Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-23
WARDEN PLUMBERS CONTRI.
BUTTON TO HUMANITY.

sun OF a glorious October day was
streaming through the windows OF the
recreation room, which also serves
as the chapel OF the $50 odd inmates
OF the New Castle County Workhouse,
on a scene which perhaps has not its
equal in the world. DR.. Aquilla Webb
was conducting the Sunday services
before the most attentive and absorbed
congregation I had ever seen. His
wonderfully impressive sermon on
"The Calvary Cure--the Gospel Of the
Second Chance" had held in the spell
of his eloquence and earnestness not
only the inmates but also the large
number OF visitors from Wilmington
and other parts of the state from AL
walks of life who had come to see and
hear: bankers merchants men
prominent in the business and politi-
cal life Of the state. many with their
wives. The drop OF a pin could be
heard at the closing-a prayer; when
softly the Glee Club OF twenty voices
which Mrs. Haughey has so splendid
ly developed began To chant God be
with you till we meet again" opened
my eyes in wonder: what Is 1t this
lives OF these earnest. clean looking
men? Fear? No. 1t impresses one more
that IT is the love of man for man as
preached by the gospel of Jesus
Christ-HOPE- a hope for regenera-
ton and a future OF clean living
among people once more. l watched
the men file out and into the yard
Plummer's field. the boys call it
their eyes were bright, they showed
health in every movement-so i fol-
lowed. Some were walking, some were
chatting in groups, others were put
tins a basket ball in play, and some
were taking exercise at base ball and
uuoits. Some of the visitors came out
and mingled with them; some had
friends they were seeking. The
thought came to me to get the eX-
PLANTATION OF it all from some OF the
men themselves. My first question
was: What do you boys really think
of your warden" and the answer
promptly came: "f you have any
doubts don't go out there and say one
word against him-the folks at home
would miss you." 1 CLEANED the fol-
lowing from this inmate-it is his own
story, better than could have pre-
pared 1t.
Said he: Perhaps I can best Illus
trate what 1 mean by using as an ex-
ample the season of baseball Just
closed. wherein Plummer's All stars
have held one of their most success
full seasons. playing schedule OF as
games, winning 33 and losing 10. This
required the development of first
class team, as they met all comers;
beginning with only three men with
any experience this gradually was ac-
complished and the result seems q
very decided answer to some points
raised by the critics Of tho system and
methods employed by Warden Plum
mer IN his treatment OF the many prob
lens he has had to meet and answer
since his inauguration Of the Honor
System on May /, 1920.
There seems to be in some quarters
the belief that there is a loss or the
sense OF punishment suffered by the
men and women committed here. This
IS not so--the life Of the institution
spells Jail and punishment through
loss of liberty for each and every one
and never for one moment is this fact
allowed to be lost sight of by the
prisoners. The discipline is more
rigid than under the old system. bu'
with the cruel features eliminated. The
rules and regulations are strictly en-
forced. but through il all is the ef'
fort, the successful effort, OF TIT
Warden to build up the inmates
physically first, mentally next, 10
point whereby they may be made II
realize that through their own ef'
forts they may return to the outside
world to again take their place II
life's battle and be worthy citizens
The Warden believes in the fresh All
cure. and that cleanliness is next Il
godliness. The men work, work hard
in the shops eight and one-half hours
each day excepting Saturdays, wheI
four and one-half hours con
stitute the days work; then from 5.1'
10 9 o'clock in the evening the mel
are allowed the privileges Of the yard
the games played here consisting o
baseball, football, basketball, boxing
quot pitching and parallel bars To-
exercise. Cards and all games o
chance are entirely forbidden. 1t mus
always be borne in mind that onl,
the good and worthy prisoners are al
lowed these privileges, and, therefore
they are only enjoyed by those wht
win them. The health Of the men Il
remarkable under this treatment-fev
ever being confined except foc mino
Sis and the hospital seldom occupied
unless by an accident case.
"The healthy and smiling faces o
the men as they go 10 their rest from
the games, and the absence Of tn
ecowling, bounded look that was a pc
culiar mark Of the old system, woul,
convince the most skeptical that thes
men felt there was yet future 70
them despite the fact that the black
ness OF despair had faced them (an'
none escape this) as the realization o
what their wrong doing had brough
them begins with the closing OF tn
doors, shutting them off from the out
side world.
THE dubting, the skeptical, the Wis
iting players from other teams com
first from curiosity; they come agai
because through the department {
the inmates their serious efforts 70
a,etternent are impressed on them
they come back. all of them. becaus
they realize the opportunity for help
ing and to give the Warden a sustain
ing hand in the great work he is ac
complishing. They realize. too. tha
the play, that is so misunderstood b
those who will not inform themselve
properly, Is the medicine by which tn
Warden begins to impress on hi
'boys" that a healthy body means
healthy mind. and a healthy min