The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-11-23
FoR YOUNG OFFENDERS.

Governor Cox has already intimat.
ed that he will introduce bill before
the next legislature, seeking in some
way to remedy the evil of incarcerat-
ing young children in prison and
working them along side of harden
ed criminals. Governor Cox will do
much for humanity if he is successful
in his effort; because Tennessee, in
this respect, is about the worst govern
ed state in the Union.
And so far as we know, Wisconsin
is about the best governed. In that
state they have School of Reform, for
all youthful offenders. The age, we
believe, is from eight to eighteen; and
once a child is sent to that School,
for any offense, however trivial,
he becomes the ward of the
State until he is twenty-one years of
age This institution is a veritable
School, and is in large measure self
sustaining; all the work and practical
ly all the clothing and much of the
food being made by the boys them
selves. The children have their work
hours, their school, their play and
their sleep hours. They have a large
and beautiful campus, and are sent
out to play according to age and size,
pretty much as they do at city public
schools. The very young children are
not given much work to do, other than
school work; but as they grow older,
if they stay there they are taught
useful trades. Some of them make
shoes for the entire School; others of
them make clothes; some do the laun-
dry work, and some do the blowing,
the planting and the reaping, for there
is hundred or two acre farm attach
ed. In short, it is a great big family
of unfortunates which the State is
caring for and trying to raise right.
How much better that way is than
to wait until they grow up criminals
and then hang or imprison them for
life.
Whatever the offense, great or
small, the term for which they are
committed to the School is eighteen
months; they are compelled to stay
there that long, and for every dement,
received in the School, either for
omission or commission, month is
added to that time. But after that
time, in the discretion of Board or
Committee, they may be loaned out to
reputable, well-to-do citizens, who will
give them good homes and provide
for them. But they are still wards
Of the State, and must report by let
ter once month to the School Sup
and IL they are not be-
having themselves properly, not doing
their work properly, not giving entire
to the employers, they
are taken back to the School and Civ
en- another eighteen months of School
discipline. And that continues until
hey are twenty-one years of age, at T
which time they are released from =
he care and custody Of the State, af- a
er years of good raising; and a very
arge majority of them, the statistics II
'how, becomes good and exemplary U
citizens.
We commend this plan or system to d
sov. Cox, and to the Senator and q
for this county and p
district, and suggest that they write b
nd get more details and information,
nd in the absence of something bet o.
er, formulate their bill after the Wis III
onsin law, and give the unfortunate y
'ouths of Tennessee who have no OF
ONES, many of them, and some of Sc
hem worse environments even than 81
be streets, chance to redeem them re
elves from the errors of early youth, III
nd become, as most of them would, ol
aluable and useful men and citizens. Is
"One ounce of prevention, is worth IT
pound of cure" Sc