Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-01
JAIL A DISGRACE,
;. SAySC. F. weller |!
5 s,. ::syss'
Secretary Of the Associated
Charities Speaks Out.
RELIC Of "A BARBARlc AGE
Emphasizes the Need Of Modern
..,,. Reformatory.
EMPLOYMENT FOR C0NvICTs
Work and Daily Exercise Necessary
to the Moral and Physical Wei
fare of Prisoners.
RELIC Of "A BARBARlc AGE
EMPLOYMENT FOR CoNv1cTs

e.
Still another force has come into
the fight of all the better elements
Iof Washington to secure some
adequate provision for, its unfor-
tupates for the offenders against
society who must be segregated
for varying periods OF time from
the everyday and unrestricted
pursuit OF happiness. Since Mrs.
]. Ellen Fosters report last week
on the District Jail protests of most
vigorous nature have been made
against the, continued existence of
such conditions as she found there.
From his vantage point of experience
in Investigating cases of want and priva-
ton, Mr.. Charles F. Weller, secretary Of
the Associated Charities. yesterday added
his support to the movement which has as
its object both new Jail or penitentiary
building and an accompanying reform
in the methods of treating the inmates.
Mr.. Weller said:
AS judged by its effect upon a num-
Der of friends or acquaintance whom
have visited in the Jail, there is great
need of radical Improvement. Several
young men or boys whom 1 have known
through some boys clubs in which
have been interested have been put in
Jail for their first offense. 1t was OBJ
viously important that they should be
strengthened in every way against fu-
ture temptation. Instead Of giving
physical and moral strength, however,
have seen the Jail make these young
fellows more and more 'f1abby' in muscle
and in moral fiber.
Influence of the Jail.
zone man I remember was the sup
port of family Of small children The
Associated Charities had enlisted a VOL
unteer friendly visitor for the family and
she succeeded in building up the mans
character and courage until he supported
his family adequately. Through quar-
rel with a coworker who had systemati-
ca1ly annoyed him the man was sent to
Jail for several months for assault. We
soon saw that the influence Of the Jail
would speedily undo what our friendly
visitor had accomplished in building up
the moral. mental and physical strength
of the man. He was shut in little cage
all day with no exercise except fif-
in a mechanical way around a little
steel shelf in front of the cells. He had
nothing whatever to occupy his time
wholesomely; no useful work to do;
nothing but idleness amid the depreSs-
ing influences of vicious people.
I'm this case our friendly visitor con-
Quoted systematic fight against the
deteriorating influences of the Jail. She
devised a system of physical exercises
and taught the man to use them in his
little cage. She kept him supplied with
wholesome reading matter. visited him
often and exercised his sense or moral
responsibility by comforting with him
about. his family and about their plans for
the future. AS result, but distinctly in
spite of. the characteristic influence OF
the Jail. the man came out in pretty falr
shape SO that We sent him lmmeoiateiy
to a farm in a western country, where the
family are doing we'll.
This experience. among others, led
me to send letter to the jail authori-
ties urging them, to begin the improve
ments Of their system without waiting Tor
a new building. 1 suggested that the
prisoners be taken in groups or twenty
or thirty men. into the large cell corri-
dor in the center of the building. There,
under lock and key and with no possi-
bility of escape, these men could be put
through q system of "sett1ng-up exer-
cises'' or simple gymnastics which would
at least keep them in good physical con-
dition.
81 believe this could be done with prac-
tieaily no increase in the expense OF
managing the Jail. Almost any Jailer or
Waterman could readily learn how to put
his men through such physical exercises
that thirty minutes or more daily would
help to keep them in the good physical
condition without which good mental and
moral reactions are not generally to be
expected This suggestion was discarded
without. In my opinion. adequate reasons
for refusing to try it.
Work for Prisoners.
obviously, whether the purpose Of the
jail is to punish men or to reform them,
it is desirable that work he exacted of
every prisoner who is not incapacitated
for il. The more useful and normal the
work the better will be it's effect upon the
prisoners. But even IL the authorities
have to resort to artificial and unneces-
sary work. or even to mere gymnastics,
it is absolutely essential that the prison.
ers shall not be left to rot in idleness.
II might speak Of lack of sanitary facil-
tiles, or overcrowding, or failure to clas-
sify prisoners by any system which pre-
vents contamination, and of other dam
gers. In fact l have always thought of
our Jail as the worst feature of our social
machinery. In common with other jatls
throughout the country. this department
of our public life seems to be the last to
feel the impulses of modern philanthropy.
Our jails far behind the times. They
are relics OF medieval barbarism rather
than representative of the educated public
opinion and enlightened social conscience
of the present day.
las one citizen. I am ashamed of my
self because of the fact that this Jail rep
resents IN measure the community life
OIL which I am a member. With much re-
spect for the Woodworking warden and
his assistants and for the other people
who are in authority at the jail, and with
due appreciation Of the fact that they
have themselves been most anxious to
bring about improvements, l must agree
with them in believing that our jail is a
disgrace. AS judged by its actual effect
upon men and boys whom / have known.
this Jail. while 1T may do some good. is
definitely doing harm by contributing to
the. physical and moral deterioration of
unfortunate people who ought to be
strengthened. not weakened. by the cor
receive agencies of the National capital"
Admits Theft Of Watches.
Sadie Coleman. co,ored. thirty-one years