The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-24

es-tzz discussion CT 1an5y paubEssE1
over tie criminal classes refuses TO a.
Iox his name or place Of residence 70
be pubgizae1.-Des Noines Register
and LezGe--l
During TIE past century society has
been deeply interested in the anchor
alton OF the criminal. and mas made
possible his reformation By surround
ing him. after conviction, with all the
reforming Influences thst are consist
ent with the best interests OF society
and the criminals ability 10 ssztn-
Hate. The places Of confinement have
been lifted from the subterranean cav
erHs. underground dungeons and COZ
demned mines 10 the light OF day The
half hundred to-tures and modes OF
punishment that Eere the most ex-
crucsatinz the human mind could con
ceiTe OF have been completely elm
mated from the penal system OF today.
The SOLITARY workshops have been re-
placed with congregated hives OF in
dgzt-y. The stripes and Iock-stap.
which were marks OF degradation and
humiIisting 70 the prisoner. hare been
changed to the reformatory style OF
clothing and the military method OF
marching. Where prisoners formerly
received their food all in one plate or
pan, and carried ii 10 their cells TO
eat. their meals are now served in
large, well lighted, convenient dining
rooms By prison walters. TIE eras
OF vengeance. retribution and repres-
sion have been supplanted By humane
reformative and preventive methods.
and today the prisoner is better fed,
better clothed and has better facil-
tiles for acquiring an intellectual.
moral. industrial and physical deveI-
opment than he has ever had in the
history Of the world.
In Iowa about 81, 00O.o6 has been ex-
pended toward erecting and equipping
her two penal institutions in order
that the criminal may have comfort
able, conmodious and hygienic quar-
ters during his Incarceration. Schools
have been established that the iIlit-
crate criminal may acquire at least a
rudimental education The grade
system Of discipline has been inaug-
urated, which gives every prisoner an
opportunity to avoid institutional
punishment, to develop self control,
self respect and self reliance. The
indeterminate sentence and parole
law has been placed on our statute
books, which enables an opportunity
to test him in the outside world be
fore granting him his final discharge.
Humitarian methods OF discipline
have been adopted. and. in fact so
ciety seems to have performed every
duty toward the criminal that an en-
lightened age could demand.
We have recently been enlightened
as TO the trend OF criminal reforma-
ton by the eulogistic speech of War
den J. c. Saunders OF Fort Madison in
which he has made some serious ac-
cusations against society for falling to
fulfill her obligations TO the criminal
element These utterances, in face of
the fact that society for the past cen
fury, has been complying with every
request of the reformer; has been
surrounding the criminal. after con
yiction, with modern conveniences
and luxuries: has placed him on an
equal and in many instances above
the guard who has never been con-
victed of crime; and has INDUCED
him TO the danger point-make US
pause and think, where will it all end ?
Regardless OF society's benevolent at
titude toward him, the criminal has
not altered his opinion OF society.
Investigation discloses the fact that
the criminal is as bitter against So
ciety today as ne was century ago.
Have we in Iowa reached and passed
the highest state OF efficiency in Grim
inal reformation?
What element of society does this
criminal, whom some reformers claim
is not receiving proper treatment al
the hands OF society, represent? He
represents that element which makes
it necessary for the taxpayer TO erect
penitentiaries, reformatories, iaiIs
and work houses as means of secur-
ity and protection. He makes it nee
essary for every home, every business
house or bank. every place where prop
erty is stored, to be guarded and pro-
tected by means of police, bolts, bars
and locks He costs the taxpayers
of Iowa ore than 100000 annually,
and the United States more than
200,000000. He is the menace which
makes necessary courts, police super
vision and every element OF criminal
Jurisprudence. His expense to the
taxpayers is by far the largest factor
with which political economy has to
deal, for it exceeds in amount every
other object of public expenditure, ex-
cept that of our military establish
ment in time of war II exceeds the
total cost OF popular education. which
throughout the United States is less
than s150,000,000, and in Iowa the
excess is even greater in proportion.
He is the self-same individual. who, as
boy hurled the advice of parents,
friends and relatives to the four
winds who was a menace to nubIic