The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-08-08
NATIONAL BODY THAT
HELPS EX-CONVICTS
The Humanitarians, Organized Move
ment, Subject of Article in July
Issue of Prison Monitor.

1
edited and printed by the inmates OF
the Vermont state prison at Windsor
publishes an article concerning the HUI
manitarians, national association
! that helps eX-couvicts. The article i:
as follows:
| Whatever faults may be found with
old time PrlsoniSm, the one that stands
as the most glaringly obvious through.
out all the ages is the steadfast indifier.
ence, and sometimes iron contempt of
the public toward the ex-convict-the
man leaving prison having paid his le-
gai debt, but who must answer TO So
elety for countless years afterward for
the crime of being an ex-conviet.
Ihat-and that particularly seems TO
have been the most damning feature
Of crime. The crime itself. did no4
matter so much, nor the trial. nor tho
gmlt; 1t was because a man had served
time in prison. 70 be an ex-coavict
was really worse than being convict
1t barred the way to reformation
friendship and employment. All The
avenues to commercial and social reha-
hlhtatlon were closed. A few pponIa
may have felt that ii was probably all
flght Tor man to get out of iall some
tllne, but he ought TO 20 and shake him
sell he must not monkey with GOD :.
anolnted-his was an umsanctifed cy-
istcnce, indeed!
But, happily, time has worked mar
NelouS changes, and where once the cx-
convict had to face his ignoblc past
hoth coming and going he now receives
warm encouragement in many quarters
IN thos' quarters where inteiiigeueo
and Christianity have found place-a
real, sure-enough glad-hand. and best
Of all Il chance to make good,
The very latest and positively tb,
most hrmny and thoroughly organized
movement yet to be launched for the
rebuilding of temporarily demolished
humanity Is the Humanitarians. a ma
'lonal association which has for main
object Il real, genuine system for help
ing the man leaving prison to secure
employment with reliable firms at n
man wage. The organization is
fathcred by a Kansas prison official.
and is incorporated under the laws Of
Kansas
The association has two hundred ana
twenty-eight manufacturers. railroads
wholesale and retail business bousas
printing offices, lumber comoames and
other branches of business located in
twenty-four states of the Unioa. willing
To employ men returning TO the worlJ
after having completed their sentences
Inc following is quotation from The
square drar, weekly paper published
by the inmates of the Kansas state
prison at Lansing, which furnishes fulI.
details as to the organization : person.
mel ana working principles:
ne members Of the national council
VIII include such men as Governor
Dnnne of Illinois. Ex-Governor Foss of
Massachusetts, Governor Hunt Of h,i.
zona. Henry Ford. President Riplev nfI
the Santa Fe railroad system. Mr.. Cbal.
mers of the Chalmers Motor rorpanv
MT. WHY'S of the Overland Motor com
Pany, Mr.. James COuzens. the Detroit
and many other men
OF aHalrs, equally strong and prominent
All these gentlemen are deeply interest
ed III the men returning to the world
from prison. They are not alone theirI
employers. but their friends also.
+ nends to whom the man on parole or
! ne discharged prisoner may 20 to when
ne feels himself slipping. He will get
adVlc' and encouragement. And what
Is also of great value is the matter of
wages. These men will pay lou full
man wages. The fact that Won comeI
from prison makes no difference. IF youl
can deliver the goods YOU VIII get the
wages '"'
. Prisoners in all the prisons in tba
United States who became me.pLcrs o,o
entitled to the services of the associa.
tlon employment department. Thew
are also entitled to every possible helpl
ana adVlce ana guidance. Aud those
who become members will also receive
the association s official publication
which will contain much intarostiool
reading OF value to the man behind the
walls who is anxious to return to the
world and become man. All this will
cost the prisoner one dollar a year"
The article goes on to say that the
association trusts that il will be able toI
secure enough members from the prison.
erS in the many prisons of the various
statFS to assure the success of the Im.I
1t may be possible to obtain further
information before this issue gets
through the press and if it is of an in
tcresting nature to Ncrmonters we will
giv2 1t space further along in this maoa-
zine, or the August issue.
However, there is one thing sure and
ccrtain. and that is. thev do not solicit
or encourage the hypocrite, parasite and
mushy pretender to enter the Humani-
tarlans. They desire only those who
have determined to turn from the path
OF wrong and crime to take up the
cleaner, prosperous life of progress and
usefulness.