The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-09

There was no formal program Tor the
section on children, the discussion. led
by Mrs RI Z. Falconer, of the Phla-
deiphia House of Refuge. being de-
voted to the subject OF the proper care
OF the dependent child.
Tic Big Night Meeting.
Chairman Whittakers report on
criminals. their punishment and REFORM.
alton. which was presented last night,
covered two broad grounds--one as
Indicated by the title and the other
the attitude of labor unions toward
pententiary- made goods.
In dealing with the former the.
chairman said 1t must be admitted
from the start that one-half of the
criminals could not he reformed; they
must he separated from the more de-
cent and confined for life. Through
practical application of the theories
laid down, he continued. the other 30
per cent can be returned to society as
useful and honorable men.
There should be no punishment
he said. for men confined for violation
OF the law except the denfa of lib
erty. The management of reforma-
tory that would discharge Its inmates,
on parole or otherwise, at the end OF
one year, is making a serious mistake.
Such inmates should serve from three
to five years
~ want to say that true friendship.
love and the square deal means much
to this class of unfortunates, and when
these conditions prevail In our penal
and refornatory institutions, 90 per
cent. of the normal men and boys can
he saved to society. The trouble to-
day is due to the fact that officers of
the institutions do not know these
principles.
Legislatures, as a rule. are too mig
Eardly with their appropriations to
provide for the payment OF salaries
necessary to bring to this kind of work
n class of men of the highest type of
citizenship. am firmly of the opinion
that with the proper institution officers
there will be absolutely no real punish
ment in these prisons for fifty years
THE word punishment has no more
place in the discipline of well-regu-
lated Institution than has the express
sion of hell and damnation' in the SER
mon of modern minister
Ran. Labor Union Asitntors.
Speaking OF the bill to deny tol
prison made goods the right of COM
petition. Chairman Whitaker said:
"There IL now n bill before Congress-
which IL most vicious and fnr-rcnchinE
in 1t. effect upon penal and reforma-
tory institutions of this country, and
1t aIlo,ld never become n law.
81 want to appeal to you through
this report to use your influence with
your ConEressmen and with your Sem
ntor. to see TINT such vicious measure.
rs are being brought forward to he
passed by our lnbor people arc not
pissed.
ar such bill should he passed with
the provisions ms contained In the bill
which IL now In Congress, in my judE-
ment, within sixty days after It's PMS
Sngc. tho workshops and trndes-scloOls
Of our penal and rcformntory institu-
lions would be stopped and virtually
every inmate would be thrown into II
cell in idIcncss, which condition only
breeds disease, Insanity and every form
of vice.
"Not only this, but 1t would throw
the institutions upon the tRX-pnycrs
of this country mt nm enormous cxpcn-
diture to cnrc for them.
"For Congress or any of tho States
to pass Il law which would compel
these institutions to close down their
Industries would be nothing less than
criminal.
"If Congress does pass the law,
which the lnbOr lenders of this country
desire II to pass, more than 15 per cent.
of these 200 men In Indiana will he
reIens;d upon society worse criminals
than When thcy were committed.
81 wish to he understood that when
refer to the labor people I am only
referring To labor nsltntOrs, and not
to the great buIie of lnbor people OF
this country. who are honest, fnir nn,l
reasonable. and some of wllosc sons
are being sent to these institutions cx-
actIy ns are some of the sons Of men
who are not labor people"
Mr. Frank H. Nibecker, OF Pennsyl-
yania, who followed Chairman Whit
taker, spoke briefly on reformatory
conditions He said that the one great
characteristic in the criminal is that
he is an offensive individual, one To-
whom all things must be subserved
He cannot be reformed until he is made
social. which can be done only through
education
Woman Lawyers Clever Address.
There was generous burst Of APP
plause when Mrs. Ellen J. Foster, a
lawyer connected with the Department
Of Justice. at Washington, was intro
duced. With charming manner. and
n delightful voice. she quickly made
herself a homo in the chancel of ST
Paul's.
In the Virginia penitentiary here.
S'''7 saul Nlltlt iLt men WHO come
from the Virginia homes. and all
through this State tonight there arc,
men and women and children who are
caring for those behind the walls and
bars The institution comes in direct
contact with the people In the great
Federal penitentiaries at Atlanta and
LeaYenworth there are men who come
from all parts of the country; they
are harder set than yours They
are deliberately prisoners they arc
burglars, counterfeiters highway rob
bers, and nobody cares for the United
States criminal in the sense that thay
care for the Inmates of your peniten.
tiary
But have been asked to speak
about the guard There is no greater
need in our land to-day than for u
higher sci OF men to serve in that
capacity. Personality acting on per-
sonalits reyolves the world, which
means that YOU must have decent men
for the work. Back of this guard
question is the matter of pay You
cannot command the best without good
pay
AT times Mrs Foster spoke especially
L