The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-06-06
GIRLSIN REFORM
SCHOOL MOSTLY
FEEBLE MINDED
Problem Taxpayers Must Solve,
Says President Galley, of
WOman's League
PARTIALLY Is SHOWN
MAN-RUN INSTITUTIONS
Good in UnfOrtunates Should be
Developed as Well as the Bad
Corrected
20 Me EditOr Of The Times:

TO the Editor Of The Times:
Y In recent visit to the reformatory
for girls in--Adrian, | made some dis
CoYefies which World like TO get be
fore the tax-paying citizens OF Mich
igan The first and most important
was. that large percentage or these
girls are feeble.minded The women
superintendent OF this institution are
powerless 10 help conditions, even
though they are convinced that these
girls are not well balanced, and after
they have served their time OF pun
lshment. they are returned to society
and allowed TO propagate our race
and bring into the world more unlaw-
full and mentally deficient children
for the taxpayers to support.
The women who run this institution
and who live day after day for years
with these unfo9unates. know bet
ter than the judge who sentences
them what their true mental condi-
ton is, and for economy to the state,
they, acting with a committee. should
be empowered TO use their discreet ton
whether or not these girls should ever
be let loose or not.
To prove this, many OF these girls
are returned time after time for the
same offense. The great cry Is that
the home for feeble-minded children
in I4apeer Is full and over-howing and
yet we do nothing to correct the
source OF supply
This will go on as long as the tax
payers will allow the politicians 10
have full sway. What.w taxpayers
want to see is our tax monies spent
wisely judiciously and economically
Another fact that impressed itself
upon me, was that the reformatory
for boys at Lansing was equipped
with a gymnasium where the boys
could have pleasant exercises outside
OF farm and garden cultivation but
not 50 at the reformatoTy for girls.
There was no gymnasium and yet the
girls are not allowed the exercise of
garden cultivation
would like to ask our politicians
the cause or this Partially?
The chapel at the reformatory for
boys was clean and we'll decorated,
but the chapel at the reformatory FOR
girls was in sad state. for want Of
decoration and the need OF an addi-
ton. as II is dreadfully over-crowded.
The bathing facilities were fright
fully inadequate
could not help but notice the
favoritism TO the man.run institutions
in my opinion no man should be al
lowed to run a reformatory for girls
or home for feeble minded girls
and III IL takes the taxpayers TO see
that political favoritlsm is not allow
ed where human life Is at stake,
think We viii be capable OF handling
the situation even at the discomfort
turc OF some OF our politicians
The Women Taxpayers league OF
Michigan proposes 10 u5e It's influence
To bring better education facilities TO
all the inmates of our public institu-
tons, so they will have a chance 10
come out better citizens.
The league believes that there Is
some good In each and everyone OF
these poor creatures, who are the vic
tins OF circumstances and OF environ
ment. and that II rs the duty OF the
taxpayers who support these institu-
tons, to not only correct the bad that
is In them. but TO develop the good
that is in them,
Mrs. l. NJ Ilsen. the only woman
representative OF Thomas A Edison,
one OF the greatest humanitarians OF
our age lent her services TO the
league and has appeared In the fol.
lowing institutions House OF correc-
ton Jackson prison. Ionia reforma-
tory, boys industrial school at Lans-
Ing. school for the blind, girls indus.
trial home at Adrian
MRS J. X. GALLEY
President OF The Women Taxpayers
League of Michigan.