Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-11-04
Reserve Decision
Until Facts Known
Word Thomas Osborne

I'm regard to the affairs in Maine
I would advise you to reserve your
decisions until you know all the
facts" said Thomas Mott Osborne,
famous prison reformer, in a speech
at the Waterville Opera House last
evening. BE very careful Of believ-
ing anything, even aff1davits, because
as rule prisoners can't be believed
because they want to put something
over on the authorities" he further
continued. Some prisoners can be
trusted, others cannot. It all depends
on circumstances. The wisest thing
to do Is wait until you are sure of
your facts before you come to a
judgment" Mr.. Osborne did not care
last evening to state his position on
the affairs in Maine because he said
that he did not know enough about
the facts here at the present time.
The last time that he was in the
Thomaston prison was a year ago
when he visited it for about two
hours. At that time he found things
which he liked very much and others
which he did not like and stated his
opinions at that time.
MY opinion would be of no value
If gave it because it is a year old.
But I want to say that 1t is hard for
an outsider to get close ito the prob
lem because it is very different from
the outside than it is from the in
SIDE" he stated. But" he continued
ANY system that can teach man
his duty toward society is a good
system"
Thomas Mott Osborne is the fore
most prison reformer in the country
at the present time and has had a
great deal of experience both from
the outside and the inside. He has
voluntarily served five terms in or
der to get closer to the problems
which confront the prisoners. AS
warden at Auburn prison in New
York state and later as warden in
Sing Sing he has had many and viri-
ed experiences and knows prison
conditions as perhaps no other man
in the country. During the time that
he was warden at the Portsmouth
naval prison he gained much valu-
able knowledge concering the con-
duct of the men and of the situations
which they must face.
Less theorizing and more business
in operation in our prison system is
what the country needs he said. The
men in the prisons are not to be
treated as mental detectives because
the tests conducted show that the av-
SIdSS IIlcHtdllty OL lAC lllCh III Pi AoCAA
is higher than the average mentality
of those outside the prisons was an
other statement which he made in the
course of his lecture.
The organization of the Mutual
Welfare League which was made for
the benefit of the prisoners at Au-
burn prison and later grew to other
prisons was discussed and the value
of such system in order to form
connecting body between the prison.
ers and the prison authorities was
stressed
In regard to capital punishment he
! firmly stated his dispelief in the
| practice. You cannot scare people
into virtue" he said and continued,
vengeance is Mine, saith the Lord,
I shall repay
One thing that needs reform is the
practice of permitting shyster law.
yers to continue in practice, he stat
ed, and said that the American bar
! must cleanse itself or else there will
be some very radical changes.
Mr.. Osborne left for Augusta i'm
mediately after the lecture where he
had an appointment with Governor
Brewster. At the governors request
he is going to discuss the situation in
Maine at the present time and If they
can see what is wrong and find out
how the evils If there are any, can be
remedied.