Show A PRISONERS PRISONER'S RIGHTS BILL DILL Continued from last v eel cek eek There There is one state vie we learn where severee flogging arc ale retained for tarn tam cases The v warden arden of the prison institution ansel answering ans el cling mg a letter accusing accusing mg ing him of cruel discipline while ex- ex explaining ex explaining that the Vo whipping post had been part of the punishment in m that State almost one hundred years years cars and that the v warden garden arden was in m no wise re responsible for such mode of f punish punish- punishment ment added added- I whip the prisoners prisoner because I do not wish to delegate this power po to anyone any one else It is m- m intensely intensely tensely revolting to me to be corn com compelled to lash unfortunate men You do not feel the pain pam and the great sorrow it causes me and he be adds I extend more privileges to the th prisoners of this institution than any an other institution of its it's kind in m the United States I have been here nearly twelve e months and during all althis this time I have been fighting against the old system s stem of penology and I have been able during this time to relle relieve e the prisoners of this institution institution tion of the hardships of the old system system tem In this instance it is by no means the humanely disposed warden harden v who ho needs converting but certainly a ringing condemnation and reproach sent sent to leading men and women m in that backward state might rouse the slumber inhabitants to secure legislation which would efface from theIr statute books this medieval brutality th that thit t it should find no m in a civilized country Not by harsh and cruel goading but by b discipline firm as it is humane must we re reform reform reform form our cast down fellow travelers these these sorrowful orro ful del of the human family An able speaker wishing to his fashionable audience to sym sym- I pathetic action I said said I have hn not come here to y you ou about the sins of those v within the prison walls alls but to speak of the sins sms of omission re regarding re- re regarding garding these unfortunates of those outside of prison There is no inclined criminal save sive tn tho thoa i 1 made so soby by bv unjustly harsh measures had life conditions been re reversed they perhaps would ha have hae e been in m our en- en envIed envied en envied vied position and wo we in m theirs And if our reformatories need rl- rl rigid ri rigid gid gold inspection there are arc many prisons prisons sons where a similar m- m investigation in investigation should be made for the protection of those confined the therein rem Under existing circumstances no cry of distress no call for help from v within those closed doors can reach the sympathetic ear car of the outside world only through the chance re- re reporting porting ie-porting porting of an escaping or released prIsoner can the outside world orId learn of distressing conditions within Should the sufferer himself make he complaint he knows full Vi well ell that still severer punishment would be visited upon him Certain it is that prisoners hive have h e rights And it is our prIvilege it seems to me to secure fOl foi them legal rights which shall protect them from abuse A Pris onel's Rights Bill designating the maximum punishment and biting biting flogging bread and water Stal stai the dungeon the long contin contin- continued continued solitary cell being strung up for hours at nt a time and the coffin cage as prisoners have aptly call call- ed cd them where the prisoner stands immovable immo in m rigid position hours a aday aday day for as many days as ordered These are arc existing evils which should reach rech re ch the listening car of the reformer America urging the bro bro- brotherhood bro brotherhood of man should answer the th question Am I my brothers brother's keep keeper keeper er 1 by declaring that this countr country IS no place for prison brutalities The State which holds them in m its it's I keeping owes them ithem its it's It protecting arm of justice and defense Is therea thera there a church that would not gladly ex- ex extend extend ex extend tend a helping voice to further such sucha a Bill for Prisoners Rights 1 No cruel punishment no avenging avenging ing mg policy should find place in our prIson discipline The evil that has tempted the crim mal final has made him suffer more than enough in m the g grievous levous loss of that which is best in m which life life which v we ne e hold dear Our model prison must be a school where here atoning for our past educational educational educational omissions we may hope to re reform form our unfortunate charges by gradually compelling them into ha- ha habits habits ha habits bits of industrial occupation WhiCh ith w Ith other prescribed prIvileges shall lin due time fit them to return to the outside world as self helpful self respecting citizens And lastly the wardens them selves selves selves es must recel receive e a critical attention Public demand must be for a high higher higher er type of men men-men men men chosen choen for forI I high moral conviction with some under standing of the duties andre and re- re re nv awaiting them There are c exemplary m institutions whose wardens using persuasive mea measures cures punishment being special l lieges privileges denied can rule their dIf dIf- dIfferent different dif different ferent charges charge without harsh meas measures ures tires Our demand should be for such as these while others should be removed from a position too dif dif- difficult difficult dif difficult for them to fill Petty aggra agog aggravating tyrannies should be abolished and thus the best and not the v worst m in the thc convict appealed to Cannot we hope for the establish establish- establishment establishment establishment ment ofa of a chair of Penology not Penology only to educate public opinion but butto butto to urge to Ideal ideals tive prospective wardens seeking opportunity for bene benevolent service Honorable men mention mention bon tion or a prize medal could be con con- conferred conferred conferred on the prison warden arden v whose hose report indicated the fewest punish punish- punishments punishments ments inflicted and the smallest number of rule infractions Prisons cleansed of brutal diSCIpline discipline discipline pline would offer to those wishing to befriend the unfortunate an op opportunity op- op opportunity opportunity for noble service with the resultant transformation of the m- m inmates in inmates mates into law abiding self respect respect- respecting respecting ing mg citizens Lo Love Loe e we e are assured is the great t greatest greatest est thing in m the world Love inter inter- interpreted interpreted interpreted for our daily dally living h means the thc Brotherhood of Humanity sympathetic understand understanding mg patient consider consider- consideration consideration atlOn dealing justly fulfilling the Golden Rule especially Rule especially towards toward thos weaker and less fortunate than th ourselves |