Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-08-27
NARD[NHUNILR' SPIN
He Favors the Indeterminate.
Sentence For Criminals
In Iowa
ARGUES FOR IT IN REPORT
ARGUES FOR 1T IN REPORT
Gives Reasons for His Belief That the
Real Indeterminate Sentence Is the
Most Effective in Reforming Grim
inals and Meeting Penal Conditions
in Iowa.

/ iudlS anu 'NuOSSut9 SSlSis'S'S
in Iowa.
Des Moines, Aug II. Warden w.
A.. Hunter OF the Anamosa peniten-
tiary is an ardent advocate of the in
determinate sentence and reformatory
scheme Of retaining criminals. In his
annual report filed with the state
board of control this week he will de-
vote considerable space to a discussion
of the subject, urging the board to
recommend to the legislature of this
winter the establishment of the indie
terminate sentence, the creation of
board of pardons and parole, and the
organization of a reformatory.
Warden Hunter favors the real in
determinate sentence. In the bills
with which the Iowa legislature hith-
erto has had to do the real thing was
not involved. minimum and maxi
mum limit on the sentence of GRIMM
ais being preserved in the judgments
administered by the courts. The real
indeterminate sentence Is an institu-
ton which gives society the power to
restrain persons of liberty indefinitely
these persons being given the coi,ci-
dent power to relieve themselves of all
restraint by proper conduct while re-
strained.
on this subject Warden Hunter will
say:
Customs Must Yield.
Il assume that 1t Is not denied that
the authority which vested this power
in the trial judge may withdraw that
power without assailing any divine
right To remove this power to fix q
definite sentence would be contrary to
immemorial custom it is true, but GUS
toms must yield If they stand in the
way of progress.
Much fear exists as to the practical
working of the proposed innovation,
and so there has been but little OPP
portunity to prove its beneficial Ell
fects. The system advocated makes the
prisoner his own judge and his own ex-
ecutioner.' 1t proposes to detain him IN
prison until he shall give sufficient eV-
idence of his purpose to become a law
abiding and Industrious citizen. .Rhll-
anthropists, humanitarians, theorists,
and practical prison men are agreed
that the indeterminate sentence ana
parole law presents the most feasible
method OF dealing with criminals.'s
"The desire for freedom under com
pulsory confinement is very strong. To
a healthy, normal man in prison any
incentive which contributes to his
chance of liberty will usually impress
him -with the need of self-control and
respect forslaw. Long impri
compulsory obedience to rules coupled
with lack of ambition for improve
ment. produces machines, and with our
present system we discharge upon sos
ciety one who has no higher concep-
ton of his incarceration than that he
has paid his debt to the state.
Under the indeterminate sentence
law men whose return to crime IS felt
to be moral certainty could be re-
strained, just as our insane patients
are restrained. Men are discharged
constantly to repeat with a few weeks
the offense against person or property
for which they have served already one
or more terms in prison. 1t makes lit
tie difference whether the term in pris-
on has been two, five, ten or more
years. The prison authorities are rea-
sonably certain that it is only ques-
ton Of time when they will be re-
turned to prison.
Instances are Shown.
1--WE have in mind two men, one is
serving his second term and the other
his third term, who have committed
crimes against the person. Both are
degenerates and weak minded. The UNI
happy victims of their brutality, and
society at large, would have been saw
ed most painful experience had there
been in existence a comprehensive in
determinate sentence law and an in
telligent and judicious parole sentence
implies the latter. But. if 1t be thought
that Iowa is not yet ready to join the
vanguard in penal reform to such an
extent as is here suggested, it would
be we'll to provide at once some eff
cient system Of parole. Many could
be saved to good citizenship If per-
rmitted to be at liberty, many a wife
and family could be saved from perjury
and want, and many a husband and
father would be encouraged to be
thoughtful, circumspect, self-denying
and industrious.
"a man who leaves prison under the
parole system is far more likely to
become a lawabiding, wage earning
citizen than is one who conceives him
self under no obligation to the state"
The warden is satisfied that the fact
that the experience OF states which
have had reformatory systems shows
that three fourths Of those who pass
thru the reformatories and are saved
from prisons, also are saved from de-
struction and crime, should be suffi-
cient to warrant Iowa to establish a
reiormatory.
Appropriation Is Asked.
Warden Hunter asks an appropria-
tion of but $S4.7O0 for the ensuing BIZ
ennial period for Anamosa prison.
During the year 1906 1877 persons
were admitted to the prison at Ana
mosa High water mark was reached
in 1895 and 1897 in each Of which years
$40 persons We're committed
OPPOSE MAYTAG's REELECTION.
Many Jasper standpatters Say He