Page 15 - 1914 February - To Dragma

128 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

there is no vermin. I intend no personal criticism. I t is directed
toward the system.

" I offered to submit my report to the head matron, but she did
not care to see it, saying that I could not in so brief a time have
learned anything that was worth while.

"My recommendations must be thoroughly threshed out by the
entire Prison Commission before being presented. This much I
will say personally: The prison system fills one's heart with rage
and hate.

" A l l one's best instincts of fellowship, love and decency are sup-
pressed, and one is reduced to the lowest form of existence.

"Prisons ought to reform. They ought to bring out the very high-
est feeling of the human being, the spirit of love and service.

" I f a woman desires clean physical habits and shows modesty
she should be encouraged in these desires. When she is willing to
work, the work she is fitted for should be found and she should be
allowed to work to her utmost capacity.

"When she wants to love and help her fellow prisoners there ought
to be some opportunity for such expression. There should be some
recreation, some play and some opportunity to talk.

" I do not know how many women in Auburn prison can be re-
formed. When a woman has gone through the mill it is hard to
turn back. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

"But I do know that the present system must send women out
worse than they went i n ; must send many of them out half crazed
and hating society.

"The system should be changed. 1 There should be adequate prison
appropriations to carry out these changes. The State prison for wom-
en should be moved into the country and the present building given
over to the men's prison to be used as a hospital.

" There must be money enough to see that the insane and defective
can Ife cared for in separate wards, that those i l l with tuberculosis
and other diseases can have open air and proper food and that some
with drug habits can receive proper treatment and be cured.

"Money should be provided to buy the decencies of life, towels,
bedding, clothes and food, besides money to provide for more at-
tendants. The attendants work twelve hours a day, which for such
labor is barbarous cruelty for both the attendant and the prisoner,
as the prisoner suffers from the fatigue of the attendant."

Miss Doty and Miss Watson both highly commend State Super-
intendent of Prisons John B. Riley. Miss Doty said:

"We want to thank Superintendent Riley. He told us to get the