Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-11-06

palling stories of brutality, such as
murder, manning and Gripping for life
of helpless men, prepetrated by the
prison officers who represent organized
society.
Exclusive of two or three instances
1.-TWO or three grating governors who
at different times pardoned from 200
to 500 men each at so much per head,
about nine-tenths of the prisoners up
to last year were liberated at the ex-
piration of the term instead of by pa
role When the unfortunates have at
last gained their liberty and after be-
ing so long fed on prison Stops are
forced to endure exposure in cold,
rainy weather, their mind and will
power having been dwarfed and para
lyzed by the whimsical and brutal no
lions of unframed overseers, they are
indeed in a sad and pitiable condition
to face the world Their health is
shattered, their courage gone and they
have a shifty bearing, bitter distrust
of fellowmen and the loss of ambition
to win back a place in life. They are
also frequently subjected to open
scorn and always to secret distrust.
Here / will repeat what I have said
many times before: If there be a time
in a mans life when he needs help
ing hand it is when he leaves San
Quentin prison. A man degraded by
society becomes its enemy and he who
infiicts brutal punishment on help
less victim degrades himself.
Officials Not Trained
1.-THE weakest place in our prison
system in this state is the lack OF
proper training on the part of prison
officials. No one acquainted with the
facts will doubt that I studied condl-
tions from all viewpoints, and l can
sincerely say, from personal experience
and knowledge, that the officers gen.
erallv managing such institutions are
as sadly in need of training as the
inmates are of discipline.
I'm England they have training
schools exclusively for prison OFFICIALS
while Baden, Prussia and other Ger
man states have Institutes at Whlcn
all prison employees must attend. Al
these Institutes different courses are
taueb+ some for the higher officials,
including wardens, inspectors, etc, ana
also for states attorneys and the
Judges of criminal courts, as well as
for the subordinate officials, the IN
str1ctors being university professors
OFFICIALS of the department of justice
and the higher prison OFFICIALS:
1.-The nearest approach IN TINS couh-
try to the institutes referred TO are our
civil service laws in Massachusetts ana
a, few other states. which resulted In
securing a better class of men, thereby
giving a permanency of prison service;
At the Elmira, N. Y, reformatory an
employees have to first pass civil ser
vice examination prior to appointment;
and after that are regularly instructed
in all matters necessary Tor the per-
forroance of their respective duties.
Leaving the question of prison as
cipline for the presenet, let me ask
what has this state and society in gen
eral done for the liberated convict?
The state liberates him in the morning,
at the expiration of his term, gives nm
S. in money and puts a suit of clothes
on his back costing $295. Thus he is
branded for every policeman and de-
tective in San Francisco knows the
suit. He energies from the bastile, and,
as I said before, physically and men
tally handicapped. He is indeed
pariah. He is refused work, and, II
successful in getting job, men refuse
to work with him. Mankind shuns him.
Detectives and police watch and hound
him. If a crime is committed he is
arrested on suspicion and frequently
locked up for days or weeks without
evidence.
Charged with Vagrancy
"Charles Montgomery of San Fran
cisco saws that a man whom he was
a parole officer for was arrested four
times and taken from his work each
time on charge of vagrancy by the
San Francisco police. Thus they would
again break his spirit. crush his man
hood and destroy his feeble nerve, and
all for the credit marks it gives a
no1iceman What is the remedy for it ,