Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-01-16


Agricultural College. Situated, as it is
near the Department of Agriculture Of the
National Government, it lends itself to
giving and receiving inspiration and help
The functions of the College should be to
equip our young men to use most advan-
tageously the soils and conditions of our
State to increase production and turn the
opportunities to the best possible advan-
tages. The academic courses should, in a
large measure, be discontinued, and its
resources devoted entirely to the promul-
CATION of agricultural knowledge and skill.
The purpose of the College should be to
make farmers. The education of farmers
sons, desiring to follow other avocations,
is taken care Of by our other institutions of
learning. The benefits Of the Agricultural
College could. with great advantage, be
extended by making a feature of Night
and Correspondence Schools to those in
the cities and in the counties who are I'M
able by reason of lack of time or financial
ability to attend the courses given at the
College. All of this should be under the
direct and sole supervision of the State.
The State will, no doubt, be called upon
to contribute largely to the rebuilding of
the College, the main building of which
was destroyed by fire little more than a
year ago. This presents an opportunity
to eliminate the private "stockholder" fea-
ture of the College.
Closely connected with the work of the
College is that of the Experiment Station
All men must recognize the fact that az
riculture is the fundamental basis of all in
dustry and of all material prosperity and,
Furthermore, that the fertility of the soil
is the foundation of all successful agricul-
ture. These facts being recognized, it must
be apparent that one Of the greatest needs
of the State is for exact and authoritative
information regarding the fertility of our
various soils and practical demonstrations
as to their economic Improvements in pro-
fitable and permanent systems of farming.
Investigation reveals the fact that work
of this character is being conducted in
many other States and with very satisfac-
tory and gratifying results, appropriations
from SIC. 900 to as much as 100000 per
annum being made for the purpose.
PENAL INSTITUTIONS.
There has been a general awakening
among the people as to the treatment of
our criminal classes and those who have
been guilty of some violations of laws for
which society exacts punishment. The
trouble goes deeper than abuses in our in
no matter how reprehensible
these may be, and strikes at the root of
the whole system Of punishments and cor
rections. While | have endeavored, through
the aid of the boards of directors of the
various institutions, to bring about better
condition and a more humane understand
ing OF the rights OF the inmates and rela-
tons OF those In authority over them, little
OF permanent character can be accom-
plished without a change in the laws
governing the matter. 1t is of the utmost
Importance that those who have been
guilty of offenses against society should
be brought to full sense of their guilt. In
this alone does punishment consist. When
a prisoner realizes fully what he has done,
he is then in a condition for reforma-
ton. 1t should be the aim of the State
to preserve the moral health of its citizens
and no less to restore those who are afflict-
ed with moral delinquencies to full appre-
citation Of their social obligation. When a
prisoner has demonstrated that he is in
durable, if there be such, then the only
remedy is complete isolation, under con-
ditions that are the best possible for health,
both physical and moral. II is necessary
and proper that everything should be done
to give all every opportunity possible to
retrieve their lost character and work out
their redemption under the most healthful
conditions.
1t is possible to accomplish this, and
would suggest that there be provision for
the separation at all times of those young
in years who are undergoing their first
punishment. from those who are more
hardened and older in crime. The young,
particularly when first offenders are more
susceptible to the influence of criminals
and the contagion of crime. Provision
should be made for open air work for as
much OF the year as our climate will per-
init, and such indoor occupation as shall
be found necessary should be for State
uses. II is not only unfair that our pris-
oners should be treated as poems, and their
time and labor hired in competition with
that of free and useful citizens, but the
system lends itself to so many abuses,
both conscious and unconscious, that in
no civilized community should 1t be longer
tolerated.
Having these things in mind there has
been appointed by me a commission of
able and conscientious men. who have I'M
dertaken study of our situation, and will
prepare for your consideration scheme
whereby great improvement in this class
of legislation may be accomplished. The
better our institutions perform their obliga-
tons, the more economical they will be.
The fruits Of their labors should first be
devoted to the interests of the State, to
repay the cost Of punishment, and the
surplus earnings, for which opportunity
should be given. devoted to the support of
the families of the prisoners.
To provide an active incentive, the use
of the power Of parole, vested in the Ex-
ecutive, or some responsible board, has
been found to work well wherever tried.
To release and confine at indeterminate
periods, as a reward or punishment, pro-
vides strong incentive on the part Of the
prisoner to earn the respect and good will
Of the authorities.
How many ways in which this labor can
be utilized in the interest of the States
development can well be left to the deter
mination Of those who will have immedi-
ate direction of the matter, but it does
seem as though the establishment of lime
kiln plants at convenient points, to manu-
facture and distribute the product to our
farmers at or near cost would be an ad-
vantageous way to use the labor of some
of the prisoners, and at the same time en-
able the farmers to use high Grade of
lime at a minimum cost.
Likewise might such prisoners be EN-
ployed at the trade Of brick-making, the
product to be used in the construction of
State roads; the plant, of course, to be
located where the raw product is found
and a temporary prisoners camp there
established.
RACE TRACKS.
| Su9peSt and recommend the nassada