The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-23
NATION ARMY
 PLAN IS FAVORED
Judge Feagin Opposes Sending
 Offenders to Jail
COLONIZATION ENDORSED
Judge of Police Court Thinks Indus tries Should Be More Considerate of the Welfare of Their
 Employees.

Judge N. B. Feagln of the police court of Birmingham has great faith in the proposition of the Salvation army to pro- vide homes for criminals, so that they may engage in agricultural pursuits in- stead of sending them to prisons. On several occasions Judge Feagn has de clared that in his opinion Q home should be provided by every municipal govern ment as a place of refuge for mental. moral and physical treatment of inebri- ates and in a special report to the City Council recently urged upon the adop- ton of such a method in Birmingham.
 Judge Feagin has accepted an invitation to attend the reception which will be ten dered to Miss Eva Booth, commander of the Salvation Army forces in the United States, upon her visit to Birmingham next Sunday night. He is also on the pro- gramme at the exercises previous to the address which will be delivered by Com mander Booth
 ,, In discussing the Salvation Army yes- ! terday Judge Feagin said:
 Birmingham is to have at the Jefferson theatre next Sunday Miss Eva Booth of the Salvation Army She is said to be the brainiest and most eloquent woman that has eyer occupied the platform in the United States. She has not only the talent of her father, but the great love for humanity of her noble sire She has dedicated her life and all the energies of her mind and soul to the elevation and ennoblement of the lower strata of so- ciety. These people it has been her effort to uplift. to give heart and hope or a better life.
 General Booths Plan.
 Some philanthropists in the city of London have recently purchased a large tract of land in England and have given it to General Booth for the Salvation Army, for the purpose of aiding in carry ing out a scheme to demonstrate to the civilized world that there is no man so fallen, mo criminal so debased and in- corrigibile that will not respond to the influence of kindness and amend his wicked ways when helping hand is gen erously extended to him.
 General Booth proposes to take from the jails and prisons of England the most hardened criminals that may express a desire to lead a better life and give them a chance for reformation by engaging in agricultural pursuits on these farm lands He proposes. to establish these people in homes, selling the same to them on long time and easy payments.
 ''This method is in keeping with the best thought and practice now in force in France. where the suspension of sem tence against first offenders has shown a reduction within the last ten years of from 47 to 50 per cent of second offenders. Such humane efforts in behalf of the weak and the wayward population of state will tend more to rehabilitate so- ciety-to relieve it of its burden, the criminals, than our present methods of jailing and working them in shaclts and chains. Such cruel methods tends to rob a man of pride of character and makes him desperado and a law-breaker.
 Employer to Empoye.
 Many of our great industrial companies are already realizing the fact that it is better to care for their employees by giv- ing them reasonable wages and reasonable hours of labor, so that they may render better service. than to be so eXactin8 in their demands for overwork and small compensation as to crush out the la borer's compensation in his work.
 ''There would be less necessity for the efforts of the Salvation Army to uplift humanity if our great manufacturing con cerus were more considerate of the well fare of their employees. The great army Of criminals that infest society with rare exception come from the homes of the overworked and overburdened part of humanity who have lost heart and hope in their efforts to maintain an honest live lihncd :,