Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-14
TIMES REPUBLICAN, MARsHALLToWN IowA DECEMBER A. 1918

system. But he said II would be linz
possible to run single day without
honor men inside the walls. Incentive,
self respect and personal dignity are
three vital points to consider, he de-
clared, In handling men inside or out
side the prisons.
Runaways Apprshsnded.
Escapes? Yes" declared the war
den. We'll. II q man runs away and
makes good he Is doing what we ex-
pect Of him after we parole him. that
Is, making good, If he runs away and
goes wrong he will be apprehended.
He will be the greater loser and So
ciety will be protected for q longer
period than 1t would have been had he
obeyed all the printed rules of the in
stitution and thereby gained his good
time, that is, he will lose the good time
prescribed by law II 1t be punish
ment which Is desired, there can be
no greater mental punishment than
fleeing from the invisible hand Of the
law. Most escapes are returned or
located in another penal institution.
Chickens come home to roost or II they
do not another roost will be provided
for them. ,.s-a
The success Of the honor system
is not measured by the failures but
rather by those who give it balance on
the credit side of the ledger. The man
who makes good must not be over
looked. The man who makes good is
rarely ever advertised. Behold the
yellow and mellow drama in the
movies and real life. Here we do not
find stories Of normal homes and nor
NAL people, but freaks and fancies
that feed out lustful eyes as we gaze
on the fiuttering canvas. five a shot
We must have the sensational pervert-
ed, out of the ordinary. 1t must give
thrill and chill every minute.
1T occurs to me that we are not
doing all we can to develop the honor
IN men. 1t Is possible that we are de-
pending too much on the man himself,
expecting too much of him. Asking
him to do things which stronger men
have failed to accomplish. How do
you account for the fact that men on
parole will hold themselves In re-
straint even tho prompted to steal, and
tumble off the honor wagon and water
wagon simultaneously, the restraint
having been lifted? Simple enough.
These men need restraint. Hold the
restraint over them. Punishment? No,
just the reverse. 1t has exactly the
same relation to such a man as a
crutch to a cripple. Mercy. kindness,
interest, tirmness-all that goes to
! make for the best in handling a weak
| individual
Must Be Trusted.
why Is 1t necessary to trust them
Because trust is not a theory, It is q
fact and the sooner you begin to trust
men in fact rather than in theory the
more results will accrue. 1t is not
asked that printed list be made of
those whom you may trust Judgment
must never be lost sight of-there ere
men who can not be trusted to meas
ure up to an ordinary honor system
and want to impress you with the
thought that I firmly believe that
Too much is expected from prison.
ers on their release. If they make
good they are doing more than the
man Is doing who has never been in
prison, because the former are handi-
capped. From my own statistics rs
per cent of the men selected as trus-
ties or trustees have been denied con-
consideration for parole: IA per cent
are lifers and the rest are pending or
promised. With this rosy aspect of
moral, mental. physical derelicts am
plotting the ship WITH penal rud-
der of uncertain moral stamina. In
viting disaster? II We admit that we
are, what are we doing when We re-
lease this same Individual after he has
served his sentence under restraint
prescribed by law?" it
The warden declared he does not be-
lieve it possible to standardize crime
and criminals. 1t is not possible to
treat them all alike because they are
not all alike. because no two people on
earth can be treated just alike.
Fifty per cent Of my enrolment are
repeaters," he continued, "recidivists.
come backs, quarter backs or draw :
backs who have withstood the Joys OF
previous terms and return time and
again to reform under the influence
and courses We have to offer. Is it not
possible that too much is expected of
men who are serving time on parole,
in camp, or what not? Surely it is
not to be expected that we shall have
a larger per cent Of net gain than you
would have from the same number
outside. On the whole it can be truth
fully said that too much is expected
from the ranks Of our ever-changing
enrolment Better to have loved and
lost than never to have loved at all
better to have trusted-to have been
disgusted-than to have not faith at
all. May the epitaph on the tombstone
that marks my last resting place be
carved deep enough to Withstand the
elements and proclaim to the WORLD
he trusted men but some escaped
More Insane Patients.
DR.. w. P. Crumbacker superintend-
ent Of the Independence state hospital,