Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-19
Board of Control to Propose
Changes in Law Controlling
Knoxville Institution
WORK CURE MAY BE ADDED
Industrial Feature Suggested as an Aid
to the euro of Those Who shirk
Work-sentimen Growing In Favor
of Inebriacy Hospital, Which is as
Yet an Experiment.
Special to Times-Repupllcan.


Des Moines. Dec. 19.-Weed out the
chronic inebriates and give the decent
ones something to do. That is what
is proposed for the experiment Of
state care and treatment of the dipso-
maniacs.
The board Of control took up this
subject with the heads Of the state in
stitutions in the quarterly conference.
1t was admitted that the public does
not yet fully approve Of the experiment
of giving state treatment to these UNI
fortunates. 1t was declared that public
sentiment Is changing. That good re-
suits follow the work being done was
shown. But improvements are needed.
The state board has recommended
that the law be changed so that the
chronic inebriates, or the bum ele-
ment, be excluded from the state in
stitution at Knoxville. It is estimated
this would take Is per cent of them
away. Then give them some work to
do. John. Cownie was originally In ia
vor OF the state opening a coal mine
and sending the inebriates to dig COAL
The newspapers poked fun at this
scheme and 1t was abandoned. But he
still believes it would be good thing.
About the only work done at Knoxville
has been in connection with the con-
q ~ <1lS
was discharged and he said he did not
think he would be back.
u have had three trials" he said. IT
tried the Kelley cure and the gold cure,
but I'll be D. II want any more Of
your wheelbarrow cure"
The man had been on the wheelbar-
row gang fixing up the grounds. The
trouble is that the labor is all unskilled
and the terms are so short men can
not learn a trade.
Judge Robinson called attention to
the fact that the board has funds for
the construction of a shop, but nobody
has ever been able to tell what kind
of a shop will utilize this labor. He
declared that we are not yet ready to
abandon the experiment at Knoxville.
All reports show that some cures are
effected. and further that the deterrent
ERECT of the institution is of great
value on those who do not go there. He
believed that with laws to exclude the
undesirable element making it more a
hospital and less a prison, doing good
largely to those who desire to be cured
great good will come to the state from
this institution.
The discussion came up on a paper
by w. S. Osborne, superintendent at
Knoxville. He favored giving the in
ebriates chance to earn some money
that they might support their families.
he did not favor a long term for all
inmates.
DR.. Apologize called attention to the
part heredfty plays in the case of in
ebriates. He instanced two families
where there are three and four drunk
ards respectively, and in each case the
father was an inebriate. Sentiment
Is changing In favor Of the care and
treatment of the inebriate He recalled
that at one conference man had ad-
vocated the whipping post for inebri-
ates; but now this same man fayors
care and treatment
"
Home at Davenport, spoke of the fact
that one month recently thirteen child
rem came to that institution from one
city and in every case drunkenness
was responsible. He had reckoned as
to ffty-nine cases in three months and
over 80 per cent of the cases could be
traced to inebriacy or drunkenness
DR.. Crumpacker said that the chief
difficulty in the care of inebriates now
is in the matter of detention DR.. Void
eng favored an indeterminate sentence.
Warden Jones said that very many of
those who come to his institution at
tribute their downfall to drink and in
most cases this is true. He commend
ed the plan suggested by giving the in
ebriates a chance to earn something
for their families.
In reference to tho wedding out of
the undesirables Judge Robinson de-
clared the state board would favor a
law giving the superimt endents power
to dismiss those who are beyond hope
of recovery or who may have an I'M
desirable influence on others. The
whole spirit of the inebriate hospital
should be changed. 1t should be a
and those who go there should
do so for treatment and cure.
1t is regarded as certain that 1egis-
lature will be strongly urged to make
important changes i'm the law regard
ing the Knoxville institution, and that
there will be reform in its manage
ment.