ABOUT THE REVIEW. A National Prisoners' Aid Association was organized during the last annual meeting of the American Prison Association. There are about thirty societies, under varied names, doing definite, systematic and invaluable work for prisoners. They have as yet little knowledge. of each other, save as their representa tives have met at the annual meetings of the American Prison Association. Yet the prison field is immense, and the prisoners' aid society is an important agent in that field. What more natural then than that the societies should now form an association, for the following objects: "The development and extension of the work for released and other prisoners, including prison. visiting, in spection of correctional institutions as sistance to prisoners, probation parole, research, legislation, and publié lucation on the problems of peirology and criminology.' This Society has decided to publish; if possible, a bulletin to promote cooperation between, the societies now in the field, to be a medium of general information in the prison field, to develop public opinion regarding the proper treatment of crime and criminals, to aid in extending prisoners' aid work-and in short, to be a kind of "trade journal" in the correctional field. This first number of the REVIEW is the outcome. Let us talk frankly. The REVIEW is entirely an experiment. It will cost Member Ex. Committee A probably $500 a year to publish, the present edition being five hundred copies. The National Prisoners' Aid Association's active membership is one dollar a year. Memberships have just begun to be called for by the secretary. large part of the first year's membership fees to the Society may well be devoted to the publication of the REVIEW. But membership fees will come slowly, of course. Meanwhile, two friends of the REVIEW, in New York City, have guaranted a total of $150 toward the cost of publication. Perhaps $100 more can be obtained in New York City. Nowwhat will Boston do? What Chicago? What Kansas City? What can be secured elsewhere? Can we not by March Ist secure the underwriting of the REVIEW for at least one year, twelve numbers? This issue shows, not so much by its contents as by the very things that as yet are omitted, what the REVIEW can be. In it should be found each month the reports of activities carried on by the many prisoners' aid societies; special articles by well known workers in the prison field; abundant. notes on what is happening throughout the country, in reference to prisons, courts, and societies; brief reviews of important publications; brief signed editorials; "letters to the editor;" an advertisement or two, we hope; and many other contributions worth while to print. That there is need of such a REVIEW seems to be the general sentiment; whether it can be financed is a question. "THE CONVICT IS A MAN.” WARREN F. SPAULDING "The convict is a man." This was the opening sentence of the annual address of the president of the American Prison Association, and it was the keynote of the meetings of that association, and of those of the International Congress in Washington in October. So plain a proposition should need no discussion. But its acceptance without dissent was proof of the great progress made in one generation. I remember when methods. of treatment based on the assumed manhood of the criminal were subjects of sharp and vigorous debate. When the leaders of prison reform suggested the fundamental features of the reformatory system, they were met by men of very large experience in dealing with prisoners, who looked upon the new penology as visionary, and said to its supporters: "You do not know these men, you cannot deal with criminals in this way. They will make no response; they will take advantage of you and destroy all you are trying to do." The favorite word was "discipline"-meaning repression. They would not admit that men could be trusted, or that any successful appeal could be made, except to fear. The sifting process, it was agreed, would reveal a great variety of men. Those who have had the largest experience were strongest in declaring that there were many whose crime was due to mental defects. Some cannot be called insane, but they are deficient. They are likely to continue in crime, and should be detained permanently in the interest of society. The discussion of probation ended in a unanimous support of that part of the judicial machinery, for adults as well as for children. The release of convicted persons upon their own recognizance was strongly disapproved, the feeling being that they should be under supervision. There was also substantial unanimity that there should be state supervision of the probation work, similar to that of New York and Massachusetts. The importance of saving men from prison contamination and the prison stigma was urged very earnestly. Having so far classified offenders as to keep many out of prison, under supervision and helpful restraint, the next question related to the younger long-sentenced prisoners. At first the American reformatory system, with the indeterminate sentence and release upon parole by All this has changed. The men who dared to make experiments on the, as.. sumption that "the convict is a man adininistrative board did not meet and is responsive to the appeals and motives which move other men, have demonstrated that they were right. with hearty..approval from the foreign delegates, who felt that such a release vas interference with the judicial functions of the court. Gradually, howclassierey yielded, and ventually gave their support to a resolution in favor of the American reformatory system, with all its features. Their visit to some of the great reformatories, and a careful consideration of their results, led to this change of sentiment. One note was sounded by all speakers Everywhere the demand was for fication; everywhere for individualism. "The convict is a man," but there are many kinds of men, outside as well as inside the prison. The old system, under which men were treated in a mass, was unanimously condemned. Every Every person charged with crime must be dealt with as an individual, and should be carefully studied. He should not be disposed of mechanically, or by machinery. Criminals must be sifted. *This article appeared in several Massachusetts newspapers. The jail is always a subject for discussion at prison congresses, and the usual conclusion was reached that jails should be used only as places for the detention of persons waiting trial, and that these should not be mixed with sentenced pris oners. In Two other classes were consideredvagrants and inebriates. The foreign delegates were deeply interested in the problem of vagrancy, which is very different from that of this country. the discussion of this question the idea of classification was prominent; instead of considering vagrants, mendicants and tramps as an indivisible class, there was an absolute agreement that several classes should be made, and that treatment suitable to each class should be devised. Those who are vagrants and mendicants because of circumstances beyond their control (such as temporary incapacity or infirmity) should be assisted. until they can be restored to self-support. Those who are wandering about in search of work should be provided for in refuges or relief stations, where they must work, or by public or private charity. For the third class, of professional vagrants, repressive measures should be used including compulsory farm labor and long detention. That this classification should be effective, it was deemed to be important that a system of identification should be established, with an exchange of information regarding the professionals. Release from imprisonment should be upon parole, and an effort should be made to readjust them to industrial life. In this work there should be co-operation between public and private effort. The problem of inebrety was discussed at length. The present system of dealing with drunkenness as a crime had no defender. Interest centered in the consideration of the results of the work of special establishments in which the drunkard is detained for long periods, and the congress voted that these experiments had been successful,and that the further extension of this kind of detention, under state control, is desirable, with a view especially to arresting the habit in its early stages, and to the avoidance of useless and repeated sentences to imprisonment. The importance of outdoor work was emphasized by many speakers, and much interest was taken in the suggestion of farm colonies for minor offenders, including drunkards. The fact was noted that Toronto is following Cleveland in this matter, and is to provide for the freer treatment of misdemeanants. Incidental to the subject of imprisonment and involved in it, the question of the relief of families of prisoners received careful consideration. Out of the experiences of those who deal with prisoners and of those who come in contact with those dependent upon them came a complete agreement that, under our present system, the punishment in many cases falls upon the innocent rather than upon the guilty. The Washington experiment, in which the families of men imprisoned for non-support receive a part of their earnings, commanded general approval, but it was generally agreed that the system could not be universally applied, as it depends upon the employment of convicts on public work, on ed in most places. streets, etc., which would not be tolerat But there was substantial unanimity as to the proposition that it is desirable that the state should allow payment to be made to prisoners and that provision should be made that money credited to prisoners should be available for the assistance of their families if in need. No definite plans for accomplishing this were agreed upon, as the prison systems of different countries vary widely. Measures for the prevention of juvenile crime, vagrancy and idleness were suggested, including the enforcement of parental responsibility; greater co-operation between school authorities and the public; a better school system; a multiplication of playgrounds; lectures to parents and a stronger influence on the part of the press and the pulpit to enforce the sentiment that the best bulwark against juvenile delinquency is to care for the children in such a way as to prevent them from becoming vagrants and idlers. The impression left upon the mind of a participant, by the sectional meetings and by the general assembly, was that the congress was composed of very practical men and women, whose conclusions were the result of their experiences; who were both large-hearted and large-brained: who were open-minded to progressive measures, and were anxious to do their utmost for the offender. Coupled with these qualities was a remarkable faith that no man is beyond the hope of refor mation and restoration. IN THE PRISONERS' AID FIELD 2. The objects of this Association shall be the development and the extension of work for prisoners, including prison visiting, inspection of correctional institutions, assistance to prisoners, probation, parole, legislation, research, and public education on the problems of penology and criminology, and to that end the co-operation of all interested in work for prisoners shall be sought. 3. The officers of the Association shall be a président, a vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer who, together with five others, shall constitute an executive committee. Three members of the executive committee shall constitute a quorum. 4. The annual meeting of the Association shall be held at the time and place of the annual meeting of the American Prison Association. 5. There shall be four classes of membership: Active, one dollar per year; LIST OF SOCIETIES. IS IT COMPLETE? IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SOCIETIES-Please send to the Editor of the REVIEW, O. F. Lewis, 135 East 15th St.. New York, lists of officers and members of your society. Colorado. Colorado Prison Association. Denver; Gen. Sec'y., W. E. Collett. Connecticut. Connecticut Prison Asso ciation, Hartford, Conn.; Rev. Henry M. Thompson, Pres. District of Columbia.. Prisoners' Aid Society, Washington; Charles W. Massie. Sec'y. Georgia. The Prison Association of Georgia. Address Joseph P. Logan, Gen. Sec'y., Associated Charities, Idaho. Division, Society for the Friend- less; Rev. Charles Parsons, Supt., 1,349 East 12th St., Des Moines. Kansas. District Supts., Society for the Friendless; Kansas City, Rev. Jas. B. Bollman; Topeka, Rev. Jonathan Staley: Wichita, Rev. Geo. S. Ricker. Kansas-Missouri. Division Society for the Friendless; Rev. Edw. A. Fred associate, five dollars annually; sustainenhagen Gen: Supt.: Mrs. Edw. A. ing, twenty-five dollars annually; li one hundred dollars in any one year. Thus far and no further were the charter members of the National Pris: oners' Aid Association able to go in the brief time at their disposal at Washing ton.. The officers elected for the first year were as follows: President, Edward F. Waite, Minneapolis; Vice-President, F. Emory Lyon, Chicago; Secretary, O. F. Lewis, 135 East 15th Street, New York. Executive Committee, E. A. Fredenhagen, Kansas City; Geo. F. Cornwall, Boston; Albert Steelman, Seattle; Albert H. Votaw, Philadelphia; Charles Parsons, Des Moines. Frenfare Gen. Matron; Rev. J. Q Siteman, Gen. Supt's. Assistant, Set Rafi's City Life Building. Rey. Edw. A..Fredenhagen is National Spendent and Mrs. Edw. A. Fredenhagen is National Matron of the Society for the Friendless. Kentucky. Division Society for the Friendless; Chaplain T. F. Taliaferro, Supt., Frankfort, Ky.' Louisiana. Prison Reform Association of Louisiana; 127 Carondelet St... New Orleans. Maine. Maine Prison Association, Portland; Philip G. Clifford, Sec'y. Cumberland County Prison Committee; Fenton Tomlinson, Sec'y., Portland. Maryland. Prisoners' Aid Association of aryland, 101 West Saratoga St., Baltimore. Address H. Wirt Steele. Massachusetts. Massachusetts. Prison Association, Pemberton Square, Boston; Warren F. Spalding, Sec'y. Massachusetts Society for Aiding Dis charged Convicts, State House, Boston; George F. Cornwall, Agt. John Howard Industrial Home, 63 Warrenton St., Boston. Minnesota. Division, Society for the Friendless; Rev. James Parsons, Supt., 12 Franklin Building, Minneapolis. Missouri. Kansas-Missouri Division Society for the Friendless; Rev. Taylor Barnard, Supt., St. Louis. Montana. Division, Society for the Friendless; Rev. Geo. Hindley, Supt., Helena. Nebraska. Nebraska Prison Association, Lincoln, Nebraska. New Hampshire. New Hampshire Pris oners' Aid Association, Concord. New Jersey. New Jersey State Chari ties Aid and Prison Reform Association; Joseph P. Byers, Gen. Sec'y., 13 Central Ave., Newark. New Mexico. Division, Society for the Friendless; Merle J. Pettis, Supt., Santa Fe. New York. Prison Association of New York; O. F. Lewis, Gen. Sec'y., 135 Prison League of America; Head- Barrows League; O. F. Lewis, Sec'y.. North Dakota. Division, Society for the Friendless; Rev. George Newcomb. Supt., Bismark. Oregon. Prisoners' Aid Society. Salem. Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Prison Society; Rev. Albert H. Votaw, Sec'y., 500 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. Home of Industry for Discharged Prisoners, 73d and Paschall Ave., Rhode Island. Prisoners' Aid Associa- Supt., 4,529 Brooklyn Ave., Seattle. Canada. Prisoners' Aid Association, Montreal. Prisoners' Aid Association of Canada, 12 Richmond St., East Toronto. Prisoners' Aid Association, New Westminster, B. C. Prisoners' Aid Association, Winnipeg. THE CENTRAL HOWARD ASSOCIATION A meeting of all interested in work. for aid of prisoners was called in the office of the Chicago Bureau of Charities on January 7th, 1900. The needs. and plan of work in the Central Western States were discussed and an organization was formed under the name of the Central Howard Association. Dr. F. Emory Lyon, who had been preparing himself for such work by graduate study in sociology at Wisconsin State University, and who had inaugurated the movement for such an organization, was chosen superintendent. John L. Tait was made its first secretary, and Ephpresident of the board of twelve direcraim Banning was chosen as the first tors. president, was chosen in 1908, after the W. M. R. French, the present death of Mr. Banning. A full statement of the objects of the Association as stated in the first constitution were as follows: I. To awaken public sentiment in behalf of the worthy ex-pris |