Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-01-27
GIVE cONv1Crs ENTIRE JUSTICE
Amendment to Constitution Necessary,
but Governor Believes it Right.
MRS. DECKER's STRONG PLEA
President Of National Federation Of
Woman's Clubs at Session.
METHODIST CHURCH CROWDED
Eleventh Animal session of Nebraska
Conference OF Charities and Cor
rcction WIZ Have Three
DAYS session.

b"FN
Indetermnatc sentences for those con-
vcted Of crime were recommended by Cow
ernor George l.. Sheldon In his address be-
for the Nebraska Conference OF Charities
and Correction. which opened at the First
Methodist church Sunday afternoon.
"One thing which has impressed me since
these penal Institutions have come inti-
mately under my eye is that under our
present system entire justice is not being
done our convicts" said the governor. "a
man may be tried for certain crime and
may get a sentence OF one. three, five or
more years under exactly the same eondi-
tions, dependent only upon the temperament
OF the Judge
The indeterminate sentence would rem
dy this 1t would be necessary to have
state board Of psrdons. which should
examine into the merits Of cases and make
pardons when it was apparent that man
had served enough time for punishment
and was likely to lead good life II re-
leased. constitutional amendment would
be required to bring this about But I
believe it would be the means of doing
greater justice to this class OF men"
. Three Interesting addresses and some
good music marked the first session Gov
ernor Sheldon's train was late, but he ar
rived in time TO preside over most of the
meteing. Father Joseph REFUSING, president
of the conference, was detained at his home
in West Point by illness His place on tho
program was taken by S. p, Morris OF the
Associated Charities.
Mrs. DeckeF'H Plea.
Mrs. Sarah s. Platt Decker. president OF
the National Federation of women's Clubs.
was the first speaker. Her address. civil
Service or the Merit System in State In.
stitutions," was a plea for replacing the
old-time 'spos sytem" with the merit
sytem." She drew illustrations from a long
experience ON the Colorado State Board OF
Charities and Correction of the evils of
allowing political preferment to influence
appointments TO places in the institutions
conducted by the state.
These institutions are for three classes
of people" said Mrs. Decker. They are
| for the dependent the defect We and the de-
! linquent. These classes arc all subnormai
/ in some respect and 1t is the duty OF the
state to provide for them the very best
relief or correction in its power.
! 1T is not right that a man shall be given
responsible position in an institution
merely because he has been active and use
ful at the election which resulted in placing
the party in power
"'The best rule to follow is that rule which
the French have epitomized in two words,
| 'noblesse oblige." position makes service
obligatory. Those who are strong must
bear the infrmities Of the weak We must
/ help the dependent, defective and delin-
quent by the best means in our power"
Governor Sheldon arrived during Mrs.
Deckers address and indorsed what she
| said. He praised the institutions OF Ne
| braska, as compared with institutions of
other states which he has visited. He
praised the work along these lines being
done by the women's clubs Of the country.
Governors Endorsement.
There is no doubt that merit and fit
ness should be the first requisite q men
appointed to positions in state institu-
tions. However, parties will always exist
in the land and it is likely there will al
ways be enough good people in every
party TO fill properly these positions in
state institutions"
| Alexander Johnson of New York, gem
eral secretary OF the National Conference
Of Charities and Correction, spoke on Re
latlons of Municipal Government to the
Problems of Religion and Charity"
The objective OF charity has changed
vastly in recent years" said Mr., John
son. Formerly mere giving TO the beg
gar was cOnSluere0 tndrlty. Later ef-
forts were made to improve the character
of the individual Today we go behind the
individual character and try to improve
the social causes which have made the
individual what he ie
Modern charity Is proceeding alona
three great lines toward this end at pres
ent It is fighting three great evils.
tuberculosis, child labor and improper
housing of the poor.
What is the relation Of the municipal
ity to these great charity movements A
city is organism made up OF living
units or cells as the scientists say. The
body is made up Of cells. but they are not
individually living. Just as the entire
body may be permeated by the poisoning g
Of few Of its thousands Of CELLS, so the
entire city Is contaminated by the poison
Ing Of few Of its individuals.
Need OF EmeIeaey.
Efficiency ts the chief desideratum In
the men at the head Of our municipalities.
They must be men able and willing to
work for the good OF the city. The good
of the city does not mean the commercial
or financial supremacy at the cost OF
physical, mental and moral contamination.
True prosperity depends on the average
of citizenship. the average In health. in
happiness. In Intelligence.
The municipal organization is the hands
{ of the people. When those hands do not
do what you want you can cut them off.
DO you do Il? Do you know how TO cut
them Off2
Pure water, good sewerage. pure milk.
! pure food. Fairgrounds for children these
are some Of the things the right kind Of
city government viii exert itself "a
secure for it's citizens"
The opening prayer was offered by Rev
T. J. Mackay. Miss Barr sans a soprano
solo. Like the Hart Desireth." and
j. r. Barton sang bass solo, Though
Faithless Men"
Program for To-day.
The sessions OF the conference today and
tomorrow will be held In the ball room OF
the Rome hotel the program FOR Monday
! being as follows:
MONDAY MORNING.