The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-04-20
PRISON REFORM Is
INTERESTING TOPIC
DONALD loweie OF SAN FRAN.
CISCO TALKS ON CONDITIONS
GENERALLY.
A. Ne Has Found Them In Penal In
situations throughout the eoun-
tr-chanoe Needed.


Declaring that our present system
OF Furnishing criminals is ~ungodiy.
while the laws covering expiration.
are absurd. Donald Lowrie. of San
Francisco. Cal. delivered an address
In the First Christian church last
evening. In the interests OF the move
ment to better methods of conduct
ing penal institutions throughout the
country. He spoke on the subject
Prison Reform" Wildly depicting
the tortures TO which prisoners are
often subjected. the speaker declared
that prisoners are being treated as
animals and not as human beings. He
made plea for a change of prison
system and not a change OF wardens.
In beginning. Mr.. Lowrie told OF
many reforms brought about in Cali
fornia- He paid a high compliment
TO woman's suffrage. saying IL is due
to the votes OF the women that the
accomplishment OF the reforms was
possible. He hoped that the time
Will soon come when women through
out the country will have an equal
government. Every human being Is
of equal value in our social iife." he
said in opening his remarks.
He attacked the system of melting
out justice. The fact that many
judges are not church members or
Christians. but are merely the tool of
politicians. is reason. he said. why
they should not sit on a bench and
say how long a young man shall stay
II prison. Without knowing any OF
the circumstances surrounding the
prisoners life. perhaps. the judge. in
a few minutes. decides how long soci-
ETY. shall wreak vengeance. Without
an effort being made to ascertain the
characteristics, habits, temperament.
or desires Of the prisoner. he is as
signed to a cell in the prison. where
he Is victim "of our blind system
OF reforming criminals" said Mr..
Lowrie.
Bad Practice.
Mr.. Lowrie cited many instances OF
young boys. sentenced for some slight
onense. being made criminals for life
| because upon being received at the
prison they were merely regarded as
new arrivals" and were assigned TO
the same or adjoining cells with con.
ftrmed criminals.
Prisoners should not be sentenced
for a definite period OF time. Mr.. Low.
RE said. but should receive indefinite
sentences. with the object of being
cured OF their criminal instincts.
They should be paroled. he said He
quoted statistics showing that 80 per
cent OF the prisoners who have served
their sentences and are DISCHARGED
have committed subsequent Comes
and have been returned TO prison
whereas only 20 per cent of paroled
| prisoners go back
After prisoner serves his sentence
he Is turned out into the world. broken
in spirits. without money, and as he
regards it-without chance in life.
Mr.. Lowrie pointed out
The speaker advocated the payment
/ TO prisoners OF the same wages as
commanded by men outside. The
prisoner Is paid nothing for what he
does, and his wife and children or his
dependents often suffer more than
does the person who breaks the law"
| Mr.. Lowrie said The reason prison
ers are not paid for their work is the
reason prisoners are not self-support-
Ing. and II work Is cheap the product
Is certain to be cheap" the speaker
declared. IF the prisoners were paid
he would be able 10 support his fam
lily or those dependent upon him. and
IL would be an incentive for him to
do good work, said Mr.. Lowrie The
prisoner would also be enabled TO re-
compense so far as possible the per
son injured by his crime, was pointed
out