The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-12-29
Iowa Penal institutlon's Directors De-
pIore Tragedies That Come
as Result Of
This.
BREEDER OF CRIMINALS
Separation Is Too Easy, the Board
Holds and Asks That Steps be
Taken to Stop Pro.
ceedines.

divorce, ana Whatever else may Ssnu
father and mother through separate
paths in life. Is condemned roundly
by members Of the state board OF
parole recently in session at Anamosa
ireformatory.
Thirty-five percent Of the young
men and boys locked within the
silent walls of this institution come
from families which no longer have
head or domicile.
One young inmate, seeking q
parole, does not know that both his
father and mother are in state in
situations. They, too. will spend
their Christmas, even as he, ward
of the state.
| Another believes that faithless
father was rightly divorced by his
mother. The reverse IS true. A
:, mother untitled and unfaithful was
allowed to obtain the decree. by a
father who gave a woman a chance
Ito protect her name and character.
Homes Torn Asunder.
Homes torn asunder, according to
members of the board Of parole,
means boys for the reformatory.
Boys who without home Influences
receive little schooling. Boys who
Iouit school, as statistics show at
Anamosa in the sixth grade. Quit
school without education enough to
lat them for life's battles.
Such find their way into Anamosa
Records without number give the
startling telling information of
broken homes. Page arter page Of
them, one may find in Anamosa.
1.-THE longer / continue as = mem
Der of the board of parole. the more
IL condemn divorce" declared DR..
John 0. Woodmansee, Of Leon.
l"Young men, who have been de-
lprived of home Influences since they
were in their early teens, BORN the
great majority of cases that come
before this board.
Il pity them from the bottom Of
my heart. Maybe they did their
level best, but what do young minds
land weak hearts know about the
serious side OF life? They tried.
perhaps many of them, to do right.
Alone, the fight was hard. No
parental advice came their way.
Father was one place. mother an
other and the boy left 70 grow Like
la weed.
Divorce Too Easy.
Il believe divorce is too easily OBJ
tanned in every state in the union.
Let us look at this topic in serious
light No matter il married life may
ibe inconvenient to some, let the state
impress upon them that their con-
Ivenience is not to be considered as
important as the future Of boy.
Force the type who seek divorce to
properly support and educate their
children. II we would do that, we
would reduce reformatory popula-
tion.'
Former Judge Winfield 8. With
row, chairman OF the board. and one
time member of the state supreme
court, declares parents are not taught
their full responsibility to their chill
dren.
Issue of marriage have much due
them" said Mr.. Withrow. Boys
should not be made to bear. the brunt
I of separation DEGREES. Neither should
girls Men and women who ask a
divorce, to suit their own ends,
should be impressed with the duty
(which confronts them as parents Of
children. Children brought into this
world have a right to an education.
They have right to that which will
establish them firmly as producers
and citizens of the future. They de-
serve to be more than mere wreck
lage OF a domestic craft.
! All Wrong.
About 35 percent Of the young
men and boys here, come from fami-
lies now broken. Father and mother
each going their respective way in
life. 1t is wrong. Pulpit, press and
judiciary must take cognizance of
the fact, and begin a campaign of
education. If necessary the state
must compel all divorced parents to
care for their children until an age
! of safety is reached"
| George T. Reddick, member of the
board, also declares parents must be
taught that they owe much to society
and their children. He does not favor
adjustment of divorce laws, but does
favor the closest investigation by the