The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-27
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER % 1sll.
SCHOOLS INSTEAD OF STRIPES IN PRISo.


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SCHOOLS INSTEAD OF STRIPES IN PRISON,
Governor Hooper of Tennessee came out of the
pententiary. where he had spent two days and
ideas Of reform in the conduct OF penal insti-
tutions He bases his reforms upon the priu-
cirle that the State should eudeavor to turn the
convict out OF prison better f1tted FOR citizen
ship than when he went in He says: 1T is Il
false system that provides only for the temper
AIRY confinement OF the wrongdoer. f Is un-
Just to The and bad economy for the
State lie concludes that the attempt to edu-
cate and reform the prisoner will IN many cases
TRANSFORMS him from a liability upon the Stats
to an asset.
Two reforms viii be immediately put into
operation; the removal Of the stripes aud tbs
institution OF prison schools. We have long
felt a strong protest against the stripes that
the convict is forced to wear II is in our
view, humiliation and a degradation that no
man should be forced to endure. The memory
Of the stripes burns itself into the very soul OF
4 man; it robs him OF his self-respect; it breaks
his spirit and shuts out from the horizon Of
his life all future hope Punishment aud con
anement may be just as effective without the
innicton of this added shame and disgrace and
there is far more hope OF eventual reformation
Tor the man who has suffered imprisonment
without this stigma that is humiliating and
degrading without presenting any unusual value
In discipline or reform. Christian civil
suffered this expedient that brutahzes and de-
bases manhood which, though erring. has the
right to expect that society will endeavor 10
help 1t up and not degrade it and kick 1t down.
So far as the value Of the school is concern
"a It IL a self-evident proposition. Ignorance and
The lack OF self-controa that comes from ignorance
are responsible for considerable proportion
OF the crime committed. Education la refining
and reforming in Its nature. 1t informs the
mind gives clearness to Judgment and oegets
1 self respect and self-control that ordinarily
prevent the educated man from becoming the
foe Of society and selecting companaonship and
occupation In criminal paths, Moreover. educa-
ton creates opportunities Of self-support and
bestows capacity for service that naturally lead
men into respectable associations and useful liv-
Ing.
Others reforms that commend themselves as
good are suggested by Governor Hooper, The
lndeterminate sentence making the length OF
confinement dependent upon the conduct and
condition OF the convict; the parole system by
which the Governor will have the right to ap-
conditioned upon future good citizenship and
the passage of law which would enable the
State to devote portion OF the prisoners work
and wage 10 the support Of dependent ones out
side
All Of these propositions in line with the
best thinking upon the care Of the criminal
population and present methods Of penal reform
that have been applied with very satisfactory
results in many of the prisons that CON
Quoted In harmony with humane ideas. The in
terest Of the Governor in the reform Of tbs
penitentary is very commendable and ex.
ccIient revelation Of his wisdom We trust that the
day s not far distant when those charged with
the management Of our State penal institutions
shall regard the prisoners not merely AS meu
who must be punished for their wrongdoin4
\ and. whose money making capacity should be
capitalized for the benefit OF the State regardless
Of the resi-, but as men who though fallen may
be reclaimed and though hitherto social habil-
tiles may be turned into social assets