The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-08-13

when he had seen his mother beaten
with unusual cruelty he shot his
father. For this crime he was given
that sentence which spoke not Of JUS
tice but Of revenge, ITO years. When
first knew him he was Sc years old
and had the saddest face I ever saw.
almost never undertake any effort
regarding the pardon Of prisoners, be-
cause I can't do SO many things, but
this I couldn't resist. I went to the
governor Of Texas and told Jimmie's
story and asked that he be parolled
to me and would take him to Hope
Hall in Chicago and help him there
until his mind should have caught up
with his body. Remember he was
only thirteen when he went to prison
and he had served twenty-three years.
So he was pardoned and came to
Hope Hall where he stayed year and
for the first time In his life knew
what home means and had for the
first time in his life, a chance. My
particular work in the prisons is to
establish volunteer prison leagues,
the motor of which is Look Up and
Hope and blue star Of hope is the
badge. The principle of this league
is that every man must work out his
own salvation. They must lay the
foundation for a new life while they
are yet in prison and get ready for
the future for the time when they
shall be free. Over $4,000 prisoners
belong to this league. Major Nc
Claughey said since the league had
discipline had improved fifty per cent.
Our work is not sentimental; I go
into the prisons and talk common
sense to them, l tell them when they
come out of prison they will have the
hardest battle Of their lives to face.
1 tell them I don't care how weak
you were or now you've been tempt
ed, you must strive to go forth and
make good and don't wear your wish
bone where your back bone ought to
be-
The Word Ex-convict.
IT want to register protest
against the word 'ex-convict.' So
long as a man is a ward of the state
if you like the ugly word you can
call him convict, but after he's paid
tie price and served his sentence
don't keep the past before him and
the world by the word 'eX-convict.'
You need not treat them like return
ed heroes, but keep hands off and
don't dig up the past. For the aid
and remodeling Of the discharged and
paroled prisoners we have established
Hope halls, in the states of New
York, Ohio, Illinois, Louisiana. About
10000 men have found shelter in
these homes. Any man from any
prison who wishes to turn his back on
the past and do right is welcome. I
don't care who or what he is, so he
wants to look UP and hope. We are
exclusive, no man can
set foot across that threshold who
has not served at least one sentence.
It is not a place for reporters, or
story writer's, or students OF crime,
but place where the men may get ]
a new grip on life. While at the
homes the men are kept busy in the
WOTk I'll L1lc AdA IA SoA pSAIOA AhS,
painting, household duties, etc. AS
soon as suitable positions are found
thew are sent to them and they are
thereafter known as graduates. Hope !
Hall is not permanent home, but a
stone to a new life. I have /
long thought that the state has no
right to profit by the labor of its I
prisoners while their innocent fami-
lies suffer in want. l hope the days |
will come when in all states we shall |
have productive labor and the man
even though he be in prison can still
support his family. We have estab-
ished in New York state Rainbow
House for the care Of the wives and
children of the prisoners. At Christ
mas we spend 5000 to bring Christ
mas gifts and Christmas cheer into