Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-09

back into natural conditions and sur
roundings. and At the same time there
by release the attendants and others
occupied in taking care Of the prisons
ANA their inmates II. outside service
where they are so greatly needed. and
also release the prisons and rc.orma-
or for war purposes. such as hospitals,
etc.
understand. OF course. that there
are great difficulties III the way. but
confronted by d,!;icul,ics before they
arc Installed and before people get used
to them: Therc are Two II ain difficult
ties which have 10 be considered:
Firstly, the danger OF do;crioratiug
the quality OF the army and navy.
do not think this Is as bad as it may
appear. and with proper management
this difficulty could be overcome. :,
large percentage Of the prisoners could
be used behind the lines 10 do some OF
the hard work outside of actual army
and navy service. The plan as outlined
later in this letter CocJ not contem-
plate tho indiscr!minate placing Of all
prisoners in the army and navy or
even in work directly pertaining 10
same, but it is 10 be decided upon care
tul investigation by competent boards
which prisoners Il would be safr TO
into government service. such boards
10 determine what particular part OF
the service they are 1T for and should
be used Tor.
INC second dlUicOlty Is tnat, In put
ting prisoners into mines, factories and
other Industrial work, Il Iy should not
interfere with the regular labor, but
that matters should be SO adjusted that
labor is protected and the whole thing
handled TO the satisfaction of labor
and the labor unions. The services OF
the National Committee on Prisons and
Prison Labor. OF which ] am president
and Samuel Gompers. vice-president.
would be At tho disposal OF the govern
ment, ii desired, to work out this lat
ter problem.
AS said before. high grade boards
should he appointed either BY the Pres
ident or the persons whom he would
des!gna C. such boards perhaps to con-
prison or reformatory, one or more OF
the judges who committed the prison
ers or any other judges OF the higher
courts. and say three other men. or In
some cases partly women to whom
this important function could be en-
trusted because of both their undoubt-
ed standing and ability. Such boards
could decide which Of the prisoners it
would he safe to release for these pur-
poses and in what capacity they should
serve the government. Whether in the
army, navy, aviation service or for
work behind II c lines. or in the mines.
munition factories or other industrial
service, and particularly also in farm
ing work. If such arrangement is car
ried out, the best equipped penal In
situations could be released for gov
eminent hospitals nd similar uses.
AS an instance, L pelleSe MIA
dows Prison would be very suitable for
that purpose. and even IL the cells
themselves cannot be utilized for the
treatment of patients. other parts OF
tho prison could be easily made avail
able, and without great difficulty tenn
porary portable buildings such as are
used at the Columbia Base Hospital,
could be added where some of the pa
ticnts could be placed and the general
facilities of the institution which arc
in good condition you'd be very use.
s,,t t,l. ~ In a
patients. ADOLPfi LEWlSOitN.
New York, June l. 1918.