The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-08
DR. ORNE VISITS
 THE BOYS SCHOOL
Is Inspecting Jails, Hospitals
 and Like Institutions
PRAISES INSTITUTION
Says East Lake Boys School Is Do- ing Wonderful Work for Boys and Only Fault Is It's
 Too Small

Dr. A. S. Orne of Chicago, who arrIVeu in this city several days ago to personally visit the local institutions for children hospitals. jails and other economic pro- visions made for the dependent person. spent yesterday at the Boys lndustridi school at East Lake and reports most favorably upon his trip there. He was accompanied by his wife and returned late yesterday evening after going out just before noon.
 pr. Orne has devoted his life to gong to cities to find conditions that might be bettered for the guarding of civic citl- zenship in its making through the indus trial schools, juvenile court and probation methods.
 Referring to his visit to the industrial school, pr. Orne said last night:
 ''The Birmingham Boys Industrial school, through it's administration and membership, is demonstrating the differ ence between the modern juvenile court and probation process and the old fash toned criminal code and penitentiary pro- uedure.
 'T found everything clean. comfort able and every one of the 2SO boys. rang ing from nine to 16 years of age, cheerful and happy with no complaints heard from anyone, a most unusual thing. This in- stitution ranks with any that I have seen in cities of this size.
 "The superintendent, Colonel ". D. weakley is a most capable executive of ficer and the product of one of the finest industrial schools of the United States, Ii 11 school. His wife, who acts as the matron of the school, has no superior in her de- partment in the south, and I would sug- gest that the two be retained in their present capacity so long as they continue their good behavior. They have made success of the open door experiment, which eliminates all bars and locks for the doors and windows, and this in itselr is one of the most important improve ments in industrial school life.
 ''Right here I would like to say that I do not consider any person who has not grown up in institutions or spent part of their lives there, competent to be in charge of these boys. Colonel Weakley was an orphan lad when the entered The Nashville school and was finished into manhood there, so is doubly efficient to carry on this work.
 ''The only criticism that can be offered is that the capacity of the plant should be enlarged. introduce different industrial departments, adopt cottage system, thus making it possible for every boy sent there to be granted the God-given oppor- addhrty of learning to be self supporting.
 "one of my hobbies is that the indus trial school should be patterned as near like the home as possible and observing home conditions. which the Birmingham school is doing and striving to do more and more.
 .sI also inspected the city jail and pronounce it equal in cleanliness and com fort to that in any city.
 Speaking in a general way of a sub ject that means my time, energy and many years work in all the cities of this country and several of Canada, there are thousands of children who if their pres ent environments are not at once trans formed to a healthy happy home or they transferred to such surroundings, an in dustrial school-this is the office worK of the juvenile court-their course cannot be other than criminal If the good peo- pie of this great state do not protect the boys and girls today, it will not only cost you four times as much more to pay extra police to protect your person and property tomorrow, but it won't do any good to grunt or growl, scold or swear at the rapid increase of stealing or suicides, mobs or murders, for when you could help the most hopeful of all Gods creatures-the child-the value of which Jesus voiced when taking in His arms and blessing said, Of such is the kingdom of heaven,' you wouldn't. Then when you would you couldn't for they are criminals and you were responsible"
 pr. Orne will visit the Girls Industrial school at Woodlawn, the Home for the Friendless at East Lake and the county jail today.