The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-06-16
BLAME SOCIETY FOR GRIMES OF
 EX-CONvICTS
Man Given Fair Chance When He Comes from Be hind Bars Is Glad To Go Straight, Woman Expert Says.

New York, June 16--CircuTnstance oftener than viciousness, is the cause of crime. And good fortune is just as freuuentIy attributable in this strange combination Sf events.
 Men have stumbled over rich bits of ore, the well, dug for water, may spout wealth-bringing oil; the auto that hits a man and injureS him may perhaps bring benefactor who will change his whole life.
 Through an odd series of happen ings the Prisoners Relief Society of Washington, D. C., was brought into being by E. E. Budding, who had once been a prisoner himself. Re gently I heard his history and that of the organization from it's secre- tary, Mrs.S- H. Mcintyre, now in New York city. Mrs. McIntire, who is well informed on the various aspects of criminolOgy, discussed some of them with me.
 Mine out of ten crimes are caused by circumstances, declares Mrs. Nc Intire.
 "Sometimes these circumstances occur early in the victims life, the result of poor home surroundings. its really circumstance. Under the stress of excitement men and wom- en commit crine-for the first time. Maybe a prison sentence follows.
 Release is Mans Turning Point.
 Then after release or parole comes the delicate question of handling the eX-convict. That will be the whole turning point of his career.
 we claim that society is at fault for the second offender.
 'The general public must be edu- cated to accept the view that the eX-cOnvict can be made its worthy summed and feared. That attitude is greatly to blame for the second offenders. Heretofore it has been Once a criminal, always a criminal All wrong. All that is needed is a helping hand.
 Give ex-convicts a second chance and 90 per cent of them will make good
 The Prisoners Relief Society was started by a man who was given a second chance by his employers But he felt after awhile that his presence perhaps was embarrassing to them, so he resigned of his own free will
 This is F. E. Budding. head of our organization To defend himself in a quarrel he killed his uncle. He had to go to prison for a short time and. though brief, the term made him an ex-convict in the eyes of the world.
 'He devoted himself to the ex-con- E1ct. and now he is very successful in helping other men to come back
 'The eN-convict is not afraid to ten his troubles to MT. Budding because he knows he is understood when he Iearns that his protector was once be- hind ba&S himself
 'eThe paroled prisoner is better off than the released man, because to se- cure parole man must have a job awaitins him when freed
 First Ericrd'' Looks After Man
 we get the released man a first friend in whatever city he wishes to go to. That means the friend will get him job. and only the employer Is to know the secret of the prison term
 This means a lot to the convict released with only a cheap suit O, clothes on his back and s5 in his
 such man must be rescued or he will return to jail as a second of lender hardened criminal
 our society, which aims to do just this work of rescue, was founded about seven years ago. Now many important men and women are back or 1t- They cooperate in getting jobs to crir.re- We have helDetI ovar 5s : Voo men and women both since our beginning
 Men eligible for parole. or abou, to be released, can write to rs a1r We send them blanks to fin oT1+- IT-r also send blank to the warden oI the prEson- If the convict is a far mer, plumber. doctor, lawyer-nc matter what-we get him work in I1is own line ---@
 Picture the plight of man ou, Of prison after a terml He feels rte world is against him and he jS oa, far from right in his judgment ae finds it hard to deal with peonte
 Mr- Duddins Given Many Rebuffs-
 That was the Identical exDeriencr Of our head Sir Dudding ThouvT his firm, in Chicago, was very v-iITiY,, to take him back. other were not SC kind He was made to feel his dis grace by customers and associates ST he has constructed his life to heIDins other men
 Tn Washington alone we hay, placed 500 ex-convicts- One man formerly q safe-cra cker, is now tht trusted and respected cashier of a biz corporation. He has gone straight | and so can anyone who wants to anf who gets a little help.
 ' The helping hand is the one thins that will prevent the first offender from going back to prison That vii protect not only the ex-convict bu the public that scorns him too
 The Prisoners Relief Society look. arter the family of inc fuoDrSSo1aI