The Prescott daily news., 1910-10-03
GREAT INTERNATIONAL GATHER ING IS OPENED IN WASH
 INGTON.
PRESIDENT TAFT SPEAKS
Many Nations-Address by Pro- lessor Henderson, Presiding
 Officer of Convention,

Washington, Oct.3.-More than 100 of the most distinguished criminolo- gists of the world, representing al- most every civilized nation, were gath cred in the great hall of the National museum yesterday afternoon when the International Prison congress was called to order promptly at two o'clock. Prof. Charles R. Henderson of the University of Chicago, who was elected president of the congress last year to succeed the late Dr. Samuel J. BaTows, was in the chair and in- troduced to the assemblage President Taft, who was received with hearty applause.
 President Taft spoke rather briefly but made clear his personal interest in the work of the congress and told the delegates how glad the United States was of the opportunity to en- certain them He alluded to the eff forts in this country to better the conditions of prison life and to make good citizens of the criminal and de- linquent, and said he hoped the visit ors from foreign lands had seen evi- dences of the success of these efforts during their recent tour of the east and middle west as guests of the gov ernment.
 President Hendersons Address.
 President Henderson, after adding his words of welcome to those of MT. En in
 The Prison congress agrees on the following things: We believe that children should never be sent to pris- on with adults; that the ancient penal procedure should be fundamentally modified in their case; that young delinquents should receive a certain amount of education under the pa ternal supervision of the judge or of a special magistrate. It is a question with us still whether this education should continue until the sixteenth, eighteenth or even the twenty-frst year.
 Secondly, we are in accord in the belief that the insane should be eX- cluded from prisons and that they should be confined to hospitals. Pub lie security and the interests of the insane themselves demand the segre- gation of the insane under medical specialists.
 Thirdly, We believe, moreover, that there are many young delinquents and even adults who are guilty of having yielded to bad examples. Such indi- viduals are not Intentionally vicious. They should be spared the stigma of becoming criminals by being saved the moral injury of incarceration by a suspension of sentence with a period of freedom under supervision. We are also in accord in recommending after certain period of incarceration the release of young or adult prison CTS or provision that their liberty shall be conditional and carefully supervised. It is not possible to make useful citizens in absolute slavery.
 We believe, moreover, in the neces- sity of doing away with the short sentence in the case of guilty persons who are dangerous, whether they be vagabonds or inebriates, hardened criminals or professional criminals. The period of detention and of super vision may be extended either by a supplementary sentence or by placing the offender at the disposition of the government
 We urge furthermore the union of all investigators and reformers
 "One single, powerful purpose com mon to us all has brought us together in this hall of the National museum consecrated to science. We represent the firm determination of society and the national governments to render the way of the transgressors against social order hard and thorny in order that fear may restrain the evil-doer and that an inflexible force shall con- strain him to obey the laws. We preach also the gospel of the reform of the delinquent and his education. We seek to elevate the moral stand ard of humanity. We desire to open wide to the delinquent the door of