The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-28

marvellous work since its organization more than
forty years ago, and within the past few years
many of the reforms it has proposed have been
adopted by State governments New York is
giving considerable attention to educating its
prisoners, Iowa has adopted the parole system,
and Ohio last winter enacted laws allowing
prisoners portion of their earnings and
adopted the indeterminate sentence Tennessee
has night school, a library, the parole system.
and requires only new prisoners and those
breaking prison rules to striped clothing.
Illinois allows some of its best prisoners to work
unguarded the roads for several months at
time. paroling or pardoning them If they prove
their honor. The department of justice at
Washington a few months ago instructed the
warden of the federal prison at Atlanta to allow
prisoners hereafter to be known by their names,
instead of by numbers, and not to require them
to wear uniforms bearing the degrading "U s.
F." letters. Better sanitary conditions and the
establishing of hospitals for the of tu-
bereular prisoners receiving more attention.
And surely improvements along these lines are
sadly needed Here I mention case that came
under my observation few days ago.
A young Mexican twenty-one years OF age,
sentenced from Mexico to the state prison
at Nashville about two years ago for the theft
of finger ring. After serving about half of
his sentence he developed tuberculosis, and be-
cause of its rapid advance, was granted a par
don. With the brand of prisoner him, and
being unable to make sufficient money to be
treated at a sanatorium he decided to make his
way towards his native country where the eli
mate would aid in restoring his health He had
the few dollars given him by the prison. sup
plemented by business man of the city and the
students of theological school and able
TO pay his passage to a farm in Texas. near the
Mexican border II is crime against a sound
and able bodied prisoner TO incarcerate him
where he will be infected with tuberculosis.
And II is crime against his family and the
community to which he goes. TO send him away
untreated to die and to infect others.
And now. Mr. Editor. | have reason to be-
lieve that you realize the need of and have
sympathy with prison reform, This belief 1
base an editorial from your pen, written
while the governors conference was In session
in your city in December, 1912 / quote few
sentences: Undoubtedly Colorados system Of
dealing with prisoners appealed to the executives
who heard Governor Shafroth present its de-
tails Tuesday afternoon. Certainty and c.
lerty OF punishment, lighter inderterminate SEN
fences, permitting the prisoner to his lib
erty at outdoor employment by good work with
the prospect Of the maximum term staring him
in the face IL he errs, seems to humane
and logical system Of dealing with those who
break the laws. That there is honor and
self-respect deep down in the hearts of most
criminals is evidenced by the statement of Gov
ernor Shafroth, that in the two years there had
not been single violation of the parole, and
only four escapes from the unguarded outdoor
gangs, one of these voluntarily returning.
We sincerely wish that Governor Shafroth could
be persuaded to make that self same address
before the general assembly of Virginia
1t may be impractcable for Colorado's gov
ernor to appear before the honorable body now
in Richmond. so I trust you of the same
mind and will have time and fit to call
it's attention to the systems that are advancing
md proving their worth.
l.. w. HENDRICKsoN.
Nashville Tenn.