Norwich bulletin., 1913-06-18

how will your classify the prisoners and keep the hardened criminals away from the more innocent, and give df- versity of employment and maintain prison discipline, and work refornna- tion in the character of the prisoner, and not commercialize crime?
 New Systems Meet Success.
 Other states have substituted new systems with marked success, while New England. peculiarly fixed in re- taining old customs and ideas, remains for behind with the contract system. Dr. Croft gave a number of instances of the success attained in other states under systems giving opportunity for physical, material and moral benefit to the conVicts.
 Recognize the Human Element.
 The thing we must come to recog- nize he said, is the human element. At the bottom of every criminals heact is the spark of celestial fire, conscience, which if famed into flame will yet make the man a. good and useful citi- zen. On this is founded the honor system. Colorado has won worldwide recognition of the excellence and beauty of her roads. built by men from within the stony walls of the peniten- tiary, while Connecticut with roads built by private contract has the worst highways in New England.
 Dr. Croft spoke at length on the suc- cess of the honor system in the Colo rado penitentiafy under MT. Tyner, where the convtcts are unguarded, yec only one per cent. ever attempt to break away, less than the percentage of deserters from the United States army. There men are given oppor- tunity for physical and moral develop ment and with good behavior can ma terially lessen their sentences.
 In Connecticut the men work at lightning speed nine hours a day maE ing shirts and if they wish to wor< overtime are rewarded with a small part of what they make after the nine hours. Conditions are most disgrace ful in New Haven county, where men make chairs for six cents a day. These conditions are brought about by gre 1I and commercialism and no desire to better the conditions or morals of the prisoners They are turned out broken in health and with their morals by no means improved It is time that you business men took this out of politics that Connecticut might stand with the other states of the union. l believe that the business men will right the prison conditions in Connecticut and 1 believe that this state has a brighte-, more successful future than any othe- state of New England. with it's natural advantages and close proximity to the nations greatest city
 Endorsed Speakers Remarks.
 At the close of Dr. Croft's address he was given a vote of thanks. President Smith expressed his endorsement ot the speakers remarks and told of ef- forts he had made personally to do away with the county jail, substituting farm. located between here and New London. The present situation. he sald, in county and state is a shame to eV = cry business man. On motion of Town Clerk Charles $. Holbrook it was voted that the eastern Connecticut develop ment committee be requested to take steps towards the ajbolishtng of the present county jail and the substitution of farm, conducted under the honor system, as President Smith had suG- gested.
 Outing This Summer.
 On motion of H. R. Branche 1t was voted that the executive committee ar range for an outing with the other as- sociations of eastern Connecticut, sim liar to that of last year. The meet ing then adjourned and a light lunch was served.