Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-10-27
TO HAVE WORK HOUSES
TAKE PLACE OF JA|LS
Joseph P. .Byers Makes Strong
Address Before Federation
of WOmen's Clubs

Abolish the county Jails and substi-
tute county work houses was the sug-
gestion. offered last evening by Joseph
p. Byers, president of the American
Prison association, in his address last
evening before the State Federation
of Women s clubs in the house of rep
resentatives.
SIN the average county jail, no man
comes out any better and the most of
them, worse. Go and visit your coun-
ty jails. You will find young men and
regular criminals herded together For
the young offender, house of deten-
tion is much better than county jail,
and the work house better than Jail
sentence Send your hoboes to the
work house and also your inebriates.
For the first offense give him 30 days
real work, and double it if the offend
er comes before the court a second time.
Every man placed in the county jail, as
now constituted, should have a speedy
trial"
Taking up the general problem of
prisoners, Mr.. Byers stated that each
man should be studied, and the condi-
tions under which he committed the
crime. Habitual criminals and the
weak should be segregated. Records
in the eastern prisons had shown that
90 per cent of the crimes has been COM
mitted by repeaters, constituting only
81 per cent of the prisoners. A pris
oner should be sentenced on his known
criminal character, and moreover, peo-
pie of known criminal character should
be taken in.
Believes in Honor System.
81 believe in the honor system, but
trusting a man does not make him
Honor is synonomous with
self interest. Amy desirable form of
government in a prison must be a mon
archy. The honor system can be over
done, but in all dealings with prison
ers, they must be made to feel gov
erning force.
AS to the feeble minded, the speaker
emphasized the fact that they should
not be sentenced to prison, but should
be sent to place where they could
improve. irresponsible persons, not
quite weak enough to be sent to insane
do great damage in prisons,
as they are the tool of stronger minds.
Something is wrong in Oregon. You
are guilty of great injustice to men in
your state prison. Idleness means de-
of body as well as mind. I
saw half of your prisoners idle,
when they should all have been at work.
The prison officials can do nothing.
Right here is great chance for the
women's clubs to do great work, in
urging legislators to provide work for
your state prisoners. They are organ
izing night school. You should have
had prison schools years ago. They will
find their teachers The women s clubs
will have an opportunity to give them
books. 1t is pity to compel men to
be idle.
Men Should Be Employed.
at like your warden. He looks good
and sound to me. He needs encourage.
ment, but he can do nothing under your
present state laws. am addressing the
greatest influence in the state of Ore
gon, and you should make it felt on this
prison proposition.
AS to the employment of the prison
ers, the speaker acknowledged that $50
prisoners could not be employed in
manufacturing articles of use and wear
for the other state institutions, but that
some other means of employment, such
as road making and clearing land might
be employed.
The Rev. O. H. Holmes of Fores-
Grove, member of the Oregon parole
board, stated that 500 prisoners were
now confined in the pen and that
number would soon be 800, and the 90
now working on flax would soon be re-
duced to 100 and later there would be
no work.
"'It is q burning shame we have TO
herd $40 men together, with nothing
to do. As to paroling men, we win not
turn any man loose unless he has EN-.
ployment. We have 40 men up for pa.
role now and more to come before tht
board of parole at its meeting next Sat
urday."
Federation Indorses Ideas.
In the discussion that followed, it
developed that prisoners have opportun-
ity to write all the letters necessary
for their welfare.
1t was also shown that the letters
sent to prisoners on parole were in
blank envelopes, with merely the rural
number of the penitentiary on the up.
per left hand corner, so that no one,
unless familiar with prison envelope,
would recognize it.
The general opinion of the women
was that if the parole board would
frame bill providing for employment
of the prisoners, the federation would
support it.
Mr., Bycrs made very favorable i'm.
preston and his ideas coincide with
those in the city who have made
study of the prison problem. He is per.
haps the greatest authority in the coun
try on the prison proposition, as be.
sides holding the office Of president of
the American Prison association, he is
executive secretary of the national com.
mittee for the care of the feeble mind.
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