New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-12
THE SING SING RECORD
What Mr.. Osborne Has Done to
Improve Conditions.

To the Editor or Inc tribune.
Sir: My attention has been called to your
recent editorial entitled warden Osborne
Should Co."
You state that you are pledged to the cause
Of prison reform, but that Warden Osborne
is bringing disrepute to the movement.
Now, it seems TO me that your editorial
would have much more force if you gave one
real reason why Osborne should 90.
Osborne has been at Sing Sing since De
cember l. 1914 1t may be too early yet to
pass final judgment on his work there. Blu;
if it is too early to say that he has been a
complete success, it is also too early to say
that he has been an utter failure
As a matter of fact, if we want 20 estimate
Osborne's administration now, the inevitable
conclusion we come to is that it has been an
undoubted success from every point of view
This is not a matter of personal opinion
e is a matter of plain, incontrovertible fact
The results are in black and white in the
official records. Let the skeptical read the
recent report of the State Prison Commits
sion, appointed by Governor Whitman to in
vestgate Osborne's administration. Here are
a lew Dfltl Dub SiBHiiNdHJ SANtiPbN-
mo one familiar with the physical appear
ance of prisoners during former years can
visit Sing Sing without being impressed with
the great change. Buoyancy and self-respect
have replaced repression and detection.
THE prisoners appear healthier and hap
pier The Osborne method of treat
ment applied to all prisoners irrespective of
their previous character or record, is essen
TALLY subjective in the development of self
government and sef-control
"The new methods of treatment at Sing
Sing seem TO stimulate normal development
Convicts are often detectives and generally
abnormal Any plan of treatment by which
they can be reached subjectively and the
change for the better come from within
should be welcomed Reasonable recreations
actual responsibilities, educational training
and decent sanitary surroundings within cor
regional institutions, accompanied by simple
living and hard labor, ought to contribute to
substantiate prison reform"
This is report by commission of i'm
partial and expert Investigators, and it highly
recommends Osborne's methods The official
prison records show that under the new
regime discipline has improved, health has
improved and efficiency has improved.
Since Mr.. Osborne took charge of Sing
Sing there have been no riots at ALL far
fewer escapes and attempted escapes thar
usual, less drug traffic, less vice, and no cor
ruption at all.
Much has been made of late in the press
of the escapes from Sing Sing. AS matter
of fact, since December /, 1914 there have
been but three escapes and one attempted
one. This is good deal below the average
ba
Of the few escapes that there were, and failed
to mention the really significant thing, name
ly, that for seven months not single con-
Wet even attempted to escape! The papers
gave scareheads to the exceptional case, but
did they ever print headline like this:
DAY AFTER DAY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS
LOO CONNECTS, on THEIR HONOR, RE-
FUSE TO ESCAPE WHEN THEY HAVE A
CHANCE.
In one Of the escapes fifteen convicts were
outside the prison walls all night, searching
over the countryside for the man that had
broken his trust Every single one of them
returned One of the men had twelve years
more to serve, and there was nothing to pre-
vent his getaway. Yet he resisted tempta-
ton. Isn't this tribute to the success Of
the honor system?
The whole secret OF Osborne's system is
to treat the convicts like human beings and
not like animals. 1t is system of fair play
and common sense as opposed to brutality
and oppression. II is a system that pays,
Ii is beneficial TO the convcts in that il
makes men of them. II reforms them and
sends them back TO society as decent, self
respecting. law -sbiding men. Therefore it is
also beneficial to the community, because i,
manufactures men rather than criminals
The old system turned out hardened, crushed
and revenge-seeking creatures.
Sing Sing is now run as a business institu-