The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-04-12
LOSS TO SOCIETY is WORKED
BY PRESENT PRISONS SYSTEM;
HONOR TRAINING IS PROPOSED

Donald Lowrle ex-prisoner. but
above all man. sentenced TO the pris-
on at SAN Quentin, Cal, paroled after
ten years Of confinement. and finally
pardoned by Governor Johnson, ad-
dressed the Society for Ethical Gull
ture recently in its meeting house at
Sixty-fourth street and Central park,
west. on Prison Life as Seen From
the Inside" Mr.. Iowrie claimed that
the present system OF imprisonment.
viewed from any angle. works loss
to- society. He explained that the
person offended against usually loses
in time and property. that the offend
er loses his liberty, and Is deprived of
the results of his labor In prison, and
that the State Is a loser through the
expenses in maintaining courts and
prisons. The system he proposed. he
claimed. would not only make courts
and institutions for reform economic
assets to the State. but would auto
matically develop in offenders against
the law realization OF their respor-
sibility to society. a respect for law
and order. would develop in them the
qualities of industry and frugality,
and at the same time educate them.
After having endured the physical
and mental hardships and fatigue Of
ten years punishment, Mr. Lowrie
preserves a charitable attitude toward
his fellow men. and thinks clearly in
formulating plans to remodel prison
conditions He has organized a bu-
reau of employment In San Francisco
fer men just released from prison.
The State has recently made an APP
preparation for the public mainten-
ance Of this bureau. For several
years he supported the bureau himself
by writing and featuring.
Toss OF Nickel Led to Theft
In the year 1901 Donald Lowrie
found himself tossing up a nickel
TO decide whether to commit suicide
or steal in order to live. 1t told him
to steal. He did so. was caught, and
jailed He learned before he was
committed that the present system Of
sentencing often works injustice.
"The present system Of sentencing"
he said takes no account Of the con-
ditions that lead to the commission
Of a crime. 1t takes no consideration
Of the sort Of man upon whom the
sentence is imposed. Tt is punitive
merely. and Is not employed with the
idea OF making better men. but with
the idea of punishment offense. Be
hind the sentence IL the spirit Of re-
venge and malice The system which
| propose would cause the length and
severity OIL the sentence TO DE en-.
tirely dependent upon the will of the
prisoner
A prisoner is like an animal which
Is confined. If you chain a dog up
for long time you will make him vi
cious. If you keep a horse in his
stall all winter he will jump over the
barn and run away when you take
him out in the spring. 1t Is said that
a canary released from its cage is
so used to relying upon It's keepers
for food and protection that it Is UNI
able to live outside. A man is very
much the same The brutalities of
prison punishment and the inhu-
maniues of confinement have of late
been exposed in many places. put
little has been done to remedy them.
Not only must these be done away
with, but a positive substitute must
be provided
THE foundation of the system
which | propose lies in paying Just
wages to prisoners for the labor which
they perform. Labor unions have pro-
tested. and rightly. against the sale
Of products OF prison labor. This
is because convict labor Is now so
cheap. The things which prisoners
manufacture are sold at prices be-
low those of the products OF free
labor The competition must be met
by lower prices and consequently low
err wages to free laborers. This work
hardships to many families. ana an
economic loss to the community III
prisoners were paid reasonable wages
this objection would be removed.
Self disappearing Prisoners.
II believe that the prisoner should
support himself, pay for his board I
and lodging and education. He should |
not only earn sufficient to support |
hinselfs but enough to pay fur this I
damage which the crime has wrought |
II he has stolen he should b. nade 20 |