Arizona republican., 1919-12-29
JAIL
 SITUATION HERE. IN HIS SERMON
Phoenix Jails Are a Crime, Declares Rev. G. D. Yoa- kum in Ser1non-Points Out Need of Reform

Phoenix jails are crime and g
 crime breeder. They cannot turn out Americans because they are not Amer jean institutions, but rather Russian.
 This. in effect, was the fact that the Rev. G. D. Yoallum put startling : ly before his hearers at the Congre- Gational church last night in q ser mon which blended denunciation of jail conditions in Phoenix with plea for reform. Mir. Yoallum, with Phoenix Jails and Their Graduates as the sub ject of his address, said, in part, as follows:
 Jack London was one time arrested and thrown into jail. He went in be- lieving in the American spirit of jus tice and fair play. He came out way ing red flag and crying for revo- lution. The jail had educated him by showing him some facts that had hitherto stood beyond his horizon. That jail, somewhere in the state of New York, marred the spirit of q most valuable citizen.
 While good citizens in Phoenix are working, hard to counteract ed-eyed radicalism, they are tolerating two in- stitutions that daily produce radicals. These are our two jails. They cannot turn out good Americans because they are not American institutions. They are Russian-Siberian. They were not built by American ideas, but by indifference to human rights and de- cencies, such as would shame a Czar. No one supposes that they will make men better. yet because resolutions and oratory are easier than action, and while we are spelling the beautiful faith of young citizens in the justice and righteousness of America.
 The penal system of America is at best stupid and unimaginative method of dealing with criminals. At it's worst, as it operates here in Phoe- nix. it becomes itself crime, and crime breeder.
 These remarks are based on the IS sumption that society wishes to re- form the persons charged with crime. If that is false we excite ourselves about jail conditions in vain. For hu- initiating. degrading, and befouling both body and mind of the inmate, these jails are perfect. Let me tell you about them.
 The city jail is a basement room, about 40x40 feet, containing half dozen cells and two bull pens" These pens are perhaps 10 feet square and open to the light on one side. Practically all prisoners are kept in these, because they can so easily break out of the larger room. The pens are usually full and are frequently crowded. One night recently, the prisoners told us, they were so crowded no one could sit or lie down. There are no decent sanitary arrangements, yet there they must all stay for 23 hours and 40 minutes every day. Af- ter your imagination has played over that condition for a time, it will he quite evident that such a hole is not a breeder of high moral ideals.
 An the county jail is nearly as bad It also is dark and foul. Neither jail makes any provision for giving the prisoners an occasional airing. They have no relief through Gods appointed solace of labor. Reading seems to be put of the question. So they lie in their filth and idleness and rot. l We take away every good influence; we darken every window of their minds. and blow out all the lights of self respect. and then command them To improve their morals.
 In this state you have had much | over prison reform. The 1 issue may seem clouded for some by | reason of that but the facts are that prisons can he reformed There is a lar more excellent way.