Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-30
Lighter Penalties Urged Be-
fore American Prison Body.
REPORT BY J. A. LEONARD
Severe Methods Not Extensively in
Vogue in United States.
STILL IN EXPERIMENTAL STAGE
Hard Fate of Reformatory Girl.
Morality as Police Qualification.
Convicts Who Need No Guard

Such time-honored methods of punish
ment as the dungeon. starvation. silence.
solitary confinement. darkness and cor
poral punishment have been largely dis
credited In American reformatories. ac-
cording to the report OF the committee on
reformatory work and parole, made to the
American Prison Association this morn
Ing. at the opening OF the second days
session.
Ihe report was presented by James A.
Leonard. superintendent Of the Ohio state
reformatory. Mr.. Leonard asserted that
where these methods of punishment sur
Vlved they were largely on the defensive.
He argued that the young criminal could
be made to stand secure when released
from prison. only after his feet rested
upon the rock OF economic independence.
In spite Of progress made, Mr.. Leonard
said. refOrmatory work in American in
stitutions has not emerged from the ex-
perimental stage.
This report was the feature of the morn
ing session. Its discussion by various
delegates brought forth new ideas and
suggestions from superintendents Of
Canada. Each speech embodied an ap-
peal for leniency toward prisoners.
"No Bolt, Nor Bar, Nor Gun"
j. I. Gilmour. warden of Central prison,
Toronto, Canada. related that 150 con-
vlcts are serving their sentences on a
farm, under his supervision, where there
is no bolt. bar nor gun He could give no
reason why there have been no escapes.
but declared the system of trusting in
mates is working admirably
Mrs. D. A. O'Sullivan. superintendent
of Mercer reformatory. Toronto, pointed
out the difficulties OF the reformatory girl
in after life. because they often
looked upon as legitimate prey for unscru-
pulous persons. She also arraigned the
custom in many American cities of nom
prosecution of men and women who lead
young girls astray.
Urging a higher moral standard for
police, Mrs. O'Sullivan said:
The average material of which police
men are made is not of the right kind.
They should be not only tall and strong,
but should have some moral efficiency to
guard unprotected youth on the streets.
Reform Hard for Women.
Experience proves the extreme difIi-
culty-the almost impossiility--of re-
forming and fitting for citizenship the
woman who has served repeated SEN
tences in prison for ordinary misdemean-
ors. tried every day In the police courts.
Publicity has made her defiant, her heart
hardens, the last shred of character is
gone, the last spark of womanly feeling
is destroyed.
Can it be rekindled? She may have de-
served the treatment, but she comes from
prison shelter so weak in virtue, so rash
ly tempted.
"It is much harder for her than for
man. So rosy, so luxurious does the
wickednesS of the world make life o:
shame for her. So hard, so laborious
must ue her life of clean and honest liv
ing; SO many, so open the doors to evil.
So few, SO narrow the entrances to vir-
tue"
Frank T. Randall, superintendent Of the
Minnesota reformatory; Alexander III.
Johnston and Henry Melville. president OF
the board of managers of the New YORK
state reformatory. also discussed Mr..
Leonard's report.
National Association Formed.
At the close of the morning session a
national association of prisoners aid So
cieties was organized by the following
committee: Rev f. f. Lyon of Chicago
Rev F. A. Fredenhagen, Kansas City,
and o. F. Lewis
The sessions of the congress are attend
ed by many delegates to the interna-
tional congress and the American lnsti-
There are approximately 100 visitors here
for the three meetings.
Brief business meetings were held this
morning by the following organizations
affiliated with the prison association: The
National Wardens' Association, the Ma
tiona Chaplains' Association, the Prison
Physicians Association and the Associa-
ton of Governing Boards of Penal, Re-
formatory and Preventative institutions
This afternoon about lis delegates 10
the international congress accepted the
invitation of the Secretary of the Trea-
sury and the Attorney General and en-
joyed sail down the Potomac to Mount
Vernon the cutter Apache
Report to Be Discussed.
This evening at O'Clock, in the audi
torium Of the New Willard the American
Prison Association will discuss a report
on criminal law reform, which will ba
presented by Albert II. Hall OF Mime
apolis Attorney General Wickersham is
expected to take part in the discussion,
with Prof. John II. Wigmore Of Chicago
and Maj. r. W. McClaughry of Leaven-
worth Kan.
Through Sir Evelyn Ruggles-Brise, the
prime minister of Great Britain has eX-
tended an invitation to the international
body to meet in London in 1915. Sir
EVELYN Ruggles-Brise is one of the dis
tinguished delegates to the congress from
Great Britain.
The second annual conference of the
American Institute of Criminal Law and
Criminology will begin tomorrow at
George Washington University Law
School. AT the morning session several
committee will report on system OF
recording data. on organization of courts.
on criminal procedure. on cooperation
with other organizations. on translation
of European treatises. on establishment
of a scientific journal and on statistics.
A commission appointed by the institute
to visit England during the last summer
and report upon the English methods OF
administering criminal justice, will pre-
sent its report. The report will deal
especially with the superiority of Eng
lands methods over those of the United
States In the administration of criminal
law.
The officers of the American institute
are: President, John H. Wigmore, Chi
cago: secretary. Edwin r. Keedy, Chi
cago; treasurer. Bronson Winthrop, New
York. and managing editor of journal,
j. w. Garner, Urbana, H.
Welcomed to Washington.
The auditorium Of the New Willard
Hotel was well filled last night when
John Joy Edison called the convention to
he 70