The Washington times., 1915-02-19
HENRY FORD HIRING
SING SING CONV|CTS
Magnate's Reform Theory, Out.
lined Before industrial
Board, Put to Test.

NEW YORK. Feb. l9.-When Henry
Ford. the Detroit automobile man. an
nounced before the Industrial Relations
Commission a few weeks ago his belief
that every convict sent out of Sing Sing
prison could be reclaimed. his theories
of reform were accepted In many quar-
ters with a grain Of salt. 1t was learn
ed today that Mr.. Ford's plan was not
limited to theory. but that 1t already
had been put into effect. Discharged
and paroled Sing Sing convicts are now
being sent to all parts Of the West un-
der an arrangement made by the auto
mobile manufacturer.
According to a report Mr.. Ford enter
ed into an agreement with Thomas
Mott Osborne. warden of Sing Sing.
whereby he Is Informed of every prison.
er who leaves Sing Sing. The complete
records OF the convicts are furnished to
Must State Choice.
When the prisoners are ready to leave
the institution they are called before
Warden Osborne and are asked whether
they want a chance to start life anew.
II they desire an opportunity to make
good they are told work will be sup
piled for them far from New York.
They are pledged by word Of honor TO
live up to the principles OF the Sing
Sing Brotherhood. the welfare organi-
cation which II cooperating with War
den Osborne In moral uplift. and they
promise never to take advantage OF
the men who have been responsible for
their new opportunities.
Mr.. Ford has written to a large num-
ber Of manufacturers throughout the
West asking for their support in this
reclamation work Most OF these man.
ufacturers nc kncws personally and has
| selected because OF their sympathies
witt, the Ford principles of social wei.
fare All OF the employers who have
| consented to try OUT Sing Sing con
| victs have been placed In a separate list
! and as the men are discharged from
| prison these manufacturers are notified
| to have Eastern agents meet them ir
New York. This city. consequently. Is 6
kind of clearing house The prisoner,
! are interviewed here. and an invesuga
| ton is made by the agents. Then thu
men are sent to the cities where Mr.
| Ford would have them GO
1t Is a basic principle that an ex-con
vict will do the best for himself II h
starts under entirely new circumstance
and conditions. with "A first-class rail
road ticket and some pocket money. h
| Is sent on his way under a brand-ncv
name, not an alias. but a name whic
Is to be his real name forever afterward
The influential friends who have len
| support to Mr.. Ford's plan become NOR
ally responsible for each man sent I
them. They. only. know the convicts
tunity is presented to let the real fact
circulate among the employees in tn
plants. The ex-cOnvicts are put at wor
with other men, and are watched. per
haps. sbut trusted. and every oppor
tunit is offered them to re-establis
One discharged prisoner, who arrive
here a few days ago. was received yes
terday by the New York agent of on
Of the largest steel plants in the Unite
States. situated at least 900 miles fror
New York. In this case it was tn
president Of the steel plant who ha
become interested in the reformatio
work. He has an international reputs
SELF
Carried Extra Suit.
The local agent OF the steel plar
found the eX-convict needed clothes an
a suit case. He was fitted out In sue
a way that after leaving a haberdasl
cry. he might we'll have been taken Il
well-to.do clerk He carried an extr
suit and other clothes.
What proportion Of Sing Sings di
charged convicts choose to take advar
tage OF the opportunities offered coul
not be learned. It. was suggested ye
terday that the plan might be extende
very easily to other prisons in a
States. Under such an arrangement.
was pointed out, it would be we'll II
the East to send men West and II
West to send men East.
) Mr.. Ford was Warden Osborne's que
, at Sing Sing on q recent visit to Ne
York. There he came in personal touc
with prisoners who are the mainsta
, of the Sing Sing reform system. +
told them that In hard. honest VOL
could be found the only salvation f
discharged prisoners.