Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1911-08-23

Ball, secretary Of the Board, yesterday
afternoon to consider criticisms Of the
institution. All reporters we're barred
from the meeting, they being informed
TO call later when all information
would be given to them. At the close OF
the conference the newspaper men
were presented with a mass OF type
written pages, one in particular COM
ing from the Trustees and addressed
to editors of the Wilmington news
papers. Another letter was copy of
Mr. Balls reply to Upton Sinclairs
letter. pointing out the necessity for
certain reforms at the Workhouse,
where he was detained for eighteen
hours.
Sinclair had written a respectful let
ter to Mr.. Ball setting forth things he
observed at the Workhouse which he
thought should be corrected. The mat
ters referred to were beyond the juris-
diction of Warden Crawford, and some
were faults in the construction of the
building The things Sinclair criticised
were the absence of an open exercise
yard for long term prisoners; the lack
of proper ventilation the quality and
quantity Of the food; the prevalence
of tuberculosis among the prisoners,
and the improper treatment OF such
prisoners; the silent system which for
bids the prisoners talking; the scarcity
of baths for the men.
Without specifying one instance Of
Misrepresentation on the part OF a
Wilmington newspaper. the trustees
in their statement adroitly seek 10
place the blame for all the criticism
on the newspapers. The trustees also
A.. Il - 10
visit the institution unannounced.
These physicians are Drs. J. Paul
Lukens, Irving NJ. Flynn, Peter w
Tomlinson. Harrison w. Howell, John
Palmer, Jr., and Willard Springer
The trustees eliminated the name
Of DR.. Albert Robin, who had written
several letters to the newspapers con-
corning the number of cases of tu-
berculosis at the workhouse. When
Secretary Ball was asked why DR.
Robins name had been left out of
the list he stated that Dr. Robin had
expressed his views without knowing
Of conditions there
Al the close of the meeting the
trustees issued the Following letter
10 the newspapers
Letter to Newspapers.
For the past two or three
weeks column after column has
been printed in both local and for
eign newspapers in regard to the
present conditions at the New Castle
County Workhouse at Greenbank, /
Delaware. The trustees of this insti- |
tuition who are appointed by the resi- |
dent Judge Of New Castle county have |
not deemed it advisable heretofore to |
write anything in answer to the criti-
cisms which have been widely circu-
lated, but they wish to now say a
few words in partial reply.
The general tone of some OF the
criticism has shown such entire ignor- |
ance Of the actual facts in the case
and of the requirements in a penal
institution of the most modern type
that an answer seemed unnecessary,
but the trustees are unwilling to have
the fair name of one Of our best pub
lie Institutions further traduced with
out protest
Your readers must remember that
this IS penal institution and differs
from most penitentiaries in that it is
a county Jail as we'll as a place of
dentention for long term prisoners.
To our care therefore come the
wrecks Of humanity who are dragged
from the cutters OF the coast and
elsewhere TO sober up for a few days
under the protection Of the law. The
difficulties of the situation are there
fore vastly greater than in an ordin-
airy long term penitentiary. and the
duties of the warden and guards are
more exacting Notwithstanding these
unusual difficulties we wish to bear
testimony to the uniform fairness and
humanity Of our warden and the fine
body Of men under him.
We do not claim that thu manage
ment Of the institution is perfect for
this Is an impossibility, but we cannot
understand why any person who
thinks he has an idea which would inn
prove existing conditions considers Il
necessary 10 rush into the public print
with lengthy diatribe IN order TO bring
his sugg stions to the Trustees. The
only rational explanation of this Is AN
ordinary desire for notoriety and sell
advertisement for the trustees have al.
ways welcomed suggestions from per-
sons who really wish TO aid in better.
ing conditions of the prisoners. ia
show how widespread and unfair much
Of the criticism is we need only refer
to the public statement made by that
fine spirited man and eminent either
whose removal from our midst We re
greet Doctor kellogg, late pastor o.
Grace Church Immediately after hil
statement an opportunity vas giveI
him to learn the truth of the situation
of which he had been incorrectly in
formed and he did not hesitate [,
make a prompt retraction of his re
marks
II is this constant endeavor Of SOM
Of our press TO besmirch and brinl
into disrepute our local institution
which we deplore. These men are in q
position to know the truth, yet their
comments are often unfair and dis
loyal 10 an extreme degree. One gen
tleman made a remark that he though
In the reporters room of some of gu
papers there was the motto IF it is
local institution give It a kick" w
do not say this TO forestali thoughtful
criticism, but we do object strongly Z
this attitude toward some of our bes
institutions which compare favorabl
with those Of any other section of on
country.
The reputation Of the New Castl
County Workhouse away from hom
y such that we have had large mum
bors Of visitors coming sometime
from hundreds of miles to inspect tn
general arrangement and method EN-
ployed in the institution with the VIE
Of adopting similar ones IN their ow
penitentfarv