The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1920-03-26

Y
from crime; but in reality is an i'll
centive. For be it known that thc
instinct of self preservation is the do
minant go eristic of all mankind,
and the Sen and children are
hound 1t This determination to
live, quite ~ leads to soealled
crime. 90
What is the 8! ess woman going
to dc? What W, fathcrless child
rem doR The ans %3 these questions
is unquestionably: 8 ust live, if not
by honorable means, then by what
ever means comes to hand.
Too often this leads TO the "eas.
lest way" in tho case of women
and girls, and to petty stealing in
the case of boys.
No matter what course is taken, the !
result is the same "CRIME". 1t is no
easy matter for q man incarcerated in |
q penal institution to contemplate the
results of his absence from home and |
lit tends to embittcr him; he then
wants society to make amends for thu
terrible injustice done to his family.
For prison officials to quote the
figures cf the number of men who
have reformed, is as misleading az all
the rest of their propaganda of job
keeping. Thousands are sent up who
are not criminals and never would be.
These are the reformed.
Now with three such beauties as
these at the head of an Institution
how in the name of commonsense can
any decent citizen except men to re-
form?
In the first place the rules of the
vintage Of 1911 signed by Mr.. Mere
; nolds, are not enforced except whel
n the officials wish to "ride" some one
who has incurred their displeasure.
To be sure the rules could not be
= tolerated in any. penal institution these
!. days, as they are of an age when
mental as well as physical torture was
in vogue. But to be used on certain
r men at exceptional times is brutal
n ia the extreme.
u Then there is the politicians mess
l where favored ones have extra food
u served, at the expense of the rest of
the inmates.
p Some guards seem to be under the
S impression that it is incumbent on
t. them to resort to reporting men to
s. have them punished. One case of u
# man being reported and punished for
IS having a murderous look in his eye.
k Assault and murder have been commit
IL ted within the walls and no notice was
i taken until guard Ackerman beat a
n man on the head so badly that it was
Ie necessary to give him medical atten-
- tion at the hospital.
- All persons who know anything at
all about psychology know that the
e creative instinct is very strong in the
e. normal man and to attempt to stiflC
Is that instinct is the very worst thing
nj that can be done to him. So if reform
$, from wrong doing is the aim Of penal
le institutions, then the encouraging OF
le the better side of this creative instinct
t., would lie the logical thing to do.
How then would you, my reader
10 consider the action of deputy warder
p Giradeau, when he issued an order tt
the effect that any rings, trinkets oil
boxes must not be made under penalty
r. Of punishment. There are three time
n os many men as there is work so tha
Vs time could be given every man 7,
'ls make anything that would exercise hi
creative instinct
ce
- One Of the worst features of thi
place is that of the warden and doc
= tor, sitting on the parole hcord. Thei
written report of tho coaduct an,
physical condition Of those applyiu,
for parole is all that is required o.
y them. Numerous cases of men bein,
denied parole because of the hostility
of either the warden or doctor cal
: he cited. The most glaring that eam
TO my notice and will he more full,
IN dealt with later was that Of Davi,
ut
Shaw
Ii. Men are robbed of their Christina
gifts and can get no relief although
re. the rules state that hooks and paper
ey can be sent direct from the publishers
cir these are often denied. Books lik
an "Mind Power" and selections fror
,or Shakespeare have heeu denied admi,
res tauce. Later on shall deal with thos
ION matters in greater detail, These state
for ments may be denied by the warde
mt and his sycophants but denying thm
,st. does not blot them out and ca
take oath as to their verasity.