Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1914-02-26
THE STATE AND PENOL0Gy

Mr.. C.L L. Dotson recently delivered an address
at Sioux Falls, in which he called attention to a
SUBJECT that is deserving of more than passing
thought. 1t is a theme upon which many of our
modern students Of penology are prone to dwell,
and at some future day the question will be
brought home to the people of this state in a more
intimate way than they have hitherto dealt with
it.
The Salem Pioneer Register, commenting on
Mr.. Dotson's remarks, voices a growing senti-
ment among thoughtful people when it says:
Mr.. Dotson concurs in the theory that has
been urged by other speakers in the state that the
state should furnish work for the men in the
pententiary on such salary basis as will furnish
men with families some means of helping to sup
port their families, or to earn something to ac-
cumulate, so that when they are released they
need not face the world penniless.'
Penal institutions were established primarily
for the safety of society. incidentally the mat
ter of reforming the inmates is related thereto.
The modern theory tends to combine both ideas,
thus making such institutions serve a double pur-
pose.
Under our present system of management the
rule throughout the country is to make the GRIM
lnal pay his penalty and then throw him out upon
society again, letting society take it's chances.
Theoretically, of course, our penal institutions
pursue certain formulas intended to impress the
inmate with our humane instincts. For instance,
We furnish him with a chaplain who offers pray-
ers now and then and who acts as a spiritual ad-
wiser If the inmate 50 wishes. We also permit
the prisoner to retain just a small share of his
earnings, II, perchance, we have adopted the
contract" policy in our prisons. After he shall
have finished his ordinary davis ctiDt wv ,,or,,;+
him to work a spell for himself and to keep what
he thus earns.
With more or less modification that's about as
much as we do for his reformation. IF his fam
lily actually needs assistance while we keep him
within the gun-guarded walls, we dole it out as
so much charity from our public Golfers.
Our genealogical researches have not been suf-
fciently broad or deep to enable us to pass an
intelligent opinion upon the various phrases Of
this subject, but we believe there is opportunity
for improvement in the system under which we
operate our penal and charitable institutions.
Mr.. Dotson, no doubt, spake not only from
observation, but from his experience as a member
Of the state board Of charities and corrections,
and his theme is one which deserves the thought
full consideration Of the people of the whole coun-
try, including those of South Dakota.
-O-
We suggest to the Hon. Pete Norbeck, N. G..
r., National Guard Protector) There are people
mean enough to suggest that these letters might
mean National Guard Purveyor, but we don't
mean it that way we say, we suggest that Mr..
Peter explain to the citizens of WATERFOWL and
Codington county why little Frankie Byrne turn
ed down three of the best men in the state who
live IN Codington county for the position Of adj
Jutant general because they couldn't afford to
go to Pierre to live on the salary they would get,
and then turn around and give the job to Will
Morris at Redfeld who hasn't been to Pierre
since, and who promptly carried everything tex
cept Will Peck connected with the National
Guard over to the little city on the jim? If the
Honorable Peter can explain this satisfactorily
he will prove himself to be the best double-back-
action somersaulter in the state!
Do WOMEN W4NT THE VOTE2
DO women in reality want the voter That is
q question Of transeendent Importance, and is, as