Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-06
THOMAS MOTT OSBORNE
ON SING SING REFORMS
The Results Thus Far and the Plans for
the Future-Only Liberty Fits Pris-
oners for Liberty-Prisons Should Be
Training Schools.
BY THOMAS MOTT OSBORNE
Warden of Sing Sing Prison

/
failure. To establish this we need to con-
slider but two results: First, that the pres
! ent prison population In this country is COM
! posed of from so to go per cent. recidivists,
| l. e., those serving n second, third or subse-
quent term; second, that our State prisons
have been an expense instead Of a source OF
! revenue Gas they should bel to the various
communities
! think that the entire idea OF the new
| penology such as hope to put into working
! order here at Sing Sing may be summed up
in the words of Mr. Gladstone. who once
wrote in relation to 1reland's demand for
home rule, and the idea that 1t must be held
back until the Irish had developed farther
and were ready for it, ut is liberty alone
that fits men for liberty"
The prison system has deprived prisoners
of even the exercise of the faculty that diff
ferentiates them from the brute creation
the power of speech; they have been kept
down to a deadly existence wherein initia-
tive talent or spirit has been looked upon
as indicating "criminaity," and yet these
attributes are the very attributes that count
for success in the world at large provided
they are directed Alright. Instead of crush
ing them, they should be developed in prison
The prison system should educate the pris-
oner, teaching him self-contro and self
reliance by giving him an opportunity to
practice control and self-reiance; II should
be system whereby the prisoner would be-
come industrious because of voluntary labor
in which he takes genuine interest: 1t
should be system intoxicating habits of
frugality and respect for law and order
simply by giving the prisoner the opportun-
ity to manifest himself in that direction.
My belief Is that we can only judge another
human being by observing what he does in
the exercise of choice. The present system
denies the prisoner all or practically all
right of choice thus reducing him to the
level of n non-thinking, unintelligent animal.
Good" Prisoners and bad"
Since assuming charge here I have granted
a number of requests by the prisoners look
ing to a greater freedom within these walls
because in having this greater degree of
freedom among them I shall learn more
about each man, and be better able to deter
mine which are fit to go out into the world
and which are not. Under the old system It
was the old offender who got along best in
prison He merely drifted along with the
muddy current, and, not making himself
conspicuous in any way, was pronounced n
good" prisoner. He might be a good prls-
oner, but he was a mighty bad citizen ready
to work off all his suppression, all his wick
edness and responsibility so soon as the
prison gates changed him into freedom.
l cannot conceive of more stupid process
1t is analogous to turning patient out of a
hospital before being cured of smallpox or
yellow fever or leprosy. My conviction is
that offenders against the law should be |
kept in restraint long as they are a |
menace to organized society; but that re-
straint should not be cruel, ii should not be
destructive of character 1t should work on
the individual increasingly in an effort to
bring him to normal mental and moral and
physical condition The old system sought
to crush the man who didn't drift It aimed
10 break his spirit, and usually accomplished
It. My aim Is to develop spirlt-get it on
the right track, for of what use is a spirit
less man, either in prison or out?
The food has been improved, and without
extra expense to the State merely by the
exercise Of economy, careful purchasing and
he elimination of waste. I hope to develop
his to a much greater extent, I am told
hat large circuses, where employees have to
De well fed, eXpend average of cents per
liem per man for their dietary. 1t has been
costing the State of New York that much,
md more, to feed its prisoners on slops.
wholesome food makes whole
iome minds and bodies, and means better
work.. Where there was formerly an i'm
nense waste of bread each day (thrown
away py inmates after they had nibbed it)
here is now saving of several barrels of
lour daily. This has meant better coffee
,etter stew, etc. The men stopped throwing
Lway bread so soon as 1 asked them person
lily. 1 pointed out the practical effect of
waste.
Doing Away With Martyrdom
I have granted permission for those who
wish to do so to keep cell lights burning
Until 10 p. M Many of the men are studious,
md I believe in giving them all the time
POSSIBLE for healthy self-development.
The men are now permitted to assemble in
he yard after work each day. This assures
etter general health, and lesser degree of
nrest.
We have established a prisoners court.
he court consists of five prisoners selected
r elected by their fellows All violations
t the prison rules are heard by this court.
nd any prisoner who is not at work may