The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-12-26
The Real Issue at Auburn

SA40'"
Auburn prison-riots, machine guns arson assaults
insanitary cells bedbugs, inadequate 1000 ana ule
like-is far more fundamental issue. 1t is nothing
less than the question of whether prison shall be
a Mace in which to punish criminals an institution
for training convicts to become decent cltlzenS
II once was believed that punishment and re1orna-
ton went hand in hand-indeed. that punishment pro-
duced reformation. Few informed students OF the
crime probIern would defend this position today. The
choice is clear one between punishment and refor-
nation.
Governor RooseveIts personal investigator into
conditions at Auburn prison has recommended the
abolition Of the Mutual Welfare League on the ground
that it contributed markedly to generalization OF
discipline within the institution. Ofhcials OF the
National Society for Penal Information deny the
truth Of this charge condemn the report as hasty and
Ill founded and charge many of the guards with dis
LOYALTY TO the warden and with deliberate effort 10
discredit the league.
Most persons will be inclined to let the matter
rest by taking sides with respect to the accuracy OF
the unreabity of the report presented to the Gov
ernor But the important fact is not how well or now
poorly the league worked Auburn. Rather it is the
issue of whether American penology Will accept Oh
reject the principle upon which the Mutual welfare
League was conceived and operated.
1t is none other than the question whether Amer
lean penal administration is going to pledge itself to
continue the old system Of cruel and repreSsive pun
ishment or will experiment boldly with progressive
measures which harmonic with scientific facts ana
elementary logic
There can be little doubt that the underlying thesis
upon which Thomas Mott Osborne constructed the
Mutual Welfare League is thoroughly sound He
perceived the obvious fact that convcts are not good
citizens when they enter prison.
He asked the inevitable question OF how we could
fnnt time is
charged The answer was clear: Only by giving them
training in the duties and responsibilities of citizen
ship while in prison. The old repressive system IN
no way permitted any such training.
But Osborne had for many years been connected
with the management of the George Junior Republic
In this model democracy juvenile delinquents man.
aged their own affairs. They made and enforced their
laws If this system would work with child criminals
why would it not operate even better with adult
convicts?
Mr.. Osborne possessed the courage of his con-
victons. He built up the Mutual Welfare League at
Auburn and then introduced it elsewhere notably at
Sing Sing He based it upon the logical position that
if a man could not execute the duties of citizenship
in the simple democracy of sef-governing prison
community he hardly could be expected to do so III
the much more difficult conditions in the great society
outside of prison walls. Osbornes reasoning would
seem to be convincing and his conclusions neScapapie
Conspicuous success failure in the operation OF
the league in a particular prison has little bearing
upon the validity of the underlying principle Local
operation of the league depends in no small degree
upon such factors as plant and personnel
Further let the critics of the league ponder this:
1t is an unsettled question yet whether the league
worked badly or well at Auburn. There can be no
doubt that the punitive and repressve system always
has worked evil it has been tried during the
century and quarter in which the modern prison has
existed Riots are not the most serious proof of the
failure of penal institution.