The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-11-14

On November 9. l942, at Dwight hall, Yale University, New Haven Parnassus on Wheels, Inc, held its annual meeting; elected Mrs. Rob- bins Barstow at president; and en- dorsed the following proclamation: "PARNASSUS ON WHEELS. NC CHALLENGES PENAL SLAVERY
 Tn the name of Justice the Unit ed States is at war against total itarian slavery; therefore We can no longer tolerate penal slavery as a means of justice.
 The XIII Amendment 10 our Federal Constitution, Sec. l reads: Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude except as a punishment for crime. whereof the party shall have been duly convic ,ec, shall exist within the United States CT any place subject 10 their jurisdic- tion.
 Article XIII allows but does not exact penal slavery. To overcome penal slavery. let us begin to transform the six charac 0eristics of slavery which have marred or do mar American penal discipline.
 l. Slaves are held as interiors Our often. ITS have been suffi- ciently degraded by their past of- lenses: let us consider the Divine crisin cf their souls and seek to restore them to the Divine pur- pose.
 Stone and steel cages are not needed to elevate human beings. Abolish old jails. aim at farm col- onies and cities of refuge for of- tenders.
 II. Slave labor is exploited without adequate pay-Delin- quents and criminals should be paid fair wages, but charged the cost Of their keep: and be obliged to make at least some restitution for wrongs they have committed.
 III. Slaves are exempted from the responsibilities of the free By furnishing free board. lodging, and often free clothing to prison offenders. we deprive them of the responsibility of the average free man; while We too often inure them to idieness and to ill-paid la Dor beneath their intelligence. We should require them to meas ure up to responsibilities train them in the duties of citizenship. let them earn their freedom and when earned grant them liberty.
 ". Slaves are kept in ignor- ance. Those slaves who show iIl- tellectual superiority are held in suspicion-Let us adopt the Eng lish judicial principle of bringing qualified citizens who keep the law into our penal institutions to instruct and redeem the law breakers.
 V. Slaves are deprived Of civil rights-Most jail prisoners appear to derive from the very poor ura- derpriyileged classes and need teaching in American ideals Of law and order. We believe. with Thomas Mott Osborne. that both delinquents and criminals should be given some share in their own government, at least in keeping order and carrying on recreations, as a preparation for the ultimate restoration to citizenship.
 VT. Slave personalities and family ties are disregarded at the convenience of their masters Both our National Declaration Of Independence and our Religion place the highest valuations on human personalities.
 Therefore. penal routine. dis cipllne and punishments should aim at the wise development of personality. fatlier than the sup pression Of personality, and we should show much more respect for family ties"
 We do not know the states Of min' of all our many members through out Connecticut and in New Yorl City; we believe that this rallyin call will be answered. It is inspir ing to observe how many pub.t steps already have been taken Il Connecticut towards the transfer