The Holly chieftain., 1909-01-15

Greeting:
I congratulate you on your arrival
ut this great opportunity to serve the
fotate Of Colorado, which we all love
no well. When your term Of service
shall have ended l hope you may all
- able to say, with sincerity, that you
4 have Gone the things which you ought
70 have done, and that you have left
undone the things which you ought
not to have done. There is much to be
said. and the time Is short. So plunge
Immediately In medias res.
The first test Of civilization is found
In the provision which is made by the
state for the defective, the dependent
and the weak. Weakness and need
confer right, In a Christian civiliza-
ton. aud power imposes responsibility
We ought not to consider the wishes
OF the strong first in our legislative
programs, but always first We should
consider the pitiable appeals of the
dependent and the defective.
Mental Detectives. - Hitherto we
have never been able to arouse any in
terest in Colorado In the mentally in
complete, commonly described as the
feeble-minded. Much can be done for
the relief and improvement of these
helpless children by beginning In time
and by going about it with knowledge
Of proper methods. join heartily in
the recommendation of the State
Board of Charities and Correction for
establishment of such an institution
In Colorado in the immediate future
The State Home for Dependent and
Neglected Children is one of our most
beautiful charities. 1t has been admin
istered with loving interest in the chill
dren by board of exceptional ability
OF course all the members of the board
serve without any remuneration what
soever.
Institutions like this one where the
services Of the board and the services
OF the physicians are given without
compensation ought to have every dol
lar which they ask for maintenance
and for enlargement.
The State Industrial School for
Girls Is one of our most needed chari-
ties. 1t is administered also by
board Of conspicuous ability, all whose
members serve without any compen-
satio1 whatsoever. The population of
this school has increased from forty
four to eightytwo. The girls who are
committed to this Industrial school
are for the most part not vicious, but
they are girls who have been led into
wrong doing by those who are older
and stronger than themselves.
The expenditures in this school are
ridciulously small when one considers
what Is saved to the state by making
a good woman out of the natural ma
terial for crime in one wayward girl
The State Industrial School for Boys
10 not reform school but an industrial
school. 1t would be great gain If the
public could learn to describe our var
fous institutions with accuracy. The
population of the State Industrial
School for Boys has increased from 296
TO 3t2; 263 acres of land have been
purchased. Land is fundamental to
the welfare OF all our institutions. Life
out doors In the fields is necessary to
the wholesome development of these
boys. There has been practically no
sickness in the institution at all. More
than 80 per cent of the boys who are
sent to the State Industrial School be-
come useful citizens. Some do not. 1t
is probable that all of them could be
made to become useful citizens if they
could be kept little longer in the
school and If the state would make ade-
quate equipment to teach the boys all
the ordinary indoor and outdoor trades
NOW you have one more chance to
make useful citizens of these boys.
This may be your last chance. You
may possibly have another chance at
Buena Vista, but why not actually do
1T now at any cost of equipment? The
point to all of which is that the real
necessities of this school should be
provided without haggling.
The Colorado State Reformatory has
had the best discipline in its history
during the past two years. The cost
for food and clothes has been no low
as to excite admiration for the manage.
ment Of Warden butcher. Definite
progress has been made In the real aim
OF the Reformatory. The real aim of
the Reformatory is to make It a place
Of detention for correction, for reforma-
tton, for education in common branches
and also as place for training in var
ious forms Of useful employment to
make 1t possible for boy to make a
living. The fundamental idea Is not
that the Reformatory is place of pun
ashment. There is such thing as the
reformation Of the evil doer. The War
den and his associates live In the fu-
ture Of the life of each wayward young
man. The Legislature should provide
for the purchase Of additional land.
We need a big farm where the boys
can be kept busy in outdoor work. All
buildings should be erected by the
boys. Industrial and manual training
features are fundamental to the refor.
patory program. It is your business
to do what you can to restrict the sale |
pf narcotics and whiskey. With mar
,cotics and whiskey eliminated from our |