The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-06-18
. MAYOR TOM
INTRODUCES HUMAN
lTARIAN METHODS
In the Treatment OF Jail
Inmates.
Speaker Before National
Conference of Charities
Describes S the
Mayors Way.

Minuapols, Min, June II. AT
this mornings session OF the
National Conference of Charities and
Correction, now meeting in Minneapo.
lis. Harris r. Cooley told how II has
remained for Cleveland. Ohio, under
Mayor Tom Johnson, to go farthest
I'm the introduction Of Humanitarian
methods in the treatment of that
class of offenders represented by l5s.
jail population During the first ad-
ministratiou of Mayor Johnson II 0G0
men and women we're pardoned and
paroled During the previaus admin
istration only "a were thus treated
This radical departure from the ira
ditional method of course aroused the
cry Jail deliveries" In the six years
of Mayor Johnson's term Of office,
over 1000 persons have been pardoned
and paroled. In the eyes Of the law
these men and women are still pris
oners during the life of their pafoIe
They are required 10 report as a rule
once a week. BY a card system a
careful record Is kept of their conduct
and of their reports. II they are TAX
on back TO the house of correction by
reason of having violated their parole.
their stay Is extended 70 about three
times the length Of the original sen.
tence. Three parole officers and one
parole matron have been added TO
the police department TO look after
these cases, and special leniency Is
shown 10 first Offenders. II is the
theory In Cleveland that. for a man
condemned 20 prison for the first time
there is a psychological moment In
which practical help can be wisely
given To act too soon would belittle
the wrongdoing, to wait too long would
embitter aud harden the individual
into a criminal.
Only II per cent Of the paroied men |
have been returned 20 the House OF
Correction According TO the sta.
tlstics, this Is less than the percent |
age of returns Of those who were re.
leased after working out their entire
time In prison under the old regime.
The plan has been found to work ex-
ceptionally good in the cases of men |
who neglected or deserted their fam
lilies.
Under the state laws of Ohio. II
s. usual 10 impose both a fine and a |
fail sentence, making the two inter
changeable; so IL Is possible for
man having money to pay his fine
with an additional amount represent
ing the days he was sentenced to jail.
The man without money is precluded
from this. and must serve his pays
plus an additional number OF days,
representing the amount OF his fine.
In Cleveland, they say that II fol any
reason a man should be kept in the
workhouse 30 days. he should be kept
there 30 days. whether he has cents.
So, or s500,000.
Mr.. Harris Cooley claims that man
who tries TO steal a franchise or a
canal. or a million dollars. is in need
OF correctional treatment just as much
as the man who tries TO steal ham I
or an overcoat
To place the abnormal In normal /,
environment is the fundamental prin' .
clple which applies TO all. The speak ,
er contended that to take men and
women and children from the abnor-
NAL environment of the slums and
place them in another abnormal en-
yironment of the old-time prison, Is
irrational. He claimed that the first
and just thing TO do is TO place these
abnormal people again In normal en-.
vironment. He cited the success OF
this rational method of treatment for
tuberculosis cases and insane patients, .
and others who were either morally ,
unsocial or abnormal. He stated that ,
there Is a growing sentiment In favor
of moving penal institutions to the