New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-20
STORY Of PRISON REFORM.
zebuIon R. BroCkWay, in Auto
biography, Outlines Its History.
"a YEARS IN PRISON WORK
Through His Efforts Gymnastic
Work Was Introduced in
Elmira Reformatory.

put into actual operation the theory Oh
the indeterminate sentence, is man
whose admirers say OF him: ITO know
his life and work is TO know the history
Of prison reform
The Charities Publication Committee
has just published MIR. Brockway's auto
biography. The opening chapters OF the
book lead through unessential details 10
incidents that probably seemed OF slight
Importance to the older members or his
family, but which nevertheless impressed
his childish mind and were among the
causes that determined his subsequent ca
reer.
1t was in 1S4s, at the age OF twenty-ohe'
that Mr.. Brockway began at the state
prison at wethersfeld, Conn, the con-
nection with prison service which contin-
ued almost uninterruptedly until 1870
FIRST as guard then clerk, then assistant
superintendent at Albany, and as super
intendent at Rochester, Detroit and FL
mira"
The story is told Of an occurrence which
took place at Wethersfeld which gives IN
understanding Of the difficulties expert
enced by Amos Pilsbury, who managed
this prison for more than thirty years.
oIdtme Discipline.
on the day previous to his resumtng
control Mr.. Pilsbury, accompanied by the
board Of directors, paid visit to the
prison. When they entered the shoe SHOP
ell there employed, at the instance OF
leader. rose from their seats armed with
their shoe knives and demanded that MI
Pilsbury should leave the shop. This ne
refused to do, telling the prisoners that
though at that moment he had no au-
thority over them no would not leave
until they returned TO their work. His
bold attitude and strong personality so
dominated them that one by one the men,
including their leader and SPOKESMAN
resumed their seats and their work.
But disciplinary troubles were not over
Outbreaks OF boisterous disturbance al
terward occurred. The very next day. the
day he assumed official control, all the
prisoners in all the shops refused to re-
turn to their cells. After some parley they
releuted, but marched to the cell mousse
singing, shouting, besmearing the WaIls
with the mush in their ration pans Which
they were carrying for supper theh
drumming on and tossing end smashing
the pans. 1t was flendish uproar Snch
disorder continued at intervals FOR many
,veeks hut after, a time was suddenly ana
efrectuallv ouelled. One day when VISIT
ING the Sing Sing prison Of New York.
A. pushu-, saw on a window sill the
cat-o-nine-tails, which instrument was
,oresented TO him by the warden. ArrlV-
ing AT the Connecticut River landing at
I oTlV
r,orn,ng. with the little instrument IN his
zripsack. he heard, though mile away
the matinal convict disturbance On
reaching the prison at that very carry
hour he summoned his deputy ana AZ
once. within the hearing or ALL ne Hiaue
use of the instrument he earned on lle
first disturber he discovered. Inc erect
was magical. From that day the olsordeF
ceased. good order was restored lhuus-
trial efFciency returned, and salutary dis
cipline was re-established. The cato
nine-tails was relegated to a window Sill
in the Connecticut State prison and was
rarely used afterward.
II was after Mr.. Brockway's appoint
,nent TO the prison at Albany ana the
opportunity afforded there for studying
sroun Of prisoners who were of different
class from those he had known at Weth-
orsAe,d that he came to the following
conclusions:
IL is true that most felons come OUT OF
lhe class OF misdemednants, ana III tIio
misdemeanOr prlsUns are 10 be touho di-
uavs some men and women prlsohers
who are experienced In heinous cIline",
But most Tnisdemeanants do not become
feIons: they remain "rounders'-out ana
nd
oners IN state Ike New YORK tne
annual committals to prisons are esu-
mated to be 95 per cent mlsdemedhdhts
and per cent felols. Close acquaintance
win the characteristics of the individual !
prisoners of both classes diIninlshes the
sense Of difference and suggests lnaI
probably both ielons ana nllsoemeahantn
are what they are accidentally ana by
force of habit much more than by any
difference OF intrinsic depravlty.. IL is
believed that If the worst prisoners,
about 10 per cent Of the whole. were 10
be withdrawn from the felonjous popula-
ton of the Wethersfield prison, and IL at
the same time their sentences were snort
encd equal TO the sentences OF the mis-
demeanant population ~ the Aloahy penn
Tertiary, there would wellnish disappear
as between each mass any Observable
difference II characteristics. familiarity
with the prisoners at Albany after my
contact with those az Wetbersheld opened
O. vista of crime cause, pointed TO- the
classes
which spring the serious offenders ana
showed the great need In this larger Held
of good preventive prison management.
During the seven years spent in charge
of the Rochester penitentiary after he
left Albany Mr.. Brockway gained in eX-
perience through increased responsibility
and a profound study of penology. AT
that time the test Of efficient prison man
egement was largely matter OF indus
trial economy, since public opinion 1e"
nlanded that public expenditure Tor pris-
ons should, Il possible, be limited to the
cost OF the plant.
His Theories Take Shape.
II was during Mr.. Brockway's stay at
the Detroit House Of Correction that the
modern theories. of rational education
leading to reform took definite shape, sup
plementing the previous attempts at re-
forming the prisoners. which had usually
been evangelistic only.
II was because ne believed 1t would az
ford him the best opportunity for devcl-
oping reform work among prisoners that
Mr.. Brockway accepted the superinten-
dency of the Detroit house OF correction
In 1861. Michigan had just passed law
which allowed the confinement OF felons
under twenty-one I'm the House Of Cor
rection instead Of the state prison. This.
Mr.. Brockway believes, was the first leg
Islation in America which Disseminated
for purposes Of prison treatment between
felons under twenty-ope and older GRIM
tpais Mr. Rrockways plans for reform