Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-13
WORKHOUSE WARDEN
DEFENDS HONOR PLAN
Told Kiwanis Club, Today, Sys-
tenn is on Firm Foundation
and Working Well.

Warden NJ. S. Plummer nf the
Workhouse today, in an address at
the luncheon of the kiwanis club. IN
the Hotel du Pont. vigorously de-
Tended the honor system at the work
house. 1t is on firm foundation
and is working WELL he said. He de-
clared, also, that in his opinion, it
could not be broken down.
"The honor system he said.
teaches that there is always hope for
the driftwood of humanity. 1t
teaches that no matter what the sins
of omission and commission have been.
our unfortunate brothers can be
nodded into happy human beings.
II teaches that a man should have
real chance to regain his lost
status when he shows a disposition
TO reform and lead an industrious
life. It teaches the prisoner to real
ize the hopeful sign Of the possibility
of accomplishing something subject to
good behavior both in and out of
prison. 1t teaches him to realize the
human responsiveness of better things
10 come. II gives the prisoner hope,
centive, to adjust himself ip the right
way for future freedom. 1t teachss
hin, to earn the remission of the PEN
atty by good conduct. 1t gives con-
struCtive treatment to the offender
against society. II has for its pnr-
pose the increasing of the percentage
of human salvage and nursing them
back to moral health. II finds vir-
tue in the shadow of crime. Ii as
sists him to redeem himself. IL is a
vehicle of restitution. IL is a focus
ing, crystallizing and organizing cf-
fort towards those who err and who
are deserving and seeking a respect
able calling and for obtaining def
mite and permanent results.
n wish to state that the honor
system means self government. sup
plenrented by aid from the officials .
not relinquishing Of constituted
authority, but an aid towards rnaking
il more effective. II is not radical
ism carried 10 impracticablc lengths.
or an assumed autagonism 70 the
| rights and welfare II the community.
| While progressive in its aims and
| purposes Yet il is prcdominantly con
| servativc in its methods IL does not
| try to suhvert the pillars Of society
/ in an attempt to achieve ill-con-
| sidered and revolutionary objects.
1t is entirely at variance with this
| old prison penology, but teaCh' S
obedience to law and order. through
humane methods II tries to build
Up character and without this great
4 /. -. L. -.
| ing success. The accumulated cX-
perience of ages shows that char
acter is more important to man
| than prosperity We have certain
obligations 70 ourselves that must be
i met, but above and beyond these
duties comes the responsibility which
we owe to others II is quite true
/ that charity begins AT home, but We
must not stop there.
| 80 many people know. both friends
and enemies, have watched and are
still watching for something TO happen
al Greenbank riots, jail deliveries
etc; some have prayed for IL and some
/ have prayed against it. but let me tell
I YOU, gentlemen. nothing il going to
I happen to ruin our honor system from
4 Tho outside or from the insidc-we do
not intend for any man or set of mon
I 10 break us up Our only asset is
good conduct. No enemy great 81
small can bca; our system. W. 40 no;
I intend 10 compromise with justice for
/ the sake Of momentary gain 1t is
only a question az time when our sac
rifiCes viii be recognized by the people
of our State as being for the common
good but for US 10 succeed We must
not lack moral stamina. The sun
will shine again for most Of the boys
incarcerated ia the New Castle county
workhouse. We dare 10 be q Daniel,
dare TO stand alone: dare 10 have a
purpose firm and dare 10 make il
known. We are putting them on their
feet again We are teaching our
boys that someone believes in them.
has confidence in their first timid
Steps towards faithfulness 10 God and
duty 10 society and fidelity to prin-
ciple. They are trusted and chcered
iI every honorable endeavor as they
sc forth again in the world 10 assume
the responsibility Of mans mission.
Just think Of il, gentlemen. given an
other opportunity trusting mar
/ who once fell down