The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-09-21
Just Held In Chicago, and Much
Interest Is Manifested BY Lead
ing Public Officials and Chris
tian Workers In Several States.
Attorney General Bonaparte
Turns For a Moment From
Jailing Milionaires and BUST
ing Trusts to Punishment and
Pardon In Congress.
The Hobo" Problem Seriously
Emphasized BY Noted Speaker
The Real and Ideal Prison
Dwelt Upon By Careful Stu
dent of Criminalogy.

CHICAGO, Sept. 19.-Chicago was
this week filed with prison workers.
The occasion was the annual congress
of the National Prison association of
the United States
Charles J. Bonaparte, attorney gen.
eral of the United States, turned for
the moment from failing millonaires
and busting" trusts, to give an ad-
dress on punishment and Pardon"
before the congress. Two state gov
ernors were on hand with addresses
Governor Charles S.. Deneen of Illi-
nois, and Governor J. Frank Hanly of
Indiana. Mayor Busse of Chicago,
gave the address Of welcome. Other
we'll known speakers were Mrs. Maud
Ballington Booth, Bishop Samuel Fall
lows, and the Rev. DR., John BalcOm
shaw.
The National Prison association is
great semi-official organization whose
membership covers the North Ameri-
can continent. Every state, three
branches Of the United States govern
ment, the Dominion of Canada and its
provinces and a large Number of cities
appointed official delegates tc the con-
Shaw.
Other Organizations There.
Three subordinate organizations
The Prison Wardens' association;
Prison Physicians association and
Prison Chaplains' association met In
connection with this. The conditions
and needs Of America In the field of
penology in The widest sense We're
considered. The discussions covered
wide range of subjects. These in
cluded criminal law and its enforce
ment: the appreciation and identif1ca-
tion of prisoners; police; causes of
crime; child-saving work; prisons and
prison administration; convict labor;
probation, parole and final discharge
Of prisoners; employment for and su-
pervisiOn of released prisoners. The
opening session was held on Saturday
evening, when Governor Deneen spoke
and Hon. E. J. Murphy, president of
the association, delivered his address,
The National Prison association was
organized at Cincinnati in 1870 and
was granted charter by the state Of
New York in 1871. Among the dozen
or more interpretations were Horatio
Seymour, Theodore W. Dwight, Amos
Pillsbury, Rutherford B. Hayes, Con-
rad Baker, Charles F. Coffin. James G..
Blaine, Enoch G. Wines, Theodore
Roosevelt, Morris K. Jessup and Frank
B. Sanborn. Rutherford B. Hayes
served as president Of the association
from the time he was governor Of
Ohio until his death, following which
General r. Brinkerhoff of Ohio, was
president for several years. '
Prison Methods Unsatisfactory.
Amos w. Butler. general secretary
of the association, said: mo country
or state in the Union is satisfied with
it's method Of confining and caring for
prisoners.
with the wonderful advancement
in the past fifty years in almost every
line of human effort there has been
comparatively little progress in pris-
ons. The Jail system Of America is
the reproach of Christendcm.
"Only by a campaign Of education
can this be removed. The increasing
interest in the forward steps, recently
taken Gin some states they are no.
table), is largely the result Of the ef-
forts Of the National Prison associa-
ton. Its recent growth and increasing
support speaks we'll for the future"
The Real and Ideal Prison.
In tracing the great movement OF
, prison reform, F. Emory Lyon, super
intendent Of the Central Howard as
sociation Of Chicago, said last even
complished toward the creation Of q
model prison system since y1773, wher
John Howard was the~warden OF, the
Bedford Jail. Thanks to his grea1
heart and fertile brain, a new. stand.
point was taken in reference to the
treatment of the prisoner as a human
being and not monstrcity. So great
were the abuses at that time, however
that only beginning was made for 6
)fentury after, so far as real results
and conditions were concerned.
Nevertheless, the new standard pro.
claimed by John Howard was sure tt
have its effect in changing prison
buildings and prison discipline from
savage to human conditions. Grea
! things were done in the fifty wear.
following his time; both in Euron,
and in our own country. 50 much in
. deed that as early as 1916, when In
diana was admitted into the UnD,
as state. it Incorporated IN it's con
stitution the statement that it's pena
institutions were to be, not primaril,
for the purpose Of punishment, but 70
reformation. This was the great nev
ideal which gradually changed the at
titude of the state toward the prisone,
from chat of vindictiveness and re
preston to the possibilities Of trans
forming the individual offender. Lik
all ideals, however, tits operation an
expression has been slow, and wit
j all that has been done, greater thing
- IN II ha I'll