Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-10
.SOUL-SAVING CITY
MRS. MILLS THEME
FELLOWSHIP PASSES THREE UR-
GENT RESOLUTIONS
Success of Cleveland, O., in Dealing
with Criminals Is Told and Los
Angeles Is Urged to
Emulate

A large audience filled Blanchard
hall at the Fellowship service yester
day morning. The address, delivered
by Mrs. Benjamin Fay Mills, was en-
titled "A City in the Life-Saving Bust
ness and gave the story of the re-
markable work being done in CleVe'
land, o., for the care and reformation
of criminals. Mrs. Mills said:
I'VE have made many experiments II
| the treatment of criminals. We have
guillotined, hanged and electrocuted
them; sentenced them for life, or for
time, and then sent them out to be-
come worse enemies to society thar
ever. We have done everything but
try to cure the terrible crime sickness
with which they are afflicted and make
| better men and women of them.
1.-THE splendid work of Mayor John
son and DR.. Cooley in Cleveland has
been one of the CLEANS of better
light revealing to us the practicability
of a higher and more brotherly way.
1.-THE Cleveland farm colony COM
mands a magnificent site for three
square miles. 1t is laid out with skill
and beauty Here are situated the city
workhouse, comprising shops, Kitchen
dormitories, etc. In another section Is
city tuberculosis hospital and other
buildings which provide for sensible,
refined, helpful life and work for all
the citys human wreckage.
Petty offenders are carefully segre-
gated from worse criminals. Different
nationalities are also segregated for
convenience and sociability's sake. The
food is of the best There is no stipu-
lated prison garb. There are excellent
schools for intellectual and artistic in
struction. There are gardening, fruit
culture, chicken culture, dairy. work.
The whole work of the colony is done
by the prisoners. An atmosphere of
perfect confidence prevails. There are
no ball and chain, no armed guards.
1--WE trust these men, says DR..
Cooley, and because we trust them
they respect our trust. We treat them
as men and they respond to IT..
Use Parole System
THE parole system as executed there
is an evidence of this trust. Every man
is paroled who can present a claim to
consideration, and these released men
have largely justified the confidence
thus shown them.
"Out of 1160 men patroled in two years
only 173 returned Many proved them
selves to be reformed men. Some of
these men formed an association called
the brotherhood which was for the
promotion of self-reliance and broth
erly helpfulness. They live in house
rented and furnished comparatively
welcome all released prisoners, main
tain them until they find work and give
them assistance in doing so.
cleveland also supports model
home for juvenile offenders. admins
tered on the same principles of trust
and the edification of body, mind and
soul. This. too, is in the country, and
presents the interests and attractions OF
nature. The boys go back from a So
journ there cleaner and stronger in body
and spirit.
AT this time, when we are all feel
ing a keen sense of shame and pain
concerning the disgraceful and degrad-
ing fashion in which our city is treat
ing her prisoners, let us give heed 10
the encouraging message this fine and
successful effort brings to us. If we
believe in the innate worth of men and
appeal to 1t with faith and love they
will respond. Let there be such en-
lightened sentiments alive among us
that we will not only build a new jail,
Tut will help our weak and erring
brothers and sisters up to stronger and
purer lives. Let us be more eager to
help the criminal than to punish the
crime
Condemns Local Jail
The Fellowship passed resolutions
calling attention to the deplorable con-
dition of the Los Angeles city jail and
urging that rational and humane
methods of reform in the treatment of
prisoners, similar to those inaugurated
with success in Cleveland, be put into
operation in our own city.
1t was also resolved that there is
here at the present time urgent need
for more extensive provisions for the
employment of a large number of men
now out of work than has yet been
made by the city authorities" and the
Fellowship earnestly urged upon the
mayor, board of public works, street
commissioners and other city officials
to speedily devise means by which
these unemployed men may secure, at
proper remuneration, work upon the
streets, in the parks of the city and
In the construction of the Owens river
water system.
1t was urged also that arrangements
be made for the cultivation of vacant
lots by the unemployed-a plan fol-
lowed with good results in other cities.
A third resolution was passed as fol-
lows:
whereas. At the present time a
strong sentiment tending toward the
creation of the war spirit is being
aroused through the medium of the
public press, through the martial dis
play by the United States government,
and through the local preparations that
are being urged for the reception and
entertainment of our war fleet; there
fore be it
Resolved, That the Los Angeles Eel
lowship earnestly deplores any actiy-
tiles that can in any way comprehend
disturbance of the present peaceful re-
lations Of the United States with any
foreign power.
believing that patriotism is love OF
country, and that the truest patriot is
he who seeks to keep his country truest
to her greatest ideals and to the SER
vice of humanity, and that he who
helps to build the nation performs g
higher patriotic service than he who
helps defend the nation, we hereby
ardently assert our devotion to the prin
ciples of arbitration for the settlement
of all international disputes that may II
any way hereafter arise"