New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-21

at is a wonderful thing, because 1t
is so human.
al say all this in the face of the
fact that | do not believe In JAMS.
Osborne is pioneer who IS dolhs
things. | won't call him re1ormer'
Too many crimes are committed III
the name of reform, too many So
called reformers are takers. osborne
is real. and | won't insult nm, ques-
ton his real worth, by using that
much abused term.
"The human thing, the proof that
these men are not criminals at heart
that, if given chance in society, they
will make good, is that they run tne
shops without supervision, MAINTAIN
their own courts and run that DIE
mess room without a guard IN slgh|
unless YOU look out the window
Just think-under this system there
have not been one-half as many nights
as there were under the old system.
with screws everywhere, and not halt
as many men reported for wrongdoing'
The fact that the men do more WORK
even in the knit shop, formerly the
hell-hole of the prison, the danger
place. and do it cheerfully, is PROOF
again that if you appeal to the human
itv in man, instead of TO the club, you
will find him a comrade, co-worKer'
companion.
There's no comparison between Sing
Sing and Blackwell's Island. Why, al
ter what | saw and heard to-day, II II
were nv misfortune TO be forced tc
! choose between one year on the lslanc
and two in Sing Sing, I'd take Sing Sing
and tbe double dose. And I'd come out
| better mentally, physically and NOR
ally. Ill. -,
| in the cells on Blackwells. Nor IS q
man told what the rules gre. When
he does something the keeper does not
| like he is put to the wall and pun
| ished without q hearing. After one
YEAR there and seeing the most arbi-
4 trary treatment accorded men and the
denial of the most elementary rights
| of defence, the prisoners court IN
Sing Sing was q wonderful revelation
! +o me. When | was charged with
| breaking q rule on the island and OF.
fered proof to back up my. denial OF
| the charge, my offer was refused.
impossible Thing Possible.
! "'The keeper lies l told Warden
Hayes. ia o.a
went to the cooler.
Here / saw prisoners make the
/ charges. hear the charges and NIX the
punishment Hayes said to me: '"hen
/ ! can take the word of prisoners against
/ keepers | won't need keepers Inc
| thing he said was impossible l saw 10
| day in Sing Sing.
I fectionate parent couldn't have been
more patient with q baby that had been
doing something forbidden, more anX,
ious to do exactly what was right anCl
let the man feel that he was getting al
that properly belonged to him. ihos'
men must feel that they are larry
treated. The worst thing IN the worlc
is a sense of injustice IN man. il
rankles, believe me.
"Here in Sing Sing find that mar
is supplied with material for one letter
a week and allowed TO send out as
many more as he may care to write an'
has the material for. On Blackwell
a man is allowed one letter the mrs
month, then one each two weeks. AnS
such a letter. A single sheet torn OF
a small pad The story IS told there
I OF the man VINO ndu all lilPOL '"'iN w.
ness matter to settle up. He went u
the officer and asked for another shee
of paper, explaining that 1t meant 81
much to him.
"'Write what you can on what you've
got said the man, then marx II con
tinued. Send the rest next time
Lovely, was it not? -.
"And the man with the dying VIII
who begged for a letter, saying HI
wife was dying.
"'Please let me write he asked.
await till she dies said the officer
and then come to me and I'll give yo'
a letter Who'd blame that man 10
leaving Jail bitter?
when a man goes to jail the on
thing that makes life worth living 1
keeping in touch with his family. On
of sight, out of mind, you know.
he cannot write out he is freed almos
a stranger to the family that has be
gun to forget him and to the friend
who might have stuck and have for
gotten him. Osborne sees this, an