The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-01-06
HELP EX-CONVICTS
RETAIN POSITIONS
ORGANIZER OF PRISONERS RE,
LIEF SOCIETY SPEAKS IN
HUNTINGTON.
Advocates Law to Make il a Felony to
Discharge Man From Position
Because Of Penal
SerVitude.
Special Dispatch to the Intelligence.

Special Dispatch to the -InteIMgencer.
HUNTINGTON. w. Va. jar. s.
Advocating a federal law which would
make II a felony TO discharge a man
from a position because had been in
prison, +. +. buildings. general mon
e OF the Prisoners Relief Society.
tonight. delivered an address in the
FIRST Methodist Episcopal church OF
this city.
Mr.. budding spoke in part as fol.
lows:
"A mans life is at a low ebb when
ne leaves the ~penitentiary. He Is in
ia bad condition of mind. He feels
mat the world is against him-the
long strain of confinement has de-
stroyed many of his brain cells. there.
Iore, ne needs TO be nursed. treated
kindly and given every possible en-.
enlargement. His condition is very
similar to that of the old shop-worn
drunkenness who. in his weakness.
mas united with a church organization
ana has started out TO live a better
NE. II takes lots of -ncourageme
Tor either of these men mentioned TO
Keep them from falling by the way
side.
Il speak of this matter with authori-
", because ! have been down the line
Tor among these matters. when n
man comes TO feel that his burdens
are greater than he can bear. or TO
feel that the world is making fun OF
MS efforts. thought is so quickly Fo.-
lowed by action in such cases that
society is likely to suffer by the ac-
tons of this man-be the mar an ex-
convict or an eX-drunkard. who has
been ~side-tracked by impressions on
the part of those who are strong. men
tally. physically. financially. socially
and pretend TO be spiritually.
When the man begins to think that
the load Is too heavy. depend upon u
ne VIII soon make an attempt to get
from under II by drink. suicide. mu--
der. or any other desperate thing hat
happens to put its appearance before
his clouded mind.
II heard an o~x-convict. when asked
why De committed the second crime.
which sent him back TO prison say
m prison. Nobody gave me Il pleasant
lnph or words soon az they learned
had been in prison. / lost my lob
hIst began 20 drink. IL acted as "a kind
OF opiate. u seemed. 20 that feverish
un!hd "I mine and ] plunged deeper
INTO drink. and finally / was prompted
Co robbery To get money To- hun drink-
and the man ] attempted TO rob resisted
ana kill'd him and here { am back IN
prison Tor lfc.'
The evils which effect our cx-con-
NiciS today. can hs reduced TO th, mini
mum by the followers Of the IowIy.
NaAerenc. Justice and mercy must b.
M foundation OF all human cudeavor.
it % ~ Co De- approved by God. Therefore.
government ts ordained Co God. then
lh, administration OF governments af-
ihirS h'cpmt~ e. Holy duty. because the
man in prison. or out of prison. after ho
has found himself iu conflict with 500
ci'tN and government Del 90 governmental
charge.
There should tc q law. r. National
law. enacted. which would make Do "a
Itl"nl {" discharge e. nan from % posi-
tluu. because Doc has been Iu prison. and
, want Co. ~1F here. that ihe hour never
Nnmrr tu any uf u- when We can bc sure
that We VIII never ue ir trouble. such
as ] have dsrerIhsd-fhea. struggles
may come to vnu before tho rising ~
snnthrf sun. Therefore Def MS learn o.
De- kind ana generous Iu tnOa, who have
fallen iu Mes battle life b. 70 cone
HtaUtiN renewed battle for as 40 SfruE-
giles Tor r man BOO normal condition b.
not Iu easy task