Evening star., 1936-02-02
Rehabilitation for
Released Prisoners
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

WItH the renapllltat10n OF all man.
ner of individuals who have been,
in the words of James Branch
Cabeli, "tormented beyond measure
by the impertinences of life" These
impertinences may have had various
aspects. There are facilities for assisting
those disabled in warfare, for those in
lured in industry, for those with such
uninvited defects as blindness and deaf
ness. Latterly, there has come forward
special committee, named by President
Roosevelt, which, after thorough study,
has proposed plan of prison reform
which embodies rehabilitation measures.
Like so many institutional efforts, the
work of some of these agencies has been
hampered by official red tape and the
tedious deliberateneSS which seems prac-
tically inSeparable from governmental
action. There is forward in the United
States one program of rehabilitation
which is free of the disadvantages of Of
ficialdom. 1t is the program of the
Prisoners Relief Society, which was Or
ganized 81 years ago by DR.. E. E. Dud-
ding of Huntington. w. Va. The pro-
gram consists of the establishment, under
private auspices but with official sane
ton, of number of farms to which
released prisoners may go to find a new
place for themselves in an atmosphere
not burdened by the hostility which So
ciety so often displays toward the ex-
convict.
The story of how the Prisoners Relief
Society came to be organized is as
romantic as anything out of the worlds
literature. Earl E. budding was a small
town Storekeeper, but one who was mod
erately prosperous. He occupied a solid
place in his community and was much
respected by his fellow toWnsmen. He
had an uncle, an irascible man whose
temper often became uncomfortable. 1t
appears that the young man and his
uncle did not get along well. The story
goes that his uncle got along well with
no one.
In an alteration in the street one day
the uncle attacked budding savagely and
the younger man killed him in what the
defense claimed was Self-defense and
what the evidence appeared to show
was self-defense. The fact that budding
was armed told against him, although
It was shown that he carried a pistol
because he was taking receipts Of his
store to the bank. The extenuating cir
cumstances were such that, instead of
being given the death penalty or life
imprisonment, he was sentenced to only
five years.
That happened in 1909. When he had
served his term he emerged into a
strange world. His former friends and
even his family did not care to know
him. What fortune he had was gone
beyond his control and his health was
broken. Still a comparatively young
man, he felt the bitterness Of the ostra-
cism keenly and brooded upon it, but
not for long. He concluded to take a
constructive view of his own tragedy
and relate it to those of others who, he
felt, were in the same position.
He started what he called the Prison.
srs' Relief Society. He was. as first. the
only member, but gradually he won sup
pert for his cause from humanitarians
who saw his point. That point was
purpose to do everything humanity DOS
'Ible to improve the lot of the released
prisoner. The society still is not a large
one. DR.. budding remains its core and
is principal activating force The life
ne has led since his release in 1914 has
oeen one Of helpfulnesS to the ex-convict.
For years he resided in the National
Capital and there any eX-convict could
come for aid. DR.. budding never asked
questions. He did not inquire about the
mans past, what he had been SEN
fenced for, who he was or what his con-
nections were. He fed and clothed and.
when possible, found jobs for those who
visited hlm. There is one remarkable
tale OF how weary ex-convict came to
him for help. footSore - in the literal
sense - and discouraged. DR.. budding
noticed that his shoes were completely
worn out, the uppers hanging to his
ankles by shreds. and his feet bleeding.
He went to the small stock of shoes he
had, which had been contributed to the
society, but could find none to fit the
man. Then he told the man he would
ook IN another place and returned with
partly-Worn pair which fitted the man.
They were his own Shoes The story was
told afterward by the ex-convict, who
With this encouragement, had found
job and wrote his acknowledg-
nentS to DR.. budding.
X
The story is merely typical of the
work OF the Prisoners Relief Society and
Dr.. budding. His present undertaking
IS his most pretentious so far It is a
plan for the establishment of a string
Of farms over the country. In five years
it is planned to establish % of these
farms in as many States, stretching from
coast to coast.
Through literature distributed in the
prisons, prisoners will know of the eX-
stence of these farms While still in iail.
Representatives Of the farms will know
when convictS are to be released and
Will be at the prison gates extending an
invitation to come to the farm nearest
he prison or one where accommodations
ire most convenient.
The former prisoner will be offered a
mall monthly salary, in addition to free
odging, board and clothing. In addi-
ion to regular farming, which not only
will support the farm but will provide a
urplus for the market, light manufac-
uring of the home handicraft type will
'e engaged in by those not adapted to
he field, the orchard or the vineyard.
some Of the farms will be heavily tim
ered and numbering will form part of
he activity.
Each farm will be community in it.
ell. Where the clay is available, bricks
MI be made for the construction of
and sawmills and planning
Hills will be set up. There will be black
NTH shops and machine shops and even
hoe and tailor shops. The workers will
e recruited from among the men. A
ooperage shop will be operated, basket
laking shop and a carpenter shop for
laking small furniture. AS many of the