Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-04-07

and his Attorney General has reached
the point. Il IL Understood. where tho
plan IS bound TO go through unless
some obstacle now unforeseen should
arise. II " understood that tho rite
OF Camp Grant. at Rockford. Illinois.
has been chosen against Federal sta
tutes. and first offenders, regardless
OF age.
Old Ideas Discarded.
Years ago 10 was found that solitary
confinement is a bsrbarous thing, Of
ten leading 20 mental deterioration
even 10 insaniry. In prisons nowadays
attention - given 20 exercise and work
with which 20 occupy the minds Of
me prisoners. Baseball and open air
sports have their place IN the rched-
uies OF activities Of moet. Il not all.
| institutions Of this kind.
In the proposed experiment az Camp
Grant, the first offenders and young
criminals viii be taken step fur
ther, and scientific effort naado 20
eradicate criminal tendencies and
mako useful members Of societv OF
there men who have sfrayed from tho
straight and narrow path, or lost their
=
The main point In the systern viii be
TO train these men 20 trades, II they
have none. and perfect In their callings
those who already have q start. II g
| planned 10 provide for instruction and
| practice In a wide number OF voca-
tons. Farming. IL Is expected, win
! como in for n large share Of atten-
| ton. The recognized trades, however,
are expected to engage the attention
of the greatest number Of prisoners.
Recently the land comprising Camp
/ Grant. at Rockford, Illinois. was con
| demned. The Government can secsirs
| possession OF the tract for the pur-
| poses OF the Department Of Justice
under the right II eminent domain.
! Ono Of tho big steps forward in
treatment ~ convicted offenders IN
the past few decades has been 10 get
away from the old idea Of forbiddirg
prison walls, az well az the old idea
of punishment by solitary confine-
rnent. At Camp Grant IL IL not planned
70 have anything Ike the ordinary
prison. This VIII not be entirely an in
inovation. For example. the workhouss
where minor offenders convicted N
Washington police courts are sent 3,
nothing more than a great farm. Ths
prisoners are given tasks IN running
the big institution which keep them
busy and keep them out Of Doors On
" those Who try 20 escape or contin-
Ually stir up trouble among other
prisoners are kept 70 themselves. The
farm is situated In Virginia, several
miles south Of Washington on thI
banks d the Potomac.
3 Trades to be Taught.
= The metal trades, horse shoeiny
| carpentry, brick laying. farming. cab
( met making. and every occupation 70
5 which instruction IL desired will b,
r provided at this proposed outdoor pris
e on at Camp GraT- In addition. I'll
men who desire Y win receive gen
Il eral education 70 fit them TO be usefu
Il members OF society instead Of para
b sites. Every effort VIII be made {
e show these men practically that Grim.
e as a means OF livelihood, does not pay
e in dollars and cents, anything III,
= the dividends that honest work wi
e produce.
J. Congress viii have to approve III
J. plan, particularly as an outlay
le money will be necessary. II will b
shown TO Congress, though that tn
IS appropriation necessary VIII not be q
III great as the funds which viii be r.
se quired II the Government has 70 bui
1e additional Federal prisons. The az
Is ministration does not look for ar
~ strong opposition from Members
n Congress. as the money must be al
ad Ipropriated. or the convicted breaker
T. Of the laws enacted by Congress W
or have TO be pardoned in Wholesale 10
because there Is no place for them
Mt go.