The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-10-10
THE MAN WHO COMES OUT.

I1G MfAlN WIN MINDS 49,
That ninety-fve per cent of the ex-con-
victs for whom he secures honest employ |
ment remain straight, was the statement to
the New York World of Earl E. budding,
who during the two years he has been
operating his Prisoners Relief Society, has
found over 5000 jobs for the men who
come OUT
Mr.. Dudding is anex-convict himself, and
understands conditions better, perhaps,
than the average social worker who goes in
for prisoners aid work. And he is no
doubt great deal more sincere in his atti-
tude towards the unfortunates who must
begin life all over, with tremendous han
dicap, than these good people whose
efforts, however voluble their protesta-
tons, are oftener barren of result than not
budding, when he sscame out, : found the
doors Of the world shut in his face. The lit
tie money he had was soon dissipated in an
attempt to make an honest living at his
old misunderstanding craftsmanship. One
time friends advised him to leave that part
of the country Nobody cared to purchase
goods from an ex-convict.
During his term, budding had identified
himself with the prisoners and studied their
| problems from every angle. Even while
serving his sentence, he had tried to make
| their lot easier. When all other resources
failed, he turned to his Prisoners Relief
idea, not only to make living for himself
and family, but also for love of the poor
fellows who were making the same fight
that he was.
He had S14 to, start with. Hesspent it
all for the expenses of getting an office
halfway fixed up, (the landlord took
chance on the rent). and borrowed fifty
centsto-pay postage on the first twenty-five
letters appealing for contributions. Three
hundred dollars was Forthcoming within a
week, and from that day on, the expenses of
the undertaking have been assured.
budding now has 10000 employers of
4 labor on his list who have consented to
help the work of rehabilitating men, and
giving the out-prisoners employment The
list includes banks, stores, foundries, con-
tracing houses, railroads, automobile
makers, millers, cotton houses, brokerage
firms, construction workers, munitions
: makers, textile manufacturers, ETC., etc.
But it's been hard fight. It has been a
labor of Hercules to convince-the people OF
the humanity Of the undertaking; to give
their fellow men another chance, to offer
the forgiveness they hope some day to at
tain themselves.
The significant thing is that budding
list is growing. A new spirit of humanl
: tarianism is coming over the land. The dit
ference between the treatment of prisoners
and ex-prisoners of today and of the pas
generation is as the contrast between dark
: ness and the ruddy promise of a new dawn
II am finding work for all kinds OF men,
said Mr.. budding, robbers and thieves ane
killers, defaulting bank tellers, confidence
= men, clerks who stole from their employers
We are getting them-the kind of work the,
can do, too"
And ninety-hve per cent of them sta,
straight AS Mr.. budding, an ex-convict
to whom the psychology of prisoners am
4 ex-convicts has been a special study, says
T Most men who come out of prison nee'
e nothing more than honest employment t
: get them on the right path" Some fail Q
a regeneration. If they do, they need an
t other lesson, and another chance
Theworids difficulties are not economi