The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-16
SAVING CRIMINALS
Sheriff Sommer Gives st. Patrick's AL
lance Members, His Ideas on Penal
Reform and Child Labor.

Sheriff Frank H. Sommer In an eloquent
talk before the members of Branch S, Dis
trict No. 5, st. Patrick's Alliance OF
America, in Eaton Hall, East Orange. last
night favored the action by the State te
reclaim unf%ortunates who. after serving
back to their criminal habits by despera-
| ton in finding every mans hand turned
against them because OF the taint upon
stringent child labor laws to govern en-
| ployment in factories and mills to safe
Dguard the health and morals OF the young
and paid a compliment to tenement house
legislation, which has remedied many
abuses that were formerly crying evils.
Sheriff SoLmer urged that the State
should make som provision to care for
not permit them to return to their former
methods of crime. He advised that they
be looked after and properly. advised by
persons interested In their welfare SO they
might return to the worlds affairs as good
citizens.
The Sheriff spoke of the good work ac-
eomplished by, a Catholic priest, whom ne
done wonders. he said, in reclaiming for
mer prisoners. He spoke of the old prac-
tise of allowing children to be placed with
hardened prisoners before the juvenile
courts were established, and. in remarking
about the probation departments, he said
the children were looked after by the au-
liberties.
But how about the meng'' he asked. II
say to you that in seven cases out of ten
an Imprisonment in a penal institution is a
sentence for life. What do l mean? You
put the stigma Of the prison on the man;
he comes out and although his offense may
have been a minor one, he Is without
money. employment or friends, excepting
those who are always ready to receive him,
"the gang" He may not be that kind Of n
man and goes seeking employment. If he
tells the truth the chances are be will not
be employed If he shuns the truth some
one may come along and can to the at
tention of his new found employer his
prison experience and the, probability is he
again set adrfft and then someone comes
along and, at a profit to himself, through
the worst kind Of blackmail, makes the
mans condition worse than 1t ever had
been previously. The State should make
some provision to give that man a chance,
and II they. did no one would he happier
than the police officials of Newark and the
Sheriff. office. 1t is a business of the
State, not Of the individuals, to see that
those who leave the jail are looked after
and to see that something is done to
remedy Their condition" ~
The Sheriff said the world was getting
better; the brotherhood of man was being
advanced along broad fraternal lines and
the Golden Rule Is being more and more
exemplff1ed In the lives, of men. The bet
terme,nt Of social conditions called for the
orkln out of the various problems now
before the public, he declared.
said in part:
- htRLic VI luis country Is bound
up in the development of the child. we
saw bad conditions in the factories; chill
dren We're sent into the mill and we saw
the htldren that this republic depended
upon for its future coined into gold A
body Of men arising resented these condf-
lions. They make appeals to employer
TO cease employing hese~children. That
appeal IS met almost universally with
refusal, but legislation finally absolutely
prohibited the employment of children un.
der the age of IA years In workshop or
mill. We now find the great cities erou-
Ing up without adequate provision heinz
made to care tor the children seeking in
nocent pleasure. Them came the demand
that Fairgrounds for the children he nro,
vided. These appeals did not meet with
any great responses; many thought fbe
grounds should not be provided ont ~
private funds. but that the State should
give the money for their establishment >
The advancement of the idea Of nrovid
ing safeguards for the children as well ne
& pleasure opportunities, Sheriff Somnar he.
lieved. showed that events have chanoed
and that the concept of duty, based on fbs
: Golden Rule. was being more intellieenfiS
appreciated. The State in pasf wears ~
2 said. was taking the idea that IL Vas hst
J Ter to safeguard the family and NOT los.
I the child. which would be 81 erea y
I future factor. The child should have 1on q
I thing that resembled a square DEAF 4.
Q said. and should not be permitted ~ oren
? up under adverse conditions. prohahiv ~
tformed and In poor health sna "y ae'
( Tunes he declared enemies of Law AM
III order. "W AM
Z The credit for upbuilding Of the worktns
a lclaes OF people. the c~reaffon ~ hof9 49,
D Ecleaner homes Sherif Sommer -aVe :. ~.
labor ORGANIZATIONS ~