New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-28
SENSE, NOT THEORY,
USED BY OSBORNE
Errors of Prison System
Shown TO Y. M. c. A. by
Sing Sing Warden.
SHUTTING MEN IN
CAGES CONDEMNED
Charge That Inmates Get Lux
urieS Denied-NeW Good Con-
duct Record Described.

Neither theory nor luxuries, but plain
common sense and the application Of
the fundamental Christian principles,
are being introduced at Sing Sing
prison, Warden Thomas Mott Osborne
said yesterday at the West Side Branch
Of the Young Mems Christian Assoeia-
t.on.
81 have seen myself described in the
papers as a theorist until am tired
Of it," he asserted.
The prison system as it exists to-
day is a failure, said Mr.. Osborne
lie added:
THAT is shown by the fact that two
thirds of the men in the prisons to-
day are second or third offenders. The
first term did those men no good.
What would we think Of n hospital
where two-thirds Of the patients had
been discharged as cured. but who
after spreading contagion after being
sent out were brought back? Yet why
90 We not run our prisons as we run
our hospitals? Shutting men mp ln
cells, boo narrow stone cages, rs bound
to produce degeneracy, mental, moral
and physical
I'm reply to his critics Mr.. Osborne
said:
There has been a cry that we are
introducing Injuries into the prisons,
feeding the prisoners too well, while
there are starving persons outside Of
the walls. Recently there was a great
deal said about a pork dinner given
the inmates. The fact is that the
prison for some time has owned hogs
which eat the scraps from the kitchen.
10 came time for four OF those hcgs
TO be killed, so four what tremen-
d0u5 luxury were prepared for din
uer fe, 1860 prisoners.
"It is no wonder that some COM
planned Of not getting enough to eat.
I'VE have no idea of making the
place so attractive that people will
want 10 break in. ! have always said,
however, that there are "A number Of
persons in every prison who should not
he there, but | always couple that with
the assertion that there are a great
many more outside of the prison who
should , inside"
The improvement Of prison condi-
tions, Mr.. Osborne asserted, WAS plain
business. When there were l.JOO men
coming out of the prisons m the
state during the course of year IL
was better for society that they leave
IN good health and with the desire and
capacity 20 work
To persons who TESTED Of the "luX-
uries' enjoyed By the prisoners at Sing
Sing the warden extended an invita-
zion TO 90 there and see them. Was
lt a luxury, he asked, % permit the
men 90 converse at mess after the
prison regulations for years had de
priyed them Of their powers Of speech
or 20 permit them 20 smoke before
entering the workshops. when they
risked punishment to smoke on the
sly?
An account of the punishment meted
out TO convicts under the old system,
accompanied by a description Of the
fortunes Of the dark cell, made the
audience snuddcr.
The industrial system Of the prisons
Warden Osborne declared huge joke.
When men received only i y cents a
day for their labors, and were liable 20
have that swept away In fines, IL was
small wonder, he said, that the state
did not make the money it should.
Prison labor, he declared, was slave
ldHiIf anu AAtIl ANt filnNilNAn y ilf
given a proper incentive 20 work 10
would never improve.
The solution of the prison problem,
he added, was not like finding 2 way
out Of a labyrinth IL was similar 20
Artcmu5 Wards story Of the man IN a
Jail, he said who. after beating against
the door and languishing for days,
realized that the window was open
"Our window Is open" Mr. Osborne
said. "All we need is the application
of Christianity, 90 treat the men a. we
would treat ourselves.
There has not been a case of pun
Ishmcnt a. the prison since have been
there he asserted proudly.
As Instances he mentioned a gambler
who threw his dice away after turning
over 20 the warden a few dollars In
money, which, although it Is not sup
posed To- find O. way past the walls.
gets in nevertheless. Another convict
handed back sixteen stamped envelopes
he had stolen on which he wrote
crooked letters" while the foreman Of
the shoe shop had reported that since
December Z not pair Of shoes had
been stolen,
I'VE are not introducing theory or
luxury al Sing Sing" he said in con-
clusion, "bUt plain common sense
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