The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-03-13

contract labor system ought to cease,
in every civilized country, and es.
pecially in America, where we are
supposed to have the highest type of
Christian civilization.
Now the pathetic side, is the fact
that there are only about a dozen
prisons in this great land of ours,
that teach prisoners a useful trade,
and scarcely one which permits a
man TO make any decent provision
for those dependent upon him for
support
The innocent ones are thus forced
TO appeal to the town for adm
many instances-and all overseers
are not over liberal; sometimes their
manner or words, or both, seem
harsh and tend to repulse a sensitive
woman, who will suffer and starve in
seclusion, rather than appeal for
help.
This is all wrong
We agree with the Editor OF the
Bennington Banner on two points,
"indeterminate sentences as occas-
ion may require. and We would 20
farther and say. there should be
pardoning board, with full legal pow
or TO act upon all cases The state
should also have an association for
aiding released prisoners. but before
We turn these men adrift let us clean
up our towns and cities from the cor
rupting influences which are to be
found on all sides-things which are
calculated TO minister to human
weakness, for money consideration.
Every public official of the state
will admit the crowded and over
crowded condition, of nearly all pub
lie institutions; these officials will
also admit that the majority OF our
criminals. degenerates, paupers and
insane are the result directly, or in
directly of intoxicating liquor.
One OF the sad cases at Windsor,
is man having a family. who is
sentenced for life, for crime com.
mitted when under the influence Of
liquor With the tears streaming
down his cheeks, the man told his
ptiful story to the writer, ending
thus-"I was drunk or | never would
have done il, for love my family.
Now, in that case. and in hundreds
Of others, who is the real criminal?
The man behind prison bars, or
every man in the state who by his in
nuence. voice or vote, helped to in
stall, the open saloon?
This is not all.
According to Official investigation,
rugs and tobacco are responsible fol-
more or less nervous affections, sea
)eryersions and crime
Has the state done its duty in
eaching the effect of nicotine upon
he human system?
A nerve specialist. who is at the
head OF an institution for mendinl
human wrecks says-Don't talk tC
ne about tobacco; the tobacco usei
s in the wrong; il undermines his
nervous system. blunts the edge OF
ais mind, gives him off days, and a.
ways proceeds alcoholism and drug
addiction. Inhaling tobacco is just
as injurious as moderate opium
smoking"
The above are not the words OF a
crank. but the opinion OF a man
who knows whereof he speaks
Charles B. Tomns. the first enthusi
astic leader of an intelligent cam
paign against alcohol. drugs ano
the three great criminal
Il is one OF the enigmas OF modern
life. that supposedly intelligent bust
ness men who purchase supplies foi
our state institutions and poor
houses provide tobacco at state ex
Pense. for the use Of prisoners ano
inmates. According to the Official r.
pcft. one institution used three thous
and six hundred and twenty-tiret
pounds during the biennial term.
Our prisons should be high grads
reformatories. and conducted upon
hygenic principles. and in aooorC /
with health. cleanliness. and com
mon sense. To illustrate-Dr. Kath
crime p. Davis. the newly elected
York citv when investigating condi