Omaha daily bee., 1911-10-15
PRISON REFORM
MEETING STARTS.
First Session of the National Con-
gress of Five Days is Held
Saturday Night,
HENDERSON AND PATTON SPEAK
Three Meetings Scheduled for To-
day, Including Mass Meeting,
at which Bishop Then and
Others VIII speak.

Colonization of the morally weak on the
farm and longer sentences, with the fea-
lures of ,interminate" sentences and
parole under constant supervision. we're
advocated by DR.. Charles r. Henderson
of the University of Chicago, at thG
opening session of the National Prison
congress at the Rome hotel Saturday
night.
I'VE have the beginnings of a more
rational and effective method of dealing
with the incapable diseased and morally
weak, habitual drunkards, men made
wrecks by drugs and vicious indu-
gence, said Dr RiohaTdssH, But legls-
lators and their lessl advisors should
learn how futile, even Damaging, are the
methods of treating persons Of this class
under present legal conceptions
short Sentences Useless.
THE prolonged period of medical oon-
trol. with steady labor, much Of IL in the
open air. is absolutely essential TO any
degree OF success with this discouraSing
group Of offenders. The short Jail SEN
tence has been demonstrated by thous-
ands of cases to be worse than useless,
costly to society, destructive of what
little physical and moral stamina may re-
main The farm colonies OF Belgium, Hol-
land. Switzerland and similar expert
ments in the United States point the new
way.
AN the world knows, or may know, that
under present laws, in all nations, every
year thousands Of men are turned loose
TO prey upon the community, con
stant and ubiquitous menance to life and
prosperity. and the public authorities
know that they are not fit to be at
liberty. This is mockery Of Justice and
tends to make lynch law and riots re-
spectacle.
when II is morally certain, as Judged
by past conduct and repeated crimes.
that ciminal will attack peaceful Cit
gems. it is monstrous to let him go merely
because he has served a definite time 10
expiate the guilt Of q single specific
act
should watch TbOae ParOIed.
Legislators are under moral obligation
10 make legal provision for sufficient
| corps OF parole officers to supervise the
conduct Of convicts out on parole It Is
an injury 70 the parole system TO set
large number of convicts even con-
ditionslly free without proper supervision
| DR.. Henderson asked the congress 20
define 'Indeteyminste sentence" as not
70 mean that any indefinite arbitrary
and irresponsible power should be given
the prison administration, but that leg
! islatures and courts should continue 70
| hold control over the penalties for crime
and the methods Of treating criminals.
He asked the congress to express
positive demand, as follows;
demand on Legislators.
I'VE do insist that the legislatures pro-
vide sentences sufficiently prolonged for
effective educational methods in the case
of edueable persons, capable of reforms-
| ton, ana control sufficiently pro-
| longed In the case of habitual. profess
| sional dangerous criminals. The period
| should be fixed not by some arbitrary
guess at what certain acts deserve
but by scientific study Of the measures
necessary TO prevent crime and to re-
form those who have formed anti-soeial
habits.
In carrying out the measures Of re-
formation. education and social protec-
ton. we ask that the necessary modifi-
cations be made in judicial methods.
The period Of parole should b. fixed
| by>a special beard az the time of parole
and not in advance NJ the period Of OBJ
ssrvation during the ser'ing OF The
sentence inside the institution. The
conduct Of the prisoner, Is one Of the
considerations which makes a wise deci-
sion possible and parole itself should be
made dependent IN great measure on
good conduct I'm the prison Itself.
Presidcnt P7ftnn's Address.
President T. B. Patton. superintendent
OF the Pennsylvania state reformatory.
expressed great hope for the work Of
prison reform. He said
The enactment Of such wise legisla-
ton as is best calculated 10 properly pro-
(contlnued on Second Page)