Milford chronicle., 1921-04-15
DECLARE HONOR
SYSTEM HELPS
OFFICIALS, JUDGES, CLERCYMEN AND
PRISON REFORMERS JOIN in ANNI-
YERSARY CELEBRATION.
FLAG RAISING, BALL GAME
WARDEN PLUMMER WHO TOOK CHARGE
OF The WORKHOUSE A YEAR AGO
ISA POPULAR OFFICIAL.

Inmates at the New Castle Count!
WorkhOuse last Saturday afternoon
observed the first anniversary of tht
Inauguration of the Honor System
with appropriate exercises. The af
fair was attended by prominent State
county and city officials as well as
those interested in prison reform anC
clergymen.
The exercises opened with prayer
by the Rev. Richard W. Trapnell. This
was followed by a hymn sung by the
effective glee club of the institution
Rev. J. w. R. SQmwalt, of Grace M
E. Church, Wilmington, then address
ed the gathering on character build
ing as fostered by the honor sys-
tenn" Bishop Philip Cook of the Pro
testant Episcopal Diocese of Della
ware, 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 halt, stood at attention while the
prison band played "The Star Span
gled Banner"
The next event was a flag raising.
When the huge American flag was
unfurled hundreds of little flags fell
from its folds. Judge George Gray, a
nearby auditor, smilingly reached for
one of the miniature flags and placed it
in his buttonhole.
Following the flag 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-entered 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.. Curley commended the "hOnOr
system" as proved experiment that
had justified the contentious of it's
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 closing
event of the program. Mayor William
G. Taylor threw out the first ball set
ting the teams in action. The Eleventh
Ward team carried off the honOrs by
a score of to 8.
warden Plummer took charge of
the institution year ago and he has
introduced grade school for the un-
educated inmates. Teachers are edu-
eating prisoners who are under the
direction of Professor Cox, of the Will
high school. A dismantled
shop has been turned into a recrea-
tlon hall and chapel with a stage and
scenery. The hall seats $50 people.
The inmates have a band of six
teen pieces, a glee club and a stringed
orchestra. The prisoners give plays
ana are very often entertained by var
lous trOupes of philanthropic actors.
Local minstrel shows and glee clubs
give performances at the Jail, much
to the delight of the prisoners. The in
has two fine baseball teams,
white and colOred, a football team and
other athletic diversions are offered.
Skeptical people ask for proof of
the systems success. Up to March 1
there were 267 men discharged. and
eleven of their number returned. None
Of the Offenses of those returned were
serious. In comparison with previous
years statistics show that 1919 under
The old regime there were 28O men
and 81 returned.
Financially the county has saved
over $4,000 this year by the reduc-
ion Of the unemployed force. The
main saving is not figured in dollars
and cents but in the making of use
-ul citizens and men who are a help
o society rather than a hindranca.