Evening journal., 1921-04-11
DECLARE HONOR
SYSTEM HELPS
Officials, Judges, Clergy
men, Prison Reformers
Join in Celebration
FLAG RAISING,
ALSO BALL GAME

Inmates at the New Castle County
Workhouse on Saturday afternoon.
observed the first anniversary OF the
Inauguration OF the Honor System"
with appropriate exercises. The af-
fair was attended by prominent
state. county and city officials as well
as thost interested in prison reform
and clergymen.
The exercises opened at 2 o'clock
with prayer by the Rev Richard W..
Trapnell. OF st. Andrews p. e. Church.
This was followed by a hymn sung
by the effective glee club OF the in
stitution. Rev J. w r. Sumwalt, OF
Grace NJ. Il. Church then addressed
the gathering on character build
ing as fostered by the honor sys-
tenn" Bishop Philip Cook Of the
Protestant Episcopal Diocese OF
Delaware, delivered the closing
prayer
The next part Of the program con-
sisted OF outdoor exercises. With
shoulders erect and eyes cleaning,
the several hundred inmates marched
out on the athletic field and coming
to a halt, stood at attention while the
prison band played THE star Span
gled Banner"
The next event was a flag raising.
When tho huge American flag was
unfurled hundreds Of little flags fell
from its folds. Judge George Gray,
nearby auditor, smilingly reached
for one OF the miniature flags and
placed 1t in his buttonhole.
Following the Dag raising, Warden
Plummer introduced former United
states District Attorney Charles f.
Curley, who in an eloquent address
sketched for his hearers the oppor-
tunity that awaited them when they
re-entercd the outside world If they
took the fullest advantage of the op-
portunities given them to strengthen
their character and establish them
selves on a secure foundation.
Mr.. Curiey commended the honor
system" as a proved experiment that
had justified the contentious of its
friends and found a secure place in
the plan of reclamation Of men and
women once looked upon as outcasts.
A hard fought baseball game be-
tween the Greenbank nine and the
Eleventh Ward team was the clos
ing event OF the program. Mayor
william G. Taylor threw out the
first ball setting the teams in action.
Warden Plummer across the field,
caught the ball. The Eleventh
Ward team carried off the honors
by a score Of 4 to 8.
Warden Plummer took charge OF
the institution a year ago next FRI
day
Mr.. Plummer has introduced a
grade school for the uneducated
inmates. Teachers are educating
prisoners who are under. the
/ direction OF Professor Cox. OF
the Wilmington High school. 4
dismantled shop has been turned int,
a recreation hall and chapel with 4
stage and scenery. The hall seat
$40 people.
The inmates have a band OF six
1teen pieces, a glee club and stringet
4 orchestra. The prisoners give plays
and are very often entertained by
various troupes of philantropic ac.
tors. Local minstrel shows and gleS
clubs give performances at the jail
much TO the delight Of the prisoners
The institution has two fine baseball
teams. white and colored. a football
team and other athletic diversions
are offered.
sceptical people ask for proof OF
the systems success. Up TO Marcf
/ there were 267 men discharged
and eleven OF their number returned
None OF the offenses Of those re
turned were serious. In compari
son with previous years statistic
show that 1919 under the old regime
there were 2sO men discharged an'
81 returned.
Financially the county has save'
over $4,000 this year by the reduc
ton OF the unemployed force. Tn
main saving is not figured in dollar
, and cents but in the making OF use
full citizens and men who are a he'll
to society rather than hindrance.
Those present We're: Judge Georg
Gray, Judge J. Frank Ball. Mayo
William c. Taylor. B. ogden Oh.
solm, well-known prison reforI
advocate Of New York City; Char
celior c. NJ. Curtis, Judges Ric'
Heisel. Hastings state Auditor Dar
iel Thompson. Bishop Cook. Dr.
w. r. Sumwalt, DR.. Carlisle l.. HUI
bard, DR. Henry Y Arnett, the Re
James NJ. Grant. The Rev. John
Lynch, Peter J. Ford, Lewis w. BrC
sius, The Rev. W. Z. Vrooman, Phil
Burnet. H. II. Ward, Attorney-G
eral Sylvester ID. Townsend, Gale
Stabler. Senators Lutz, Walkel
Robertson. Richards and Bennett an
Representatives Kramer, w Is o n
| White. Virden and Butler, also mem
| hore % tho Levy Court and Cit