The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-08-28

sarily already caring for some of its delinquent
citizens.
, The important thing for these men, and for
any community into which they happen to come,
is not what they have been, but what they will
become If given an opportunity. The question
as to where they we're born, and why, when and
where they were imprisoned, fades in the face
of the pressing need for work and a chance to
prove their worth. This need the Central Howard
association is seeking to supply. The fruit of its
endeavors is shown not only in the lumber of
men it has encouraged, advised and aided in a
material way, but in the continued and rapid
changes taking place in public sentiment toward
the offender and in the new freedom given to
those in bondage everywhere.
One Of the finest tributes ever paid the Central
Howard association is contained in the following
which came unsolicited from a discharged
prisoner whom the association had once be-
friended:
"a little more than a year ago l was dis
charged from a prison in New York state, where
l had Just finished serving a term for highway
robbery committed in New York city. There l
was born and there I had for a number of years
pursued a criminal career.
Before obtaining my freedom l had resolved
to reform, to get work, and lead an honest life.
my best efforts to get a job of any sort were
unsuccessful, so about a month later l left New
York. with five dollars in my pocket and an I'M
broken resolution to stick to living on the
square
Last October I arrived in Chicago on a Wa
bash box car-ragged and friendless-after a zig
gag chase of that willie .the-wisp, a job, cover
ing over two thousand miles. In a couple of
days the few dimes l had were gone for food
and lodging. So that l presently found myself
homeless, jobless and broke.
I'm casting about for means of obtaining the
materisl with which to write East in an endeavor
to get some money, l decided to ask a prison
association to Oblige me in this regard.
A search of the city directory yielded the ad-
dress Of the Salvation Army Prison bureau. Co.
ing there 1 told the officer in charge that l was
an ex-convict and would appreciate the favor of
writing materials, etc. He said that there were
no facilities there for writing. That | would per-
haps find better accommodations at the Central
Howard association. He very courteously in
vited me to return to his Office If l met with
failure there.
ION the twelfth floor of a large Office building
in the heart of Chicago 1 found the Central How
ard association.
1T was my lucky day-in that small suite of
Offices l was to find more than I consciously
sought or from my previous experience had been
led to hope for.
"On explaining my errand briefly, a Uttered
table was cleared for me. Pen, ink and paper
provided; no questions asked, and l proceeded to
write for two hours. When l finished and pre-
pared to leave l was called into a small private
office. you are a stranger here? Looking for
a job? Have you a place to sleep tonight, to
eat?' The men who asked these questions gave
me money for my supper, lodging and breakfast,
and told me to come there in the morning. That
he would then send me to some places where l
might get work.
81 left there that late afternoon with a heart
beating high with hope, with a new grip on my re-
solve to stay straight.
"No word had been spoken of reform, no men,
ton of religion made, no mach,ne-made charity
doled out, no maudlin pretense there, but instead
the square dealing Of practical help and under
standing.
"The next morning l was given several cards
and directions. Each card bore an application
for work addressed to an employer specifying
the job sought and my name. Each bore the
signed recommendation of F. Emory Lyon, super
intendent of the Central Howard association.
THE European war was on, business unusually
depressed. and Jobs more than scarce. Every day
l went there for these cards until I finally secured
a job. Every day for two weeks found the
same ~unfailing willingness to help me get work.
Every night | was given money for food and
lodging. Every day many others were receiving
the same help and encouragement.
Chicago may we'll be proud of the work of this
prison association; of the work of Doctor Lyon
and his assistants. The reform of a criminal is
generally considered a rather hopeless PROPOSE
ton, both by the public and by the criminal him
self, and with good reason. That good reason
is that the spirit and efficiency Of the Central
Howard association is rare indeed"