The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-08-09
GOVERNOR ROBERTSON TO
SYSTEMAT| |CALLY TRY To
REFORM THE YOUTH WHO
TAKES DOWNWARD PA 7 \

Oklanomd governor, DeIleNlnS tndt
youthful wrong doers should not be
classed as hardened criminals, nor
confined in the penitentiary with
the ones who are past redemption,
has turned the reformatory at Gran.
ite into real house of correction.
There they will be educated and
taught some useful trade and an
effort made to convert them from
possible lifelong, habitual criminals
into good and useful citizens.
The governor has addressed to the
citizens of Oklahoma, the following
open letter:
To the People Of Oklahoma:
BY late order the prison at
Granite has been transformed into
a reformatory and none but young
prisoners, who are under % years of
age and who are serving their first
term and who have not been SEN
fenced for more than ten years, will
be confined there.
Heretofore, this institution has re.
ceived all classes of criminals and
the young prisoners have been
thrown in contact with the harden.
ed and habitual criminals of the
state. From now on we shall en-
deavor TO make this a real reform
atory and will devote the greater
part of the convicts' time to agri
cultural pursuits. Among other things
we hope to establish a pure seed
farm and to specialize in the rails
ing of all kinds OF poultry, hogs,
sheep, cattle, horses and mules. We
also hope to establish q nursery and
by engaging in such pursuits, We
shall not only be aiding the con.
victs to learn an occupation that
will be useful and profitable TO them
but will enable them to serve the
farmers of the state in many ways
Above all, we hope TO reform and
bring back to good citizenship a
largeper centage OF the young men
who are confined therein.
In order 10 do this a complete
revolution of the institution was
necessary, and among the changes
we are seeking to introduce is one
that will appeal to the higher natures
of the convicts, to.wit: proper edu.
cat.onal facilities, the right kind
of amusements, study and interesting
employment
To this end. we propose to estab.
lish a school, which is already well
under way; moving picture ma
chine with shows a, least twice
every week and what to my mind
is very essential, a good library,
Unfortunately no provision has been
made by the state for the purchase
of books and papers for the library
and | am asking all good citizens
of the state for book shower during
the next so days. ask all good
people who may read or hear Of this
to patrotically cooperate with the
management of the Oklahoma state
reformatory in the matter of Sc
curing donations of books and maga-
zines for that institution, There are
thousands Of volumes of good books
in this state that are OF no further
use to their owners and which could
be sent toe these boys and be the
means of reclaiming them to useful
citizenship.
most earnestly urge upon the
people of the state the Importance
of this movement and ask the
chambers of commerce. Rotary, HI.
wants, Lions and other civic bodies,
together with all women's clubs. and
lodges of every kind to assist us IN
securing a library Of two or three
thousand volumes, assuring them that
the books will be cared fer and
properly used by those unfortunate
members of society who are tenn
porarily confined in the reformatory
at Granite.
The state has been very fortunate
in securing the services Of DR..
George A. Waters, highly sue
cessful farmer and a physician Of
more than 80 years experience, to
take the wardenship Of this insti-
tuition. He has entered enthusias.
tically into the ambitious program
of the state to reclaim these boys
Continued on Page Five)