Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

Sarv TO destroy tnem II DC ooHe s"lll-
Progress in. human and humane
children and animals too long have
been neglected; For example, III It to9k
agitation in England. the most hu-
name country in the world. to correct
the abuses. incident to the employ
ment Of chimney sweeps. Small BOYS
were virtually. sold into slavery TO
carry on that killing occupation. and
1t Is surprising to recall that the hrst
society for the preventi1n; s OF cruelty nnfy
about fifty years ago.
Bear batting, live pigeon shooting
and dog and cock lighting and similar
exhibitions until comparatively re-
passed into Well merited disgrace:
pulling contests at fairs. cruel
slaughtering, OF food animals. cruel
still remain. AS to the last, l am
glad to say that the State of Maine
leads the country in having passed
the first law prohibiting the eNhiol.
always enforced, this law has a re-
straining influence on picture eX-
Our people are kindly at heart and
dent 0 Of the Hancock County boy who
walked 48>miles in the winter to
bring home his lost dog is inspiring
and shows that some young people
appreciate the loyalty and affection of
their dumb brothers. Once gentle
ness and kindness are instllled into
the heart, of a child, you have laid the
foundation for true Christian man
hood. 1t is especially important 70
of every creature however humble.
Kindness is. universal; it knows no
distinction of man or beast.
State Prison
We have built a new State Prison.
since the fire in September. 1923, and
now have as complete and modern
penal institution as there is IN the
country. 1t is well constructed, SAM
tary and decent place for human
beings to live and work in. What is
of even more Importance than It's ma
terial surroundings, its moral atmos-
phere is wholesome and helpful. In
dsheartened and dissa tistied men are
thrown, this institution is a place
where men will be taught self-con-
troll.
approval of the Governor and Council,
have adopted plan OF paying the
prisoners at Thomaston. a man who
is forced to work without wages is
little better than a slave. He has no
| incentive to do his best. Considering
the matter from the lowest point OF
view, that of dollars and cents. the
| new system will pay" the State. for
the men will work harder and more
cheerfully. and the Prison output OF
| harness. wagons and brooms will be
greatly increased. Apart from all
| other considerations it is only honor
able for the State to pay the men
/ something for their labor.
| Few Deliberate Criminals in Maine
| Most of. the men at Thomaston
Numbered into crime. due perhaps to
: early lack of training and to untortu-
nate environment. Few of them de-
1 believe that almost every prisoner is
at least 90 percent good and that
there are few if any who enjoy or
seek a life Of crime: The purpose
/ of our penal institutions is to help.
rather than to punish. and If the
people of Maine could see and study
these men as l have done, they would
want to help and encourage them in
! prison population averages well up to
| any group of 200 or 800 men that you
are likely to meet within our State.
| These men are capable of reform
those outside prison walls to cast
the first stope." How many men are
there out Of every hundred in the
community thirty years of age or
! older, who sometimes have not COM
mitted an offense that if discovered
and prosecuted would have subjected
them to punishment under our Grim
inal laws? Without fear of successful
contradiction. say. not ten. The
their sins while Offenders outside
| prison walls are not. our citizens
should be humble in spirit and charit-
able in their feelings and should give
sideration that Kindness. mercy. and
! forgiveness demands.
-Four Cases for CIcmency
Not long ago four life termers. in
Prison for homicide, asked pardon.
torneys came before the Council in
opposition. stating that no mercy ever
should be shown these offenders, and
that, they all should remain in prison
until the end of their days. Regard
les of mans offense l believe re-
paer for Is Is Ssars or more pf has
obeyed all the Prison rules. been kind
by word and deed shown he has re-
, pented of his errors. the sovereign
State does well to reward him with
liberty. Our Heavenly Father has
be received into His Kingdom. and
this being SO, man, when occasion de-
mands, should follow His example
and cultivate a forgiving spirit.
Had l the power to do so L would
not have hesitated to pardon these
four men. and thus give them the
chance to show that the State of
Maine. through it's many years, of
Prison training. had remade them
into law abiding citizens.
The pardoning power of the State
is vested in the Governor. but he can
not act without the approval of his
councillors. This restriction, on the
whole. has proven salutary and the
present system in my opinion cannot
be improved upon. At times local
prejudices against a petitioner may
have had undue weight in pardon de-
cisions' but there is no tribunal in our
State better qualified to pass upon
these matters than the Council
Councillors are practical men who
weigh the evidence presented and who
are not hampered by the stilted rules
legal proceedings. The only sugges-
ton l offer is that in some of the
most important cases councillors
would do well to interview those
personal contact helpful.
The JniIs of Maine Loafng Places
The jails Of the State of Maine in
some respects are not what they
should be. Although reasonably
where prisoners both morally and
physically go from bad to worse. Such
institutions are no credit to us; they
are breeding places of sloth and
crime. In years gone by prisoners
were employed in Jail workshops at
some useful occupation. but most of
these shops have been abandoned. Re-
Gently l visited Skowhegan Jail.
where a few prisoners saw a little
hardwood to be sold for fireplaces. In
! Bangor. when 1 called. but twelve of
, the ninety prisoners were working;
J seventy-eight were loafing around the
| corridors of the cell room at the
shocking waste of human labor and
| needs prompt correction.
Every man and woman in our jails
and other penal institutions, regard
! less of hostile outside influences.
| should be obliged to do a full days
| ,I,ark 70 h.a Ahx.S i1.al nd ..al