Newark post., 1915-05-26
Indeterminate Sentences Advocated
And Full Pay for Prisoners


tiOn Meeting nelQ IN newark, was
that of Thomas Mott Osborne,
warden of Sing Sing Prison, New
York, which is at present conduc-
ting one of the most notable ex-
periments in prison reform known
Mr.. Osborne's share in the splen-
did work made his altk of special
interest. The warden qualified
for his Office by serving time him
self. Mr.. Osborne first became in
terested in the George Junior Re-
public, Later, he was appointed
by the governor of New York,
member of the Prison Reform
Board. In order to study the prob
lem at first hand, Mr.. Osborne ask
ed for permission to serve time.
He has twice since repeated the
experiment.
Mr.. Osborne began his investi-
cation of prison life by visit to
Auburn Prison, New York, in
which are incarcerated fourteen
hundred prisoners. The day of his
arrival he addressed them at the
chapel exercises, telling the object
of his visit. Several hours after
the talk he received, through the
warden, a message from one of
the prisoners. The man had re-
spectfully addressed the warden
with the remark, "Mr. Osborne
wishes to see me. May talk with
him?' Upon being asked why Mr..
Osborne wanted him he replied,
Because ! am finished product
of the system he is studying. Mr..
Osborne upon hearing the incident
Immediately went in search OF the
prisoner, with whom he became
the best of friends. (The fellow
died. by the way, before the eXplr-
alton of his term) The man de-
clared he began his career at the
age of seven months, when he was
taken to an orphan asylum. The
ethics of the professions that lead
prisonward is based upon the rule
that one must never Squeal on a
pal. For this reason Mr.. Osborne
debated whether he had better try
to serve as a prisoner without be-
ing known, or conduct his cam
paign entirely in the open. After
consulting several of the prison
ers he decided upon the latter
plan, and announced his purpose
in chapel on Sunday. On Monday
morning he donned his uniform
and took his place as an ordinary
prisoner. He described the hor
ror that every man feels upon be
ing locked in a cell. Sixteen, ou
of every twenty-four hours, Wer'
spent in the cell every weekday
on Sunday, however, with the eX
ception of one and one-halt hour
in chapel, and the time allowed 10
breakfast, the prisoners remain Il
their cells. is it any wonder,
Mr.. Osborne asked, that ther
were always more fights following
Sundays than any other day? An
imals die if confined in this awfu
manner. Only men live to figh
on-maimed for life.
Mr.. Osborne denounced a
senseless the custom of forbiddin
all conversation among the prls
oners. 'One-half the punishment
on the books of Auburn Prison,
he decalred, 'are for talking. An
for this offense of talking the at
thorities ties send the man to tn
one place about the prison wher
you can talk in peace
Mr.. Osborne paused to give e,
plicit definitions for the term
prison" and reform" "a pr
son." he declared, sis not plac
of punishment; it is the depriv;
ton of a mans liberty. All otl
er things only irritate man
nothing can compare with the los
of liberty. There is no sue
thing as confirmed criminal, e!
cept as the courts make. He is tt
the result of a system which turr
loose a man before he is fit to
returned to the world. Reform
something that comes from wit
in. Therefore prison reform ca
come only from within the priso
The speaker discussed in deta
the working of the Mutual Welfa
League, as carried forward at A
burn, and Sing Sing, in New Yo
and Chelsea in Connecticut, tt
Prisoners Road Building camp
and the Honor System. The pu
pose of a prison, Mr.. Osborne
clared, is to cure disease, just
hospital. What is the recor,
In New York state two-thirds
the inmates are residuists-tho
I