Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-10-16
DR.. MOORE, HEAD
Of REFORMATORY,
MORON
Addresses American Prison As
ISOLATION on Detectives and
Their Treatment.

DIR. Frank Moore, superintendent of
the Railway Reformatory, gave an adj
dress today before the annual V
ton of the American Prison Associa-
ton at Omaha, on "Mending the I'M
moral Moron" In his paper DR.. Moore
discussed those mental detectives who
are simply ''child men, The superin-
tendent's address follows in part:
in our New Jersey reformatory we
have during the last two years made a
careful study of this problem. Each
Inmate that has been received has
been tested concerning his mentality,
with the result that as per cent. were
found to be deicients and to have
minds hat in knowledge or ability were
only equal to the minds of children
from o to 10 years old.
Fully 3S per cent, or one-third Of
u population, we concluded, was of
the moron class.
THE problem presents very great
difficulties. The ordinary institution
officers declare that prisoners are
'dopes,' and sometimes the psychologist
agrees with them.
THE methods employed in dealing
with this difficult problem must be UNI
usually wise. The first thing that
seems important Is TO know the a
He must be recognized as a defective.
a special system must be adapted to
him. His is a feeble mind. To place
the same load upon him that is put
upon others is either to cause him to
balk or to break down altogether under
the strain. He is a child mentally and
not the abstract but the concrete of
kindergarten mode of instruction must
be used. In school he must be sap
arated in some way from the others.
I'm his training in work the calibre
of his mind needs also to be considered.
The trades that need planning and
skill are too much for him. To the
work of the labor man, the farm, gar
den and dairy he is best suited, and in
them he is really most contented.
discipline which is firm yet kind is
most successful. The most of immoral
morons that We get have been i'll
treated. Those who have not under
stood them have tried to beat sense
into their stupid heads. and they are
filed with fear and suspicion. They
need, therefore. to be treasured.
Care must be given to correct such
physical defects as are oftentimes the
cause of mental and moral weakness.
"Of the as per cent who by the test
were feeble-minded In our institutions
the percentage of physical defects was
as follows:
Defective eyesight, 40 per cent; fiat
foot, IS; bad teeth. 80; throat diff
%culties, IL; nasal obstruction, AZ: total
number having some physical defects,
SO per cent.
1.-The work hat the true chaplain
may do Is very great. The best way to
mend the immoral moron Is through
persuasion and influences of religion.
Our learned friend. DR.. Goddard, of
Vineland. N. j., has declared that nine
years is the average age when the ten
denotes of crime begin to develop. At
this and even an earlier age 1t has
been arranged by infinite wisdom, it
would seem, that religion should begin
to make its formative impressions on
the mind.
Concerning the question of parole or
discharge, we cannot agree with those
who advocate that the moron should
be kept in permanent custodial care.
Our success with this class on parole
has been fully as good as 1t mas beer
with the normal mind. OF eighty-three
paroled during three months, not long
Ago., the morons have made even a
better record than the normals.
1--WE could point to many other
morons who are doing their part well
in the worlds work. They have their
place In the economy of society; they
peculiarly fit certain kinds of employ
naaptn