The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1922-11-03
NM ~


Because of the combining o.
the prisons at Rutland with thai
of Windsor, the state of Vermont
is face to face with a prison prob
lem. Every time a criminal is
brought before our courts the
judge is confronted with the
problem of how he is to be taken
care of when sentenced, for
there is no room at the Windsor
prison, even though we have re-
sorted to putting prisoners in
wards. 1t is coming to be a case
of discharging the men with
good records who have served
the minimum term or of putting
other prisoners on parole to
make room, for the recruits.
Just now we have 853 men on
parole and probation, men who
do not serve their sentence while
on good behavior. AS the in
crease of prisoners has been
steady the the past two years,
it looks as if more room will
have to be provided for those
who commit the more serious
crimes. 1t will probably cost a
hundred thousand or more to
give the state adequate prison
accommodations. If it we're not
for our system Of parole and pro-
baton, the expense to the state
would be greatly increased. Ii
there is any way of making use
full citizens out of those who
have trangressed the laws of the
state without committing major
crimes, this chance to start over
again under supervision should
turn the trick.
The Kurn Hattin Homes have
been having their week and
other charities will come in for
their day. Probably all benevo-
lences are needed and help this
wicked world to be a pleasanter
place to live in. But, If there
isn't money enough to go around
the first claim upon our gift-glv-
ing spirit should be those char
tiles which give the children
their chance, whether their need
is better health, better morals or
Just good clean homes and clothes
and schooling. Life is all before
the children and if we make
them better able to travel the
path, we may have set their feet
toward a goal of great useful,
ness. Our next gifts should
make comfortable the aged, who
have done the work of the world
in their strength and now,
through adversely or through
sacrifice, have not the means OF
ordinary comforts for their last
DAYS. Between these two ex-
tremes, there are many worthy
objects for the rest of your spare
money.
Townsend, the trusted assis-
tant of Haywood of l. W. W:
notoriety, has been on the stand
in the l. w. w. trial. He tells
horrible tale of atrocities en-
couraged by the |. W. W. leaders.
He says he was employed on two
railroads during the war and that
his instructions from the |. W. W.
were to blow them up. He serv-
ed in several branches of the SER
vice and there were several hun
dred members of the l. W. w.
employed at a Chicago packing
house as inspectors and that they
passed canned meats, unfit for
eating, with the idea that they
would go to the boys in France.
He also said that the l. W. W.
maintain flying squadrons' who
are really gunner and they ride
on trains to threaten the crews,
beating them up and otherwise
mistreating them. Townsend
testified that he quit the organic
alton because he believed these
things were wrong. 1t would
seem that there wouldn't be
much question in a sane persons
mind about the ethics of the
things. The wonder is that he
didn't see the light sooner.
Ponzi is in the limelight again.
The difference between Ponzi
and his victims is that Ponzi got
something for nothing while his
victims merely wanted some
thing for nothing.