Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-22
RESOLUTION TO
INSTALL WORK
HOUSE IN COUNTY
Discussion at Meeting of Mems
Federation at Broadway
Favors Project.
CALL ON THE OFFICIALS
Supervisors and Commissioners Of Mo-
line and Rock Island Asked TO
Formulate Plan.

The advisability OF establishing a
workhouse in the city Of Rock Island
was the subject of discussion last even
ing at meeting OF the Mems Fedora
ton and affiliated bodies at the Broad
way church, and the project was given
the hearty endorsement of nearly
everyone present. There we're about
10 Of the members in attendance, in
Guiding county and city officials That
the Rock Island county jail is in a
deplorable state and that something in
the way Of lettering conditions along
that line should be done, was the gen
eral sentiment expressed. w. b. Nc
Intyre presided as chairman of the
meeting and Writ Taylor as secretary.
A supper preceded the evenings dis
cussion.
MISS MARTIN TALKS
Mr.. Taylor made a few opening re-
marks after which Miss Vella Martin,
inspector for the state charities com
mission Of Illinois. was introduced by
Mr.. Mcintyre Miss Martins talk en-
phasized the fact that conditions at
the county Jail should be improved as
they are exceedingly bad. There are
100 Jails in the state" said Miss Mar
tin, "and none are worse than the
Rock Island county bastile"
Miss Martin stated that the jail here
is positively unfit for the confinement
OF any human be..g Here are the
conditions which she found when she
inspected the jail: Your Jail is 81
years old and is built in accordance
with medieval standards. The place
is so dark that il hes 20 be lighted
with artificial light throughout the day.
The 13 cells in the prison must be
used for three or four times that num-
Der Of men Many sleep on the stone
floors One side OF the jail has no
outside opening Of any kind; two tiers
OF solid stone cells face this solid wall.
The conditions are bad throughout. "
Miss Martin maintains that the refor-
nation is more desirable than punish
ment OF criminals.
PEORINN II SPEAKER.
Joseph Brodman. superintendent OF
the house Of correction Of Peoria, was
the next speaker on the program Mr..
Brodman has followed that, line of
work for the past 90 years and spoke
interestingly Of his experiences. The
house Of correction at Peoria was es-
tablished Jointly by the city and
county and has an administration
building, a cell house and broom
factory Mr.. Rrodman spoke Of the
great reformation work that has been
carried on at his institution citing
many instances I'm which seemingly
vicious criminals had been reformed
at the house OF correction by the sim
pie method OF giving them good clear
useful work 10 do instead of sending
them to q yard to break rock. "Nor
cant reform a man said Mr.. BrOd
man. by letting him loaf in a cell fOl
months at time smoking cigarets anC
playinC cards. one of the best pos
sible things that Rock Island could
do would be 10 establish a workhOus'
near the outskirts OF the city surround
ed by about 100 acres OF land which
prisoners could work and which would
be good clean healthy labor, instead
OF having them couped up in an unsani
tary jail day after day
MANY CRIMINALS INSANE.
Mr.. BrOuman made starting state
ment TO the effect that 20 per cent o
the men who came into the house o
correction at Peoria were Of unsount
mind. In many instances he said ina
Il resulted from the man having bee
cooped up at some time or other il
an unsanitary jail where he was a
lowed 20 waste away his time day afte
day amidst unsanitary conditions. 81
workhouse here" said the speaker, Il
established near the outskirts O
the city would not only practically su'
tain itself but would give employment
TO the prisoners who could work i
the fields in summer and in the dair
during the winter time instead OF ha1
ing them confined in your jail whic
is unfit for human being to stay in.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
Some OF the supervisors and other
who we're present expressed then
selves as in favor OF a workhouse Tn
following resolution was unanimOusl
adopted:
Whereas, The question OF estal
fishing a workhouse in this county. {