New Britain herald., 1915-11-29
JOHNSON SCOPES AT
 'MUSHY SENTIMENT
Head of Cheshire Refornatory
 Gives Views in Saving Boys BE PRACTICAL, HIS ADVICE
Letters and Bouquets to Prisoners Not of Any Use, He Says-Rev. IL. s. Give Interesting Ideas.

Give Interesting Ideas.
 Last evening was observed as "Pris- on Night at the Trinity Methodist church and a large crowd gathered in the edifice to listen to addresses by Chief William Rawlings, Rev. Lyman s. Johnson, the former probation ot1l- cer and Charles H. Johnson, superln- tendent of the Connecticut Reforma- tory at Cheshire. The services opened with the invocation led by Rev. War ren F. Cook, the pastor and prayer was offered by Rev. H. w. Maier, pas tor of the First Church of Christ.
 Rev. Lyman S. Johnson, the first speaker, told of the beginning of pro- bation work. He was appointed to that position twelve years ago August l. At that time it was simply distressing to enter the Hartford jail and see the young boys who had been convicted, serving their sentences among older criminals. If the boys had any good traits, they were lost sight of during their confinement and when their terms expired, their criminal tenden- cies were increased rather than de- creased through their associations with confirmed criminals. At that time through the efforts of Mr. James of Rockville, H. H. Spooner of Kens- ington and J. c. Taylor the probation law was passed in this state. Re-. formatories were started and young sters who had criminal tendencies were confined in them. Often they left the reformatories with different ideas and were much benefited by their stay here. ...
 Collected $22, 2,S3S.34.
 Speaking of his work as probation officer Rev. MT. Johnson said the rec ords of the first two years were not complete, but since then he handled an average of 1S7 cases yearly and during the time he collected in fines total of $22,s3s.34. Also, he had seen the members of the probation CTS family provided for. The proba- tion system had kept many drunkards from going to jail. Here, the speak CT told of the good work done by his assistants and praised the present probation officer, E. C. Connolly and his assistant, Miss Elsie Osborne, for their efficiency in tbis line. He blamed the home life of many men for their predicaments. In conclusion, the speaker said the whole secret of drunkenness lies in filthy home, cockroaches and a nagging wife,
 Chief Rawlings.
 Chief Rawlings was the second speaker. He said there always has been crime and time has not changed right and wrong. There are differ ent environments, different methods and these are days of enlightenment. Crime still exists but he feels that ;y, n "good will out and it is up to us to aid.'' Environment is the cause of many going wrong and the work of saving men from doing so is great work, for linen properly han died make proper men," He lauded Rev. MT. Johnson for his work as probation officer and said many cities in the state are patterning their sys- tems after the one inaugurated by him.
 World Grows Better.
 He feels the world is growing bet ter and is optimistic toward the future. Many who appear in court do so through ignorance of our laws. customs and language and he thought that a. great good would be done if all foreigners were educated in these points. The future of the state and nation depend upon this being done. The youth should be taught the po- lice are his friends and not his ene- mics The police department is a l necessary evil, which if it is to be successful, must have public senti- ment behind it. for without that it is like shipwrecked mariner. He. then introduced superintendent Johnson, of Cheshire An abstract of MT. Johnson's follows.
 Criminals Are Weak
 Mlsdemeanors are ever on the in- crease. A few years ago there was no interest in reformatories to a large extent True, there were groups of men and women who had been studying the technique of the prison for years, but as the public pays for them, it has right to know of them and their work. Those who show an interest in the wayward boys and girls are followers of the Nazarene, for He was interested in all. No man is worthless and what good is in him should be brought out by pub lie interest, not the mushy interest, which causes some to send letters and bouquets to prisoners but the kind that will produce something tangible and worth while. The greater part of the public gets it's knowledge of criminals from the drama and liter ature. Tn both of these things, the criminals are depicted as smart and clever. in fact they are supermen. These ideas are fallacious, for per- sonal experience has shown most of the criminals are weak and unattrac- tive. They have no dash or. spirit. This sentimental interest is detrimen- tai to the work of the reformatories.
 Find Cause.
 Prison reform like Gaul may be