Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-22
The Columbus Holocaust.

none is more shocking than that which
has just occurred at Columbus, Ohio
where prison was yesterday the scene
Of holocaust which has taken 3l7 lives
ut least, and probably more, as inmates
Of the institution succumb to their in
juries. This disaster is the more terrible
because Of the fact that the flames were
undoubtedly set by the prisoners them
selves in a plot to escape. If that was
their purpose, they failed, the only es-
cape from custody being through death.
This prison at Columbus is a type of
an unfortunately large number of in
situations of public confinement In this
country. It was established on its pres
ent site in 1880 and has been remodeled
at various times, but was ct best an
old-style structure, far from flreproof
and inadequate in almost all respects.
It was especially so in the matter of
accommodation. It was built to hold
less than 1000 inmates, and the popula-
ton yesterday was 1900. Fires have
visited the establishment on other oc-
casions.
In . report Of the National Society
Of Penal Information. printed in the
1929 handbook of that organization, 1t
is set forth that this ancient plant" at
Columbus suffers from a condition of
overcrowding worse than that of any
other large prison" The report goes on
to say that even with the completion of
q new building program undertaken by
the State, the Columbus prison would
be able to care for its present population
''only under conditions that fall far
below accepted modern standards for
housing prisoners"
Warnings have been given again and
again in this country, In practically
every State, that the housing Of prison.
rrs is. with very few exceptions, wholly
inadequate. Buildings are too small, cell
blocks are badly arranged, recreation
space is insufficient. In detail after de-
tail the great caravansaries of crime
are defective. Strength of wall and iron
bars is apparently the first considera-
ton. And even in that respect the
prison structures are in some cases de-
6icient.
But there is deeper significance to
the Columbus horror than that Of the
disaster. This tragedy was due to an
attempt to break Jail. Perhaps in the
course of the investigation some light
may be thrown upon that phase Of the
frightful affair. But In any case It is
evident that this was another prison re-
volt such as those that have occurred
within the last year or so in shocking
numbers and with terrible results. What
Is wrong with the prison system2 Or
should the question be put thus: What
Is wrong with the American society
that it breeds men who are 80 desperate
In their defiance Of law and resistance
TO punishment?
The parole system is in force in most
OF the States; suspended sentences are
frequently pronounced; light sentences
have for considerable period marked
the course OF justice. Even so, the jails
are crowded to the point Of suffocatiou
ana inmates are imbued with desperate
spirit Of revolt that is inconsistent with
the advantages and comforts and
ieniencies that mark modern penal con-
fnement. Does the remedy for this lie
in sterner justice, in more rigorous
prison treatment, or in lighter penalties,
fewer convictions and even kindlier and
more humane" treatment within walls?