The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1909-12-10

PRISON REFORMS
PUT in PRACTICE.
Commendable Steps Adopt
ed by Ky. Commission.
Striped Suits Now Worn by But
Few Convicts, Who Defy
Discipline.


at Frankfort OF educational classes
for inmates and the promise that
trade schools will be added, are in
line with the policy followed by the
present prison commission of deal
ing with the convicts as men, says
the Louisville Times.
Several months ago the commits
sioners caused the striped suits,
which served to emphasize the deg
radiation of the prisoners. to be re-
placed by a dark gray uniform for
all prisoners whose conduct was
good; prisoners whose, conduct was
excellent, was permitted, in addition,
to wear a blue cap as an evidence
that they were first-grsde men; only
such convicts as remained defiant Of
prison decipline are now required to
wear striped suits. The effect pro-
dllced ON a class of men commonly
looked upon as lost to all sense Of
manhood has proven the commits
sioners right, the theory that the
convict Is little better than the beast,
wrong. After several months, In
which the commissioners plan had
been In operation, but twelve con-
victs out of total prison popula-
ton of 1875 are in stripes.
When the school was opened
Monday night of this week, there
were present 12s convicts, all that
there was room for In the little cud-
dy called by courtesy the chapel
These men were there because of
the desire to overcome the illiteracy
which stands as one of the barriers
In the way of their becomming self
supporting on their release. Had
the chapel been larger, 1t would
stdll have been crowded.
Neither OF these two changes In
administration has imposed expense
on the. state. Both give convincing
evidence that the inmates of Ken
lucky prisons are men of like ma
ture with the men in the prisons in
other states which put into practice
the theory that 1.-THE convict, when
dealt with as a man, educated as
man and trained to do mans
work, will 60 back into the world
better prepared to live honestly
than is the man whom the State Is
intent only on pushing as an out
cast.
Under the prison system which
Kentucky has followed for more
than a hundred years, three out OF
four of the convicts released see In
crime the only means of livelihood
open 10 them. AS the number re-
leased each year from the prisons at
Frankfort and Eddyville Is 500, the
proposition Of trained and practic-
ing criminals In each graduating
class Is too large either for the
States credit or comfort. other
states have reduced this proportion
to one in four That result has been
reached under the operation of the
use OF agents for the employment OF
released convicts, a parole system
with special regard to state super
vision, the education of the litter
ate, trade instruction for every in
mate, the grading of prisoners ac-
oording to individual conduct and
the separation of first and minor
offenders from older and confirmed
criminals while in prison. The
change from Kentucky's system to
that followed by Illinois, Minnesota,
New York, Massachusetts, and a
score of other States can be accom-
plished with little financial cost to
the State. 1t is earnestly advocated
by the present prison commissioners
II Is approved by all men who have
any knowledge Of Kentucky's
prison conditions and who,with no
political ends to serve. desire to see
Kentucky in this, as In all other
questions, true to her obligations as
4. sx~uak Qtafa