••• • •
THE PRISON
VOL. VI
Carrie L. Breugewn : ■'
5°X
7П
1 ^ l_J
PUBLISHED MONTHLY, BY THE STATE PRISON DEPARTMENT
THE STATE’S PRISON. RALEIGH, N. C. AUGUST
ТГ
1932
ws
• • • •
• • • •
No. 8
IMPROVED PAROLE SYSTEM
RECOMMENDED BY EXECUTIVE
COUNSEL TYRE TAYLOR
DECLARED 1000 PRISONERS
COULD BE FREED IF PROPER
SUPERVISION WAS AVAILABLE
SAID, LESS THAN ONE PER CENT
RELEASES GIVEN IN 1931-32
HAD TO BE REVOKED
Speaking thoughtfully before the Public
Welfare Institute, recently at the Uni¬
versity of North Carolina, with a mind
centered upon two important values — econo¬
mic and socjpl values of improved parole
system — Tyre Taylor, Executive Counsel,
who handles the parole work for Governor
Gardner, told his audience that North Caro¬
lina is spending more than $100,000 a year
for the maintenance of prisoners who could
be paroled; that 1000 prisoners cost the
taxpayers $182,000 a year. Calling atten¬
tion to the fact that less than one per cent
of the paroles granted in 1931-32 had to
be revoked, thus showing the social aspect
in addition to the economic already stated,
Mr. Taylor, amid applause, strenuously
urged an improved system of parole in the
State of North Carolina.
“Paroles should not be determined by
economic considerations, but should be
based upon merit and whether there is a
good chance for reform. However, it is
significant that we are maintaining prison¬
ers who could be paroled, and who are
needed at home and for whom the State
prison can find no employment.”
In the course of his address he said
that during the past year 468 prisoners
had been paroled at a saving in mainten¬
ance costs of $70,000. This cost of the
work of his office including that of the parole
work for the year had been only $8,136.
It is evident that Mr. Taylor has well-
defined ideas about the ways and means
of improving the parole system in this
state that are based upon the two requisi¬
tes necessary for ultimate success, — the
economic and social values. By sincere
thought and facts he has suggested practi¬
cal improvements looking primarily to the
saving of the taxpayer’s money and the
ultimate reformation of men who must
sometime return to their places in society.
In the suggestions offered he has taken the
lead in a question that is of vital importance
to future society.
WHAT IS IT?
By Grace Hamer Poffcyiberger.
What is it makes you want to share
With someone who, you know, will care,
Each little thing that touches you,
All that you see, and hear, and do?
A bird’s clear song is sweeter far,
A sunset’s glow, the first faint star,
A glimpse into a heart that’s good,
A walk through Spring-awakened wood.
Forsythia, the Judas tree,
The swelling buds of flowers to be,
A windswept sky, a crescent moon,
A locust-scented night in June.
A laughing brook that hurries by,
A mountain peak against the sky,
A childish voice, so sweet and clear — i
All these, if shared, are doubly dear.
Then, too, should trouble touch your life,
Your skies be grayed by grief or strife,
The hurts heal quickly if they’re shared
By someone who, you’re sure, has cared!
BRIDGE THE CHASM
In the last issue of this paper an edi- 1
torial appeared in behalf of the hundreds
of men who will in the next five years
walk out from this prison, having finished
their period of incarceration, paroled or
pardoned, free, to begin over, the battle of
life against greater odds than ever before, i
Almost every community in the state, as a
reward mostly for its tainted environment,
have sent its representatives here and the
majority will return to the communities
from which they came. An appeal was
made to the churches, civic organizations,
secret orders, Sunday schools and indivi¬
duals that something be done in the interest
of these unfortunate men at the time of
their release. Each community was urged
to take stock, find out if from their midst
some man, woman or child will soon be in
the number released and take steps to
help that person back to decency and clean
living for the common good.
From actual observance it is a source of
gratitude to declare that the greater num¬
ber of the men here are laboring intently
to adjust their mental condition and as far
as possible to strengthen it preparatory
for the entrance to the outside when that
time arrives. However, every man ap¬
proaches his egress with fear and tremb-
IN N. C. HALL OF HISTORY
ARE MANY PORTRAITS OF
REAL EDUCATIONAL VALUE
SAINT MARGARETS CHURCH
ENGLAND HAS ONLY MEMORIAL
OF SIR WALTER RALEIGH
THOUSANDS OF PUPILS VISIT
FOR STUDY EVERY YEAR THE
MANY PLACES OF INTEREST
By Col. Fred A. Olds
There is in the Hall of History at
Raleigh a life-size portrait of King Edward
Seventh of Great Britain, the only one given
to a State in this country. He presented
it the first of January, 1910, and it has
ever since attracted a vast amount of at¬
tention. He was the oldest son of the
world-famous Queen Victoria and so began
life as the Prince of Wales, the heir to the
throne of Great Britain. Has there been
another gift by an English King or Queen
to a State here since the War of the Rev¬
olution began in 1775? This gift marks
two things; first the friendship between
England and her Daughter, the United
States, and secondly the recognition of the
fact that at Roanoke Island, on the coast
of North Carolina, the first settlement was
made by Englishmen in what is now the
territory of this great Western Republic.
King Edward visited this country when he
was Prince of Wales and was at Edenton
and Roanoke Island. King William the
Fourth of Great Britain was also here when
he was Prince of Wales, 50 years before.
He led a great ball at Edenton, in its
stately old court house. It was Lord James
Bryce, that most loved British Ambassador,
who visited North Carolina several times,
who secured this splendid portrait of King
Edward for this state, who said in a most
notable address in Raleigh that we were ,
"as fully entitled to the best of English
history as any Englishmen today”.
Each year many thousands of pupils in
our North Carolina public schools come
to Raleigh, to make a study of its capital
and learn by the most direct methods what
sort of things the State is officially doing.
During the 8 month ending May 31, 1932,
no fewer than 67 counties sent pupils here,
of whom 11,000 reported to this writer.
Raleigh is singularly fortunate in having
more State institutions than any other State
(Continued on
раке
three.)
(Continued on page four.)