The mirror., 1914-07-23
PRISONS Benefit
BY ADJUSTMENTS
Inmate Of Federal Prison Replies TO Citizen
Who Takes Exception to Sentimental
Ideas -Acts as a Tonic for the Pris-
0ner'S Health.
AN AID TO DISCIPLINE
From Good Words.

From GOOD w OTdS.
In a recent issue of Good Words,
the Federal prison paper printed at
Atlanta; taxpayer takes exception
to amusements being introduced in
prisons. We give the communica-
tion, and also the editor OF that pa
per's reply to same.
Editor, Good Words: / have
been reading in your paper about
your baseball. football, handball and
other games; your sentimental ideas
for easy discipline, and what you
call the humane treatment of pris-
oners. Now that is all right from
the prisoners view point, but it
seems to me that the taxpayers and
citizens ought to be considered as
we'll. Suppose that man were to
break into my house and steal all
the valuables and after having spent
the money should come to me and
say: / will surrender myself, pro-
vided you will put me into some
comfortable home for five years
where / can get plenty of good
food, lodge in good room. with
baseball games. moving picture and
vaudeville shows whenever I feel
like being amused, and given easy
work by which / can earn about
half the cost of keeping me-" That
is the doctrine that you are preach
ing for the treatment of my robber.
If the question of punishment was
left to me I should tell him to re-
store the thousand dollars he stole,
and if he could not square the ac-
count, / would have him suffer
enough physical punishment to pay
his debt in the only way left, and
teach him not to break into my
house again.
How are we to discourage crime,
if we reward the criminal with
games and amusements and a gen.
eral good time in prison?
Prisoners Answer
Mr.. Taxpayer: Your thousand
dollars is gone, and if possibly you
were permitted to get even" by
Furnishing the robber in your own
way. don't forget that he would
make it his BUSINESS to get even
with you for his punishment. and it
is not pleasant for a man of proper
ty, who values above all his peace of
mind and comfort, nor for a COM
munity of men like you, to be pur-
sued by rufiian who has nothing to
lose. and in whom the desire for re-
venge would be more powerful than
the fear of punishment.
If only you could kill your rob
ber, you would be relieved of his
menaci ing presence, and it would be
better for him, for in heaven he
would have better chance. but al
though this would square the ac-
count, and be a blessing to him,
there are those who assert that he
has right to live. even if he does
not live according to your code, and
that the best way to destroy an en-
emy of society is to make him a
good citizen.
Suppose it had been left to you to
punish that robber, with the condi-
tion that you must administer it
yourself. We very much doubt if
you would have found it satisfac-
tory. While your fit of rage was up
on you, ii would be a positive en-
joyment to shut him up in an iron
cage, and starve and whip him, but
you have a better nature and it
would soon come to you that he is a
human being, suffering as you would
suffer. and you would end by hating
yourself and plying him.
The Modern Theory
There is a modern theory that
crime is largely the result of mental
disease which can be cured and con-
troled when wisely and humanely
treated. AS first step, the patient
is isolated from all bis previous evil
influences and surroundings, and
placed where he can have the op-
portunity for reflection and repent
ance. This is a severe and even
dangerous treatment, for unless ju-
diciously administered. the patient
may leave the institution in a worse
condition than he arrived, with his
criminal Tenderness strengthened and
confirmed, instead of curbed or
cured.
The great curse of prison life Is
it's mind and soul destroying monot-
ony. Feed a man continuously on
the same food and his stomach will
rebel, and he will sicken and die.