The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-12
PLAN CONGRESS OF
SOCIAL WORKERS
GOVERNORS OF SOUTHERN STATES
ASKED TO UNITE WITH
GOV. HOOPER
REPRESENTATIVE HERE
SOUTHERN SOCIOLOGICAL con-
GRESS WILL BE HELD IN
NASHVILLE MAY SEVEN
TIL TO TENTH.

Governor Ben W. Hooper. of Tennes-
see. VIII issue a call this morning
asking the Governors of sixteen South
ern States TO join him in organizing
and developing the Southern Sociolog-
ical Congress to be lid in Nash
vile. May 1-l0. according to James
+. McCulloch. of Nashville. Tent.
general secretary of the American In
terchurch College for Religious and
Social Workers. located ~ Nashville.
who is in Richmond. stopping at me
Hotel itichmond.
For several MONTHS sd Id MIR. 3ic-
Culloch this movement has been
considered as a result Of requests made
to Governor Hooper by social work.
ers in the South. AS Governor Of
Tennessee he has been great, inter
ested in the social service institutions
Of the State. The life and welfare
of the prisoners particularly have oc
cupied his attention. He went so far
as TO live in the State penitentiary "a
few days while Governor ia order 10
know the real life OF the prisoners
themselves. He has organized school
in the penitentiary. He has brought
about the adoption of limited parole
system.
Having Stripes Discarded.
He is also having the wearing
of stripes hy prisoners discarded.
Largely by Ills efforts the juvenile
court has been established In Tennes-
see, and a refurmatory has Just been
completed In Nashville where Juvenile
prisoners are hereafter to he sent in
stead of the penitentisry.
Criminal boys and girls in Tennes-
see will no longer be sent to the school
Of crime which too often the peniten
tiafy proves 10 he, but to real scnool
the primary purpose of which is to
develop character rather than IN pun
ish the prisoner.
'1.ikew Ise In other social reforms
Governor Hooper has displayed great
earnestness and ability. HIS work
has attracted the attention of social
workers all over the country, and as
a result he WAS urged To call the
Southern Sociological Congress for the
porpnss- Of studying and improving the
social. civic and economic conditions
Of the South.
Seeks co-operation.
Governor Hooper. however. has de-
cided to ask all the other Southern
Governors 10 ioin with him in the
movement at the very beginning. Con-
sequentiy the Governor Of every South
ern State is being asked To appoint
delegates. and also 10 attend in per
son SO as 10 share in the orEanfZa-
tIon and development of the work.
A tentative organization has been
worked out with Offices and executive
committee in Nashville.
Mr.. McCullock. the secretary OF the
committee. is making q tour of the
South in the interest of the move
rnent Today he WIFI confer with
Governor Mann and DR.. Mastin, sec
Rotary Of the State Board Of Charities
and Corrections. Dr. Williams, secre-
tary OF the State Board OF Health, ana
others who are particularly interested
in social work. In speaking OF the
movement MIR. McCulloch said:
Il have talked with quite a num-
Der Of representative Southern leaders
during this trip. and every one has
responded with enthusiasm for the
movement"
Mr.. McCulloch goes from here to
Washington 10 secure the assistance
Of other leaders for the convention.