The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-07
Brilliant Banquet Given in
Honor of PenOlogists.
ALL PRAISE AMERICAN IDEA
Representatives Of Many Nations
Seated at Festive Board Receive
Hospitality of Attorney General
Wickersham and Respond 10
TOasts with Appreciative Words.

yention were rendered brilliant banquet
in the red room Of the New Willard last
evening, and the hospitality and fellow
Ship OF the week. in the felicitous words
Of Attorney General Wickersham. were
given browning touch
Nothing was lacking 10 give the scene
at the festive board an international sig
nlficance. Responding 10 the tOasts
were representatives OF many nations,
all emphasizing the American idea
that no man. no matter how low, is IN
capable or unworthy OF reforma tory ef-
forts. The contribution Of the CnitSd
States to the worlds penology was given
wide recognition.
Justice Kungpah T. King. OF the su-
preme Court OF China. made a brief but
effective address in which he paid tribute
10 the influence Of the United States in
bringing his country within reach OF DC
cidental civilization, and Mr.. Shegejiro
Ogawa, OF japan. stated It was common
knowledge that America had been the
chief agency in opening up his own coun-
try TO the rest or the world.
Felt Around the World.
"Unquestionably the reformatory sys-
TEN is strong in the United States" said
DR.. Eugenio Silvela, OF Spain. because
OF the general educational system OF the
country. The force OF the American ex-
ample is now felt around the world We
are glad We have had this trip TO the
new cac:inent. because OF what we have
seen. 1t has bven inspiring"
The problem OF crime obliterates all
national boundaries" said J. T. Gilmour,
warden OF the Central prison Of Toronto.
We all have a common battle in this
regard. may say for the Canadian dele
cation that We have greatly enjoyed our
visit 10 Washington and that this con-
gress has been a great success"
A feature OF the evening was a brief
greeting in three languages by Senior
Augusta Pierontoni. professor Of the Uni
yersity of Rome. He spoke first in Eng
lish. then in Italian, and then in French
i hope as long as the sun shines in
Rome the flowers will bloom IA the
American garden" he said.
Albert Garvin. superintendent Of the
State prison at weathersheld. Conn.
made a brief speech. The concluding
address Of the evening was mace >, Prof.
Charles R. HENDERSON. president OF the
congress.
The punishment OF crime is inpor-
tant according 10 Blackstone" said Or.
Henderson. but bigger and more i'm
portant achievement is the prevention of
crime The duty Of a government COM
prises not merely the negative element
Of punishment. but 10 create a sOCiolog-
ical environment leading TO an upright
life.
Improved In Chicago.
4 believe Chicago is a place you could
not see heaven from even with the big
gest telescope on earth. But IN the great
metropolis there is vast improvement.
Laws grow better. and conditions grow
better The forces for good are more
powerful now than ever before"
The American delegates who were pres
ent al the banquet were congratulated
upon the adoption OF resolutions APPROX
ing the indetermInate sentence by the
other delegates. For many years the
United States has advocated this idea in
international congresses without success,
but has finally won the point The fol-
lowing is the gist Of the resolution:
The scientific principle OF the indeter-
inmate sentence is accepted. and should
be applied TO the mentally and morally
defective. Il should be applied. further
more, as an important part OF the reform
atory system 10 offenders, especially jul
veniles capable OF reformation. Punish
ment should be individualized. A max
imum sentence should be fixed only SO
long as necessary, because Of the novelty
of the indeterminate sentence, and the
lack Of experience with it,
1t was also officially declared that the
effects Of suspended sentence, without
probationary oversight, are difficult. if
not impossible. 10 ascertain. Therefore
it was determined that no extensive sys-
TEN Of suspended sentence should be
placed in operation without an adequate
probation system.
\ feature OF the banquet last night
was the presence OF three Cabinet Off
cers-Attorney General Wickersham, who
acted as chairman; Secretary Nagel. OF
the Department of Commerce and Labor.
and Secretary Wilson, o. the Department
Of Agriculture.
Exchange Bureau Needed.
An international bureau Of exchange of
court records and Identification OF GRIM
inals was discussed at the afternoon SEES
sion. In framing resolutions delegates from
Italy and France freely mentioned the Por-
ter Charlton case as an example of the
need for such a bureau Prof. Gordon f.
Sherman, Of Yale, presented a resolution.
which reads, in part, as follows:
Tho person sentenced for crime in
foreign country should be liable in the
land of his residence TO the same for
FIXTURES, incapacities. and loss of status
which he would have incurred had he
been condemned there In the present
state Of international law. the congress
does not ask that such forfeitures, in
capacities. and loss Of status should be
the immediate result OF the foreign SEN
tence, but that they should be pro-
nounced in consequence of a special ac-
tion in the courts OF the criminals own
country"
An important resolution. dealing with
the care and protection OF children born
out Of wedlock, was discussed in one of
the morning sections. A debate arose
over one Of the provisions, which rec
commended that illegitimate children may
bear their fathers name. provided he is
not married.