Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-19


wild beasts. Those, however, who
have had experience in the manage
ment Of penal institution know that
prisoners are human beings, and their
bad habits may be eradicated and good
habits implanted by a system Of work
ana discipline to the same extent as
with any other individual
81 wish to say that nothing can be
accomplished in prison Improvement
without an educated and energetic
public sentiment expecting and de-
manding 1t. The state board Of char
tiles and corrections has been Of great
service in molding public sentiment
and bringing to the aid of the board of
prison directors many influences that
will enable the prisons to be placed
upon a higher standard"
Mr.. Myers said further
All men are more or less depraved,
are more or less criminal In a long
life of close observation and some ex-
perfence In dealing with criminals, 1
nave found few men who were totally
bad, and none who were wholly bad.
The law does not Judge men by what
they are but what they do. A bad
man who Keeps within the pale of the
law stands better than comparative
~ good man who has been overtaken
in fault or broken law.
ought we to treat criminals as
CHeiiheS W De punlSned or as human
beings to be reformed and restored
again to society? There are just as
many grades of criminals as there are
or honest men, and If dealt with by
the state as they should, there is just
as much hope of reclaiming a large
per cent Of them and returning them to
society as good and useful citizens as
there is of reclaiming the thousands
who are lowering about the border
line of crime on the outside of prisons,
many of whom have actually COM
mltted crime and have not been caught
at 1t. Do not fall into the error of
thinking all the criminals are in prison.
They are not.
AN honest man does not become a
thief or a swindler or in fact a Grim
inal of any kind in a day. a month or
year. Neither does a thief become
an honest man in corresponding pc
riod. A good character is a matter of
growth, and slow growth at that"
Mr.. Myers spoke at length upon the
methods used in prisons and wherein
they can be benefited and augmented
for the good of the prisoners.
Brief addresses were made by Frank
G. Prescott, Judge Wilbur and Rev.
DIR. McLan.
DR.. Walter Lindley, chairman of the
local committee Of arrangements,
opened the session, reading letter
from Mayor McAller expressing his re-
grets at not being able to be present.
The mayor extended cordial welcome
to the convention. Those who were
seated on the platform were: Frank
A. Symms, G. A. Gates, DR.. Lindley,
G. G. Desmond, DIR. McLain and DIR.
Lamb.
DIR. Lindley made the opening adj
dress, with numerous remarks regard
ing the northerners bringing the rain.
He said:
Charity is running too much to
science, rules and system. There seems
to be tendency to cut out the real
heart and love from the work. We are
instructed for the best of motives to
give nothing directly. Our children
are told not to help the blind man on
the street.
1T seems that while the organiza-
tions may use the money to a little
better advantage. yet we are doing
away with helpful educational factor.
We must bring ourselves up against
poverty If we are going to make our
selves good workers. While we are
endeavoring to make good plans, yet If
this meeting could but start out young
men and women, it would do more
than all the systems and methods"
Charity and Business
Frank Symms, president of the
state board of charities, made a short
address in which he accepted the hos
pitality of Los Angeles for the con-
vention and gave an outline of the
work which has been and which is yet
to be accomplished.
I'VE come, offering not commercial
gain" said the speaker, but for the
simple purpose of human charity. Los
Angeles is to be congratulated on it's
people and the work done here. Would
that our own San Francisco could take
the same high stand. While we re-
Joice in our own city, yet we have to
look over its faults.
"a well administered charity is a
we'll managed business, and a wise ad-
ministration is as essential for sue
cess as in a mercantile institution. The
violation of the law by the young must
be treated by humane and kindly
methods-the sympathy of the woman
and the counsel of the man.
1T is also the work of this conven-
tion in measure to fight that worst of
diseases, which does not come openly
and boldly. but steals upon us; a dis
ease which is felt strongly here on
account Of the climatic advantages
the scourge of the great white plague.
which can be practically eradicated. 1t
is the work of this conference to
arouse public sentiment and to ex-
ercise noble purpose-man's duty to
fellow man."
Governor Sends Regrets
In place of the address of the after
noon, which was to have been deliv-
cred by Governor Pardee, a telegram
was read from the governor, stating
that it would be impossible for him
to attend on account of illness in his
family.
President Gates of Pomona college
made an address in place of the gov
ernor. which was full of strong views
regarding the evils of the day and
which was met with loud and con-
tinued applause.
President Gates opened his address
with humorous remarks and then
spoke at length upon the practica biity
of the theorist in every day life and
the problems of the times. He said:
This is no new place for me, for l
have been one modest member of the
Guild of Education of America and l
have studied the questions as best a
theorist may. L remember well my
visit to Elmira,. a sngularly repre-
sentative American penal institution
and there preached to 1900 men, and