The Detroit times., 1915-05-06
Gives J IS to Five
ParOled COnvicts
Stranded Here
ALL ARE EAGER
TO MAKE GOOD
Offers of Employment
Come from Other
DetrOiters

The Times published. Tuesday, a
story OF prison reform--of two Ne
groes and three white men who were
released on parole. last Friday. from
the state reformatory In Jefferson.
vile. Ind. and given cards that were
supposed TO assure them jobs on The
construction OF the Detroit Motor
speedway. Through some mlsun.
derstanding. the paroled prisoners
didn't get the work promised. What
little money they had earned by
prison labor dwindled away, and
Monday morning found them penni.
less and hungry
But these men wanted To go
straight" Each OF them had spent
two years or more within the walls
OF the reformatory They loved their
freedom, SO white men and black
put their heads together. and deter
mined 10 show that they were thank.
ful for breath OF air In the open.
even though they were without food
or shelter. The fear OF being return.
ed to Jerersonyille as parole break
ers. because they were idle. hung
over their heads They finally went
In a body 10 Sheriff Milton oakman.
The sheriff gave them food and lodg.
Ing In the county Jail after they had
explained that they wanted TO re-
port TO someone. just TO show they
wanted 10 do what was right.
Ordinarily. that might have been
the end OF the story. Men and won.
en- might have sighed. over the sup.
per table, as they read OF the mis-
fortune OF these folk. And then
they might have gone about their
work tho next day. without thought
OF the Negroes and the white men
who were sleeping and eating In the
jail as guests OF the sheriff.
But there Ia a chapter two. and
the addition 20 the Times story 10
made possible because there are In
Detroit more than few men and
women who believe there IL some
good In every soul. even In the man
who has done his bit" In prison
Among these men Is a certain blue.
eyed. gray.halred maker OF automo
biles. who has set the world thinking
over his proven theories OF the
brotherhood OF man. and particularly
OF the brotherhood OF employer and
employe Henry Ford was among
those who read the story
That's why the two Negroes and
the three white men choked and
gulped for words OF thanks, Wed
nesday morning. as they shook
Sheriff oakman by the hand. said
goodbye" and climbed into a mo-
tor car in front OF the county jail
Overnight, they had become en-.
ployes OF the Ford factory. Henry
Ford called the sheriff Tuesday
night. and said he would send for
the men In the morning. Charlie
Daniel deputy state game warden,
was the agent whom Ford chose to
drive the ex.convicts TO the automo
bile factory. 10 begin work
"Jlm." one OF the Negroes. rolled
his eyes. and suffered quite a bit,
but he wasn't as much overcome as
his companions. when he heard the
news. lie could talk, anyway.
MY Iawd." he murmured. "ef we
don't do what's right now. no fcllah
what ever has been In will ever have
another chanel. You know, Mister
Sheriff, we owe Il 10 the whole
world 10 go straight. and I'm glad
we made up our minds TO 70 that
way when we found out we was
broke"
Charlie Daniel footed the horn
and Jim" had 10 go away, saying,
Thank yer. sheriff: thank yer"
Henry Ford was not the only one
who was eager to come TO the aid Of
the little band OF paroled convicts.
Soon after the auto maker called tho
jail. another telephone message was