The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-02-05
PRISON LABOR EXPLAINED.
Sheriff Tracy Gave an Interesting Talk
at Congregational Church.

Indictment weather did not prevent a
good sized gathering from attending the
Congregational church last night, when
Sheriff Frank Tracy of Montpelier spoke
on his method Of handling prisoners
committed to Washington county Jail
Sheriff Tracy's talk was given under
the auspices of the Pilgrim brotherhood.
The pastor, who conducted the services,
was assisted by Jack Stewart. one of
Sheriff Tracys TRUSTEES and the miNee
quartet The two solos which Mr. Stew
art sang made favorable impression
Sheriff Tracy, at the opening of his
talk, wished the people to bear in mind
that he did not profess TO be an orator,
a speaker or a lecturer but that he was
there just as a brother to speak to a
brother about the welfare of man. q
subject in which we are all Interested
Sheriff Tracy has been in charge Of the
inmates of the county Jail for the past
eleven years, and in that time the man
ner in which he has handled his charges
has received recognition beyond the bor-
ders of our own state,
Last night he called attention to the
statute which provides for the working
of prisoners and said that such a plan
had worked out infinitely better than a
former condition, which allowed the
charges to lie in idleness At the ont
set the prison authorities were con.
fronted by two obstacles; first, prisoners
heretofore wasting their time in idle
ness, strenuousiy objected to the idea
of working; and, second ready market
IL. ha ri n EYI ~
in general expressing a dislike to hiring
that class of laborers.
Later. however, these conditions wore
overcome and straightway the feasible
aspects OF the plan began to assert
themselves. Prisoners at the jail began
to see the desirability of accumulatipg
sum sufficient to aid. in new start
at the expiration of their sentences. and
they entered into the plan with enthusi-
asm. BY constantly mingling with the
prisoners while at work. the authorities
were enabled to stuGS their conditions
to better advantage and more tangible
results were thereby secured.
Year by year it has become apparen:
that the system of working the prisoners
under the honor plan is one to be com.
Jail are not so bad as oftentimes paint
ed, and the spirit of industry which
marks their hours Of employment win
readily bear out this statement. Inside
the prison walls the human side of the
prisoner is emphasized in the expression
in various ways of desire for reforma-
ton
Contrary to an Impression which pre-
walls in some quarters, said Sheriff
Tracy. organized labor has commended
the idea of employing the prisoners
The speaker took occasion to express
his appreciation of the friendly attitude
shown him by organized labor in Mont
peler, where the laber men employed Q
speaker to address the jail inmates
In regard to the parole system, Sheriff
Tracy said that it had worked out to
highly satisfactory degree among his
charges On several occasions. they have
been allowed to attend baseball games or
circuses. In every instance, the men
have apparently appreciated the priv
ilege by conducting themselves properly
and by returning at once to their quar-
tiers at the appointed time.
Sheriff Tracy made the point during
his address that the duty of solving the
prison problems devolyed itself upon ey-
cry citizen and not on the officials alone.
are always welcome and the
speaker urged his hearers to give the
matter their careful study and to advise
him of any helpful hints which might
suggest themselves. The congregation
lent an attentive ear throughout the
course of Sheriff Tracy's talk.