Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-02
Hon. Charles S. Hichborn Re-
counts Results of Reform
Program, Before South Par
ish Club-Officers Reelected,
And Program For Year
Adopted At Supper Session


Declaring that for 100 years the
State of Maine had done nothing for
her prisoners but to confine them in
barbaric old bastille which was a
disgrace to the manhood and the
womanhood OF the State" and then
to send them out broken In spirit
and heart, with no money, but act
ually better educated to be criminals
than they were when they were ad-
mltted TO the institution, Hon.
Charles s. Hichborn of this city,
member of the Board of Maine Pris-
on Commissioners, on Tuesday night
told the members of the South Par
ish club of the results of the system
OF prison REFORM" which has been
in operation at the Maine State pris-
on Tor the past IA months.
No Hichborn Plan
He prefaced his remarks by the
statement that the words prison re-
form were much abused because
the very people who were attempting
prison reform were at variance as
to the working out of the plan. There
has recently been much talk of the
Osborne plan and the Hichborn plan,
he said, but added that the people
OF the State are not particularly in
terested in the plans themselves and
that there is really no Hichborn
PLAN that he cannot take the credit
for the plan now in operation at
Thomaston.
What the people are interested in,
the speaker declared to be the results
that are being obtained, and he
briefly sketched what these results
have been. Believing that man is
social being the stringent rule
against talking, which of course was
violated frequently, was done away
with and the men were allowed TO
converse. Recreational facilities
have been provided and the men have
been obliged TO take part in these
recreations, instead of being allowed
to stay in their cells if they wished
This has wiped out immortality
which during the time that the pris-
on was congested because of the fire
was very serious problem.
The men have been given better
arrangements for attending chapel
and they have been given an oppor-
tunity to take an interest in the af-
fairs of the prison through the cleo
errors, to assist in the preservation
of order, the enforcement of The
rules, and the teaching to the new
corners of their duties and response
bilities at the institution. The gov
ernors also direct the recreational
activities, subject to the approval of
the warden. In case of violation of
the rules, the offender is given a trial
and penalty is ordered only by the
warden.
Tells Interesting Episode
In concluding he declared that
there has been q marvellous change
in the attitude of the men at the
prison since the new rules went into
effect. He told of a happening at
the prison in the first days of the
recent unpleasantness. Going to
the institution early in the morning
he found the men locked in their
cells as the greater number of the
guards had been dismissed. He pre-
vailed upon the warden to allow
them their usual recreation in the
yard and then cautioned them to
remember that the eyes of the State
were upon them and not to do any
thing which would hurt the cause of
better prison conditions. He placed
them on their honor, in spite of
the fact that there were go prison
ers there and no guards. At that one
of the young men had declared,
You are wrong Mr.. Hichborn, there
are go guards here" And the
speaker declared that not man
"batted an eye-lash for two days that
they had their recreation out there
with no guards around"
Officers Reelected
The session last evening was the
annual meeting of the organization
and the nominating committee re-
ported all of the officers for reelec-
ton. This report was accepted and
Ralph G. Weber was reelected
president with Arthur +. Tiffin as
vice president, Everett V. Perkins as
secretary and Lewis A. Burleigh, Jr.,
a streasurer. Milton O. Eimoall was
elected to serve with the officers on
the entertainment committee.
Rev. Andrew r. McWhorter was
called upon to express his ideas as
TO the program for the coming sea-
son, which he did in a few words.
He stated that he felt it entirely
possible to hold too many meetings
and would suggest that four more be
held, one at which the sons of the
members would be guests, another
at which their ladies would be
guests, third. at which an enter
tanning and worth while speaker be
asked to speak on some topic of in
terest, and a fourth at the Y. MIC.
A., for general good time as was
done last year. His suggestions
were accepted by the club with en-
thusiasm.
. Supper Proceeds Program
A delicious supper was served De
fore the business and program or
the evening were taken up and the
goodly number of members present
were very much pleased with the
menu. President Ralph G. Weber
presided and introduced the speaker
of the eVeninC