The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-01-22
A State Detention Farm.

This paper frequently has discuss
ed various phases OF the work which
Sheriff Tracy is doing with the pris-
Oners committed to his care in Wash
ington county jail in an attempt TO
reform rather than TO punish them
This work has been so successful
that newspapers and magazines in
all parts OF the country have dis
cussed the methods that are being
used in our own city. methods that
have demonstrated that prisoners
committed for minor offences may be
put upon their honor and permitted
TO labor outside the Jail enclosure
without guards.
In discussing the proper treatment
for victims OF the drug and liquor
habits and beginners in crime, the
Morrisyille Messenger says:
Those who have followed the
work that Sheriff Frank II. Tracy OF
Montpelier is doing in helping the
poor victims of the drink and drug
habits. who drift into the Washing
ton county Jail, back TO their lost
manhood; those who have talked this
matter over with him and learned
how he. and others like him, have
succeeded in reaching their hearts
and souls with new and better APP
peal, do not need to be told Of the
tremendous Importance that is cen
tered In this issue.
1--WE have often discussed this
question in it's various phases with
Mr.. Tracy, at his summer home at
Highgate Springs, and at every op-
portunity elsewhere, and know that
this work should be taken up by che
State and conducted under broader
and better lines, as he suggests.
"He would have the State abolish
its present system OF contract labor
even at Windsor and Rutland, just
as far as possible and give these
men, even those who must be con
fined. more humane treatment and a
share of what they earn.
"He says he is yet to find man
with a family, who does not want &c
do something for that family wher
he gets where he is safe from the
effects OF drink or drug dope and IL
again clothed in his right mind, en-
feebled though 1t be by excesse'
even to the point where he CANNOT
let the stun alone when he is free
and can get II.
"Mr Tracy would have grea
State detention farm and hospita
where nine-tenths OF these unfortu
nate men and women could be sen
for treatment and to be cured, no
simply to be punished for doinl
something beyond their power t
prevent
"Instead of these being n charge
upon the State and disgraced by be
ing sentenced p Jail or prison,
stigma that will cling TO then
through life. he would have then
rent for an indefinite time to
state Detention Farm where kind
ness. love and firmness rule; wher'
they would be treated for the dis
ease or habit that they have &C
quired: be given clean, wholesome
quarters: such work as they are abb
to do and make over into better mel
and women
The plan OF a State detention
farm appears to he an excellent one
and deserves careful investigation
The very fact that Sheriff Tracy ia
vors Il Is strong argument In IL
favor No man In the State has hat
greater success than our townsmal
in dealing with prisoners and lev
Vcrmonters have studied the who'll
problem of criminology more thor
oughly than he has done.
Il Is hardly necessary to argue ina
It Is better physically and moral.
for a person to labor than to remaii
in idleness, and labor In the opel
air IN more healthful than In shop
II has been proved in our own ooun
~ that prisoners who would do yer,
little work when all their earning
went to pay fines would work wei
| when they or their families received
a norton OF each days wages.
II is necessary to buy large guam
titles OF farm produce for the varl
GUS state institutions. A detention
fnrm. az suggested, would assist II
the cure of victims OF the drug anc
liouor habits, who were employed
I'm it's cultivation, would furnish al
opportunity for those detained te
earn something for themselves and
those dependent upon them. ana u
not entirely selfsupporting Il would
earn considerable part OF its COST
from the start. The plan deserves
tho careful consideration OF the
members Of the next Legislature