho criminals
make another class, the party r.
sponsiblc. That is, the class that
is to bc benefited by these rrforma-
tory schools. There is litilc hope
for those who have pursued course
of crime until they arc 30 years old.
But there are many strenuous boys,
even where home restraints are
good, that are drawn aside into
wrong doing There arc o>hr 3
will out parents or guardians that
are bound to fall into the criminal
class. There are positive criminals
amongst the boys. These are all
subjects fit for the rcformatory
school. The saving Of these classes
to the State and rcscuing them from
associations that are misleading
will be worth much in Il material
way. They will help to take care of
the State when properly trained,
In these schools the mental, NOR
al and manual training are the
prime factors in working out new
life and new and positive aims for
the boys. A fair common school
education is given and each one is
taught some trade or handicrraft
for which he is fitted, and religious
principles are taught. Without the
moral training the school would not
b. an entire success.
DR.. Wallace visited the schools at
Knoxville, Tenn, and Elmira, n.
agcmcnt. 1T TT 1tGGs vpqi}aps es q ~ man; 9,y.;
receive convicts. They take only
the irresponsible, the homeless and
unprotected, and such as are crimi-
nal in their tendencies, but have
not been convicted. In New York
they take all classes. At both
schools the boys are put on their
! honor and treated as though were
in boarding school. a very large
per cent. Of them learn trades and
make useful and good citizens.
Very few ever fall into the criminal
class.
| In Wisconsin they are sent to the
school 10y the Chanccry Judge, but
are not escorted hy policeman.
The Judge kindly says to them that
the school is the best place for them
and that they must take the train
and go out to it. They go alone.
That very act helps them to assert
their manhood. The speaker paid
Il high compliment to the late Mrs.
Patterson for the agitation of this
subject and said it was owing to her
study of the matter and her great
interest in the boys that the qurs-
ton had been brought before the
people. lie advised the club wom-