New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-20

yised that the act under which We were
proceeding was clearly in ContraVentoh
of the state constitution; that an! GoII-
tract intended to carry out the proNisioIio
of that law would be void; and that al.S
prisoners transferred from the state
prison to the house of correction, as con-
templated, could easily gain their release
by habcas corpus proceedings ana nave
good claim for damages on suit 1of ialSe
Imprisonment.
The foundation, development and ad-
mlnlstration of the Elmira Reformation!
engrossed Mr.. Brockway's life from 1876
TO 1900 1t was here that he was finally
able to develop his scheme Of reforma-
ton. Speaking of the good accomplished
by means of the gymnasium erected dur
ing his term of office there, he says:
The intention was TO invigorate by
means Of physical culture the en-
, tire prison population and, particularly
through specific scientific physical reno
walton, to improve detectives and dull-
ards During this five years period the
close relationship between corporal con-
ditions and mental operations was so
completely demonstrated and unquestlon-
ingly recognized at the reformatory that
physical education as q means or rel
OrInation of social delinquents became
not only a permanent but an indlspen-
sable basic procedure for approximately
10 per cent OF the prisoners, who without
ii would remain incorrigible. For these
the usual gymnasnc exercises were IN
sufficient, and special processes We're pre-
scribed and adapted to the indlNldual
need
1t was In 1889 that the law was passed
which made the industrial education of
prisoners the supreme object, and per
mltted the comforting Of pecuniary re-
wards.
In his chapter on the Problem OF Ref
ormation," Mr.. Brockway says:
The problem Of reformation-so long OBJ
scured by medieval superstition, beset
modernly with false or excessive senu,
mentality, discouraged by doubts and
hindered by faulty Observation-Disclosures
conceived to be purely scientific process
the modification OF character by the wise
use OF rational means and methods. The
proceedings at the reformatory during
those years were by observers perhaps
little presumptuously entitled Prison
Science" but more and more in our cSu-
nation the processes for forming and
reforming human characters, the product
OF knowledge gained and verified by the
nest careful study, methodically ar
ranged in a rational system, seemed
worthy OF the title others had bestowed.
Neither in theory nor practice was there
ever any notion OF administering justice
in the sense Of visiting upon offenders
Ietributory pains-equalizing mere deserts.
Nor was governing made use Of to effect
fancied absolute interior moral state
not related to earthly conditions. And
no direct attempt was made TO deter
from misconduct by means of intimida-
ton. The inward intention, manifested
in the spirit OF the governing scheme
throughout every detail and also in the
practical direction of the institution, was
determined by and held accordant with
foundational purpose-the reclamation of
individual criminals. Specifically, ana in
the order of precedence, the purpose was
a threefold one: the public security and
benefit, the integrity of the instrument
the institution, and the essential welfare
Of the inmates.