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THE  JOLIET 
PIIISONPOST 

DEVOTED    TO    PRISON    N  E  AV  S 

VOL.  I.                                                   JOLIET,  ILLINOLS,  JANUARY  1,   1914.                                                           No.   1 

Published  Monthly  By  The  EDITORIAL 

BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS   AND   THE   WARDEN   OF  THE  ==r^======^=^^============-— =—=—---— -^^^-—^ 

IL,I<INOIS  STATE  PENITENTIARY,  JOL,IET,  XL,!,.,  U.  S.  A. 

Address:— THE  JOI.IET  PRISON  POST  A    WARDEN    IS    A    TRUSTEE 
1900  Collins  Street           -           -  .         -           Jolibt,  Illinois 

If  one  reads  the  statutes  he  will  learn  that 

Single   Copy  Twenty  Cents 

lk^,adfa"n'ndH'or'y;y'^i!" 'bne Doiiarand  Hf^y'^cents  ^  Warden  of  a  penitentiary  has  ditties  toward 

^al^a^'a^^i^l^lkn--"::":"":::"""::::::":::T^egCnlrl  both  the  state  and  its  prisoners,  who  are  en- 

EDITED  BY  A   PRISONER  trusted  to  his  custody.  In  fact,  a  prisoner  is  a 

ward  of  the  State  and  the  Warden  is  their 

REPRODUCTIONS     PERMITTED     UNCONDITIONALLY  ,.                                                            ,              .                 ,         ^ 

— - — : — T — - — — — guardian,  actingf  under  orders  from  the  Uov- 

Application  for  entry  as  .Second-Class  Matter  at  the  Post  Office  at  °                                      ° 

joiiet.  Illinois,  pending. emor  and  the  Commissioners  of  the   Prison 

«T^^^a7  Board. 

—  In  the  nature  of  things  much  must  be  left  to 

The  prisoner  who  looks  only  for  sympathy  his  discretion  and  the  result  is  that  his  posi- 

in  this  paper  will  be  disappointed.     We  hope  tion  becomes  very  similar  to  that  of  a  trustee. 

that  he  who  recognizes  his  own  shortcomings  A  Warden's  duties  to  the  State  are  gener-. 

will  find  encouragement  in  every  number.  ally  understood,   while  his  duties  toward  his 

prisoners  are  not  so  clearly  recognized. 

The  fulfillment  of  the  obligations  of  a  War- 

Obhgations  to  ^^^^  ^^  j.,j5  prisoners  call  for  the  best  that  is  in 

GOVERNOR  EDWARD  F.  DUNNE  a  man  of  honorable  character,  profound  wis- 

The  prisoners  at  this  penitentiary    are    in-  ^l^!"'''  "n^im'ted  generosity  and  abundant  good- 

clined  to  give  Warden  Allen  credit  for  every-  ,  .        , . 

tu:           1  ■  u     1            4.1            T-i         111.  Any  man  mav  be  proud  to  prove  him.sell  an 

thing  which  pleases  them,     Thev  should  not  rr  ■        ^-^r     i   '     r            ■.     J 

,              ,         '                 ^               '      .       ,  (fficicnt  Warden  of  a  penitcntiarv. 
lorget   that   (jovernor  Dunne    appointed    the 

Commissioners,  who  in  turn  selected  Mr.  Al-  ®     ® 

len,  who,  in  his  turn,     named     Mr.     William  Especially  for  Knockers 

Walsh  as  Deputy  Warden,  A  sneak  may  escape  being  a  scandalmonger. 

While  on  this  subject  it  is  well  to  go  back  hut  a  scandalmonger  is  always  a  sneak.    Every 

farther.     The  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois  ^^^^^  community  has  its  percentage  of  scan- 

«i^^4.«,i    r^  « ^     T-k                 1   *u                   i.-  dalmongers.  .so  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that 

elected   (jovernor  Dunne  and  thev  are  satis-  ,  .         ■^.        .        ,            ,             , 

~    ,          .        ,         ,                   ,         "       .  this  penitentiary  has  at  least  a  few. 

tied  to  give  the  prisoners  a  chance  to  improve  .            ,  ,                ,           ,             ,              ,     , 

.     ,     ,     ,                     ,  ,      ,  ,           ,        ,           .,.  A  scandalmonger  is  no  better  than  a  stool 

m  both  character  and  health,  so  that  they  will  ^^j^^^^    ^  ^,^1^^,^    ^^  ^  t^^,^^^.  ^^.,^q  ^^,„,  ^^^^y 

have  a  better  opportunity  to  prove  themselves  The  former  convicts  himself  of  cowardice  out 

worthy  of  citizenship  after  their  release.^  of  his  own  mouth. 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


What  Can  Coercion  Accomplish  ? 

A  prisoner  can  be  compelled  to  work  but 
cannot  be  compelled  to  think. 

This  prison  is  a  very  large  industrial  plant 
and  it  cannot  be  run  successfully  as  such,  with- 
out the  co-operation  of  the  prisoners. 

A  prisoner  can  be  compelled  to  carry  brick 
from  one  place  to  another,  but  he  cannot  be 
forced  to  keep  books  or  do  good  steam  fitting. 
He  may  prefer  either  to  carrying  brick  and  in 
consequence  he  usually  does  the  higher  grade 
work,  but  if  that  is  the  only  inducement  he 
will  usually  do  as  little  as  possible. 

Prisoners  respond  readily  to  encouragement 
and  it  is  not  difficult  to  get  them  to  give  to  the 
State  the  best  service  they  are  capable  of. 

Prisoner  Endorses  Prisoner 

One  of  the  greatest  sources  of  mischief  dur- 
ing prison  life  is  that  the  prisoner  is  sur- 
rounded by  so  many  who  are  anxious  to  en- 
courage him  in  the  belief  that  he  has  been 
wronged  by  society. 

He  is  seldom,  if  ever,  questioned  about  the 
eifect  of  his  crime  or  crimes  upon  his  victims. 

That  society  and  individuals  sometimes 
w  rong  the  prisoner  is  well  known  to  everyone 
who  understands  the  administration  of  the 
Criminal  Code,  but  this  does  not  signify  that 
every  prisoner  .should  be  encouraged  to  look 
upon  himself  as  a  victim. 

No  More  Facing  the  Wall 

The  .story  is  current  that  the  first  day  Dep- 
uty Warden  Walsh  was  on  duty,  he  saw  a 
number  of  prisoners  who  were  waiting  to  in- 
terview him  standing  with  their  faces  close  to 
the  wall.  He  said  nothing  at  the  time,  but 
after  he  had  disposed  of  them  he  experimented 
by  standing  in  the  same  manner  for  several 
minutes.  He  soon  satisfied  himself  that  it 
was  a  very  disagreeable  experience  and  he  or- 
dered the  practice  discontinued,  directing  that 
henceforth  the  prisoners  could  stand  as  they 
wished;  thus,  a  man  with  a  heart,  by  only  a 
few  words,  stopped  a  degrading  and  humili- 
ating custom,  which  had  been  enforced  with- 
out exception  for  over  fifty  years. 


EDMUND  M.  ALLEN 

ON   PRISON   REFORM 

At   the  Joliet   State    Penitentiary 

(Interview  by  the  Editor) 

It  is  my  intention  to  make  life  in  this  prison 
as  nearly  normal  as  it  is  possible  to  make  it  in 
an  institution  of  this  kind. 

So  far  as  practical  each  prisoner  w  ill  be  em- 
ployed at  the  work  to  which  he  is  best  adapted. 
Shortly  after  I  became  Warden  I  transferred 
two  physicians  from  manual  labor  to  the  hos- 
pital as  assistants  to  the  prison  physician. 
Now  they  assist  in  the  treatment  of  patients 
and  are  highly  efficient  head  nurses. 

A  prisoner  who  was  driving  was  made 
stable  boss  four  months  ago.  The  officer  who 
Iiad  been  in  charge  was  transferred.  The  en- 
tire management  of  the  stable — where  twenty 
prisoners  are  employed — was  turned  over  to 
the  prisoner.  His  services  have  given  entire 
satisfaction ;  the  condition  of  the  horses  has 
improved ;  no  complaints  have  been  received 
from  the  employes ;  operating  expenses  have 
been  reduced,  besides  the  saving  of  the  salary 
of  the  officer  who  was  transferred. 

A  plumber  and  steam  fitter  of  seven  years  ex- 
perience, who  had  earned  six  dollars  per  day, 
was  changed  from  polishing  furniture  to  work 
at  his  trade,  at  which  he  has  given  entire  sat- 
faction. 

I  could  recite  many  more  instances  of  res- 
ponsibility placed  on  prisoners  with  satisfac- 
tory results.  My  experience  justifies  me  in 
stating  that  there  are  many  prisoners  who  will 
do  better  work  without  a  gua/d  than  under 
one.  At  this  time  many  of  them  are  doing  their 
utmost  to  help  make  my  administration  suc- 
cessful. I  believe  that  t  am  reforming  pris- 
oners in  this  way.  besides  saving  money  to  the 
tax-payers. 

I  do  not  believe  in  the  combination  of  shop 
\A-ork  by  day  and  cells  by  night.  Outdoor  em- 
ployment will  be  given  the  prisoners  just  as 
fnst  as  such  work  can  be  procured  for  them. 
There  are  a  few  prisoners  who.  by  reason  of 
iheir  character  and  the  nature  of  this  institu- 
tion, must  be  emploved  in  shops. 

The  laws  of  this  state  regulating  the  com- 
netition  of  convict  labor  with  free  labor  will 
be  strjctlv  complied  with.  At  this  time  only 
twentv-eight  per  cent  of  the  prisoners  are  em- 
ploved on  products  to  be  sold  on  the  market, 
while  under  the  law  I  am  permitted  to  so  em- 


January  1,   1914  "^  O 

^'  i 

ploy  forty  per  cent  of  the  total  nuniber  of  the 
men  and   women  imprisoned   here. 

By  the  passag^e  ut  an  act  entitled  "An  Act 
to  authorize  the  employment  of  convicts  and 
prisoners  in  the  penal  and  reformatory  insti- 
tutions of  the  State  of  Illinois  in  the  prepar- 
ation of  road  building-  materials,  and  in  work- 
ing on  the  public  roads,"  at  the  last  session 
of  the  Legislature,  and  approved  June  2S,1913, 
Illinois  became  the  ninth  state  in  the  union  to 
adopt  the  honor  system  for  the  use  of  convict 
labor  for  improving  roads.  This  act  provides 
that  prisoners  owing  the  state  five  years  or 
more  do  not  come  under  its  provisions.  On 
September  .3rd,  1913,  the  first  company,  con- 
sisting of  fifty-one  men,  left  the  prison  as  hon- 
or men.  The  destination  was  Grand  Detour,  a 
village  near  Dixon,  Illinois.  Two  experienced 
oflficers,  Capt.  T.  F.  Keegan  and  Guard  Chas. 
Hardy,  were  in  charge.  The  prisoners  were 
dressed  in  citizens  clothing;  the  officers  car- 
ried no  w^eapons;  leg-irons,  hand-cuffs  and 
balls  and  chains  were  left  behind,  and  this  fact 
was  made  known  to  the  men  before  they 
started.  Each  had  been  promised  on  behalf  of 
Governor  Edward  F.  Dunne  one  day  addi- 
tional good  time  for  every  three  days,  depend- 
ing only  on  industry  and  good  behavior.  They 
started  with  confidence,  determined  to  make 
good,  knowing  that  they  bore  the  responsibil- 
ity of  pioneers  in  a  great  event,  and  that  the 
hopes  of  the  1400  prisoners  left  behind  depend- 
ed upon  their  good  conduct. 

There  are  other  prison  camps,  but  this  is  the 
first  and  only  camp  in  the  world  from  a  peni- 
tentiary' where  the  officers  are  withtnit  wea]>- 
ons  and  shackles.  The  trip  was  made  bv  trol- 
ley cars  and  train.  Arriving  at  their  destin- 
ation the  preparation  of  "Camp  Hope"  com- 
menced. The  outfit  consisted  of  twelve  0x9  feet 
tents,  to  be  used  as  sleeping  quarters,  and  three 
18x30  feet  tents;  one  is  used  as  a  dining  room, 
another  is  a  general  lounging  room  and  for 
chapel  services  and  the  other  is  a  store  room 
and  home  for  the  officers.  fTbe  tents  were  all 
furnished  bv  the  Adjutant  General.)  The 
kitchen  is  frame  covered  with  tar  paper  and 
banked  with  dirt.  Immediately  after  camp  was 
made  the  road  work  was  commenced. 

The  progress  to  date  is  satis factorv  to  the 
community  at  Grand  Detour,  and  also  to  me. 
The  conduct  of  the  men  lins  proven  them  wor- 


The  Jc)ll(«t  Prison  Post 


thy  of  the  confidence  I  have  placed  in  them. 
There  were  persons  in  the  neighborljMpd  of 
the  camp  who  at  first  were  suspicii)us  ijf  con- 
\  icts,  but  the.se  have  long  since  ac(iuired  con- 
fidence in  those  at  this  camp. 

These  honor  men  have  almost  everv  privi- 
lege which  a  free  man  enjoys.  Amongst  the 
icstrictions  placed  on  them  are.  (1)  they  are 
not  permitted  to  go  away.  (2)  drinking  alco- 
holic lif|Uors.  gambling  and  profanity  are  pro- 
Iiibited. 

The  prison  authorities  have  recently  pur- 
c/iased  a  farm  of  over  one-thousand  acres,  up- 
on which  at  some  future  time  a  new  prison  will 
be  erected.  This  farm,  which  is  located  near 
the  present  prison  site,  will  be  worked  next 
year. 

During  extremely  cold  weather,  when  road 
work  cannot  be  done,  the  company  now  at 
Camp  Hope  will  be  employed  and  housed  on 
this  farm,  and  preliminary  w'ork  in  contempla- 
tion of  farming  next  vear  will  be  performed. 

During  1014  I  will  employ  about  three-hun- 
dred prisoners  on  this  farm.  The  property  has 
gravel  beds  and  they  will  be  worked.  The 
crravel  will  be  used  for  public  imnrovements  in 
road  work.  A  larp-e  truck  garden  will  be  es- 
tablished. The  products  will  mainlv  be  used  nt 
lhe  prison.  Grain  for  our  cattle  will  be  crown 
nnd  the  excess  will  be  sold  in  the  market. 
Standard  cattle  will  be  purchased  as  a  start 
towards  a  herd.  A  model  poultrv  plant  of  suf- 
ficient capacitv  to  supplv  eegs  for  the  officers 
nnd  prisoners  will  be  started. 

I  have  not  decided  what  my  plans  for  road 
work  will  be  next  year.  I  am  holding  back  for 
permission  from  Governor  Dunne  to  improve 
about  forty  miles  of  continuous  road,  having 
a  terminal  in  Springfield.  Illinois.  If  permis- 
sion is  given  me  I  intend  to  work  from  two 
hundred  to  two  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners  on 
this  job.  I  desire  to  do  the  work  on  a  road 
having  Springfield  as  a  terminal  so  that  the 
members  of  the  Legislature  may  readily  5;ce 
the  work  done  by  my  men.  I  am  opposed  to 
working  men  in  camps  at  widely  distributed 
points,  because  by  scattering  the  work  I  can  see 
that  we  will  not  get  proper  credit  for  w  hat  we 
do. 


I  believe  that  all  prisoners  who,  und?r  temp- 


355483 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


tation,  prove  that  they  are  loyal  to  the  pledge 
they  g-ive  me  will  stand  a  good  chance  to  ob- 
tain honorable  employment,  without  practic- 
ing any  deception  as  to  their  past  lives  when 
they  are  released.  They  should  then  be  in  good 
health  and  inured  to  hard  work.  I  will  give 
them  written  recommendations  testifying  that 
tliey  have  kept  their  pledges  as  honor  men.  and 
that  should  entitle  them  to  at  least  some  con- 
fidence at  the  hands  of  employers.  I  frequent- 
ly receive  letters  from  business  men.  suggest- 
ing to  me  that  I  send  honor  men  to  them  when 
released.  Many  of  these  letters  contain  prom- 
ises to  give  employment  and  lend  a  helping 
hand. 

Governor  Dunne  has  promised  me  his  aid  in 
securing  from  the  next  Legislature  an  amend- 
ment to  the  law  as  it  is  now  written,  so  as  to  do 
away  with  the  restriction  which  prevents  pris- 
oners who  owe  the  state  over  five  years  from 
working  on  roads.  I  desire  to  have  this  re- 
striction removed  altogether,  so  that,  in  the 
discretion  of  the  Commissioners,  even  those 
serving  life  sentences  may  be  included  in  the 
benefits  of  this  law. 

Professional  road  builders  will  attempt  to 
defeat  our  purpose.  They  see  in  the  success- 
ful operation  of  this  plan  and  the  extension  of 
its  provisions  to  a  constantly  increasing  num- 
ber of  prisoners  permitted  to  work  on  roads, 
the  gradual  reduction  and  ultimate  extinction 
of  their  profitable  business  enterprises.  The  op- 
position may  be  national  in  its  scope,  l^ecause 
if  prisoners  from  this  penitentiarv  are  suc- 
cessfullv  emplovcd  on  roads,  one  big  problem 
will  have  been  solved  for  everv  ^state  in  the 
union,  as  there  is  no  other  state  where  condi- 
tions are  more  complex  than  in  Illinois.  The 
cry  of  "danp-cr  from  convicts"  will  be  raised 
and  all  forms  of  arn-uments  inspired  bv  fears 
of  pef'uniary  lo<;s  will  be  employed. 

With  examples  of  successful  operation  to 
point  to.  T  predict  that  all  obstacles  will  be 
overcome.  T  expect  to  demonstrate  to  the 
T^eirislature  that  road  work  by  selected  honor 
men,  who  have  first  made  good  behind  the 
walls,  is  both  feasible  and  profitable,  and  of 
benefit  to  society  and  prisoners. 

A  very  large  percentage  of  my  life  prison- 


ers are  trustworthy.  I  sympathize  with  every 
man  who  is  doomed  to  die  within  prison  walls. 
F.very  life  prisoner  hopes  for  an  amendment 
to  the  "Convict  labor  on  public  roads  law,"  so 
that  he  too  may  be  eligible  to  share  in  its  phil- 
anthropic and  useful  provisions,  and  he  hopes 
that  ultimately,  after  honorable  conduct  and 
])erhaps  even  many  years  of  road  work,  he  may 
leceive  as  his  reward  a  commutation  of  his 
sentence,  or  perhaps  even  a  pardon  at  hands 
of  a  Governor  of  Illinois. 


The  honor  system  has  recently  been  intro- 
duced for  the  benefit  of  the  prisoners  within 
the  walls.  It  contemplates  rewards  and  en- 
couragements for  all  who  obey  the  rules 
and  are  loyal  and  helpful.  After  a  full  ex- 
planation of  its  benefits  and  obligations  the 
prisoners  were  permitted  to  sign  pledges  of 
good  conduct  if  they  so  desired.  Out  of  a 
possible  1408  I  received  1251  signed  pledges. 
Three  grades  w'ere  established.  The  signing 
of  the  pledge  placed  the  prisoners  in  the 
first  grade.  New  arrivals  are  first  placed  in 
the  second  grade,  but  good  conduct  for  thirty 
days  permits  them  to  sign  pledges  and  be  en- 
rolled in  the  first  grade. 

Whenever  a  prisoner  in  either  the  first  or 
second  grade  is  punished  for  an  infraction  of 
a  rule,  he  is  relegated  to  the  third  grade. 

An  "honor  button"  is  furnished  to  every 
prisoner  in  the  first  grade ;  upon  losing  his 
standing  his  button  is  taken  from  him,  and  he 
loses  the  privileges  that  go  with  it. 

Prisoners  in  the  first  grade  are  permitted, 
at  the  suggestion  of  the  Governor,  to 
write  a  letter  once  a  week  instead  of  once 
every  five  weeks  as  heretofore.  They  are  per- 
mitted to  receive  visits  from  friends  once  a 
week  instead  of  once  every  four  w^eeks  as  for- 
merly. 

Prisoners  in  second  grade  are  permitted, 
at  the  suggestion  of  the  Governor,  to  write 
once  every  two  weeks,  and  to  receive  visits 
once  in  two  weeks. 

Prisoners  in  third  grade  are.  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  the  Governor,  permitted  to  write 
once  every  five  weeks,  and  to  receive  visits 
once  in  four  weeks. 

Upon  a  showing  of  necessitv  special  writing 
permits  are  obtainable  on  application  to  the 
Deputy  ^^''arden. 

Selections  of  men  for  road  work,  away  from 


January  1,  1914 


Tlio  .TolM't   Prison   Viisi 


llic  prison,  are  made  from  prisoners  who  are 
in  the  first  grade. 

A  grade  of  "imhistrial  efficiency"  will 
shortly  be  established.  It  will  be  extended  to 
prisoners  in  the  first  grade  who  are  also  high- 
ly valuable  to  this  institution  by  reason  of 
exceptional  efficiency.  This  grade  will  carry 
further  privileges  and  advantages,  the  exact 
nature  and  extent  of  which  will  be  determined 
soon.  I  believe  that  many  will  strive  faith- 
fully to  make  this  grade,  and  to  those  who  do 
so  I  will  extend  every  possible  encouragement. 
The  greater  the  number  who  succeed  the  better 
for  all.  The  average  of  jirison  work  has  always 
been  universally  poor.  I  hope  to  improve  the 
work  done  at  this  prison  by  the  methods  out- 
lined above 


Many  prisoners  are  expert  tinkerers  and  the 
novelties  they  make  are  frequently  both  at- 
tractive and  useful.  Only  first  grade  men  will 
be  permitted  to  tinker,  and  then  only  after 
working  hours  in  their  cells.  I  will  do  my  ut- 
most toward  having  their  productions  offered 
for  sale. 

During  this  winter  the  benches  will  be  taken 
out  of  the  chapel  and  we  will  hold  a  fair  to 
which  the  public  will  be  invited.  Among  the 
attractions  the  novelties  will  be  offered  for  sale 
and  the  proceeds  will  be  credited  to  the  ac- 
count of  the  maker  on  the  books  in  the  office. 

Applications  from  prisoners  in  the  first 
grade  for  the  restoration  of  lost  time  by  reas- 
on of  misconduct  in  the  past  will  be  consider- 
ed by  the  Board  of  Commissioners,  which  un- 
der the  law,  has  the  power  to  restore  lost  time. 
Favorable  action  may  confidently  be  expected 
by  those  who  can  convince  the  Commissioners 
that  for  a  considerable  period  of  time  their 
conduct  has  been  flawless. 

As  a  health  measure,  T  jjcrmit  recreation 
on  every  working  day.  The  weather  permit- 
titig,  the  prisoners  are  allowed  one  hour,  fix- 
ing the  time  from  when  they  stop  work  until 
they  resume.  This  allows  them  forty-five 
minutes  at  play.    Tn  my  opinion  it  is  very  rare- 


ly  that  work  is  so  important  that  there  should 
not  be  reasonable  lime  for  play. 

At  first  neither  my  of^'ers  or  prisoners 
knew  what  I  meant  by  recreation  in  a  peniten- 
tiary. At  the  time,  Mr.  Henry  Sims  «^f  Chi- 
cago, who  had  served  as  Deputy  Warden  under 
my  immediate  predecessor,  Mr.  E.  J.  Murphy, 
lor  eight  years,  was  my  Deputy  Warden.  ( 1  Ic 
has  since  died,  to  the  sorrow  of  us  all.)  Mr. 
Sims  was  in  thorough  accord  with  my  policies 
and  he  loved  to  carry  good  news  to  the  pris- 
oners. He  thoroughly  enjoyed  the  new  reg- 
ime. 

When  the  first  company  was  marched  out  of 
ils  shop  to  the  hastily  improvised  recreation 
grounds,  where  some  benches  had  been  placed, 
the  guard  in  charge  directed  the  men  to  these 
benches  and  had  them  seated.  Then  he  or- 
dered them  to  sit  still.  At  this  time  the  Depu- 
ty— who  was  swinging  his  cane  vig- 
orously, as  we  all  remember  him  doing  when 
ever  he  was  very  happy — aj^proached  and 
looked  the  prisoners  over  very  critically.  He 
saw  that  they  were  not  at  all  sure  that  they 
cared  for  that  kind  of  recreation,  even  if  the 
sun  was  shining  on  them  w'hile  seated  out 
doors  for  the  first  time  since  they  entered  the 
prison.  He  was  happy  over  the  message  he 
carried  to  them,  but  he  could  not  repress  his 
whims  for  comical  situations,  so  he  continued 
for  some  time  looking  them  over.  Soon  he 
smiled  and  said.  "boys,  you  don't  .seem  to  like 
your  recreation,"  and  then  he  shouted,  "boys, 
everything  goes  except  fighting!" 

At  that  the  men  were  on  their  feet  and 
shouts  of  joy  came  from  every  throat.  These 
ft'W  words  were  the  oj)cning  to  a  new  sort  of 
life,  and  carried  i)erniission  beyond  the  expec- 
tations of  even  the  greatest  optimist.  It  was 
the  first  time  in  the  histor>'  of  the  institution 
liiat  the  men  shouted  for  joy.  So  far  as  play 
was  concerned  the  "lid"  was  off. 

Soon  after  a  few  balls  and  bats  were  pro- 
vided and  the  great  national  game  was  played 
for  the  first  time  within  IVnitontiary  walls  Mi 
Illinois.  Within  a  few  days  clubs  were  organ- 
ized and  match  games  were  played  six  days 
cvcrv  week.  On  a  small  space,  not  large 
enough  for  one  contest,  three  games  were  us- 
uallv  in  progress.  The  fielders  for  the  difTcr- 
cnt  teams  were  in  each  others  way:  the  ground 
was     uneven,     and  there  were  rocks  in  r>hvu- 


Tlie^Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


dan.e,  but  ne\  ertheless  many  good  games  were 
played  daily. 

When  the  weather  turned  cold,  marching 
around  the  prison  yard  by  conii)aiiies  was  sub- 
stituted for  play.  This  is  less  fun  but  it  is  just 
as  healthy. 

From  November  to  April  the  prisoners  will 
\  icw  mo\ing  pictures  in  the  chapel  on  every 
other  Friday. 

All  expenses  for  recreation  and  amusement 
are  paid  for  out  of  the  prison  library  and 
amusement  fund,  which  is  sustained  wholly  by 
the  sale  of  admission  tickets  to  visitors  viewing 
the  prison. 


A  plot  of  ground  420  feet  long  and  400  feet 
wide  adjacent  to  the  prison  has  been  rented  at 
three  hundred  dollars  per  year.  It  has  been 
fenced  in  and  graded  at  an  expense  of  two 
thousand  dollars.  A  grand  stand  costing  one 
thousand  dollars  will  be  built  in  the  spring. 
This  enclosure  will  be  used  as  a  recreation 
park.  All  these  improvements  are  at  the  ex- 
l^ense  of  the  library  and  amusement  fund. 


During  November,  1913,  twenty  eight  pris- 
oners were  punished  for  misconduct  after  a 
trial  before  the  Deputy  Warden.  This  is  the 
lowest  record  in  over  fifty  years.  The  pun- 
ishment consists  of  solitary  confinement  un- 
der sanitary  conditions.  The  diet  is  bread 
and  water;  the  beds  are  of  wood.  The  length 
of  time  depends  upon  the  circumstances  of 
each  case,  but  is  usually  from  one  day  to  one 
week.  Handcuffing  men  to  the  doors  has  been 
abolished. 

Upon  release  from  punishment  the  prisoner 
is  taken  to  the  clothing  department  and  dressed 
in  "stripes,"  which  he  continues  to  wear  un- 
til I  am  satisfied  that  he  earnestly  desires  to 
obey  the  rules.  By  dressing  culorits  in  stripes 
I  am  able  to  separate  the  obedient  prisoners 
from  those  who  have  disobeyed,  and  then  I 
can  easily  control  the  treatment  of  both  class- 
es. 

I  am  opposed  to  punishing  all  for  the  faults 
of  one  or  a  few.  By  distinguishing  those  who 
are  undeserving.  T  ran  continue  liberal  privi- 
icfres  to  all  the  others.  Discipline  is  main- 
tained by  rewarding  s^ood  behavior  and  by 
punishment  and  segregation  of  offenders. 


Once  in  every  two  weeks  I  meet  all  the  pris- 
oners in  the  chapel.  Usually  I  am  alone;  some- 
times Mr.  William  Walsh,  my  Deputy  War- 
den, is  with  me.  No  other  officers  are  permit- 
ted to  be  present  at  these  meetings.  Here  I 
lalk  to  the  men  on  prison  topics  and  when  I 
have  finished  each  one  who  desires  to  do  so 
is  permitted  to  speak  and  make  known  his 
houbles  regarding  prison  matters. 


All  officers  are  under  instructions  to  be  firm 
and  just.  I  require  the  application  of  sound 
judgment  in  handling  the  prisoners.  The  of- 
ficers must  help  the  men  in  order  to  keep  them 
out  of  trouble.  Willful  misconduct  must  be 
reported  immediately — usually  in  writing — to 
Vr.e  Deputy  Warden,  who  is  also  the  disciplin- 
arian of  the  prison. 


The  prisoners  are  receiving  the  best  care 
I  can  possibly  give  them  in  this  antiquated, 
broken-down  and  over-crowded  prison. 

Under  my  management  the  working  hours 
of  the  officers  are  longer  than  they  were  during 
the  former  administration.  \Mienever  I  see 
a  way  to  benefit  the  large  number  of  prisoners 
(  who  are  not  at  liberty  to  leave)  at  the  ex- 
pense of  time  and  labor  for  myself  and  my 
officers,  (who  are  here  from  choice)  my  in- 
clination is  with  the  prisoners. 


I  have  no  use  for  tale-bearers  and  spies. 
Complaints  may  be  made  to  me  by  any  prisoner 
at  the  regular  meetings  in  the  hearing  of  those 
j^resent,  but  not  in  any  underhanded  way.  I 
I'eel  that  I  am  here  to  ele\ate  the  character  of 
the  prisoners  and  not  to  debase  them,  which  I 
would  do  if  I  tolerated  spies.  As  to  the  en- 
forcement of  discipline  I  feel  that  I  do  not  re- 
quire the  help  of  prisoners.  I  shall  be  able  to 
manage  this  with  the  assistance  of  my  officers. 


Prisoners  are  permitted  to  help  one  another 
in  every  legitimate  way.  I  encourage  the  spirit 
of  fellowship  along  proper  lines. 


Newspaper     reporters     will  be  admitted  at 
reasonable  hours  on  working  days  onlv:  thev 


Januar>'  1,   1914 


The  JolicC   l^risoii   I'ost 


may  talk  with  wliomsoever  they  desire.  I  feel 
ihai  the  more  the  public  know  about  this  insti- 
tution the  greater  will  be  the  interest  in  it,  and 
that  this  will  help  the  prisoners  both  while  they 
they  are  in  custody  and  after  they  have  been 
released. 


1  do  not  want  the  world  at  large,  and  par- 
ticularly the  people  of  Illinois,  to  believe  that 
these  ideas  are  all  my  own.  Some  were  copied 
from  other  prisons  or  were  suggested  by  Gov- 
ernor Dunne,  and  all  of  them  have  been  ap- 
proved by  him  before  being  put  into  etTect. 
I  have  been  favored  by  the  active  support  of 
the  Prison  Board  of  Commissioners,  consist- 
ing of  James  J.  McGrath  of  Ottawa,  Illinois, 
President,  Charles  \V.  Faltz,  Somonauk,  Illi- 
nois, Secretary,  and  Ralph  R.  Tilton,  of  Cat- 
lin,  Illinois.  Mr.  William  Walsh  of  Chicago 
is  of  great  assistance  to  me  as  Deputy  Warden. 


I  am  anxious  to  point  out  that  these  changes 
do  not  in  any  way  rellect  on  any  of  my  pred- 
ecessors. I  have  accomplished  that  which,  in 
my  opinion,  they  could  not  have  done.  This 
is  by  reason  of  the  change  in  public  opinion. 

if  not  done  in  the  beginning  no  Warden  can 
make  radical  changes  afterward.  As  he  be- 
gins so  he  must  finish.  I  was  convinced  before 
1  commenced  my  present  duties  that  whatever 
ri:dical  changes  I  had  to  make  must  be  made 
at  the  outset,  for  the  reason  that  after  once 
your  atmosphere  is  created  you  must  hew  very 
closely  to  the  lines,  from  the  moment  your 
first  order  is  given  until  you  are  through. 
As  late  as  when  my  immediate  predecessor, 
Mr.  E.  J.  Murphy,  first  took  charge  of  this  in- 
stitution, the  public  were  not  ready  to  accept 
these  progressive  steps  in  criminology,  conse- 
quently, even  he  had  to  start  and  work  along 
other  lines.  After  having  done  that  for  several 
vears  it  was  an  impossibility  for  him — as  it 
would  be  for  anyone  else — to  radically  change 
the  order  of  things. 

I  stepped  in  at  an  opportune  time,  when  the 
public  were  insistent  on  humane,  progressive 
ideas,  and  I  put  them  into  effect  at  once.  I  did 
tliat  by  creating  an  atmosphere  of  confidence 
early,  and  that  atmosphere  I  hope  to  main- 
tain. 

I  fullv  realize  t'.iat  I  am  dealing  with  human 


lacings  and  I  propose  to  deal  with  them  along 
human  lines.  In  doing  that  1  expect,  in  the 
\cry  nature  of  things,  to  meet  with  many  jars 
and  bitter  disappointments,  but  I  realize  jubt 
\.  hat  I  will  have  to  contend  with. 

1  am  prepared,  with  the  kindly  aid  ot  the 
Governor  and  the  Commissioners,  the  assist- 
ance of  my  efficient  Dejjuty  W^arden,  and  with 
I  he  help  of  my  officers  to  go  through. 

I  feel  that  in  general  I  am  carrying  cut  the 
ideas  of  my  father,  who  was  W  arden  here 
from  1893  to  1897.  He  was  not  so  fortunate 
as  I  have  been  in  that,  in  his  day,  the  public 
\*cre  not  ripe  for  this  kind  of  prison  reform. 

Note — Mr.  Allen  became  Warden  of  the  Jol- 
icL  Penitentiary  on  April  2Gth,  1913. 

©     0     © 

"Uncle  Cal,"  said  a  friend,  "your  brother 
Wash's  boy's  been  arrested  in  the  city  for 
forging  a  check." 

''Dar,  dat's  what  comes  o'  dish  yerc  eddi- 
cation."  said  the  old  man  excitedly.  "I  got  ten 
chillun,  but  I  give  thanks  fo'  ter  say  as  not  one 
on  'em  won't  never  learn  to  read  nor  write." — 
The  Voter. 


Social  Agitator — "Isn't  it  a  shame  the  way 
they  work  the  help  in  this  store?  Fifteen  hours 
a  day,  and  the  wages  almost  nothing!" 
Companion — "WHiy  do  you  trade  here?" 
S.  A. — "Oh,  they  sell  things  so  much  cheap- 
er."— Chicago  Times. 

Amongst  men  worthy  of  the  name,  the  oc- 
casion of  speaking  of  another  as  a  grafter  or  a 
thief,  is  (1)  When  the  accused  is  present.  (2) 
When  the  one  making  the  charge  can  prove 
it.  (3)  When  the  speaker  can  be  held  to  ac- 
count. (4)  When  some  good  can  come  from 
the  charges. 

There  is  no  load  that  will  break  a  man  down 
so  quickly  and  so  surely  as  a  load  of  revenge. 
The  man  who  tries  to  get  even  uith  others  has 
few  opportunities  of  satiating  hatred,  hut  he  is 
all  the  time  corroding  himself. — William  J. 
Bryan. 


8 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


WILLIAM  WALSH 
DEPUTY  WARDEN 


On  "Four  Months  at  the  Joliet  Prison" 


(Inter\'iew  by  the  Editor) 

The  reform  measures  so  far  intnxluceci  at 
the  IlHnois  State  Penitentiary  by  Warden 
Allen  have  already  improved  the  character  of 
many  of  the  prisoners  who  are  confined  in  this 
institution.  There  are  some  who  have  not 
responded  to  humane  treatment,  but  they  too 
will  be  benefited  in  time. 

By  improvement  in  character  I  mean  that  as 
fast  as  the  confidence  of  a  prisoner  is  gained 
he  becomes  somewhat  more  dependable  and 
next  he  begins  to  realize  that  kindness  ex- 
tended to  him  makes  him  feel  more  kindly  to- 
wards others. 

I  can  safely  say  that  at  this  time  there  are  not 
over  twenty  men  in  this  prison  who  do  not  wish 
the  Warden  well  in  all  his  undertakings,  wheth- 
er they  themselves  are  afifected  thereby  or  not. 

The  atmosphere    here    now    makes  it  pos- 
sible to  manage  the  prisoners  with  a  light  hand 
compared   to   what   has    in   the   past   seemed 
necessary. 

In  judging  the  prisoners  I  am  guided  mainly 
by  their  general  behavior,  including  their  at- 
tention to  their  work  and  also  by  what  they  say 
to  me  whenever  I  talk  with  them.  It  stands  to 
reason  that  where  a  large  number  of  men  eat, 
drink,  play,  work  and  sleep  in  a  small  enclosure, 
it  is  not  difficult  for  one  in  my  position  to  know 
in  a  general  way  what  the  feeling  is,  and  also 
what  is  going  on.  I  know  that  there  has  been 
great  moral  improvement  in  many  of  the 
prisoners  confined  here. 

I  do  not  overlook  the  fact  that  this  improve- 
ment is  due  in  a  large  measure  to  prudence, 
and  that  every  prisoner  knows  that  his  com- 
fort and  happiness  lies  in  the  continued  good 
will  of  Warden  Allen  and  of  the  officers  under 
him. 

Each  prisoner  knows  that  some  one  is  go- 
ing to  be  Warden  and  that,  if  Air.  Allen 
sliould  leave  for  any  reason  he  would  be  suc- 
ceeded in  office  by  another  warden,  and  that 
then  they  might  not  fare  so  well. 


Granted  that  this  has  great  weight  with 
ihe  prisoners,  I  claim  that  the  public,  the  of- 
licials,  from  the  Governor  down  to  the  guards 
of  the  second  class,  and  the  prisoners  are  all 
greatly  benefited  by  the  progressive  reform 
measures  which  have  been  recently  introduced 
in  this  institution. 

Inhumanity,  even  when  practiced  in  a  pen- 
itentiary, adversely  affects  the  good  traits  of 
character  of  all  concerned  in  exact  ratio  to  the 
responsibility  and  intimacy  of  contact'. 


The  sun  is  a  great  purifier;  in  a  prison  it  is 
almost  as  beneficial  towards  elevating  the  char- 
acter of  prisoners  as  in  improving  their  health. 
One  is  dependent  on  the  other. 

A  prisoner  who,  for  a  long  period,  only  sees 
tiie  sun  for  a  few  minutes  each  day — which  is 
only  when  he  marches  to  and  from  the  cell 
house,  the  dining  hall  and  the  shop,  cannot  in- 
dulge in  healthy  thoughts.  As  time  goes  on 
lie  becomes  less  normal,  and  this  inevitably 
injures  his  character. 

Prior  to  Mr.  Allen's  arrival  here  as  warden 
the  prisoners  who  worked  in  shops  were  per- 
mitted to  enjoy  a  veiy  restricted  space  in  the 
yard  for  three  hours  once  a  year.  This  was 
every  fourth  day  of  July.  They  anxiously 
looked  forward  to  this  event  for  six  months, 
then,  during  the  following  six  months  their 
thoughts  reverted  back  in  fond  remembrance 
to  those  few  hours.  Note  the  difference !  Un- 
der Warden  Allen  they  play  or  march  in  the 
sunshine  every  pleasant  working  day  instead  of 
only  once  every  year.  It  is  impossible  to  make 
any  comparisons!  The  difference  is  too  great! 
Even  as  late  in  the  year  as  at  this  time  the  pris- 
oners are  covered  with  a  coating  of  tan  in  con- 
sequence of  outdoor  exercise. 

Immediately  after  the  inauguration  of  daily 
recreation  the  efficiency  in  the  shops  was  re- 
duced. For  a  long  time  Warden  Allen  said 
nothing  about  it  to  the  men.  He  knew  that 
they  were  so  unsettled  by  their  good  fortune 
ihat  it  was  only  reasonable  to  expect  that  all 
work  would  sufifer  temporarily. 

After  the  prisoners  had  learned  to  accept 
play  as  a  part  of  the  daily  routine  W^arden  Al- 
len told  them,  at  a  meeting  held  in  the  chapel, 
what  the  results  of  daily  recreation  had  been 
to  the  industries,  and  he  recalled  to  mind  his 
first  promise  to  them,  which  was,  that  he  would 


January'  1,  1914 


The  JoIIet  Prison  Post 


meet  them  half  way  if  they  would  meet  him 
the  other  half.  He  asked  if  he  had  kept  his 
promise,  and  when  an  affirmative  answer  was 
shouted  back  he  said :  "Well  boys,  from  now  on 
I  expect  you  to  givenieasquare  deal  all  around, 
but  at  this  time  I  particularly  call  your  atten- 
tion to  the  reduction  in  the  w  ork  you  are  doing- 
in  the  shops.  You  have  embarrassed  me  in 
more  ways  than  one.  Recently  at  a  meeting  of 
\\ardens,  where  I  was  ad\ocating  daily  recrea- 
tion as  an  important  feature  of  prison  reform, 
I  was  asked  how  play  had  afTected  the  efficiency 
in  the  shops,  and  I  was  forced  to  answer  that 
the  w^ork  was  seriously  injured  by  reason  of  the 
introduction  of  recreation,  and  then,  I  had  to 
make  excuses  for  you  wliich  I  did  not  relish. 
By  placing  me  in  this  position  you  injured  the 
cause  of  prison  reform,  which  cannot  succeed 
without  the  co-operation  of  prisoners." 


The  meetings  held  every  two  weeks,  at  which 
the  Warden  speaks  to  the  prisoners  and  then  al- 
lows them  to  talk  to  him  about  whatever  any  of 
them  may  think  about  bettering  conditions,  are 
fruitful  of  very  good  results.  It  is  not  so  much 
what  Mr.  Allen  and  the  prisoners  say  that 
counts,  that  too.  is  important,  but  insignificant 
compared  with  the  big  thing,  which  is  that  the 
prisoners  believe  that  when  he  shows  so  much 
interest  in  them,  he  must  have  their  welfare 
at  heart.  He  gains  their  confidence  and  that 
helps  every  officer  under  him.  This  atmos- 
phere is  particularly  helpful  to  me  in  my  posi- 
tion as  Deputy  Warden  and  disciplinarian. 


Reports  bv  officers  involving  misconduct  of 
prisoners  are  always  made  to  me  and  they  are 
usually  in  writing-.  When  a  complaint  is  made 
I  always  send  for  the  prisoner  afTected  and  hear 
what  he  has  to  say  for  himself.  I  tr\'  to  do  my 
duty  by  the  institution,  and  at  the  same  time  I 
desire  to  do  full  justice  to  every  prisoner. 

When  a  complaint  is  made  against  a  man 
and  it  is  not  very  serious.  I  try  a  little  heart  to 
heart  talk  and  fatherly  advice.  Warden  Allen's 
treatment  of  him  gives  me  the  opportunity  for 
that  kind  of  talk  which  I  believe  makes  him 
think.  Having  gained  this  it  is  but  a  step  far- 
ther to  make  him  regret  that  he  has  caused  any 
trouble.  1 

Prisoners  appreciate  kindly  words  and.  as  a 
class,  they  resent  sullenly  all  efforts  at  bulldoz- 


ing.   This  is  so  in  jails  and,  so  far  as  my  lim- 
ited experience  goes,  it  is  so  in  penitentiaries. 

I  abhor  all  violence.  During  twenty-five 
}ears  service  on  the  jKjlice  force  in  Chicago  I 
r.ever  used  my  club  on  anyone. 

To  me  it  appears  that  I  am  not  here  primar- 
ily to  exert  my  power — which  in  the  matter  of 
ordering  punishment  is  almost  imlimited — in 
ract,  I  use  as  little  of  it  as  possible,  because  the 
less  I  use  the  more  I  have  in  reserve. 

Being  human  it  must  be  that  I  make  mistakes 
by  excusing-  men  from  punishment  who  have 
violated  the  rules,  but  what  of  that?  The  man 
uho  fools  me  does  not  get  beyond  my  reach. 
Having  fooled  me  he  will  behave  himself  if  he 
is  at  all  smart,  and  that  is  what  I  desire.  If  he 
is  stupid,  or  thinks  he  is  smart,  he  may,  by 
reason  of  the  ease  of  his  first  escape,  take  cour- 
age to  again  violate  the  rules.but  if  he  does  and 
is  caught  at  it  he  comes  before  me  again.  If, 
meanwdiile,  he  thinks  he  has  gained  anything 
over  me,  he  is  welcome  to  have  indulged  in  that 
delusion  temporarily. 

■  During  the  four  months  I  have  been  here  I 
have  only  met  two  men  who  were  obstinate 
while  in  punishment.  Each  was  kept  in  a  sol- 
itary cell  until  he  was  convinced  that  I  could 
wait  longer  than  he  cared  to. 


Under  previous  administrations  prisoners 
almost  invariably  lost  time  for  every  offense 
when  they  were  confined  in  the  solitary  cells. 
This  loss  usually  amounted  to  thirty  or  sixty 
days  for  each  offense.  Since  I  came  here,  on 
August  1st.  101. T.  only  two  men  have  lost  time. 

T  do  not  believe  tliat  a  man  lives,  who  can 
handle  any  fifteen  hundred  angry  men.  who  are 
cowed,  as  easily  as  I  can  the  same  number  if  I 
have  their  confidence, 

9t 

The  late  Henry  Sims  of  Chicago  who  was 
iTiv  immediate  predecessor,  had  served  as  Depu- 
ty Warden  for  eight  years  when  he  died.  Sure- 
ly, after  his  death,  the  prisoners  could  no  longer 
hope  for  leniency  or  favors  from  him.  Yet  to- 
day he  is  held  in  fond  remembrance  by  nearly 
every  prisoner  who  was  at  any  time  under  him. 

His  death  caused  deep  sorrow,  and  every 
man  who  had  credit  for  money  in  the  office 


10 


The  Jolic'^t  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


subscribed  liberally  for  flowers  to  be  placed  on 
his  casket.  So  far  as  I  know  this  is  the  first 
time  anything  like  this  was  ever  done  in  any 
institution  of  this  kind.  The  funeral  services 
held  for  him  in  the  prison  chapel  were  an  in- 
spiration to  me  by  reason  of  the  unmistakable 
evidences  of  esteem  and  affection  in  which  his 
memory  was  held.  The  men  regarded  him 
as  the  friend  who  had  striven  constantly 
against  great  odds  to  improve  their  condition. 
Shortly  after  his  death  I  mentioned  his 
name  at  a  meeting  with  the  prisoners  in  the 
chapel  and  the  result  was  that  they  clapped  and 
cheered  as  if  they  desired  to  lift  the  roof  off 
the  building.  This  occasion  was  very  impres- 
sive to  me.  I  think  it  well  worth  while  for 
any  Deputy  Warden  to  establish  for  himself 
such  esteem.  Such  relations  are  a  benefit  to 
the  officials  and  prisoners  as  well  as  to  society. 


I  hope  in  time  to  gain  the  esteem  of  the 
prisoners  confined  here,  but  I  believe  I  shall 
never  be  able  to  equal  the  success  of  Henry 
Sims  in  this  respect.  I  know  I  can  never  sur- 
pass him.  He  labored  under  disadvantages 
which  I  am  not  compelled  to  contend  with. 

If  anyone  chooses  to  scoff  at  my  ambition, 
to  w'in  the  esteem  of  men  serving  sentences  for 
crimes,  I  wish  to  say  that  I  am  here  to  guard 
the  prisoners  and  to  make  better  men  of  them. 
If  I  can  teach  them  to  think  well  of  me  as  their 
Deputy  Warden  I  can  do  my  full  duty,  other- 
wise I  can  at  best  only  hold  my  job. 


These  four  months  have  been  a  new  exper- 
ience to  me.  I  have  learned  to  view  many  mat- 
ters from  a  different  angle,  but  the  most  im- 
pressive of  all  to  me  is  the  newly  acquired 
knowledge,  that  there  are  very  few  positions 
to  which  a  man  can  bring  more  graces,  than 
to  that  of  Warden  of  a  prison. 

©     @     © 

"A  synonym,"  explained  the  lad,  "is  a  word 
you  use  when  you  don't  know  how  to  spell  the 
one  you  thought  of  first." — Brooklyn  Life. 

©     ©     ^ 

Severe  discipline  has  done  untold  harm,  not 
only  to  prisoners,  but  to  society  at  large. 


FATHER  L.  BREITENSTEIN,  O.  F.  M. 
Chaplain  at  the  Ilhnois  State  Penitentiary 

THE  PRESENT  SITUATION 


I  Inu-rvicw  by  the  Kdilor) 

The  prisoners  of  the  Catholic  faith  have  ev- 
ery opportunity  for  the  observance  of  their  re- 
ligious duties  at  this  prison. 

]\Iass  is  said  and  a  sermon  is  preached  at 
.^even  forty-five  eveiy  Sunday  morning.  High 
.Mass  and  sermon  on  great  feasts. 

General  religious  services  for  all  who  wisli 
1(1  attend  are  held  by  me  every  other  Sunday 
morning  at  ten  o'clock. 

I  give  Catholic  instructions  during  the  win- 
ter months  four  evenings  in  every  week,  hear 
confessions  every  month,  and  give  individual 
instructions  to  the  nrembers  of  my  flock  at  all 
times;  besides  I  look  after  the  welfare  of  the 
prisoners  irrespective  of  creed  or  religion. 

The  public  at  large  is  under  the  impression 
tl'at  when  a  man  is  sent  to  prison  he  ought  to 
undergo  all  kinds  of  punishments,  forgetting 
tiiat  the  greatest  punishment  that  can  be  inflict- 
ed on  a  man  is  to  deprive  him  of  his  liberty, 
and  no  matter  how  good  the  food,  how  kind 
the  general  treatment  in  a  prison,  a  place  of 
punishment  it  will  always  remain. 

Punishment  must  always  be  administered  so 
as  to  atone  for  the  offense,  to  heal  and  to  build 
up,  or  wliat  people  call  it,  to  give  a  chance  to 
reform.  This  is — and  I  am  glad  to  .state  it — 
the  aim  of  the  present  administration. 

The  general  improvement  in  the  health  of  the 
prisoners  as  the  result  of  outdoor  recreation, 
milder  discipline,  wholesome  food  and  better 
treatment  in  every  way  is  very  marked.  In  con- 
sequence the  prisoners  are  in  better  spirits.  As 
a  direct  res.ult  of  this  change  I  get  better  re- 
sponse from  them  in  religious  matters. 

T  do  not  know  of  any  institution  where  the 
inmates  get  better  medical  care  than  in  this 
prison  under  the  management  of  Dr.  John  P. 
Pienson.  the  prison  physician. 

Those  who  do  not  reform  now  have  only 
ihemselves  to  blame,  as  everything  possible  is 
being  done  to  create  an  atmosphere  to  bring  out 
the  good  traits  of  character  of  the  inmates. 

Manv  are  the  changes  made  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  Warden  Allen,  and  they  have 
p11  proved  beneficial  from  every  standpoint. 

I  favor  proeressive  prison  reform  of  the 
Edmund  M.  Allen  type. 


Janiiar>'  1,  1914 


The*  Jc>Ii<'t   Prison   Vnsi 


11 


REV.  A.  J.  PATRICK 

CHAPLAIN 
Of  Illinois  State  Penitentiary 


(Interview  by  Hit  I-tditoi ) 

I  atii  in  '^carty  accord  with  all  of  the  pro- 
jjressive  prison  reform  measures  so  far  intro- 
duced at  this  institution  by  Warden  Edmund 
M.  Allen,  and  also  with  his  plans  for  the  future 
so  far  as  ht  has  disclosed  them  to  me. 

As  to  the  results  of  his  policies  upon  the  in- 
ner thoughts  of  the  prisoner  I,  perhaps,  am 
Ihe  best  qualified  to  speak,  because  my  re- 
lations with  the  prisoners  arc  different  from 
those  of  any  official.  My  position  permits  of 
intimate  and  friendly  relations  with  all  the  in- 
mates; in  consequence  I  have  the  inside  track 

to   the   feelings,  thoughts  and  consciences  of 
tiiese  people. 

I  meet  them  as  their  religious  instructor; 
the  superintendent  of  the  school  and  as  libra- 
iian;  besides,  I  am  their  friend  at  all  times. 
I  spend  much  time  with  the  prisoners  on  their 
recreation  grounds  and  frequently  act  in  the 
capacity  of  umpire  at  their  ball  games 

I  did  not  come  to  this  prison  as  a  skeptic  on 
prison  reform  measures,  but  if  I  had  I  could 
not  have  withstood  the  logic  of  Mr.  Allen's 
utterances  and  much  less  the  unquestionable 
evidences  of  the  successful  effect  of  his  admin- 
istration as  seen  by  me  during  close  observa- 
tion. 

Mr.  Allen  is  looked  upon  by  all  the  prison- 
ers here,  without  a  single  exception,  so  far  as 
my  observation  goes,  as  the  greatest  friend 
they,  as  a  class,  have  ever  had.  and  if  I  must 
sav  it,  their  number  includes  men  of  wide  e.<- 
perience  in  prisons  everywhere  in  this  country 
and  abroad.  To  them  he  is  the  foremost  war- 
den of  the  age. 

It  seems  almost  inconceivable  that  such 
feelings  can  exist  to  the  extent  it  prevails 
here,  when  I  bear  in  mind  that  Warden  Allen 
represents  the  state,  which,  at  least  temporar- 
i'y  denies  to  these  men  their  freedom. 

I  have  for  many  years  been  a  firm  believer 
in  prison  reform,  but  now  it  is  no  longer  a  be- 
lief with  me.  I  have  seen  the  results;  I  know 
that   Warden   Allen's   policies   are   right,   and 


that     he     will,  in  good  time*  prove  this  to  all 
;  keptics. 

His  treatment  of  the  men  has  compelled  a 
resptjnse  which  is  remarkable.  This  is  evi- 
denced in  many  ways,  and  it  is  beyond  my 
powers  of  expression  to  give  an  adequate  des- 
cription of  the  con.sequences  of  his  initiative 
A<u\  endeavors. 

The  prisoners  are  fast  improving  in  health; 
(hey  are  more  contented;  many  are  trying  to 
.ill  his  approval  for  its  own  sake;  they  are 
(  vercoming  their  extreme  peevishness;  they 
are^  more  friendly  to  one  another;  they  are 
;iot  as  jealous  as  they  have  been;  they  are 
iiiore  peaceful;  they  are  more  obedient;  in 
.'-hort.  they  are-approaching  the  normal. 

'J'he  results  enumerated  cannot  fail  to  fav- 
orably iiilluence  their  future  conduct.  Many 
who  under  an  old  fashioned  prison  adminis- 
tration would  be  returned  to  freedom  unfit  for 
;i  natural  life  will  succeed  because  of  the  new 
thoughts  he  has  instilled  in  them  by  his  great 
kindness  and  unlimited  sympathy. 

Many  of  these  men  were  formerly  accus- 
lomed  only  to  brutality  in  some  form  or  other, 
mostly  among  themselves,  but  sometimes  at 
the  hands  of  officers  of  the  law  and  citi- 
zens. To  some  this  is  the  first  experience  of 
having  constantly  in  their  minds  a  man  who 
holds  the  scales  of  justice  evenly  by  doing  his 
lull  duty  to  his  office  and  also  to  his  wards. 

Mr.  Allen  is  constantly  in  the  minds  of  his 
prisoners  and.  coupled  with  it.  is  the  thought 
of  his  generous  treatment  of  them.  This 
nnkes  the  application  very  personal  and.  as 
water  will  in  time  wear  away  a  stone,  so  must 
the  constant  and  kindlv  thoughts  which  the 
'-"isoners  have  for  their  Warden,  soften  and 
i'upnn-e  their  characters  day  by  day. 


Tn  Warden  Allen's  presence  we  are  all  small 
fi'^ures  by  comparison.  He  overshadows  us  so 
that,  compared  with  his  achievements,  our  un- 
dertakings seem  small,  and  may  this  be  taken 
into  consideration  when  I  mention  my  best 
endeavors  as  one  of  his  many  loyal  suppf)rters. 

In  my  position  as  chaplain,  and  as  a  Prot- 
estant clergyman.  I  preach  to  the  men  every 
other  Sunday  morning.  In  my  sermon-lec- 
tures I  aim  to  give  them  renewed  hopes  by 


12 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


stimulating  them  to  better  tliinking  and  living. 
At  our  weekly  Sunday  School  I  furnish  good 
teachers  and  do  my  best  to  encourage  attend- 
ance, attention  and  study.  At  our  monthly 
Volunteers'  Prison  League  meetings  I  en- 
courage these  men  to  particularly  forego  pro- 
fanity and  urge  them  on  to  the  determination 
to  lead  honest,  upright  lives- 

As  superintendent  of  the  school  I  direct  the 
studies  usually  taught  in  the  public  grammar 
schools. 

As  Librarian  I  furnish  the  prisoners  with 
the  best  books  which  are  procurable  for  their 
wants. 

As  their  friend  I  attempt  general  moral  in- 
structions and  try  to  give  them  a  living  exam- 
ple of  a  Christian  gentleman.  I  treat  the  pris- 
oners as  my  brothers  and  show  them  the  bet- 
ter side  of  life. 

I  umpire  their  ball  games  because  I  like 
base  ball  and  enjoy  being  with  them,  and  I  find 
that  my  presence  at  recreation  has  a  good  effect 
in  checking  profanity, 

I  reason  that  the  more  I  interest  myself  in 
their  daily  lives  the  stronger  my  influence  with 
them  will  be  because  of  the  confidence  thus 
gained. 


The  prison  day  school,  which  is  under  my 
supervision,  was  started  in  October  and  will  be 
continued  at  least  until  May.  It  may  be  sus- 
pended during  the  hot  weather.  As  a  day  school 
it  is  an  innovation,  as,  previously,  the  prison 
had  known  only  evening  schools,  and  these 
were  limited  to  two  sessions  ever}'  week,  of  one 
and  one-half  hours  duration  each.  These  were 
held  in  one  school  room  in  each  wing,  where 
fourteen  classes  recited  at  one  time. 

The  new  administration  has  provided  four 
school  rooms,  and  every  prisoner  who  so  de- 
sires may  absent  himself  from  work  for  one 
hour  per  day  in  order  to  attend.  This  privi- 
lege depends  only  upon  good  behavior  in  the 
school  and  application  to  the  studies. 

This  is  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  this 
prison  that  education  has  been  treated  as  of 
greater  importance  than  work. 

The  equipment  of  the  school  will  compare 
favorably  from  every  standpoint  with  the  av- 
erage of  public  schools. 

The  school  has  five  one  hour  periods,  six 
days  per  week,  and  only  one  class  at  a  time  re- 


ceives instructions  in  a  room.  This  elimin- 
ates all  confusion.  The  teachers  are  prison- 
ers. There  is  no  guard  in  the  room  during  in- 
struction, which  permits  the  students  to  for- 
get all  about  restraint  excepting  such  as  would 
l^revail  in  a  well  managed  school  outside  of  a 
|)rison. 

The  experience  of  the  last  three  months  has 
demonstrated  that  the  prisoners  can  manage 
l)y  themselves  during  classes,  as  there  has  not 
l^een  any  occasion  for  official  interference*. 
I'he  progress  of  the  prisoners  is  very  encour- 
aging. This  I  attribute  to  causes  easy  of  ex- 
planation. (1)  Out  of  fifteen  hundred  pris- 
oners it  is  not  difficult  to  select  four  as  teach- 
ers who  are  very  competent.  (2)  The  pupils 
have  over  three  hours  per  day  to  spend  in  their 
cells  before  retiring.  Not  being  able  to  go 
about  seeking  amusement,  it  is  natural  that 
they  devote  much  time  to  study,  and  this, 
coupled  by  daily  instructions  by  competent 
teachers  under  favorable  conditions,  is  sure  to 
lead  to  gratifying  results. 

The  enrollment  is  about  three  hundred  and 
twenty  five,  or  over  twenty  per  cent  of  the 
prison  population.  I  have  great  hopes  that  the 
attendance  will  increase.  Many  of  the  pris- 
oners who  do  not  attend  school  would  come 
if  it  were  not  for  the  influence  of  those  who 
pretend  to  look  down  upon  a  growm  man 
studying  like  a  child. 

The  opportunity  is  here  for  every  man  to 
receive  instructions  in  reading,  writing,  arith- 
metic, geography,  English  and  history.  Any 
man  who  shows  sufficient  aptitude  and  appli- 
cation can  at  least  obtain  instruction  up  to  a 
point  where  he  could  readily  pass  an  exam- 
ination for  entrance  into  High  school. 

On  alternate  Saturdays  the  scholars  attend 
stereopticon  lectures  on  some  interesting  coun- 
trv.  Our  first  lectures  were  on  the  Philippine 
Islands  and  China.  This  feature  is  of  recent 
introduction. 

In  general  it  has  been  noticed  that  the  for- 
eign born  students,  who  know  little  or  nothing 
of  the  English  language,  and  who  are  thus 
handicapped,  learn  faster  than  our  American 
born  men.  This  indicates  that  the  earh'-  school 
training  is  better  in  the  European  countries 
than  in  the  L^nited  States.  To  the  foreigners 
of  recent  arrival  in  this  country  the  school  is 
of  unusual  value  in  that  it  gives  them  excel- 
lent opportunity  for  acquiring  knowledge  of 
English.     The  foreigners  realize  this  and,  al- 


January  1,  1914 


TIh»  Joliel  Prisiiii   l*os4 


13 


most  without  exception,  they  try  their  utmost 
to  receive  the  maximum  of  benefit.  Their  ex- 
ample in  apphcation  and  improvement  should 
cliallen^e  tlie  ambitions  of  American  b(jrn  pris- 
oners who  sliould  be  unwilliufj  to  be  out- 
stripped. 


Our  enrollment  ought  to  be  doubled.  No 
prisoner  should  discourage  any  other  from  at- 
tending, and  those  who  do  not  come  by  reas- 
on of  this  unwarranted  interference  should 
stop  heeding-  it.  A  man  should  be  proud  to  go 
to  school  and  should  be  ashamed  of  himself 
if  he  remains  ignorant  when  the  opportunity 
for  securing  an  education  is  afforded  him. 
Instead  of  being  ashamed  to  go  to  school 
every  ignorant  man  should  be  proud  to  show 
that  he  has  the  manhood  and  the  character  to 
desire  to  improve  himself  and,  after  commenc- 
ing attendance,  he  should  take  particular  pride 
in  his  progress.     Such  ambitions  are  laudable. 

In  this  day  and  age  education  is  essential 
to  every  man  and  woman  and  our  school  of- 
fers advantages  of  inestimable  value  to  nearly 
all,  but  particularly  to  those  who,  by  reason 
(jf  previous  conditions  and  environment  have 
remained  in  ignorance.  In  these  busy  days  of 
the  twentieth  century  the  man  who  succeeds 
must  know  more  than  he  of  the  last  century. 
The  work  of  the  world  is  now  moving  very 
fast  and  to  him  that  works  with  his  head  as 
well  as  w'ith  his  hands  there  comes  the  larger 
and  quicker  returns  by  reason  of  that  know- 
ledge which  can  be  obtained  only  by  reason 
of  systematic  study. 

Studying  the  English  language  prepares 
one  to  read  and  write  intelligently  and  this  is 
necessary  for  every  one.  History  and  geog- 
raphy qualifies  us  to  understand  more  thor- 
oughly the  current  events  and  furnishes  the 
proper  foundation  to  enjoy  the  greatest  books 
of  literature. 

Arithmetic  is  not  only  indispensable  on  ac- 
count of  its  value  in  our  every  day  life,  but  its 
problems  furnish  a  means  of  developing  the 
mind  and  teach  us  to  think  and  to  reason. 
There  are  many  boys  who  can  work  examples 
well,  but  when  it  comes  to  reasoning  the 
statement  of  a  problem,  they  find  difficulty  be- 
cause their  minds  have  not  been  drilled  to 
think  clearly. 

The   prisoner    should    look    upon   this    day 


school  as  a  privilege  and  he  should  respond 
accordingly.  He  should  see  in  this  opportun- 
ity for  education  that  the  State  does  not  desire 
his  downfall.  By  means  of  this  school  the 
State  shows  its  willingness  to  help  its  prison- 
trs.  The  school  costs  mcjney.  yet  the  author- 
ities are  glad  to  spend  it.  The  one  hour  every 
day  during  which  the  pri.soners  are  excused 
from  labor  could  be  turned  into  money,  but 
ihe  State  prefers  that  the  men  should  improve 
their  minds,  and  thus  equip  themselves  for 
success  in  the  future. 

Every  prisoner  in  the  instituti«jn  should  ap- 
preciate the  generosity  of  the  State  in  provid- 
ing a  modernly  equipped  and  efficient  school; 
;ie  should  do  what  he  can  towards  its  success 
and  should  see  in  it  a  promise  for  the  future. 

Studying  makes  inij^risonment  more  hear- 
c.ble  in  that  it  affords  the  opportunity  to  keep 
the  mind  from  dwelling  too  much  on  morbid 
tiioughts,  and  also  helps  to  pass  the  long  hours 
more  rapidly  and  pleasantly. 

W  hat  is  good  for  the  prisoner  is  good  for 
tile  State.  Progressive  prison-reform  measures 
are  dependable  for  general  adoption  upon  the 
recognition   of   this    fundamental    proposition. 

©     @     ^ 

DR.  JOHN  P.  BENSON 
PRISON  PHYSICIAN 


On  Medical  Treatment  at  the  Illinois  State 
Penitentiary 


(Inter\'iew  By  the  Editor) 

Considerations  of  health  come  first  and  fore- 
most in  a  prison  as  well  as  outside  of  one. 

The  most  important  feature  of  prison  reform 
work  is  to  treat  all  prisoners  with  as  good  care 
as  can  be  bestowed  upon  any  patient  in  private 
practice.  Prevention  of  illness  is  my  foremost 
aim.  We  have  unexcelled  drinking  water.  All 
prisoners,  who  are  not  disabled,  exercise  out  of 
doors  excepting  Sundays  and  holidays.  Well 
prepared,  wholesome  food  is  furnished  in 
abundance.  The  prisoners  are  well  clothed  and 
the  cell  houses  are  ventilated  as  much  as  pos- 
sible even  though  we  have  to  work  our  heating 
plants  overtime  in  order  to  maintain  proper 
temperature.      Sanitary  conditions    arc    thor- 


14 


The  Jollct   Prison  Post 


First  Year 


oiighly    looked    after.      Everything    must    be 
clean. 

Each  prisoner  has  been  given  an  aluminum, 
collapsible  drinking  cup  and  no  two  men  are 
allowed  to  drink  out  of  the  same  vessel  except 
in  the  dining  hall,  where  all  crockery  and 
glassware  is  scalded  after  each  meal. 

We  have  sick  call  at  7  :30  o'clock  a.  m.  every 
day  in  the  week.  All  those  who  desire  consul- 
tation and  treatment  may  come.  After  sick 
call  prisoners  must  obtain  special  permission 
from  their  respective  guards  and  a  higher 
officer.  In  emergencies  regulations  are  dis- 
regarded. 

The  hospital  is  well  equipped  and  first  class. 
The  maintainance  is  looked  after.  A  modern 
sterilizing  plant  for  surgical  work  has  just 
been  installed.  The  equipment  in  the  operating 
room  is  sufficient.  The  plumbing  and  appli- 
ances are  sanitary.  The  building  has  proper 
sewer  connections.  There  is  a  laboratory  for 
microscopic  work  and  for  purposes  of  diag- 
nosis. 

Two  prisoners,  who  are  licensed  physicians, 
act  as  my  assistants  and  as  head  nurses. 

Surgical  operations  are  performed  whenever 
necessary.  The  diet  is  first  class.  Spectacles 
are  furnished  to  those  who  require  them. 

In  the  assignment  of  work  consideration  is 
always  given  to  the  prisoner's  physical  condi- 
tion. Those  unable  to  work  are  not  required 
to  perform  any. 

Editor's  Note: 

There  are  improvements  now  in  progress 
viith  regard  to  the  hospital.  We  hope  to  have 
an  interesting  account  from  Dr.  Benson  for 
publication  in  the  February  number. 


December   22nd,    1913. 
To  the  Editor; 

Perhaps  the  Chicago  Tribune  does  not 
know  of  a  community  which  will  welcome  the 
quacks.  If  the  Tribune  will  use  its  influence 
up  to  a  point  where  the  quacks  get  credentials 
making  them  eligible  for  this  institution  I  can 
promise,  on  behalf  of  our  large  and  growing 
community,  that  we  will  give  these  gentle- 
men enthusiastic  welcome. 

Respectfully. 

"Unanimous-" 


CHRISTMAS  1913 


By  I'eler  Van  Vlissiiigen.  a  Prisoner 

[•\illy  two  hours  before  time  to  get  up  this 
morning  the  cell  houses  resounded  with  the 
calls  of  the  very  early  risers,  who  were  deter- 
iiiined  that  the  late  sleepers  should  arise.  Such 
indecorum  is  possible  only  on  a  holiday  when 
liie  prisoners  all  know  that  they  are  allowed 
every  legitimate  freedom. 

Joe — in  his  little  four  by  seven  feet  room — 
called  to  Dick,  who  was  on  the  same  gallery, 
and  the  exchange  of  greetings  was  the  usual 
'"Merry  Christmas."  By  way  of  variation  I 
beard,  "Harry,  are  you  going  to  the  show?" 
and  "Slim,  what  is  for  dinner  today?"  then 
'Hurrah  for  Christmas!"  and  so  on. 

Within  a  few  minutes  after  the  earliest  risers 
liad  decided  that  all  must  get  up,  the  cell  houses 
rang  with  the  exchanges  of  good  natured  re- 
marks and  kind  wishes.  Not  a  vulgar  word 
was  spoken  and  not  one  suggestive  remark  in- 
dulged in. 

After  entering  the  Dining  Hall  for  breakfast 
I  noticed  a  large  Christmas  Tree — which  had 
been  installed  secretly  during  the  night — at  the 
north  end  of  the  room.  After  all  the  men  were 
.seated  the  electric  lights  in  the  Dining  Hall 
were  turned  ofT  and  as  curtains  covered  the 
w  indows  the  hall  was  momentarily  in  total 
darkness.  An  electric  button  was  turned  and 
ilie  largest  Christmas  Tree  I  have  ever  seen 
v.as  illuminated  by  a  thousand  electric  lamps 
of  all  the  colors  in  the  rainbow. 

At  that  the  voice  of  Captain  Michael  C. 
!\nne  filled  the  room  saying,  "Warden  Allen 
\\ishcs  you  all  a  Merry  Christmas!"  Then 
pandemonium  broke  loose  and  continued  until 
llie  Captain  called  the  men  to  order  and  sug- 
gested that  if  they  wished  to  cheer  Warden  Al- 
len he  would  show  them  how  to  do  it.  Wait- 
ing a  moment  for  silence  Captain  Kane  pro- 
itosed  three  cheers  for  Warden  Allen,  which 
brought  the  maximum  response  from  every 
ihroat.  I  have  never  experienced  a  sensation 
in  mv  life  equaling  that  moment.  I  realized  " 
tl\Tt.  for  the  first  time  in  many  years  the  spirit 
of  Christmas  was  here,  and  that  this  day  would 
b"ft  more  men.  at  least  a  little,  towards  a  better 
life  than  anv  previous  day  since  the  entrance 
to  this  institution  of  its  first  inmate. 

The  Christmas  Tree  was  the  first  one  I  have 


January  1,   1914 


Tli*»  Jolicl    l*risoii   I'ost 


15 


seen  since  coming  to  the  prison.  I  have  attended 
all  sorts  of  occasions  where  this  symbol  of 
good  will  was  the  silent  feature;  I  have  heard 
Clermans  sing  "O  Tannebaum."  but  I  have 
liever  felt  such  surging  at  my  heart  as  during 
those  moments.  This  unexpected  reminder  of 
Christmas  produced  varying  effects  on  the 
prisoners  around  me.  I  heard  one  say,  "This 
is  the  lirst  Christmas  when  I  have  not  received 
any  mail  from  home  and  friends  but  that  tree 
makes  up  for  it."  Another  remarked,  "I  can 
hardly  bear  to  look  at  it  as  it  reminds  me  too 
torcibly  of  what  this  day  means  in  the  world 
outside."  An  old  man  serving  a  life  sentence 
bowed  his  head  and  prayed  and  when  at  last  he 
looked  up  his  eyes  were  filled  with  tears. 

The  prisoners  at  once  guessed  that  they  were 
indebted  for  this  sympathetic  attention  to  two 
ladies  who  walk  the  prison  yard  in  perfect  safe- 
ty among  gun-men,  murderers  and  forgers,  be- 
cause every  inmate  has  great  respect  for  both 
the  mother  and  the  wife  of  Warden  Edmund 
M.  Allen. 


After  breakfast  those  who  desired  to  do  so 
attended  Mass  in  the  chapel.  At  half -past  nine 
the  prisoners  marched  to  the  chapel  to  enjoy 
the  theatrical  performance.  They  appeared  a 
laughing,  happy  lot  today!  No  heads  bowed 
down;  no  surly  officers.  The  chapel  was  soon 
crowded  and  the  prisoners  viewed  for  the  first 
time  the  new,  beautiful  "back-drop"  painted  by 
R.  P.  H.  Wolle  and  John  Rudnick.  The  men 
were  allowed  as  much  freedom  as  they  would 
have  in  a  theatre  anywhere.  Prior  to  the  per- 
formance and  during  the  intermissions  every 
man  spoke  freely  to  those  seated  around  him 
Ix\k\  the  officers  had  nothing  to  do  except  to 
look  on  and  enjoy  the  occasion  as  much  as  their 
prisoners. 

Chaplain  A.  J.  Patrick  first  introduced  the 
artists  who  had  painted  the  "back-drop"  and 
they  were  enthusiastically  received.  Both 
w  ished  all  a  Merry  Christmas  and  bowed  them- 
selves out  amidst  tumultous  aj>plausc,  which 
indicated  the  prevailing  good  feeling.  Then 
the  outside  talent  rendered  the  regular  pro- 
gramme which  was  thoroughly  enjoyed.  The 
p/erformance  lasted  one  and  one-half  hours  and 
at  its  ciOse  the  fourteen  hundred  prisoners  re- 
turned to  the  cell  houses.  There  was  no  at- 
tempt at  the  customary  military  formation:  the 


men  walked  out  as  they  wished,  all  talking, 
laughing  and  exchanging  greetings.  Some 
walked  with  hands  on  the  shoulders  of  their 
companions  without  being  pniliibited  by  the 
j^uards.  Every  man  returned  to  his  place  in  the 
cell  h(nise  promptly  without  directions  from  the 
(officers. 


At  one  o'clock  all  the  prisoners  went  into  the 
Dining  Hall  and  sat  down  to  roast  i>ork  with 
dressing,  boiled  potatoes  and  gravy,  mince 
pie  and  coffee.  Eor  the  first  time  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  institution  the  prison  band  played 
in  the  Dining  Hall  during  the  meal  and  this 
feature  was  thoroughly  enjoyed. 

During  dinner  I  was  seated  beside  an  old 
negro,  who  was  born  in  slavery  and  who  told 
me  that  he  had  been  here  ten  years  and  during; 
that  time  he  had  "never  seen  such  "doins."  He 
was  enthusiastic  over  ever;  tiuiig  saymg  h* 
could  not  see  how  anyone  could  misbehave  un- 
der "these  people." 

I  asked  him  when  he  was  to  be  released  and 
he  answered  "in  a  year."  (Juestioned  as  to 
w  hat  he  was  going  to  do  for  a  living  when  free 
b.e  told  me  that  he  had  a  good  trade,  that  he  was 
a  first-class  whitewasher.  and  that  he  could  still 
work  as  good  as  any  man  with  a  pick  and  shov- 
el. He  oave  his  aee  as  seventv-iour  and  when 
1  last  saw  him  he  was  leaving  the  Dining  Hall 
singing  softly. 

After  dinner  I  heard  in'  ■  ntinued.  loud 
"inn-rahs"  emenating  from  the  cell  houses. 
Upon  going  there  I  learned  that  llie  prisoners 
were  rendering  an  impromptu  demonstration 
of  their  appreciation,  shouting  "hurralis"  for 
tiie  officers.  The  guards  did  not  attempt  to 
(,uell  the  racket. 

During  the  afternoon  all  the  prisoners  were 
allowed  the  freedom  of  the  corridors  in  the 
cell  houses  for  one  hour,  which  ended  the  fes- 
livities.  While  the  men  were  in  the  corridors 
I  questioned  one  of  the  guards. who  has  worked 
Ikic  for  many  years.  I  asked  him  what  he 
tliought  of  this  kind  of  a  Penitentiary  Christ- 
mas. He  said  that  I  should  look  at  the  men  in 
ihe  corridors  for  his  answer  to  my  question. 
He  added  that,  as  cell  house  keeper,  it  was  his 
(\uty  to  attend  to  the  distribution  of  presents 
l»'"tween  p'-'''-^>'if^rc   JT'^  hnrl  never  seen  anvfhing 


16 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


like  it.  The  men  who  had  money  to  purchase 
oranges,  apples,  dates,  nuts,  etc.,  had  so  plen- 
tifully supplied  those  without  funds  with  the 
good  things  wjiich  were  to  be  bought  only  for 
this  day  that  the  result  was  that  those  who  were 
penniless  had  more  than  did  those  who  had 
purchased. 

After  the  prisoners  had  returned  to  their 
cells  I  learned  from  the  Ca[)tain  of  the  day  that 
in  spite  of  the  unusual  occurrences  the  day  had 
passed  without  occasion  to  reprimand  a  single 
prisoner. 

During  the  evening  the  cell  houses  hummed 
with  the  conversations  carried  on  in  low  tones 
between  cell  mates. 

At  nine  o'clock,  after  the  niyht  bell  had 
sounded,  the  cell  houses  were  silent.  Christ- 
mas Day  at  the  Joliet  Prison  was  at  an  end. 
The  memory  of  it  will  never  fade  from  the 
minds  of  many  of  the  men  who  are  experienc- 
ing new  emotions  prompted  by  kind  treat- 
ment. 


TOO  TRUE 


By  A.  Judson  Booth,    a  I'risoner 

Convicted  men  will  have  better  opportunities 
for  reform  if  society  will  look  upon  prisoners 
more  kindly. 

What  they  particularly  require  is  the  support 
from  family  and  friends.  Many  prisoners 
have — if  their  crimes  may  be  overlooked — been 
good  fathers,  husbands,  sons,  brothers  and 
friends,  and  unfortunately  for  them  and  soci- 
ety it  happens  too  often  that  their  good  deeds 
are  forgotten  and  that  they  are  judged  solely 
by  the  one  conviction,  and  that,  in  consequence, 
the  prisoner  finds  himself  deserted. 

This,  in  many,  engenders  feelings  of  intense 
disappointment  and  the  result  deters  reforma- 
tion. 

The  treatment  of  prisoners  under  severe  dis- 
cipline has  resulted  in  debasement  of  nearly  all 
prisoners,  and  it  has  been  a  stain  upon  the  so- 
ciety which  tolerated  this  system- 

The  system  of  control  under  severe  disci- 
pline attempted  the  repression  of  all  natural 
impulses  and  the  substitution  of  abject  fear. 


WITHIN  THE  WALLS 

O,  is  life  a  tangled  problem, 
PalC  Mine? 
Have  you  failed  to  read  its  message, 

Or  its  purpose  to  define? 
Are  the  throbs  of  life  beyond  us 
Fraught  with  bitter  mockery, 
Or  the  sounding  of  a  promise 

Of  a  life  that  is  to  be,  , 

PalO'  Mine? 

Do  the  open  places  call  you, 

Pal  O'  Mine  ? 
Do  you  crave  for  fragrant  meadows 

And  the  scent  of  forest  pine? 
Does  it  seem  the  forbidden  Eden, 

Or,  in  fancy  now  and  then. 
Can  you  see  the  roadway's  turning 
That  will  lead  you  back  again, 
PalO'  Mine? 

And  does  Memory  bare  the  hidden, 

Pal  O'  Mine  ? 
Do  the  old  familiar  faces 

Pass  in  melancholy  line? 
Is  faith  lost  as  well  as  freedom? 

Has  the  false  displaced  the  true, 
Or  will  handclasps  grip  the  tighter 

When  the  gates  swing  out  for  vou, 
PalO' Mine? 

Are  the  home  folks  very  weary, 

PalO'  Mine? 
Are  you  listening,  vaguely  waiting 

For  a  more  responsive  sign, 
Or  as  a  simple  benediction, 

Does  the  ladened  message  fall? 
Do  you  feel  the  load  has  lifted 
At  the  sounding  of  its  call, 
PalO'  Mine? 

Oh !     Life's  a  knotty  problem, 

PalO' Mine? 
And  still  we  are  the  builders, 

Tho'  the  planning  is  divine, 
And  hope  is  ever  shining. 

Everlasting  as  the  stars, 
And  Love  will  find  its  entrance 
Thru  the  barrier  of  bars, 
PalO' Mine? 

-By  K.  N.  O. 


January  1,   1914 


Tln»  Ji)!!!"!   I'risoii  l\>st 


17 


A  Letter  From  Governor  Dunne 

December  9,191;i. 
Hon.  E.  M.  Allen, 

Warden   Juliet    Penitentiary, 

Joliet,  111. 

Dear  Sir: 

I  learn  with  much  pleasure  froni 
yours  of  the  Sth  instant,  that  you  expect  to  pub- 
lish a  newspaper  in  the  penitentiary  for  the 
benefit  of  the  inmates  of  the  institution,  and 
trust  the  same  will  prove  a  complete  success. 

While  the  law  demands  satisfaction  by  pun- 
ishment of  men  who  transgress  its  provisions, 
the  policy  of  those  in  charge  of  the  men  and 
women  in  prison  should  not  be  vindictive  in 
imposing-  unreasonable  burdens  upon  the  im- 
prisoned. 

During  the  idle  hour  or  brief  time  which 
elapses  between  labor  hours  and  sleep,  I  see  no 
good  reason'why  a  convict  should  not  improve 
that  little  time  by  reading  that  which  will  help 
to  educate  him,  keep  him  informed  of  current 
events,  and  relieve  the  tedium  of  his  restraint. 

I  hope  the  convicts  will  appreciate  your 
paper,  and  respond  by  strictly  observing  the 
rules  of  your  institution  and  by  preserving 
perfect  discipline. 

Very  truly  yours, 

E.  F.  Dunne. 


The  improvement  of  the  food  served  to 
prisoners  under  the  present  management  is  due 
to  three  causes;  (1)  The  food  now  furnished 
costs  two  cents  per  day  per  man  more  than  it 
did  under  the  former  warden.  (2)  Warden 
Allen  personally  supervises  the  bill  of  fare,  and 
he  displays  good  judgment  in  the  selections. 
(3)  The  food  is  better  prepared  and  the  ser- 
vice is  better. 

The  fact  that  the  present  administration 
serves  better  food  than  the  previous  one  did 
only  proves  that,  in  this  respect,  the  prisoners 
have  benefited  by  the  change. 


OPPORTUNITY 

Hy  Waller  Mnloiie 

They  do  me  wrong  who  say  I  come  no  more, 
When  once  I  knock  and  fail  to  find  )ou  in; 

I'or  every  day  I  stand  outside  your  door 
And  bid  you  wake  and  rise  to  fight  and  win. 

Wail  not  for  precious  chances  passed  away. 

Weep  not  for  golden  ages  on  the  wane, 
Each  night  I  burn  the  records  of  the  day, 

•At  sunrise  every  soul  is  born  again. 

Laugh  like  a  boy  at  splendors  that  have  fled, 
To  vanished  joys  be  blind    and     deaf    and 
dumb. 

.My  judgments  seal  the  dead  past  with  the  dead 
P>ut  never  bind  a  moment  yet  to  come. 

Though  deep  in  mire,  wring  not    your    hands 
and  weep. 

I  lend  mv  arm  to  all  who  say  I  can. 
No  shame- faced  outcast  ever  sank  so  deep 

But  yet  might  rise  and  be  again  a  man. 

.'\rt  thou  a  mourner?    Rouse  thee     from    the 
spell. 
Art  thou  a  sinner?    Sins  may  be  forgiven. 
Each  morning  gives  thee  wings  to  flv  from  hell. 
Each     night    a     star    to  guide  thy  feet  to 
Heaven. 

Mr.  William  J.  Bryan  was  written  to  for  a 
contribution  for  publication  in  the  first  number 
of  this  paper.  He  replied  by  sending  the  fore- 
going poem,  stating  that  it  expressed  his  senti- 
ments so  well  that  he  does  not  feel  that  he  can 
add  anything  to  it. — Editor. 

Some  Age 

One  of  our  inmates,  who  is  ninety-one  >ears 
of  age,  received  notice  from  the  General  Ac- 
C'»untant's  office  that  the  sum  of  one  dollar  was 
sent  to  him  by  his  mother  and  duly  credited  up- 
on the  books. 


Under  severe  discipline  good  conduct,  loy-  Whoever  commits  a  crime   and   complains 

alty,    efficiency,    generosity    and    helpfulness  of  punishment   is  a   "welsher."     There  must 

were  rewarded  only  by  escape   from  punish-  be  punishment  for  crimes,  and  serious  crimes 

ment.  calls  for  sc\ere  punishment. 


18 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


A  Letter  From  Louis  F.  Post 

Washington,   D.   C, 
December  22,  1913. 
To  the  Editor  of  The  JoHet  Prison  Post : 

No  one  could  welcome  your  paper  w  ith 
greater  satisfaction  than  I  do. 

My  impressions  regarding  papers  of  this 
kind  carry  me  back  over  a  period  of  nearly  fifty 
}'ears.  when  an  attempt  was  made — the  first 
attempt  of  the  kind  so  far  as  I  know — to  pub- 
lish such  a  paper  from  the  State  Prison  of  New- 
Jersey,  my  native  state.  A  former  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  country  weekly  on  which  I 
learned  my  trade  as  a  printer,  had  been  con- 
victed of  some  offense — bigamy,  I  think  it 
was — and  in  consequence  had  been  sentenced  to 
that  prison.  Being  a  printer,  a  pretty  good 
writer,  and  perhaps  not  so  bad  a  man  altogeth- 
.•^r  as  the  crime  might  imply  he  suggested  be- 
ginning reform  in  prison  methods  by  the  pub- 
lication of  a  paper. 

His  suggestion  was  adopted  but  the  venture 
did  not  last  long  owing  to  the  blind  prejudice 
which  existed  at  that  time  against  permitting 
any  freedom  whatever  to  convicts.  An  outcry 
arose  (the  echoes  of  which  were  heard  from 
one  end  of  the  state  to  the  other)  at  this"wick- 
ed"  and  "dangerous"  liberty  to  "the  criminal 
classes"  of  allowing  them  to  come  in  contact 
with  the  outside  world  through  the  thick  walls 
of  their  prison  by  means  of  type  and  printers' 
ink.  It  was  really  considered  a  dangerous 
experiment  by  the  good  people  of  New  Jersey 
at  that  time. 

Since  then,  as  is  quite  generally  known,  the 
publication  of  papers  in  prisons  by  the  inmates, 
though  hardly  as  common  as  it  ought  to  be,  is 
not  altogether  uncommon,  and  it  is  no  longer 
regarded  as  dangerous. 

I  am  trusting  that  the  experiment  at  Joliet 
will  go  a  point  further  than  to  prove  that  this 
kind  of  reasonable  liberty  is  safe.  I  hope  it 
will  go  to  the  point  of  proving  that  it  is  posi- 
tively beneficial,  alike  to  those  who  engage  in 
the  publication  of  the  paper,  to  the  institution 
from  which  it  is  published,  and  to  the  people  of 
the  State  as  a  whole — saying  nothing  of  the 
people  beyond  the  State,  whether  in  prison  or 
out  of  prison,  who  may  be  directly  or  indirectly 
influenced.  I  congratulate  the  prisoners  at  Jol- 
iet. and  even  more  than  the  prisoners  do  I  con- 


gratulate the  people  of  Illinois,  upon  the  social 
progress  of  which  the  new  regime  at  the  Joliet 
Penitentiary  is  prophetic,  and  to  which  this 
periodical  gives  testimony. 

It  is  trite  in  these  days  to  say  that  all  bad 
men  are  not  in  prison.  It  may  be  trite  to  say 
that  all  good  men  are  not  out  of  prison-  Rut 
trite  or  not,  and  whatever  the  truth  as  to  either 
may  be,  I  am  sure  that  the  nearer  those  in  pris- 
on come  to  be  like  those  who  are  out,  in  respect 
of  the  elevating  associations  they  may  enjoy, 
the  confidence  reposed  in  them,  the  freedom  ac- 
corded them,  and  their  consequent  opportuni- 
ties for  industrial,  intellectual  and  moral  devel- 
opment, the  sooner  will  the  world  see  thac  there 
are  better  ways  of  suppressing  crim'e  than  by 
vindictive  penalties. 

I  wish  I  might  say  something  in  apprecia- 
tion of  the  paper  itself,  but  I  can  hardly  do 
so  in  advance.  I  can.  however,  extend  to  it  and 
to  its  editor  and  to  all  concerned  in  its  publica- 
tion, as  well  as  to  every  one  who  mav  find  in- 
terest in  reading  it,  my  very  best  wishes  and 
my  earnest  hopes  for  its  good  influence,  both 
without  and  within  the  walls  of  the  prison  at 
Joliet.  in  promoting-  a  higher  civilization  than 
any  of  us  have  ever  known. 

Very  truly  vours, 

Louis  F.  Post. 


Prisoners'  Aid  League 

Auburn,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  21. — Thomas  Mott 
Osborne,  chairman  of  the  State  Commission 
for  prison  reform,  announced  today  the  for- 
mation recently  of  the  Prisoners'  Aid  league, 
known  among  the  convicts  of  xA-uburn  prison, 
where  it  has  been  informally  tried  during  the 
last  seven  weeks  as  "the  pals,"  a  name  derived 
from  the  initials  of  the  league. 

The  society  is  composed  of  men  from  out- 
side, acting-  as  a  board  of  visitors,  who  without 
sentimental  impulses  endeavor  to  bring  the 
human  touch  to  the  isolated  men,  advising 
them  in  personal  matters,  keeping  watch  for 
opportunities  to  obtain  positions  for  men  who 
seek  parole,  and  filling  the  place  of  relatives 
among  those  convicts  whose  friends  are  unable 
to  come  here  to  visit  them. 

John  B.  Riley,  Superintendent  of  State  Pris- 
ons, is  in  accord  with  the  purposes  of  the 
league,  which  will  be  extended  to  all  state  penal 
institutions  in  time,  according  to  present  plans. 
— Chicago  Tribune. 


January'  1,   1914 


The  Jollc^t   PriNoii   PohI 


19 


THE  GIFT  OF  ST.  NICHOLAS 

A  Christmas  Fantasy 

*Tis  said  of  the  Saint  on  his  errand  of  love, 

Walls,  turreted  high,  caug^ht  his  sight. 
Gray,  sullen  and  grim,  looking  darkly  at  him 
Like  a  menace  from  out  of  the  night; 
And  their  shadows  were   faliin"-. 
Like  phantoms  appalling. 


'fc>> 


In  the  flood  of  the  moon's  mellow  light. 


With  interest  awakened ;  with  zeal  in  his  heart, 

To  the  base  of  the  towers  he  ran. 

Looking  up  and  around,  bending  close  for  a 
sound — 

For  the  voice  or  the  laughter  of  man  ; 

Then  with  gift  bag  clutched  tightly, 

He  scaled  the  walls  lightly 
As  only  a  Santa  Claus  can! 

A  city  of  silence  encompassed  him  'round. 

And  it  never  had  beauty  or  fame ; 
For  its  people  w-ere  bent  with  the  years  the> 
had  spent 
In  the  toiling  forever  the  same ; 
And  his  eyes  softly  glistened, 
Ah !     No  longer  he  listened. 
For  the  city  had  spoken  its  name! 


'Tt  banishes  rancor,  for  none  may  be  told 

Of  its  secret  unless  reconciled ; 
And  it  bringeth  relief  where  is  doubting  and 
grief, 
From  the  marts  to  the  wilderness  wild ; 
'Tis  in    hovel  and  castle. 
And  Love  is  its  vassal. 
And  it's  carved  in  the  soul  of  a  child!" 


He  called  to  his  reindeer  and  sped     thru     the 
night, 
For  his  journey  was  yet  to  be  long; 
There  was  much  to  be  done  ere  the  gladdening 
sun 
Unfolded  tht   rose-lights  of  dawn; 

Ere  the  children  awakened 
With  their  faith  all  unshakened 
In  the  message  of  Christmas  morn. 


Tn  the  bloom  of  the  morning  the  turretted  walls 

Rose  as  ever  so  sullen  and  bare ; 
Still  the  city  enclosed  in  its  silence  reposed. 
But  contentment  pervaded  the  air. 
Thoughts  mother-ward  drifted — 
The  home  latch  was  lifted. 
For  the  Spirit  of  Christmas  was  there! 

— W.  L.  T. 


Saint    Nicholas    murmured,    "Rest    tranquilly 
now. 

Ye  estranged  from  Society's  fold ; 
Retain  faith  in  your  soul  and  1  elieve  not  the 
whole 
Of  the  message  of  life  has  been  toM. 
Lo!    A  gift  at  your  waking 
Shall  be  yours  for  the  taking- 
More  delightful  than  tr'^asures  of  gold." 


"And  kingdoms  have  crumbled  since  freely  it 
came 
Noble  cities  have  gone  to  decay ; 
For  riches  are  frail,  nor  can  armies  prevail. 
But  its  beauty  and  chastity  may- 
And  the  craftsman  ne'er  made  it. 
Neither  barter  can  trade  it. 
And  the  world  cannot  steal  it  awav." 


One  year  when  the  youngsters  of  a  certain 
Illinois  village  met  for  the  purjKDse  of  electing 
a  captain  of  their  basel)all  team  for  the  coming 
season,  it  appeared  that  there  were  a  number 
of  candidates  for  the  post,  with  more  than  the 
usual  wrangling. 

^^>ungster  after  youngster  presented  his 
qualifications  for  the  |)Ost ;  and  the  matter  was 
slill  undecided  when  the  son  of  the  owner  of  the 
ball  field  stood  up.  He  was  a  small  snub-nosed 
l.ul.  with  a  plentiful  supply  of  freckles,  but  he 
glanced  about  him  with  a  dignified  air  of  con- 
trolling the  situation. 

"I'm  going  to  be  captain  this  year."  he  an- 
nounced convincingly,  "or  else  father's  old  bull 
is  going  to  be  turned  into  the  field." 

He  was  elected  unanimously. — Chicago 
News. 


20 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


ARGUMENT  AGAINST  "STRIPES' 
FOR  PAROLE  VIOLATORS 


By  George  Williams,  a  Prisoner 

I  was  very  much  pleased  to  hear  Warden 
Allen  announce  that  after  a  prisoner  had  been 
punished  in  the  solitary  for  violation  of  the 
rules,  he  would,  as  additional  punishment,  be 
dressed  in  "stripes"  until  the  Warden  was  sat- 
isfied that  the  culprit  intended  to  behave  in 
the  future. 

It  pleased  me,  because  I  realized  that,  under 
the  present  administration,  it  is  to  our  advan- 
tage to  behave  ourselves  by  observing  the 
rules  of  the  institution. 

Every  prisoner  I  have  spoken  to  likes  this 
rule  for  the  reason  I  have  given.  Enough  time 
has  elapsed  under  the  new  administration  for 
us  to  have  adjusted  ourselves  to  our  new  condi- 
tions, and  from  now  on  the  willful  offenders 
should  be  placed  in  a  class  by  themselves,  and 
it  should  be  easy  to  distinguish  them. 

Dressing  a  prisoner  in  "stripes"  is  one  form 
of  punishment  and  those  who  misbehave  de- 
serve to  be  so  clothed,  but  the  efficacy  of  this 
punishment  depends  upon  the  number  who  are 
distinguished  in  this  manner.  If  one-half  of 
the  prisoners  here  were  dressed  in  stripes 
those  wearing  such  clothing  would  not  be  pun- 
ished nearly  so  much  as  would  those,  if  only  a 
few  men  had  them  on. 

If  stripes  are  to  be  worn  by  culprits  for  vio- 
lation of  the  rules  within  the  walls  why  should 
parole  violators  be  dressed  in  the  same  way  for 
six  months  after  his  return  to  the  prison? 

Dressing  one  who  violates  the  prison  dis- 
cipline in  stripes  will  cause  him  to  be  more 
careful,  and  it  does  good  in  that  way.  but  does 
it  have  the  same  effect  on  the  parole  violator? 
He  usually  returns  because  he  drinks  alcoholic 
liquors,  or  has  committed  a  misdemeanor  or 
crime,  or  has  had  mighty  bad  luck.  The  knowl- 
edge that  he  will  wear  stripes  for  six  months 
after  his  return  to  the  prison  will  not  keep  an 
alcoholic  sober.  If  he  has  so  little  self-control 
that  the  fear  of  going  back  to  prison  does  not 
keep  him  from  drinking,  the  stripes  will  not. 

He  who  violates  the  terms  of  his  parole  by 
committing  a  misdemeanor  or  crime  and  thus 
risks  returning  to  the  penitentiary  will  not 
hesitate  by  reason  of  the  striped  clothing, 
while  he  who  fails  by  reason  of  mighty  hard 


luck  usually  cannot  help  it,  and  surely  the  pros- 
pect of  stripes  is  not  going  to  influence  his  luck 
favorably. 

Is  it  not  a  fact  that  a  parole  violator  gets  all 
that  is  coming  to  him  by  reason  of  his  addition- 
al detention  in  prison — which  is  seldom  less 
than  one  year? 

Why  should  a  parole  violator  be  dressed  in 
stripes  when  a  second  timer  who  comes  back 
I;ecause  he  has  committed  a  felony  is  dressed 
in  blue? 

The  points  I  wish  to  make  are  these:  (l)If 
dressing  parole  violators  in  stripes  is  discon- 
tinued then  the  punishment  by  means  of  the 
"stripes"  for  discipline  violators  will  be  made 
more  severe,  because  then  only  a  few  men  will 
be  dressed  in  this  way  and  they  will  wear  the 
garb  for  misconduct  in  the  prison;  then  this 
uniform  becomes  the  badge  of  willful  miscon- 
duct within  the  walls;  (2)  Dressing  parole 
violators  in  stripes  will  not  decrease  the  number 
of  such  violators;  (3)  Parole  violators  get 
iheir  punishment  by  means  of  their  imprison- 
ment and  they  should  not  get  two  kinds  of 
punishment;  (4)  Parole  violators,  who  usual- 
ly come  back  for  lijjht  offenses,  as  compared 
with  felonies,  should  not  be  punished  harder 
llian  the  repeaters  who  come  back  by  reason 
of  the  commission  of  a  crime  so  serious  as  to 
carry  a  new  penitentiary  sentence. 

I  hope  that  in  the  near  future  the  author- 
ities will  add  to  the  manv  improvements  they 
have  made  here  bv  dressing  only  those  who 
violate  the  rules  relating  to  the  discipline  with- 
in the  walls,  in  striped  clothing. 


A  Warning 

Dec.  23rd,  1913. 
To  the  Inmates  of  the  Illinois 

State  Penitentiary: 

My  attention  has  been  called  to  the  fact  that 
some  of  the  men  take  inwardly,  for  medicinal 
]uirposes,  the  sulphur,  which  is  used  in  the 
broom  shop,  for  bleaching  broom  corn. 

This  is  a  very  bad  practice,  as  sulphur  in  its 
crude  form,  is  harmful  to  the  health  if  its  use 
is  general. 

Crude  sulphur  is  not  a  pure  drug  like  the  sul- 
phur which  is  used  in  medicine. 

If  any  inmate  is  sick  and  needs  medicine  it 
can  always  be  obtained  at  the  hospital. 

Dr.  J.  P.  Benson. 

Prison  Physician. 


January  1,  1914 


Tho  Jolld   l^risoii  Post 


21 


ALLENS  THE  MAN 

By  George  Williams,  n  Prisoner 

We  read  that  men  of  force  and  brain,   that 

presidents  and  kings, 
By  scravvhng  down  tlieir  signature  can  thus 

"accompHsh  things." 
A  rather  "nifty"  sort  of  way  it  always  seemed 

to  me. 
To  sit  upon  a  pedestal  and  grin  complacently ! 
So  elsewhere  must  you  turn  your   face,   the 

biggest  man  to  pick ; 
^'ou'll   find   its  ever,   ever  he    who   turns   the 

biggest  trick ! 

Chorus 
And  he  is  the  man,  remember  boys, 

Who  put  "Jolly"  in  Joliet; 
Knocked  out  the  sorrows  and  slid  in  the  joys — 

Say,  how  can  a  fellow  forget! 
Jolly  is  there  with  a  capital  "J" 

Joliet  without   *'Jolly"   looks  queer  any- 
way; 
O,  Allen's  the    man, — beat  the    trick  if  you 
can, — 
Who  put  "Jolly"  in  Joliet! 

'Tis  an  easy  going  sort  of  world,  you  have  to 

travel  far 
To  find  the  one  dissatisfied  with  conditions  as 

they  are. 
So  when  a  man    puts    hustle  on    and  makes 

things  fairly  hum, 
The  world  sits  up  and  notices  and  says :   "He's 

going  some!" 
To  find  him  in  the  common  crowd — to  label 

him  right  quick 
Pick  out  the  man  who's  big  enough  to  turn 

the  biggest  trick ! 
Chorus :     And  he  is  the  man,  etc. 

We  read  of  fighters  in  the  ring,  of  jockeys  on 

the  mount. 
Yet  sometimes  one  must  ever  lose  to  take  the 

fatal  count. 
We're  looking  for  the  armored  man — we  love 

to  hear  his  name, 
\\'ho's  good  at  giving  knockout  blows — who 

wins  his  every  game ! 
\  chip  indeed  of  a  seasoned  block,  an  "A-One" 

fired  brick. 
Who's   played   his    very  greatest    game,   and 

turned  his  bigeest  trick ! 
Chorus:    And  he  is  the  man,  etc. 


HENRY  SIMS 


By  N.  K.  N, 


1859-1913 

To  be  with  us 
lie  counted  not  on  worldly  lure 

Or  selfish  gain;  he  sought  and  spent 

The  life  worth  while;  'tis  ever  thus 
W  ilh  gentle  men  of  faith  and  power. 
Jhe  ringing  message  of  the  hour 

lie  caught  with  all  its  lull  intent; 
O,  favored  state,  when  life  implies 

A  sacrifice! 

He  knew  there  dwelt 
Inherent  good  in  every  man ; 
And  tho'  to  duty  sternly  bound 

Before  Homes'  altar  fair  he  knelt! 
Pure  fellowship  his  richest  find, 
The  swollen  rapids  of  the  mind 

He  quite  ignored;  but  sought  and  found 
The  deei>er  springs  and  so  retained 

The  love  first  gained! 

And  we  believe 
Disease  ne'er  took  him  from  our  midst; 

As  well  we  know  no  wondrous  skill 

Could  stay  the  gentle  taking — leave — 
Could  keep  the  living  breath  within; 
Ah!  no;  'twas  something  more  akin 

To  bitterness  than  human  ill 
That  bade  the  tortured  soul  depart — 

A  broken  heart! 

What  hopes  and  fears 
Crowd  in  this  fortressed  acreage! 

How  earnestly  he  cased  the  grief 

That  fraught  the  narrow  tale  of  years! 
Tiiat  Sympathy,  with  fruitful  aim. 
Within  his  heart  enshrined  became. 

Is  not  alone  our  full  belief ; 
No — in  the  Somewhere  of  the  mists 

It  still  exists! 

O,  Joliet! 
Fling  not  tiiy  tragedy  of  life 

To  curious  cars!     Speak,  speak  to  men 

Of  thv  imperishable  debt! 
Of  .nil  ilio  good  that  has  been  done — 
Of  .nil  the  plans  that  must  be  won  : 

The  vagaries  of  How  and  When 
Can  ne'er  impede:  thou  canst  command 

His  outstretched  hand ! 


22 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


"My  Parole  is  Authorized" 

A  prisoner  serving-  an  indeterminate  sen- 
tence receives  what  is  usually  called  a  "white 
ticket"  when  the  Parole  Board  decides  that  it 
is  willing  to  permit  him  to  be  paroled.  The 
prisoner  who  receives  such  a  ticket  always  an- 
nounces "I  am  paroled."  Then  if  there  is 
delay  about  getting  out  he  may  be  heard  to 
complain  that  he  has  been  "paroled  three 
months"  and  still  remains  in  prison. 

What  are  the  facts?  The  "white  ticket" 
simply  means  that  the  Parole  Board  has  auth- 
orized the  Warden  to  permit  the  prisoner  who 
receives  it  to  go  out  on  parole  as  soon  as  cer- 
tain provisions  of  the  parole  law  have  been 
complied  with. 

The  Parole  Board  cannot  parole  a  prisoner, 
ii  can  only  authorize  the  Warden  to  do  so. 
The  Warden  paroles  the  prisoner  when  he  per- 
mits him  to  go  out  at  the  front  door. 

After  the  Parole  Board  has  authorized  the 
Warden  to  parole  a  prisoner  the  Warden  does 
so  as  soon  as  certain  features  of  the  law  are 
complied  with — and  he  cannot  parole  a  pris- 
oner until  this  has  been  done. 

The  parole  law  stipulates  that,  before  the 
Warden  can  parole  a  prisoner,  suitable  employ- 
ment must  have  been  found  for  hini  with  an 
employer  who  is  a  citizen  of  this  state,  and  he 
must  be  a  responsible  person  who  can  himself 
furnish  steady  employment  within  the  state. 
Such  employer  must  sign  a  document  common- 
ly spoken  of  in  this  prison  as  "parole  papers." 
The  above  statement  does  not  cover  all  the 
requirements  of  the  law,  but  it  substantially 
states  that  which  has  a  bearing  on  the  subject 
liere  discussed. 

It  is  the  Warden's  duty  to  use  good  judg- 
ment in  the  matter  of  approving  of  the  citizen 
\\ho  offers  to  sign  the  papers  and  of  the  em- 
ployment offered,  and  this  necessarily  calls  for 
an  investigation,  which  takes  time. 

This  delay  in  being  paroled,  after  the  War- 
den has  been  autliorized  by  the  Parole  Board 
to  admit  the  prisoner  to  parole,  and  before  the 
requirements  of  the  law  have  been  met.  is  the 
ground  for  much  complaint,  particularly  from 
those  prisoners  who  cannot  produce  a  respon- 
sible citizen  to  sign  their  papers. 

If  prisoners  will  stop  saying  "I  am  paroled," 


which  is  an  inaccurate  statement,  and  if  they 
will  state  the  proposition  right  by  saying  "my 
parole  has  been  authorized,"  and  if  then  they 
will  keep  in  mind  what  the  Warden  is,  by  law, 
required  to  exact  before  he  can  release  the  pris- 
oner on  parole,  there  will  not  be  so  much  com- 
plaining. 

Editor's  note : 
The  parole  law  will  be  discussed  more  ex- 
tensively in  an  early  number  of  this  paper. 


WANTED  A  DENTIST 

By  John  Brady,  a  I'risoner 

As  a  class  we  are  very  poor.  Very  few  of 
LIS  have  more  than  pennies,  and  many  have  not 
Lven  these. 

The  state  lays  its  strong  hand  upon  us  and 
confines  us  for  periods  ranging  from  eleven 
months  to  life.  During  this  time  we  earn  no 
money. 

No  provisions  are  made  for  dental  work,  ex- 
cepting the  services  of  the  visiting  dentist,  who 
charges  prices  which  would  be  reasonable  out- 
side of  a  prison.  Where  does  this  leave  a  man 
with  a  tooth  ache  who  has  no  money? 

It  is  true  that  the  prison  ph\'sician  will  ex- 
tract our  teeth  upon  request,  but  it  would  only 
be  a  step  further  to  cut  off  our  toes  for  corns  or 
ingrowing  nails. 

Many  prisoners  endure  tooth  aches  for 
'ears  in  the  effort  to  retain  their  teeth  until 
they  can  reach  a  dentist  after  freedom  is  re- 
o-ained.  As  there  is  not  one  prisoner  in  twenty 
who  can  afford  to  employ  a  dentist,  manv  com- 
nelled  by  insufferable  pain  submit  to  tlie  ex- 
traction of  their  teeth. 

Deformed  mouths  are  seen  all  around  u=:. 
Decaying  teeth,  and  few  or  no  teeth,  ruin  the 
health,  particularly  in  a  place  like  this  where 
one  cannot  choose  his  food. 

I  do  not  know  what  action  is  necessary  to 
nrovide  us  with  a  prison  dentist,  but  T  do  know 
that  we  need  a  dentist  here  as  soon  as  possible. 


The  'Women's  Prison 

Very  little  is  said  in  this  issue  about  the 
Women's  Prison.  This  is  by  reason  of  lack  of 
time. 

In  the  February  number  the  Women's  Prison 
will  be  discussed. 


January  1,   1914 


The  Joliet  Prison   Wtsi 


23 


NO  CHRISTMAS  GIFTS  FOR  ME 

(By  a  I'rtsutier  iti  a  State  Prison) 

[  wonder  who  will  think  of  me, 
Now-  that  Christmas  time  draws  near, 

When  lights  will  glow  upon  the  tree 
And  all  the  world  is  filled  with  cheer. 

There'll  be  no  Christmas  gifts  for  me, 
While  living  in  this  mansion  grand 

With  walls  so  high ;  it  makes  me  sigh 
To  think  what  I  must  stand. 

I  do  the  best  I  can  while  here. 

As  I  think  of  friends  who  once  were  true : 
'Jhough  I'll  have  no  Christmas  gifts  with  cheer 

I  can  think  of  pleasant  things  I'd  do. 

r.ut  here  I  am  so  sad  and  lonely, 

Now  behind  the  prison  bars ; 
Locked  up  in  a  felon's  cell, 

I  cannot  see  the  moon  or  stars. 

I  sit  tonight,  this  song  indite; 

I  know  there're  more  than  me 
Who  are  alone  so  far  from  home; 

No  Christmas  gifts  they'll  see. 

There'll  be  no  Christmas  gifts  for  me, 

Sadness  in  my  heart  doth  dwell. 
While  the  Christmas  bells  so  sweetly  ring, 

To  be  locked  up  in  a  prison  cell. 

And  so  I  think  and  look  about; 

I  grieve,  and  think,  and  then  I  pray ; 
I  ask  the  Lord  to  take  me  out — 

O  Lord,  dear  Lord !    Take  me 
Away. 

Oh,  may  kind  friends  now  think  of  me, 
When  the  Christmas  time  draws  near. 

When  lights  will  glow  upon  the  tree 
And  all  the  world  is  filled  with  cheer* 

Wars  may  come  and  years  may  go ; 

It  is  all  the  same  to  me. 
I'll  feel  as  if  I  had  a  Christmas  gift. 

The  morning  I  get  free. 

Poets  art-  bnrn  and  there  is  no  law  against 
it. — Editor. 


i'eters  Manufacturing  Co., 

:JU4-310  East  22n(\  Street. 

New  York,  December  23rd,  1913. 
The  Joliet  I'rison  Post, 
I'JOO  Collins  St., 
Joliet,  Ills. 
Dear  Mr.  Editor; — 

In  reply  to  your  circular  letter 
cf  December  2Uth,  received  this  morning,  we 
hasten  to  send  you  our  check  for  $5.UU  as  a 
general  contribution;  we  have  thought  the 
matter  over  and  cannot  see  where  an  adver- 
tisement in  the  Post  would  be  useful,  in  our  line 
of  business. 

We  wish  the  boys  in  the  stone-bedrooms  as 
merry  a  Christmas  as  possible.  Tell  them,  that, 
for  the  new  year,  the  best  idea  they  can  get 
fixed  in  their  heads  is  that  there  is  no  money 
in  anything  in  this  world  except  honesty  and 
any  man  who  has  not  got  sense  enough  to 
know  that  and  win  out  by  staying  honest,  can't 
hope  to  win  by  being  dishonest,  for  all  dishon- 
est men  are  fools. 

It  is  a  good  deal  like  the  man  who  cannot 
run  the  hundred  yard  dash  in  ten  seconds,  be- 
ing fool  enough  to  bet  he  can  run  it  in  dvc 
seconds,  with  his  Life  up  on  the  bet. 

Cordially  yours, 
Peters  Manufacturing  Co. 
Wm.  F.  Peters, 

Presdt. 

No  man  was  compelled  to  sign  the  honor 
pledge  or  receive  the  honor  button.  We  can 
have  respect  for  the  few  who  did  not  sign,  even 
though  we  question  their  good  judgment. 

Having  signed  the  honor  pledge  every  pris- 
oner should  keep  his  jiromise  unsullied,  and 
there  is  only  one  way  to  do  that,  which  is  to  do 
nothing  you  would  regret  to  have  the  Warden 
know   about. 

An  editor  who  started  about  twenty  years 
ago  with  only  fifty-five  cents  is  now  worth 
.<»;  100.000.  His  accunuilation  of  wealth  is  owing 
to  his  frugality,  good  habits,  strict  attention  to 
business,  and  the  fart  that  an  uncle  died  and 
left  him  $00.000.— T^ansing.  Mich.  Pcniten- 
liarv  Bulletin. 


24 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


Bill  Dayton's  Philosophy 

"Fellow  prisoner,  its  our  duty  to  work  to- 
gether in  harmony  and  constitute  our  best  in- 
tentions, in  doing  the  right  thing";  and  to  be 
fair  and  square  to  the  Warden  and  Deputy 
\Varden — who  are  both  working  with  all  zeal 
to  better  the  conditions  here,  who  are  working 
for  our  welfare. 

What  have  we  to  kick  about  ?  We  get  plen- 
ty to  eat  and  fresh  air  every  day.  Live  up  to 
the  standard  of  the  Warden's  policy  and  be  fair 
and  square  and  things  will  run  along  more 
smoothly,  and  in  the  course  of  time  this  insti- 
tution will  be  the  model  prison  of  the  world. 
It  cannot  all  come  in  a  bunch — these  good 
things  will  be  all  worked  out  in  time  through 
llie  instrumentality  of  two  men  whose  names 
will  ever  live  in  the  hearts  of  us  all. 

We  should  form  and  plant  our  best  inten- 
tions on  good  impregnable  ground,  and  if  we 
do  this,  we  have  all  to  gain  and  nothing  to 
lose.     It's  the  best  policy  to  live  up  to. 

If  we  ever  expect  to  gain  anything  in  this 
world,  we  should  do  a  little  for  ourselves,  and 
not  be  like  a  class  of  bigots  who  have  no  reas- 
oning power  and  whose  machinery  is  rusty — 
like  a  side  track  in  some  little  jerk-water  town. 

Stop  and  think  for  a  moment  and  delve 
down  into  the  recesses  of  your  heart,  and 
throw  out  what  shouldn't  be  there  and  have  a 
right  heart  and  then  you  can  act  right,  work 
well,  sleep  well,  and  your  days  will  be  more 
contented  ones,  and  your  life  far  more  happier. 

Everybody  can  learn  to  know  something 
and  know  it  well,  even  the  ignoramous,  regard- 
less of  his  faults  or  what  they  may  be. 

Again  we  should  break  away  from  these 
antagonistic  differences  that  creep  in  on  us  at 
times  and  get  the  best  of  us.  We  should  not 
get  jealous  of  a  fellow-prisoner  just  because 
he  gets  a  better  job  than  we  have. 

Again  we  must  have  patience,  and  if  we  do, 
we  will  derive  a  good  deal  more  from  holding 
that  key  to  the  heart  of  indifference.  The  dif- 
ficulties we  meet  with  in  this  world  are  our 
friends,  for  they  sharpen  our  wits  and  cause  us 


U)  struggle  on  with  patience,  and  in  the  long 
run  we  will  gain  that  what's  worth  while. 

You  do  not  have  to  be  a  stool  pigeon  in  this 
prison  in  order  to  get  a  good  job.  It's  the  in- 
dustrious individual  who  is  given  more  consid- 
eration, respected  and  thought  more  of,  and 
not  the  one  who  carries  a  hammer  around  with 
liim  to  knock  some  one  every  time  he  sees  the 
opportunity.  He  does  not  get  anything  for  his 
"gab" — not  under  Allen's  administration. 
I'he  knocker  nowadays  has  a  back  seat  on  the 
log  train  and  is  dead  to  this  administration. 

Men,  be  fair  and  square  to  the  Warden  and 
Deputy.  A  square  deal  is  all  they  want.  We 
are  getting  it  and  we  should  reciprocate  their 
kindness,  and  be  men — a  combination  of  men — 
that  the  Warden  and  Deputy  Warden  will  be 
proud  of,  and  in  the  end  we  will  thank  our- 
selves and  will  be  thought  more  of. 

Let  us  do  our  part  and  be  fair  and  square, 
and  let  us  give  the  two  high  officials  a  square 
deal. 


We  are  getting  ours. 


'BE  MEN." 


New  "Back-drop"  for  Chapel 

R.  P.  H.  Wolle,  the  artist,  and  his  assistant, 
John  Rudnick  have  just  finished  painting  a 
"back-drop"  for  the  stage  in  the  chapel.  The 
picture  represents  the  marble  staircase  at  the 
Dearborn  Street  entrance  to  the  First  National 
Bank  in  Chicago. 

The  painting,  which  is  in  water  colors, 
measures  eleven  and  one-half  by  nineteen 
feet,  and  it  required  three  months  time  to  com- 
plete it. 

On  Christmas  morning  the  prisoners  viewed 
it  for  the  first  time  at  the  theatrical  perform- 
ance, and  the  artists  were  accorded  an  enthusi- 
astic reception. 

No  matter  how  unfortunate  Messrs.  Wolle 
and  Rudnick  may  be  in  sojourning  with  us,  the 
inmates  and  the  authorities  are  certainly  to  be 
congratulated  upon  their  work  in  the  prison 
studio. 


"If  a  man  kills  another  man  is  he  always  put 
in  jail,  mama?" 

"Not  always.  Sometimes  he  is  paid  by  the 
Government  to  do  it;  and  if  he  can  only  kill 
enough  he  will  have  monuments  erected  to 
him." — Life. 


Januar)'  1,  1914 


The  Joliet   l*rIsoii   Pos< 


25 


LETTERS  FROM  THE  INMATES 


December  27th,  1913. 
To  the  Editor : 

The  month  of  December  now  drawing  to  a 
close  also  marks  the  end  of  the  year  1913, 
the  most  eventful  one  in  tlic  history 
of  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary  at  Joliet 
There  are  some  of  us  who,  looking  at 
the  symbols  numerating  the  fading  year, 
consider  that  we  have  been  more  or 
less  unlucky  on  account  of  the  supersti- 
tious fear  that  any  day,  or  year,  designated 
and  represented  by  thirteen  is  synonymous 
with  ill  luck,  but  if  there  is  or  has  been  any- 
thing unlucky  with  those  mysterious  figures 
in  connection  with  the  conditions  in  and  sur- 
rounding- the  fifteen  hundred  inmates  of  this 
Penitentiary  the  writer  has  failed  to  locate 
same  and  can  produce  only  tidings  of  gladness 
and  joy  from  his  fellow  prisoners  who  have 
partaken  of  many  treats  which  were  unknown 
and  unthought  of  by  former  administrations 
at  this  prison. 

If  we  can  conscientiously  say  it  was  luck 
when  Edmund  M.  Allen  was  appointed  War- 
den of  this  institution  then  we  should  say  that 
the  inmates  were  predestinated  for  better 
times,  for  since  Warden  Allen  stepped  across 
the  threshold  of  this  institution  he  has  wrought 
wonderful  changes  in  its  management  to  the 
benefit  of  its  inmates,  and  at  no  additional  ex- 
pense. 

In  the  humble  opinion  of  the  writer,  who 
has  had  nineteen  years  experience,  and  seen 
many  vain  and  fruitless  attempts  at  the  re- 
formation of  fallen  manhood  that  the  present 
method  of  handling  men  by  appealing  to  that 
which  is  good  within  them  is  the  only  proper 
manner  in  jierforming  a  lasting  good  and  of 
securing  the  everlasting  reformation  of  those 
downtrodden  men. 

There  is  one  poiiit  I  wish  to  bring  out 
forcibly  r(?*garding  the  disciplining  of  men: 
The  inmate  may  unconsciously  or  impulsively 
infract  a  rule  and  no  serious  ofTense  committed 
and  be  sorry  for  it  the  moment  after.  Give 
this  person  a  good  plain  talking  to  and  if 
the  respon.se  of  ninety  per  cent  is  not  that  they 


nre  sorry  then  the  writer  believes  that  human 
nature  must  be  a  deeper  study  than  he  claims 
to  have  made. 

Generally  a  prisoner  can  get  the  confidence 
and  secret  thoughts  of  his  fellows  better  than 
the  officers  in  cliarge,  but  in  this  institution 
none  have  the  confidence  of  the  inmates  as 
much  as  Warden  Allen.  To  him  many  of 
them  unburden  their  troubles  and  tell  just 
what  is  in  their  hearts  and  nearly  every  man 
that  the  Warden  has  placed  confidence  in  has 
made  good  their  word  of  honor. 

The  writer  spoke  to  some  of  these  men  *be- 
fore  they  left  in  the  following  vein:  "Well, 
Bill,  be  square  with  the  Warden,  and  if  there 
is  any  secret  move  of  a  double  cross  on  the 
part  of  any  of  your  crowd  do  not  be  afraid  of 
being  called  a  "stool"  by  telling  that  man  it 
don't  go;  for,  P>ill.  I  have  l)een  here  a  long 
tune,  and  if  you  fellows  make  good  that  may 
give  others  a  chance  in  the  near  future  of  en- 
joying God's  air  and  sunshine  on  the  out- 
side." 

Bill's  answer  was  something  like  this:  "If 
there  is  a  double  crosser  in  this  honor 
l)unch  of  forty-five  and  he  tries  to  spoil  the 
chances  of  men  I  leave  behind  I  will  not  be  a 
bit  backward  about  telling  them  so."  So  you 
see,  dear  readers,  that  the  year  1913,  with 
its  trail  of  sorrows  also  brought  abundant 
j  >y  in  having  a  man  at  the  head  of  this  institu- 
tion who  places  confidence  in  a  transgressor's 
word. 

It  gives  the  writer  pleasure,  if  he  has  to  be 
confined,  to  have  as  his  .superior  a  man  whom 
all  can  look  upon  as  his  friend,  and  with  all 
ol  1913  luck  let  us  hope  that  1914  will  be  luck- 
ier. Respectfully. 

John  Carey. 

♦Referring  to  the  forty-five  honor  men  who  were 
sent  to  Camp  Hope. 

The  married  man  who  hesitates  is  bossed. 

A  rich  young  widow  and  her  weeds  are  soon 
parted. 

Nothincr  makes  a  man  .so  sad  as  to  have  a 
!;irl  jolly  him. 

The  more  friends  a  woman  has  the  more  she 
'  :is  to  talk  about. 

The  man  who  follows  his  inclination  never 
gets  very  far  from  the  bottom  of  the  ladder. — 
Chicago  News. 


26 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


December  24,  1913. 
To  the  Editor : 

Having  served  time  here  for  more  than 
eighteen  years  I  have  seen  constant  improve- 
ments in  our  conditions,  but  never  so  fast  as 
during  the  past  eight  months. 

It  will  probably  be  in  your  province  to  write 
of  the  more  important  recent  changes  and  on 
this  assumption  I  wish  to  mention  improve- 
ments which  you  may  overlook. 

It  is  over  eighteen  years  since  any  courtesies 
have  been  extended  to  me  by  ladies,  excepting 
those  visiting  me.  On  July  fourth  last,  the 
Warden's  mother  and  his  wife  and  a  number  of 
their  lady  friends  came  into  the  yard  to  serve 
refreshments  and  how  nice  it  was  to  be  waited 

on  by  ladies  who  tried  to  make  us  feel  that  they 
enjoyed  serving  us. 

We  now  have  slippers  in  our  cells  so  that 
when  we  come  home  in  the  evening  with  tired 
feet  and,  perhaps,  wet  shoes,  we  can  put  them 
on.  I  do  not  believe  this  will  put  any  additional 
burden  on  the  tax  payers,  as,  by  wearing  our 
slippers  we  save  our  shoes.,  which  cost  more. 

'I'hen  we  have  pencils  and  paper  in  our  cells, 
and  what  a  help   these  are  in  passing  the  time. 

On  holidays  we  are  permitted  to  leave  our 
cells  and  move  about  in  the  corridors  of  the 
cell  houses,  where  the  air  is  much  better  than 
in  the  cells. 

No  one  who  has  not  had  the  experience  can 
realize  what  it  means  for  two  men  to  be  con- 
fined on  a  holiday  in  a  cell  four  feet  wide,  seven 
feet  long  and  seven  feet  high,  with  over  half 
the  space  occupied  by  a  two  story  bed,  and  the 
only  relief  from  monotony  is  the  short  trips  to 
lIic  Ciiapel  and  the  Dining  Hall.  In  the  past 
v/lien  a  holiday  fell  on  a  Monday,  it  meant  that 
we  were  confined  in  these  cells  from  Saturday, 
evening  until  Tuesday  morning.  How  I  have 
dreaded  these  holidays.  Now  by  reason  of  the 
piivileges  of  the  corridors  they  are  robbed  of 
their  terrors,  and  this  at  no  expense  to  the  state. 

What  a  fine  thing  it  is  to  have  games,  such 
as  checkers  and  dominoes  so  that  one  may  play 
with  his  cell  mate  and.  to  a  limited  extent,  for- 
'^et  his  troubles. 

Under  Mr.  Allen,  if  two  cell  mates  are  antag- 
onistic to  one  another,  upon  the  request  of 
either,  they  are  separated.    How,  in  the  past,  it 


has  added  to  dislikes  once  engendered  for  two 
cell  mates  who  were 'uncongenial  to  be  forced 
to  be  in  each  others  company  for  over  fourteen 
hours  every  day,  and  what  deeply  rooted 
hatreds  have  resulted. 

Then  in  the  matter  of  clothing,  what  a  lot  of 
ragamuffins  we  were  eight  months  ago.  I  wore 
l)rogans  for  many  years  and  they  hurt  my  feet 
all  the  time,  now  I  wear  soft  shoes,  which,  I  am 
informed,  cost  less  money  and  wear  longer. 

Then,  too,  on  dark  Sundays  and  holidays  the 
electric  lights  are  turned  on  in  our  cells  and  in- 
stead of  moping  around  in  the  dark  we  can  read 
and  write  and  tinker  to  our  heart's  content. 

Those  of  us  who  are  of  the  Catholic  faith 
must  not  overlook  the  fact  that,  under  Mr. 
."-Vllen,  we  have  Catholic  services  every  two 
weeks,  and  Mass  every  Sunday  instead  of  once 
a  month.  I  feel  confident  that  our  Protestant 
brothers  rejoice  with  us  over  this. 

Then,  last  but  not  least,  another  economy 
and  a  humane  improvement ;  for  over  eighteen 
>ears  I,  in  common  with  the  other  prisoners 
liave  worn  the  same  heavy  coat  in  summer 
which  served  in  winter.  Oh,  on  how  many  hot 
days  have  I  dreaded  going  to  meals  be- 
cause I  was  under  orders  to  wear  that  heavy 
garment.  This  summer  we  have  worn  the  thin 
coats,  made  of  shirting,  every  day  and  they  cost 
only  about  one-tenth  as  much  as  the  winter 
coats. 

I  say,  long  life  to  Warden  E.  M.  Allen  and 
Deputy  Warden  William  Walsh  and  to  their 
many  officers  who  leave  us  alone  so  long  as  we 
behave  properly. 

We  are  with  the  Warden  and  will  by  good 
behavior  and  industry  do  our  share  towards 
maintaining  discipline. 

Just  let  us  know  what  you  wish,  Mr.  Allen, 
and  at  least  ninety  five  men  out  of  every  one 
hundred  will  respond  without  the  occasion  for 
the  use  of  intimidation  or  force  on  the  part  of 
any  of  your  officers. 

J.C. 


Severe  discipline  recognized  no  occasion 
where  one  prisoner  could  legitimately  help 
another. 


A  prisoner  must  learn  to  criticise  himself 
l)efore  he  can  reform.  Finding  fault  with 
others  stands  in  the  way  of  his  reformation. 


January  1,  1914 


The  JoIIot   Prison   Post 


27 


Dec.  23rd,  1913 
'1  o  the  Editor : 

The  "Good  Time  Law"  was  intended  as  a 
humane  measure  calculated  to  g'wc  convicted 
men  the  opportunity  of  having-  their  sentences 
reduced  as  a  reward  for  good  behavior.  Has 
it  worked  out  this  way? 

Judges  and  juries  are  usuall}-  informed  with 
legard  to  the  provisions  of  the  good  time  laws 
and  prosecuting  attorneys  have  been  known  to 
call  the  attention  of  j,urors  to  its  provisions. 

It  is  safe  to  say  thai;  every  judge  and  jury 
knows  that  when  a  sentence  is  fixed  at  fourteen 
years  the  good  time  law  operates  to  cut  it  down 
to  eight  years  and  three  months ;  or,  to  reverse 
the  proposition,  when  a  judge  or  jury  decides 
to  impose  a  sentence  of  eight  years  and  three 
months  they  fix  the  sentence  at  fourteen  years 
in  order  to  get  the  desired  results.  If  this 
ii  so  the  "Good  Time  Law"  becomes  in  effect 
a  "Bad  Time  Law"  because  it  enables  prison 
authorities  to  add  to  a  prisoner's  sentence  for 
infraction  of  rules. 

So,  after  all,  the  good  time  law  bestows  no 
benefit  on  prisoners  who  were  convicted  after 
the  law  became  operative. 

George  Williams. 

©     ©     © 

Booth  Tarkington,  like  most  litterateurs, 
writes  a  wretched  hand.  Of  this  he  said  in 
New  York  recently : 

"Once,  when  crossing  to  Naples,  I  sat  in  my 
deck-chair  with  pad  and  fountain  pen,  at  work 
on  a  short  story.  A  young  Peorian  stopped 
before  me. 

"  'By  gosh.'  he  said,  T  wish  I  could  write  as 
well  as  you  do.' 

"I  smiled,  and  the  Peorian  resumed  his 
promenade.  The  next  time  he  passed  me  he 
said  again : 

"  'Gee,  what  a  hand!  If  I  could  only  write 
like  that !' 

"Again  I  smiled  a  flattered  smile,  and  the 
Peorian  made  another  round  of  the  deck. 
Then  he  said  a  third  time : 

"  'Oh.  if  I  could  only  write  a  hand  like 
yours!' 


REPRINTS 


said 


Nettled  a  little  by  this  third  interruption,  I 


It  tt 


'WqW,  what  would  you  do  if  you  could?' 
'Go  to  China,'  said  the  Peorian.  'and  write 
labels  for  tea  boxes.*  " — New  Orleans  States. 


MISPLACED  SYMPATHY 

The  Curse  of  Self-Pity 

'Tis  gu(Hl  and  noble  to  be  kind ; 
But  charity  should  not  be  blind." 

The  human  heart  naturally  craves  sym- 
pathy. The  song  we  sometimes  sing,  "The 
world  is  dying  for  a  little  bit  of  love,"  is  a 
true  sentiment.  The  little  child  i)erishes  with- 
out it,  and  grown  up  folks  will  do  better  with 
a  little  human  sympathy  now  and  then. 

Jesus  in  Gethsemane,  when  all  alone  bear- 
ing the  sin  of  the  world,  sadly  expressed  his 
heart  hunger  for  sympathy  when  he  said  to  his 
sleeping  disciples,  "What,  could  you  not  watch 
with  me  one  hour?"  And  it  would  seem  that 
his  conversation  with  the  woman  of  Samaria 
was  prompted  by  this  inner  craving  for  sym- 
pathy from  the  depths  of  the  human  heart. 

Yet  however  good  this  may  be,  nothing  is  so 
destructive  to  every  atom  of  moral  stamina  and 
self-respect,  as  misplaced  sympathy.  To  sym- 
pathize with  a  man  when  he  has  done  a  tla- 
grant  wrong  or  even  a  petty  wrong  for  that 
matter,  is  to  invite  calamity  in  its  direct  fomi 
to  his  heart  and  life.  It  heli)s  him  to  frame  up 
excuses  for  his  wrong  doing,  and  finally  he  is 
justifying  himself  for  having  done  the  wrong. 

Of  course  in  a  sense  we  sympathize  with 
every  wrong-doer,  in  that  we  are  sorry  that  he 
v.as  so  short-sighted  as  to  do  the  wrong,  but  he 
should  never  be  given  the  idea  for  a  moment 
that  he  is  being  sympathized  with  because  he 
has  landed  in  jail.  \\'hat  he  needs  is  to  feel 
keenly  that  all  right  thinking  men  and  women 
look  with  contempt  upon  his  deed  of  wrong. 
There  needs  to  come  to  him  a  deep  feeling  of 
remorse  and  shame  for  the  sin  committed.  It 
is  absolutely  necessary  before  any  reform  can 
be  accomplished,  that  he  go  through  the  agon- 
ies of  an  offended  conscience.  The  deeper  the 
grief  so  much  sooner  will  the  sin-stained  life 
be  cleansed. 

Too  many  folks  in  prison  sit  down  to  pity 
themselves,  when  they  ought  to  be  pitying  the 
ones  sinned  against. 

It  ought  to  come  very  forcibly  to  their  minds 
that  perhaps  folks  outside  are  suffering  infin- 
itely more  than  they  who  are  in  prison,  be- 
cause of  the  very  sin  they  have  committed. 


28 


The  Jollet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


Forg-iveness  is  nearly  always  ready  for  the 
wrong-doer  if  he  owns  his  guilt,  and  begs  par- 
don. True,  some  people  will  never  forgive, 
but  there  is  a  great  host  who  will.  How  con- 
temptible it  is  for  any  one  who  is  really  guilty 
to  deny  the  fact.  It  only  adds  more  shame 
and  humiliation  to  the  already  sin-burdened 
life. 

The  writer  was  conversing  with  a  prisoner 
concerning  his  case.  He  very  frankly  but 
humbly  said : 

"A  man  who  does  what  I  did  desei*ves  no 
pity  when  he  lands  in  prison."  But  somehow 
you  just  could  not  help  sympathizing  with 
him.  It  was  in  fact  no  misplaced  sympathy. 
Truly  such  a  humble  confession  was  evidence 
of  a  strong  manhood. 

Sympathy  then  should  never  be  doled  out 
like  paregoric  as  a  soothing  syrup  to  the  sinner. 
Like  that  pernicious  drug,  it  puts  to  sleep  all  the 
finer  qualities  of  manhood,  and  leaves  the 
wreck  to  drift  on  from  bad  to  worse. — Lan- 
sing, Kansas,  Penitentiary  Bulletin. 


URGES  CONVICTS  WORK  ON  ROADS 


North  Carolina  Delegate  to  Philadelphia  Con- 
gress Outlines  Plan — Incentive  Necessity 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Dec.  10. — The  practica- 
bility of  using  convicts  in  the  construction  of 
public  roads  was  discussed  at  today's  session 
of  the  American  Road  Builders'  association, 
and  several  speakers  agreed  inmates  of  prisons 
should  be  so  employed,  both  from  a  moral 
standpoint  and  as  a  saving  for  the  state. 

Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  state  geologist  of  North 
Carolina,  introduced  the  subject  of  convict 
Libor.  He  advocated  that  prisoners  in  peni- 
tentiaries be  divided  in  three  classes  and  that 
they  be  given  an  opportunity  by  good  conduct 
to  reach  the  first  class.  He  favored  the  em- 
ployment of  prisoners  in  the  construction  of 
public  roads. 

P.  J.  Wilson,  state  highway  commissioner 
of  Virginia,  one  of  the  three  eastern  states 
vxorking  convicts  on  the  roads,  indorsed  the 
suggestions  of  Pratt. 

"Starting  on  the  principle  that  a  convict 
is  merely  paying  a  debt  to  the  state,  and  that 
if  you  treat  him  well  he  will  respond,"  Mr. 
Pratt  said,  "my  idea  is  that  the  convicts  should 
be  divided  into  three  classes.  The  first  group 
should  not  have  to  wear  stripes  or  any  dis- 


tinctive uniform,  and  should  be  put  on  hon- 
or to  do  its  stated  share  of  work  and  not  es- 
cape. The  second  group  should  wear  a  dis- 
tinctive unifonn  but  not  stripes.  The  third 
group  should  wear  stripes  and  have  their 
heads  shaved,  if  necessary, 

"By  paying  the  first  group  men  more  than 
the  second  for  their  labor  and  the  second  more 
than  the  third,  you  set  up  a  natural  rivalry 
v\  hich  will  make  all  try  to  work  their  way  into 
the  first  group, 

"Only  when  a  man  has  proved  he  cannot  be 
trusted  should  he  be  dropped  into  the  third 
class  and  kept  there.  Even  the  worst  prison- 
er should  have  a  chance  to  work  his  way  back 
into  the  select  company  of  the  honor  men. 

"A  certain  amount  of  outdoor  work  is 
necessary  for  the  health  of  prisoners.  The 
slate  should  not  be  vindictive  and  ruin  his 
health  and  starve  his  family  while  making 
him  pay  the  penalty  of  a  crime.  Jf  used  on 
the  roads  the  men  should  be  paid  fair  wages, 
with  the  actual  cost  of  their  keep  subtracted 
and  should  be  paid  a  fair  amount  for  over- 
time or  extra  work. 

"House  the  men  well  in  sanitary,  scien- 
tifically constructed  camps.  Give  them  gooa 
food,  and  see  to  it  that  the  guards  play  square 
V  ith  them. 

"Personally,  I  believe  long  term  men  can 
be  trusted  to  keep  faith.  Encourage  the  fam- 
ilies of  prisoners  to  stick  by  them,  to  visit  them 
often  and  to  write  to  them.  Make  it  plain  that 
when  they  serve  their  sentence  the  state  is  wil- 
ling to  srive  them  a  fresh  start.  Let  the  state 
board  of  health  have  control  of  the  camps.  Give 
the  men  books  and  magazines.  The  state  win 
1)6  a  hundred  times  repaid,  not  only  in  new 
roads,  but  in  new  citizens  who  will  be  a  credit 
to  the  community." 

The  Rev.  Frank  Moore,  superintendent  of 
the  state  reformatory  at  Rahway,  N.  J.,  op- 
posed the  project. 

"I  do  not  believe  it  is  fair  to  compel  the 
prisoners  to  work  outside,"  he  said.  "Some 
men  would  regard  employment  as  prisoners 
in  the  public  view  as  so  humiliating  that  the 
harmful  effect  might  never  be  overcome. 

"I  am  also  opposed  to  any  state  exploiting 
convicts  or  making  money  out  of  their  labor. 
^^'hen  a  state  exploits  the  convict  it  makes  a 
permanent  criminal  out  of  him." 

— Chicago  Tribune. 


January  1,  1914 


The  Jolict   Prison   I»os< 


29 


THE  "GUN-TOTER" 

The  gun-toter  is  as  dang-erous  as  he  is 
foolish.  He  is  datigerous  and  a  constant 
menace  whether  he  be  vicious  or  not.  To  il- 
lustrate: A  man  ^oqs.  out  as  a  hiirlnvavman 
and  kills  somebody  deliberately,  and  another 
goes  out,  not  intending  to  do  any  harm,  but, 
because  of  having  a  gun  in  his  possession,  kills 
a  man.  The  motive  inspiring  both  the  deeds 
are  vastly  different  in  fact  and  in  law — but 
which  of  the  people  killed  is  the  most  dead? 

The  daily  papers  tell  every  day  of  deaths  oc- 
curing  at  the  bandit  of  the  gun-toter.  Why 
not  eliminate  him?  Who  needs  him  in  society 
or  anywhere  else.  Is  he  not  a  constant  menace 
to  mankind. 

W'e  talk  of  the  prohibition  of  the  liquor 
traffic — which  is  right  and  proper ;  but  can  we 
not  slip  in  a  word  edgewise  upon  the  prohibi- 
tion of  the  "gun-toter?"  You  say  "we  have 
laws  on  the  subject" — then  let  us  preach  the 
rigid  enforcement  of  these  laws! 

But,  best  of  all,  why  manufacture  the  miser- 
able instrument  of  death  at  all.  If  it  had  not 
been  for  the  dangerous  revolver,  Lincoln.  Gar- 
field nor  McKinley  would  not  have  been  assas- 
sinated— at  least  not  so  easily.  The  pistol  may 
be  so  easily  concealed  that  the  victim  seldom 
realizes  he  is  in  danger  until  the  assassin  has 
fired  the  deadly  bullet. 

Many  people  are  now  serving  terms  in  prison 
who  would  be  free  had  it  not  been  for  the  dead- 
ly revolver.  Of  what  use  is  it?  Can  anyone 
offer  a  reasonable  excuse  for  its  existence? 

Then  why  not  prohibit  the  manufacture  and 
sale  of  this  detestable  machine  of  death  ? — Lan- 
sing (Mich.)   Penitentiary  Bulletin. 


The  amount  of  rock  quarried  annually  at 
the  Joliet  Penitentiary  amounts  to  about  87,- 
500  cubic  yards ;  this,  figured  at  seventy-five 
cents  a  cubic  yard,  totals  .$r>r).ri25.00. 

It  is  all  furnished,  free  of  charge,  for  road 
improvements  upon  ai)plication  of  the  highway 
commissioners  of  the  various  counties  in  the 
state. 


Severe  discipline  left  room  for  neither  gen- 
erosity or  good  will  on  the  part  of  the  pris- 
oner. 


OL-  MISTAH  TROUBLE 
or  Mistah  Trouble  he  come  aruun'  one  day, 
An'  say:  "I  gAvinter  git  you,  .so  you  better 
run  away ! 

1  like  to  see  you  hu.stle.  Dat's  dc  wnv  T  I.t<  my 
fun; 

I  knows  I  kin  ketch  up  to  you,  no  matter  how 
you  run." 

I   says:     "Mistah   Trouble,   you   have  been 
a-chasing  me 

Ever  since  I  kin  rcininilii-r.  an'  !'<(•  tired  as 
I  kin  be; 

So  I'se  gwinter  stop  right  yere  an'  turn  aroun' 
a-facin'  \ou 

.\n'  lick  you  if  I  kin.  an'  fin'  jus'  what  von  kin 
do." 

or     Mistah     Tnaible.     he    looked     mighty 
ashamed ; 

He  acted  like  a  buckin'  boss  dat's  suddenly 
been  tamed ; 
An'  den  he  turned  and  traveled  off  a-hollerin' : 

"Good  day, 
I  ain't  got  time  to  fool  aroun'  wif  folks  dat 
acts  dat  way !" 

— Washington  Star. 

^     ^     •© 

If  vindicti\eness  is  tiie  underlying  prmciplc 
;)f  prison  detention,  then  Warden  .Mien's  prog- 
icssive  methods  are  all  wrong. 


0     ^ 

Announcement 

We  |)rint  in  this  issue  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  with  amendments,  aufl  hope 
that  all  the  inmates  of  this  institution  will  take 
advantage  of  this  opporttmity  for  i)erusal  of 
same. 

This  will  be  followed  with  the  Constitution 
of  the  State  of  Illinois  in  the  succeeding  issue. 

Then  the  laws  authorizing  the  parole  of  con- 
victs in  Illinois  will  Ix*  presented. 

With  the  I'^bruary  number  a  series  of  in- 
structive articles,  explaiiu'ng  to  the  iiunates  of 
this  institution  those  fundamental  principles 
of  criminal  jurisprudence  which  directly  af- 
fect them,  will  begin. 

The  Editor 


30 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


CONSTITUTION 
OF  THE  UNITED  STATES   1787— d) 

We,  the  people  of  the  United  States,  in  order  to 
form  a  more  perfect  union,  establish  justice,  insure 
domestic  tranquilhty,  provide  for  the  common  de- 
fense, promote  the  general  welfare,  and  secure  the 
blessmgs  of  liberty  to  ourselves  and  pur  posterity, 
do  ordain  and  establish  this  Constitution  for  the 
United  States  of  America. 

ARTICLE   T 

Section  i.  All  legislative  powers  herein  granted 
shall  be  vested  in  a  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
which  shall  consist  of  a  Senate  and  Mouse  of  Rep- 
resentatives. 

Section  2.  1  The  House  of  Representatives 
shall  be  composed  of  members  chosen  every  second 
year  by  the  people  of  the  several  States,  and  the 
electors  in  each  State  shall  have  the  qualilkations 
requisite  for  electors  of  the  most  numerous  branch 
of  the   State   legislature. 

2  No  person  shall  be  a  representative  who  shall 
not  have  attained  to  the  age  of  twenty-five  years, 
and  been  seven  years  a  citizen  of  the  United  States! 
and  who  shall  not.  when  elected,  be  an  inhabitant 
of  that  State  in  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

3  Representatives  and  direct  taxes  shall  be  ap- 
portioned among  the  several  States  which  may  be 
included  within  this  Union,  according  to  their  res- 
pective numbers,  which  shall  be  determined  by  add- 
ing to  the  whole  number  of  free  persons,  including 
those  bound  to  service  for  a  term  of  years,  and  ex- 
cluding Indians  not  taxed,  three  fifths  of  all  other 
persons. ('2)  The  actual  enumeration  shall  be  made 
within  three  years  after  the  first  meeting  of  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  within  every 
subsequent  term  of  ten  years,  in  such  manner  as 
they  shall  by  law  direct.  Tho  number  of  represen- 
tatives shall  not  exceed  one  for  every  thirty  thous- 
and, but  each  State  shall  have  at  least  one  repre- 
sentative; and  until  such  enumeration  shall  be  made, 
the  State  of  New  Hampshire  shall  be  entitled  to 
choose  three,  Massachusetts  eight,  Rhode  Island 
and  Providence  Plantations  one,  Connecticut  five. 
New  York  si.x,  New  Jersey  four.  Pennsylvania 
eight,  Delaware  one,  Maryland  six,  Virginia  ten, 
North  Carolina  five,  South  Carolina  five,  and  Geor- 
gia three. 

4  When  vacancies  happen  in  the  representation 
from  any  State,  the  executive  authority  thereof 
shall   issue   writs   of  election   to  fill   such  vacancies. 

5  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose 
their  speaker  and  other  oflicers,  and  shall  have  the 
sole  power  of  impeachment. 

Section  3.  1  The  Senate  of  the  United  States 
shall  be  composed  of  two  senator?  from  each  State, 
chosen  by  the  legislature  thereof  for  six  years; 
and  each  senator  shall  have  one  vote. 

2  Immediately  after  they  shall  be  assembled  in 
consequence  of  the  first  election,  they  shall  be  di- 
vided as  equally  as  may  be  into  three  classes.  The 
seats  of  the  senators  of  the  first  class  shall  be  va- 
cated at  the  expiration  of  the  second  y^ar,  of  the 
second  class  at  the  expiration  of  the  fourth  year,  and 
of  the  third  class  at  the  expiration  of  the  sixth  year, 
so  that  one  third  may  be  chosen  every  second  year; 
and  if  vacancies  happen  by  resignation,  or  other- 
wise,   during   the    recess    of    the    legislature    of   any 


State,  the  executive  thereof  may  make  temporary 
appointments  until  the  next  meeting  of  the  legis- 
lature, which   shall   then   fill   such   vacancies. 

3  No  person  shall  be  a  senator  who  shall  not 
have  attained  to  the  age  of  thirty  years,  and  been 
nine  years  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  who 
shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  inhabitant  of  that 
State   for  which   he   shall  be  chosen. 

4  The  Vice  President  of  the  United  States  shall 
be  President  of  the  Senate,  but  shall  have  no  vote, 
unless   they  be   equally  divided. 

5  The  Senate  shall  choose  their  other  officers, 
and  also  a  president  pro  tempore,  in  the  absence  of 
the  Vice  President,  or  when  he  shall  exercise  the 
office   of  President  of  the  United   States. 

'i  The  Senate  shall  have  the  sole  power  to  try 
nil  impeachments.  \\'hen  sitting  for  that  purpose 
they  shall  be  on  oath  or  affirmation.  When  the 
President  of  the  United  States  is  tried,  the  chief 
justice  shall  preside,  and  no  person  shall  be  con- 
■v-irted  without  the  concurrence  of  two  thirds  of  th  • 
members  present. 

7  Judgment  in  cases  of  impeachment  shall  not 
extend  further  than  to  removal  from  office,  and  dis- 
nualification  to  hold  and  enioy  any  office  of  honor, 
trust  or  profit  under  the  United  States,  but  the  par- 
ty convicted  shall  nevertheless  he  liable  and  sub- 
ject to  indictment,  trial,  judgment  and  punishment, 
according  to  law. 

Section  4.  1  The  times,  places,  and  manner  of 
holding  elections  for  senators  and  renresentatives. 
shall  be  prescribed  in  each  State  by  the  legislature 
thereof:  but  the  Congress  may  at  any  time  by  law 
make  or  alter  such  regulations,  except  as  to  the 
places  of  choosing  senators. 

2  The  Congress  shall  assemble  at  least  once  in 
-"very  year,  and  such  meeting  shall  he  on  the  first 
Monday  i"  Decomher.  unless  they  shall  by  law  ap- 
point a  diflferent  dav. 

Section  ."5.  1  Kach  Hnuse  shall  be  the  judge  of 
the  elections,  returns  and  onalififations  of  its  own 
members,  and  a  maioritv  of  each  shall  constitute 
a  onnrum  to  do  business:  but  a  smaller  number  mav 
adjourn  from  day  to  day.  and  may  be  authorized 
to  compel  the  attendance  of  absent  members,  in 
=  uch  manner,  and  under  such  penalties  as  each 
House  may  provide. 

2  Kach  House  may  determine  the  rule  of  its  pro- 
ceedings, punish  its  members  for  disorderly  he- 
havior.  and.  with  the  concurrence  of  two  thirds,  ex- 
pel a  member. 

3  Kach  House  shall  keep  a  journal  of  its  proceed- 
ings, and  from  time  to  time  publish  the  same,  ex- 
cepting such  parts  as  may  in  their  judgment  re- 
quire secrecy;  and  the  yeas  and  nays  of  the  mem- 
bers of  either  House  on  any  question  shall,  at  the 
desire  of  one  fifth  of  those  present,  be  entered  on 
the  journal. 

4  Neither  House,  during  the  session  of  Congress, 
shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  other,  adjourn  for 
more  than  three  days,  nor  to  any  other  place  than 
that  in  which  the  two  Houses  shall  be  sitting. 

Section  6.  1  The  senators  and  representatives 
shall  receive  a  compensation  for  their  services,  to 
be  ascertained  by  law.  and  paid  out  of  the  Treas- 
ury of  the  United  States.  They  shall  in  all  cases, 
except  treason,  felony  and  breach  of  the  peace,  be 
privileged  from  arrest  during  their  attendance  at' the 
session  of  their  respective  Houses,  and  in  going  to 
and   returning  from  the  same;  and   for  any  speech 


I 


Januarj-  1,   1914 


The  .T<>li<>l   Prison   I*<»s< 


31 


or  debate  in  either   House,  they  shall  not  be  ques- 
tioned in  any  other  place. 

2  No  senator  or  representative  shall,  during  the 
time  for  which  he  was  elected,  be  appointed  to  any 
civil  office  under  the  authority  of  the  United  States, 
which  shall  have  been  created,  or  the  emoluments 
whereof  shall  have  been  increased  during  such 
time;  and  no  person  holding  any  office  under  the 
United  States  shall  be  a  member  of  either  Mouse 
during  his  continuance  in  office. 

Section  7.  1  All  bills  for  raising  revenue  shall 
originate  in  the  House  of  Representatives:  but  the 
Senate  may  propose  or  concur  with  amendments 
as  on  other  bills. 

2  Kvery  bill  which  shall  have  passed  the  House 
of  Representatives  and  the  Senate,  shall,  before  it 
become  a  law,  be  presented  to  the  President  of  the 
ITnited  States;  if  he  approve  he  shall  sign  it,  but  if 
not  he  shall  return  it,  with  his  objections  to  that 
House  in  which  it  Shall  have  originated,  who  shall 
enter  the  objections  at  large  on  their  journal,  and 
proceed  to  reconsider  it.  Tf  after  such  reconsidera- 
tion two  thirds  of  that  House  shall  agree  to  pass 
the  bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  together  with  the  obiec- 
fions.  to  the  other  House,  by  which  it  shall  like- 
wise be  reconsidered,  and  if  approved  by  two  thirds 
of  that  House,  it  shall  become  a  law.  Rut  in  all 
such  cases  the  votes  of  both  Houses  shall  be  deter- 
mined by  yeas  and  nays,  and  the  names  of  the  per- 
sons voting  for  and  airainst  the  bill  shall  he  entered 
on  the  iournal  of  each  House  respectively.  Tf  any 
bill  shall  not  be  returned  by  the  President  within 
ten  days  ("Sundays  excepted)  after  it  shall  have 
been  presented  to  him.  the  same  shall  be  a  law. 
in  like  manner  as  if  he  had  signed  it.  unless  the 
Coneress  by  their  adjournment  prevent  its  return. 
in  which  case  it  shall  not  be  a  law. 

."?  Every  order,  resolution,  or  vote  to  which  the 
concurrence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Represen- 
tatives may  be  necessary  (except  on  a  question  of 
adjournment")  shall  be  presented  to  the  President  of 
the  United  States;  and  before  the  same  shall  take 
effect,  shall  be  approved  by  him.  or  beine  disap- 
proved by  him.  shall  be  repassed  by  two  thirds  of 
the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  accord- 
ing to  the  rules  and  limitations  prescribed  in  the 
case  of  a  bill. 

Section  8.  1  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to 
lay  and  collect  taxes,  duties,  imposts  and  excises, 
to  pay  the  debts  and  provide  for  the  common  de- 
fense and  general  welfare  of  the  United  States;  but 
all  duties,  imposts  and  excises  shall  be  uniform 
throughout  the  United  States; 

2  To  borrow  money  on  the  credit  of  the  United 
States; 

3  To  regulate  commerce  with  foreign  nations, 
and  among  the  several  States,  and  with  the  Indian 
tribes; 

4  To  establish  an  uniform  rule  of  naturalization 
and  uniform  laws  on  the  subject  of  bankruptcies, 
throughout  the  United  States; 

5  To  coin  money,  regulate  the  value  thereof,  and 
of  foreign  coin,  and  fix  the  standard  of  weights  and 
measures; 

Tj  To  provide  for  the  punishment  of  counter- 
feiting the  securities  and  current  coin  of  the  United 
States; 

7  To  establish  postoffices  and  post  roads; 

8  To  promote   the  progress  of  science  and   use- 
•    ful    arts   by    securing   for   limited    times    to    authors 

and  inventors  the  exclusive  right  to  their  respective 
writings  and   discoveries; 


9  To  constitute  tribunals  inferior  to  the  Su- 
preme Court; 

10  To  define  and  punish  piracies  and  felonies 
ccniniitted  on  the  high  seas,  and  offenses  against 
the  law  of  nations; 

11  To  declare  war,  grant  letters  of  marque  and 
reprisal,  and  make  rubs  lomcrninL'  caiiturcs  on 
land  and  water; 

12  To  raise  and  suppuri  armies,  Ijut  no  appro- 
priation of  money  to  that  use  shall  be  for  a  longer 
term  than  two  years; 

13  To  provide  and  maintain  a  navy; 

14  To  make  rules  for  the  government  and  reg- 
ulation of  the  land  and  naval  forces; 

ITi  To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  militia  to  ex- 
ecute the  laws  of  the  Union,  suppress  insurrec- 
tions and  repel  invasions; 

.r>  To  provide  for  organizing,  arming,  and  dis- 
ciplining the  militia,  and  for  governing  such  part 
of  them  as  may  be  employed  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  reserving  to  the  States  respectively 
the  appointment  of  the  officers,  and  the  authority 
of  training  the  militia  according  tP  the  discipline 
prescribed  by  Congress; 

17  To  exercise  exclu'sive  legislation  in  nil  cases 
whatsoever,  over  such  district  (not  exceeding  ten 
miles  square")  as  may.  by  cession  of  particular  States 
and  the  acceptance  of  Congress,  become  the  seat 
of  the  government  of  the  I'nifcd  States,  (3")  and  to 
exercise  like  authority  over  all  places  purchased  by 
the  consent  of  the  legislature  of  the  State  in  which 
ihe  same  shall  be,  for  the  erection  of  forts,  mag- 
nyines,  arsenals,  dockyards,  and  other  needful  build- 
ings; and 

18  To  make  all  laws  which  shall  be  necessary 
and  proper  for  carrying  into  execution  the  forego- 
ing powers  and  all  other  powers  vested  by  this 
(Constitution  in  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  or  in  any  department   or  officer  thereof. 

Section  0.  1  The  migration  or  importation  of 
cnch  persons  as  any  of  the  States  now  existing 
•ball  think  proper  to  admit,  shall  not  be  pro- 
hil>ited  by  the  Congress  prior  to  the  year  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight,  but  a 
tax  or  duty  may  be  imposed  on  such  imporfntion. 
not  exceeding  ten  dollars  for  each  person. 

2,The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus 
shall  not  be  suspended,  unless  when  in  cases  of  re- 
bellion or  invasion  the  public  safety  may  require  it. 

.•?     No  bill  of  attainder  or  expost  facto  law  shall 

l>e  passed. 

»  No  capitation,  or  other  direct,  tax  shall  be  laid. 
unless  in  proportion  to  the  census  or  enunjcration 
hereinbefore  directed  to  be  taken. 

5  No  tax  or  duty  shall  be  laid  on  articles  ex- 
ported from  any  Slate. 

ft  No  preference  shall  be  given  by  any  regula- 
tion of  commerce  or  revenue  to  the  ports  of  one 
State  over  those  of  another:  nor  shall  vessels 
nouna  to.  or  trom.  one  State  be  obliged  to  enter, 
clear,  or  pay  duties  in  another. 

7  No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  treasury, 
l)Ut  in  consequence  of  appropriations  made  by  law; 
and  a  regular  statement  and  account  of  '^e  re- 
ceipts and  expenditures  of  all  public  money  shall 
l)e  published  from  time  to  time. 

8  No  title  of  nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the 
Lrited  States:  and  no  person  holding  any  office  of 
profit  or  trust  under  them,  shall,  without  the  con- 
sent of  the  Congress,  accept  of  any  present,  emolu- 
ment, office,  or  title,  of  any  kind  whatever,  from  any 
king,  prince,  or  foreign  State. 


32 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


Section  10.  1  No  State  shall  enter  into  any 
treaty,  alliance,  or  confederation;  grant  letters  of 
marque  and  reprisal;  coin  money;  emit  bills  of  cred- 
it; make  anything  but  gold  and  silver  coin  a  tender 
in  payment  of  debts;  pass  any  bill  of  attainder,  ex- 
post  facto  law,  or  law  impairing  the  obligation  of 
contracts,  or  grant  any  title  of  nobility. 

2  No  State  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  Con- 
gress, lay  any  imposts  or  duties  on  imports  or  ex- 
ports, except  what  may  be  absolutely  necessary  for 
executing  its  inspection  laws:  and  the  net  produce 
of  all  duties  and  imposts  laid  by  any  State  on  im- 
ports or  exports,  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the  treasury 
of  the  United  States;  and  all  such  laws  shall  be  sub- 
ject to  the  revision  and  control  of  the  Congress. 

3  No  State  shall,  without  the  consent  of  Con- 
gress, lay  any  duty  of  tonnage,  keep  troops,  or  ships 
of  war  in  time  of  peace,  enter  into  any  agreement 
or  compact  with  another  State,  or  with  a  foreign 
power,  or  engage  in  war,  unless  actually  invaded, 
oi  in  such  imminent  danger  as  will  not  admit  of 
delay. 

ARTICLE   II 

Section  1.  1  The  executive  power  shall  1->e  vest- 
ed in  a  President  of  the  United  States  of  America. 
Tie  shall  hold  his  office  during  the  term  of  four 
years,  and,  together  with  the  Vice  President,  chosen 
for  the  same  term,  be  elected,  as  follows: 

2  Each  State  shall  appoint  in  such  manner  as 
the  legislature  thereof  may  direct,  a  number  of  elec- 
tors, equal  to  the  whole  number  of  senators  and 
representatives  to  which  the  State  may  be  entitled 
in  the  Congress:  but  no  senator  or  representative, 
or  person  holding  an  office  of  trust  or  profit  under 
the  United  States,  shall  be  appointed  an  elector. 

(4)  The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective 
States,  and  vote  by  ballot  for  two  persons,  of  whom 
one  at  least  shall  not  be  an  inhabitant  of  the  same 
State  with  themselves.  And  they  shall  make  a  list  of 
all  the  persons  voted  for.and  of  the  number  of  votes 
for  each;  which  list  they  shall  sign  and  certify,  and 
transmit  sealed  to  the  scat  of  the  government  of 
the  United  States,  directed  to  the  president  of  the 
Senate.  The  president  of  the  Senate  shall,  in  the 
presence  of  the  Senate  and  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, open  all  the  certificates,  and  the  votes 
shall  then  be  counted.  The  person  having  the  great- 
est number  of  votes  shall  be  the  President,  if  such 
nun-vber  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  elec- 
tors appointed:  and  if  there  be  more  than  one  who 
have  such  majority,  and  have  an  equal  number  of 
votes,  then  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  im- 
mediately choose  by  ballot  one  of  them  for  Presi- 
dent; and  if  no  person  have  a  majority,  then  from 
the  five  highest  on  the  list  the  said  house  shall  in 
like  manner  choose  the  President.  But  in  choos- 
ing the  President,  the  votes  shall  be  taken  by 
States,  the  representation  from  each  State  having 
one  vote;  a  quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  consist 
of  a  member  or  members  from  two  thirds  of  the 
States,  and  a  majority  of  all  the  States  shall  be  nec- 
essary to  a  choice.  In  every  case,  after  the  choice 
of  the  President,  the  person  having  the  greatest 
number  of  votes  of  the  electors  shall  be  the  Vice 
President.  But  if  there  should  remain  two  or  more 
who  have  eoual  votes,  the  Senate  shall  choose  from 
them  by  ballot  the  Vice  President.  (5) 

3  The  Congress  may  determine  the  time  of 
choosing  the  electors,  and  the  day  on  which  they 
shall  give  their  votes;  which  day  shall  be  the  same 
throughout  the  United  States. 


4  No  person  except  a  natural  born  citizen,  or  a 
citizen  of  the  United  States,  at  the  time  of  the 
adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  eligible  to  the 
office  of  President;  neither  shall  any  person  be  elig- 
ible to  that  office  who  shall  not  have  attained  to  the 
age  of  thirty-five  years,  and  been  fourteen  years  a 
resident  within  the  United  States. 

5  In  case  of  the  removal  of  the  President  from 
office,  or  of  his  death,  resignation,  or  inability  to 
discharge  the  powers  and  duties  of  the  said  office, 
the  same  shall  devolve  on  the  Vice  President,  and 
the  Congress  may  by  law  provide  for  the  case  of 
removal,  death,  resignation,  or  inability,  both  of  the 
President  and  Vice  President,  declaring  what  officer 
shall  then  act  as  President,  and  such  officer  shall 
act  accordingly,  until  the  disability  be  removed,  or 
a  President  shall  be  elected. 

6  The  President  shall,  at  stated  times,  receive 
for  his  services  a  compensation,  which  shall  neith- 
er be  increased  nor  diminished  during  the  period  for 
which  he  shall  have  been  elected,  and  he  shall  not 
receive  within  that  period  any  other  emolument 
from  the  United  States,  or  any  of  them. 

7  Before  he  enter  on  the  execution  of  his  office, 
he  shall  take  the  following  oath  or  affirmation: — 
"I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  T  will  faith- 
fully execute  the  office  of  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  will  to  the  best  of  my  abilitj%  preserve, 
protect  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States." 

Section  2.  1  The  President  shall  be  commander 
in  chief  of  the  army  and  navy  of  the  United  States, 
and  of  the  militia  of  the  several  States,  when  called 
into  the  actual  service  of  the  United  States;  he  may 
require  the  opinion,  in  writing,  of  the  principal  of- 
ficer in  each  of  the  executive  departments,  upon 
any  subject  relating  to  the  duties  of  their  respec- 
tive offices,  and  he  shall  have  power  to  grant  re- 
nrieves  and  pardons  for  offenses  against  the  United 
States,  except  in  cases  of  impeachment. 

2  He  shall  have  power,  by  and  with  the  advice 
and  consent  of  the  Senate,  to  make  treaties,  pro- 
vided two  thirds  of  the  senators  present  con- 
cur; and  he  shall  nominate,  and  by  and  with  the 
advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  shall  appoint  am- 
bassadors, other  public  ministers  and  consuls, 
judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  all  other  officers 
of  the  United  States,  whose  appointments  are  not 
herein  otherwise  provided  for.  and  which  shall  be 
established  by  law:  but  the  Congress  mav  by  law 
vest  the  appointment  of  such  inferior  officers,  as 
they  think  proper,  in  the  President  alone,  in  the 
courts  of  law.  or  in   the  heads   of  departments. 

3  The  President  shall  have  power  to  fill  up 
all  vacancies  that  may  happen  during  the  recess  of 
the  Senate,  by  granting  commissions  which  shall  ex- 
pire at  the  end  of  their  next  session. 

Section  .3.  He  shall  from  time  to  time  give  to  the 
Congress  information  of  the  state  of  the  Union,  and 
recommend  to  their  consideration  such  measures  as 
he  shall  judge  necessary  and  expedient;  he  may.  on 
extraordinary  occasions,  convene  both  Houses,  or 
either  of  them,  and  in  case  of  disagreement  between 
them  with  respect  to  the  time  of  adiournment.  he 
may  adjourn  them  to  such  time  as  he  shall  think 
proper;  he  shall  receive  ambassadors  and  other  pub- 
lic ministers;  he  shall  take  care  that  the  laws  be 
faithfullv  executed,  and  shall  commission  all  the  of-  . 
firers  of  the  United  States. 

Section  4.  The  President.  Vice  President,  and 
all   civil  officers   of  the  United   States,   shall  be   re- 


J 


January  1,  1914 


Tli<»  .Tolit'i    Prison   l*os< 


33 


moved  from  office  on  impeachment  for.  and  con- 
viction of,  treason,  l)ril>ery,  or  other  liiyli  crimes 
ind  misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE  III 

Section  I.  Tlie  judicial  power  of  the  United  States 
shall  be  vested  in  one  Supreme  Court,  and  in  such 
inferior  courts  as  the  Congress  may  from  time  to 
time  ordain  and  establish.  The  judges,  botli  of  the 
Supreme  and  inferior  courts,  shall  hold  their  offices 
during  good  behavior,  and  shall,  at  stated  times, 
receive  for  their  services,  a  compensation  which 
shall  not  be  diminished  during  their  continuance  in 
office. 

Section  2.  1  The  judicial  power  shall  extend 
to  all  cases,  in  law  and  equity,  arising  under  this 
Constitution,  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  and 
treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under  their 
authority; — to  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  oth- 
er public  ministers  and  consuls; — to  all  cases  of  ad- 
miralty and  maritime  jurisdiction; — to  controver- 
sies to  which  the  United  States  shall  be  a  party; — 
to  controversies  between  two  or  more  States; — 
between  a  State  and  citizens  of  another  State :(6)  — 
between  citizens  of  different  States; — between  citi- 
zens of  the  same  State  claiming  lands  under  grants 
of  different  States,  and  between  a  State,  or  the  cit- 
izens thereof,  and  foreign  States,  citizens  or  sub- 
jects. 

2  In  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  other  pub- 
lic ministers  and  consuls,  and  those  in  which  a 
State  shall  be  party,  the  Supreme  Court  shall  have 
original  jurisdiction.  In  all  the  othf-r  cases  before 
mentioned,  the  Supreme  Court  shall  have  appellate 
jurisdiction,  both  as  to  law  and  to  fact,  with  such 
exceptions,  and  under  such  regulations  as  the  Con- 
gress shall  make. 

n  The  trial  of  all  crimes,  except  in  cases  of  im- 
peachment, shall  be  by  jury;  and  such  trial  shall  be 
held  in  the  State  where  the  said  crimes  shall  have 
been  committed;  but  when  not  committed  within 
any  State,  the  trial  shall  be  at  such  place  or  places 
as  the  Congress  may  by  law  have  directed. 

Section  3.  1  Treason  against  the  United  States, 
shall  consist  only  in  levying  war  against  them,  or  in 
adhering  to  their  enemies,  giving  them  aid  and  com- 
fort. No  person  shall  be  convicted  of  treason  un- 
less on  the  testimony  of  two  witnesses  to  the  same 
overt  act,  or  on  confession  in   open   court. 

2  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  declare  the 
punishment  of  treason,  but  no  attainder  of  treason 
shall  work  corruption  of  blood,  or  forfeiture  except 
during  the  life  of  the  person  attainted. 

ARTICLE  IV 

Section  1.  Full  faith  and  credit  shall  be  given  in 
each  State  to  the  public  acts,  records,  and  judicial 
proceedings  of  every  other  State.  .And  the  Con- 
gress may  by  general  laws  prescribe  the  manner 
in  which  such  acts,  records  and  proceedings  shall 
be  proved,  and  the  effect  thereof. 

Section  2.  1  The  citizens  of  each  State  shall  be 
entitled  to  all  privileges  and  immunities  of  cit- 
izens in  the  several  States. 

2  A  person  charged  in  any  State  with  treason, 
felony,  or  other  crime,  who  shall  flee  from  justice, 
and  be  found  in  another  State,  shall  on  demand  of 
the  executive  authority  of  the  State  from  which  he 
fled,  be  delivered  up  to  be  removed  to  the  State 
having  jurisdiction  of  the  crime. 

3  No  person  held  to  service  or  lal)or  in  one- 
State,  under  the  laws  thereof,  escaping  into  anoth- 


er, shall,  til  I i(iihr(imtn.i-  I'l  .111^  law  or  regulation 
•  herein,  be .  discharged  from  such  service  or  labor, 
but  shall  be  delivered  up  on  claim  of  the  party  to 
whom  such  service  or  labor  may  be  due. 

Section  .1.  1  New  States  may  be  admitted  by 
the  Congress  into  this  Union;  but  n«»  new  Slate 
shall  be  formed  or  erected  within  the  jurisdiction 
or  any  other  State;  nor  any  State  be  formed  by  the 
junction  <if  two  or  more  States,  or  parts  of  States, 
without  the  consent  of  the  legislatures  of  the  States 
concerned  as  well  as  of  the  Congress.  , 

'■1  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  dispo><  oi 
and  make  all  needful  rules  and  regulations  respect- 
ing the  territory  or  other  property  belonging  to  the 
United  States;  and  nothing  in  this  Constitution  shall 
be  so  construed  as  to  prejudice  any  claims  of  the 
Lhiited   States,  or  of  any  particular   State. 

Section  4.  The  United  States  shall  guarantee  to 
every  State  in  th's  Union  a  republican  form  of  gov- 
ernment, and  shall  protect  each  of  them  against  in- 
vasion; and  on  application  of  the  legislature,  or  of 
the  executive  (when  the  legislature  cannot  be  con- 
vened") against  domestic  violence. 

ARTICLE  V 

The  Congress,  whenever  two  thirds  of  both  Hous- 
es shall  deem  it  necessary,  shall  propose  amend- 
ments to  this  Constitution,  or.  on  the  application  of 
the  legislatures  of  two  thirds  of  the  several  States, 
shall  call  a  convention  for  proposing  amendments, 
which,  in  either  case,  shall  be  valid  to  all  intents 
and  purposes,  as  part  of  th's  Constitution,  when 
ratified  by  the  legislatures  of  three  fourths  of  the 
several  States,  or  by  conventions  in  three  fourths 
thereof,  as  the  one  or  the  other  mode  of  ratification 
may  be  proposed  by  the  Congress;  Provided  that 
no  amendment  which  may  be  made  prior  to  the 
year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight  shall  in 
ai:y  manner  affect  the  first  and  fourth  clauses  in  the 
ninth  section  of  the  first  article;  and  that  no  State, 
without  its  consent,  shall  be  deprived  of  its  equal 
.•suffrage  in  the  Senate. 

ARTICLE  VI 

1  .Ml  debts  contracted  and  engagements  entered 
into,  before  the  adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall 
be  as  valid  against  the  United  States  under  this 
Constitution,  as  under  the  Confederation. 

2  This  Constitution,  and  the  laws  of  the  United 
States  which  shall  be  made  in  pursuance  thereof; 
and  all  treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  un- 
der the  authority  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  the 
supreme  law  of  the  land;  and  the  judges  in  every 
State  shall  be  bound  thereby,  anything  in  the  Con- 
stitution or  laws  of  any  State  to  the  contrary  not- 
withstanding. 

3  The  senators  and  representatives  before  men- 
tioned, and  the  members  of  the  several  State  leg- 
islatures, and  all  executive  and  judicial  officers,  both 
of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  several  States,  shall 
be  bwund  by  oath  or  aflirmation  to  support  this 
Constitution;  but  no  religious  test  shall  ever  be  re- 
quired as  a  qualification  to  any  office  or  public 
trust   under   the   I'nited   States. 

ARTICLE  VII 
The  ratification  of  the  conventions  of  nine  States 
shall  be  sufticient  for  the  establishment  of  this  Con- 
stitution between  the  States  so  ratifying  the  same. (7) 
Done  in  Convention  by  the  unanimous  consent  of 
the  States  present  the  seventeenth  day  of  Septem- 
ber  in    the   year   of   our    Lord   one    thousand   seven 


34 


The    Joliet    Prison    Post 


First  Year 


hundred  and  eighty-seven,  and  of  the  indepen- 
dence of  the  United  Stales  of  America  the 
twelfth.  In  witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto 
suljscribed   our   names, 

Go:  Wasliinston — 

Presidt.  and  Deputy   from  Virginia 
New  Hampshire  Delaware 

John  Langdon  Geo:  Read 

Nicholas  Gilman  Gunning  Bedford  Jun 

Massachusetts         John   Dickinson 
Xathaniel  Gorham  Richard  Bassett 

Rufus  King  Jaco:  Broom 

Connecticut  Maryland 

Wm.  Saml.  Johnson  James   MclUnry 

Roger  Sherman  Dan  of  St.  Thos  Jenifer 

Danl.   Carroll 

New  York  -..     .   . 

Ai  J       u        u  Virgmia 

Alexander   Hamilton  John  Blair 

New  Jersey  J^'"^s  Madison  Jr. 
Wil:  Livingston  North  Carolina 

David  Brearly  Wm.  Blount 

\\  m.   Paterson  Richd.  Dobbs  Spaight 

Jena:  Dayton  H"   Williamson 

Pennsylvania  ,    „     ,    South  Carolina 

u     ,.       ,  ,•  J-  Rutlcdge 

H.   l-ranklin  Charles      Cotesworth 

Thomas  MifBm  Pinckney 

Robt.  Morns  (.,^^^,^^   Pinckney 

Geo.  Clymer  .          g^,^,^^ 
Thos.  Fitzsnnons 

Jared  IngersoU  Georgia 

James  Wilson  William  Few 

Gouv  Morris  Abr  Baldwin 

Attest  William  Jackson 

Secretary 


Articles  in  addition  to,  and  amendment  of,  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States  of  /Vmerica,  pro- 
posed by  Congress,  apd  ratified  by  the  legisla- 
tures of  the  several  States  pursuant  to  the  fifth 
article  of  the  original   Constitution. 

ARTICLE  I  (8) 
Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  es- 
tablishment of  religion,  or  prohibiting  the  free  ex- 
ercise thereof;  or  abridging  the  freedom  of  speech, 
or  of  the  press;  or  the  right  of  the  people  peace- 
ably to  assemble,  and  to  petition  the  government 
for  a  redress  of  grievances. 

ARTICLE   II 
A   well   regulated    militia,   being   necessary    to   the 
security  of  a  free  State,  the  right  of  the  people  to 
keep  and  bear  arms,  shall  not  be  infringed. 

ARTICLE  III 
No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace  be  quartered  in 
any  house,  without   the   consent  of  the   owner,  nor 
in  time  of  war,  but  in  a  manner  to  be  prescribed  by 
law. 

ARTICLE  IV 
The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their  per- 
sons, houses,  papers,  and  effects,  against  unreason- 
able searches  and  seizures  shall  not  be  violated,  and 
no  warrants  sliall  issue,  but  upon  probable  cause, sup- 
ported by  oath  or  affirmation,  and  particularly  des- 
cribing the  place  to  be  searched,  and  the  persons  or 
things  to  be  seized. 

ARTICLE   V 
No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  capital. 


or  otherwise  infamous  crime,  unless  on  a  present- 
ment or  indictment  of  a  grand  jury,  except  in  cases 
arising  in  tlie  land  or  naval  forces,  or  in  the  militia, 
when  in  actual  service  in  time  of  war  or  public 
danger;  nor  shall  any  person  be  subject  for  the 
same  offense  to  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  of  life 
or  limb;  nor  shall  be  compelled  in  any  criminal 
case  to  be  a  witness  against  himself,  nor  be  deprived 
of  life,  liberty,  or  property,  without  due  process  of 
law;  nor  shall  private  property  be  taken  for  public 
use    without   just   compensation. 

ARTICLE  VI 
In  all  criminal  prosecutions,  the  accused  shall  en- 
joy the  right  to  a  speedy  and  public  trial,  by  an  im- 
partial jury  of  the  State  and  district  wherein  the 
crime  shall  have  been  committed,  which  district 
shall  have  been  previously  ascertained  by  law,  and 
to  be  informed  of  the  nature  and  cause  of  the  ac- 
cusation; to  be  confronted  with  the  witnesses 
against  him;  to  have  compulsory  process  for  ob- 
taining witnesses  in  his  favor,  and  to  have  the  assist- 
ance    of  counsel  for  his  defense. 

ARTICLE  VII 
In  suits  at  common  law.  where  the  value  in  con- 
troversy shall  exceed  twenty  dollars,  the  right  of 
trial  by  jury  shall  be  preserved,  and  no  fact  tried 
by  a  jury  shall  be  otherwise  re-examined  in  any 
court  of  the  United  States,  than  according  to  the 
rules  of  the  common  law. 

ARTICLE  VIII 
Excessive   bail    shall   not   be   required,   nor   exces- 
sive   flnc=    imposed,   nor    cruel    and    unusual   punish- 
ments inflicted. 

ARTICLE  IX 
The    enumeration    in    the    Constitution    of   certain 
rights  shall   not  be   construed  to   deny  or   disparage 
others  retained  by  the  people. 

ARTICLE   X 
The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United  States  by 
the  Constitution,  nor  prohibited  by  it  to  the  States, 
are   reserved    to    the    States    respectively,    or    to    the 
p("ople. 

ARTICLE  XI  (9) 
The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  not 
be  construed  to  extend  to  any  suit  in  law  or  equity, 
rnmmonced  or  prosecuted  against  one  of  the  United 
States  by  citizens  of  anotlier  State,  or  by  citizens 
or  subjects  of  any  foreign  State. 

ARTICLE  XII  (10) 
The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  States, 
and  vote  by  ballot  for  President  and  Vice  President, 
one  of  whom,  at  least,  shall  not  be  an  inhabitant 
of  the  same  State  with  themselves;  they  shall  name 
in  their  1)allots  the  person  voted  for  as  President, 
and  in  distinct  ballots  the  person  voted  for  as  Vice 
President,  and  they  shall  make  distinct  lists  of  all 
persons  voted  for  as  President  and  of  all  persons 
voted  for  as  Vice  President,  and  of  the  number  of 
votes  tor  each,  which  lists  they  shall  sign  and  cer- 
tify, and  transmit  sealed  to  the  seat  of  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States,  directed  to  the  president 
of  the  Senate:— The  president  of  the  Senate  shall, 
in  presence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Represen- 
tatives, open  all  the  certificates  and  the  votes 
shall  then  be  counted; — The  person  having 
the      greatest      number     of     votes     for      President 


January  1,   1914 


TIm"    J(»li(>(    I'risoii    Pos( 


35 


shall  be  the  President,  if  such  nunil»t'r  be 
a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  elec- 
tors appointed;  and  if  no  perst»n  have  such  major- 
ity, then  from  the  persons  having  the  highest  num- 
bers not  exceeding  three  on  the  list  of  those  voted 
for  as  President,  tlie  House  of  Representatives  shall 
choose  immediately,  by  ballot,  the  President.  But 
in  choosing  the  President,  the  votes  shall  be  taken 
by  States,  the  representation  from  each  State  having 
one  vote;  a  quorum  for  tliis  purpose  shall  consist 
of  a  member  or  meinbcrs  from  two  thirds  of  the 
States,  and  a  majority  of  all  the  States  shall  be 
necessary  to  a  choice.  .\iid  if  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives shall  not  choose  a  President  whenever 
the  right  of  choice  shall  devolve  upon  them, before 
the  fourth  day  of  March  next  following,  then  the 
Vice  President  shall  act  as  President,  as  in  the 
case  of  the  death  or  c>ther  constitutional  disability 
of  the  President.  The  person  having  the  greatest 
number  of  votes  as  Vice  Prcsidnt  shall  be  the  Vice 
President,  if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the 
whole  number  of  electors  appointed,  and  if  no  per- 
son have  a  majority,  then  from  the  two  highest 
numbers  on  the  list,  the  Senate  shall  choose  the  Vice 
President;  a  quorum  for  the  purpose  shall  consist 
of  two  thirds  of  the  whole  number  of  Senators,  and 
a  majority  of  the  whole  nuinber  shall  be  necessary 
to  a  choice.  But  no  person  constitutionally  inelig- 
ible to  the  office  of  President  shall  be  eligible  to 
that  of  Vice  President  of  the  United  States. 

ARTICLE  XIII   (11) 

Section  1.  1  Neither  slavery  nor  involuntary 
servitude,  except  as  punishment  for  crime  whereol 
the  party  shall  have  been  duly  convicted,  shall  ex- 
ist within  the  United  States,  or  any  place  subject 
to  their  jurisdiction. 

2  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce  this  ar- 
ticle by  appropriate  legislation. 

.ARTICLE  XIV  (12) 

1  All  persons  born  or  naturalized  in  the  United 
States,  and  subject  to  the  jurisdiction  thereof,  are 
citizens  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  State 
wherein  they  reside.  No  State  shall  make  or  en- 
force any  law  which  shall  abridge  the  privileges  or 
immunities  of  citizens  of  the  llnited  States;  nor 
shall  any  State  deprive  any  person  of  life,  liberty, 
or  property,  without  due  process  of  law;  nor  deny 
to  any  person  within  its  jurisdiction  the  equal  pro- 
tection of  the  laws. 

2  Representatives  shall  be  apportioned  among 
the  several  States  according  to  their  respective 
numl)ers,  counting  the  whole  number  of  persone  in 
each  State,  excluding  Indians  not  taxed.  Rut  when 
the  right  to  vote  at  any  election  for  the  choice  ot 
electors  for  President  and  Vice  President  of  the 
United  States,  represntatives  in  Congress,  the  ex- 
ecutive and  judicial  officers  of  a  State,  or  the  mem- 
bers of  the  legislature  thereof,  is  denied  to  any  of 
the  male  inhabitants  of  such  State,  being  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  and  citizens  of  the  Ignited  States, 
or  in  any  way  abridged,  except  for  participation  in 
rebellion,  or  other  criine.  the  basis  of  representation 
therein  shall  be  reduced  in  the  proportion  which 
the  number  of  such  male  citizens  shall  boar  to  the 
whole  number  of  male  citizens  twenty-"'"'  v<-ar-;  of 
age  in   such  State. 

3  No  person  shall  be  a  senator  or  representa- 
tive in  Congress,  or  elector  of  President  and  Vice 
President,  or  hold  any  ofTice,civil  or  military. tmder 
the  United  States,  or  under  any  State,  who.  having 


previously  taken  an  oath,  as  a  member  of  C- 
or  as  an  ol'licer  of  the  United  States,  or  as  a  .  r 

of  any  State  legislature,  or  as  an  executive  or  judic- 
ial otTicer  of  any  State,  to  support  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States,  shall  have  engaged  in  insur- 
rection or  rebellion  against  the  same,  or  given  aid 
or  comfort  to  the  enemies  thereof.  But  Congress 
may  by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  each  House,  remove 
such  disability. 

4  The  validity  of  the  public  debt  of  the  United 
States,  authorized  by  law,  including  debts  incurred 
for  payment  of  pensions  and  bounties  for  services 
in  suppressing  insurrection  or  rebellion,  shall  not 
be  questioned.  Rut  neither  the  United  States  nor 
any  State  shall  assume  or  pay  any  debt  or  obliga- 
tion incurred  in  aid  of  insurrection  or  rebellion 
against  the  United  States,  or  any  claim  for  the  loss 
or  emancipation  of  any  slave;  but  all  such  debts, 
obligations  and  claims  shall  be  held  illegal  and 
void. 

5  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce 
by  appropriate  legislation,  the  provisions  of  thi 
article. 

ARTICLE  XV  (13) 

Section  1.  The  right  of  citizens  of  the  United 
States  to  vote  shall  not  be  denied  or  abridged  by  the 
United  States  or  by  any  State  on  account  of  race, 
color,  or  previous  condition  of  servitude. 

Section  2.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  en- 
force this  article  by  appropriate  legislation. 

ARTICLE  XVI  (14) 
The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  lay  and  col- 
lect taxes  on  incomes,  from  whatever  source  de- 
rived, without  apportionment  among  the  several 
State's,  and  without  regard  to  any  census  or  enum- 
eration. 

I  :      This   reprint  of  the   Constitution   exactly   follows  the   text  of 

that  in  the  Dcp-irtmcnt  of  State  at  Washington,  save  in 
the  spelling  of  a   few   words. 

2:      P.irtly  superseded  by  the  14th  Amendment. 

3:  The  District  of  Columbia,  which  comes  under  these  regu- 
lations, had  not  then  been  erected. 

•1 :  The  following  paragraph  was  in  force  only  from  1788  to 
1S03. 

.I:     Supcrseiled   by   the   12th    .Amendment. 

0:     See  the  11th   Amendment. 

7:  .\fter  the  Constitution  had  been  adopted  by  the  Conven- 
tion it  was  ratified  by  conventions  held  in  each  of  the 
States. 

S:     The  first  ten   .Amendments  were  adopted   in   1701. 

n:     Adopted  in   1708. 

10:   Adopted  in   1804. 

II  :  Adopted  in  18«V.. 
r.»:  Adopted  in  IWW. 
Kt:  .\dopted  in  1870. 
Ur    Adopted  in  lOH. 

^       ^       ^ 

Severe  discipline  has  returned  prisoners 
lo  .society  worse  in  character  instead  of  better, 
and  less  able  to  earn  a  livinc:  by  honest  en- 
deavor than  they  were  when  they  entered  pris- 
on. 

The  proqress  of  prison  reform  is  slow  but 
i|   !«;  irresistible. 


36 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 

$50.00  REWARD 


First  Year 


ESCAPED  CONVICT 


JERRY  O'CONNOR,  No.  2630 
Alias  Wm.  Rodders,  Alias  Wm.  Mulvihill 

Received   Sept.  24,    1912,  Chicago,  Cook  County,  Robbery,  Etc. 

Record:  4  terms  Joliet,  III.,  Penitentiary;  one  term  Pontiac,  5  years. 

Age,  36.  Height,  5  ft.  1 1  ^^  in.  Hair,  Chestnut  M.  Eyes,  Yellow  green  slate. 
Weight,  178. 

Remarks:  Woman  in  short  dress  on  left  fore  arm.  Se  3  L  palm  3d  F.  and 
ph.      Left  hand. 

Bertillon:  Height,  8  1-7;  Head  Lgt  19-7;  Left  foot,  27-9;  Outer  arms,  82;  Head 
width,  15-7;  L.  M.  Fingers,  12-6;  Trunk,  97-6;  Right  Ear,  6-2x;  L.  L.  Finger,  9-6; 
Forearm,  48-5;   Eyes,  G.  R.  Slate;  Complexion,  M.  D.  K. 

Escaped   from  Illinois   State    Penitentiary  December  ist,  1913. 

Arrest  and  telegraph  EDMUND    M.   ALLEN,  Warden,  Joliet,  111 


January  1,  1914 


The  Jollet  Prison   I'osl 


37 


JOHN  MURPHY,  President  P.  J.  MNSKKY,  Svvntnry 

THOMAS  KASHKK,  Vice  President 


MURPHY,  LINSKEY  &  KASHER 


COAL 


CO. 


Braidwood    and    Poiitlac,    Illinois 


MINERS  AND  SHIPPERS  OF 


Original  Wiliniii^ton  Coiil 

From  BraidM'ood  Mine 

Pontiac   Coal 

From  Poiitiiic  Mine 


Mine   at    Rraid>vood 


on  Chicago  &  Alton 
Riiilroad 


MAIN  OFFICE 

BRAIDM^OOD,   ILL. 


]\Iiiie    iii    Pon(ia(*   on 
Illinois  (Central,  Wa- 
bash and   (^hicaji^o  Ai: 
Alton  Railroads 


r,,    ,       ,  (Chieajiio  I  I  M 

A^'^  *•*"»"'«•  (Interstate  (Ml   L 


38 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


^ .  C.  Holmes  &  Co. 

I  Incorporated) 

WHOLESALE  DEALERS  IN 

Fresh,    Frozen    and    Smoked    Fish 

Oysters  in  Seasor 
735  West  Randolph  Street 

Telephones:     Monroe  180           Ai 

1 

CHICAGO 

itomatic  30108 

Geo.  M.  Scholl,  Pres.  and  Mgr.     Waller  T.  Werner,  V.  Prcs. 
J.  W.  Gouger,  Secy.-Treas. 

The  Michels  Company 

WHOLESALE 

CONFECTIONERY 
AND  CIGARS 


•      •      • 


T-  ,    ,  \  Bell  396 

Telephones:  •  ,„,^^.Stale  1036 


203  Washington  Street 


JOLIET.  ILL. 


Joliet   Trust 
ana     Davmgs    JDank 


WE  PAY 


Will  Move  to 
Its  Ne-w  Quar- 
ters m  tne  Baroer 
Building,  114  N. 
Cmcago  St.,  Joliet 
III,  Jan.  1,    1914 


Interest 


LUSSKY  WHITE  &  COOLIDGE  l.c. 


IMPORTERS  AND  JOBBERS  OF 


UPHOLSTERY  GOODS  AND 
....CABINET  HARDWARE.... 


69-71     WEST    LAKE    STREET 


CHICAGO 


January  1,   1914  Tll<»    Jolll't    PriSOIl    PoHt  39 


RESULTS  SUPREME 

USE 

TOUSEY  VARNISHES 

Manutacturea  by  skiUea  workmen  tor  every  orancn 
or  Manufacturing  industries.  f}]  A  complete  nign- 
grade  line  of  Arcnitectural  Finisnes,  varnish  in 
colors;  Japans,  Enamels  and  Stains 

TOUSEY  VARNISH  COMPANY, 

EleventL   Floor   McCormick   Building 

332  SO.  MICHIGAN  AVENUE  CHICAGO 


PRISON  SUPPLY  CO. 


34  TO  42  SO.   FIFTH  AVENUE 

CHICAGO,  ILL. 

JOHN  W.  GIBBONS 

SALES  AGENT 


WOOLENS 


OFFICERS'   BLUE    UNIFORM    CLOTH 

INMATES'   CADET   GREY 
CLOTH  FOR  DISCHARGED  INMATES 


TRIMMINGS 


T-.  ^.        ,  .    r,  ,  We  solicit  your  business  and 

Jbstimates  and   Samples  —-—AND  TOOI  S 

*  AINU    iU»^i-o  would    be  pleased  to  corres- 

Sent  on  Request.  Every  kind  of  Trimmings  and  ^^^  ^j^h  you. 

^^^::^—^^^-^-^^^^^^--——  Tools  used  in  the  Tailor  Shop  — 


The  Only  Exclusive  Supply  Company  in  the  United  States  Dealing  Direct  With  State  Institutions 


40 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


FEDERAL  LEATHER  CO. 

30  EAST  42nd  STREET 
NEW  YORK 

EATHER 

for  furniture, 
ca  rs,  c  a  r- 
riages,  walls 
and  screens. 

Spanish-Venetian  Leathers, 
decorated  and  illuminated,  em- 
bossed, tooled  and  plain  Leather 
and  Brass  Nails. 

WORKS:     NEW     ROCHELLE 


I.  B.  Williams 
&i  Sons 

MANUFACTURERS  OF 

Oak  Tanned  Leafher  Belting 

Bound  Leaiher  Belting 
Cut  and  Side  Lace  Leather 


14  N.  FRANKLIN  STREET 

TELEPHONE  MAIN  1665 

CHICAGO 


AGENTS  IN  ALL  PRINCIPAL  CITIES 


FOR 


Hardware,  Cutlery 

Stoves 
Plumbing  and  Heating 


SEE,  WRITE  OR   PHONE 


Bush  dz 
Handwerk 

115-117  JEFFERSON    STREET 
JOLIET,  ILLINOIS 


Januan    1,  1914  Tll<»    .loliot    l^riSOIl    Post  41 


NATIONAL  ANILINE  & 
CHEMICAL  CO. 


CHEMICALS 

FOR  ALL  PURPOSES 


157-159  W.  Austin  Ave.         CHICAGO,  ILL. 


American    Hardwood 

Lumber  Co. 

NORTH    MARKET    AND    WHARF 

ST.  LOUIS,  MO. 


YARDS 


ST.  LOUIS  -  MISSOURI 
BENTON  -  ARKANSAS 
NEW  ORLEANSXOUISIANA 
NASHVILLE     -     TENNESSEE 


42 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


When  In  The  Market  For 

Chair  Dowels, 
Telephone  Pins 
and    Brackets 

Let  Us  Serve  You   With   Your 
Requirements 


VICTOR  PETERTYL,  Manufacturer 

TRAVERSE    CITY,    MICHIGAN 


ORGANIZED  1875 


The  Thomas 
Lyons   Co. 


Broom  Corn  Dealers 
and  Supply  House 

For  all  kinds  of  Broom  Manufact- 
lE  liurers'  Supplies 


ARCOLA      l     ^:         ILLINOIS 


CAPITAL 


$150,000.00 


SURPLUS  AND 
PROFITS 


$275,000.00 


Joliet   National   Bank 

JOLIET,  ILLINOIS 


January  J,  1911 


The  .Tolu-I   Prison  I*<>k( 


43 


We  Give 

bi    ft    Hi 

Green 
Trading 
Stamps 

With  Every 
Purchase 


iU  U'l JH 


iu  BL-jn  ^ 


i 


In 

Exchange 
for  them 
You  can 

get 
Beautiful 
Premiums 

of  All  Kinds 

Free 


The  Boston  Store 

Joliet^s  Biggest,  Busiest 
and   Best    Store 


THIS  STORE  IS  YOUR  FRIEND.  It  has  made 
conditions  which  saves  you  money  on  everything  you 
eat,  wear  or  use  for  the  home— and  it  is  not  receiving 
justice  at  your  hands  unless  you  throw  it  all  the  busi- 
ness you  can. 


44 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


Ly 


ons 


Broth 


ers 


Lumber  and   Fuel    Co. 

WHOLESALE  AND  RETAIL 


LUMBER  AND  COAL 

^olh  "VeUphona  V^o.   17 
WASHINGTON  ST.  and  YORK  AVE.  JOLIET.  ILL 


Daniel  Webster  said: 

"Deal  with  the  man  who  does 
the  most  business.  You  will 
find  there's  a  reason  jor  it.  " 


Buchanan-Daley  Co. 

Lumber  and  Coal 

JOLIET  -:-  -:-  ILLINOIS 


R.  E.  GANNON 


COAL 


CAIRO 


ILLINOIS 


When  Opportunity  Presents 
Itself  Speak  a  Good  Word  for 

The  P.  E. 

Holstrom  Co. 

Wholesale  Grocers 

JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


When  You  Get  Out  Trade  at 

Bray  s  Drug  Store 

104  Jefferson  Street 
JOLIET  -  -  ILLINOIS 


FIRST   NATIONAL    BANK 

of  JOLIET 


The 

Oldest,  Largest 

and  Strongest 

Bank    in   Joliet, 

Illinois 


J.    O.    Gorman 
&    Co. 

HEADQUARTERS  FOR  ALL  KINDS  OF 

Tobaccos  and  Fruits 

JOLIET  -  -  ILLINOIS 


WERDEN  BUCK 

BUILDING 
MATERIAL 


511    and   513  WEBSTER  ST. 


BOTH  PHONES   215 


JOLIET,  ILLINOIS 


January'  1,   1914 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


45 


I  jOLiirr  FuisoN  fost 

Is  Gotten  Out  for  the  I'lihllslierM  hy 

S.  A.  BREWSTFR 


&   SON 


114-16-18  Clinton  Street 


•Toilet,   Illiiiol;^ 


They  Do  All  Classes  of 
COMMERCIAL  PRINTING 


Ksf  iiiiut(*s 
Kreely  Kurnished 


W.    Freeman  &  Co. 


Wholesale  Potatoes  and  Fruits 


Car  Lois  a  Specially 


Chicago  T>hone  618 


105  S.  JOLIET  STREET 


N.    W.  Phone  859 


JOLIET,  ILLINOIS 


Union    Wrapping    Machine 

A  DEVICE  FOR 

Sealing  and  Wrapping  Bread 


EVERY  BAKER  SHOULD  HAVE  ONE 


For  Full  Particular*  AddicM 

l^nioii   Wriii>|»iii6  Mii«-liiiie  Co. 


JOMKT.  ILLINOIS 


The   Famous    Watertown 
Extension   Table  Slide.... 


WATERTOWN 
TABLE  SLIDE 
=  C0.= 


V 


WATERTOWN 
WISCONSIN 


46 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


THE       CLIPPER" 
STEAM    TRACTION 


THE  ^^CLIPPER 


BLAST  HOLE  DRILL 


ff 


Is  made  in  many  sizes  and  types  to  be  driven  by  Steam,  Gasoline,  Com- 
pressed Air  or  Electric  Power.  This  sinnple,  economical  and  long  lasting 
Machinery  is  used  by  the  leading  cement  manufacturers,  stone  producers 
and  railroad  contractors  of  the  present  day.  It  will  cut  the  cost  of  get- 
ting out  stone  to  the  very  lowest  notch. 


It  is  at  once  the  most  effective,  economical  and  durable  Blast  Hole  Drill 
in  the  world. 


Used  in  the  stone   quarry  at  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary,  at  Joliet. 


THE       CLIPPER" 
GASOLINE    TRACTION 


MADE  ONLY  BY 

LOOMIS  MACHINE  CO 

TIFFIN,  OHIO 


THE       CLIPPER" 
GASOLINE    TRACTION 


EFFICIENT 


DURABLE 


THE 


LIFE— WALRATH 
POWER  BROOM  MACHINERY 


BROOM  SEWING  MACHINE  WHISK  SEWING  MACHINE 

HURL  CUTTER  WITH  SIZER  ATTACHED 

CORN  SIZING  MACHINE  SCRAPER  WITH  FAN 

IRON  FRAME  WINDER         CLIPPER         WOOD  FRAME  WINDER 


SEND  FOR  FULL  INFORMATION 

LIFE  &  WALRATH  CO. 

SYRACUSE.  N.  Y. 


January  1,  1914 


The  •Toli€»l  Prison  I'ost 


47 


HE  Prisoners  at  the  Jol- 
iet  Prison  are  permitted 
to  tinker  in  their  cells. 
The  novelties  they  make 
are  usually  both  attractive  and  use- 
ful. The  prices  vary  from  twenty- 
five  cents  to  three  dollars.  These 
novelties  are  on  exhibition  and  sale 
in  the  Warden  House. 


48 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


IOC 


Jb 


3ac 


3DC 


IDE 


DCZIC 


jai 


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T"T  7E  assume  that  you  have  read  this 
number  of  The  Joliet  Prison 
Post.  The  inmates  of  the  Illinois  State 
Prison,  represented  by  the  force  in  the 
Newspaper  Office,  will  do  their  utmost  to 
publish  a  paper  of  merit. 

If  you  approve  of  the  tone  of  this 
publication,  you  are  respectfully  requested 
to  send  to  the  Joliet  Prison  Post,  One 
Dollar,  in  payment  of  six  months  subscrip- 
tion. 

Address: 

The  Joliet  Prison  Post 

1900  Collins  Street,  Joliet,  Illinois 


jnnc 


3DC 


3DC 


DCZIC 


DDE 


3r 


IDE 


THE  JOLIET 
PRISON  POST 


VOL.   I. 


JOLIET,  ILLINOIS,   FKBRUARY  1,   1914. 


No.  2 


EDITORIAL 


The  Whipping  Post  in  1914 

From  the  accounts  published  in  the  Seattle 
(Wash.)  Times,  the  Springfield  (Ohio)  Sun 
and  other  newspapers  we  learn  that  Governor 
Charles  L.  Miller  of  Delaware  approves  of  the 
law  now  in  force  in  his  state  which  provides 
for  the  punishment  of  certain  classes  of  offend- 
ers by  publicly  whipping  them  with  a  lash  on 
their  bare  backs;  exposing  them  to  the  public 
gaze  while  locked  in  pillories  and  then  by  con- 
fining them  in  uncomfortable  jails  for  long 
periods. 

He  favors  the  infliction  of  all  three  modes 
of  punishment  each  to  the  fullest  extent  of  the 
law  and  asks  to  have  these  methods  given  the 
widest  possible  publicity  in  order  to  inspire  fear 
and  thus  reduce  crime  in  Delaware. 

He  is  of  the  opinion  that  all  punishment  is 
to  prevent  crime  and  remotely  to  cure  the 
criminal,  and  that  the  Delaware  method  re- 
duces the  extent  of  crime  in  that  state. 

He  is  convinced  that  the  contempt,  ridicule, 
humiliation  and  punishment  which,  in  his  state, 
is  visited  on  convicted  men  and  women,  has  a 
good  effect  and  that  prisoners  are  "whipped 
curs"  after  the  Delaware  authorities  are 
through  with  them. 

According  to  Governor  Miller  this  method 
of  punishment  is  very  popular  with  the  judici- 
ary and  the  populace  of  his  state. 

He  informs  us  that  once  in  a  while  some 
half  drunken  loon  enters  a  house  at  night,  and 
when  arrested  and  convicted  he  gets  all  that 
the  State  of  Delaware  lias  to  give  in  the  shape 
of  punishment. 

The  Governor  asserts  that  hysterical  women, 
weak  men,  bullies,  cranks  and  blackguards 
from  all  parts  of  the  United  States  have  writ- 


ten to  him  demanding  that  he  prohibit  whippitig 
and  pillorving  in  his  state. 

It  may  be  that  torture,  humiliation  and  con- 
finement in  uncomfortable  jails  for  \fmg  per- 
iods reduces  crime  in  Delaware,  but  if  that  is 
the  only  object  why  stop  at  these  half  way 
measures?  Why  not  make  a  thorough  job  of 
it  by  executing  all  prisoners  after  they  have 
been  thoroughly  and  publicly  lashed,  pilloried 
to  the  fullest  extent  of  the  law  and  confined 
in  jails  of  the  Delaware  type  for  long  periods? 
Such  a  program  migiit  prove  even  far  more  ef- 
ficacious in  preventing  crime. 

Delaware  is  the  only  state  in  the  union  which 
finds  the  whipping  post  and  the  pillory  neces- 
sary, consequently,  the  following  questions 
seem  pertinent: 

1.  Is  Delaware  the  only  state  in  the  union 
that  knows  how  to  punish  crime  properly? 

2.  Are  all  the  other  states  behind  the 
times  by  not  inflicting  public  whii)pings  at  a 
whipping  jx>st ;  by  refraining  froqi  pillorying 
and  by  attempting  to  conserve  the  liealth  of 
their  prisoners;  by  aiming  to  provide  some 
comforts  for  the  inmates  of  their  jails,  re- 
formatories and  fKMiitentiaries: 

3.  Is  punishment  for  crime  oi  greater  im- 
portance than  the  redemption  of  the  criminal.'' 

4.  Does  the  state  of  Delaware  do  its  full 
duty  towards  its  sister  states  by  looking  upon 
prevention  of  crime  within  its  own  borders  as 
the  important  matter,  and  by  treating  the  cure 
of  crime  as  of  secondary  consideration,  while 
it  permits  its  criminals  to  move  to  other  states 
and  encourages  such  removals  by  means  of  vis- 
iting unusual  punishment  up<">n  offenders 
against  its  laws? 

5.  Wbat  would  be  tiie  result  it  all  the 
states  in  the  union  passed  laws  similar  to  those 
now  in  force  in  Delaware? 


50 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


Published  Monthly  By  The 

BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS   AND  THE   WARDEN   OF  THE 

II.I,INOIS  STATE  PENITENTIARY,  JOUET,  II,L.,  U.  S.  A. 

Address:— THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 
1900  Collins  Street  _  _  -  Jolibt,  Illinois 

Single  Copy Ten  Cents 

Yearly  .Subscription One  Dollar 

Canadian  and  Koreign... One  Dollar  and  Hifty  Cents 

EDITED    BY    A     PRISONER 

REPRODUCTIONS    PERMITTED    UNCONDITIONALLY 

Application  for  entry  as  Second-Class  Matter  at  the  Post  Office  at 
Joliet,  Illinois,  pending. 


6.  Do  the  people  of  the  state  of  Delaware 
take  into  consideration  the  futures  of  the  men 
and  women  who  are  made  to  feel  that  they  are 
"whipped  curs?" 

7.  Are  the  professional  lashers  of  Dela- 
ware brutalized  by  the  exercise  of  their  calling? 
If  so,  how  about  the  members  of  the  commun- 
ity who  hire  the  work  done  and  look  upon  the 
agonies  of  the  criminal  at  the  whipping  post 
and  in  the  pillory? 

8.  What  is  the  effect  on  the  officials  of  the 
jails  by  reason  of  their  constant  contact  with 
prisoners  who  are  detained  in  uncomfortable 
jails  for  long  periods? 

9.  Are  there  no  good  and  sane  men  and 
women  amongst  all  those  who  have  written  to 
Governor  Miller  urging  upon  him  that  he  pro- 
hibit cruel  and  unusual  punishment  in  his 
state  ? 

10.  If  Delaware  is  wrong  in  its  treatment 
of  criminals  what  is  the  remedy  ? 

11.  Does  the  infliction  of  corporal  punish- 
ment in  Delaware  call  for  an  amendment  to  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  so  that  this 
one  state  may  be  deterred  from  a  continuance 
of  its  present  practices? 

Medical  Care. 

Can  anyone  who  has  not  experienced  prison 
life  have  any  conception  of  the  state  of  mind 
of  an  ailing  prisoner  in  a  prison  where  medi- 
cal attention  and  proper  care  is  considered  as 
of  secondary  importance  to  the  discipline  and 
work? 

Many  ailing  persons  outside  of  prisons  suff(,r 
for  the  want  of  proper  medical  attendance 
through  poverty  or  ignorance,  but  when  they 
stop  to  consider  it  they  find  that  it  is  under  cir- 
cumstances more  or  less  of  their  own  making. 


In  prison  the  thoughts  go  to  a  different  channel. 
Prisoners,  if  they  think  clearly,  blame  them- 
selves for  being  in  prison  and  feel  that  their 
imprisonment  is  a  just  punishment,  but  they 
believe  that  neglect  is  unwarranted  in  view  of 
the  fact  that  they  are  not  in  a  position  to  do 
anything  for  themselves.  There  is  only  one 
official  prison  physician  for  prisoners  to  go  to 
and  if  he  neglects  them  they  have  no  other  re- 
course; consequently,  neglect  in  medical  care 
in  a  prison  always  results  in  discouragement 
and  discontent. 

There  is  nothing  that  will  appeal  to  prison- 
ers more  heartily  than  intelligent  and  sympa- 
thetic medical  care,  and  the  official  prison  phy- 
sician who  lives  up  to  his  obligations  towards 
his  patients  as  a  man  and  a  doctor  should,  be- 
comes an  object  of  admiration  and  esteem  to 
the  prisoners  in  the  institution. 

Health  as  a  Cure  for  Criminal  Tendencies 

In  those  institutions  which  have  so  far  not 
responded  to  the  reform  movement,  a  term  in 
prison  generally  means  shortening  of  life  for 
the  inmates  and  it  follows  that  those  who  out 
live  their  sentences  are  usually  injured  in 
health  when  released. 

It  is  difficult  to  understand  how  society  gains 
by  this,  as  a  man  who  is  released  from  prison 
must  have  food,  shelter  and  clothing,  and  if  he 
is  in  good  health  he  stands  a  better  chance  of 
earning  a  living  honestly  than  if  he  is  in  poor 
healtii,  and  in  consequence  is  unable  to  secure 
employment  at  living  wages. 

There  may  be  differences  of  opinion  as  to 
the  kind  of  punishment  to  be  meted  out  to  of- 
fenders against  the  law,  but  there  can  be  no 
such  difference  with  regard  to  the  harm  done 
to  society  by  setting  free  a  lot  of  prisoners 
whose  healths  are  undermined ;  no  one  will  con- 
tradict this. 

It  follows  that  persons  convicted  of  crime 
must  either  be  executed  or  cared  for  with  due 
regard  to  their  health ;  there  is  no  other  alterna- 
tive. 

As  no  community  cares  to  increase  the  list 
of  crimes  for  which  executions  may  be  had, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  health  of  all 
men  and  women  must  be  conserved.     All  gov- 


Februar>'  1,  1914 


The  Joliet  PriHoii  Poh4 


51 


ernments  which  ni.'iiiitain  prisons  in  which  the 
health  of  their  inmates  are  injured,  are  remiss 
in  their  duties;  and  when  ever  a  government 
fails  in  the  performance  of  its  obligations,  dis- 
respect for  the  law  is  created  by  reason  of  the 
bad  example  set  by  the  government.  Under  the 
old  order  there  are  many  men  who  accepted  as 
inevitable  in  their  cases  a  life  of  several  con- 
victions with  the  monotony  broken  by  an  oc- 
casional vacation  from  prison.  Many  men 
wlio  after  their  release  would  have  re-establish- 
ed themselves  if  they  had  left  prison  in  good 
health,  have  incurred  subse(|uent  terms  because 
tiiey  left  prison  irreparal)l\'  ruined  in  health 
after  having  served  their  first  sentence. 

It  would  have  been  different  in  manv  in- 
stances  if  the  men  had  left  prison  in  good 
health. 


Few  men  who  have  served  one  term  in  a 
prison  desire  to  commit  crimes,  and  thus  take 
the  risk  of  being  returned;  nearly  every  man 
who  is  healthy  in  mind  and  body  at  the  time  of 
his  release  leaves  the  prison  hoping  that  he  will 
succeed  by  honest  endeavor. 

%     % 

A  Penitentiary  and  Publicity 

When  prison  authorities  announce  publicly 
that  "newspaper  reporters  will  be  admitted  at 
reasonable  hours  on  w^orking  days  only,  and 
that  they  may  talk  with  whomsoever  they  de- 
sire." there  can  be  nothing  to  conceal  from  the 
public  in  that  place,  and  a  warden  who  can 
make  and  live  up  to  tiiis  statement  nuist  be 
sure  that  the  prisoners  are  satisfied  with  the 
treatment  he  accords  to  them. 


Equality  of  Prisoners 

The  promise  made  by  our  Wartlen  that  he 
will  shortly  establish  :in  itulu>trial  elViciencv 
grade  fttr  prisoners  in  the  lir.sl  gra»le  who  are 
valuable  to  the  institution  by  reason  of  excep- 
tii'iial  efViciency.  knock>  into  a  cocked  hat  the 
pernicious  talk  about  all  pris<jners  being  e(|nal. 

It  may  be  almost  accurate  to  claim  that  all 
prisoners  should  start  even  when  thiv  enter 
prison;  but  inside  of  a  i)rison  as  will  as  out- 
side ilistinctions  will  pre\ail. 

The  prisoner  who  cur.ses  and  is  vulgar  and 
lewd  in  his  conversation  is  not  the  e(iual  of  him 
whose  conversation  is  clean  and  wholesome. 
The  scandal  monger  is  not  the  eijual  of  the 
man  who  speaks  kind  words.  He  who  makes 
trouble  for  the  officers  is  not  the  ecjual  of  the 
prisoner  who  ol)eys  the  rules  and  who  does  his 
best  to  be  helpful.  The  prisoner  who  neglects 
stock  entrusted  to  his  care  is  not  the  eijual  of 
the  one,  who  recognizes  and  lives  up  to  his 
duties  towards  dumb  animals,  who  are  wholly 
dependent  upon  him.  The  uneducated  man 
who  does  not  avail  himself  of  the  benefits  of 
the  school  and  thus  proclaims  that  he  is  willing 
to  wallow  in  his  ignorance  is  not  the  e<}ual  of 
an  uneducatetl  man  who.  by  attendance  and 
application,  tries  and  overcomes  his  educa- 
tional deficiencies. 

The  prisoner  who  gives  the  Warden  his  word 
of  honor  and  then  is  placed  in  a  i)osition  to 
easily  make  his  escape,  ami  then  runs  away  is 
not  the  e(|ual  of  the  man  who  stands  fast  by  his 
[)ledge  in  spite  of  all  temptations. 


The  warden  who  makes  such  announcement 
knows  there  is  nothing  wrong  in  his  prison, 
otherwise  he  would  invite  disaster,  as  report- 
ers can  outdo  detectives  or  investigating  com- 
mittees in  getting  at  the  facts. 


If  prisoners  could  be  asked  what  kind  of  a 
prison  they  preferred,  one  open  to  reporters  or 
one  closed  to  every  one  who  could  be  kept  out. 
they  would  be  a  unit  for  the  prison  which  ad- 
mitted the  representatives  of  the  press,  and 
there  is  an  obvious  reason  for  this.  Was  it 
ever  necessary  in  a  properly  managed  iniblic 
institution  to  make  secret  of  what  was  going 
on? 


There  is  as  nuich  difference  between  prison- 
ers as  there  is  amongst  free  men,  and  it  is  al- 
ways he  of  the  lowesn  order  who  insists  that  all 
prisoners  are  equal. 

Modern  prison  reform  I)cc«miics  an  im|K)Ssi- 
bility  if  the  ecjualitv  of  all  |)risontT<  is  con- 
ceded. 

The  Spirit  of  1914 

A  year  ago  the  majority  of  the  prisoners  at 
this  institution  were  a  nervous  lot  of  men. 
They  were  (|uarrelsome  and  nearly  every  man 
was  sure  that  every  other  man  in  the  prist»n 
was  demented,  and  he  was  not  at  all  confident 
that  he  himself  did  not  have  a  cracked  brain. 
One  could  safely  tell  any  inmate  in  the  prison 


52 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


that  he  was  crazy,  as  that  was  the  only  propo- 
sition he  would  agree  to ;  anything  else  was 
likely  to  be  disputed.  All  conversation  be- 
tween prisoners  a  year  ago  was  forbidden  ex- 
cept so  far  as  the  business  of  the  institution 
made  it  necessary  between  those  men  holding 
clerical  positions  and  between  cell  mates  while 
in  their  cells  and  the  main  reason  for  the  pro- 
hibition against  conversation  was  that  speak- 
ing led  to  fighting. 

If  on  any  day  a  year  ago  the  men  had  spoken 
with  one  another,  as  they  do  now,  there  would 
not  have  been  enough  handcuffs  in  the  institu- 
tion to  shackle  the  men  confined  in  the  solitary 
for  fighting.  The  spirit  of  1914  permits  the 
usual  conversation  between  men,  and  we  be- 
lieve that  there  is  less  quarreling  amongst  the 
fifteen  hundred  inmates  confined  in  this  prison 
than  there  usually  is  amongst  that  same  number 
of  men  of  average  intellect  outside  of  prisons. 

What  Tinkering  Means  to  Prisoners 

During  the  winter  months  prisoners  are 
locked  up  in  their  cells  at  half  past  four  in  the 
afternoon  and  during  the  summer  months  the 
inmates  reach  their  cells  an  hour  later.  They 
retire  at  nine  o'clock.  On  Sundays  and  holi- 
days they  are  in  their  cells  nearly  the  entire  day 
in  addition  to  the  evening  hours.  It  will  read- 
ily be  seen  that  they  average  about  five  hours  a 
day  in  their  cells  before  it  is  time  to  retire.  The 
cells  are  well  lighted,  each  having  an  incandes- 
cent electric  bulb.  It  has  always  been  a  problem 
with  prisoners  what  to  do  with  their  spare 
time,  as  few  men  care  to  read  five  hours  per 
day  even  if  enough  reading  matter  is  available. 


Within  the  past  few  rwonths  the  authorities 
have  permitted  the  prisoners  to  tinker  in  their 
cells.  This  enables  them  to  occupy  their  time 
at  work  requiring  skill,  and  the  trinkets  and 
novelties  which  they  manufacture  are  after- 
wards sold,  and  the  amounts  realized  placed 
upon  the  books  in  the  ofiice  to  the  credit  of  the 
producer  of  the  articles. 

The  actual  money  realized  is  trifling  com- 
pared with  the  time  expended ;  a  prisoner  who 
earns  one  dollar  per  week  in  his  spare  time  is 
fortunate.  This  seems  small  pay,  but  prison- 
ers   have     few     expenses,  consequently  what 


would  seem  trifling  to  a  citizen  looks  large  to 
a  prisoner.  With  the  money  earned  he  can 
buy  some  necessities  and  luxuries,  such  as 
tooth  powder  and  brushes,  which  are  sold  at 
cost  in  this  prison  and  he  can  subscribe  for 
newspapers  and  magazines. 

A  prisoner  who  serves  a  long  term  may  ac- 
cumulate enough  money  to  aid  him  towards 
establishing  himself  after  his  release.  Many 
will  doubtless  send  money  home  to  their  fami- 
lies after  the  system  has  been  in  vogue  for  a 
sufficient  length  of  time. 

The  busier  a  prisoner  is  kept,  so  long  as 
work  does  not  become  drudgery,  the  better  he 
is  off. 


Many  Governors  Favor  Road  ^Vork 

According  to  a  compilation  of  their  discus- 
sions recently  issued  by  the  national  commit- 
tee on  prison  labor,  twenty-five  governors  favor 
the  working  of  prisoners  on  roads.  These 
governors  advocate  this  system  because  of  the 
healthful  nature  of  such  work,  and  that  men 
employed  in  this  way  can  more  readily  find  em- 
ployment elsewhere  when  released;  added  to 
these  reasons  are  the  benefits  of  good  roads  to 
the  public. 

Gov.  Oddie  of  Nevada  who  was  instrumen- 
tal in  securing  the  passage  of  legislation  in  his 
state  providing  road  labor  for  prisoners  is  one 
of  its  most  enthusiastic  supporters.  He  says, 
"There  is  no  question  but  that  the  passage  of 
this  law  has  had  a  wholesome  effect  on  the 
prison  system,  in  my  state  and  that  it  has  been 
the  means  of  giving  a  new  start  in  life  to  a 
large  proportion  of  the  discharged  and  paroled 
men." 

Gov.  Hanna  of  North  Dakota,  Gov.  Cox  of 
Ohio,  and  Gov.  West  of  Oregon  maintain  that 
outdoor  work  is  to  be  considered  a  privilege  to 
be  earned  only  by  good  conduct. 

Gov.  Mann  of  Virginia  testifies  to  the  ef- 
ficiency of  the  prisoners  when  employed  on 
roads  and  gives  figures  to  prove  the  economy 
of  such  work. 

Gov.  Hunt  of  Arizona  is  in  favor  of  paying 
25  cents  a  day  for  road  work  to  prisoners  say- 
ing that  the  splendid  work  done  by  prisoners 
on  roads  entitles  them  to  some  compensation. 


February  1,  1914 


The  .loliot  Prison   Post 


53 


The  consideration  given  to  convict  road  work 
and  the  honor  system  by  the  governors  is  an 
indication  of  the  importance  attached  to  the 
matter  by  the  people  throughout  the  country. 

The  Atmosphere  at  JoUet 

Before  the  advent  of  the  present  administra- 
tion any  prisoner  who  was  known  to  be  favor- 
able to  the  officers  was  at  once  dubbed  a  stool 
pigeon  by  the  prisoners  in  general.  There  need 
not  be  any  foundation  whatever  for  the  appela- 
tion  because  the  true  meaning  of  tlie  word 
stool  pigeon  is  almost  unknown  in  this  prison, 
but  the  statement  will  answer  to  illustrate  the 
sentiment  which  existed  and  which  has  been  re- 
placed by  an  opposite  feeling. 

The  only  men  who  were  with  the  officers 
were  those  who  were  intelligent  enough  to  "get 
by"  under  the  former  rules  and  discipline.  It 
was  fashionable  to  be  sullenly  against  the  ad- 
ministration, and  many  of  the  prisoners  who 
gave  the  subject  thought  made  the  mistake  of 
thinking  that  the  inmates  constituted  a  class 
where  this  spirit  was  a  natural  characteristic  of 
nearly  every  man. 

It  is  different  now.  One  seldom  hears  a 
prisoner  say  a  word  against  the  administration. 
As  we  look  around  in  the  Dining  Hall  and  note 
the  expressions  on  the  faces  of  the  inmates, 
we  see  a  large  number  of  men  who  seem  to  be 
at  peace  with  themselves  and  with  one  another. 
Adverse  criticism  of  administration  methods  is 
no  longer  encouraged  by  the  inmates. 

Trusties  Who  Remain 

There  are  at  present  ninety-nine  trusties  at 
this  prison.  Forty-three  prisoners  without  a 
guard  over  them  are  employed  outside  of  the 
walls,  upon  the  farm  and  as  runners.  Thirty 
men  are  stationed  at  Camp  Hope,  near  Dixun, 
lllinios.  Twenty  are  employed  during  the 
evening  inside  the  walls  after  the  wall  guards 
have  (juit  work.  Three  work  all  night  as  fire 
guard  and  three  watchmen  are  employed  out- 
side of  the  walls  and  remain  on  duty  all  niglit. 
Most  of  these  prisoners  are  under  long  or  life 
sentences.  This  is  about  as  it  has  been  for  the 
last  nine  months  since  Mr.  Allen  became  War- 
den. 

In  all  two  trusties  have  escaped;  not  one  of 
the  others  has  made  an  attempt  to. 


Why  Wc  Have  Printed  the  Constitution 

We  printed  tiie  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  in  our  January  iiuml)er  for  two  reas- 
ons: (1)  Every  man  should  know  at  least 
the  fundamental  principles  of  the  government 
under  which  he  lives,  and  frequent  reading  of 
the  Constitution  is  educational  and  helpful. 
(2)  Until  recently  there  were  a  number  uf  ora- 
tors in  this  prison  who  claimed  to  know  every- 
thing in  and  about  the  Constitution  and  who 
could  point  out  to  any  prisoner  just  why  the 
latter's  conviction  had  been  obtained  in  viola- 
tion of  the  Constitution.  Knowing  that  no  one 
could  disprove  their  positive  asserti(jns,  these 
"attorneys,"  in  order  to  appear  right,  placed 
into  the  Constitution  everything  which  they 
found  necessary  to  support  their  arguments. 

We  have  deemed  it  worth  while  to  attenijn 
to  put  a  stop  to  this  irresponsible  talk  ant!  find 
that  the  mere  furnishing  of  a  copy  of  the  Con- 
stitution to  each  inmate  has  had  the  desired  ef- 
fect. The  talk  about  the  Consittution  has 
ceased  because  the  man  who  speaks  of  it  now  is 
addressing  men  who  have  a  way  of  checking 
up  his  statements.  There  were  far  too  many 
"constitutional  lawyers"  in  this  prison,  many 
of  whom  had  never  read  the  Constitution. 
They  have  been  put  out  of  business  and  it  will 
prove  of  benefit  to  the  inmates  because,  it  in- 
jures men  and  w(jmen  when  they  are  led  to  be- 
lieve that  they  have  been  illegally  convicted, 
when  such  is  not  the  case. 

We  shall  not  attempt  to  disprove  the  many 
mis-statements  which  have  been  made  with  the 
regard  to  provisions  of  the  Constitution  as  the 
copy  of  that  document  is  in  the  hands  of  every 
inmate,  and  speaks  for  itself. 

Those  prisoners  who  now  think  that  they  are 
in  this  prison  in  violation  of  the  provisions  of 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  or  who 
are  worrying  about  others  whom  they  think 
are  so  situated,  are  invited  to  write  to  us  re- 
garding tiiese  cases,  and  we  will  publish  all 
legitimate  discussion  and  inquiries,  reserving 
the  right  of  editorial  comment. 

Here's  True  Prison  Reform 

Tiiere  are  many  prisoners  in  this  institution 
who  do  their  utmost  to  help  make  the  War- 
den's administration  successful  and  in  doing 
this,  at  the  same  lime  earn  the  app'ov-il  of 
their  fellows. 


54 


The  Jollet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


Boys  Behave 

The  prisoner  who  thinks  that  good  conduct 
while  "in  prison  does  not  have  a  tendency  to 
shorten  his  sentence  is  mistaken.  No  wiiere  on 
earth  is  good  conduct  more  recompenced  than 
in  a  well  conducted  penal  institution. 

Wardens  do  not  advertise  their  influence 
with  pardoning  boards,  but  they  freciuently 
have  great  power.  They  know  better  than 
anvone  who  the  men  are  that  help  make  prisor 
r(uitine  run  smoothly  and  as  they  are  human  it 
stands  to  reast)n  that  their  good  will  and  es 
teem  can  be  gained  by  helpfulness,  and  that  in 
consequence  when  the  opportunity  presents  it- 
self they  will  give  the  applicant  for  a  pardon  or 
a  parole  a  helping  hand. 

When  a  prisoner's  outside  record  is  bad  it 
frequently  happens  that  the  warden  cannot 
overcome  it,  but  even  'in  those  cases  the  prison- 
er will  be  repaid  for  good  behaviour  and  help- 
fulness by  reason  of  the  job  he  earns  and  the 
privileges  he  is  allowed. 

An  inmate  who  thinks  that  in  his  position  he 
can  successfully  "buck"  the  officers,  who  have 
the  i»ower  of  the  entire  state  behind  them,  is  an 
ignorant  fool. 

Not  At  All  Forced. 

It  may  S(nind  paradoxical,  but  it  is  never- 
theless true,  that  a  well  meaning  and  intelli- 
gent prisoner  has  a  greater  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  the  prison  where  he  is  confined  than 
any  officer  can  possibly  have.  There  is  almost 
no  limit  to  the  hold  a  warden  has  upon  his 
prisoners  and  an  inmate  with  brains  will  recog- 
nize this  on  the  instant.  If  the  warden  uses 
his  power  humanely  he  will  get  a  response 
which  is  impossible  elsewhere. 

The  secret  of  using  the  power  humanely  lies 
in  treating  the  inmates  as  men. 


Take  Your  Choice. 

There  is  as  much  difference  in  the  situations 
of  inmates  of  a  prison  as  there  is  between  the 
rich  and  the  poor  outside  of  prison. 

The  inmates  who,  by  good  work  and  obe- 
dience, gain  the  confidence  of  the  officers  are 
like  the  rich,  while  they  who  shirk  their  work 
and  disobey  the  rules  may  be  compared  with 
the  poor. 


Punishment 

Under  severe  discipline  the  prisoners'  minds 
dwelt  too  much  on  the  solitary  cells  which  are 
usually  spoken  of  as  "the  hole."  They  realized 
that  the  detection  of  trifling  infractions  of  the 
rules,  and  some  times  an  accident,  would  land 
them  there.  Some  became  hardened  to  pun- 
ishment, others  were  in  constant  dread  of  it, 
and  undoubtedly  the  fear  of  punishment  did 
more  harm  than  even  the  actual  sufferings  in 
the  solitary  cells. 

Under  the  present  management  this  dark 
cloud  has  been  removed  and  none  of  the  in- 
mates give  the  "hole"  a  thought.  This  more 
than  anything  else  is  responsible  for  the  peace 
of  mind  which  now  pervades  this  institution. 

The  prisoners  know  that  now  no  man  is  con- 
demned to  the  solitary  unless  he  wilfully 
breaks  the  rules,  and  as  few  care  about  doing 
that,  the  "hole"  is  now  more  of  a  memory  than 
a  reality. 


Discipline  at  the  I.  S.  P. 

Occasionally  we  read  in  a  newspaper  that 
discipline  has  been  destroyed  in  this  prison  by 
the  present  management.  This  may  be  true 
and  it  may  not  be  true,  depending  entirely  upon 
the  interpretation  given  the  word  "discipline." 

If  it  means  unnecessary  punishment,  then  it 
has  been  destroyed.  If  it  means  general  good 
conduct  on  the  part  of  the  prisoners  under  just 
enough  and  not  too  much  restraint,  then  it  has 
been  installed  recently. 

Wherever  discpline  has  been  destroyed  in 
a  prison  the  inmates  will  suffer  first  because  of 
the  aggressions  of  the  stronger  against  the 
weaker.  The  general  run  of  prisoners  want 
discipline,  and  until  they  begin  to  complain  of 
lack  of  discipline  it  may  safely  be  assumed  that 
order  is  maintained. 

Honor  System  in  Nebraska 

The  honor  system  was  introduced  at  the 
Nebraska  State  Prison  a  year  ago.  It  has 
worked  out  very  satisfactorily  to  the  Warden 
and  the  inmates. 

Prisoners  are  often  given  permission  to 
leave  the  prison  without  guards  and  remain 
away  for  three  weeks  at  a  time  working  for 


February  1,   1914 


The  Joliot  Prison  Post 


55 


farmers,  contractors  and  others.  Every  pris- 
oner has  kept  his  word  by  returninj^  to  the 
prison  on  time  and  handing  over  to  the  warden 
his  earnings.  When  their  time  expires  this 
money  will  he  returned  t(^  them.  They  earned 
nearly  $40,0()( ).()()  during  the  year. 

The  payroll  at  the  prison  has  been  reduced  as 
a  result  of  the  honor  sy.stem  as  a  smaller  num- 
ber i»t  guards  are  now  re(|uired. 


The  prisoners  have  been  shown  that  societv 
is  not  altogether  opposed  to  them,  but  is  will- 
ing to  trust  them,  and  give  them  a  chance  to 
show  that  they  can  be  trusted,  and  the  prison- 
ers have  responded  by  working  for  their  own 
interest  and  that  of  the  institution,  the  two  be- 
ing inseparable. 

Why  Jerry  O'Conner's  Portrait  Was  Published 

The  honor  system  has  drawbacks  to  those 
who  think  that  a  progressive  warden  is  neces- 
sarily an  easy  mark,  and  also  to  those  who 
think  that  a  s([uare  deal  is  a  one  sided  ar- 
rangement to  be  taken  unfair  advantage  of. 

The  honor  system  has  two  sides,  it  contem- 
plates making  life  as  nearly  normal  for  the 
l)risoners  as  it  is  possible  to  make  it  in  an  in- 
stitution of  this  kind  and  it  intends  that  pris- 
oners shall  live  up  to  their  word.  Jerry  O'- 
Conner  gave  his  word  of  honor  to  Warden 
Allen  and  it  was  accepted,  the  man  was  trusted 
and  he  immediately  took  advantage  of  his  op- 
portunity and  walked  away.  This  was  a  direct 
attack  upon  the  Honor  System — Jerry  O'- 
Conner  tried  to  save  himself  at  the  expense 
of  the  officials  and  every  prisoner  in  the  world. 

Under  the  circumstances  it  was  deemed 
necessary  to  print  his  portrait  with  an  offer  of 
a  reward  for  his  capture  and  it  was  the  inten- 
tion to  continue  the  advertisement  for  all  time 
or  until  his  apprehension.  He  is  with  us  again, 
so  that  his  portrait  will  no  longer  be  published. 

It  is  perhaps  timely  to  say  that  this  is  the 
policy  of  The  Joliet  Prison  Post  and  that 
every  prisoner  who  attacks  the  honor  system 
will  receive  the  attention  of  this  paper. 

Those  prisoners  who  have  not  signed  the 
honor  pledge  or  who  have  not  run  away  while 
acting  as  trusties  will  not  arouse  the  initiative 
of  this  paper  by  making  their  escape. 


INTERVIEWS 


DR.  JOHN  P.  BENSON 

THE  OFFICIAL  PRISON  PHYSICIAN 
On  Medical  Treatment  at  the  I.  S.  P. 

(Interview  by  the  Kditor) 

In  endeavoring  to  keep  abrea>l  with  the 
humanely  progressive  policy  of  the  present  ad- 
nunistration,  strong  efforts  have  been  made  to 
Muprove  the  hygienic  and  sanitary  C(jnditions 
and  to  raise  the  .standard  of  healtJi  to  a  much 
higher  plane  than  it  has  been  in  the  past. 

Although  confronted  by  a  big  handicaj)  in 
the  crude  unsanitary  and  ventilatir.n  ideas  of 
the  ante-bellum  days  which  can  be  cc^rrected 
only  by  a  new  modern  prison,  I  believe  we  have 
in  a  great  measure  checkmated  the  spread  of 
tuberculosis  in  our  midst.  Among  the  few 
measures  that  we  have  initiated  in  our  attempt 
to  minimize  the  number  of  its  victims,  one  of 
the  most  imixjrtant  is  the  segregation  of  those 
so  afflicted.  Of  course,  under  present  condi- 
tions, it  is  impossible  to  segregate  them  com- 
pletely. Plans  are  under  advisement  t(j  pro- 
vide a  suitable  building  for  their  needs,  where 
they  may  sleep  and  eat  apart  from  the  other 
men. 

At  present  the  tuberculous  men  do  not  cell 
with  those  free  from  the  disease.  They  are 
not  allowed  to  eat  at  the  same  table  with 
healthy  men.  They  are  given  outside  emphty- 
ment  and  light  work  in  the  ojxmi  air.  These 
men  are  permitted  to  have  milk  at  their  meals 
and  all  receive  as  good  medical  treatment  as 
they  could  obtain  outside  of  the  walls. 

As  was  mentioned  in  the  previous  issue  of 
The  Joliet  PrisiMi  Post  each  man  is  provided 
with  his  own  drinking  cup,  which  we  all  know 
is  an  ounce  of  prevention  in  checking  the 
ravages  of  this  disease. 

We  furnish  each  cell  house  every  day  with  a 
sufficient  (|uantity  of  salts  to  meet  the  demand> 
of  the  men.  They  can  be  supplied  each  morn- 
ing before  breakfast  uikhi  making  a  reijuest  of 
their  keeper.  Heretofore  they  have  been  re- 
ceiving them  at  the  regular  sick  call  hour  after 
breakfast,  a  custom  not  consi.stent  with  projK'r 
medication. 

Since  1  have  assumed  the  position  of  Prison 
Physician  many  changes  have  been  made  in  the 
hospital  and  I  can  safely  say  that  ours  now 
ranks  on  a  par  with  those  outside.  I  have  as 
my  assistants  two  regularly  licensed  i)hysicians, 
inmates  who  have  been  faithfully  "on  the  job" 


56 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


and  who  have  given  me  excellent  support  in  my 
efforts  to  raise  the  medical  department  to  a 
proper  standard.  We  now  have  a  modern 
operating  room,  equipped  up  to  the  minute 
with  new  instruments  and  other  apparatus ;  we 
have  installed  a  tine  new  sterilizing  plant  in 
which  we  can  properly  sterilize  all  parapher- 
nalia utilized  in  a  modern  operating  room. 

We  also  have  a  well  equipped  surgical  dress- 
ing room  where  from  twenty  to  twenty-five 
surgical  cases  are  treated  daily.  More 
operations  have  been  done  in  the  past 
few  months  than  in  the  past  few  years,  and 
more  requests  from  inmates  for  opera- 
tions have  been  received  than  can  be  performed 
in  the  next  two  months. 

We  have  equipped  a  new  laboratory  diag- 
nosis room  where  various  microscopical  and 
other  analyses  are  made  daily.  Nearly  all 
medicines  dispensed  are  compounded  and  put 
up  in  the  hospital.  A  new  feature  introduced 
lately  is  the  administration  of  Salvarson  (606) 
for  specific  disease.  While  the  state  has  made 
no  appropriation  for  its  use  among  the  inmates 
I  have  undertaken  to  administer  it  to  men  who 
need  it  at  the  cost  price  of  the  drug. 

In  conclusion  I  wish  to  state  that  while  I  be- 
lieve the  many  changes  that  have  taken  place 
in  the  medical  department  has  wrought  con- 
siderable good  for  the  health  of  the  inmates,  I 
attribute  much  of  the  success  to  the  psychic 
influence  brought  about  by  the  revolutionary 
changes  that  have  occurred  under  the  present 
administration.  Health  is  governed  largely 
by  our  emotions.  Where  a  few  months  ago 
one  was  met  everywhere  by  long  faces,  embit- 
tered feelings  and  innumerable  tales  of  woe, 
now  cheerful,  smiling,  health  glowing  coun- 
tenances greet  us  on  every  hand.  Privileges 
hitherto  unknown ;  kind  words  scattered  here 
and  there,  the  honor  system  recently  initiated, 
whereby  a  man  is  given  responsibility  and 
placed  upon  his  honor  all  have  engendered  in 
the  men  feelings  of  self-respect  and  self-de- 
pendence. Their  troubles  no  longer  assume 
gigantic  shapes;  they  are  lead  to  believe  that 
they  can  become  useful  members  of  society  and 
life  has  taken  on  a  different  meaning.  This,  I 
believe,  all  tends  towards  the  maintenance  of 
good  health. 

[Note — Pen,  ink  and  paper  cannot  adequately 
portray  the  beneficial  improvements  in  the 
medical  department,  which  have  resulted  from 
the  efforts  of  Dr.  John  P.  Benson  and  his  two 
able  assistants — Editor.] 


MISS  MARIA  S.  MADDEN 

MANAGING  MATRON 

Of  the  Woman's  Prison 


(Interview  by  the  Editor) 

Until  sometime  in  November  1896  the  fe- 
male inmates  of  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary 
at  Joliet  were  confined  on  the  upper  floor  of 
the  Warden  House.  During  that  month  the 
prisoners  were  moved  to  the  present  prison, 
which  is  of  substantial  construction  and  can 
almost  be  pronounced  modern.  There  are  one 
hundred  rooms  for  the  inmates — built  against 
two  outside  walls,  and  they  are  ten  feet  long, 
seven  feet  wide  and  nine  feet  high.  Each  has 
a  double  sash  window  to  the  outside  and  is 
equipped  with  electric  light,  running  water 
and  a  toilet,  and  all  are  entirely  free  from 
objection  from  the  standpoint  of  health.  The 
building  is  well  lighted  and  is  kept  in  good  re- 
pair. It  is  as  clean  as  any  of  Uncle  Sam's  Men 
of  War,  and  it  is  needless  to  state  that  the  usual 
prison  odor  is  never  in  evidence.  Adjoining 
the  prison  building  is  a  yard  one  hundred  and 
twenty  feet  wide  by  two  hundred  feet  long, 
surrounded  by  a  high  stone  wall;  this  yard  is 
provided  with  settees  and  a  platform  for  danc- 
ing. 

There  are  at  present  confined  sixty-one  in- 
mates, twenty-five  being  white  women  and 
thirty-six  negroes.  Each  woman  has  a  room 
containing  a  single  iron  bed,  a  small  dresser,  a 
comfortable  chair  and  two  or  more  rag  car- 
pet rugs  on  the  floor.  Each  prisoner  attends 
to  her  own  apartment.  In  every  room  one  will 
see  the  woman's  touch  in  the  shape  of  decora- 
tions of  various  kinds. 

This  women's  prison  is  more  like  a  board- 
ing school  than  a  prison,  except  for  the  fact 
that  the  women  work  instead  of  study.  There 
is  only  one  shop,  and  there  rattan  cane  seats 
are  woven,  which  is  very  light  work.  The 
women  who  do  not  work  in  the  shop  are  em- 
ployed in  the  laundry,  at  house  work,  around 
the  building  or  at  sewing.  The  laundry  work 
is  done  for  the  two  administration  buildings, 
and  the  sewing  consists  of  the  making  of  sheets, 
pillow  cases,  table  linen  also  for  the  two  ad- 
ministration buildings  and  clothing  for  the 
women  prisoners. 

The  laundry  work  averages  20,000  pieces  per 
month  washed  and  ironed.  Much  of  the  iron- 
ing is  done  by  hand.     With  a  credit  of  two 


February  I,   1914 


The  Joliet   PriHoii   1*<>m< 


57 


cents  for  plain  clothes  ami  ilirec  cents  for  the 
starched  pieces  our  credit  amounts  to  from  five 
hundred  to  seven  hundred  dollars  per  month. 
The  cookinj^  For  the  inmates  is  d(»ne  in  the 
kitchen  of  the  men's  prison. 

The  inmates  are  classifietl  in  three  grades. 
Upon  arrival  a  prisoner  is  placed  in  the  second 
jj^rade.  where  she  remains  fctr  thirty  days;  ii' 
durin.tj  this  time  her  conduct  is  g(»otl,  she  is 
promoted  to  the  first  grade.  Third  grade  is 
for  willful  offenders  against  the  prison  disci- 
[)line;  hut  there  are  no  women  in  this  graile  at 
present.  Prisoners  in  the  first  grade  are  per- 
mitted to  write  and  to  receive  visitors  once  a 
week.  Prisoners  in  the  second  grade  are  per- 
mitted U)  write  and  to  receive  visitors  once  in 
two  weeks.  Prisoners  in  the  third  grade  are 
permitted  to  write  letters  and  receive  visits  onlv 
once  in  four  weeks  and  they  are  harred  from 
recreation  while  in  that  grade.  Recreation  is 
permitted  at  least  three  times  per  week  in  per- 
iods of  one  hour  each  and  oftener  when  the 
work  permits  of  it.  During  warm  weather  the 
prisoners  go  to  the  yard  for  their  recreation, 
w  hile  in  cold  weather  it  is  held  indoors.  When 
the  yard  is  used,  the  women  dance  upon  the 
platform,  and  they  run.  jump  and  play  base 
ball  with  soft  balls  and  light  bats. 

Recreation  indoors  consist  of  conversation 
and  dancing  to  the  music  of  a  Victor  X'ictrola 
or  piano. 

In  the  matter  of  writing  letters  and  receiv- 
ing visitors  reasonable  exceptions  in  favor  of 
the  inmates  are  made  whenever  neces.sarv. 
There  is  no  punishment  for  women  other  than 
the  loss  (jf  privileges  and  confinement  to  their 
rooms. 

Each  prisoner  is  permitted  to  draw  fnnn  the 
l)ris(Mi  library  two  books  per  week,  and  they 
are  permitted  to  pass  these  books  around 
amongst  themselves,  under  my  direction,  dur- 
ing the  week  for  which  the  books  have  been 
drawn.  They  are  also  permitted  to  subscribe 
for  newspapers  and  magazines,  and  there  is 
no  limit  placed  upon  the  number  (»f  letters 
which  thev  mav  receive. 

A  school  has  been  recently  started.  There 
are  so  far  but  two  classes,  one  being  for  those 
who  cannot  read  or  write,  of  whom  there  are 
seven  in  the  pri.son  and  all  voluntarily  attend. 
The  other  class  is  for  women  with  slight  edu- 
cation, and   the  lessons  are  arranged   to  suit 


the  individual.  There  are  two  teachers,  both 
inmates.  Classes  are  held  d.'iily  except  Sun- 
dav  from  four  o'clock  until  five  o'clock  P.  ^t. 

In  the  matter  of  medical  care  everything  |>os- 
sible  is  being  done  both  in  preventive  care  and 
treatment.  ( )ur  hosj)ital  consists  of  .i  iK'auti- 
tul  light  and  ;iiry  room,  in  which  there  are  foui 
beds,  and  which  has  every  convenience,  in- 
mates during  their  stay  in  the  hospital  receive 
every  attention  and  our  facilities  are  such  that 
they  have  better  opportunities  for  recovery 
than  in  most  homes.  A  trained  nurse  is  al- 
ways in  attendance  t(j  assist  the  ofllcial  pristm 
physician  who  visits  the  prison  once  {x-r  day 
and  oftener  when  necessary. 

The  relatives  and  friends  of  some  of  the 
women  are  very  staunch  in  their  sui)jK»rt  of 
them  as  evidenced  by  frec|uent  letters  and  visits, 
while   other   prisoners  seem  entirely  deserted. 

I  have  never  been  able  to  comprehend  how 
people  can  be  cruel  enough  to  desert  those  of 
their  own  f^esh  and  blood  who  violate  the  law. 
but  it  is  frequently  done.  My  woman's  instinct, 
augmented  by  my  long  experience  as  a  Matron 
in  a  prison,  forces  me  to  state  that  if  a  rela- 
tive of  mine  or  even  a  friend  should  ever  incur 
a  prison  sentence,  no  matter  how  hiileous  the 
crime  might  be  I  would  not  desert  such  person 
and  I  would  consider  my  support  particularly 
necessarv  during  the  period  of  incarceratittn.  If 
mv  statement  should  be  read  by  any  of  those 
relatives  and  friends  who  are  neglecting  a 
prisoner  who  is  imder  my  care.  I  fervently  urg** 
that  they  can  help  me  in  my  work  of  reforma- 
tion bv  resuming  their  interest  in  such  pris<»ner 
and  give  eviilence  thereof  by  writing  letters  to 
her  and  by  visiting  her  regularly  during  her 
years  of  sorrow. 

In  the  past  we  have  had  eight  life  prisoners 
and  seven  of  them  have  by  reason  of  goo<l  con- 
tluct  in  the  prison  earned  commutations  of  their 
sentences.  (~)ne  unfortiniate  woman  dietl  short- 
ly after  her  arrival  here.  Her  death  was  caus- 
ed bv  fretting.  My  cxiK'rience  prompts  me  to 
say  that  I  am  opp-ised  in  life  sentences  for 
women,  Infcause  of  the  constantly  depressing 
effect  of  such  sentences. 

[Xote — Miss  Madden  has  been  Matron  of 
the  Women's  Prison  for  over  twentv-two 
years. — Editor.] 


58 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


EDITOR'S  COLUMNS 


Big  Jim's  Pardon 

There  has  been  a  mahcious  story  circulated 
about  how  "Big  Jim"  obtained  a  pardon.  A 
scandal  monger  who  knows  the  real  facts  has 
purposely  started  a  false  story,  and  as  "chick- 
ens come  home  to  roost,"  he  and  all  his  dis- 
ciples will  be  given  an  opportunity  to  see  in 
print  just  how  far  from  the  truth  they  have 
traveled. 

Big  Jim  was  helped  by  a  fellow  prisoner  in 
this  way.  Long  before  the  result  of  the  elec- 
tions, held  in  Nov.,  1912,  was  known,  this  fel- 
low prisoner  asked  permission  of  the  former 
authorities  to  help  Jim  in  having  his  case  pre- 
pared. Consent  was  given  and  accordingly  an 
attorney  was  secured  for  Jim,  who,  without  any 
remuneration  whatever,  went  to  work  and  pre- 
pared the  papers  in  his  case  and  obtained  re- 
commendations from  former  officials  as  to 
Jim's  standing  with  those  officers.  One  of 
them  who  unqualifiedly  recommended  Jim  for 
a  pardon  was  former  Warden  R.  W.  Mc- 
Claughry. 

The  petition  with  the  letters  of  recommenda- 
tion were  filed  with  the  Board  of  Pardons. 
That  was  the  status  of  the  case  when  the  pres- 
ent Warden  came  into  office. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  the  fellow  prisoner 
asked  the  Warden's  permission  to  continue  his 
efforts  for  Jim,  and  he  was  told  to  go  as  far  as 
he  liked.  This  gave  him  courage  to  ask  for 
permission  to  circulate  a  petition  for  the  sig- 
natures of  the  officers  still  employed  in  the 
prison  who  had  known  Jim  over  one  year,  and 
consent  was  obtained.  The  petition  when  cir- 
culated was  signed  by  every  officer  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  in  the  prison,  and  it  was  for- 
warded to  the  proper  authorities.  Many  of 
the  officers  who  signed  the  petition  certified 
that  they  had  known  Jim  over  twenty  years. 

The  attorney  who  had  prepared  the  case  was 
requested  by  the  prisoner  friend  to  Jim,  not  to 
appear  before  the  Board  of  Pardons,  on  the 
theory  that  there  was  nothing  that  he  or  any  at- 
torney could  say  that  would  interest  the  Board, 
as  all  arguments  which  could  be  made  in  be- 
half of  Jim  were  embodied  in  the  petition  for  a 
pardon  and  in  the  recommendations  filed  with 
the  papers  in  the  case.  There  was  no  political 
drag,  no  underground  work  of  any  kind.  The 
case  was  submitted  entirely  on  the  evidence  in 
the    documents    filed,    and    Governor   E.   F. 


Dunne,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  Board 
of  Pardons,  granted  a  pardon. 

[Note — Space  is  given  to  this  subject  and 
this  explanation  is  made  so  that  for  all  time  an 
end  will  be  put  to  the  malicious  story  which 
had  been  so  actively  circulated,  and  also  to 
serve  notice  on  scandal  mongers  that  within 
the  past  two  months  something  has  been  started 
in  this  prison  which  will  ever  be  used  when  it  | 
seems  necessary  to  put  the  members  of  the  \ 
Ananias  club  to  shame. — Editor.] 

The  New  Chaplain 

The  appointment  of  Rev.  L.  Breitenstein  to 
parochial  work  at  Platte  Center,  Nebraska,  has 
brought  the  Rev.  Edward  Lunney  to  us  as  our 
Catholic  chaplain.  i 

He  comes  to  us  with  his  heart  full  of  com-    ' 
passion    for   the   inmates   of  this  prison.     He 
brings  to  bear  on  his  task  profound  wisdom, 
tact  and  diplomacy  resulting  from  many  years 
study  and  experience. 

The  advent  of  the  new  chaplain  has  come 
at  a  time  when  conditions  are  such  as  to  give 
his  abilities  wide  scope  for  the  advancement 
of  his  charges,  owing  to  the  atmosphere  which 
prevails  throughout  the  institution. 

To  the  inmates  his  coming  presents  an  occa-    j 
sion  for  them  to  taste  the  joys  of  giving  pleas-    ' 
ure  to   another  by   conducting   themselves  to- 
wards  him   so   that   Father  Edward  will  look 
upon  his  stay  amongst  us  as  the  most  satisfac- 
tory period  in  his  life's  work. 

Father  Edward  appears  to  be  a  younger 
man  than  his  age  shows,  but  has  had  the  ex- 
perience of  many  years  successful  church  work. 
He  was  born  in  Los  Angeles,  California,  in 
1870  and  there  acquired  the  early  training  for 
his  theological  education,  which  was  completed 
at  that  educational-place  of  many  widely  known 
Rev.  Fathers,  the  Franciscan  Seminary  in  St. 
Louis,  Missouri. 

His  first  allottment  after  graduation  was  as 
Professor  at  St.  Anthony's  College  in  Santa 
Barbara,  California,  and  was  followed  by  ten 
years  parochial  work  in  Sacremento,  San  Fran- 
cisco and  Los  Angeles.  During  the  past  Five 
Years  he  has  served  his  church  as  Professor  at 
St.  Francis'  College  in  Quincy,  Illinois. 

While  heretofore  having  had  very  little  ex- 
perience and  knowledge  of  conditions  existing 
in  penal  institutions  the  Rev.  Father  stated, 
upon  being  interviewed,  that  he  was  delightful- 
ly  surprised   in   perceiving  the  atmosphere  of 


February  1,  1914"^ 


The  Joliet  Prison   Post 


59 


good  will  pcTvading  this  prison  as  he  expected 
to  find  gloom  and  discontent  prevailing. 

He  is  impressed  by  the  willingness  of  the 
prisoners  to  listen  to  him  and  by  their  exem- 
plary conduct  in  chapel  during  services.  He 
is  much  pleased  to  encounter  so  much  p,»liteness 
and  kindness  both  amongst  the  officers  and  the 
inmates. — Editor. 

Regarding  the  Parole  Law 

We  have  received  several  contibuti(«ns  re- 
garding the  operation  pf  the  parole  law.  This 
.subject  cannot  be  discussed  at  this  time.  In  an 
early  numi)er  the  law  relating  to  the  parole  sys- 
tem will  l)e  printed  in  full.  After  that  has  ap- 
peared, the  columns  of  the  paper  will  be  open 
to  legitimate  discussion  of  the  parole  law,  but 
we  will  not  publish  letters  or  articles  written 
on  this  subject  by  prisoners  who  have  not  read 
the  provisions  of  that  law. 

Those  who  have  contributed  articles  regard- 
ing the  parole  system  may  submit  new  copy  af- 
ter the  acts  have  been  published. — Editor. 

Dumb  for  Twenty  Years 

The  St.  Louis  Post  Dispatch  is  authority  for 
the  story  that  one  Jasper  W.  Rainey,  served 
twenty  years  time  at  the  Kansas  State  Peni- 
tentiary at  Lansing,  and  that  after  the  first  day 
of  his  imprisonment  he  never  spoke  until  a  few 
days  ago,  when  he  met  Mr.  Samuel  Seaton, 
l)rivate  secretary  to  Governor  Hodges,  to  whom 
he  made  an  appeal  for  a  pardon. 

LTpon  meeting  Mr.  Seaton  in  the  corridor  of 
the  pris(jn,  Rainey  fell  on  his  knees  and  with 
copious  tears  coursing  down  his  cheeks  he 
croaked  rather  than  spoke,  "Please  let  me  out. 
My  record  is  clean,  they'll  all  tell  you  so." 

Governor  Hodges  investigated  and  found 
there  was  only  one  mark  against  Rainey  and 
that  was  for  a  minor  offence,  and.  after  as- 
suring himself  that  he  would  be  cared  for  by 
relatives  he  issued  a  parole. 

After  his  release  Rainey  talked  freely  to  all 
comers,  shouting  at  the  top  of  his  voice  and 
>eemed  to  desire  to  make  up  for  lost  time. 

[Note — A  person  who  refrained  from  using 
his  voice  for  twenty  years  would  probably  be 
unable  to  resume  speech  at  pleasure,  so  it  seems 
likely  that  Rainey  talked  to  himself  when  out 
of  the  hearing  of  others,  and  as  he  was  employ- 
ed in  the  fields  outside  the  walls  he  had  oppor- 
tunity to  do  this. — Editor.] 


Governor  Dunne  at  Pontiac 

Governor  Dunne,  accompanied  by  iiis  wife 
and  one  of  his  sons,  inspected  the  Illinois  State 
Reformatory  for  boys  at  Pontiac  Saturdav, 
January  17th. 

He  made  a  short  adih\  >>  in  ihe  mmaus.  He 
lold  them  that  the  institution  was  foimded  to 
reform  those  sent  to  it,  and  not  for  vengeance; 
that  wrong  doing  must  be  ininished,  and  that 
the  courts  are  conducted  on  the  princi[)les  and 
elements  of  righteousness.  He  asked  them  if 
they  were  willing  to  do  their  |)art  to  make  go»H| 
records.  He  told  them  that  the  admini>tratir»n 
is  anxious  to  get  them  started  right  and  that 
they  would  be  regarded  by  the  officials  as  hu- 
man beings  with  souls  that  need  help. 

[Note — We  hope  to  have  Governor  Dunne 
and  his  family  with  us  soon. — Editor.] 

All  Wrong 

The  Prison  Post  is  a  new  publicaiion  sUirud 
by  the  convicts  of  the  Joliet  prison.  It  is 
edited  by  an  ex-Chicag«j  banker  with  plenty  of 
preachers  on  the  staff,  but  has  to  be  printed  out- 
side because  there  are  no  printers  inside. — Ob- 
server, Petersburg,  111. 

[Note — The  foregoing  item  is  published  as 
an  example  of  newspajx^r  inaccuracies.  The 
Joliet  Prison  Post  is  edited  by  a  former  real 
estate  man,  there  is  no  preacher  on  its  staff,  it 
is  printed  outside  of  the  prison  because  the  Re- 
publicans left  no  money  in  the  state  treasury 
for  the  Democrats,  consequently  the  pri.son 
authorities  could  not  purchase  a  printing  outfit, 
and  there  are  enough  printers  in  this  prison  at 
this  time  to  publish  twenty  papers  like  The 
Joliet  Prison  Post. — Editf»r.] 

©     ^     ^ 

Above  all  things  a  prison  guard  should  be 
an  able  l)odied  man,  fitted  by  physi<iue  and  con- 
dition to  perform  daily  the  work  recjuired  of  a 
soldier  in  the  regular  nrniv  while  in  active 
service. 

^     ^     ^ 

A  prison  guard  should  conduct  himself  when 
off  duty  as  well  as  when  on  duty,  in  such  a  way 
as  tt>  inspire  sentiments  of  respect  for  his  moral 
principles  and  character. 

^     ^     ^ 

Under  severe  discipline  the  rule  was  that, 
where  a  few  officers  must  control  many  pris- 
oners, it  was  necessary  to  control  them  through 
intimidation  or  by   force. 


60 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


INDIVIDUAL  CONTRIBUTIONS 

THE  SHYSTER  LAWYER 
By  George  Williams 

A  Prisoner 

One  of  the  many  afflictions  that  beset  a  pris- 
oner and  from  which  he  has  Httle  protection,  is 
the  shyster  lawyer.  The  money  he  takes  from 
the  man  behind  the  walls  and  his  relatives  is 
enormous.  He  preys  upon  the  ignorance  of 
his  victims  and  he  has  no  conscientious  scruples 
whatever.  The  pitiful  results  of  his  operations 
never  bother  him. 

He  is  generally  a  good  talker,  and  to  hear 
him  tell  it  he  has  unlimited  influence  with  the 
Governor,  the  Board  of  Pardons,  the  Warden 
and  anybody  and  everyliody  that  might  possibly 
be  of  aid  to  the  prisoner  in  securing  his  release. 
All  he  has  to  do  is  to  give  the  order  and  the 
whole  legal  machinery  of  the  state  will  be 
turned  upside  down. 

His  biggest  assets  are  a  glib  tongue  and 
plenty  of  cheek,  and  what  he  does  not  know 
about  law  he  makes  up  for  in  "bunk."  He  is  in 
evidence  from  the  prisoner's  arrest  up  to  the 
time  of  his^release.  He  can  secure  a  pardon, 
a  commutation  of  sentence,  a  "parole,"  a  good 
job  inside  the  prison  or  anything  the  prisoner 
desires,  and  all  he  asks  for  is  a  stipulated  sum 
in  advance  to  be  used  for  "expense  money." 

All  the  information  regarding  his  prospec- 
tive client  he  is  looking  for  is  his  financial 
resources.  If  the  amount  is  satisfactory  the 
Shyster  obtains  an  interview  with  him,  and  af- 
ter ascertaining  his  requirements  he  assures 
his  client  that  "there  is  nothing  to  it;"  all  he 
(the  shyster)  has  to  do  is  to  whisper  in  the 
judge's  ear  and  "you'll  be  on  the  street  next 
week."  The  prisoner  naturally  inquires  what 
the  lawyer's  fee  will  be,  and  the  shyster  usually 
names  a  sum  two  or  three  times  as  large  as  the 
prisoner  can  command.  Even  when  the 
amount  the  victim  can  procure  is  small,  the 
shyster  is  willing  to  accept  the  case. 

After  securing  the  money — and  forgetting  to 
give  a  receipt — the  shyster  generally  visits  the 
relatives  and  friends  of  the  prisoner  and,  by 
means  of  his  usual  tactics,  obtains  from  them 
all  the  money  he  can.  After  he  has  obtained 
all  that  it  is  possible  to  collect,  he  usually  for- 
gets all  about  his  client  until  he  hears  he  has 
more  money. 

Many  men  are  here  for  long  terms,  and  in 
only  a  few  cases  is  there  any  possible  chance 


of  obtaining  their  release  legally;  but  it  is  a  \ 
curious  fact  that  about  ninety  per  cent  of  these 
men  believe  they  have  a  good  case  and  could 
get  out  if  they  had  only  a  competent  lawyer  to 
fight  for  them.  The  shyster  knows  and  takes 
advantage  of  this  condition  of  mind,  and  when 
a  proposition  is  put  before  the  prisoner  or  the 
prisoner's  relatives  and  friends  that  his  release 
can  be  obtained  only  through  Mr.  Shyster's  in- 
fluence or  legal  ability,  it  can  be  readily  under- 
stood how  easy  and  how  pitiful  it  is  for  him 
to  rob  his  victims. 

Many  prisoners  in  penitentiaries  are  illiter- 
ate and  both  they  and  their  relatives  are  very 
poor.  This  swindling  by  ~  the  shyster  causes 
untold  suffering  in  many  instances;  not  only 
this,  but  it  is  positively  cruel  to  many  of  the 
prisoners'  mothers,  wives  and  children  who  are 
dependent  on  the  prisoners'  support  to  raise 
false  hopes  when  the  shyster  knows  well  they 
can  never  be  realized. 

The  shyster  is  reasonably  certain  that  he  will 
never  be  called  upon  to  account  for  his  ne- 
farious operations  as  his  knowledge  of  the  law 
and  the  character  and  ignorance  of  his  victims 
furnish  many  loop  holes  by  means  of  which  he 
can  escape  if  called  to  account.  , 

There  have  been  many  complaints  made  of  ' 
this  class  of  confidence  men  but  they  never  ac- 
complished anything.     It  seems  almost  impos- 
sible   to    establish    any    means    of    protection 
against  his  operations. 

A  shyster  lawyer  is  a  disgrace  to  any  com- 
munity, even  a  penitentiary.  He  is  without 
doubt  a  despicable,  cheap  grafter.  He  is  on 
the  same  level  with  a  quack  doctor  and  a  poor 
box  thief. 

[Note — The  Bar  Association  would  get  rich 
pickings  if  it  would  send  investigators  to  pris- 
ons to  make  inquiries  regarding  the  conduct  of 
lawyers  who  must  of  necessity  be  under  sus- 
picion.— Editor.  ] 


TWO  HUMANE  IMPROVEMENTS 


By  Peter  Van  Vlissingen 


A  Prisoner 


At  the  suggestion  of  Governor  E.  F.  Dunne 
the  inmates  of  this  prison  who  are  in  the  first 
grade  have  been  recently  given  permission  to 
write  one  letter  every  week  instead  of  writing 
once  in  five  weeks. 

The  value  to  the  prisoners  of  this  humane 
improvement  can  hardly  be  understood  by  any 
one  unacquainted  with  prison  life. 


Februan'  1,  1914 


The  Juliet  Prison  Post 


61 


Under  the  former  regulations,  when  a  pris- 
oner wrote  to  some  one  who  loved  him  that  he 
was  ailinjj^,  he  could  not  again  rejKirt  his  con- 
dition for  five  weeks  and  the  suspense  which 
ensued  can  only  be  partially  understood. 

Under  the  parole  law  a  prisoner  may  re- 
ceive a  sentenc.  the  minimum  term  of  which  is 
one  year  and  the  maximum  term  is  life.  The 
prosecuting  witnesses  and  the  States  Attor- 
neys are  permitted  to  he  heard  before  the  Pa- 
role Board.  They  have  freedom  to  act  and 
consequently  can  make  their  protest  against 
the  prisoner  as  strong  as  the  situation  war- 
rants, while  the  prisoner  was  seriously  ham- 
l>ered  by  his  lack  of  opportunity  to  write  often 
enough  to  be  able  to  get  letters,  as  to  his  pre- 
vious character  and  to  enlist  the  legitimate  sup- 
port of  his  friends.  The  result  was  frequent- 
Iv  unfavorable  to  the  prisoner  and  he  was 
usually  honestlv  convinced  that  he  served  more 
time  because  he  could  not  adequately  corres- 
pond with  those  who  might  help  him. 

Somehow  it  was  overlooked  when  the  in- 
determinate sentence  law  went  into  effect  that 
a  prisoner  sentenced  under  its  provisions  had 
occasion  to  write  letters,  which  did  not  exist 
under  the  old  law,  which  provided  for  a  definite 
sentence.  Then  a  prisoner  fought  out  the  en- 
tire question  of  the  length  of  his  sentence  at 
the  time  of  his  trial,  but  under  the  parole  or 
indeterminate  sentence  law  the  important  ques- 
tion as  to  how  many  years  a  prisoner  must  re- 
main in  prison  is  determined  after  he  is  in  the 
penitentiary. 

Prisoners  frequently  lost  their  friends  be- 
cause they  could  not  answer  letters  which  were 
received.  As  a  result  of  the  prisoner's  silence 
he  was  in  time  forgotten,  or  at  least  he  lost  the 
active  interest  of  his  correspondents. 

The  prisoner's  present  writing  privileges 
gives  him  a  much  better  opportunity  to  keep 
in  touch  with  his  lawyer,  relatives  and  friends, 
and  that  may  effect  his  time  favorably.  The 
new  order  went  into  effect  November  first. 
1913,  and  the  figures  furnished  by  the  prison 
Superintendant  of  Mails  are  interesting.  Dur- 
ing September,  1913,  the  prisoners  sent  out 
1275  letters  and  received  3133  letters.  Dur- 
ing October  the  outgoing  letters  numbered  1418 
and  the  number  of  incoming  letters  was  3349. 
In  November,  5109  letters  were  mailed  by 
prisoners  and  they  received  5396  letters. 

The  other  suggestion  of  the  Governor's  was 
that  the  prisoners  be  permitted  to  receive  visits 


once  every  week  instead  of  once  in  four  weeks 
which  was  formerly  the  rule. 

A  visit  is  an  event  in  a  prisoner's  life  and 
this  new  regulation  has  done  much  towards 
making  them  more  contented  and  ha.s  helix-d  to 
create  the  good  atmosphere  which  prevails  in 
this  institution  at  this  time. 

0     ^     ^ 

THE  NOVELTIES  WE  MAKE 


By  W.  R. 

A  Prisoner 

The  establishment  of  the  making  and  selling 
of  novelties  by  the  inmates  of  this  institution 
is  a  boon  to  the  prisoner  who  has  a  mechanical 
or  inventive  mind  and  to  the  ones  who  find  the 
time  they  are  in  their  cells  to  be  moncjtoiujus 
and  mentally  tiring. 

This  has  only  been  in  vogue  for  the  past 
\\\it  months  and  is  not  generally  known  to  the 
outside  world. 

When  the  present  administration  itiaugu- 
rated  this  system,  they  had  a  manifold  purjxjse 
in  view  at  its  creation;  knowing  that  it  would 
give  incentive  to  the  men  and  arouse  their  am- 
bition to  become  industrious  with  the  hojH.'  that 
they  would  retain  that  spirit  after  their  release; 
it  would  furnish  every  man  a  chance  to  make 
some  money  to  not  only  indulge  in  what  small 
luxuries  are  permissable  but  to  have  something 
when  released  beside  the  ten  dollars  allotted  by 
the  State;  to  afford  an  opportunity  and  ojx'n 
ui)  an  outlet  by  which  those  men,  who  are  gift- 
ed with  some  talent,  could  develop  whatever 
ability  they  possessed^dong  the  lines  best  suit- 
ed to  their  purpose. 

This  system  is  called  the  'Honor  Industrial 
Department."  and  is  attainetl  by  the  men 
through  their  good  conduct,  and  ui)on  admis- 
sion they  are  given  a  card  signed  by  the  Deputy 
Warden  permitting  them  to  tinker  in  their  cells 
in  the  evenings  and  to  have  such  tools  and  nia- 
terial  as  needed,  which  are  furnisheil  by  the  in- 
stitution;  but  when  they  are  unobtainable  in 
here  it  is  permissable  for  the  relatives  or 
friends  to  bring  or  send  the  required  articles,  or 
where  the  inmates  have  funds  they  are  allowed 
to  buy  them  at  cost  price  through  the  Purchas- 
ing Agent  of  the  prison. 

These  novelties  are  for  side  to  the  general 
public  and  are  to  be  fi>und  in  the  V^isitor's  Re- 
ception Room  in  the  Administration  buddnig 
of  this  institution. 

The  intrinsic  value  ol  the  trinkets  lies  m  the 

workmanship. 


62 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


Ninety  per  cent  of  the  proceeds  emanating 
from  the  sales  of  these  articles  are  placed  on 
the  books  of  the  institution  to  the  credit  of  the 
maker,  the  remaining  ten  per  cent  is  retained  by 
the  institution  to  cover  the  use  of  the  material 
which  had  been  furnished  by  the  State. 

Since  the  inauguration  of  this  department 
the  gross  receipts  amount  to  three  hundred  and 
thirty-one  dollars  and  ninety-five  cents.  This 
may  not  seem  large  to  one  on  the  outside  yet  it 
means  a  great  deal  to  those  inmates  who  had 
not  a  penny  to  their  credit. 

The  department  is  still  in  the  infant  stage, 
but  it  is  growing  fast  and  it  is  the  hope  and  in- 
tention of  the  Warden  to  make  the  display  one 
of  the  best  of  its  kind  in  the  country,  and  hav- 
ing that  in  view  and  to  get  the  public  more 
familiar  with  this  "Infant  Industry,"  he  con- 
templates holding  a  Bazaar  some  evening  dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of  the  Easter  season  and  in- 
vite the  general  public  to  attend. 


HIGH  LIFE  IN  PRISONS 


By  George  Williams 


A  Prisoner 


Many  newspapers  and  individuals  through- 
out the  country  are  complaining  about  the 
"mollycoddling"  of  prisoners.  They  seem  to 
think  that  the  modern  prison  is  a  very  nice 
place  where  all  of  the  desires  of  the  imnates 
are  gratified,  and  that  prison  life  is  a  path  of 
roses.  This  erroneous  impression  is  gained 
through  the  instrumentality  of  writers  who  are 
discussing  a  subject  they  have  little  accurate 
knowledge  of. 

Men  in  this  prison,  especially  after  a  holi- 
day often  read  of  the  splendid  things  they  were 
given  to  eat  and  what  joyous  times  were  had. 
Fanciful  menus  and  gay  times  exist  only  in  the 
minds  of  the  imaginative  writers. 

On  days  like  Christmas,  Thanksgiving  and 
the  Fourth  of  July  we  have  splendid  meals  and 
joyous  times,  but  outsiders  do  not  seem  to  take 
into  consideration  that  the  terms  "joyous"  and 
"splendid"  as  used  in  describing  these  events 
are  only  comparative.  For  instance,  last 
Christmas  we  had  roast  pork,  dressing,  mashed 
potatoes,  coffee  and  pie.  This  meal  compared 
to  what  we  usually  get  is  splendid,  but  some 
newspapers  in  describing  this  Christmas  dinner 
publish  a  bill  of  fare  that  would  make  a  first 
class  hotel  fearful  of  an  exodus  from  its  hos- 
pitality to  penitentiaries. 


As  a  clearer  illustration  of  the  way  prison- 
ers are  "mollycoddled"  it  will  probably  sur- 
prise many  to  learn  that  during  the  months  of 
November  and  December  1913  the  cost  of  feed- 
ing the  men  averaged  less  than  sixteen  cents  a 
day  per  man.  This  statement  will  be  better  ap- 
preciated by  an  extract  from  an  article  from 
the  St.  Louis  Globe  Democrat  of  January  1st, 
which  says:  "The  Missouri  Sheriffs'  Associa- 
tion, which  adjourned  here  today,  will  ask  the 
next  Legislature  to  give  sheriffs  a  greater  al- 
lowance than  fifty  cents  a  day  for  boarding 
prisoners.  This  sum  was  fixed  by  statute 
many  years  ago,  according  to  Sheriff  Ben 
Goodin  of  Cole  County,  when  bacon  which  now 
sells  at  twenty-five  cents  a  pound  sold  for  seven 
cents  and  other  items  of  jail  provender  could  be 
had  at  propportionately  low  prices." 

If  the  sheriffs  in  Missouri  find  it  hard  to 
board  prisoners  on  fifty  cents  a  day  it  does  not 
require  much  thought  to  imagine  how  the  pris-  .j 
oners  in  Joliet  fare  on  sixteen  cents  a  day.  It  ' 
should  not  be  forgotten  that  jail  prisoners  are 
seldom  incarcerated  for  more  than  three 
months  w^hile  penitentiary  inmates  are  con- 
fined for  periods  of  from  one  year  to  life. 

If  these  persons  who  fear  that  prisoners  are 
being  treated  too  well  were  to  board  with  them 
at  this  prison  for  a  month  or  two  they  would 
change  their  views.  The  greatest  obstacle  in 
the  path  of  prison  reform  is  ignorance  on  the 
part  of  the  general  public  regarding  prison 
methods. 

[Note — On  last  Thanksgiving  day  the  cost 
of  feeding  each  man  at  this  prison  was  twenty- 
five  and  nine  one-hundredths  cents  and  on 
Christmas  day  the  expense  was  twenty-four  | 
and  twenty-five  one-hundredths  cents  per  man. 
In  both  cases  this  cost  was  for  the  three  meals, 
breakfast,  dinner  and  supper. — Editor.] 


THE  PRISON  PEST 


By  Charles  M.  Potter 

A  Prisoner 

The  most  troublesome  persons  who  exist 
among  us  are  the  chronic  kickers  with  the 
eagle  eyes.  Considering  their  scarcity  in  num- 
bers they  make  about  ten  times  as  much  noise 
and  create  about  one  hundred  times  as  much 
damage  as  their  number  should  entitle  them  to. 

They  consider  it  their  duty  to  look  at  exist- 
ing conditions  and  daily  happenings  with  m(;r 
bid  and  pessimistic  views. 


February'  1,  1914 


The  Joliet  Prisuii  PohI 


63 


Their  eagle  eyes  are  always  alert  for  some 
act  on  the  part  of  an  official  or  a  fellow  pris- 
oner to  serve  as  the  foundation  for  a  story  in- 
tended l)y  circulation  to  spread  discontent  and 
ill  feeling  throughout  the  institution. 

Not  a  day  passes  but  what  some  little  event 
occurs  that  enables  these  "publicity  agents"  by 
the  exercise  of  their  vivid  imaginations  to 
spread  some  tale  wherein  an  innocent  person 
is  held  up  to  ridicule  or  contempt.  It  reciuires 
but  little  effort  on  the  part  of  these  trouble 
makers  to  concoct  a  "yellow"  story  out  of  some 
ordinary  occurrence  which  rivals  the  best  ef- 
forts of  lurid  writers  on  the  "Ananias  Ga- 
zette." 

Making  a  mountain  out  of  a  mole  hill ;  crit- 
icising the  actions  of  all,  and  circulating  false 
rumors  that  might  have  a  tendency  to  disrupt 
the  brotherly  spirit  and  good  will  that  now  pre- 
vails in  this  institution  is  their  specialty,  and  a 
scjuare  deal  is  their  war  cry.  They  do  all  in 
their  power  to  make  themselves  and  others  be- 
lieve that  they  are  getting  the  short  end  of  the 
deal.  By  their  knocking  and  their  general  dis- 
regard for  the  feelings,  reputations  and  charac- 
ters of  others  they  show  that  they  do  not  know 
the  rudiments  of  a  square  deal. 

For  our  own  good  we  ought  to  humanize 
this  small  number  by  turning  our  backs  to 
them  whenever  they  begin  to  talk  to  us. 

They  are  incapable  of  seeing  good  in  any 
proposition  no  matter  how  meritorious  it  may 

be. 

The  honor  system,  opportunity  and  a  square 
deal  is  being  given  to  all  of  us  by  the  present 
administration,  and  the  chronic  kicker  with  the 
eagle  eye,  by  the  exercise  of  his  degenerate 
talents  is  doing  more  harm  than  all  other  pris- 
oners combined.  We  are  thankful  that  they 
are  few  in  numbers,  but  what  a  noise  those  few 
do  make ! 

©     ©     ® 
ADVICE  TO  PRISONERS 


only  make  their  sufferings  harder  by  trying  to 
enlist  their  sympathy  for  your  real  or  fancied 
iiardships. 

it  is  not  manly  to  take  advantage  of  affec- 
tion freely  offered  you,  by  causing  unfounded 
and  unnecessary  grief  to  your  relatives  and 
friends,  by  complaining.  How  much  better  it 
is  to  be  cheerful  in  your  letters  and  in  cc^iver- 
sation.  so  that  mother,  wife,  family  and  the 
friends  who  either  receive  your  mail  or  visit 
you,  will  be  cheered  by  your  account  of  your 
life  instead  of  crushed  by  reason  of  exagger- 
ated recitals  of  your  hardships. 

©     ®     © 
PUNISHMENT  OR  REFORMATION  ? 


By  J.  S. 

A  Prisoner 

In  letters  to  your  relatives  and  friends,  and 
when  you  receive  visitors  at  the  Usher's  office, 
do  not  complain  unnecessarily  about  prison 
life,  but  show  that  you  can  take  punisiimenl 
uncomplainingly. 

Bear  in  mind  that  in  many  instances  those 
you  have  left  behind  and  who  are  without 
blame,  are  suffering  through  you  and  that  you 


By  George  Taylor 

.\  Prisoner 

The  prison  reform  movement,  which  at  this 
time  is  almost  general  in  most  all  civilized 
countries,  has  attained  proportions  which  give 
definite  assurance  that  within  a  short  time 
prison  life  in  general  will  be  made  milder. 

In  the  past,  punishment  has  generally  been 
advanced  into  the  foreground,  and  reformation 
has  been  deemed  as  of  secondary  considera- 
tion. This  plan  has  not  worked  satisfactorily 
as  evidenced  by  the  constantly  increasing  num- 
ber of  inmates  in  prisons.  The  increase  lias 
been  out  of  proportion  to  the  increase  in  popu- 
lation. 

This  being  so,  it  was  only  a  question  of  time 
when  the  advance  guard  of  prison  reformers — 
inspired  by  humanitarian  motives — would  be 
joined  by  the  many  who  desire  the  general  pro- 
tection of  society  and  the  advancement  of  jK-ace 
and  dignity  of  all  government. 

The  combination  of  these  two  forces  lias 
brought  about  an  incessant  and  assertive  agi- 
tation for  new  methods  in  prison  administra- 
tion, and  while  there  is  no  consensus  of  opinion 
as  to  what  measures  should  be  adopted,  it  is 
definitely  known  that  civilization  is  willing  to 
try  milder  methods  in  the  treatment  of  all  of- 
fenders against  the  law.  with  reformation  as 
the  main  object,  and  punishment  as  of  second- 
ary imi)ortance. 

What  the  results  will  be  remains  to  be  seen, 
but  tile  experiences  of  the  last  few  years  have 
given  ample  reasons  to  hope  that  the  new 
methods,  as  illustrated  bv  the  present  adminis- 
tration at  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary  at 
Joliet  will  produce  better  results  to  the  prisoner 


64 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


and  state  than  did  the  plan  of  severe  punish- 
ment   and    the    consequent    dehumanizing    of 

prisoners. 

The  next  few  years  will  cast  much  light  on 
the  subject  of  the  proper  treatment  of  crim- 
inals and  it  will  soon  be  known  which  should 
be  given  first  position  in  prisons: — punishment 
or  reformation ;  in  the  end,  what  is  for  the  gen- 
eral good  will  be  adopted. 

There  are  many  who  see  far  enough  into  the 
future  to  realize  that  the  best  brand  of  prison 
reform,  which  has  so  far  been  suggested,  or 
placed  into  operation,  will,  at  best  only  im- 
prove the  situation,  and  that,  for  the  ultimate 
cure  of  crime  it  will  be  necessary  to  go  further 
back,  and  that  is  to  the  source. 

This  brings  us  to  the  education  and  care  of 
children  and  youths,  industrial  conditions,  the 
policing  of  communities,  the  detention  after  ar- 
rest and  the  administration  of  justice. 

[Note — Local  reformers,  who  are  striving 
for  immediate  and  lasting  results  should  pro- 
vide a  way  for  communication  in  privacy  with 
all  prisoners,  immediately  after  their  arrest  and 
until  after  trial,  and  they  should  proceed  on 
the  theory  that  in  some  cases,  even  the  entering 
of  a  plea  of  guilty  is  not  conclusive  evidence  of 
guilt. — Editor] 

COMMENTS  BY  INMATES 


TWENTY  YEARS  AND  THEN  SOME 

We  hail  with  joy  the  publication  of  The 
Joliet  Prison  Post  as  it  may  give  us  an  oppor- 
tunity to  send  a  message  to  the  world  from  our 
dreary  cells. 

We  have  been  in  prison  since  the  fifteenth 
day  of  November,  1893,  and  if  the  verdict  of 
the  jury  and  the  sentence  of  the  court  is  carried 
out  we  will  remain  here  until  God  calls  us  to 
our  final  account. 

The  law  has  said  that  we  are  guilty  of  the 
foulest  kind  of  crime;  "burglary  in  the  night 
with  weapons."  We  are  supposed  to  have  been 
surprised  in  the  act  of  burglary  and  in  order  to 
save  our  miserable  bodies  we  are  further  sup- 
posed to  have  killed  two  men  and  to  have  ser- 
iously injured  a  woman. 

Burglary  in  the  night,  two  men  shot  to  death 
and  a  women  seriously  wounded  by  a  revolver 
ball  and  the  men  who  were  found  guilty  were 
not  even  hanged !     Only  a  life  sentence ! 

The  law  has  said  that  there  were  three  of  us 
and  that  on  the  night  of  the  fourteenth  of  No- 
vember, 1893,  we  entered  the  home  of  James 


Prunly  and  his  family  and  that  we  there  and 
then  killed  the  said  James  Prunty,  his  son 
Peter  Prunty  and  wounded  his  daughter, 
whose  first  name  we  have  forgotten. 

There  were  supposed  to  be  three  of  us,  and 
now  we  are  two,  one  James  Warren  having 
died  of  consumption  within  three  years  of  our 
joint  conviction.  He  was  not  as  strong  as  we. 
On  his  death  bed  he  whispered  these  last  words 
to  his  mother,  'T  am  innocent  and  so  are  Mc- 
Nally  and  Kurth." 

None  of  us  ever  saw  James  Prunty  alive  or 
dead.  All  three  of  us  saw  Peter  Prunty  at  the 
hospital  before  he  died  and  though  he  was 
rational  he  did  not  identify  us. 

On  the  evening  after  the  murder  we  were 
all  three  taken  to  the  Prunty  home  for  identi- 
fication and  Mrs.  Prunty  and  her  two  daugh- 
ters said,  "they  are  not  the  men."  Two  weeks 
later  we  were  taken  back  to  the  house  for  iden- 
tification and  then  the  members  of  the  family 
said,  "they  are  the  men,"  and  we  were  subse- 
quently convicted  upon  the  evidence  of  wit- 
nesses wdio  had  at  first  pronounced  us  innocent. 

Each  one  of  us  was  promised  leniency  if  he 
would  confess  and  we  all  refused  to  do  so. 
This  is  strange  in  view  of  the  fact  that  we  were 
only  slightly  acquainted  with  one  another  and 
we  all  faced  the  gallows. 

We  wonder  who  the  men  are  who  committed 
the  crimes  and  what  sort  of  cowards  they  are 
for  allowing  us  to  endure  this  living  death. 
God  have  mercy  on  them ! 

We  were  tried  in  the  Criminal  Court  of  Cook 
County  before  the  Honorable  Henry  \'.  Free- 
man and, we   submit  herewith  a  letter   which 
will  speak  for  itself: 
"Illinois  Appellate  Court 
Chamber  of 

Mr.  Justice  Freeman 

Chicago,  October  27,   1909. 
Mr.  Charles  Kurth, 

Joliet  Penitentiary,    Joliet,  111. 
Dear  Sir: 

I  believe  a  wrong  was  done  you  by  the  ver- 
dict of  the  jury  and  the  sentence  of  the  Court 
imposed  upon  you  and  McNally.  Both  the  ver- 
dict and  judgment  were  justified  by  the  evi- 
dence, but  at  the  same  time  I  think  the  evi- 
dence which  procured  the  conviction  was  work- 
ed up  by  the  police  and  was  not  truthful,  al- 
though I  did  not  dream  of  such  a  thing  at  that 
time.  Yours  truly, 

(Signed)  Henry  V.  Freeman." 


February  1.  1914 


The  .loliet  Prison  PohI 


65 


W'c  know  that  our  word  cannot  be  taken  by 
anyone  because  the  law  has  said  that  we  are 
murderers,  so  we  must  content  ourselves  to  re- 
fer those,  who  may  be  inclined  to  help  rijjht  a 
wron^  for  information  to  Mr.  J.  Kosenbaum. 
417  Postal  Telegraph  lUdg..  Chicai^o ;  Mr.  joiin 
McMahon.  Lake  \  ilia.  111.;  Serj^eanl  (ius 
Weber,  formerly  of  the  Chica^M)  Police  force; 
Mr.  John  M.  Haynes  late  Captain  of  Police  in 
Chicago,  he  now  lives  on  a  farm  in  Michigan, 
antl  Francis  Sullivan,  formerly  secretary  to 
Judge  Cutting  of  the  Probate  Court  in  Chicago ». 
We  crave  an  investigation  of  our  case  by  the 
Bar  Association  of  Chicago. 

Charles   Kurth 
Thomas  McNally 

I  have  a  few  words  to  add  on  my  own  ac- 
count. The  day  after  my  arrest  I  was  brought 
to  the  office  of  the  Maxwell  Street  Police  Sta- 
tion before  a  number  of  people  some  of  whom 
were  newspaper  reporters. 

I  was  greeted  bv  a  gentleman,  who  said: 
"Why  hello  Tom" 'l  answered  "HELLO"  he 
said  "then  you  know  me  Tom  McCall"  I  an- 
swered "I  do  not  know  you  and  my  name  is 
not  Tom  McCall"  he  answered  "yes  you  are 
Tom  McCall  of  the  Pacific  Slope,  a  train  rob- 
ber and  confidence  man,"  and  I  have  forgotten 
what  else  he  said  I  was. 

Another  gentleman  came  up  io  me  and  said, 
"Vou  are  the  fellow  who  sold  me  $10,000.00 
worth  of  stock  and  then  jumped  off  the  train." 
Then  two  other  gentlemen  stepped  forward  and 
remarked  that  I  was  the  man  whom  they  had 
'chased  through  the  train.  I  wonder  how  it 
happened  that  all  these  people  from  the  Pacific 
coast  were  in  Chicago  and  ready  to  identify  me 
so  soon  after  my  capture. 

Then  the  first  speaker  said.  "Tom  we  missed 
you  for  a  few  years,"  and  another  gentleman 
who  claimed  to  be  an  official  from  the  Bride- 
well stepped  forward  and  looked  me  over  and 
said, "Yes  he  has  been  with  us  for  a  few  years." 
1  had  never  seen  any  of  them  before  and  have 
never  seen  any  of  them  since,  but  a  good  news- 
paper story  had  been  started  and  an  atmos- 
phere favorable  to  our  conviction  had  been 
created. 

The  .moving  pictures  of  today  are  made  to 
appear  real  in  just  that  way. 

That  dav  I  became  Thomas  McNally.  alias 
Tom  McCall.  I  was  never  on  the  Pacific 
Coast.  I  was  never  in  the  Bridewell  and  I 
had  never  used  the  name  Tom  McCall. 


The  next  day  and  for  a  l<»ng  lime  after  I 
reatl  in  the  pajx-rs  that  1  was  Tom  MrCall  the 
train  robber,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. 

1  was  tried  by  a  jury  of  men  who  probably 
had  read  the  papers  and  at  my  trial  not  a  word 
of  evidence  was  introduced  as  to  all  the  hocus- 
pocus  1  have  described.  1  served  in  the  army 
of  the  Potomac  and  was  honorably  discharged. 

Yours  Iruly. 

Thomas  McNall\ 
Alias  Tom  McCall 
Since  Nov.   15,   1S*M 

[Note — 1  have  seen  the  original  letter  writ- 
ten by  Judge  Freeman  which  is  herein  (|uoted. 
— Editor.] 

January  22.  1^>14. 
To  the  Editor: 

A  penitentiary  conducted  on  reform  lines 
should  have  one  shop  where  there  is  an  abund- 
ance of  hard  work.  The  prisoners  employed 
there  should  be  the  ones  who  look  upon  a  well 
meaning  warden  as  a  good  sort  of  man  to  take 
advantage  of. 

In  this  shop  should  be  gathered  all  the  pris- 
oners who  willfully  violate  the  rules  and,  who, 
instead  of  making  life  easier  for  their  fellows, 
are  always  trying  to  make  it  unpleasant  for 
them. 

A  prisc^n  has  its  percentage  of  undesirables 
as  viewed  from  the  prisoners'  standix)int,  and 
these  men  should  be  segregatetl. 

B.  D. 

January  28.  1014. 

To  the  Editor: 

There  is  one  just  criticism  which  can  be 
passed  on  the  Warden  of  this  prison,  and  that 
is  that  he  always  thinks  about  the  prisoner^ 
first  and  the  Warden  afterwards. 

In  the  interest  of  the  prisoners  he  should  re 
verse  the  order.  ^'-  ■'^• 

January  Jh.   P'14 

To  the  Editor: 

I  have  been  in  this  prison  over  sixteen  years 
and  have  yet  to  see  a  prisoner  abuse  a  dog,  cat 
horse,  or  "a  bird,  while  I  have  .seen  them  save 
their  meat  for  dogs  and  cats;  I  have  seen  them 
protect  horses  entrusted  to  their  care,  and  I 
have  seen  them  leave  the  shelter  of  a  building 
to  go  out  into  a  iKUiring  rain  to  save  sparrows 
from  being  i>ounded  to  death  by  the  elements. 

J.  b. 


66 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


January  24,  1914. 
To  the  Editor: 

In  these  days  of  big  happenings  and  new 
departures  in  prison  administration,  when  the 
skeptic  world  is  acquiring  for  the  first  time 
that  fuller  knowledge  for  which  it  has  been 
groping  since  the  dark  ages,  it  is  the  privilege 
of  your  paper  as  well  as  its  pleasant  duty  to 
touch  on  the  aesthetic  side  of  the  lives  of  its 
inmates. 

Men  do  not  come  to  penal  institutions  with 
the  expectation  of  living  happily  during  their 
term  of  imprisonment.  It  is  even  doubtful 
whether  the  new  arrival  of  to-day  entertains 
any  hope  that  unusual  effort. will  be  put  forth 
in  his  behalf  except  covering  those  matters  in 
which  it  is  compulsory  to  do  so  under  the  laws 
of  the  Board  of  Health;  even  these  matters 
have  been  woefully  neglected  by  many  institu- 
tions in  the  past. 

To-day  the  searchlight  of  inquiry  can  reveal 
the  new  life  within  this  prison.  Its  warden  is 
not  drawling  upon  his  reserve  energy  in  an  en- 
deavor to  create  happiness  amongst  the  boys, 
but  he  is  successfully  bringing  to  their  atten- 
tion those  things  which  must  and  do  appeal  to 
their  better  senses;  then  he  takes  a  back  seat 
and  awaits  results.  He  believes  that  the  prob- 
lem of  contentment  within  these  walls  must 
largely  be  solved  by  the  men  themselves.  If 
they  are  looking  for  such,  those  special  in- 
fluences are  ever  at  work  which  can  gratify 
their  desires;  if  they  remain  callous  to  these 
influences,  it  must  be  inferential  that  they  are 
quite  content  to  remain  within  their  hard  and 
conservative  shell — and  still  the  administration 
has  done  its  duty  by  them. 

The  result  of  this  policy  allows  for  an  open- 
ing to  reveal  to  a  still  doubting  world  a  most 
pleasant  picture  of  idle-hour  life  at  Joliet.  The 
orchestra  of  fourteen  pieces  is  well  drilled  by  a 
competent  musician,  and  has  caused  much 
favorable  comment  from  the  many  visitors  who 
have  heard  it. 

Two  choirs  are  supported,  Protestant  and 
Catholic,  and  numbered  among  them  are  solo- 
ists of  unusual  ability. 

The  library  is  another  medium  for  the  en- 
richment of  the  mind,  and  the  great  majority 
of  the  men  delight  in  taking  advantage  of  this 
opportunity  offered.  The  chapel  at  services 
is  always  crowded,  and  not  infrequently  prom- 
inent men  in  public  life  will  offer  their  ser- 
vices on  these  occasions;  the  subjects,  covering 
the  entire  range  of  right  thinking  and  clean 


living,  are  warmly  appreciated  as  is  testified  to 
by  the  applause  given. 

The  school  is  another  important  factor  for- 
the  uplift  of  many  men  here.  Special  lectures 
are  given  from  time  to  time  on  subjects  ap- 
pealing not  only  to  those  accustomed  to  the  re- 
finements of  life,  but  also  to  that  great  major- 
ity who  reap  the  peculiar  benefit  by  such  in- 
struction through  lack  of  early  training  and 
proper  environment. 

Amongst  the  pleasures  of  lighter  vein  may 
be  mentioned  the  ever  popular  "Movies." 

All  this  must  strengthen  and  expand.  If  the 
men  at  Joliet  crave  for  that  which  is  inspiring, 
instructive  and  entertaining,  it  reflects  an 
healthly  and  perhaps  a  new  spirit  in  prison 
life ;  and  so  far  as  this  prison  is  concerned,  the 
achievement  of  these  good  ambitions  in  many 
individual  lives  here  has  proved  conclusively 
that  human  nature  is  much  the  same  every- 
where. N.  C.  E. 


January  27,  1914. 
To  the  Editor : 

From  second  term  men  who  had  served  their 
full  time  at  first  conviction,  as  well  as  from 
those  who  have  been  returned  to  the  peniten- 
tiary because  of  violation  to  their  parole  pledge, 
there  comes  a  note  of  protest  not  altogether 
unreasonable. 

Men  have  been  heard  to  say:  "I  attribute  my 
second  fall  to  the  fact  that  when  I  was  first 
released  and  stepped  out  into  the  world,  I  had 
but  ten  dollars  in  my  pockets;  this  amount 
could  not  keep  body  and  soul  together  very 
long  in  the  attempt  to  adjust  myself." 

It  is  difflcult  at  all  times  to  succeed  in  the  at- 
tempt of  putting  ourselves  in  the  places  of  other 
people,  thus  clearly  seeing  the  picture  from 
their  special  viewpoint.  But  even  those  hav- 
ing no  previous  experience  in  matters  per- 
taining to  social  reform,  or  even  those  disin- 
terested in'such  matters,  would  forsee,  that  a 
strong  temptation  threatens  the  prisoner  who 
enters  the  world  under  these  trying  circum- 
stances after  undergoing  a  long  period  of  con- 
finement. 

Among  the  many  benevolent  institutions  of 
the  land,  there  are  several  whose  aim  and  pur- 
pose it  is  to  step  in  at  this  psychological  mo- 
ment of  a  man's  life,  and  meet  the  emergency. 
The  efficiency  of  these  institutions  as  well  as 
their  general  usefulness  cannot  be  questioned, 
as  statistics  will  prove. 

But  there  are  always  a  large  number  of  men 


February  1,  1914 


The  Joliet  Prison   Vnsi 


67 


who  display  a  decided  rt-scinnient  towards  af- 
tiliatiii^-  themselves  with  these  intiiiences. 
Prisoners  will  believe,  laboring  under  a  sense 
of  false  pride,  that  they  would  be  stooping  to 
charity ;  others,  excited  and  nervous  over  the 
prospect  of  being  a  free  man  once  again,  will 
welcome  no  obstacles  in  their  path  which  they 
believe  might  curtail,  even  to  a  limited  extent, 
the  full  freedom  so  long  desired ;  others  again 
offer  no  tangible  reason  at  all  for  their  inde- 
pendent attitude,  and.  curiously,  these  men  are 
more  prone  to  avoid  the  helping  hand. 

These  men  know,  presumably,  their  own 
minds ;  certainly  no  one  can  make  them  em- 
brace the  opportunity  which  thev  mav  be  of- 
fered. Looking  at  the  matter,  then,  from  their 
own  peculiar  and  perhaps  eccentric  angle, 
there  is  a  certain  excuse,  though  not  justifica- 
tion, for  this  falling  into  the  mire  after  prison 
doors  have  swung  outward. 

What  can  be  done  to  ameliorate  these  con- 
ditions without  resorting  to  legislation?  We 
might  propose  the  organization  of  a  society, 
the  officers  of  w'hich,  or  proper  committees, 
would  be  duly  advised  when  a  full  term  man 
was  about  to  receive  his  discharge.  The  pris- 
oner can  then  be  personally  approached  under 
pleasant  conditions;  it  would  be  often,  doubt- 
less, a  warfare  between  stubbornness  and  tact 
— but  the  latter  would  probably  win  the  day. 
In  numerous  cases,  such  an  approach  would  be 
welcomed  fervently  by  even  old  offenders. 

S.  P.  E. 

January  18,  1Q14. 
To  the  Editor: 

I  desire  through  the  columns  of  the  "Post" 
to  record  my  testimony  in  behalf  of  the  humane 
and  generous  administration  of  affairs  under 
the  present  management,  and  my  attestation  is 
made  chiefly  from  a  comparison  of  the  present 
and  former  administrations.  I  know  whereor 
I  speak,  for  I  have  been  here  before,  and  I  am 
qualified  to  say  truthfully,  that  the  prisoners 
today  have  more  privileges,  fewer  reports  f(M- 
violations  of  rules,  less  punishment,  and  at  the 
same  time  there  is  a  better  and  higher  degree 
of  discipline  maintained  than  was  ever  before 
known  in  the  history  of  the  institution.  Ot 
course,  men  are  sometimes  punished  severely, 
but  it  must  be  remembered  that  there  are  fif tee-i 
hundred  men  confined  here  for  every  crime  on 
the  calendar.  These  men  cannot  be  handletl 
with  kid  gloves;  stronger  measures  are  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  control  them.       This  only 


applies  to  a  few  of  the  inmates.  Ten  or  fifteen 
of  the  number  confined  here  are  the  ones  who 
receive  nearly  all  of  the  punishment,  and  in 
ninety-nine  per  cent  of  the  cases  these  men  ab- 
solutely force  the  authorities  to  extreme 
measures. 

This  is  not  written  at  the  suggestion  of  any- 
one connected  with  the  institution;  neither  is  it 
done  because  I  am  a  favorite  with  the  officials. 
I  am  but  a  shoe  shop  man.  have  served  every 
day  of  my  sentence  at  hard  labor.  I  have 
never  asked  a  favor  or  had  occasion  to  fear  the 
frowns  of  anyrmc  in  authority,  but  1  write  be- 
cause I  believe  the  management  deserve  a  word 
of  praise  for  their  efforts  in  behalf  of  those 
placed  in  their  keei)ing  and  this  praise  should 
come  from  those  who  are  the  recipients  of  the 
increased  privileges  and  comforts,  which  are 
allowed  and  accorded  to  us. 

In  conclusion  let  me  say  that  at  least  one 
man  who  wears  the  gray  appreciates  the  gen- 
erous allowance  of  privileges  and  is  ever  ready 
and  willing  to  say  a  word  in  defense  of  those 
now  in  charge  of  the  Northern  Illinois  State 
Penitentiary.  D.  K.,  Shoe  Shop  No.  3. 

January  22.  1014. 
To  the  Editor: 

The  prisoner  who  submitted  in  the  January 
number  the  argument  against  striped  clothing 
for  parole  violators,  deserves  to  be  congratu- 
lated upon  his  subject  as  well  as  on  the  weight 
of  his  argument.  He  would  have  won  out  only 
for  one  thing  and  that  was,  before  the  paper 
was  off  the  press.  Warden  Allen  ordered  the 
wearing  of  striped  suits  by  jxirole  violators  dis- 
continued. 

A  Warden  can  give  an  order  and  have  it  car- 
ried out  (juicker  than  a  printer  can  pro<luce  a 
finished  magazine,  and  1  can  only  advise  the 
contributor  to  look  around  and  sec  if  he  can 
point  out  something  else  which  can  be  improved 
upon.  The  chances  are  that  the  Warden  will 
beat  him  to  it  every  time.  A  prisoner's  handi- 
cap is  too  great. 

Keep  up  the  good  work,  (ieorge ;  you  prob- 
ably made  the  Warden  hustle  at  that.  Any- 
way, striped  suits  have  disappeared  except  for 
those  who  arc  convicted  of  di.sobedience  of 
prison  regulations  E.  G. 

January  27,  1914. 

To  the  Editor: 

The  promise  made  to  us  by  those  in  author- 
ity that  life  in  this  prison  will  be  made  as  near- 


68 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


ly  normal  as  it  is  possible  to  make  it  in  an  in- 
stitution of  this  kind,  is  the  foundation  of  mod- 
ern prison  reform  methods.  There  is  so  much 
that  prison  officials  can  do  to  lighten  the  bur- 
dens of  prisoners,  that  when  they  do  their  best, 
the  results  are  beyond  estimation. 

Whenever  such  a  promise  is  lived  up  to,  the 
prison  is  robbed  of  its  horrors  and  the  pris- 
oner's loads  are  lightened  so  that  we  can  bear 
up  under  them,  and  this  lifts  the  fog  which  in 
the  past  has  enveloped  us  so  that  we  can  again 
look  hopefully  into  the  future;  and  as  we  can 
now  see  farther,  we  can  look  forward 
to  the  time  when  we  shall  again  enjoy  freedom. 

J.  M. 

January  25th,  1914. 
To  the  Editor: 

When  the  prison  authorities  invite  the  co- 
operation of  prisoners  it  follows  that  we  are 
looked  upon  as  men.  and  that  being  the  case  in- 
centive to  respond  will  result  and  with  it  hope 
of  recognition  and  reward  for  successful 
efforts. 

This  opens  the  way  for  friendly  competition 
between  prisoners,  and  that  brings  us  to  condi- 
tions similar  to  those  in  the  world  outside,  and 
when  we  clearly  understand  that,  we  realize 
that  in  this  prison  life  is  worth  living  and  that 
it  is  worth  our  while  to  exert  ourselves  and  do 
our  best,  thus  winning  the  respect  and  earning 
the  reward  which  should  result  everywhere 
from  successful  endeavor.  B.   E. 


January  24,  1914. 
To  the  Editor: 

Out-of-door  employment  for  prisoners  takes 
a  heavy  load  off  their  minds.  Fresh  air  means 
more  to  prison  inmates  than  it  does  to  citizens. 
Sweeping  sidewalks  are  the  best  positions  in- 
side prison  walls  and  that  is  why  such  jobs  are 
facetiously  called  "politician  jobs." 

A.  C. 

January  20,  1914. 
To  the  Editor: 

Somehow  I  have  been  given  a  new  meaning 
to  the  word  "Convict."  Formerly  to  me,  it 
was  the  prisoner  who  wears  a  scowl  on  his 
face  which  distorts  his  features,  delineates  re- 
bellion, and  who  barely  suppresses  his  mum- 
bled snarl.  Don't  be  a  convict.  Instead  be 
the  one  who  works  and  plays,  because  God 
gives  you  strength  of  mind  and  body  with 
which  to  do  it. 


Many  will  say,  O,  the  poor  women!  Now, 
please  do  not  pity  us.  for  pity  is  mockery. 
Just  give  us  a  kindly  smile,  a  kindly  word,  a 
generous  tolerance  of  our  weaknesses — which 
even  the  strongest  men  possess. 

There  are  so  few  women  in  this  prison, 
(and  I  would  that  there  were  less,)  that  we 
are  daily,  yes  almost  hourly,  undergoing  veri- 
table dissection  ;  being  analyzed  ;  given  mental 
caricatures;  silhouetted  against  the  cause  in 
our  imprisonment;  oftentimes  scorned,  and 
sneered  at  or  openly  censured  while  if  the  true 
nature  or  characteristics  of  the  individual  were 
known,  it  might  be  proven  to  be  absolutely  and 
directly  opposed  to  that  criticism. 

I  doubt  if  there  is  one  here  who  cannot  re- 
call a  question  asked  at  her  preliminary  trial: 
"Is  this  your  first  offense?"  Now,  if  this  is 
our  punishment  for  an  offense,  shall  we  not  the 
better  fortify  ourselves  against  other  punish- 
ment by  making  it  our  aim  to  see  some  good  in 
every  one,  in  every  thing,  in  every  day,  in  every 
hour,  and  in  ourselves? 

According  to  Law's  precedure  we  are  de- 
prived of  liberty.  That  is  directly  against  hu- 
man nature,  yet  we  still  have  left  what  ever 
good  there  was  in  us ;  and  why  not  adopt  such 
habits,  as  nearly  as  possible,  as  will  strengthen 
our  good  points? 

Inmate,  Women's  Prison. 


To  the  Editor  :  January  21,  1914. 

Here  are  a  few  lines  from  the  Women's 
Prison,  heartily  thanking  you  for  the  "Post," 
and  to  say  a  word  in  congratulation  of  its 
birth. 

May  it  live  long  and  prosper  and  may  its 
pages  be  an  inspiration  to  all  who  sojourn  be- 
hind the  walls. 

I  believe  I  voice  the  sentiments  of  all  here  in 
saying  that  we  enjoyed  reading  it,  although  we 
were  a  little  disappointed  at  not  having  our  in- 
nings in  the  first  number.   , 

We  too  have  Deputies  over  here  who  should 
come  in  for  a  share  of  praise,  and  we  desire  to 
thank  them  for  the  privileges  that  we  have  re- 
ceived since  they  came  to  us  for  we  appreciate 
the  kindness  by  them  shown  to  us. 

The  male  inmates  are  not  the  only  ones  who 
have  benefitted  because  Mr.  Roosevelt  knocked 
the  Republican  party  into  a  cocked  hat. 

Wishing  you  success  in  your  undertaking  of    • 
reformation  on  a  humane  plane,  I  am.  Sir, 

Respectfully, 
M.  S.,  Women's  Prison. 


February  1.  1914 


The   Joliel    PriNon    Post 


69 


MISCELLANEOUS 


SOMEBODY'S  FRIEND 

Written  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post 

Somewhere,  somewhere  in  the  world 
Somebody's  eyes  there  are  which  wait 
My  troubled  face  to  contemplate; 

With  sympathy  aflame,  and  still 
Unflinching  eyes  that  strangely  dare 
The  mystery  of  my  soul  to  bare. 
To  seek  the  good  if  good  is  there — 

To  scan  the  purpose  and  the  will. 
I'm  watching,  as  my  way  I  wend. 
To  find  them  shining  in  a  friend 

Somewhere  in  the  world. 

Somewhere,  somewhere  in  the  world 
Somebody's  sturdy  hand  I  know 
Would  clasp  my  own  in  weal  or  woe ; 

Lingering  there  as  tho'  loath  to  leave, 
With  pressure  firm  that  seems  to  give 
The  hope  to  win,  the  wish  to  live, 
A  love  and  longing  to  forgive — 

A  fresh  desire  to  achieve. 
I'm  watching,  as  my  way  I  wend, 
To  .see  it  reaching  from  a  friend 

Somewhere  in  the  world. 

Somewhere,  somewhere  in  the  world 
Somebody's  smile  wtnild  light  for  me. 
Feeling  the  heart  with  its  golden  key — 

Threading  a  path  to  its  mystic  core ! 
( )nly  a  smile  ? — 'Tis  golden  speech 
Telling  what  wise  men  fail  to  teach ; 
Touching  where  caution  fails  to  reach — 

Only  a  smile  and  nothing  more. 
I'm  watching,  as  my  way  I  wend. 
To  see  it  flooding  from  a  friend 

Somewhere  in  tlie  W(jrld. 

Somewhere,  somewhere  in  the  world 
Somebody's  ear  would  there  incline — 
Somebody's  voice  would  welcome  mine. 

Bearing  the  message  I  need  to-day. 
Telling  of  life  without  the  sin. 
Teaching  tiie  pilgrim's  way  to  win, 
(iiving  the  plan  to  now  begin — 

Calling  me  onward,  else  I  stray. 
I'm  listening,  as  my  way  I  wend. 
To  hear  it  sounding  from  a  friend 

Somewhere  in  the  world. 


One  time,  somewhere  in  ilic  world 
I  held  the  hand  that  I  would  prize; 
I  knew  the  smile,  the  quiet  eves — 

lalleth  IJK'  voice  as  an  empty  song. 
O,  constant  friend!     I  left  vour  side, 
Ufxjn  my  strength  alone  relied. 
Choosing  the  i)athway,  white  and  wide; 

And   now    I   groix.-    for   the   something 
gone, 
Still  watching,  as  my  way  I  wend. 
To  find  and  hold  another  friend 

Somewhere  in  the  world. 

L.  T.  W  . 


^     ^     ^ 

VOICES  THROUGH  THE  SPACE 

Written  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post 

'Tis  calling  at  the  waking  hour,    far  distant. 

yet  so  near. 
The  voice  that  whispers  through  the  space  the 

love-tale  in  my  ear; 
Amid  the  evening  silences  its  sweet  complaint 

is  breathed, 
And  through  the  golden  promise  brought   is 
hope  of  life  conceived: 
"Pear  wanticrcr,  I'm  callimj  \ou. 

Dear  heart,  return 
Where  love  is  ever  first  ami  last. 

Ami  home  liylits  burn. 
Tile  journey  7ce  must  plan  ane^v, 

With  faith  secure 
To  bear  the  load,  to  meet  the  blast 
Ami  still  endure." 

How  (|uickly  then  my  answer  comes!     'Tis  but 

a  simple  word, 
Yet  somewhere  down  the  fields  of  space  1  know 

it  will  be  heard ; 
For  someone  sits  the  weary  ilay  an  empty  chair 

beside, 
And  sets  the  watch-light  in  its  place  when  falls 
the  even-tide: 
"Beloved,  Tm  coming  bye  and  bye. 

And  at  your  hnee 
Will  marvel  at  the  f^atient  love 
Wliicii  summoned  me; 
The  gentle  courage  icliicli  could  vie 

With  stress  and  trial; 
The  faitii  ichich  brought  the  vision  of 
The  life  7corth  ichile!" 

A.  L. 


70 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


GRAFTERS 
By  Spike  Hogan 

A  Prisoner 


Written  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post 

In  the  life  of  every  grafter 

There  are  girhcs,  wine  and  huighter ; 

Yet  there's  something  missing  after 

One  has  Hved  it  very  long. 
You  may  snatch  the  cream  and  honey 
And  the  "other  fellow's"  money, 
But  its  just  as  true  as  funny 

You  will  wish  you  wasn't  born. 

You're  an  all-round  good  fellow 

When  you  have  the  "green  and  yellow ;" 

Voices  round  you  glad  and  mellow, 

And  the  hand  grips  good  and  strong. 
But  the  grafter  is  a  boozer, 
There's  a  girl-one  can't  refuse  her ; 
You  awake,  a  grumbling  loser. 

Girl  and  "friends"  and  money  gone. 

Though  no  ties  of  friendship  bind  them. 
It  is  rarely  hard  to  find  them; 
You're  in  front  of  and  behind  them 

In  the  city's  madding  throng. 
Can  you  tell  me  what  survives  by, 
What  a  lonely  kid  derives  by 
Being  Grafter,  sot  and  wise  guy? — 

That's  the  problem  of  my  song! 
[Note — He    knows,    but    will    not    tell — 
Editor.] 


AN  APPEAL 


By  William  Richards 


A  Prisoner 


Written  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post 

Just  a  thought  is  born  within  me  as  I  ply  my 

pen  along; 
'Tis  no  selfish  boon  I'm  craving — I  would  rc;c- 

tify  a  wrong. 
For  the  world  seems  all  against  us,  ever  shuns 

the  one  who  falls, 
All  unknowing  there  is  goodness  in  the  man 

behind  the  walls. 

Bear  my  message  to  the  people  who  gaze  at  us 
from  afar. 

That  we're  weak  and  only  human-prone  to  er- 
ror as  they  are. 

Though  we've  w^andered  from  the  pathwav 
midst  the  happy  fields  of  men, 

We  are  hoping  for  a  welcome  when  we  face  the 
world  again. 


THE  PLEA 

Written  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post 

To  the  ends  of  the  earth  I  am  sending 

The  plea  all  too  feebly  I  make. 
To  the  pitiless  and  the  unbending. 

That  their  reason  and  mercy  awake. 
The  decree  of  the  people  has  fenced  us 

Around  with  these  towering  walls. 
But  why  should  their  hearts  turn  against  us- 

Why  outcast  the  fellow  who  falls? 

Not  for  sympathy's  tears  are  we  praying, 

For  the  lesson  was  given  to  learn ; 
We  are  counted,  we  know,  as  the  straying, 

But  are  weary  and  long  to  return. 
So  a  welcome  we  crave  to  receive  when 

Swing  the  gates  of  the  cold  prison  wall, 
That  the  suffering  eye  may  perceive  then 

There  are  friends  in  the  world  after  ail. 

There's  a  God  looking  down  from  above  us. 

But  my  plea  is  not  sent  to  His  throne, 
Who,  all  knowing,  all  seeing,  can  love  us 

And  who  counteth  us  still  as  His  own ; 
With  the  pulse  of  the  world  I'm  contending. 

As  its  borne  from  the  gray  prison  walls. 
The  plea  I  too  feebly  am  sending: 

Do  not  outcast  the  fellow  who  falls ! 

C.  E.  R. 


Free  Copies  for  Prisoners 

Each  prisoner  received  a  copy  of  the  Jan- 
uary number  without  cost,  and  the  same  will  be 
done  with  regards  to  the  February  issue.  The 
expense  of  the  copies  distributed  to  the  in- 
mates is  borne  by  the  Library  and  Amusement 
fund  and  it  is  the  intention  of  the  authorities 
to  continue  this  indefinitely,  but  discontinuance 
is  to  remain  optional. 

For  the  present  prisoners  will  be  permitted 
to  mail  their  copy  to  any  address  in  the  United 
States  and  the  prison  authorities  w^ill  pay  the 
postage.  To  do  this  the  inmate  should  hand 
his  paper  to  his  keeper  who  will  write  the  name 
and  address,  of  the  person  to  whom  it  is  to  go, 
legibly  on  a  slip  of  paper  and  then  send  both 
to  the  office  of  the  Superintendent  of  Mails. 

Under  no  circumstance  should  the  name  and 
address  or  anything  else  be  written  on  the  paper 
as  this  is  against  the  rules.  Inmates  are  not 
permitted  to  pay  for  any  paper  or  to  subscribe, 
nor  yet  to  pay  for  the  subscription  of  a  friend. 
In  no  way  will  the  prisoners  or  any  one  of  them 
be  permitted  to  pay  any  money  to  The  Joliet 
Prison  Post.  The  Editor. 


February  1,   1914 


Tlio  Joliet   Prison   Post 


71 


WORDS  OF  CHEER 
From  William  A.  Sunday 

From  an  Address  to  Prisoners 

Boys,  you  can  live  down  your  past.  D.on't 
think  that  when  you  get  out  everybody  will 
avoid  you  like  a  hobo  avoids  a  woodpile.  You 
can  live  down  your  [)ast  just  as  surely  as  oth- 
ers have.  You'll  find  influences  that'll  help 
you  go  square,  or  you'll  find  influences  that 
will  pull  you  back  with  the  old  gang,  if  you  let 
them. 

A  man  can  live  down  his  past  if  he'll  meet 
squarely  and  firmly  the  influences  that  drag- 
ged him  down.  It's  up  to  you  whether  you  go 
straight  after  you  leave  these  doors,  or  whether 
you  go  back  to  the  old  life.  It's  the  love  of 
Jesus  Christ  that  will  keep  you  right. 

How  far  are  you  men  here  in  the  pen  on  the 
Ohio  from  the  time  you  knelt  at  your  mother's 
knee  and  said,  "Now  I  lay  me?"  None  of  you 
are  here  because  you  obeyed  the  Bible  are  you  ? 
If  every  man  obeyed  the  Bible  there  would  be 
no  prisons  on  earth,  there  would  be  no  electric 
chairs,  no  uniformed  police. 

I  believe  nothing  blocks  the  way  of  a  man  to 
hell  like  the  loves  of  a  wife  and  child.  And 
nothing  can  put  courage  into  a  man  like  little 
arms  about  his  neck.  Men,  when  you  get  out 
of  here  you've  got  to  go  straight.  You  can 
win  if  you  only  try.  You'll  find  people  to  help 
you  out  if  you  really  want  them  to.  That's 
what  I've  come  for  to  try  and  encourage  you 
so  you  won't  go  back  to  the  old  crowd  when 
you  get  out.  This  is  my  rest  day,  but  if  I  can 
do  anything  to  help  you  I'm  mighty  glad  to  do 
it.  Men,  let  Jesus  lead  the  way  and  you  won't 
go  far  wrong. 

I  don't  know  anything  about  the  circum- 
stances that  brought  you  here,  but  every  man 
him.self  knows  how  his  foot  sl.ppcd. 

The  devil  can  make  more  promises  and 
fulfill  less  than  anybody  else  in  the  world. 
When  you  leave  these  doors  say,  "Good-bye 
pen,  good-bye  bean  soup,  good-bye  iron  bars, 
good-bye  old  uniform  they  can  make  rags  of 
you  if  they  want  to.  but  I'm  going  to  leave  vou 
orever. 

It  is  the  duty  of  prison  authorities  to  reduce 
by  education,  the  accumulation  of  ignorance 
which  prevails  amongst  inmates  in  prisons 
everywhere,  and  in  those  states  which  by  laws 
forbid  compulsory  education  oi  prisoners  the 
laws  should  be  changed. 


They  Require  a  Light  Rein 

Some  prisoners  need  just  a  little  more  re- 
straint than  society  can  enforce.  This  is  il- 
lustrated by  the  trusties  who  arc  helpful  and 
lead  moral  lives  in  prison,  yet  some  wtuild  fail 
it  there  were  no  prison  restraint. 

Some  men,  who  as  trusties,  would  re!u>e 
whisky  if  it  was  offered  to  them  would  ^>cnA 
their  last  cent  for  it  if  they  were  free  to  pur- 
chase it. 

Those  men  are  not  firm  enough  to  be  inde- 
pendent and  tlu-y  are  too  good  to  be  kepi  in 
prison. 

Going  Some,  But  True 

No  one  realizes  the  responsibility  placed 
upon  him  quicker  than  does  the  prisoner.  The 
higher  officials  in  prison  are  usually  good 
judges  of  character  and  when  they  trust  a  pris- 
oner they  go  farther  in  extending  their  confi- 
dence than  employers. 

January  20,   1914. 
To  the  Editor: 

Ye  Editor  says  in  the  January  number  the 
prisoner  who  looks  only  for  sympathy  in  this 
paper  will  be  disappointed. 

Sure,  we  know  that;  you  will  find  "sym- 
pathy" in  the  dictionary. 

Anonymous.   Women's    Prison. 

From  The  Governor  of  Illinois. 

Springfield,  January  15,  l'>14. 
To  the  Editor: 

I  have  read  with  nuich  interest  the  first  is- 
sue of  The  Joliet  Prison  Post  and  am  mucii 
pleased  with  its  appearance  and  contents,  and 
hope  that  the  prisoners  will  profitably  employ 
some  of  their  leisure  time  in  reading  and  con- 
tributing to  the  paper. 

Yours  very  truly, 

E.  V.  Dunne. 

From  the  Governor  of  Kansas. 

Topeka.  January  14,  1914. 
To  the  Editor; 

I  have  received  a  copy  of  The  Joliet  Prison 
Post  and  have  read  the  interview  with  Warden 
Allen  with  a  good  deal  of  interest. 

We  have  been  following  the  same  mode  of 
procedure  as  to  the  care  of  the  prisoners  in  this 
state  for  some  time  past. 

Geo.  H.  Hodges. 


72 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


From  the  Governor  of  Idaho 

Boise,  Idaho,  January  20,  1914. 
To  the  Editor: 

I  am  thorouglily  in  sympathy  with  all  that 
is  contained  in  the  interview  with  Warden 
Edmund  M.  Allen  which  appeared  in  your 
January  number. 

I  believe  that  prisoners  are  human  and  that 
much  may  be  accomplished  through  an  appeal 
to  their  sense  of  manhood,  honor  and  respon- 
sibiHty.  I  have  no  doubt  that  Mr.  Allen  is 
accomplishing  a  great  work  for  prison  reform, 
and  I  trust  that  the  methods  which  he  is  em- 
ploying will  soon  find  favor  throughout  the  en- 
tire United  States. 

Vours  very  respectfully, 

John  M.  Haines. 


From  the  Governor  of  Connecticut. 

Hartford,  Conn.,  January  13,  1914. 
To  the  Editor: 

I  am  in  favor  of  the  extension  of  the  prin- 
ciple of  outdoor  labor  for  convicts  and  I  have 
recommended  legislation  in  that  direction  by 
this  State.  It  must,  of  course,  always  be  re- 
membered in  dealing  with  prisoners  that  they 
are  in  prison  partly  for  i)unishment,  partly  for 
the  deterent  influence  on  others  and  partly 
with  the  hope  of  reformation.  The  depriva- 
tion of  liberty  is  a  serious  part  of  their  punish- 
ment, and  of  its  deterent  influence. 

Vours  very  truly, 

Simeon  E.  Baldwin. 


Severe  discipline  encouraged  enmity  between 
prisoners  on  the  theory  that  prisoners  who 
hated  one  another  would  keep  the  authorities 
informed  with  regard  to  infractions  of  the 
rules. 


PRESS  OPINIONS  AND  REPRINTS 

A  Credit  to  Joliet  Prison 

,The  first  number  of  the  Joilet  Prison  Post, 
a  monthly  journal  published  by  the  board  of 
commissioners  and  the  warden  of  the  Joilet 
state  penitentiary  and  edited  by  a  prisoner, 
has  been  issued.  It  is  a  highly  creditable  pub- 
lication reflecting  much  credit  upon  the  humani- 
tarian administration  of  Illinois'  greatest 
prison. 

The  number  contains  forty-eight  pages, 
mainly  the  work  of  prisoners.  But  it  also  has 
discussions  of  prison  problems,  a  letter  from 
Governor  Dunne,  a  poem  by  Walter  Ma  lone, 
sent  by  Secretary  of  State  William  J.  Bryan, 
and  even  a  number  of  jokes  and  stories  in  light- 
er vein.  A  feature  of  much  interest  is  a  re- 
print of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
with  the  names  of  the  original  signers,  mem- 
bers of  the  constitutional  convention  which 
adopted  it. 

In  short,  here  is  a  monthly  magazine  which 
must,  of  necessity,  be  of  large  interest  to  the 
unfortunates  confined  in  the  Joilet  prison.  The 
very  fact  of  its  existence  marks  a  great  in- 
crease in  humanitarianism  and  enlightened 
prison  management,  for  it  is  a  startling  en- 
croachment upon  the  old  system  which  regard- 
ed a  prisoner  as  a  sort  of  inferior  wild  animal, 
only  fit  to  be  caged  and  abused. 

We  shall  do  much  l)ctter  in  our  prison  ad- 
ministration if  we  recognize  the  fact  that  even 
prisoners  have  some  rights,  and  that  one  of 
them  is  that  they  be  not  regarded  as  having 
entirely  forfeited  their  claims  to  human  sym- 
pathy and  understanding.  As  a  long  step  in 
this  direction  the  establishment  of  the  Joliet 
Prison  Post  may  be  hailed  as  a  decidedly  wel- 
come innovation  in  the  penal  system  of  Illinois. 
— Inter  Ocean,  Chicago. 


The  conduct  of  our  "honor  men"  at  Camp 
Hope  will  open  prison  gates  throughout  the 
United  States  and  will  save  many  a  sinner  from 
a  consumptive's  grave. 

A  prison  guard  wdio  hopes  that  the  Deputy 
Warden  wjll  punish  the  prisoner  whom  he  re- 
ports, is  unfit  for  his  position.  If  the  prison- 
er is  excused  from  punishment  by  the  Deputy 
Warden,  the  guard  should  receive  him  as 
though  nothing  had  happened  and  he  should 
hold  no  grudge  against  such  prisoners. 


Optimistic  and  Pathetic 

We  are  in  receipt  of  a  copy  of  the  Joilet 
Prison  Post,  edited  in  Joilet  prison,  and  con- 
taining a  number  of  articles  by  the  prisoners 
and  in  their  interest.  An  optimistic  tone  runs 
through  the  number  and  no  doubt  its  every 
line  was  most  eagerly  read  by  the  inmates. 
Some  of  the  articles  have  a  decidedly  pathetic 
touch,  and  especially  is  this  true  of  the  one 
penned  by  the  convict  who  has  been  there 
eighteen  long  years. — Republican-Register, 
Galeshurg,  III. 


February  1,   1914 


The  Joliet    Prison   Post 


73 


Two  Prison  Publications 

Tlic  jolict  I'rison  I'ost.  "devoted  to  jirison 
news."  edited  l)y  a  prisoner  and  i)iihlished 
monthly  by  the  board  of  commissioners  and 
the  warden  of  the  penitentiary  at  joliet.  111., 
comes  close  to  bein^  all  that  a  prison  publica- 
tion should  be.  It  has  something  in  it.  The 
warden  takes  advantage  of  its  columns  to  out- 
line his  purposes  and  talk  openly  with  the  in- 
mates of  the  prison.  A  prisoner  who  was  one 
of  last  fall's  road  gang  tells  what  it  means  and 
speaks  for  the  forty-five  men  who  constituted 
the  road  working  experiment  with  convicts 
when  he  reviews  the  work,  the  spirit  in  which 
the  men  took  hold  of  it  and  declares  its  suc- 
cess from  a  reformatory  standpoint.  The 
prison  physician  and  the  chaplain  have  their 
word  and  contributions  from  convicts,  letters 
from  outside  and  clippings  from  other  prison 
papers  combine  with  some  display  advertising 
to  make  up  a  very  creditable  quarto  magazine 
of  forty-eight  pages. 

The  main  thing  about  the  Prison  Post  is  that 
it  is  worth  reading  by  the  men  inside  and  by 
those  outside  who  are  in  any  way  interested  in 
the  operation  of  prisons.  It  touches  on  mat- 
ters of  actual  daily  interest  to  those  people 
within  the  w^alls.  It  is  useful  and  interesting 
and  worth  the  effort. 

The  Anamosa  reformatory  where  a  prison 
paper  is  being  issued,  should  study  the  Joliet 
style  and  class.  The  Prison  Press  is  as  nearly 
the  opposite  of  the  Post  as  may  be.  The  Press 
is  well  printed — and  there's  an  end.  The  Post 
is  a  useful  magazine  which  can  not  fail  to  be 
an  effective  aid  to  the  process  of  reformation. 
— Timcs-RcpublkiDi,  Marshulltorcn.   Io7ca. 

@     ® 

Brimfull  of  Good  Reading 

riie  Free  1  rader  is  in  receipt  of  a  copy  of 
tile  first  issue  of  "The  Joliet  Prison  Post,"  a 
monthly  paper  devoted  to  the  dissemination  of 
news  of  the  state  penitentiary  at  Joiiel.  The 
I)a|)er  is  in  magazine  form  and  is  brimfull  of 
good  reading  matter. 

"The  Post"  is  edited  by  one  of  the  prisoners 
and  the  editorial  paragraphs  are  highly  flat- 
tering to  (Governor  Dunne.  Warden  Allen  of 
the  prison,  and  other  (jfTicials  there.  The 
prisoners  say  they  are  receiving  the  best  treat- 
ment under  the  Dunne  administration  ever 
granted  by  any  set  of  state  oflicials  and  they 
appreciate  it  highly. — I'rcc  Trader,  ()tt(i7iV. 
Illinois. 


Sound  and  Uplifting 

Number  one,  of  volume  one,  of  the  joilet 
I'rison  Post  has  come  to  the  Courier- Herald 
oHice.  The  pubhcation  is  edited  i)v  the  pris- 
oners of  the  state  penitentiary  at  Joilet  and  pub- 
lished by  the  board  of  commissioners  and  the 
warden  of  the  prison.  It  is  printed  on  an  ex- 
celicj-.t  (|uahty  of  paper,  contains  forty-eight 
l)ages,  eleven  of  which  are  filled  with  advertis- 


mg. 


There  is  a  tone  about  the  publication  which 
is  uplifting.  E^verything  which  the  prisoners 
ha\e  written  is  clean  and  wholesome.  There 
is  soundeil  in  each  discussion  something  of  a 
wholesome  resjjcct  for  law,  a  longing  for  lib- 
erty, and  withal  a  desire  for  human  better- 
ment which  speaks  well  for  the  influence  of 
the  state  prison.  Not  a  sordid  line  appears  in 
the  paper.  It  is  filled  with  suggestions  as  to 
the  improvement  of  the  pris(jners'  life,  with 
red-blooded  poetry,  with  a  letter  from  (Gover- 
nor Dunne,  a  poem  sent  by  William  J.  Hryan 
and  a  letter  from  Louis  F.  Post.  The  Joilet 
Prison  Post  is  indicative  of  awakening  social 
interest  in  America,  within  prison  walls  a>  well 
as    elsewhere. — Couricr-I I cralil ,    ('Ihnl.-^-fnmi, 


111. 


^     ® 


"Our  Protestant  Brothers" 

A  change  has  been  maile  in  the  Illinois  State 
prison  at  Joliet.  Edmund  M.  Allen,  the  war- 
den appointed  by  Governor  Dunne,  believes  in 
humane  treatment  of  prisoners  anil  the  "Joliet 
Prison  Post,"  a  magazine  published  by  the  pris- 
on autlK^rities  and  edited  by  a  prisoner,  tells  of 
the  improveil  conditions.  In  passing,  it  may 
be  said  that  the  magazine  reveals  workman- 
siiij)  and  skill,  literary  and  mechanical,  that  is 
superior  to  many  a  publication  of  free  men. 

Here  is  a  paragrajjh  from  a  letter  of  a  pris- 
oner who  "has  ser\  ed  time  more  than  eighteen 
years"  that  is  worth  the  attention  of  ihousiinds 
and  tens  of  thousands  out  of  jail: 

"Those  of  us  who  are  of  the  Catholic  faith 
nuist  not  overlook  the  fact  that,  under  Mr.  Al- 
len, we  have  Catholic  services  every  two  weeks 
anil  mass  every  Sunday  instead  of  once  a 
month.  I  feel  confident  tluit  our  Protestant 
brothers  rejoice  with  us  over  this." 

Mark  the  phrase  "Our  Protestant  brothers." 
Think  on  it  well.  How  often  is  brotherly  love, 
the  kind  of  love  that  every  minister  and  priest 
preaches   from  his  pulpit,  to  his  own  congre- 


74 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


gation,  breathed  with  a  sincerity  so  obvious,  so 
disarming  of  suspicion — outside  of  prison 
walls? 

When  this  man,  with  eighteen  years  of  pris- 
on slavery  behind  him,  speaks  of  "our  Protest- 
ant brothers,"  you,  reader,  know  that  he  means 
it.  You  will  agree  with  him,  too,  that  "Pro- 
testant brothers  (in  prison)  rejoice"  with  him 
"that  the  Catholics  now  have  the  mass  every 
Sunday,"  however  you  may  not  believe  in  the 
mass.  Nor  will  you  doubt,  Protestant  though 
you  be,  that  your  brother  Protestants  in  prison 
are  as  tolerent  and  gentle  in  their  view  of  the 
Catholic  faith  as  this  old  prisoner  is  of  theirs. 

Must  one  go  behind  prison  walls  to  find 
"charity"  that  "suffereth  long  and  is  kind?" 

To  Catholic  and  Protestant,  alike  free,  res- 
pectable and  prosperous,  we  commend  the  ser- 
mon that  the  prisoner  of  eighteen  years  has 
preached  to  them  in  forty-five  words.  Surely, 
if  Christian  love  may  stamp  out  sectarian  ani- 
mosity and  vindictiveness  in  the  life  of  the 
prison,  it  should  have  free  play  among  the 
free! — The  State,  Columbia,  S.  C. 


A  Human  Interest  Magazine 

The  news  counters  are  filled  with  "human 
interest"  periodicals  these  days,  but  none  bear 
so  vital  a  message  of  genuine  human  interest  as 
the  "Prison  Post,"  published  monthly  by  the 
inmates  of  the  Joliet  Penitentiary. 

While  vigorously  advocating  the  new  idea 
of  imprisonment  as  a  means  of  reformation, 
rather  than  of  vengeance,  the  "Prison  Post" 
does  not  encourage  sentimentality,  as  indicated 
in  this  introductory  paragraph: 

"The  prisoner  who  looks  only  for  sympathy 
in  this  paper  will  be  disappointed.  We  hope 
that  he  who  recognizes  his  own  shortcomings 
will  find  encouragement  in  every  number." 

The  point  of  view  of  "the  man  inside"  is  al- 
ways interesting  and  frequently  illuminating. 
To  the  man  or  woman  concerned  with  the  re- 
clamation of  those  who  have  stumbled  no 
periodical  can  offer  more  absorbing  study  than 
this  monthly  journal  setting  forth  the  reflec- 
tions of  those  who  bear  the  judgments  of  out- 
raged society. — The  Peoria  Journal. 


A  Credit  to  the  Prisoners 

The  News-Herald  is  in  receipt  of  a  copy  of 
the  first  edition  of  the  Joilet  Prison  Post,  a 
magazine  edited  by  a  prisoner. 


The  new  magazine  contains  48  pages,  a  lit- 
tle larger  than  standard  magzine  size  and  is 
well  printed. 

The  very  first  statement  in  the  first  page  of 
the  paper  reads  as  follows:  "The  prisoner  who 
looks  only  for  sympathy  in  this  paper  will  be 
disappointed." 

The  paper  is  devoted  to  prison  news  large- 
ly. Scores  of  convicts  contribute.  There  is 
a  long  interview  with  Deputy  Warden  Walsh, 
a  contribution  by  Governor  Dunne  and  a 
great  deal  of  interesting  information  about 
prison  affairs  generally. 

The  publication  is  exceptionally  well  gotten 
up.  It  has  a  good  advertising  patronage  and 
is  most  certainly  a  credit  to  the  prisoners  who 
are  getting  it  out. — Nezvs-Herald,  Litchfield, 
I  lino  is. 


Road  Building  in  Alabama 

The  movement  to  take  convicts  from  the 
mines  and  the  lumber  camps  in  Alabama  goes 
ahead  slowly.  A  meeting  held  last  summer  in 
Birmingham  to  agitate  the  question  has  borne 
fruit  only  within  the  past  few  weeks,  when 
some  fifty  convicts  have  been  put  to  work  on 
road  construction  in  Jefferson  county. 

No  convicts  have  as  yet  been  taken  from  the 
mines  or  lumber  camps. 

Newspaper  articles,  editorials  and  news 
stories  in  various  state  papers  deal  with  it  from 
day  to  day.  Possibly  the  one  most  tangible 
result  of  the  summer's  meeting  so  far  has  been 
the  creation  of  a  strong  public  sentiment  for 
it. — The  Survey,  Nezu  York. 


Good  for  the  Boys 

Joilet  prison  honor  men  are  continuing  in 
road  work,  not  heeding  the  little  snow  on  the 
ground.  They  like  the  work  and  their  tents 
have  been  equipped  with  stoves  and  as  long  as 
the  mercury  does  not  go  very  far  below  zero, 
they  will  prefer  road  building  to  any  work  that 
might  be  assigned  to  them  in  the  big  institu- 
tion. They  are  doing  excellent  work  and  are 
causing  not  the  slightest  trouble.  No  doubt 
the  gangs  or  squads  will  be  increased  just  as 
fast  as  it  is  deemed  safe.  None  but  men  who 
can  be  trusted  are  assigned  to  this  work  and  the 
men  themselves  see  to  it  that  the  confidence 
which  is  given  them  is  not  misplaced. — Dis- 
patch, Moline,  III. 


i 


February  1,  1914 


The  Jollet   Prison  Post 


75 


The  Love  of  Freedom 

There  is  something  over  which  to  ponder  in 
the  joy  of  the  Hberated  wild  thing.  A  caged 
bird,  used  to  the  hberty  of  the  air,  the  confined 
beast,  born  in  the  fastnesses  of  the  wilds,  will 
often  pine  and  die  for  the  very  desire  for  free- 
dom. 

Not  unlike  the  lower  strata  of  beings  is  man, 
long  confined,  when  he  is  liberated.  The 
cause  may  vary.  The  delight  with  which  the 
invalid  takes  his  first  tottering  step,  upon  re- 
covery, is  good  to  see.  He  feels  he  is  being 
freed  from  the  clutches  of  his  disease.  A  re- 
cent example  lies  in  the  pfesence  of  the  convict 
road  gangs  from  the  Joliet  prison.  These 
gangs  are  constantly  increasing.  The  men 
upon  them  are  "trusties,"  in  every  case.  Rath- 
er than  enjoy  the  warmth  and  comfort  of  the 
prison  home,  these  men  are  facing  the  winter's 
severe  changes,  in  tents,  and  are  working  daily 
in  the  biting  air,  for  the  freedom  from  encom- 
pasing  walls.  The  sense  of  helplessness  is  less 
acute,  perhaps,  even  though  no  thought  of  es- 
cape from  obligation  enters  the  mind.  In  the 
sunlight  and  beauty  of  God's  great  out-of- 
doors,  these  shamed  men  can  face  their  duty 
with  steadier  e^^es  and  stronger  hearts.  Here 
the  law  cannot  rob  them  of  what  every  man 
has,  good  or  bad,  the  incentive  for  right  think- 
ing and  living.  Penal  students  tell  us  that 
more  men  are  reformed  out  of  doors  than  un- 
der roofs.  The  freedom  instinct  generallv 
prevails.^Lrf/^fr,  Canton,  Illinois. 

Ready  to  Break  Camp 

The  convicts  who,  without  guards,  without 
shackles  or  handcuffs,  arrived  here  from  the 
foilet  state  penitentiary  on  September  3,  1913, 
will  have  completed  their  road  work  this  week 
with  a  record  of  having  "made  good"  as  they 
said  they  would  when  Warden  E.  M.  Allen 
started  them  on  the  work  at  Camp  Hope. 

The  convicts  have  by  their  loyalty  and  gootl 
behavior  demonstrated  the  fact  that  it  pays  to 
lend  a  helping  hand  to  the  "down  and  out." 

Of  the  sixty-five  men  who  have  been  at  the 
camp  in  the  last  four  or  five  months,  Harry 
West,  who  is  now  clerk  of  the  camp  and  has 
ten  months  yet  to  serve,  said: 

"The  boys  are  all  on  the  .'^(|uare  yet  and  there 
isn't  a  man  who  hasn't  kept  his  word  of  honor 
with  the  warden  given  at  Joilet  before  we 
started  for  camp." 

The  men  have  worked  eight  lK)urs  every 
day  since  they  started  on  road  building,  except 


Saturday  afternoons,  Sundays,  and  holidays, 
riie  work  accomplished  has  been  highly  sjitis- 
factory  to  the  local  commissioners  and  the 
people  here. 

Fifteen  of  the  original  parly  ol  loriy  live 
men  have  been  released  by  pardon  or  other- 
wise. 

But  as  the  convicts  whose  terms  had  expired 
were  released  from  camp  new  "honor  men" 
were  sent  from  the  state  prison  to  take  their 
places,  so  that  Capt.  Keegan  has  had  forty-five 
men  working  under  him  at  all  times. 

What  pleases  the  men  themselves  most  is 
that  they  have  "made  good"  and  that  the  con- 
fidence placed  in  them  by  Warden  Allen  has 
not  been  betrayed. 

The  Rev.  A.  B.  Whitcombe  of  the  First 
Episcopal  church  of  Dixon,  who  has  been  cha|>- 
lain  of  the  camp  since  its  establishment,  and 
who  has  been  a  daily  visitor,  said  he  never  saw 
a  bunch  of  men  so  w'illing  to  work  or  who  were 
more  anxious  to  really  "make  good." 

The  road  up  over  the  hills  from  Grand  ile 
Tour,  where  all  the  work  has  been  done,  has 
taken  more  time  to  complete  than  exjK'Cted  at 
the  start.  This  was  due  to  the  large  amount 
of  crushed  rock  that  has  been  used,  but  was 
not  called  for  in  the  original  plans  of  Slate 
Engineer  Johnson. — Chicago  Tribune,  Jantmrv 
i8,  19 1 4. 

No  More  Penitentiaries 

The  Springfield  Republican  has  this  to  say 
about  Ohio's  new  method  of  treating  crimi- 
nals: 

When  America  was  a  country  of  farms  and 
villages,  its  ideal  of  caring  for  delinquents 
and  dependents  was  in  a  big  brick  institution. 
Now  that  urban  conditions  have  develojx'd  even 
to  rather  too  great  extent,  we  see  a  natural  and 
whok'sonie  reaction  toward  the  farm  colony  as 
an  ideal.  Thus  Ohio  has  a  new  place  of  de- 
tention beautifully  situated  in  a  virgin  forest. 
which  no  one  is  to  be  allowed  to  speak  of  as  a 
penitentiary. 

C  )hio  has  adopted  a  prison  jK^nalty  with  more 
svmpathy  than  revenge  in  it,  not  condolence  for 
I  lie  crime,  but  sympathy  for  the  criminal.  This 
very  treatment  will  make  crime  ashamed  of  it- 
self. A  man  sent  to  the  prison  for  some 
crime  will  be  apt  to  say  to  himself,  "to  think 
that  I  have  attacked  the  jwace  and  order  of  a 
state  that  treats  me  so  considerately  and  kind- 
ly!" There  is  reformation  in  that  kind  of  a 
thought  and  reformation  is  two-thirds  of  pun- 
ishment.— Ohio  State  Journal. 


76 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


Kentucky  Road  Work 

The  movement  for  placing  convicts  on  the 
road  received  a  fresh  impetus  last  month,  when 
a  constitutional  amendment  was  passed  in  Ken- 
tucky, permitting  the  use  of  prisoners  upon  the 
public  highways.  Previous  to  this,  all  Ken- 
tucky prisoners  were  employed  within  the  walls 
of  the  institution  under  the  contract  system, 
but,  pending  the  passage  of  the  amendment, 
the  prison  commissioners  refused  to  renew  a 
contract  soon  to  expire,  so  that  convicts  will 
be  available  for  road  work  as  soon  as  the  neces- 
sary legislation  can  be  enacted. — Times  Union, 
Jacksonville,  Fla. 

Putting  Men  on  Honor 

It  is  officially  reported  that  since  the  parole 
system  was  adopted  by  the  Missouri  state  pris- 
on authorities,  eight  months  ago,  not  one  con- 
vict in  7i  released,  has  again  committed  crime, 
or  broken  his  parole. 

This  record  is  in  line  with  that  made  last 
year  by  the  "honor  men"  sent  from  the  state 
penitentiary  of  Ililnois  to  work  upon  the  roads. 

There  is,  indeed,  some  "honor  among 
thieves" — and  other  malefactors. 

There  is  at  least  a  spark  of  honor  in  the  vilest 
wretch  alive. 

It  is  not  possible  in  every  case,  perhaps,  to 
fan  that  spark  to  flame.  But  in  it  lives  what- 
ever hope  exists  of  reformation  of  the  criminal. 

Putting  men  on  honor  tends  to  mak^  men 
honorable. 

Just  as  distrusting  good  men — showing  them 
they  are  suspected — treating  them  like  scound- 
rels— tends  to  make  them  scoundrels. 

Trusting  bad  men  is  not  going  to  make  all 
of  them  trustworthy.  Not  any  more  than 
manifest  distrust  of  better  men  will  make  them 
all  clishonest.  But  there  is  temptation  in  the 
one  case  to  justify  confidence,  as  there  is  temp- 
tation in  the  other  case  to  justify  suspicion. 

Like  appeals  to  like,  and  like  responds  to 
like. 

Comprehension  of  that  rule  is  growing  clear- 
er and  promises  to  make,  some  day,  reforma- 
tories of  our  prisons. — Register,  Canton,  III. 

Another  Prison  Farm 

The  first  anouncement  of  Dayton's  new  di- 
rector of  public  welfare  is  that  he  proposes  to 
abandon  the  city  workhouse  and  establish  a 
prison  farm  in  its  stead.  In  other  words,  Day- 
ton will  have  a  Warrensville. 


Attention  was  called  in  these  columns  some 
weeks  ago  to  the  widening  popularity  of  the 
prison  farm  idea.  Ohio  is  to  have  a  farm 
prison  in  place  of  the  present  penitentiary  at 
Columbus.  Other  states  have  taken  steps  to 
the  same  end.  But  the  cities  led  in  the  re- 
form. 

Cleveland's  success  at  Warrensville  has  be- 
come famous.  Kansas  City  has  an  institution 
similar  in  form  and  purpose,  the  work  of  which 
in  the  last  two  or  three  years  has  been  highly 
praised. 

Dayton  is  to  profit  by  the  experience  of 
these  and  other  cities  which  have  already 
abandoned  practices  in  penology  which  tended 
to  degrade  but  not  to  reform  men  and  women 
who  fell  under  the  law's  displeasure.  It  is  a 
hopeful  comment  on  society's  increasing  hu- 
manity that  so  many  wide-awake  communities 
are  ready  to  abandon  old  practices  for  new  in 
the  treatment  of  their  less  vicious  offenders. — 
Plain  Dealer,  Cleveland,  O. 


Good  for  the  Chicago  Journal 

Concerning  five  "honor  men"  sent  to  Camp 
Hope  from  this  prison  and  who  were  recently 
released  the  Chicago  Journal  said,  "These  five 
men  may  not  be  wholly  reclaimed,  but  they 
have  a  better  chance  of  good  citizenship  than 
any  who  have  gone  before.  They  have  had 
work  which  hardens  their  muscles,  braces 
their  minds  and  strengthens  their  self-control. 
They  have  learned  by  experience  that  it  pays 
to  be  trustworthy,  that  the  state  can  be  parent 
and  protector  as  well  as  policeman,  that  the 
law  is  willing  to  give  a  fellow  a  chance." 


Self  Criticism 

Fault-finding,  any  man  will  find  an  excel- 
lent habit  if  directed  only  at  himself.  Ex- 
pended thus,  it  will  correct  his  faults,  eradicate 
his  vices  and  give  him  a  tremendous  advantage 
over  the  thousands  that  are  sure  to  be  entered 
in  the  race  with  him.  Directed  at  others,  it 
will  get  him  nothing  but  enemies,  and  enemies 
are  always  dangerous. 

Often  the  fellow  who  imagines  that  he  is 
being  neglected  by  his  fellow-men,  could  se- 
cure all  the  attention  he  craves,  by  considering 
his  own  mistakes  a  little  more  and  his  fellow- 
men's  a  little  less. — The  Better  Citizen,  Rah- 
ivay,  N.  J. 


February  1,  1914 


The  Joliei   Prison  P<)s< 


77 


Our  Police  and  Penal  Systems 

(From  an  acklrc-s  before  the  Omaha  (Nel). ) 
Philosophical  society,  by  Laurie  J.  (juimbv. 
(^maha.) 

Until  society  learns  to  deal  fairly  with  the 
criminal  the  number  of  criminals  will  increase. 
Society  has  tried  inmishment  for  untold  cen- 
turies, and  yet  to-day  the  most  intellectual  and 
painstakiuiL,^  of  the  students  of  criminoloj^y  are 
not  in  the  least  a^^reed  that  punishment  has  in 
any  sense  proved  efhcacious  in  the  cure  of 
crime.  For  no  matter  how  severe.*  the  punish- 
ment, it  cannot  expel  from  the  mind  of  the  of- 
fender the  desire  to  do  that  which  he  believes  he 
must,  and  so  loni^  as  any  desire  remains  in  the 
mind  of  man,  that  desire  will  eventuallv  be 
satisfied.  Vou  may  punish  a  man  so  severelv 
that  he  may  not  commit  a  certain  deed,  but  you 
cannot  punish  him  so  severely  that  he  may  not 
wish  to  do  it.  England  for  centuries  tried  the 
severest  punishments  against  crime.  During 
the  reign  of  Henry  \'III,  about  thirty-nine 
years,  some  seventy-two  thousand  people  were 
put  to  death  through  the  power  of  the  state,  and 
for  all  this  time  there  is  not  an  item  to  prove 
that  crime  decreased.  Two  centuries  ago  Eng- 
land had  more  than  two  hundred  crimes,  which 
her  criminal  code  made  punishable  with  death, 
but  not  until  the  state  became  less  criminal, 
did  crime  decrease.  It  is  not  uncommon  for 
some  folk,  whose  own  conduct  is  not  always 
above  suspicion,  to  say  that  one  who  breaks  the 
criminal  law  puts  himself  out  of  all  considera- 
tion by  his  fellow  mortals;  but  when  society 
hounds  him  who  has  once  offended,  and  hounds 
him  for  that  reason  only,  it  is  itself  a  worse  of- 
fender, for  it  puts  a  club  into  its  enemy's  hand. 
X'erily,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  it  is  the  crim- 
inal who  is  more  sinned  against  than  sinning. 

From  observation  and  learning  the  opinions 
of  others,  I  believe  that  the  majority,  if  not  in- 
deed all.  so-called  criminally-disposed  are  more 
the  victims  of  circumstances,  environment  and 
growth,  over  which  they  had  no  control,  i 
am  constantly  more  and  more  convinced  that 
all  of  us  really  try  to  do, the  best  we  can.  That 
we  do  not  rise  to  the  degree  we  should  is  more 
through  our  ignorance  or  from  our  under-de- 
velopment.  From  this  premise,  it  would  fol- 
low that  society  should  treat  the  criminal  more 
as  a  sick  man — more  as  one  in  need  of  assist- 
ance— than  as  one  upon  whom  it  should  i)ounce 
with  distended  talons,  to  rend  and  tear. — The 
Commoner,  Lincoln,  Neb. 


"An  Ambulance  Down  in  the  Valley" 

">■  J<>!>ei>li  .M;iliti!> 

Twas  a  dangerous  cliff,  as  they   freely  con- 
fessed, 
Though  to  walk  near  its  crest  was  so  i)leas- 
ant ; 
P)Ut  over  il>  lerrii)le  edge  ihere  had  >li|)pe(l 

.\  (hike  and  full  many  a  peasant. 
So  the  people  said  something  would  have  to 
I)e  done, 
r.ut  tiieir  projects  did  not  ;it  all  tallv. 
SoiiK.   "j)nl   a    fence  around    the   edge   oi    nic 
cliff;" 
Some,  "an  ambulance  down  in  the  vallev." 

But  the  cry  for  the  ambulance  carried  the  day. 

And  it  spread  through  the  neighboring  city; 
A  fence  may  be  useful  or  not  it  is  true. 

But  each  heart  became  brimful  of  pitv 
For    those    who    slipped    over    that    dangerous 
cliff. 

And  the  dwellers  in  highway  and  allev 
Gave  pounds  or  pence — not  to  put  up  a  fence. 

But  an  .imbulanci-  down  in  the  vallev. 

Then  rui  oid  sage  remarked:  "It's  a  marvel  to 
me 
That  i)eople  gi\e  far  more  attention 
To  repairing  results  than  to  stopping  the  cause, 

\\  hen  they'll  better  aim  at  prevention. 
Let    us    stop    at    its  source  all  this  mischief." 
cried  he. 
"Come,  neighbors  and  friends,  let  us  rally; 
If  the  cliff"  we  will  fence,  we  might  almost  dis- 
pense 
With  the  ambulance  down  in  the  valley." 

"Oh,  he's  a  fanatic."  the  other  rejoined; 

"Dispense  with  the  ambulance?      Never! 
He'd    dispense    with    all    charities,  too;    if    he 
could. 
No.  no.  we'll  support  them  forever! 
Aren't  we  picking  up  f(tlks  just  as  fast  as  thev 
fall? 
And  sh.'dl  thi>  man  dicl.iie  ii'  \\>:     Shall  he? 
Why  should  people  "f  <eii-r  st«ip  t<>  put  up  a 
fence, 
\\  bile  the  ambulance  works  in  the  valley?" 
— Lansing  (Kansas)  renilenliory  Hiillelin 

Only  One  Too  Many 

P^ven  (lovernor  Blease  must  feel  that  he  is 
pardoning  rather  too  freely  when  he  finds  that 
he  has  jKirdoned  one  man  twice. — linquirer. 
Buffalo,  Mezu  y'ork. 


78 


The  JoHet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


Do  Criminals  Reform  ? 

A  representative  of  the  New  York  Herald 
interviewed  William  A.  Pinkerton  on  the  sub- 
ject of  the  reform  of  criminals.  The  follow- 
ing are  some  of  the  forcible  statements  by  this 
great  authority: 

"Do  criminals  ever  reform,  really  turn  over 
a  new  leaf,  and  become  good  citizens?" 

1  fired  the  question  at  random,  little  dream- 
ing what  a  wealth  of  interesting  and  convinc- 
ing anecdote  it  would  evoke.  I  expected  the 
time-honored  cynical  reply,  souT'thing  to  the 
effect  of  "Once  a  thief,  always  a  I'nef."  But 
I  was  disappointed — agreeably  disappointed. 
For  his  answer  was  a  quick  emphatic,  earnest 
"Yes." 

And  the  man  who  said  "Yes"  was  William 
A.  Pinkerton,  and  he  knows. 

Probably  no  living  man  knows  more  intimate 
details  about  the  individual  members  of  the  un- 
derworld, those  who  are  active  criminals  to- 
day, as  well  as  the  notorious  crooks  of  the  past, 
than  the  head  of  the  Pinkerton  Detective 
Agency.  And  every  crook  will  tell  you,  what 
every  honest  man  who  knows  Mr.  Pinkerton 
will  tell  you,  that  when  he  says  "Yes"  there  is 
no  possibility  that  the  correct  answer  should 
be  "No." 

I  know  what  the  average  man  thinks — that  a 
real  crook  never  turns  straight.  But  it  isn't 
so.  Thousands  of  crooks — and  I  don't  mean 
one  time  offenders,  but  men  in  the  class  we 
call  hardened  criminals — have  become  honest 
men  to  my  knowledge.  It  is  not  true,  as  some 
recent  writer  said,  that  as  many  crooks  turn 
honest  as  there  are  honest  men  turn  crooked, 
but  I  believe  that  one  of  the  reasons  is  that  so 
few  men  are  willing  to  lend  a  helping  hand.  I 
don't  mean  that  every  crook  is  ready  to  re- 
form if  he  is  encouraged,  but  I  do  mean  that 
society  makes  it  hard  for  any  man  who  has 
once  been  a  criminal  to  lead  an  honest  life. 

"And  ril  tell  you  another  thing,"  continued 
Mr.  Pinkerton ;  "I'm  prouder  of  the  fact  that  I 
have  helped  a  few  criminals  to  become  honest 
men  than  of  all  the  work  I  have  done  in  putting 
criminals  behind  the  bars.  I'm  proud  of  the 
fact  that  every  criminal  knows  that  Pinkerton 
will  deal  squarely  with  him  if  he  will  deal 
squarely  with  Pinkerton — that  I  believe  it  is  as 
important  to  keep  faith  with  a  bank  thief  as 
with  a  bank  president. 

"I  know  a  score  of  men  in  Chicago — not 
saloon  keepers,  but  reputable  merchants — who 
have  criminal  records.     These  men  have  done 


time  and  have  paid  their  debt  to  society  for 
their  crimes.  I  cannot  tell  you  their  names, 
for  it  would  be  unfair  to  them  and  to  their 
wives  and  families,  many  of  whom  have  no 
suspicion  that  there  is  anything  wrong  in  the 
pasts  of  their  husbands  and  fathers.  'Besides, 
when  Society  discovers  that  a  man  is  a  former 
criminal  it  is  not  content  to  cancel  the  debt,  no 
matter  how  much  imprisonment  at  hard  labor 
the  former  crook  may  have  given  in  expiation 
of  his  sin. 

"I  know  men  in  trusted  positions  in  New 
York  who  were  convicts.  ,  In  many  cases  only 
the  man  himself  and  his  employer  know  the 
secret,  and  sometimes  the  employer  does  not 
know.  I  know  men  scattered  all  over  the 
West — business  men,  professional  men,  many 
of  them  wealthy  and  prominent  citizens — who 
have  seen  the  inside  of  Joliet,  Moyamensing, 
Sing  Sing  or  Leavenworth.  They  have  sons 
and  daughters  who  never  have  suspected  and 
never  will  suspect  the  truth. 

"These  are  good  men — as  good  men  as  any 
living.  They  have  turned  away  from  their 
old  ways;  in  many  cases  have  changed  their 
names,  and  who  shall  say  they  are  not  as  much 
to  be  respected  as  the  honest  man  who  never 
was  tempted,  never  was  forced  into  crime?" — 
Good  IVords. 

Atlanta  Prison 

The  prisons  seem  to  be  in  for  the  same  sort 
of  exposure,  which  has  been  meted  out,  from 
time  to  time,  to  other  institutions,  or  groups 
of  individuals.  If  the  prison  of  a  state  is  not 
exposed,  or  at  least  criticised,  it  is  almost  safe 
to  assume  that  the  state  has  no  prison.  And 
now  the  federal  prisons  are  having  their  turn. 
The  criticism,  made  of  Atlanta  prison  by  Jul- 
ian Hawthorne,  has  produced  an  inquiry  on 
the  part  of  the  Department  of  Justice.  A  good 
deal  of  testimony  has  been  taken  already  and 
it  seems  very  likely  that  the  charges  made  by 
Mr.  Hawthorne  will  be  found  to  have  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  support.  It  is  probable  that 
the  criticism  of  the  prisons,  for  not  living  up 
to  the  standard  set  for, prisons  according  to  the 
older  idea  of  them,  will  be  succeeded  by 
changes,  which  would  have  been  regarded  as 
sweeping,  a  few  years  ago.  The  people  of  the 
country  have  suddenly  discovered  that  there 
are  things,  even  in  w^ell-conducted  prisons,  of 
which  they  do  not  approve  and  are  w'ondering 
how  they  should  be  changed. — Advertiser,  Bos- 
ton, Mass. 


February  1,  1914 


The  Joliel  Prison  Post 


79 


Malnutrition  and  Crime 

A  scicntitic  schecliilc  of  diet  for  prisoners  in 
the  city  jail  is  bcini,^  arningcd  by  Dr.  A.  F. 
(iillihan,  health  director  of  Oakland,  in  con- 
junction with  Professor  Myer  E.  Jaffa,  pro- 
fessor of  nutrition  at  the  University  of  Cali- 
fornia, according  to  announcement  today. 

"Malnutrition  is  responsible  for  criminality 
in  many  cases,  and  i)y  proper  feeding  of  crim- 
inals their  criminal  tendencies  may,  to  some 
extent  at  least,  be  removed,"  says  Dr.  (iillihan. 

The  objects  of  the  experiments  with  the 
prison  diet  will  be  to  pjrove  the  theory  held  by 
Dr.  (Jillihan  that  men  and  women  with  criminal 
inclinations,  while  in  prison,  may  be  subjected 
to  such  a  diet  as  will  relieve  them  of  their  ten- 
dencies and  send  them  forth  into  the  world 
better  able  to  withstand  temptation  and  less 
likely  to  revert  to  former  customs. 

Prisoners  are  to  be  allowed  a  variety  of 
foods,  these  to  be  decided  upon  by  the  health  di- 
rector andProfessor  Jaffa.  Dr.  Gillihan  con- 
tends that  with  proper  food  a  person's  men- 
tality can  be  greatly  improved. — Evening  Post, 
Chicago. 


A  Good  Name 

In  no  place  on  earth  does  a  good  record  go 
further  than  in  the  penitentiary.  Some  folks 
seem  to  gather  the  idea  that  because  they  are 
in  prison  a  good  name  is  not  to, be  sought  af- 
ter, and  that  to  be  reckless  is  to  be  a  hero. 
How  erroneous  is  the  idea. 

The  bible  says,  "A  good  name  is  rather  to 
be  chosen  than  great  riches."  This  statement 
is  made  without  qualification,  and  is  as  ap- 
plicable behind  prison  walls  as  on  the  outside. 
If  a  prisoner  has  not  a  good  name  as  a  pris- 
oner, he  has  absolutely  nothing. 

There  are  prisoners  in  this  institution  whose 
word  is  good,  and  their  names,  as  prisoners, 
are  above  reproach.  The  Warden  could,  and 
would,  if  necessary,  trust  them  anywhere. 
Think  you  that  such  a  record  stands  for 
naught?  Yea,  verily,  it  is  to  be  more  valued 
than  silver  or  gold. 

When  the  minimum  is  about  up  there  are 
some  who  come  before  the  board  for  a  parole, 
but  they  have  a  bad  name.  No  action  is  taken 
in  their  case,  and  they  blame  every  one  but  the 
right  party.  Other  things  being  equal,  they 
could  have  been  released,  but  for  the  record. — 
Penitentiary  Bulletin,  Lansing,  Kansas. 


The  Superlative  in  Stupidity 

The  prisoners  are  jiot  allowed  to  write  let- 
ters until  they  have  been  incarcerated  two 
months.  After  that  they  are  permitted  to 
write  only  once  a  month.  They  can  be  visited 
only  once  a  month — the  visit,  of  course,  being 
in  the  presence  of  an  official — and  they  must 
not  come  in  contact  with  the  visitor,  as  by  an 
embrace  or  a  handshake.  They  must  not  speak 
to  one  another  at  all,  excejU  dm'ing  fifteen 
minutes  each  day. 

They  must  not  even  smile  at  one  another. 
For  smiling,  a  pri.soner  is  made  to  stand  in  the 
corner,  face  to  the  wall,  until  the  foul  crime  is 
burned  and  purged  away.  During  the  j^recious 
fifteen  minutes  they  may  speak  only  to  those 
sitting  next  to  them  in  the  workroom ;  they  can 
not  move  from  their  seats  to  speak  to  some  one 
at  a  little  distance. 

Sttch  are  conditions  in  the  women's  prison 
at  Auburn,  New  York,  as  described  in  The 
Survey  by  two  female  investigators  \\\v)  got 
themselves  locked  up  for  the  purpose  of  fintl- 
ing  out;  but  their  equivalents  can  be  found  in 
scores  of  other  penal  institutions. 

Just  what  a  State  thinks  it  will  gain  by 
maintaining  an  elaborate  machine  for  dehum- 
anizing prisoners,  carefully  squeezing  every 
drop  of  human  interest  and  sympathy  out  of 
them,  we  are  unable  t(»  imagine.  We  expect 
the  State  is  also  unable  to  imagine. — Salnrday 
Evening  Post. 

Bars  Stripes 

New  York,  Jan.  12. — The  convict  stripe  is 
to  be  eliminated  from  the  city  prisons  during 
the  administration  of  Mayor  Mitchel,  accord- 
ing to  Dr.  Katherine  L.  Davis,  corrections  com- 
missioner, who  made  her  fir^t  visit  to  I'lark- 
well's  Island  today. 

"You  can't  reform  a  woman  in  bed  ticking,' 
she  said.     "I  believe  strongly  in  the  psychology 
of  clothes.     A  woman  always  has  more  self- 
respect  when  she  has  on  her  be.^t  clothes." — 
Chicago  Record  Herald. 

"I  Serve  Him  Truthfully" 

Let  the  motto  of  every  man  in  prison  be,  "I 
serve  him  truthfully  that  will  put  me  in  trust." 
And  whether  the  trust  be  great  or  small,  let 
him  live  up  to  it  every  day.  and  every  hour  of 
the  day. — Penitentiary  Bulletin,  Lansing,  Kan- 
sas. 


80 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


Have  a  Grievance? 

All  convicts  have  grievances  in  common, 
legitimate  and  otherwise.  Almost  every  man 
of  them  has  a  select  few  of  his  own,  and  to  ac- 
quire a  hrand-new  one  has  its  advantages.  A 
good  grievance  is  always  interesting,  and.  if 
nothing  else,  it  enables  him  to  discard  one  out 
of  his  old  and  shop-worn  assortment.  It  fur- 
nishes a  new  outlet  for  stagnant  thoughts,  a 
new  subject  for  conversation,  and  always  com- 
mands an  attentive  and  sympathetic  audience. 
Then,  too,  it  is  so  easily  carried  about  that  no 
lynx-eyed  ofificer  can  detect  it  by  bulge  of  pock- 
et or  of  clothing  in  a  spot  where  no  pocket  is 
supposed  to  be. 

No  prisoner  ever  tries  to  sidestep  a  griev- 
ance. A  good  set  of  grievances  enables  a  fel- 
low to  divert  his  thoughts  from  his  own  sins 
and  apply  them  to  those  committed  against 
him.  He  soon  crowds  his  own  offenses  into 
the  background  and  conceives  a  sympathy  for 
himself.     It  is  fine  to  be  a  martyr. 

Illiteracy  is  the  real  cause  of  many  a  man's 
coming  to  the  Penitentiary,  and  they  were  serv- 
ing their  sentences  and  going  ovit  again,  if  any- 


or  less  temporary  expedient,  as  most  convicts, 
regardless  of  sentence,  are  liberated  sooner  or 
later,  and  returning  him  to  liberty  certainly- 
not  bettered  or  strengthened  in  any  way.  He 
had  been  punished,  that  is  all.  and  in  an  unintel- 
ligent manner,  better  calculated  to  instill  ran- 
cor than  repentance. — Nc7cs,  Baltimore,  Md. 


Illiteracy  and  Prisons 

"Illiteracy  is  the  real  cause  of  many  a  man's 
coming  to  the  penitentiary,"  saVs  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  intramural  school  at  that  insti- 
tution in  an  article  published  in  the  News  .  .  . 
on  the  work  which  the  school  is  doing.  That 
being  the  case,  removing  illiteracy  is  one  of  the 
best  means  of  preventing  prisoners  from  being 
sent  back  there  when  they  have  finished  their 
terms  and  been  given  a  new  chance  in  life.  We 
get  a  clear  idea  from  the  article  of  the  direct 
iuanner  in  which  the  school  operartes  to  develop 
aspiration  on  the  part  of  the  convicts.  This 
aspiration  is  much  broader  than  the  mere  de- 
sire to  learn  how  to  read  and  write  and  to  ac- 
([uire  the  other  elementary  instruction  that  is 
eiven.      It  opens  a  new  vista  to  men  inclined 


thing  worse  off  and  with  less  equipment   for     ^^  ^^  discouraged  and  sullen,  and  the  visible 


life's  struggle   than   when   they  entered,   con 
stituting  a  greater  menace  to  society  than  ever 
before. 

That  the  illiterate  and  ignorant  are  more 
prone  toward  crime  is  a  fact  easily  understood. 
Their  ignorance  and  lack  of  the  mental  and 
moral  development,  and  even  of  the  informa- 
tion that  comes  from  reading,  causes  them  to 
be  more  primitive  in  all  their  instincts,  and 
more  liable  to  commit  crimes  of  violence  and 
those  against  the  person.  Their  only  means 
of  committing  crimes  against  property  are 
crude  and  usually  involve  actual  or  possible 
violence  in  the  commission  or  hiding  of  the 
crime.  There  is  more  potent  danger  in  one 
ignorant  illiterate  than  in  a  number  of  men 
with  some  education,  although  criminally  in- 
clined. 

The  writer  does  not  claim  that  there  is  less 
inherent  honesty  among  the  illiterate  and  ignor- 
ant than  among  persons  having  education  to 
some  degree,  but  observation  and  statistics 
convince  that  the  majority  of  the  major  crimes, 
those  offenses  against  which  society  needs  to 
fight  the  hardest,  are  committed  by  the  ignor- 
ant, and  that  the  crimes  of  the  ignorant  are 
usually  of  that  nature. 


evidence  of  their  own  progress  is  a  constant 
encouragement  to  them.  We  are  not  surprised 
at  the  statement  that  the  warden  considers  the 
school  his  best  constructive  agency.  It  is  but 
a  year  and  a  half  since  men  were  pooh-pooh- 
ing the  idea  of  introducing  reformative  pro- 
cesses into  the  Maryland  penitentiary.  To 
such  of  them  as  remain,  the  evidence  of  what 
has  been  and  is  being  accomplished  through 
this  one  means  of  encouragement  should  be  a 
revelation. — News,  Baltimore. 

Crimes  Against  Criminals 

A  recent  headline  in  the  New  York  Press 
announces:  "End  of  torture  for  women  in 
penitentiary  promised."  Isn't  there  volumes 
of  commentary  in  that  brief  line  upon  our  dark 
ages  attitude  toward  the  treatment  of  wrong- 
doers?— La  Follette's  Weekly,  Madison,  Wis. 


Charges  Unfounded 

Julian  Hawthorne's  charges  against  the  man- 
agement of  the  Federal  penitentiary  at  Atlanta 
were  declared  on  January  12  to  be  without 
foundation  by  the  special  investigator  in  his 


In  this  State,  as  in  most  others,   we  have^^report  to  Attorney  General  McReynolds. — TJie 
been    simply    removing   the    criminal,    a  mov^^Piiblic,  Chicago. 


February'  1 ,  1914 


Tlu»  .liiliot    Prison    Post 


81 


RISE  AGAIN 

By  a  Great  Meadows  (N.  Y.)  Prisoner 

If  you  fell  in  the  iiiiul, 

Would  you  flounder  around. 

With  your  feet  in  the  air 

And  your  head  on  the  ,t,^rnunil  ? 

No,  you'd  get  on  your  feet, 
And  go  on  as  you  should, 

And  get  rid  of  the  dirt 

On  your  clothes  if  you  could. 

Then  why  not  do  likewise 
When  from  virtue  you  fall, 

'Stead  of  whining  arountl 
Till  you  sicken  us  all. 

There's  naught  to  l)e  gained 

By  parading  your  woes; 
If  you  fall  from  gr..ce, 

Get  the  dirt  off  your  clothes. 

Then  start  on  youi  way, 
■  With  a  .smile  on  your  face, 
And  your  head  in  the  air — 
You'll  win  at  that  pace. 

Star  of  Hope. 

Go  in  to  Win 

"He  conquers  who  believes  he  can."  is  a  mot- 
to that  every  inmate  would  do  well  to  keep 
constantly  before  him,  for  the  men  who  have 
made  good  in  this  world  have  not  been  the  ones 
who  have  gone  forth  with  doubt  or  misgivings 
in  their  heart,  but  who  have  set  out  with  the 
firm  intention  of  "making  good"  and  coniiuer- 
ing,  come  what  may. 

It  is  a  well  known  fact  that  the  men  who 
have  been  of  the  greatest  use  to  the  world  and 
th-*mselves  have  not  been  the  men  who  were 
reared  in  lu.xury,  but  who  have  been  launched 
uj)on  the  world  in  the  midst  of  poverty  and 
suffering.  They  have  felt  the  world  as  it  is, 
not  as  many  think  it  ought  to  be.  They  have 
been  brought  face  to  face  with  pitiful  hard- 
ships, they  have  had  to  take  their  knocks  with 
the  rest,  and  in  the  majority  of  ca.ses  tiiey  were 
good  hard  ones.  But  their  courage  and  their 
conviction  to  do  what  was  right  saved  them, 
and  developed  them  from  mere  pygmies  into 
the  giants  of  our  race. 

It  is  said  that  human  nature  is  naturally  la/.y, 
and  people  will  not  put  forth  liieir  best  efforts 
until    somethini;   has    forced    them    to   do    so. 


There  can  hardly  be  any  disputing  about  this 
I)oint.  The  history  of  the  world  bears  it  out. 
Then,  if  this  be  true,  are  not  hardships  a  bless- 
ing in  disguise?  Do  they  not  rouse  the  best 
that  is  within  us,  and  goad  us  on  toward  higher 
and  nobler  efforts?  No  one,  wIkj  ever  wants 
to  make  a  real  man  out  of  himself,  can  es- 
cape the  stern  school  of  exj)erience  and  hard 
knocks.  Knowledge  cannot  be  obtained  from 
books  alone — there  is  nothing  that  can  supplant 
experience. 

Let  us  not,  therefore,  regard  our  pres^ni 
state  as  the  death  to  all  our  aims  and  ambitions, 
but  make  it  serve  as  a  stimulant  to  that  which 
is  better.  Let  us  use  it  as  a  ladder  to  climb 
uj)ward,  atul  not  as  a  roi>c  to  drag  us  down- 
wards. 

Let  us  .set  forth  l<i  ldH'ilri — noi  to  be  coii- 
([uered,  and  if  we  keej)  this  spirit  in  our  hearts, 
adversity — hard  as  it  may  seem  at  the  time — 
cannot  deter  us  from  (jur  puri>ose;  it  can  only 
serve  to  open  our  eyes,  to  see  things  as  they 
are,  and  make  us  try  all  the  harder  to  better 
our.selves  in  life. — '/'he  Better  Cithen.  Ralncax, 
N.J. 

The  Officer's  Example 

The  officiary  of  a  penilnuiary  have  a  great 
responsibility.  Each  officer's  life  is  m<jre 
closely  scrutinized  by  the  prison  body  than  any 
person  is  watched  on  the  outside.  Kvcrything 
they  say  or  do  is  weighed  according  to  the 
strictest  standaril,  and  if  they  vary  from  the 
rule  of  righteou.siiess  the  whole  scheme  of  re- 
formation falls  to  the  ground. 

How  are  we  to  train  men  without  a  trainer? 
If  an  ofiker  should  so  far  forget  himself  as  to 
indulge  in  profanity  or  the  foolish  diversion  of 
telliiig  stories  off  color,  or  doing  anything  Ih'- 
nealh  the  plane  of  a  gentlemen,  he  is  no  long- 
er suitable  for  the  service;  for  instead  of  train- 
ing men,  he  debases  them. — Penitentiary  [Uti- 
le tin,  J.ansiny,  Kansas. 

They  Want  Bread 

.\.  helping  h.ind  >houId  be  given  to  every 
man  whom  the  jail  sends  forth  into  the  world 
to  .nake  another  start.  He  should  not  only  be 
allowed  but  heliK-d  to  redeem  himself.  The 
best  and  oidy  way  to  do  this  is  to  give  him  a 
ch.'ince  to  earn  his  bread  honestly  and  in  the 
sweat  of  his  brow — to  give  the  ex-prisoner  a 
job. — Chieayo  Tribune. 


82 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


Books  Written  in  Prison 

In  a  news  dispatch  from  Atlanta  a  few  days 
ago  it  was  stated  that  the  warden  of  the  federal 
penitentiary  at  that  place  had  issued  an  order 
barring  Julian  Hawthorne's  writings  from  the 
prison.  In  connection  with  this  it  is  inter- 
esting to  note  that  the  enforced  solitude  of 
prison  life  has  given  many  literary  men  the 
opportunity  of  producing  many  notable  literary 
works. 

The  most  striking  example  of  this  is  the  case 
of  John  Bunyan,  who  was  imprisoned  for 
twelve  years.  During  that  period  he  spent 
most  of  his  leisure  time  in  producing  works 
which  have  made  his  name  famous.  In  1672 
Bunyan  was  released,  but,  boldly  continuing 
to  preach  his  unorthodox  views,  he  was  thrown 
again  into  prison.  It  was  during  the  second 
period  of  his  incarceration  that  he  wrote  the 
first  part  of  the  famous  "Pilgrim's  Progress." 

The  career  of  the  famous  Dr.  Dodd  is  not  yet 
forgotten.  He  was  one  of  the  most  popular 
preachers  of  his  time,  and  studied  under  var- 
ious actors  and  actresses  the  most  effective 
methods  of  reading  and  delivering  his  dis- 
courses. From  miles  around  people  flocked 
to  hear  him  read  the  Litany.  His  fame  led 
him  to  many  extravagances  in  living  and  he 
forged  a  number  of  bonds,  for  which  offense 
he  was  convicted  and  served  a  sentence  in 
prison.  While  there  he  wrote  "The  Beauties 
of  Shakespeare"  and  "The  Joys  of  Solitude." 

Lord  William  Nevill,  who  was  sentenced  to 
serve  five  years'  penal  servitude,  suffered  much 
from  ill  health  while  in  prison,  and  on  this  ac- 
count was  unable  to  do  much  manual  labor, 
and  so  gained  time  for  the  wTiting  of  his  book 
on  prison  life. — Nezv  York  Sun. 


The  Prisoner  and  Society 

Upon  being  sentenced  to  ten  years  in  a  Wis- 
consin penitentiary  after  having  pleaded  guilty 
to  a  charge  of  robbery,  a  young  man — he  was 
barely  twenty-two  years  old — became  bitterly 
reminiscent  before  the  court.  His  plight  was 
all  the  sadder  because  it  was  Christmas  eve. 
The  prisoner  blamed  his  native  state  of  Ohio, 
and  charged  that  persecution  had  caused  his 
downfall.  He  declared  that  as  a  youth  of 
seventeen  he  had  made  one  mistake  by  stealing 
$40  from  a  bank  where  he  was  employed,  and 
that  thereafter  he  had  been  hounded  continu- 
ously.    Just  how  much  of  truth  there  is  in  the 


young  felon's  story  is  uncertain,  for  it  has  not 
been  investigated.  There  is  a  chance  that 
the  prisoner  told  the  absolute  truth,  and  it  is 
quite  possible  that  he  sought  to  shield  his  dis- 
honesty behind  an  abnormal  imagination. 

Those  familiar  with  police  practice  would 
find  one  element  in  the  wail  from  the  prisoner 
which  would  cause  them  to  give  him  the  bene- 
fit of  the  doubt.  For  the  first  offense  he  said 
he  was  sentenced  to  a  reformatory.  After  be- 
ing paroled  he  got  another  start  in  life — a  new 
hold  on  society — and  was  doing  well,  he  told 
the  judge,  but  finally  his  record  became  known, 
and  the  police  picked  him  up  on  suspicion  when- 
ever a  crime  was  committed.  He  declared 
that  he  was  accused  of  burglaries  with  which 
he  had  no  connection,  until  his  spirit  was  brok- 
en and  again  he  found  himself  an  outcast. 

The  police  have  their  methods,  often  the  re- 
sult of  their  experience  in  the  activities  which 
protect  society  at  large,  but  do  they  give  the 
man  who  has  fallen  the  benefit  of  the  doubt? 
Frequently  old  detectives  will  tell  you  that  it 
is  necessary  to  use  the  dragnet  when  crime  has 
been  committed,  and  rake  in  all  those  who  have 
"done  time."  Such  a  policy  is  open  to  debate 
at  least,  but  it  is  certain  that  if  the  convict  in 
question  reviewed  his  career  truthfully,  so- 
ciety's crime  against  him  is  infinitely  less  par- 
donable than  is  his  transgression  against  so- 
ciety.— Harrisburg  (Pa.)   Telegraph. 

University  Training  for  Prison  Inmates 

Through  cooperation  between  the  state,  the 
state  university  and  the  state  penitentiary,  Ne- 
braska is  about  to  undertake  an  uplifting  work 
whereof  the  simple  contemplation  justifies  a 
reversal  of  Robert  Burns'  famous  couplet  on 
man's  inhumanity  to  man.  Only  an  improv- 
ing sense  of  man's  responsibility  to  man,  of 
man's  obligation  to  his  brother  in  distress, 
could  have  brought  about  the  reforms  in  pris- 
on management  and  discipline  which  this  age 
is  loudly  demanding  and  often  securing.  It 
most  assuredly  speaks  eloquently  for  the  ad- 
vancing humanism  of  our  day  when  a  uni- 
versity takes  the  thought  and  the  time  to  in- 
quire into  the  condition  of  the  unfortunates  at 
the  other  end  of  a  state  capital  with  the  view 
to  amelioration. 

A  hundred  years  ago,  even  twenty-five  years 
ago,  the  idea  of  educating  state  convicts,  some 
of  them  life  prisoners,  for  the  sake  of  enlight- 
enment, would  hardly  have  entered  into  the 
thought  of  a  university  faculty.     Yet  this  is 


February  1/1914 


The  Juliet  Prlnoii  Post 


83 


l)recisely  what  is  proixjsed  by  the  University  oi 
Nebraska.  Under  an  arrangement  with  the 
state  board  of  control,  the  state  will  fnrnish 
the  necessary  l)0()ks  and  the  nniversity  will  con- 
iluct  a  correspondence  course  for  the  henelit  of 
the  prisoners.  This  course  will  inchule  arith- 
metic. American  history,  grammar,  literature, 
l)()()kkeei)ing  and  agriculture.  It  is  mention- 
ed as  a  pathetic  circumstance  that  some  of  the 
convicts  may  never  have  an  opportunity  to  ap- 
plv  what  they  shall  have  learned  outside  the 
prison  walls.  Perhaps  not,  but  the  good  that 
mav  result  from  this  work  will  not  be  confined 
to  the  prison.  It  will  act  as  a  moral  leaven  to 
human  experience  everywhere. 

If  it  be  true  that  "man's  inhumanity  to  man" 
has  made  "countless  thousands  mourn,"  it  is 
also  true  that  man's  humanity  to  man  makes 
countless  thousands  rejoice.  Whatever  bene- 
fit the  convicts  may  derive  from  this  humane 
attention  from  the  outside  world  will  be  as 
n(»thing,  we  think,  compared  with  the  good  that 
the  act  contains  fgr  all  mankind.  The  world 
has  been  soured  by  selfishness  and  neglect ;  it 
can  be  sweetened  by  unselfishness  and  ciiarity. 
— Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Moss. 

For  More  Exact  Justice 

Tentative  appro\al  has  been  given  by  the 
finance  committee  of  the  city  council  to  a  pro- 
ixjsed  appropriation  for  a  psychopathic  labora- 
tory. A  similar  appropriation  is  to  be  asked 
of  the  county  board,  in  order  that  the  labora- 
^  tory  when  established  may  handle  cases  sent 
to  it  from  state,  county  and  municipal  courts. 
Such  a  laboratory  would  have  for  its  purpose 
the  doing  of  more  exact  justice  to  certain  class- 
es of  offenders  and  the  giving  of  better  protec- 
tion to  the  community. 

Chief  Justice  Olson  of  the  Municipal  ccjurl 
estimates  that  25  per  cent  of  the  persons  con- 
victed of  criminal  offenses  are  defective,  either 
mentally  or  physically,  and  require  treatment 
rather  than  punishment.  With  respect  to  the 
insane,  it  is  argued,  punishment  certainly  is  out 
of  the  question.  But  what  of  those  in  the  bor- 
derland between  normality  and  insanity,  the 
feeble-minded,  the  degenerate,  the  defective, 
the  epileptic,  the  moron?  Are  they  to  have  the 
same  treatment  as  persons  of  normal  mentality 
and  physical  soundness  who  commit  crimes? 

The  Germans  answer  this  question  in  the 
negative.  In  all  the  larger  cities  of  Ciermany 
are  psychopathic  laboratories,  to  which  judges 


may  send  offenders  suspected  of  being  abnor- 
mal. For  the  Germans  hold,  in  their  penal 
C(Kle,  that  "there  is  no  punishable  act  if,  at 
the  time  of  the  commission,  the  actor  was  in  a 
state  of  unconsciousness  or  of  morbid  distur- 
bance of  the  mental  faculties  which  excluded 
the  free  determination  of  the  will."  Havinj.; 
been  proved  to  be  abnormal,  the  offender  i- 
treated  according  to  his  mental  or  physical  re- 
(juirements,  and  thus  a  reasonably  exact  meas- 
ure of  justice  is  given  him,  according  to  mod- 
ern ideas  of  penology,  which  bar  retaliation  or 
retribution  as  the  motive  of  punishment. 

We  in  America  fall  far  short  of  this  humane 
and  enlightened  standard.  Here  criminals 
iiave  l)een  dealt  with  largely  on  the  assump- 
tion that  they  are  all  normal  per.sons  who 
know  what  is  rigiit  but  who  prefer  to  do 
wrong.  In  important  respects  our  nieth{»d- 
need  readjustment.  Establishing  properly  con- 
ducted psychoi)athic  laboratories  would  be  a 
rational  step  toward  that  desirable  end. — Daily 
.Y('7i'.y,  Chicago. 

Mistakes 

"There  are  two  kinds  of  mistakes.  Thosi 
that  happen  from  ordinary  human  mis-think- 
ing and  those  that  come  from  carelessness 
and  petty  unthinking. 

"No  one  ever  gets  too  big  to  make  nuhiakes. 
The  secret  is  that  the  big  man  is  greater  than 
his  mistakes,  because  he  ri.^^es  right  out  of  them 
and  passes  beyond  them. 

"After  one  of  Henry  Ward  Beecher's  ser- 
mons in  Plymouth  Church,  Brooklyn,  a  young 
man  came  up  to  him  and  said:  'Mr.  Beecher. 
did  you  know  that  you  made  a  grammatical 
error  in  your  sermon  this  morning?' 

"  'A  grammatical  error,'  answered  Beecher ; 
'ril  bet  my  hat  that  I  made  forty  of  them.'  " 
— I'roni  ")'ou  Can,"  by  Geo.  Mattheiv  Adams 

®     ^     ® 

Revenge,  of  course,  is  ollicially  discredited 
nowadays,  though  it  is  practiced  as  actively 
as  ever  under  guises  more  or  less  civilized. — 
Julian  llaicthornc. 

^     ^     ^ 

In  his  treatment  of  prisoners  as  well  as  in 
the  example  he  sets  by  personal  conduct,  ;i 
prison  guard  should  always  bear  in  mind  that 
a  penitentiary  is  not  only  a  place  of  punishment 
but  also  an  institution  which  intend^  the  rc- 
formati(»n  of   its  inmates. 

Jesse  Sogers, 


84                                             The   Joliet    Prison    Post  First  Year 

LOVE  AND   PUNISHMENT  But,  here,  once  more,  it  is  obvious  that  only 

Punishment  rightly  interpreted,  involves  the  ^^ve  and  intelligence  could  cause  punishment 

idea  of  saving  or  reformation,  and  inheres  in  to  be  mflicted ;  these  lackmg,  we  should  leave 

all  things  and  acts,  with  or  without  conscious-  the  children  to  their  own  mischievous  and  des- 

ness.     For  there  is  in  all  phenomena  a  tendency  tructive  devices. 

to  disintegration,  subsidence  and  death;  whicli  Now  let  us  emphasize  an  important  truth, 
tendency  love  and  intelligence  spontaneously  Acts  of  punishment  often  take  the  form  of  the 
seek  to  arrest  and  counteract.  To  counteract  infliction  of  physical  pain ;  the  child  which  gets 
or  oppose  an  injurious  tendency  is  to  punish  it,  jj^g  f^e^-  ^y^^  q^  tells  a  lie  is  spanked,  for  ex- 
for  all  opposition,  or  thwarting  of  desire,  is  ample.  It  understands,  sooner  or  later,  that 
felt  as  punitive,  as  long  as  the  desire  persists,  j-j^.^j-  Qf  ^j-,^  spanking  is  not  so  bad  as  that  of 
The  final  aim  of  punishment  is,  while  restrain-  ^^^^  fever  or  the  loss  of  integrity  which  it  was 
ing,  to  instruct  and  direct,  until  the  injurious  ^^^^  ^q  guard  against.  But  a  child  may  be, 
desire  has  been  transformed  into  a  beneficent  ^^j-^^j  jg  often  spanked  because  it  is  merely 
one,  in  harmony  with  the  love  and  intelligence,  troublesome  or  provoking  to  other  people,  and, 
which  thus  transformed  it.  therefore,  not  for  its  benefit  but  for  their  own 
Mineral  substances  tend  to  crumble ;  Vege-  convenience,  or  even  from  a  spirit  of  anger  or 
table  and  animal  ones  to  decay;  arrest  of  these  revenge.  But  anger  and  revenge  are  passions 
processes  is  a  punishment,  with  economic  love  of  hell,  not  principles  of  heaven,  and,  however 
as  its  motive,  and  with  restoration  or  preserva-  manifested,  are  injurious  both  to  giver  and 
tion  as  its  result;  but,  unless  this  benificent  receiver.  The  spanking  given  in  anger  is  still 
aim  were  present,  there  would  be  no  punish-  called  punishment,  but  it  is  radically  different 
ment;  we  should  say,  let  the  granite  disinte-  therefrom  according  to  oiir  interpretation, 
grate;  let  the  plant  or  corpse  rot!  Coming  to  The  child  soon  perceives  that  love  and  intelli- 
the  plane  of  consciousness,  we  tame  animals  by  gence  had  no  part  in  it,  and  the  consequences 
punishing  their  destructive  impulses  from  a  of  it  are,  accordingly,  not  amendment  and  self- 
principle  of  love  and  intelligence.  They  pres-  control,  but  fear,  subterfuge,  and  finally  hatred, 
ently  cease  to  resist  our  restrictions,  and  reap  And  upon  the  selfish  and  cruel  parent,  the  ef- 
the  benefit  in  improved  conditions  for  them-  feet  is  cpite  as  degrading  and  brutalizing.  We 
selves,  as  well  as  in  usefulness  or  pleasure  to  may  sum  the  situation  in  the  assertion  that 
us.  But,  again,  had  not  love  and  intelligence  punishment  not  prompted  by  love  and  intelli- 
been  the  prompters,  we  would  have  let  the  ani-  gence  is  a  crime  against  human  nature.  And 
mals«run  wild  or  destroyed  them  or  left  them  a  crime  against  human  nature  is  an  unpardon- 
mutually  to  destroy  one  another.  able  sin.  Punishment  in  the  right  spirit  is  sal- 
Arriving  at  the  human  degree,  we  are  guided  vation ;  it  is  damnation  in  the  wrong, 
by  the  same  ideas.  Our  children,  in  infancy.  The  existing  system  of  dealing  with  crim- 
are  not  yet  endowed  with  reason  and  judg-  inals  is  still  based  upon  the  idea  of  punishment ; 
ment  in  either  the  moral  or  the  physical  realm,  and,  in  theory,  this  is  correct.  But  unless  it 
and,  as  we  love  them  and  intelligently  desire  can  be  shown  that  in  practice  it  is  animated 
their  welfare  and  happiness,  we  seek  to  supply  and  directed  not  only  by  intelligence,  but  by 
these  deficiences  in  them.  .  This  we  accomplish  love,  it  is  wrong  and  a  failure.  Punishment 
by  instruction — partly  verbal,  that  is,  by  homi-  inflicted  upon  prisoners  in  any  other  spirit  than 
lies,  "lessons,"  and  exhortations;  and'  partly  that  of  love,  are  inflicted  in  an  evil  spirit — the 
by  punishments,  which  are  lively  illustrations  spirit  of  .cruelty,  revenge,  tyranny,  egotism, 
of  the  folly  or  harm  of  pursuing  their  natural  brutal  selfishness.  The  power  of  a  prison  offi- 
impulses  and  propensities.  The  children  are  cial  over  a  prisoner  is  greater  than  that  of  a 
made  to  suffer  transiently  and  superficially  in  parent  over  a  child,  for  the  official  is  supported 
order  that  they  may  not  hereafter  suffer  in-  by  the  authority  of  the  State,  and  yet  he  is 
wardly  and  permanently.  At  first  they  feel  practically  irresponsible;  he  can  beat  the  pris- 
the  pain  without  comprehending  the  object ;  oner  into  insensibility  for  a  whim,  he  can  tor- 
later,  when  experience  has  revealed  the  love  .  ture  him  into  insanity,  he  can  kill  him  outright, 
and  intelligence  that  occasioned  the  pain,  they  and  for  all  this  he  needs  but  to  plead  "justifica- 
begin  to  acquiesce  and  co-operate — at  which  tion."  And  his  word  will  unhesitatingly  be 
point,  punishment  ceases  and  self-control  and  taken  against  the  victim's,  or  against  any  num- 
reformation  are  established.  ber  of  eye-w^itnesses — if  they  be  prisoners!  He 


February  1,  1914 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


85 


not  only  can  do  all  of  this,  but  he  has  done  it 
many  times,  as  prison  records  and  other  records 
show.  And  even  he  has  never  ventured  to  pre- 
tend that  he  was  actuated  by  love  and  intelli- 


gences. 


It  is  a  terrible  mistake  to  give  absolute  power 
of  punishment  into  tlic  hands  of  any  human 
being  who  cannot  be  trusted  to  punish  only  in 
love  and  with  intelligence.  How  many  jail  of- 
ficials meet  this  test?  ^'es,  some  do;  but  what 
proportion  do  they  bear  to  the  whole?  And 
vet  every  jail  is  a  place  of  punishment,  both  of 
mind  and  of  bodv. — Better  Citiaen,  Rah:cax. 
N.  J. 

Pledge  of  Supt.  Riley 

In  marking  the  intnxluction  of  a  new  idea 
in  prison  discipline,  by  which  the  convicts 
themselves  will  share  in  tlie  maintenance  of  or- 
der, the  inmates  of  Auburn  Prison  have  sent 
to  State  Superintendent  of  Prisons  John  P>. 
Riley  a  set  of  commendatory  resolutions  and 
entered  into  the  new  plan  with  the  greatest  en- 
thusiasm. 

The  new  idea  is  centered  in  what  is  called  the 
Good     Conduct     League.  Thomas      Mott 

Osborne,  Chairman  of  the  State  Commission 
for  Prison  Reform,  suggested  the  new  organi- 
zation and  is  workirtg  it  out,  with  Warden 
Charles  F.  Rattigan  and  Supt.  Riley  actively 
cooperating.  The  league  will  comprise  all  in- 
mates of  the  prison,  and  membership  in  it  is 
contingent  upon  a  good  record.  The  1,500 
convicts,  after  preliminary  explanation  of  the 
plan,  met  in  their  various  shops  and  held  elec- 
tions. They  selected  one  man,  to  be  known  as 
a  lieutenant,  to  represent  each  shop  or  com- 
pany of  convicts,  in  a  central  committee  of  ap- 
proximately fifty  members,  to  form  the  league. 

The  purpose  of  this  new  organization  is  to 
place  some  measure  of  responsibility  for  dis- 
cipline in  the  men  themselves,  and  to  give  them 
fair  opportunity,  to  earn  privileges  by  good 
conduct  instead  of  receiving  them,  as  now,  in 
the  arbitrary  decision  of  keeper  or  other  officer. 
The  rules  will  not  be  such  that  slight  infrac- 
tions will  result  in  hopeless  disgrace,  as  any 
one  who  loses  membership  may  earn  his  rein- 
statement bv  mending  his  ways.  As  the  con- 
victs are  allowed  to  share  in  the  formation  of 
the  league  and  to  make  its  rules,  the  public 
opinion  of  the  prisoners  will  assist  in  the  main- 
tenance of  order.  Moreover,  the  elected  lieu- 
tenants will  share  in  the  responsibility  when 
the  enlarged  privileges  are  put  into  effect. 

The  league  will  provide,  among  other  things, 


better  use  of  leisure,  in  which  the  convict  will 
have  opportunity  to  make  this  more  profitable 
in   effecting  his  regeneration. 

The  resolutions  which  were  adopted  follow: 

"Whereas,  The  Hon.  John  H,  Riley,  Super- 
intendent of  State  Prisons  of  tlie  State  of  New 
Ndrk,  has  by  initiative,  endeavor  and  encour- 
agement inspired  among  the  officers  and  in- 
mates such  a  kindly  spirit  of  physical,  moral 
and  humanitarian  progressiveness  as  warrants 
the  hope  of  more  considerate  management  and 
supervision  of  the  whole  personnel  than  that 
which  obtained  in  all  the  previous  history  of 
prison  conduct,  and 

"Whereas.  We.  as  one  of  tiie  first  fruits  of 
the  humane  thought  of  the  said  Hon.  John  H. 
Riley,  have  been  elected  by  ballot  of  the  inmates 
of  Auburn  Prison  a  committee  for  the  purpose 
of  organizing  some  society  or  league  within 
the  pri.sou.  having  for  its  aim  the  mental,  moral 
and  civic  betterment  of  the  inmates,  we  con- 
ceive it  our  duty  as  well  as  our  great  pleasure 
to  express  in  some  tangible  form  the  apprecia- 
tion of  this  committee  and  those  we  represent, 
and  therefore  be  it 

"Resolved,  That  our  sincere  thanks  be  ten- 
dered to  Hon.  John  B.  Riley  and  that  we.  in- 
dividually and  as  representatives  of  all  inmates 
of  Auburn  Prison,  hereby  pledge  our  best, 
honest  endeavor  and  constant  attention  to  the 
ultimate  "success  of  all  such  efforts  as  the  said 
Hon.  John  B.  Riley  has  already  made  or  which 
he  shall  hereafter  undertake  looking  to  the  gen- 
eral uplift  and  i)rogressive  regeneration  of  men 
and  methods  inside  the  walls  of  Auburn  Pris- 
on; and  be  it  further 

"Resolved,  That  an  engrossed  copy  of  these 
resolutions  be  mailed  to  the  said  Hon.  John  B. 
Rilev  as  a  souvenir  to  recall  the  inauguration 
of  a  niore  promising  future  for  those  who  for 
so  many  years  have  been  considered  outside 
the  pale  of  human  kinship." 

The  resolutions  are  signed  by  the  idnvict«: 
who  were  elected  lieutenants  of  the  Ciood  Con- 
duct League. — Xeu-  )'(>rlc  World. 

A  prison  guard  should  report  all  willful  in- 
fractions of  the  rules  in  writing  to  the  Deputy 
Warden  and  when  he  fails  to  do  this,  he  is 
remis  in  his  duties. 

If  a  prisoner  indulge  in  what  a  prison  guard 
conceives  to  he  iminulent  and  insulung  lan- 
guage, he  should  not  rejjly  in  like  terms,  but  he 
should  report  such  infraction  of  discipline  to 
the  Deputy  Warden.  John  A.  Lyons. 


86 


The  JoHet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


Three  Kinds  of  People 

There  are  three  classes  of  people.  There  is 
that  princely  class  of  folk  who  would  do  ri,e^lit 
if  they  were  on  an  island  as  was  Robin  sow 
Crusoe,  alone.  There  are  plenty  of  them  too. 
though  it  is  often  spoken  otherwise. 

This  is  the  class  of  men  and  women  upon 
whom  the  world  depends  for  leadership  and 
example.  They  stand  in  the  fore  front  of  all 
reform.  Such  men  as  Gladstone  of  England. 
Lincoln  of  America,  and  such  women  as  Fran- 
cis Willard  are  examples  of  this  noble  class  in 
leadership.  Then  in  private  life  we  see  them 
in  every  neighborhood.  The  man  and  wife 
living  quietly  in  the  community,  bringing  up 
their  little  family  in  the  way  they  should  go. 
Nothing  could  induce  them  to  do  a  wrong 
thing.  The  word  "righteousness"  is  written 
all  over  their  business  affairs.  May  we  have 
more  of  such  people.  The  second  class  is  that 
kind  of  men  and  wumen  who  are  easily  in- 
fluenced either  for  right  or  wrong.  They  will 
be  good  if  they  are  with  good  folks,  but  will  be 
bad  if  with  bad  people.  Now  it  pays  to  work 
with  such  a  class;  for  if  they  are  kept  sur- 
rounded with  a  good  influence,  they  will  make 
good  citizens. 

But  the  third  class  is  a  hard  problem  any- 
where. They  have  fallen  below  the  plane  of 
moral  decency,  and  are,  many  times,,  too  much 
decayed  to  stand  up  when  put  upon  their  feet. 
You  might  as  well  scatter  wheat  on  a  tin  roof 
and  expect  it  to  grow,  as  to  try  to  instill  the 
seeds  of  righteousness  into  this  class  and  ex- 
pect results.  Of  course  all  things  are  possi- 
ble with  God,  but  in  few  instances  do  we  find 
a  moral  backbone  created  where  there  is  none. 
— Penitentiary  Bulletin,  Lansing,  Kansas. 

®     ®     © 

Men  think  there  are  circumstances  when  one 
may  deal  with  human  beings  without  l()\e,  but 
there  are  no  such  circumstances.  One  may 
deal  with  things  without  love;  one  may  cut 
down  trees,  make  bricks,  hammer  iron,  with- 
out love;  but  you  can  not  deal  with  men  with- 
out it,  just  as  one  can  not  deal  with  bees  with- 
out being  careful.  If  you  deal  carelessly  with 
bees  you  will  injure  them,  and  will  yourself  be 
injured.     And  so  with  men. — Tolstoy. 

©     ^     @ 

Under  severe  discipline  each  infraction  of 
the  rules  meant  cruel  and  degrading  punish- 
ment, frequently  causing  loss  of  health  and 
hastening  death. 


The  man  who  thinks  that  honesty  is  the 
best  policy  and  can  find  no  other  recommen- 
dation for  it  should  come  to  prison  and  make 
room  outside  for  some  prisoner  who  has  served 
too  much  time. 

©     ©     © 

"A  conviction  for  crime  frequently  carries 
with  it  a  future  of  hounding  and  helplessness, 
of  fear  and  hiding,  of  uselessness,  and  aim- 
lessness.  of  insanity  and  base  death." — Julian 
Hawthorne. 

©•     ©     ® 

Hard,  rough  work  in  the  open  air,  good 
food  and  the  confidence  reposed  in  prisoners 
will  make  reliable  men  of  those  in  prison 
camps  if  there  is  any  good  in  them. 

#     ©     ® 
Severe  discipline  contemplated  treating  all 
prisoners  alike  regardless  of  strength  or  tem- 
perament.    Under  this  system  officials  without 
brains  answered  every  purpose. 

®     ®     © 
A  prison  guard's  attitude  towards  the  prison- 
ers should  be  kindly  but  firm  and  he  should 
have  no  favorites  unless  as  the  result  of  good 
conduct,  industry  and  skill. 

©     ©     ® 
Severe  discipline  contemplated  breaking  the 
prisoner  down  instead  of  building  him  up. 

©     ©     © 
■Prisoners    should    not    be    at  the  mercy  of 
guards  who  are  not  big  enough  to  carry  their 
own  burdens  in  life. 

©  @  ® 
A  warden  of  a  prison  is  under  obligations  to 
the  community  which  clothes  him  with  his 
power  and  to  the  inmates  in  his  care ;  to  recog- 
nize that  he  is  also  warden  of  whatever  good 
there  is  in  each  of  his  prisoners. 

©     ®     © 
Severe  discipline  usually  resulted   in  either 
cowardly    or    desperate    prisoners;    under    it 
many  left  at  the  completion  of  their  sentences 
broken  down  in  health  and  unfit  for  freedom. 

©     @     © 
Commitment  papers  may  provide  for  hard 
work  but  they  are  always  silent  on  cursing, 
striking  or  otherwise  mistreating  prisoners. 

©     ©     © 
A    prison    guard    should    realize    that    th(      I 
Deputy  Warden  rules  on  cases  in  the  capacity 
of  a  judge,  and  that  his  verdicts  should  not  b' 
criticized  by  any  officer  of  a  lower  rank. 


February  1,   1914  TllO    Joliot    Prison    Post  87 

EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  ILLINOIS,  1870. 


PREAMBLE.  We,  the  people  of  the  state  of  Illi- 
nois— grateful  to  Almighty  God  for  the  civil,  politi- 
cal and  religious  liberty  which  He  hath  so  long  per- 
mitted us  to  enjoy,  and  looking  to  Him  for  c  bless- 
ing upon  our  endeavors  to  secure  and  transmit  the 
same  unimpaired  to  succeeding  generations — in  or- 
der to  form  a  more  perfect  government,  establish 
justice,  insure  domestic  tranquillity,  provide  for  tho 
common  defense,  promote  the  general  welfare,  and 
secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  ourselves  and  our 
posterity,  do  ordain  and  establish  this  constitution 
for  the  state  of  Illinois. 

ARTICLE   II. 

Bill  of  Rights. 

§  1.  All  men  are  by  nature  free  and  independent, 
and  have  certain  inherent  and  inalienable  rights — 
among  these  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of 
happiness.  To  secure  these  rights  and  the  protec- 
tion of  property,  governments  are  instituted  among 
men,  deriving  their  just  powers  from  the  consent  of 
the   governed. 

§  2.  No  person  shall  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty  or 
property,  without  due  process  of  law. 

§  3.  The  free  exercise  and  enjoyment  of  religious 
profession  and  worship,  without  discrimination, 
shall  forever  be  guaranteed;  and  no  person  shall  be 
denied  any  civil  or  political  right,  privilege  or  capa- 
city, on  account  of  his  religious  opinions;  but  the 
liberty  of  conscience  hereby  secured  shall  not  be  con- 
strued to  dispense  with  oaths  or  affirmations,  excuse 
acts  of  licentiousness,  or  justify  practices  inconsist- 
ent with  the  peace  or  safety  of  the  state.  No  per- 
son shall  be  required  to  attend  or  support  any  minis- 
try or  place  of  worship  against  his  consent,  nor  shall 
any  preference  be  given  by  law  to  any  religious  de- 
nomination or  mode  of  worship. 

§  4.  Every  person  may  freely  speak,  write  antl 
publish  on  all  subjects,  being  responsible  for  the 
abuse  of  that  liberty;  and  in  all  trials  for  libel,  both 
civil  and  criminal,  the  truth,  when  published  with 
good  motives  and  for  justifiable  ends,  shall  be  a  suf- 
ficent  defense. 

§  5.  The  right  of  trial  by  jury  as  heretofore  en- 
joyed, shall  remain  inviolate;  but  the  trial  of  civil 
cases  before  justices  of  the  peace  by  a  jury  of  less 
than  twelve  men  may  be  authorized  by  law. 

§  6.  The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their 
persons,  houses,  papers  and  effects,  against  unrea- 
sonable searches  and  seizures,  shall  not  be  violated; 
and  no  warrant  shall  issue  without  probable  cause, 
supported  by  affidavit,  particularly  describing  the 
place  to  be  searched,  and  the  persons  or  the  things 
to  be  seized. 

§  7.  All  persons  shall  be  bailable  by  sufficient 
sureties,  except  for  capital  offenses,  *60]  where  the 
proof  is  evident  or  the  presumption  great;  and  the 
privilege  or  writ  of  habeas  corpus  shall  not  be  sus- 
pended, unless  when  in  cases  of  rebellion  or  invasion 
the  public  safety  may  require  it. 

§  8.  No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  crim- 
inal offense,  unless  on  indictment  of  a  grand  jury,'  ex- 
cept in  cases  in  which  the  punishment  is  by  fine,  or 
imprisonment  otherwise  than  in  the  penitentiary,  in 
cases  of  impeachment,  and  in  cases  arising  in  th<; 
army  and  navy,  or  in  the  militia,  when  in  actual  ser- 
vice in  time  of  war  or  public  danger:  Provided,  that 
the  grand  jury  may  be  abolished  by  law  in  all  cases. 


§  n.  In  all  criminal  prosecutions  the  accused  shall 
have  the  right  to  appear  and  defend  in  portion  and 
by  counsel,  to  demand  the  nature  and  cause  of  the 
accusation  and  to  have  a  copy  thereof,  to  meet  tho 
witnesses  face  to  face,  and  to  have  process  to  compel 
the  attendance  of  witnesses  in  his  behalf,  and  a 
.speedy  public  trial  by  an  impartial  jury  of  the  county 
or  district  in  which  the  offense  is  alleged  to  have 
been  committed. 

§  10.  No  person  shall  be  compelle<i  in  any  crim- 
inal case  to  give  evidence  against  himself,  or  be  twice 
put  in  jeopardy  for  the  same  offense. 

§  11.  All  penalties  shall  be  proportione«i  to  the 
nature  of  the  offense,  and  no  conviction  shall  work 
corruption  of  blood  or  forfeiture  of  estate;  nor 
shall  any  person  be  transported  out  of  the  state  for 
any  offense  committed  within  the  same. 

§  12.  No  person  shall  be  imprisoned  for  debt, 
unless  upon  refusal  to  deliver  up  his  estate  for  the 
benefit  of  his  creditors,  in  such  manner  as  shall  be 
pre.scribed  by  law,  or  in  cases  where  there  is  strong 
presumption  of  fraud. 

§  13.  Private  property  shall  not  be  taken  or  dam- 
aged for  public  use  without  just  compensation. 
Such  compensation,  when  not  made  by  the  state,  shall 
be  ascertained  by  a  jury,  as  shall  be  prescribed  by 
law.  The  fee  of  land  taken  for  railroad  tracks 
without  consent  of  the  owners  thereof,  shall  remain 
in  such  owners,  subject  to  the  use  for  which  it  is 
taken. 

§  14.  No  ex  post  facto  law,  or  law  impairing  the 
obligation  of  contracts,  or  making  any  irrevocable 
grant  of  special  privileges  or  immunities,  shall  be 
passed. 

§  15.  The  military  shall  be  .in  strict  subordination 
to  the  civil  power. 

§  16.  No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace,  be  quar- 
tered in  any  house  without  the  consent  of  the  owner; 
nor  in  time  of  war,  except  in  the  manner  prescribeil 
by  law. 

§  17.  The  people  have  the  right  to  assemble  in  a 
peaceable  manner  to  consult  for  the  common  good, 
to  make  known  their  opinons  to  their  representatives, 
and  to  apply  for  redress  of  grievances. 

§  18.     All  elections  shall  be  free  and  equal. 

§  19.  Every  person  ought  to  find  a  certain  remedy 
in  the  laws  for  all  injuries  and  wrongs  which  he  may 
receive  in  his  person,  property  or  reputation;  he- 
ought  to  obtain,  by  law,  right  and  justice  freely,  and 
without  being  obliged  to  purchase  it,  completely  and 
without  denial,  promptly,  and  without  delay. 

§  20.  A  frequent  recurrence  to  the  fundamental 
principles  of  civil  government  is  absolutely  necessary 
to  preserve  the  blessings  of  liberty. 

ARTICLE   III. 
Distribution  of  PowerH. 

The  powers  of  the  government  of  this  state  an" 
divided  into  three  distinct  departments — the  legis- 
lative, executive  and  judicial;  and  no  person,  or  col- 
lection of  persons,  being  one  of  these  departments, 
shall  exercise  any  power  properly  belonging  to  eith- 
er of  the  others,"  except  as  hereinafter  expressly  di- 
rected or  permitted. 

ARTICLE    V. 
Governor. 

§  13.  The  governor  shall  have  power  to  grant  re- 
prieves, commutations  and  pardons,  after  conviction, 
for  all  offenses,  subject  to  such  regulations  as  ma\ 
be  provided  by  law  relative  to  the  manner  of  apply- 
ing therefor.  ^^M 


88 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


ARTICLE  VI. 
Judicial  Department. 

§  1.  The  judicial  powers,  except  as  in  this  article 
is  otherwise  providecl,  shall  be  vested  in  one  supreme 
court,  circuit  courts,  county  courts,  justices  of  the 
peace,  police  magistrates,  and  such  courts  as  may  be 
ci'eated  by  law  in  and  for  cities  and  incorporated 
towns. 

Supreme  Court. 

§  2.  The  supreme  court  shall  consist  of  seven 
judges,  and  shall  have  original  jurisdiction  in  cases 
relating  to  the  revenue,  in  mandamus  and  habeas 
corpus,  and  appellate  jurisdiction  in  all  other  cases. 
One  of  said  judges  shall  be  chief  justice;  four  shall 
constitute  a  quorum,  and  the  concurrence  of  four 
shall  be  necessary  to  every  decision. 

§  5.  The  pi-esent  grand  divisions  shall  be  pre- 
served, and  be  denominated  Southern,  Central  and 
Northern,  until  otherwise  provided  by  law.  The 
state  shall  be  divided  into  seven  districts  for  the 
election  of  judges,  and  until  otherwise  provided  by 
law,  they  shall  be  as  follows: 

First  District — The  counties  of  St.  Clair,  Clinton, 
Washington,  Jefferson,  Wayne,  Edwards,  Wabash, 
White,  Hamilton,  Franklin,  Perry,  Randolph,  Mon- 
roe, Jackson,  Williamson,  Saline,  Gallatin,  Hardin, 
Pope,  Union,  Johnson,  Alexander,  Pulaski  and  Mas- 
sac. 

Second  District — The  counties  of  Madison,  Bond, 
Marion,  Clay,  Richland,  Lawrence,  Crawfoi'd,  Jasper, 
Effingham,  Fayette,  Montgomery,  Macoupin,  Shelby, 
Cumberland,  Clark,  Greene,  Jersey,  Calhoun  and 
Christian. 

Third  District — The  counties  of  Sangamon,  Macon, 
Logan,  DeWitt,  Piatt,  Douglas,  Champaign,  Ver- 
milion, McLean,  Livingston,  Ford,  Iroquois,  Coles, 
Edgar,  Moultrie  and  Tazewell. 

Fourth  District — The  counties  of  Fulton,  Mc- 
Donough,  Hancock,  §chuyler.  Brown,  Adams,  Pike, 
Mason,  Menard,  Morgan,  Cass  and  Scott. 

Fifth  District— The  counties  of  Knox,  Warren, 
Henderson,  Mercer,  Henry,  Stark,  Peoria,  Marshall, 
Putnam,  Bureau,  LaSalle,  Grundy  and  Woodford. 

Sixth  District— The  counties  of  Whiteside,  Carroll, 
Jo  Daviess,  Stephenson,  Winnebago,  Boone,  Mc- 
Henry,  Kane,  Kendall,  DeKalb,  Lee,  Ogle  and  Rock 
Island. 

„  Seventh  District— The    counties    of    Lake,    Cook, 
Will,  Kankakee  and  DuPage. 

The  boundaries  of  the  districts  may  be  changed 
at  the  session  of  the  general  [*70  assemblv  next  pre- 
ceding the  election  for  judges  therein,  "and  at  no 
other  time;  but  whenever  such  alterations  shall  be 
made,  the  same  shall  be  upon  the  rule  of  equality  of 
population,  as  nearly  as  county  bounds  will  allow, 
and  the  districts  shall  be  composed  of  contiguous 
counties,  in  as  nearly  compact  form  as  circum- 
stances wlil  permit.  The  alteration  of  the  districts 
shall  not  affect  the  tenure  of  office  of  any  judge. 

§8.  Appeals  and  writs  of  error  mav"be  taken  to 
the  supreme  court,  held  in  the  grand  division  in 
which  the  case  is  decided,  or,  by  consent  of  the  par- 
ties, to  any  other  grand  division. 

Appelate  Courts. 

§  11.  After  the  year  of  our  Lord  1874,  inferior 
appellate  courts,  of  uniform  organization  and  juris- 
diction, may  be  created  in  districts  formed  for  that 
purpose,  to  which  such  appeals  and  writs  of  error 
as  the  general  assembly  may  provide  may  be  prose- 
cuted from  circuit  and  other  courts,  and  from  which 
appeals  and  writs  of  error  shall  lie  to  the  supreme 
court,  in  all  criminal  cases,  and  cases  in  which  a  fran- 
chise or  freehold  or  the  validity  of  a  statute  is  in- 
volved, and  in  such  other  cases  as  amy  be  provided 
by  law.     Such  appellate  courts  shall  be  held  by  such 


number  of  judges  of  the  circuit  courts,  and  at  such 
times  and  places,  and  in  such  manner,  as  may  be 
provided  by  law;  but  no  judge  shall  sit  in  review 
upon  cases  decided  by  him,  nor  shall  said  judges  re- 
ceive any  additional  compensation  for  such  services. 
Circuit  Courts. 
§  12.  The  circuit  courts  shall  have  original  juris- 
diction of  all  causes  in  law  and  equity,  and  such  ap- 
pellate jurisdiction  as  is  or  may  be  provided  by  law, 
and  shall  hold  two  or  more  terms  each  year  in 
every  county.  The  terms  of  office  of  judges  of  cir- 
cuit courts  shall  be  six  years. 

SEPARATE  SECTIONS. 
Convict   Labor. 

Hereafter  it  shall  be  unlawful  for  the  commis- 
sioners of  any  penitentiary  or  other  reformatory  in- 
stitution in  the  State  of  Illinois,  to  let  by  contract  to 
any  person  or  persons,  or  corporations,  the  labor  of 
any  convict  confined  within  said  institution.  [This 
section  was  submitted  to  the  voters  at  the  election 
in  November,  1886,  as  an  amendment,  was  adopted, 
and  became  a  part  of  this  Constitution. 

[Note — We  have  omitted  only  those  parts  of  the 
Constitution  which  have  no  possible  bearing  on  the 
enforcement  of  the  Criminal  Code. 


Under  severe  discipline  the  prisoner  soon 
learned  that  there  was  only  one  side  to  his  led- 
ger account,  and  that  was  the  debit  side. 


A  prison  guard  should  obey  the  orders  of  his 

superiors  at  all  costs. 

®     @     @ 

Severe  discipline  prompted  animosity  against 
official  authoritv. 


The  fact  that  the  State  provides  only  ten 
dollars  to  a  discharged  prisoner  is  the  excuse 
of  many  for  again  falling  into  evil  ways. 
Think  of  it !  Ten  dollars  and  a  bad  reputation 
to  start  in  anew. 

®     ©     ® 

Severe  discipline  is  gradually  being  supplant- 
ed by  humane  methods  of  detention  and  cor- 
rection. 

©     ©     © 

A  prison  gtiard  should  be  fitted  by  schooling 
and  temperament  to  direct  at  least  one  hundred 
men. 

®     ©     © 

When  in  a  prison,  the  inmates  are  kind  to 
one  another  it  always  follows  that  the  Warden 
is  a  humanitarian. 

©     ©     © 
Society  has  no  accurate  or  vital  knowledge 
of   what  penal   imprisonment  is,  of   its  effect 
on  the  men  subjected  to  it,  and  upon  those  ap- 
pointed to  administer  it. — Julian  Haivthorne. 


February  1,   1914 


The  «folie(  Prison  PoHt 


89 


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number  of  The  Joliet  Prison 
Post.  The  inmates  of  the  Illinois  State 
Prison,  represented  by  the  force  in  the 
Newspaper  Office,  will  do  their  utmost  to 
publish  a  paper  of  merit. 

If  you  approve  of  the  tone  of  this 
publication,  you  are  respectfully  requested 
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one  year. 

Address: 

The  Joliet  Prison  Post 

1900  Collins  Street,  Joliet,  Illinois 


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$200.00  REWARD 


First  Year 


ESCAPED  CONVICT 


JEFF.  SHARUM,  No.  3009 

Alias  Richard  Benton,  Jeff.  Davis;  "Little  Jeff" 

'  Received   June    la,    1913,    United  States  Court,  Chicago,  III. 

i^  Forging  U,  S.  Post  Office  Money  Order;  3  ^/^  years. 

-^g^'  SS-     Height,    5   ft.  5^.     Hair,   gray   mixed.      Eyes,  green  slate.     Weight, 
119. 

Scars:      Dim  scar  2c  long  outer  thumb  3c  below   wrist.     Small   scar   front  forearm 
at  wrist.      Right  knee  cap  broken,  walks  lame. 

Bertillon:      19.7;     15.2;     1.5;    26.0;     45.1;  167.3;  ^•4- 

Escaped  from   Illinois  State  Penitentiary,  August  27,  19 13. 

Arrest  and  telegraph  EDMUND    M.   ALLEN,  Warden,  Joliet,  111. 


February  1,  1914 


Tli<»  Juliet   Prison  Post 


91 


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The  JoHet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


THE  BOSTON  STORE 

Retailers  of  EverYihinq 

JOLIET'S  BIGGEST,  BUSIEST  AND  BEST  STORE 

QJAY,   TOMMY,   if  you    have   any   doubts 
about  this  store  being  the  Best  in  Joliet 
just  ask  the   Warden.     He's  traded   with   us 
for  many,  many  moons  and   he   says  we've 
treated  him  so  well  that  he  just  can't  go  any- 
where else. 

SURE  WE  WANT  YOUR  TRADE,  AND  WE  WILL  DO  OUR  BEST 
TO  PLEASE  YOU.  Of  course,  if  you  happen  to  order  a  Bull  Pup  or  a  Boston 
Terrier  it  takes  us  a  little  time  to  hunt  up  his  pedigree  and  to  fill  the  order, 
but  we  will  fill  it  all  right. 

I.  B.  Williams 
&  Sons 

MANUFACTURERS  OF 

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AGENTS  IN  ALL  PRINCIPAL  CITIES 

February  1,   1914 


The  Juliet   Prison   Post 


93 


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94  The  Joliet  Prison  Post  First  Year 


RESULTS  SUPREME 

USE 

TOUSEY  VARNISHES 

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THE  JOLIET  PRISON   POST 

1900    COLLINS    STREET 
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1914 


Enclosed  find for  One   Dollar,   in  payment 

of  subscription  for  One  Year. 

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State   


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96 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


First  Year 


JOHN  MURPHY,  President  P.  J.  LINSKEY,  Secretary 

THOMAS  KASHER,  Vice  President 


MURPHY,  LINSKEY  &  KASHER 


■ 


COAL 


CO. 


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rr  1      1,  (Chicago  14  M         / 

T^l^P^^^^^M  Interstate  641  L 


( 


THE  JOLIET 
PlflSONPOST 


Vol.  1. 


JOLIET,  ILLINOIS.  MARCH  1.  1914. 


No.  .{ 


EDITORIAL 


Escaping.  From  Prison 

It  is  the  law  of  the  .state  of  lUinois  that  a 
prison  guard  must  do  his  utmost  to  prevent 
escapes  and  that  he  may  take  the  life  of  an  es- 
caping prisoner  in  order  to  prevent  such  escape. 
The  guard  shall  not  be  held  responsible  for  tak- 
ing an  escaping  prisoner's  life  unless  he  kills 
unnecessarily  or  wantonly.  There  could  be  dis- 
cussion about  what  constitutes  unnecessarv  or 
wanton  killing  of  an  escaping  prisoner,  the  same 
as  there  can  be  discussion  of  everything,  but  as 
a  practical  proposition,  a  prisoner  who  attempts 
to  escape,  under  the  laws  of  Illinois  forfeits  his 
right  to  live. 

The  taking  of  a  human  life  is  always  a  fright- 
ful thing,  and  it  makes  no  difference  if  the  per- 
son is  a  citizen  or  a  prisoner.  All  right-thinking 
men  and  women  will  feel  sorry  that  Oscar  Von 
Hagen  recently  lost  his  life  in  his  futile  effort 
to  make  his  escape  from  this  prison,  and  the 
only  consolation  that  can  be  found  lies  in  th^ 
knowledge  that  he  was  in  full  possession  of  his 
mental  faculties.  He  took  the  chance  and  paid 
the  penalty.  One  moment  he  was  the  living 
image  of  God's  noblest  work  and  a  second  later 
he  was  inanimate.  Let  us  hope  that  he  has  not 
died  wholly  in  vain :  that  his  sad  ending  may 
deter  others  from  attempting  what  he  undertook 
to  do. 

During  the  past  twenty-two  years,  thirty-eight 
pn  have  escaped  from  this  prison,  and  of  this 
I  nber.  twenty-nine  have  been  recaptured,  leav- 
I  ine  who  have  not  been  returned.  Of  these, 
'        -^re    known    to   be    in    other    prisons,   and 


they  will  be  returned  here  as  soon  as  they  are 
released  from  their  present  places  of  confine- 
ment. One  is  known  to  be  dead,  and  those  who 
are  alive  and  free  are  fugitives  from  justice, 
wanderers  who  dare  not  communicate  with  rela- 
tives or  friends ;  men  who  cannot  make  an  hon- 
est living,  because  they  must  always  be  on  their 
guard  against  every  law-abiding  citizen  and  all 
officers  of  the  law. 

An  escaped  prisoner  never  catches  up  with 
his  time :  it  is  always  before  him.  and  his  only 
escape  is  by  death. 

Profanity  and  Vulgarity 

Many  ignorant  men  arc  profane  and  vulgar 
because  they  think  it  makes  them  appear  smart. 
All  the  profanity  and  vulgarity  used  in  connec- 
tion with  the  English  language  can  be  learned 
by  a  man  with  a  common  school  education  in 
one  day,  so.  after  all,  oaths  and  foul  words  are 
no  indications  of  intelligence :  on  the  contrary, 
the  more  knowledge  one  has.  the  less  likely  he 
is  to  use  objectionable  language.  A  profane 
and  vulgar  man  usually  thinks  that  he  has  the 
right  to  use  such  language  as  pleases  him,  but 
this  is  not  true.  No  one  will  claim  that  any 
man  has  a  right  to  inflict  a  foul  odor  upon  an- 
other and.  upon  the  same  theory,  no  man  has 
anv  right  to  force  the  sounds  of  his  foully 
spoken  words  in  any  other  person's  ears. 

Many  ignorant  persons  are  neither  profane 
nor  vulgar,  but  nearly  every  vulgar  and  profane 
person  is  ignorant.  As  a  rule,  the  man  who  is 
vulgar  and  profane  looks  more  like  an  ape  than 
a  human. 


98                                                        THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  First  Year 

Published  Monthly  by  the  conncction    with    their    future    applications    for 

BOARD    OF    COMMISSIONERS   AND    THE  ,                           ,                    ....       '  f     ^,     ^ 

WARDEN  OF  THE  ILLINOIS  STATE  pardons   or   paroles ;   in   addition   to   that,   every 

PENITENTIARY,  JOLIET,  man  in  the  conspiracy  who  can  be  proven  guilty 

•*     •     •     • may  have  to  serve  a  term  in  a  Federal  prison  for 

Address:    THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  his  cfiforts,  after  his  release  from  here. 

1900   Collins   Strekt  .         .         -         .  Joliet,   Illinois 

@       @ 

Single    Copy Ten    Cents 

Yearly    Subscription One    Dollar  tt-            •.          r-».Ti           i        ▼       •  i 

Canadian  and  Foreign One  Dollar  and  Fifty  Cents  University  Of  Nebraska  Incident 

EDITED  BY  A  PRISONER  According  to   the   Chicago  Journal,   Kenneth 
Murphy,  aged  21,   serving  a   life   sentence   for 

REPRODUCTIONS      PERMITTED      UNCONDITIONALLY  '      .               i              -kt     1 

murder  in   the   JNebrasKa   penitentiarv,   was   re- 

^"^Tfifce^lt  yoTt'!"i'nfn%ir und'er^?h"e"^A^t  \'{  i^arck  f.  i^sT^.""^"  ccutly  parolcd   by   Govcmor   Morehcad  of  that 

state,   to   enter  the   University   of   Nebraska,   a 

gD28  ...                                             ... 

state  institution.     Upon  his  application  for  ad- 

Our  Counterfeiters  mission  he  was,  by  the  order  of  Samuel  Avery, 

T           ,  1  ,      •             •            ,           .        ,         .1  chancellor   of  the   universitv,   not   permitted   to 
It  would  be  interesting  to  know  just  how  the  .          ,                 ...        .  '.     ,             , 
-      .                 .   ,  .        .           ,                        .1     J  register,  because  of  his  criminal  record, 
five  inmates  of  this  prison  who  were  recently  de- 
tected   at    counterfeiting    United     States     coin  ^ 

planned  to  gain  any  substantial  benefit  by  their  j^-^  occurrence  presents  a  complicated  situa- 

operations.     We   will  concede  them  mechanical  ^.^^      r^^^  university  being  a   state  institution, 

skill,  but  was  there  not  one  in  the  group  who  .,          ,  ,             ^.u  t.  4.u     r-              '        •  u     u     u 

'                                                          ^    \„  it  would  seem  that  the  Governor  s  wish  should 

possessed  even  average  common  sense?     These  ^  t.     ^u       ^  j      rr  xi        i          n         r         ±  . 

*         ,     ,          ,         ,    *        ,,.,.-          ,  .  not  be  thwarted.     If  the  chancellor  of  a  state 

men  had  much  to  lose  and  little,  if  anvthing,  to  .        .^           ,                    -              ^  ^    •     ,•    .• 

,     ,            .                '        * ,  .  university  can  bar  a  man  from  a  state  institution 

gain,  yet   they  worked   overtime  to  counterfeit  ?     j       .•        .1               •             ,                      r  1  • 

°.     ',                          ,  ,    ,r    1  11  of  education,  the  ex-pnsoner,  bv  reason  of  his 

nickels,  quarters  and  half  dollars.  .                   1           u     r       .1       '                        t 

*  prison    record,    could,    for   the    same    cause,    be 

®  denied   admission  to   a  night  school   for   adults 

Anv  man  with  some  prison  experience  and  a  '^^^^  ^"  ^^^  P"^^^^  ^^^°°1^-     ^e  assume  that  no 

small'  amount   of   intellect    would    recognize    at  °"^  '^'"   ^^^^"^  *^^^   ^  "^^"  ^^^o   has   served  a 

,,    ,.,        1                ujjr       j-i.  sentence  for  a  felonv  would  be  barred  from  a 

once  that  the  plan  was  headed  for  disaster  as  , ,.       ,                ,      " 

^,      r    ^     re    .     ^          •      .1              .  public  school  on  that  ground, 

soon  as  the  first  efforts  to  maKe  the  counter-  * 

feits  had  been  started.     When  fifteen  or  sixteen  ® 

hundred  men    live    in    a    twenty-acre    enclosure,  jf  Kenneth  Murphy  desires  to  obtain  an  edu- 

the  population  is  so  dense  that  secrets  are  only  cation,  why  should  he  be  prevented,  when  he  has 

remotely  possible.     Practically  everything  comes  ^^g  Governor's  sanction^ 
to  light  in  a  crowded  penitentiary.     Even  the 

officers   usually    fail   to   have   secrets    from   the  " 

inmates,  but  when  the  inmates  attempt  to  have  On  the  other  hand,  a  man  who  commits  a 
secrets  from  the  officers,  then  it  is  one  hundred  crime  and  is  convicted  must  know  that  he  will 
to  one  that  they  will  fail.  It  must  be,  in  this  never  be  welcomed  in  university  circles.  The 
case,  that  the  spirit  of  mischief  had  driven  ordi-  students  at  a  university  most  likely  would  resent 
nary  common  sense  out  of  the  minds  of  these  having  a  paroled  prisoner  in  their  midst, 
exposed  counterfeiters.  Even  if  they  had  sue-  ^ 
ceeded  in  manufacturing  large  quantities  of  su- 
perior counterfeit  coins,  how  were  they  to  be  This  incident  is  useful  in  illustrating  the  diffi- 
disposed  of?  How  long  would  it  have  taken  to  culties  which  an  ex-prisoner  encounters.  Tc 
trace  the  counterfeits  back  to  their  source?  Iiave  one's  sins  follow  him  to  the  grave  seems 

^  the  inevitable  fate  of  the  man  who  falls.     We 

have  no   remedy  to  suggest  for  this   conditioi 

Let  us  see  what  these  counterfeiters  stood  to  except  to  speak  for  generosity  from  society  t( 

lose.     The  attempt  will  always  be  considered  in  the  men  and  women  who  have  paid  the  penalty] 


March  1,  1914                                  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  99 

The  Dependents  of  Prisoners  be  had.     It  is  most  surprising  to  see  how  easily, 

With  the  prison   reform  movement   sweeping  beliind  prison  walls,  drunkards  and  dope  fiends 

over  the  country,  it  is  but  natural  that  the  fate  of  get  over  the  longing  which  controls  them  when 

those    dependent   upon    the   convicted   men    and  they  are  outside.     We  do  not  mean  that  these 

women  should  come  in  for  consideration.  Warden  nien   would    not    use   liquor  or   drugs   while   in 

William  H.  Moyer  of  the  Atlanta,  Ga.,  peniten-  prison  if  they  could  get  them,  but  we  do  mean 

tiary  has  made  a  report  to  the  United  States  at-  that  within  a   few  days  after  coming  to  prison 

torney-general,    which    has    recently   been    made  the  most  confirmed  drunkards  and  dope  fiends 

public.  He  is  of  the  opinion  that  depriving  a  fam-  get  along  comfortably  without  the  use  of  these 

ily  of  necessary  support  by  sending  its  head  to  stimulants. 

prison,  without  making  any  provision  for  the  sup-  ^ 

port  of  the  family,  is  a  greater  menace  to  future  t     •              ^i 

.  ,    ^,        ,,     ,        r'      ,  •  ,                 ^          •  ,  It  IS  true  that  some  prisoners  will  taKe  long 

society  than  the  benefits  which  accrue  to  society  ,                          ,.                                                     *• 

,          .,      •                .•         r  .,         •    •     1      TT     u  chances  to  get  liquor  or  drugs,  but  it  is  done 

from  the  incarceration  of  the  criminal.     He  be-  .       , 

lieves  that  the  innocent  are  more  severely  pun-  '""''^  ^"  *^^  gambling  spirit  than  as  the  result 

ished  than  the  guilty  under  the  administration  of  ^^  ^^^  '^^^  ^''^^^"S^  ^""^  those  things.     Prisoners 

our  present  penal  system,  and  he  suggests  that  ''"^^  ^°"^^  ^^'^  '"  extreme  cases  of  alcoholism 

relief   be   given   in    some   authorized   way.      He  ^""^  usually  up  and  about  and  working  within  a 

recommends  proper  compensation  for  the  labor  ^^eek  after  their  arrival, 

of  the  prisoner  and  that  a  part  of  the  prisoner's  @     @ 

earnings   derived   through   his   work   should   be 

J       ^    ,  ^          J     ,1                  4.     r  4.U     J         J     ^  Missouri    Makes    Nt'w    Contracts    for    Prison 
devoted  towards  the  support  of  the  dependents 

of  such  prisoners.     He  points  out  that  during 

the  past  ten  years  $17,525  has  been  paid  to  dis-  I"  ^P^^^  of  the  universally  recognized  iniquity 

charged  prisoners,  which,  on  the  average,  figures  o^  contracting  prison  labor  to  commercial  com- 

less  than  one  cent  a  day  per  man  for  every  work-  panics,  which  has  always  resulted  in  destroying 

ing  day.  inmates  of  prisons  and  injuring  free  labor,  the 

^  State  of  Missouri  has  recently  contracted  its  pris- 
oners at  seventy-five  cents  per  working  day,  per 

A  proposal  that  wages  be  paid  to  prisoners  is  nian,  to  the  following  named  concerns : 

frequently    objected    to    by    taxpayers,    on    the      star  Clothing  Company i.ooo  prisoners 

ground   that    taxes    would    increase    correspond-      Parker  Boot  &  Shoe  Company 250  prisoners 

ingly,    but    such    arguments    beg    the    questions,      Sullivan  Saddle  Tree  Company 175  prisoners 

which  are :     (\)  Will  society  benefit  in  the  long     f/"^""^'  ^^°°'"  ^7P^">'  ^^«  P^'^°"^" 

...  Ruwart  Harness  Conipanv    75  prisoners 

run  by  supporting  in  this  indirect  wav  the  de-  t,,           ^      ,                  .,  ,,,         ,       ,,    ,r»ic 

,             '             .           .,      ,„.    ,     •     '•  1      •  The  contracts  run  until  December  31,  1915. 
pendents  of  the  prisoner?     (2)   Is  it  right  in  a 

civilized  country  to  punish  the  innocent  depend-  ® 

ents  of  a  convicted  person?     When  these  two  jj^^j    Missouri   is  only   a   little    way    behind 

questions  are  intelligently  answered  by  the  pub-  Delaware,    where   the   whipping    posts    are     in 

He,  laws  will  be  passed  to  attempt  the  support  ^,^^g^  ^^,i,l  ^^  appreciated,  when  we  inform  our 

of  innocent   dependents  of  convicted  prisoners,  readers  that  in  penitentiaries  where  the  contract 

@     @  .system  prevails  the  officers  are  paid  their  salary 

_     .       _        ,       ,          ,  _         _.      ,  in  full  bv  the  state  which  gives  them  emplov- 

Cunng  Drunkards  and  Dope  Fiends  .         j    ^t          •               ^      ^                 n        ' 

^                                    ^  ment,    and    the   prison    contractors    usually    pay 

Those  who  study  drnnk-ards  and  dope  fiends  ^^ese  officers    from   ten   dollars  per  month   up- 
should  come  to  the  penitentiaries   for  a  course  ^v^rds    secretly 
of  instruction.     They  would  learn  that  the  most  ' 
confirmed  drunkards  and  dope  fiends  soon  re- 
cover from  the  shock  to  their  systems  by  reason  When  men  who  are  avaricious  enough  to  be 
of  the  sudden  absence  of  these  agencies  when  willing  to  endure  the  stigma  of  employing  prison 
they  are  placed  where  alcohol  and  drugs  cannot  labor  for  the  sake  of  profits,  are  willing  to  pay 


100 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


state  employes  from  ten  dollars  per  month  up- 
wards, it  follows  that  they  expect  a  profit  on 
these  investments  and  the  only  possible  way  in 
which  such  profits  can  be  made  is  by  perverting 
the  State's  employes  from  their  legitimate  voca- 
tions of  prison  guards  to  slave  drivers  for  busi- 
ness men  ( ?)  whose  ethics  are  lower  than  those 
of  the  prisoners  whom  they  exhaust. 

The  higher  the  price  is  which  the  contractors 
pay  for  the  work  of  prisoners  the  harder  will 
the  task  be  made  for  those  prisoners  and  the  less 
chance  there  is  that  any  leniency  will  be  shown 
to  anv  of  the  large  numbers  of  dying  consump- 
tives, who  are  inevitably  produced  in  all  insti- 
tutions where  long  sentences  are  served  and 
where  the  exploiting  of  prison  labor  is  permitted. 


Julian  Hawthorne  on  Prison  Methods 

Julian  Hawthorne's  writings  regarding  the 
Atlanta.  Ga.,  prison  are  just  what  might  have 
been  expected  from  a  man  guilty  of  crime  who 
tries  to  befuddle  himself  into  the  belief  that  he 
is  innocent.  No  prison  can  seem  right  to  a 
man  in  that  state  of  mind,  because  he  is  neces- 
sarily prejudiced  before  he  enters  the  prison 
walls. 


and    who   admits    it,   because  only    such   a   one 
can  reason  from  the  correct  viewpoint. 


Julian  Hawthorne's  articles  on  the  Atlanta 
]jrison  will  attract  temporary  notice,  and  will 
shortly  be  forgotten. 


He  has  written  many  fine  paragraphs,  but  his 
articles  as  a  whole  are  unsound  and  misleading. 


In  view  of  his  talents,  he  might  have  made 
a  lasting  impression  upon  prison  methods,  but 
he  has,  unfortunately,  let  the  opportunity  go  by. 


We  Do  Not  Lose  Our  Names 

It  is  generally  the  opinion  of  society  that  con- 
victed persons,  upon  entering  penal  institutions, 
lose  their  names  and  become  numbers.  This  is 
in  part  a  mistake.  A  prisoner,  upon  entering, 
is  given  a  number,  but  he  keeps  his  name.  The 
number  is  a  great  convenience  to  the  prisoners 
as  well  as  the  officers.  It  serves  as  a  ready 
means  of  identification  for  the  many  John 
Smiths ;  it  enables  the  laundryman  to  get  the 
underclothing  back  to  the  right  man,  etc.,  etc. 


There  are  in  every  large  ])rison  at  least  three 
classes  of  prisoners :  (1)  those  who  are  inno- 
cent of  the  crimes  they  are  serving  time  for. 
(2)  those  who  are  guilty  but  who  claim  to  be 
innocent,  ( 3 )  those  who  arc  guilty  and  admit 
it.  One  should  not  expect  logical  views  from 
either  of  the  first  two  classes,  because  it  is 
impossible  for  an  innocent  person  to  be  recon- 
ciled to  incarceration,  and  as  to  a  prisoner  who 
is  guilty  but  who  claims  to  be  innocent,  he  is 
either   untruthful  or  mentally   unbalanced. 


Some  day  an  author  will  do  to  the  present 
penal  system  what  Harriet  Beecher  .Stowe  did 
to  slavery  when  she  produced  "Uncle  Tom's 
Cabin."  and  it  seems  likely  such  author  will 
be  a  person  who  has  served  time,  but  if  that  is 
the  case,  it  will  be  one  who  knows  he  was  guilty 


Outside  of  a  prison,  the  giving  of  numbers  to 
prisoners  is  usually  looked  upon  as  one  of  the 
horrors  of  prison  life,  but  the  inmates  do  not 
look  upon  it  as  such.  They  are  willing  to  do 
without  a  lot  they  get  in  prison,  but  they  are 
perfectly  willing  to  keep  the  number  until  they 
go  out. 


The  Trusty's  Enemy 

The  worst  enemy  of  the  "trusty"  is  the  good- 
hearted  fool  citizen  who,  in  a  spirit  of  mistaken 
gene'"osity,  hands  such  a  prisoner  a  bottle  of 
whisky.  Either  the  prisoner  has  no  use  for  the 
poison  or  he  falls  before  temptation  and  takes 
one  or  more  drinks,  with  the  result  of  losing  his 
good  job  and  being  placed  where  that  form  of 
temptation  cannot  reach  him.  Out  in  the  world 
a  man  may  be  able  to  take  a  drink  without  that 


March    I.    I'.M) 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


101 


tact  becoming  known,  but  in  an  institution  where 
no  one  drinks,  a  wliisky  breath  can  be  detected 
across  the  room. 

Many  prisoners  are  here  because  they  have 
been  drunkards  and  that  faihng  has  led  them 
to  crime.  These  men  become  so  far  cured  in 
this  institution  that  they  have  not  any  craving 
for  liquor  until  they  see  it ;  then  the  old  desire 
comes  back,  and  the  man  frequently  is  not  strong 
enough  to  repulse  it,  and  he  falls.  It  is  a  ter- 
rible thing  for  the  prisoner  who  has  worked  his 
way  up  to  the  position  of  trusty  to  lose  out,  for 
frequently  he  has  many  years  to  serve. 


Spring  will  soon  be  with  us.  and  then  the  pris- 
oners who  are  selected  for  the  work  will  be 
sent  out  as  honor  men  to  the  camps,  and  as 
surely  as  this  happens,  the  kind-hearted  fool  with 
his  bottle  of  whisky  will  try  to  help  the  boys 
along  a  little.  The  man  who  gives  a  prisoner 
any  alcoholic  drink  is  in  the  same  class  with  the 
fool  who  thinks  that  the  gim  is  not  loaded. 


There  and  Here 

There  has  been  much  press  comment  recently 
on  the  action  of  the  Federal  authorities  at  Fort 
Leavenworth,  where  stripes  were  discarded  as  a 
means  of  punishment,  because  it  was  said  that 
many  of  the  prisoners  looked  upon  their  fellows 
who  wore  stripes  for  misconduct  as  heroes  and 
martvrs. 


On  the  other  hand,  the  warden  of  this  prison 
has  recently  commenced  dressing  all  prisoners 
convicted  of  serious  infractions  of  the  rules  in 
stripes,  and  the  result  is  that  the  few  men  in 
this  prison  who  are  so  dressed  can  find  no  sym- 
pathy among  the  other  inmates.  Here  they  are 
n(^t  considered  heroes  or  martvrs. 


Wherever  men  are  persecuted,  the  conspicuous 
victims  are  looked  upon  as  heroes  and  martyrs. 
Wherever  life  is  worth  living,  ofTenders  against 
law  and  order — which  in  prisons  is  called  dis- 
cipline— are  despised. 


Prison  Contract  Labor  in  Chicago 

In  a  report  made  recently  by  the  efficiency 
division  of  the  civil  service  commission  of  Chi- 
cago it  was  recommended  that  the  inmates  of 
the  Bridewell  be  henceforth  enii)loyed  at  mu- 
nicipal work  instead  of  their  labor  being  sold 
under  contracts  to  private  concerns. 


Contract  labor  in  institutions  where  inmates 
usually  serve  short  sentences  is  not  as  repre- 
hensible as  when  it  is  permitted  in  penal  insti- 
tutions where  sentences  are  reckoned  by  years 
instead  of  by  days  and  months;  but  the  destruc- 
tive competition  of  prison-made  gocnls  with  free 
labor  remains  the  same,  and  the  slave-driving  of 
helpless  inmates  by  guards  who  are  first  paid  by 
the  community  for  doing  their  duty  and  then  are 
secretly  paid  regularly  by  the  contracting  firms 
to  represent  their  interest  in  getting  the  greatest 
possible  amount  of  work  done  by  prisoners  who 
are  helpless  against  unusual  oppression,  remains 
the  same. 


The  state  of  Illinois  has  gone  on  record 
against  contract  labor,  many  years  ago. 

Senility  in  Prison 

We  publish  in  this  issue  a  group  portrait  of 
three  inmates  of  this  prison  who  typify  a  class 
of  prisoners  who  are  in  their  second  childhood. 
Some  of  them  cannot  explain  why  they  are  here. 
All  they  know  about  their  life  is  that  it  is 
very  uncomfortable  and  that  the  stone  walls  of 
their  cells  are  an  excellent  aid  to  rheumatism. 

Owing  to  their  physical  and  mental  condition, 
they  are  undergoing  much  harder  punishment 
than  arc  those  prisoners  who  are  in  full  pos- 
session of  all  their  faculties,  and  this  in  spite 
of  all  that  the  authorities  can  do  to  alleviate 
their  conditions. 

In  many  instances  these  old  men  have  been 
here  so  long  that  they  have  been  ft)rgotten  by 
former  friends  and  relatives.  Does  society  de- 
mand that  their  i)unishment  be  continued? 

What  they  need  is  to  be  helped  by  kind- 
hearted  people  and  lawyers,  and  the  editor  of 
this  publication  is  anxious  to  give  full  informa- 
tion to  those  that  desire  to  aid  them. 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


These  men  are  serving  life  sentences.     Reading  from  left  to  right  they  have  served  respectively  twenty, 
eighteen  and  twenty-two  years  and  are  now  sixty,  seventy-one  and  sixty-nine  years  of  age. 


March   1,   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


103 


EDITOR'S  COLUMNS 

About  Knockers  and  Snitchers 

February  10,  1914. 
To  the  Editor: 

I  have  read  in  the  Post  a  line  or  so  regarding 
"knockers"  and  "snitches,"  and  I  wish  to  ask 
what  your  idea  of  such  may  be.  I  am  going  to 
tell  you  what  I  would  call  a  knocker,  aiid,  if 
you  feel  inclined  to  do  so,  I  would  like  to  hear 
what  you  think  about  this  subject,  as  it  is  caus- 
ing a  somewhat  ill  feeling  in  this  prison.  What 
I  call  a  knocker  is  a  man  who  is  always  trying  to 
tell  the  officers  little  petty  things  that  do  not 
amount  to  anything  and  which  are  none  of  his 
business.  His  idea  is  that  by  doing  so  he  is  get- 
ting a  stand-in  with  the  keeper,  whereas  in  real- 
ity he  is  injuring  himself;  that  is  my  idea  of 
a  knocker.  Now,  here  is  what  I  call  an  honest 
man.  In  order  to  tell  you  what  I  mean  when  I 
say  that  telling  is  sometimes  justified,  I  will  tell 
of  an  instance  which  happened  in  this  prison  a 
number  of  years  ago.  A  prisoner  had  obtained 
a  bottle  of  "soup"  (explosives),  which  he  in- 
tended to  throw  against  the  wall  on  the  Fourth 
of  July  while  the  men  were  in  the  yard,  and  in 
doing  so  blow  out  part  of  the  wall  and  escape. 

Now,  another  prisoner  found  out  that  he  in- 
tended to  do  this,  and  he  told  the  officers  and 
they  shook  him  down  and  found  the  dope.  Now, 
here  is  what  I  want  to  know :  was  the  informer 
in  this  case  right  in  stopping  a  thing  like  that 
by  telling  a  keeper  or  should  he  let  the  fellow 
throw  the  dope  and  perhaps  kill  a  number  of 
people  passing  outside  in  the  street,  the  keepers 
on  the  wall  and  possibly  some  prisoners  in  the 
vard  ? 


Here  is  another :  is  it  right  that  if  a  prisoner 
knows  that  another  prisoner  is  doing  something 
that  will  injure  the  rest  of  the  men  and  cause 
the  prison  a  set  back  in  its  forward  movement 
and  reflect  on  a  warden  such  as  we  have ;  to  let 
him  destroy  all  the  good  that  has  been  done  for 
us  and  make  the  people  outside  sore  just  at  a 
time  when  most  of  us  are  trying  to  make  good, 
and  for  the  sake  of  a  foolish  piece  of  work  by 
some  men  that  do  not  appreciate  what  is  being 
done  for  us,  should  we  stand  by  and  see  them 
destrov  our  chances  for  advancement  which  the 


public  is  giving  us  now  or  should  we  inform  the 
officers  and  stop  it?  Is  he  in  your  opinion  a 
knocker?  Such  a  case  happened  here  not  long 
ago  and  the  knocker  is  being  cussed  by  some  o7 
the  inmates.  They  call  him  a  "rat"  and  all  such 
as  that.  If  such  things  as  those  fellows  were 
doing  were  to  become  known  outside  and  traced 
to  this  prison  what  would  our  warden  have  said 
about  the  man  who  knew,  for  not  stopping  it 
and  what  eflfect  would  it  have  on  us?  Is  it  right 
for  all  to,  suffer  for  the  foolishness  of  two  or 
three?  I  think  any  man  that  knows  of  such 
things  going  on  that  will  injure  all  of  us  is  not 
a  man  at  all  if  he  does  not  try  to  stop  it. 

An   Inmate. 
Note — It  will  always  be  difficult  to  find  the 
dividing  line  between  duty  and  snitching.    To  a 
person  of  good  character  knowledge  of  wrong 
doing  is  always  embarrassing. 


People  who  lead  clean  lives  in  wholesome  sur- 
roundings never  worry  about  knockers  and 
snitchers. 

Those  who  commit  the  greatest  crimes  are 
most  insistent  upon  closed  eyes  and  sealed  lips. 
Thus  we  see  that  the  lower  ones  character  is  the 
more  insistent  he  becomes  that  all  others  should 
possess  the  particular  virtue  which  is  necessary 
for  his  safety. 

A  prisoner  can  usually  be  square  with  all  the 
inmates  and  the  officers,  but  it  requires  some 
wisdom  and  tact.  He  should  refuse  to  become  a 
party  to  any  secret  and  generally  speaking  he 
should  mind  his  own  business.  He  should  try 
to  make  life  a  little  easier  for  his  "brothers  in 
law,"  and  .should  pride  himself  on  fair  dealing 
with  his  fellow  prisoners.  He  should  keep  his 
word  at  all  times,  even  to  those  who  have  become 
his  enemies.  He  should  never  try  to  "get  even" 
by  disclosing  information  in  order  to  hurt  an 
enemy. 

If  any  prisoner  had  "soup"  (explosives)  within 
the  walls  of  this  prison  that  fact  would  at  the 
earliest  possible  opportunity  be  made  known  to 
the  officers,  if  such  fact  were  known  by  the — 
Editor. 

^     0     ^ 

The  watchword  of  the  age  is  energy ;  the  goal, 
success. — The  Better  Citizen,  Rahway,   N.  J. 


104 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Free  Copies  for  Prisoners 

Each  prisoner  received  a  copy  of  the  January 
number  without  cost,  and  the  same  will  be  done 
with  regard  to  the  February  issue.  The  expense 
of  the  copies  distributed  to  the  inmates  is  borne 
by  the  Library  and  Amusement  fund,  and  it  is 
the  intention  of  the  authorities  to  continue  this 
indefinitely,  but  discontinuance  is  to  remain  op- 
tional. 

For  the  present,  prisoners  will  be  permitted 
to  mail  their  copy  to  any  address  in  the  United 
States  and  the  prison  authorities  will  pay  the 
postage.  To  do  this,  the  inmate  should  hand 
his  paper  to  his  keeper,  who  will  write  the  name 
and  address  of  the  person  to  whom  it  is  to  go 
legibly  on  a  slip  of  paper  and  then  send  both 
to  the  ofiice  of  the  Superintendent  of  Mails. 

Under  no  circumstances  should  the  name  and 
address  or  anything  else  be  writen  on  the  paper, 
as  this  is  against  the  rules.  Inmates  are  not 
permitted  to  pay  for  any  paper  or  to  subscribe. 
nor  yet  to  pay  for  the  subscription  of  a  friend. 
In  no  way  will  the  prisoners  or  any  one  of  them 
be  permitted  to  pay  any  money  to  The  Joliet 
Prison  Post. — The  Editor. 


The  foregoing  instructions  appeared  in  the 
February  number,  and  are  repeated  because  of 
the  trouble  the  inmates  and  the  officers  have 
caused  us  by  their  disregard  of  these  instruc- 
tions. Numerous  copies  have  reached  us  with 
names  and  addresses  written  on  the  magazines, 
instead  of  being  written  on  a  loose  piece  of 
paper  laid  inside  the  magazine.  In  many  cases 
prisoners  marked  passages  in  the  articles  and 
wrote  letters  in  the  masrazine. 


Graded  Feeding 

A  novel  plan  of  keeping  prisoners  on  good 
behavior  has  been  thought  of  by  W.  O.  Murray, 
one  of  the  penitentiary  commissioners.  Believ- 
ing that  most  men  are  more  concerned  with  what 
they  eat  than  hardly  anything  else,  he  thinks  it 
would  be  a  good  scheme  to  have  two  different 
sets  of  tables  at  the  Huntville  penitentiary — one 
for  those  who  are  on  good  behavior,  and  the 
other  set  for  those  who  are  unruly  and  not  in- 
clined to  do  good  work.  The  prisoners  who  have 
good  records  would  be  given  better  food  and  a 
more  extensive  bill  of  fare  than  the  others.  Mr. 
Murray  believes  that  such  a  system  would  do 
more  toward  making  the  prisoners  behave  than 
all  of  the  "bats"  and  dark  cells  ever  made. — 
Post,  Houston,  Texas. 


Xote — Nearly  every  prisoner  or  ex-prisoner 
knows  that  Mr.  Murray's  suggestion  is  sound  to 
the  core. — Editor. 


About  Our  Counterfeiters 

Recently  the  warden  of  the  Joliet  penitentiary 
introduced  many  reforms  looking  to  the  amelior- 
ation of  the  life  of  the  convict.  They  were  al- 
lowed more  privileges  than  they  ever  enjoyed 
before,  and  the  first  use  that  they  made  of  their 
liberty  was  to  coin  counterfeit  nickels  in  the 
machine  shop.  They  already  had  passed  $100 j 
worth  of  nickels  and  had  prepared  dies  for  quar- 
ters and  dollars,  none  of  which  had  been  coined. 
Thus  does  the  holy  cause  of  reform  get  a  set- 
back.— Star,  Peoria,   111. 


\\t  desire  to  state  that  we  mail  the  paper 
under  a  second-class  mailing  privilege  obtained 
from  the  United  States  government,  and  that 
the  rules  of  the  Post  Office  Department  forbid 
any  writing  on  or  in  a  magazine  which  is  mailed 
as  second-class  matter. 

Last  month  we  substituted  new  copies  for  all 
that  had  writing  on,  but  we  will  not  do  it  again. 
After  this  notice  appears  we  will  destroy  all 
magazines  which  are  sent  to  us  for  mailing  with 
even  one  stroke  of  writing  on  them. — Editor. 


Note — The  foregoing  editorial  is  reproduced 
here  in  order  to  bring  home  to  our  would-be 
counterfeiters  the  fact  that  in  attempting  to 
please  themselves  they  have  injured  the  cause  of  j 
prison  reform. — Editor. 

I  Desire  to  Meet  Him 

The  author  of  "My  Wonder  Night,"  which  ap- 
pears in  this  number,  is  requested  to  make  him- 
self known  to  the 

Editor. 


Marcli    1.    I'.tH 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


105 


INTERVIEWS 


p.  D.  CLARKSON 

SUPERINTENDENT  OF  PAROLE  AGENTS 

On  the  Paroling  of  the  Prisoners  from  the 
Illinois  State  Penitentiary 


(Interview  by  the  Editor) 

For  convenience  this  article  is  treated  as  if  the 
parole  law  applied  only  to  men.  It  applies  equally 
to  women  and  everything  in  this  article  applies  tu 
women   as   well   as   men. — Editor. 

■      @ 

Prisoners  from  the  Joliet  prison  while  on  pa- 
role are  looked  after  for  the  Warden  by  six 
parole  agents,  namely,  myself,  as  Superinten- 
dent of  the  Parole  Agents ;  William  Christy,  who 
is  in  charge  of  the  Chicago  office  whenever  1 
am  absent;  Henry  J.  Roesch,  Samuel  E.  Erick- 
sen.  James  McFadden  and  Thomas  L.  Matthews. 
Our  office  is  at  room  202,  180  Dearborn  Street. 
Chicago.  James  McFadden  makes  his  headquar- 
ters at  the  Joliet  prison  and  Thomas  L.  Mat- 
thews operates  from  Galesburg,  111. 

We  give  our  undivided  attention  to  the  work 
of  looking  after  paroled  prisoners,  and  we  are 
not  permitted  to  hold  any  other  employment. 
We  are  on  duty  regularly  from  eight  o'clock  in 
the  morning  until  five-thirty  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon. In  cases  of  emergency,  there  is  no  limit 
to  our  hours  of  employment. 

It  is  to  our  interest  to  have  prisoners  who  are 
paroled  from  the  Joliet  prison  succeed  in  estab- 
lishing themselves  as  good  citizens,  and  it  is 
our  duty  to  devote  ourselves  wholly  to  this  ob- 
ject and  we  do  our  best  to  bring  about  the  de- 
sired results.  We  meet  with  varying  success. 
Frequently  our  eflforts  are  rewarded  by  the  grati- 
tude of  those  prisoners  who  succeed :  sometimes 
we  are  blamed  by  those  who  violate  the  condi- 
tions of  their  paroles  and  in  consequence  thereof 
are  returned  to  the  prison  to  serve  more  time 
luider  their  original  sentences. 

It  nuist  at  the  outset  be  understood  that  under 
the  indeterminate  sentence  law,  man\-  convicted 
men  are  sentenced  to  the  Joliet  pri.son  to  serve 
sentences  running  from  one  year  to  five,  to  ten. 
to   fourteen,  to  twcntv  vears  and   to  life,   while 


both  the  minimum  and  maximum  sentences  vary 
according  to  the  nature  of  the  crime.  Certain 
classes  of  offenders  receive  a  fixed  sentence  in 
court  and  are  not  subject  to  the  parole  law.  Un- 
der an  indeterminate  sentence  a  prisoner  becomes 
eligible  for  parole  as  soon  as  he  serves  his  mini- 
mum sentence,  but  it  is  in  the  discretion  of  the  pa- 
role board  to  call  upon  him  to  do  any  part  of  his 
sentence  over  and  above  the  minimum  to  the 
limit  of  his  maximum  sentence,  less  the  good 
time  allowed  by  law.  Thus,  a  man  who  is  con- 
victed of  manslaughter,  which  crime  calls  for  a 
sentence  of  from  one  year  to  life,  may  be  paroled 
when  he  has  served  eleven  months  or  he  may  be 
kept  in  confinement  for  the  remainder  of  his 
natural  life  at  the  discretion  of  the  parole  board. 

Paroling  a  prisoner  only  means  that  the  war- 
den, acting  under  authorit>-  from  the  parole 
board,  permits  the  prisoner  to  go  outside  of  the 
walls  (under  restrictions),  to  show  if  he  can, 
that  he  is  fit  to  be  returned  to  society.  The 
length  of  time  which  a  prisoner  is  required  to 
serve  on  parole  is  at  the  discretion  of  the  parole 
hoard  provided  that  it,  together  with  the  time 
served  in  prison,  does  not  exceed  the  maximum 
of  the  sentence,  less  all  good  time  earned  under 
the  good  time  law.  The  usual  period  of  proba- 
tion on  parole  is  one  year. 

We  take  pride  in  having  paroled  prisoners 
succeed  and  prosper.  Many  of  them  do,  and  we 
are  usually  regarded  as  helpers  by  such.  Many 
of  them  who  have  earned  and  secured  their  dis- 
charges visit  us  after  they  are  no  longer  subject 
to  our  control,  thereby  showing  their  friendly 
spirit. 

Parole  violators,  after  their  return  to  the  pris- 
on, usually  have  some  unfounded  tales  of  perse- 
cution and  hard  luck  to  tell,  which,  by  reason 
of  such  stories  always  remaining  uncontradicted, 
has  a  discouraging  eflPect  <in  the,  inmates  who 
are  to  be  paroled  at  some  time  in  the  future, 
thus  to  come  imder  our  supervision  and  control 
later  on.  We  frequently  find  that  these  men  are 
suspicious  of  us  and  labor  under  the  impression 
that  we  de-sire  their  downfall  and  consequent  re- 
turn [o  the  prison.     We  are  anxious  that  all  in- 


106                                                     THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.                                          First  Year 

mates  who  are  paroled  and  who  leave  the  prison  their  friend.    A  paroled  prisoner  cannot  afford  to 

determined  to  be  industrious,  law  abiding  per-  prove  stubborn, 

sons,  shall  come  to  us  trusting  that  we  will  prove  ^ 
ourselves  their  friends,  counsellors  and  protec- 

tors  so  long  as  they  do  their  best.    They  should  Prisoners  on  parole  violate  their  parole  and 

in  the  first  place  recognize  that  they  are  not  free  ''^''^  immediately  subject  to  return  to  the  prison 

men  but  paroled  prisoners  until  they  receive  their  '^  ^^^^   (1)   ^^^^^^^  ^he  crmunal  code,   (2)   are 

discharge.     This    should    not    prevent    paroled  ^"'^^^   °^    misdemeanors,    (3)    carry    concealed 

prisoners  from  having  faith  in  the  officials.     I  ^^^^apons,  (4)  driuK  alcoholic  liquors,   (5)  leave 

can  confidently  say  that  the  governor,  the  com-  ^^^^'^  P^^^^^  ^^  employment  without  permission 

missioners,  the  warden,  the  members  of  the  pa-  ^"^"^  ^^^  ^^'■^^"'    ^^^    ^^^^^  the  state  without 

role  board   and   also  the   parole   officers   desire  Proper  permission,  (7)  carry  burglar's  tools,  (8) 

that  all  paroled  prisoners  shall  so  conduct  them-  '^"^^^"  ^'"^'^  ^^^^''  ^^"^^^  ^^^^'  "^"^  °'^1«^^  i" 

selves  during  the  period  of  probation  that  they  ^^^  evening,   (9)   in  any  way  demonstrate  that 

will  earn  their  discharge  and  become  useful  citi-  ^^'^^  ^'^  ^  "'^"'^^^  ^^  '^^'^t>'- 

zens  and,  as  one  who  knows,  I  am  happy  to  give  ^ 

this   information   to    the   inmates   of   the    Toliet  t     .                             •                 i             .       .    , 

•^  Just  as  soon  as  prisoners  who  receive  inde- 

prison.  .                           "^              ,          .                ^  ,. 

terminate   sentences   enter   the   prison   at  Joliet 

^  their  incarceration  becomes  a  matter  of  interest 

We  desire  to  befriend  all  well  intentioned  to  the  parole  board.     The  board  investigates  all 

men  who  come  under  our  care.     We  ask  for  prisoners'  past  records  usually  before  they  have 

the  confidence  of  paroled  prisoners  and  instruct  served  the  minimum  time  of  their  respective  sen- 

them  to  come  to  us  with  their  troubles.     They  tences.     While  there  is  no  legal  obligation  on 

should  always  tell  us  the  truth  without  evasion  the  part  of  the  parole  board  to  give  prisoners 

or  reserve,  then  we  will  help  them  if  we  can  a  hearing  at  any  time,  it  is  the  custom  to  grant 

do  it  within  the  provisions  of  the  laws  of  the  a  hearing  when  the  prisoners  have  served  eleven 

state,  which  it  is  our  sworn  duty  to  abide  by  months  of  their  sentences— if  one  year  be  the 

and  enforce.     Paroled  prisoners  who  avoid  us  minimum.    In  the  case  of  repeaters  at  the  prison 

and  who  are  reluctant  to  tell  what  they  have  ^^''^^  ^^^  "ot  given  a  hearing  until  a  longer  period 

done,  are  doing  and  intend  to  do,  are  the  ones  ^^  ^"^^  ^^^  passed,  or  in  cases  of  conviction  for 

who   arouse  our  suspicions   and   are   frequently  ^^^'^^   stealing,   which   carries   a   minimum   sen- 

those  who  get  into  trouble,  which  results  in  their  ^^"^^  °^  ^^^^^  ^e^'^'  ^^^  prisoners  do  not  obtain 

being  returned  to  the  prison.  ^  ^e^"""  ""til  they  have  served  three  years  less 

the  good  time  they  have  earned.     If,  after  the 

^  hearing,  the  parole  board  is  of  the  opinion  that 

All  prisoners  on  parole  should  have  it  clearly  it  is  safe  to  trust  a  prisoner  outside  of  the  prison 

in  their  minds  before  they  leave  the  prison  that  ^^'^lls  on  parole,  the  board  may  order  him  pa- 

so  long  as  they  are  on  parole,— which  is  until  ^oled.     If  the  paroled  prisoner  succeeds  in  earn- 

they   get   their   discharge,— they  are   under   the  "'§^  ^'^^  discharge  what  remains  of  the  maximum 

jurisdiction  of  the  warden  just  as  much  as  when  sentence  is  rebated,  and  upon  receipt  of  his  dis- 

in  prison.     If  they  always  remember  this  they  ^^'^'^'"^.  ^^  ^'  ^'^^'  ^''^  "^^  ^^^^^^-     ^^'^  ^^^'^ 

have  a  much  greater  chance  to  earn  their  dis-  ^epea  ing. 

charge  than  if  they  erroneously  think  they  are  ^ 

free.     A  paroled  prisoner  should  not  hide  away  After  a  prisoner  has  been  order  paroled  by  the 

from  a  parole  agent  any  more  than   should  a  parole  board  the  warden  is  authorised  to  permit 

prisoner  within  the  walls  attempt  to  hide  away  such  prisoner  to  go  out  on  parole  provided  suit- 

from  a  prison  official.     So  long  as  paroled  pris-  able  employment  has  been  found  for  him  with  a 

oners  have  no  reasons  for  evading  a  parole  offi-  responsible  and  worthy  employer  at  living  wages. 

cer  they  have  nothing  to  fear  from  him  and  they  After  a  prisoner  is  ordered  paroled  he  is  per- 

will  never  regret  looking  upon  such  officer  as  mitted  to  write  to  his  friends  requesting  them  to 


March  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


107 


obtain  emplovnicnt  for  him  and  when  some  one 
willing  to  give  employment  is  found,  an  applica- 
tion blank  is  forwarded  t(i  such  person  to  be 
filled  in,  signed  and  returned  to  the  warden  for 
his  approval. 

Under  the  provisions  of  the  document  which 
is  to  be  signed  by  the  employer  he  states  (1) 
his  place  of  residence.  (2)  his  business  and  busi- 
ness address,  (3)  that  he  is  able  and  willing  to 
furnish  employment  and  to  continue  the  prisoner 
in  his  employ  until  he  receives  his  final  dis- 
charge (which  will  be  at  the  pleasure  of  the 
parole  board,  but  not  less  than  twelve  months 
from  the  date  of  his  parole),  (4)  to  keep  such 
paroled  prisoner  steadily  engaged  for  at  least 
one  year  at  employment  (the  nature  of  which 
must  be  stated),  (5)  to  pay  him  the  salary  whicli 
has  been  fixed  for  his  services,  (6)  to  take  a 
friendly  interest  in  such  prisoner  and  to  counsel 
and  direct  him  in  that  which  is  good,  (7)  to 
promptly  report  to  the  warden  any  unnecessary 
absence  from  work,  any  tendency  to  low  and 
evil  associates,  or  any  violations  of  the  condi- 
tions of  his  parole,  (8)  to  see  that  the  paroled 
prisoner  forwards  his  monthly  reports  to  the 
warden  on  the  first  of  each  month  with  the  em- 
ployer's certificate  thereon  as  to  its  correctness. 


The  prisoner  who  has  been  ordered  paroled 
may,  after  the  employer  has  been  accepted,  by 
the  warden,  leave  the  prison  to  serve  his  parole 
after  signing  a  parole  agreement  by  which  the 
said  prisoner  agrees  (1)  to  proceed  at  once  to 
his  place  of  employment  and  report  to  his  em- 
ployer, (2)  to  make  out  a  written  report  to  the 
warden  announcing  his  arrival ;  this  report  must 
be  endorsed  by  the  employer,  (3)  not  to  change 
employment  nor  to  leave  such  employment  un- 
less by  order  or  upon  permission  from  the  war- 
den first  obtained  in  writing,  (4)  to  make  re- 
port monthly  to  the  warden  on  the  first  day  of 
every  month  as  to  his  conduct  and  success,  which 
reports  must  be  endorsed  by  his  employer,  (5)  to 
abstain  from  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors  and 
avoid  all  evil  associations  and  places  of  amuse- 
ment, (6)  to  respect  and  obey  the  laws  cheer- 
fully and  conduct  himself  in  all  respects  as  a 
good  citizen,  (7)  in  the  event  of  sickness  or  loss 
of  his  position  he  must  immediately  report  the 


fact  to  the  warden  or  have  the  report  made  for 
him.  Violation  of  any  of  the  foregoing  require- 
ments forfeits  the  parole  contract  on  the  part 
of  the  paroled  prisoner  and  renders  him  liable 
to  be  returned  at  once  to  the  penitentiary  to 
serve  out  the  maximum  sentence  or  such  part 
thereof  as  the  parole  board  may  direct. 

The  acceptance  or  the  rejection  of  one  oflfer- 
ing  himself  as  an  employer  is  entirely  in  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  warden  and  the  investigation  re- 
garding the  qualifications  and  desirability  of  such 
person  offering  to  become  an  employer  is  usually 
undertaken  by  me  or  one  of  the  officers  acting 
under  my  directions.  In  passing  on  the  qualifi- 
cations of  one  offering  to  become  an  employer 
we  look  to  his  character  and  reputation,  hi- 
ability  to  furnish  employment  under  favorable 
surroundings.  We  visit  the  prospective  employer 
and  learn  from  him  if  he  has  signed  the  appli- 
cation, if  he  understands  it  and  if  he  is  willing 
to  carry  out  its  terms  and  provisions. 


A  paroled  prisoner  may  board  wherever  he 
likes,  provided  the  place  seems  suitable  to  us. 
When  we  find  that  a  paroled  prisoner  is  living 
at  a  place  where  his  surroundings  seem  unfit  we 
tell  him  to  move.  When  a  jiri.soncr  asks  us  to 
help  him  find  a  suitable  boarding  place  we  do 
what  we  can  for  him  in  this  respect. 


We  sometimes  receive  complaints  from  pa- 
roled prisoners  that  their  employers  take  undue 
advantage  of  them.  In  such  cases  we  always 
investigate  the  c<Mnplaint  and  if  we  find  that  it 
is  justified  and  that  the  employer  will  not  treat 
the  paroled  prisoner  as  he  should,  we  do  all 
in  our  power  to  secure  other  emi)loyinent  for 
him. 


In  securing  employment  for  paroled  prisoners 
no  two  cases  are  treated  exactly  alike ;  each  is 
handled  according  to  what  seems  to  us  the  re- 
quirements of  the  particular  case.  We  have  be- 
come experts  in  the  matter  of  securing  emptoy- 
ment  for  prisoners  out  on  parole  because  we  are 
engaged  in  this  work  constantly.  We  have  made 
valuable  connections  with   some  employers   who 


108 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First   Year 


have  opportunities  and  the  incHnation  to  lend  a 
helping  hand  to  these  men.  We  sometimes  suc- 
ceed in  placing  paroled  prisoners  with  large  con- 
cerns but  we  place  a  great  majority  of  our  men 
with  small  business  houses. 


During  the  parole  period  we  visit  the  employ- 
ers to  learn  how  the  paroled  prisoner  is  getting 
on  and  then  we  talk  with  the  prisoner  and  learn 
what  he  has  to  report.  We  do  our  utmost  to 
keep  the  fact  that  the  man  is  a  prisoner  on  parole 
from  all  but  the  employer.  When  a  paroled 
prisoner  becomes  sick,  and  for  this  reason  is  no 
longer  welcome  in  his  home,  we  take  him  to  a 
public  hospital  or  to  Hope  Hall. 


I  have  never  yet  found  a  policeman  who  con- 
nived to  send  a  paroled  prisoner  back  to  the 
prison  and  I  know  of  no  hounding  or  interfer- 
ence with  prisoners  who  are  out  on  parole  and 
who  act  the  part  of  men.  The  paroled  prisoner 
who  behaves  himself,  shuns  bad  company  and 
avoids  all  evil  places,  has  no  trouble  whatever. 
The  paroled  prisoner  who  keeps  bad  company, 
goes  to  places  of  ill  repute,  or  gets  drunk, 
promptly  attracts  the  attention  of  police  officers 
and  I  consider  this  right. 


When  a  paroled  prisoner  is  arrested  we  are 
notified  and  we  assist  him  to  clear  himself  if  we 
consider  him  innocent,  but  if  he  has  violated  his 
parole  we  return  him  to  the  prison.  We  fre- 
quently appear  in  the  courts  to  look  after  the 
interests  of  these  prisoners.  We  make  allow- 
ances for  hard  luck  and  help  the  paroled  pris- 
oner who  tries  to  do  right  but  who  is  unfortu- 
nate. A  paroled  prisoner  must  remain  in  this 
state  while  on  parole.  No  paroled  prisoner  is 
ever  returned  to  the  prison  under  the  present 
administration  unless  he  deserves  it. 


The  prisoners  who  are  ordered  paroled  and 
who  are  unable  to  secure  an  employer  are  taken 
out  of  the  prison  by  Major  M.  A.  Messlein,  rep- 
resenting Mrs.  Maude  Ballington  Booth.  This 
usually  causes  a  delay  in  leaving  the  prison  of 
about  three  months.  Major  Messlein  takes  these 
men  to   Hope   Hall,   situated   at  the   corner  of 


Ridge  avenue  and  Norman  street  in  Chicago. 
At  this  home  the  paroled  prisoners  are  well  fed, 
have  home  surroundings,  good  reading,  fine  beds, 
splendid  example  and  great  interest  is  taken  in 
them,  and  are  under  no  compulsory  expense  for 
board  and  lodging. 

The  paroled  prisoner  who  acts  the  part  of  a 
man  and  who  deals  fairly  and  squarely  with  Ma- 
jor Messlein  will  be  encouraged  in  every  proper 
way  and  he  will  easily  earn  his  discharge.  We 
co-operate  with  Major  Messlein  whenever  he 
calls  on  us  for  assistance  but  until  then  we  leave 
the  handling  of  the  prisoners  who  are  paroled 
to  him  entirely  to  his  discretion.  He  has  always 
kept  us  satisfactorily  informed  as  to  the  men  in 
his  charge. 

The  parole  violators  who  are  sent  back  to  the 
prison  and  who  circulate  stories  to  the  discredit 
of  Hope  Hall  or  to  Major  Messlein  in  order  to 
clear  themselves  from  blame  for  their  return,  de- 
serve nothing  but  contempt. 


Under  Warden  Allen's  management  a  very 
large  proportion  of  paroled  prisoners  are  earning 
their  discharges.  It  is  too  early  to  give  statistics 
because  a  year  usually  elapses  after  leaving 
prison  before  the  paroled  prisoner  can  earn  his 
discharge. 


THOMAS  R.  O'BRIEN 

CHIEF    ENGINEER   AT    THE    ILLINOIS 
STATE   PENITENTIARY 

On  the  Work  and  Men  in  His  Department 


(Interview  by  the  Editor) 

I  have  under  my  supervision  between  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  and  one  hundred  and  fifty 
male  prisoners,  which  includes  blacksmiths,boiler- 
makers,  bricklayers,  carpenters,  coalpassers,  cin- 
der pitmen,  draughtsmen,  electricians,  engineers, 
firemen,  moulders,  machinists,  painters,  plumb- 
ers, porters,  tinners,  storekeepers,  water  tend- 
ers, clerks  and  bookkeepers.  The  majority  of 
these  employes  have  a  familiarity  united  with 
dexterity  in  the  performance  of  their  work. 


March   1,   lOH 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


109 


I  find  the  inmates  who  are  assigned  as  my 
assistants  as  a  whole  as  capable  and  congenial 
as  any  men  T  have  ever  employed  outside  of 
prison.  Some  of  my  assistants  are  the  most 
enthusiastic  men  at  their  work  that  I  have  ever 
met.  and  I  would  have  no  hesitancy  in  giving 
them  employment  if  T  were  engaged  in  business 
outside  of  prison  and  in  need  of  conscientious 
workers. 

It  sometimes  happens  that  some  of  my  men 
work  thirty-six  hours  witliout  sleep  to  remedy 
conditions  that  occur  from  time  to  time.  They 
have  always  responded  cheerfuly  in  emergencies. 
Occasionally  one  becomes  dissatisfied  or  tired 
of  his  work  and  requests  a  change  to  some  other 
department ;  in  such  cases  I  use  what  little  influ- 
ence I  have  to  transfer  him  where  he  desires  to 
go  or  to  some  position  more  suitable  to  him. 

That  we  have  been  busy  since  I  took  charge 
on  August  20,  1913,  will  be  seen  from  the  fol- 
lowing: 

A  two-story  stone  building,  47x62  feet,  has 
been  erected  within  the  prison  walls  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  Broadway  and  Railroad  street. 
It  is  now  in  part  occupied  by  the  yard  master 
and  his  force  of  men,  and  the  remainder  will 
soon  be  occupied  by  the  fire  department  and  as 
sleeping  quarters  for  the  inmates  who  work  at 
night  and  sleep  during  the  day. 

A  new  20x45  feet  building  for  the  storage  of 
oils  outside  of  the  walls  has  been  built. 

A  recreation  park,  also  outside  the  walls,  has 
been  laid  out.  It  is  enclosed  by  1,540  feet  of 
fence  twelve  feet  high. 

.\  complete  and  new  line  of  pipes  throughout 
the  warden  house  has  been  installed  for  pro- 
tection against  fire. 

A  cement  floor  has  been  laid  in  the  kitchen  of 
the  hospital  and  another  in  the  basement  under 
the  store  and  library. 

A  new  pump  has  been  installed  in  the  bath- 
room and  piped,  giving  a  direct  supply  of  arte- 
sian water  to  the  cell  houses  for  drinking  pur- 
poses. 

A  new  electric  air  compres.sor  has  been  in- 
stalled, giving  an  added  supply  of  water  for  fire 
protection. 


A  new  iron  and  wooden  gate  has  been  made 
for  the  west  wall. 

The  yard  track  scales  have  been  repaired, 
which  involved  almost  an  entire  new  outfit. 

Three  schoolrooms,  a  school  office  and  an  art- 
ist's room  have  been  built  in  connection  with  the 
chapel. 

A  new  stairway  from  the  chapel  to  the  ground 
has  been  erected  for  use  in  case  of  fire  and  acci- 
dent when  the  cha])el  is  used. 

A  building  is  being  rcmcjdcled  for  use  as  of- 
fices for  the  industrial  agent  and  the  newspa|>cr 
staflF. 

Work  is  in  progress  for  the  extension  of  the 
ash  pit  through  the  power  house  to  eliminatr 
clogged  conditions. 

Our  boilers  Xos.  2,  3,  4  and  5  are  being  re- 
constructed to  increase  their  efficiency. 

A  concrete  retaining  wall  is  in  the  course  of 
construction  between  the  Elgin,  Joliet  and  East- 
ern railroad  tracks  and  the  quarry.  This  wall 
is  twelve  hundred  feet  in  length,  thirteen  feel 
high  and  five  feet  thick  at  its  base  and  twenty 
inches  at  the  top. 

In  the  near  future  work  will  be  commenced 
on  new  fire  mains  leading  from  the  main  feed 
to  the  hospital  building,  the  machine  and  lum- 
ber warehouses,  the  cooper  and  rattan  shops  and 
the  women's  prison. 

A  large  water  reservoir  is  to  be  rebricked  and 
cemented. 


The  physical  condition  of  this  plant  was  at 
the  breaking-down  point  when  I  took  charge, 
and  there  is  much  more  unavoidable  constructive 
work  to  be  done. 

^     ^     -^ 

.Severe  discipline  meant  cruel  punishment  for 
laughing,  gazing,  talking  in  shop  or  yard,  get- 
ting out  of  step,  writing  notes,  and  failure  to 
close  the  iron  cell  doors  on  the  second. 

^     «     4» 

Severe  discipline  usually  resulted  in  either 
cowardly  or  desperate  prisoners ;  unrler  it  many 
left  at  the  completion  of  their  sentences  broken 
down  in  health  and  unfit  for  freedom. 


no 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


MISS  FRANCIS  COWLEY 

NURSE    AT    WOMEN'S    PRISON 
On  Women  in  Penal  Institutions 


(Interview  by  the  Editor) 

Men,  more  than  anything  else,  cause  women  to 
be  imprisoned  in  penal  institutions  (1)  by  pro- 
voking jealousy,  (2)  by  using-  women  as  a  vice 
medium,  (3)  by  ensnaring  women  in  their  evil 
deeds  and  deserting  them  unprotected,  (4)  by 
turning  state's  evidence  to  clear  themselves  after 
having  been  associated  with  women  in  the  same 
crime. 

The  inmates  under  my  care  desire  to  be 
trusted.  They  are  neat ;  have  personal  pride  and 
appreciate  good,  clean  literature.  The  majority 
of  them  have  a  fixed  purpose  to  reform  and  all 
desire  to  have  happy  homes. 

During  incarceration  women  should  be  chiefly 
engaged  in  household  Avork — not  that  of  a 
drudge,  but  that  rendering  them  capable  of  hold- 
ing first-class  positions. 


NEWS  NARRATIVE 

Two  Prisoners  Attempt  to  Escape 

On  Tuesday  morning.  February  3,  two  pris- 
oners, Oscar  Von  Hagen  and  James  O'Neill,  at- 
tempted to  escape  from  this  prison.  Both  men 
were  at  the  time  working  in  the  quarry  and  by 
reason  of  repair  work  to  the  quarry  fence  there 
appeared  to  be  an  opportunity  to  escape  by  way 
of  a  temporary  hole   in   the   fence. 

Von  Hagen  went  through  first  and  his  act 
was  seen  bv  Guard  Arthur  R.  Carver,  who  was 
on  the  ground  and  unarmed.  Mr.  Carver  gave 
the  alarm  to  Guard  Jerry  Collins,  who  was  near 
by  in  an  elevated  lookout  station,  armed  with  a 
high-power  rifle  and  an  abundance  of  steel- 
nosed  bullets.  Mr.  Collins  saw  Von  Hagen  run- 
ning at  top  speed  and  twice  called  to  him  to 
halt,  to  which  the  fugitive  paid  no  heed.  When 
\'^on  Hagen  was  within  a  few  feet  of  the  end 
of  a  long  freight  train,  beyond  which  he  would 
liave  disappeared,  Mr.  Collins  fired  at  a  range 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet.  Immediately  Von 
Hagen  raised  his  arms  and  fell  to  the  ground, 
face  downward,  and  lav  still. 


I  do  not  believe  in  the  silent  system  for  women 
in  prisons  without  frequent  talking  seasons  or 
periods.  Wherever  the  silent  system  prevails 
there  is  much  revenge  or  spite  work  planned, 
because  of  sphinx-like  expression  and  tomb-like 
stillness. 


A  woman  while  in  prison  should  be  instructed 
in  every  possible  w^ay  to  get  the  best  out  of  her 
every  act  and  to  value  time  and  opportunity. 

Women  in  prisons  should  have  the  privilege 
and  encouragement  from  the  authorities  to  at- 
tend class  instructions  in  fundamental  branches 
of  education  (public  school  course)  a  portion  of 
the  daytime  being  devoted  to  this  instruction 
while  the  mind  is  iii  fit  condition.  I  do  not  ap- 
prove of  evening  classes  for  women  prisoners 
after  a  hard  day's  work,  and  if  the  classes  are 
taught  by  teachers  who  are  prisoners,  such  teach- 
ers should  not  be  required  to  perform  any  other 
work,  I  would  by  all  means  have  domestic  sci- 
ence taught  the  inmates. 


As  soon  as  the  shot  had  been  fired,  prisoner 
James  O'Neill,  who  was  inside  the  quarry  fence 
climbed  it,  and  Mr.  Carver  thinking  that  O'Neill 
was  simply  curious  to  see  what  had  occurred, 
ordered  him  to  come  down,  which  he  did. 
O'Neill  next  dashed  out  through  the  same  open- 
ing in  the  fence  Von  Hagen  had  gone  through 
and  started  off  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  past 
the  prostrate  body  of  Von  Hagen,  towards  the 
end  of  a  train  of  freight  cars  which  was  stalled, 
followed  closely  by  Mr.  Carver. 


Officer  Collins  was  at  that  moment  busy  at  the 
telephone  reporting  to  the  officers  at  the  warden 
house  what  had  occurred.  This  enabled  O'Neill 
to  reach  the  freight  cars,  which  shielded  him 
from  the  view  of  Mr.  Collins.  When  Mr.  Car- 
ver reached  the  freight  cars  he  kept  running 
after  the  prisoner,  but  on  the  other  side  of  the 
train,  where  Mr.  Collins  could  see  him.  By 
doing  this  he  hoped  to  attract  the  attention  of 
Mr.  Collins  to  the  escaping  prisoner.  He  suc- 
ceeded   in    this,    meanwhile    keeping    close    to 


March  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


Ill 


O'Neill,  who  finally  reached  the  end  of  the  cars 
and  sped  out  into  the  open.  At  this  moment  Mr. 
Collins  fired  four  successive  shots  at  the  fugi- 
tive, but  missed.  By  this  time  the  escaping  pris- 
oner was  beyond  the  range  of  the  rifle,  and  as 
Mr.  Collins  was  the  last  armed  outpost  in  the 
direction  O'Neill  had  fled,  the  latter  was  tempo- 
rarily free  except  for  Mr.  Carver,  who  was  keep- 
ing pace  with  him  as  he  ran  on  across  the  prison 
farm.  Soon  the  prisoner  passed  the  boundaries 
of  the  farm  and  reached  a  small  settlement, 
where  he  ran  into  a  house.  Mr.  Carver,  know- 
ing that  the  alarm  had  been  given  and  that  offi- 
cers might  be  expected  at  any  moment,  decided 
to  wait  outside  the  buildings  and  he  patrolled 
near  by  in  order  to  prevent  the  fugitive  from 
escaping  unseen.  After  a  wait  of  about  fifteen 
minutes  O'Neill  came  out,  dressed  in  citizens' 
clothing  and  he  started  to  retrace  his  steps,  ap- 
parently unconcerned.  Mr.  Carver  wishing  him 
to  believe  that  he  was  not  recognized,  approached 
and  asked  if  he  had  seen  anything  of  an  escap- 
ing prisoner,  and  noticed  that  O'Neill  had  his 
right  hand  on  his  hip  pocket.  By  a  quick  move 
Mr.  Carver  grabbed  his  right  hand  in  both  his 
own.  This  left  O'Neill's  left  hand  free,  and 
he  commenced  to  use  it  with  full  force  on  Mr. 
Carver,  who  devoted  his  energies  towards  pre- 
venting the  prisoner  from  drawing  a  weapon. 
In  the  struggle  Mr.  Carver,  who  was  the  smaller 
man,  got  the  worst  of  it,  but  he  did  not  release 
his  hold  on  the  other's  right  hand.  Mr.  Carver 
supposed  that  he  was  fighting  for  his  life  and 
was  willing  to  take  punishment  if  by  so  doing 
he  could  prevent  his  prisoner  from  drawing  a 
weapon.  O'Neill  then  tried  to  choke  Mr.  Car- 
ver. By  this  time  there  were  about  fifty  men  and 
women  and  children  present  and  Mr.  Carver 
called  upon  the  men  to  help  him,  but  no  as- 
sistance was  rendered  him.  Then  Mr.  A.  J. 
Duller  of  Rockford,  111.,  a  conductor  on  the 
C,  M.  &  G.  railroad,  approached  Mr.  Carver, 
who  called  upon  Mr.  Duller  to  search  the  pris- 
oner, but  the  conductor  declined  to  do  this. 
Then  Mr.  Carver  asked  him  to  strike  the  pris- 
oner over  the  head,  which  request  Mr.  Duller 
complied  with,  striking  O'Neill  a  hard  blow  on 
the  head  with  his  fist.  At  this  moment  Mr. 
Duller's  train  started  to  pull  out  and  he  ran  to 
catch  it. 


The  blow  struck  the  prisoner  by  Mr.  Duller 
weakened  him  and  this  gave  Mr.  Carter,  who 
during  all  the  struggle  had  been  underneath,  a 
chance  to  satisfy  himself  that  O'Neill  probably 
had  no  weapon,  and  then  he  commenced  to  fight 
to  get  the  upper  hand.  In  a  short  time  Mr. 
Carver  was  on  top.  At  this  time  a  civilian  came 
up  and  struck  Mr.  Carver  a  blow  on  the  mouth 
with  his  fist  and  then  grabbed  him  by  the  right 
shoulder,  another  civilian  grabbed  his  left  arm, 
but  they  did  not  again  strike  him.  Meanwhile 
the  two  civilians  advised  O'Neill  to  run  away, 
but  Mr.  Carver  had  grasped  two  fingers  of  the 
prisoner's  left  hand  and  held  on  for  about  five 
minutes  with  the  two  civilians  keeping  hold  of 
Mr.  Carver,  the  struggling  prisoner  meanwhile 
doing  his  best  to  get  his  fingers  out  of  Mr. 
Carver's  grasp.  No  more  blows  were  struck  at 
this  period. 

Finally  the  prisoner  shook  off  Mr.  Carver's 
grip  on  his  fingers  and  started  to  run  as  at  first 
in  a  southeasterly  direction,  away  from  the  quar- 
ry. Mr.  Carver  soon  shook  himself  loose  from 
the  two  men  who  were  holding  him  and  started 
after  the  prisoner,  who  was  fast  losing  his  wind. 
O'Neill  was  soon  overtaken  and  Mr.  Carver 
struck  him  a  hard  blow  with  his  fist  on  the  left 
temple,  both  men  going  down  with  Mr.  Carver 
on  top.  O'Neill  then  cried  "enough,"  and  prom- 
ised that  he  would  return  with  the  officer  peace- 
fully if  the  latter  would  not  strike  him  again. 

He  then  sat  down,  exhausted,  and  Mr. 
Carver  stood  guard  over  him,  surrounded  by  an 
unfriendly  crowd.  Deputy  Warden  William 
Walsh  and  a  number  of  officers  arrived  shortly 
after  and  he  took  charge  of  matters.  The  De{)- 
uty  Warden  had  been  directed  to  the  right  place 
I)y  a  resident  who  had  viewed  as  much  as  pos- 
sible of  what  was  transpiring,  meanwhile  re- 
maining where  the  officers  from  the  Warden 
House  were  likely  to  pass. 

In  all  O'Neill  had  succcede<l  in  getting  about 
a   mile  away   from  his  starting  point. 


When  the  body  of  Von  Hagen  was  reached  it 
was  found  that  the  bullet  had  entered  the  back 
of  the  head  near  the  right  ear  and  passed 
through   and   out   under   the   left  eye.     This   is 


112 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


accounted  for  by  the  fact  tiiat  Von  Hagen  was 
running-  with  his  head  pretty  well  down  when 
the  bullet  struck  him.  The  physicians  who  ex- 
amined the  body  stated  that  death  had  been  in- 
stantaneous. 


some  of  the  other  men  in  the  actual  work.  A 
call  was  sent  in  to  the  Joliet  fire  department  for 
a  pulmotor,  and  this  was  applied,  and  the  work 
kept  going  for  two  hours,  until  the  last  spark 
of  hope  vanished. 


A  coroner's  jury  consisting  of  four  clergymen, 
to-wit:  George  Weish,  J.  M.  Schneider,  H. 
G.  Sandross  and  A.  J.  Hoag,  and  two  laymen 
pronounced  the  killing  of  Von  Hagen  justifiable 
under  the  circumstances  and  the  law. 


Death  of  Stephen  Mariano 

The  accidental  death  of  prisoner  Stephen 
Mariano,  which  occurred  in  the  powerhouse 
Sunday,  February  8,  was  unusually  sad.  The 
coroner's  verdict  was  that  his  death  was  "due 
to  an  accident  caused  by  falling  into  a  pit."  The 
indirect  cause,  however,  was  overzealousness  on 
the  part  of  the  victim  regarding  his  work,  in 
that  he  disregarded  the  rules  and  climbed  over 
the  railing — in  spite  of  the  written  warning — 
to  dislodge  the  coal  so  that  it  would  pass  more 
freely.  He  slipped,  and  before  he  could  save 
himself,  fell  into  the  pit,  and  twenty  tons  of 
coal  came  tumbling  on  top  of  him.  The  coal 
was  slack,  and  smothered  him  to  death  before 
he  could  be  released. 


The  prompt  and  energetic  action  on  the  part 
of  the  officers  and  inmates  failed  to  save  him. 
The  first  intimation  anyone  had  that  something 
was  wrong  was  when  Mariano  screamed  after 
falling.  Several  of  the  men  ran  to  his  aid,  at 
the  same  time  shouting  for  help.  There  was 
only  one  way  to  release  the  victim,  and  that 
was  to  throw  off  the  twenty  tons  of  coal  that 
covered  him.  Only  a  few  men  were  available, 
on  account  of  the  rest  being  locked  up  in  their 
cells,  being  Sunday  afternoon,  but  these  few 
went  to  work  with  a  will,  and  after  an  hour's 
extremely  hard  work,  succeeded  in  uncovering 
him.  He  was  in  an  upright  position,  with  his 
hands  over  his  head. 

Dr.  Cleminson  was  on  hand  and  directed  the 
efforts    toward    resuscitation,    besides    relieving 


Warden  and  Mrs.  Allen  and  Chaplain 
Patrick  were  on  hand  and  lent  all  aid  possible. 
The  inmates  who  helped  so  valiantly  were  Steve 
Kelleher,  Frank  Gagen,  William  Sanders,  John 
•Stacey,  James  Tawzer,  Martin  Brophy,  William 
(Sunny)  Dunne,  Joseph  Feinberg,  F.  Ruby  and 
Dr.  Cleminson.  Everything  possible  was  done 
in  an  effort  to  revive  the  unfortunate  man,  but 
to  no  avail.  The  news  quickly  spread,  and  an 
atmosphere  of  gloom  pervaded  the  entire  insti- 
tution. 


Mariano  was  an  Italian  by  birth,  and  one  of 
the  most  quiet  men  in  the  institution.  Every- 
body liked  him.  He  came  here  from  La  Salle 
county  on  December  6,  1912.  He  leaves  a  wife 
and  two  children.  He  was  28  years  old  and  was 
buried  by  his  relatives  on  February  10. 


Good  work  needs  no  boosting  other  than  the 
results  obtained. 


CONTRIBUTIONS 
FROM  INMATES 

HOW  WE  ARE  PAMPERED 


By  George  Williams 

A  Prisoner 

Prison  reform  has  a  great  many  obstacles  to 
overcome  and  not  the  least  is  the  attitude  of 
certain  periodicals  and  influential  people,  who 
knowing  little  or  nothing  of  prisons,  regard  any 
humane  improvement  in  prisons  as  detrimental 
to  society,  and  for  such  use  the  term  "pampering 
prisoners." 

At  this  time  our  prison  is  in  the  limelight  be- 
cause of  the  efforts  our  warden  has  made  and  is 
making  to  improve  our  conditions.  Throughout 
the  country  people  read  of  revolution  in  prison 


March  1.  1014                                   THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.                                                    113 

methods;  the  aboHtioii  of  the  '"silent  system,"  derstood  when  it  is  known  that  more  than  six 
which  did  not  allow  a  man  to  speak  to  his  fellow  hundred  men  "live"  in  this  building.  There  is 
prisoner,  no  matter  how  urgent  the  reason ;  the  another  cell  house  called  the  West  Wing,  which 
daily  exercise  in  the  open  air,  which  allows  the  differs  from  the  East  Wing  only  in  that  it  con- 
prisoner  the  benefit  of  sunshine  and  pure  air  tains  one  hundred  additional  cells  and  about  two 
for  a  short  time  each  day,  thus  helping  to  pre-  hundred  more  men. 

vent    consumption— the   most   dangerous   enemy  In  the  third  photograph  we  have  an  outside 

of  all  prisoners— from  getting  a  better  grip  on  view  of  the  cells  from  the  gallery  and  the  fourth 

its  victims ;  the  privileges  of  writing  and  receiv-  shows  the  cells  as  they  look  from  the  door.  Note 

ing  visits  more  often,  which  enables  a  prisoner  to  the  man  standing  with  his  head  almost  touching 

keep  in  touch  with  his  relatives  and  friends,  and,  the  ceiling  and  the  man  sitting  down  with  his 

by  more  frequent  communication  with  them,  les-  back  against  the  stone  wall  and  his  knees  braced 

sen  the  chances  of  being  forgotten;  the  "honor  against  the  bed.     Note  the  tin  bucket  alongside 

system,"  which  allows  men  to  leave  prisons  with-  the  man   sitting  down.     This  is  the  only  sani- 

out  guards,  with  their  word  as  the  only  guar-  tary  appliance  the  cell  affords.     The  walls,  ceil- 

antee  that  they  will  not  escape,  and  to  return  ing  and  floor  are  of  stone,  and  the  door  is  of  bar 

when   their   work   is   finished,   and   many   other  iron. 

improvements,  all  of  which  tend  to   lessen  the  We  wonder  how  some  of  these  critics  would 

rigors  of  prison  life,  and  have  a  tendency  to  keep  like  to  work  every  day  and  then  take  their  only 

prisoners  healthy  and  normal.  recreation — there  is  no  outdoor  exercise  in  the 

Because  of  these  changes  those  periodicals  and  winter — in   these   cells,    where    a    man     almost 

influential  people  seem  to  think  that  this  prison  touches  the  ceiling  with  his  head  when  he  stands 

is  a  place  where  there  is  no  discipline  and  all  up,  and  cannot  sit  down,  with  comfort.     Aliout 

the  desires  of  the  inmates  are  gratified,  and  their  the  only  way  a  man  can  be  comfortable  in  these 

fear  is  that  instead  of  keeping  men  out  of  prison  cubby  holes  is  to  lie  down  and  then  he  wants  to 

it  will  cause  many  to  "break"  in.     Nothing  is  be  careful  not  to  toss  around  too  much, 

more  absurd.  If  any  of  the  readers  of  this  article  are  in- 

If  they  were  familiar  with  the  facts  they  might  terested  enough  to  desire  a  practical  demonstra- 

not  be  so  unreasonable  in  their  attitude.     They  tion  which  will  illustrate  the  discomforts  of  these 

see  only  one  side  of  the  case  and  their  cry  is  cells  let  them  lay  a  rug  seven  feet  long  and  four 

that  we  are  being  "pampered."  feet  wide  on  the  floor,  put  an  ordinary  couch 

If  being  pampered  means  to  wedge  two  pris-  on  the  rug,  and  imagine  it  to  be  a  two  story  bed. 

oners  in  a  cell  seven  feet  long,  seven  feet  high  place  an  ordinary  water  pail  on  the  rug  with  two 

and  four  feet  wide  and  to  keep  them  there  four-  small  stools,  and  then  stay  on  that  rug  fourteen 

teen  hours  every  day  and  eighteen  hours  on  Sun-  hours.     If  the  experimentalists  will  do  this  they 

days  and  holidays,  to  compel  them  to  work  the  will  then   have   some   idea   of  what   "pampered 

rest  of  the  time  without  remuneration  and  then  prisoners"  endure  in  the  way  of  discomforts,  to 

feed  them  on  a  diet  that  costs  about  five  cents  say  nothing  of  the  absence  of  sunlight  and  fresh 

a  meal,  then  we  are  certainly  pampered  to  a  very  air. 

high  degree.  When  it  is  remembered  that  men  have  to  ex- 
Newspaper  articles  regarding  the  changes  ist  under  these  conditions  for  periods  of  from 
made  in  this  prison  deal  only  with  the  pleasant  one  year  to  life  it  does  not  require  much  imag- 
side.  but  a  glance  at  the  photographs  which  ac-  ination  to  understand  how  little  prisoners  are 
company  this  article  will  give  outsiders  some  idea  pampered,  and  when  it  is  furtlier  remembered 
of  a  prison  that  seldom  gets  into  print.  that  some  of  these  men  have  existed  under  these 
The  first  two  photographs  show  the  exterior  conditions  for  more  than  twenty  years  the  read- 
and  interior  of  the  East  Wing  cell  house.  After  ers  will  probably  wonder  what  sort  of  a  prison 
viewing  them  it  can  be  very  easily  seen  how  little  those  critics  would  build  who  designate  progres- 
sunlight  and  fresh  air  can  get  into  the  cells.  The  sive  prison  reform  methods  as  "pampering,"  and 
purpose  of  these  photographs  will  be  better  un-  "encouraging  men  to  commit  crimes." 


114 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Yeaf 


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O 

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3 


March   1,   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


I  'C 


South  corridor  of  East  Wing  cell  house. 


116 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


View  of  a  portion  of  the  West  Wing  cell  house  illustrating  congested  conditions. 


March   1.    1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


117 


Interior  view  of  a  cell  illustrating  the  two  story  bed,  the  low  ceiling  and  the  cramped  position  of  the  men 

in  the  cells. 


11«                                                             itit.  jUi.lt.  L    PKISON    POST.  First  Year 

HOW   I    LICKED   JOHN    BARLEY-  think-tank,  forming  a  pool  upon  the  floor  of  my 

CORN  cell  in  which  I  could  read  my  fortune  in  much 

By  GeoT^wanson  *^^  '^"'^  "'^""^^  t^^*  °^^  ^'""^  ^i^^^^es  used  to 
A  Prisoner  ^^^^  fortuucs  in  the  dregs  of  an  empty  coffee 
I  was  born  and  raised  in  a  country  where,  at  ''"P'  ^"^  ^^^^  ^  ^^^^  t^^^e  did  not  cheer  me  up 
that    time,    a   gentleman    universally   known    as  anymore  than  facing  the  wall  did.     I  saw  John 
John   Barleycorn   was   extremely    popular.      In-  barleycorn  with  that  smiling,  moon-faced  mask 
deed,  I  am  quite  sure  that  in  no  other  land  has  ^^  ^'^  removed.    I  saw  his  real  face,  a  death  face, 
he  ever  enjoyed  himself  more  heartily  than  he  "^"^^  ^  ^"^^'^  "P^"  '^>  ^"^  '"  ^^^  mocking  mirrors 
did    in    Sweden    about   twenty-five    years     ago.  °^  ^'^  ^^^^  ^  ^^^  ^'"'"i^'  ™i"'  Poverty,  death  and 
Farmers,   laborers  and  mechanics   took  him   to  ''^"-    ^^  through  the  same  process  and  you  will 
their   hearts,   hailing  him   as   their   best   friend,  ^^^  "^^'^^  ^  '^^  '^"^  ^^  >'0"  ^"^end  to  give  John 
the  never   failing  healer  of  body  and  soul ;  at  barleycorn  a  fight  when  you  go  out  of  here,  you 
the  councils  of  business  and  professional  men  his  "'"^^  ^°  through  it  or  take  a  licking.     Take  the 
assistance  and  advice  was  considered  indispens-  "thought  cure"  as  I  will  call  it,  and  take  it  hope- 
able;  artists,  poets  and  writers  called  upon  him  ^""y'  Prayerfully  and  thoroughly, 
for   inspiration ;   at  the   universities   he   was   as  ^  ^^^^^  "°^  ^^^^^  ^o"  ^i^h  a  detailed  account 
popular  as  any  hero  of  the  gridiron  at  our  own  °^  ^^^  ^^^^  between  myself  and  John  Barley- 
seats  of  learning;  yes,  even  eminent  clergymen  ^°''"'  ^"*  ^^^"  ^  went  out  of  the  gate  one  chilly 
consulted  him  earnestly  before  entering  their  pul-  September  evening  he  was  there  to  meet  me,  but 
pits,  and  the  pocket  flask  was  as  indispensable  ^   ^'^^  previously  put  myself   into  the  pink  of 
an  adjunct  to  worship  as  the  prayer  book.     A  condition  for  the  fray  by  taking  many  doses  of 
conceited,  swearing,  swaggering  coxcomb  he  had  "^^  thought  cure,  and  a  particularly  strong  one 
become,  confident  of  his  unshakable  sway;  and  ^^""^  "^§^^t  before,  so  I  had  decidedly  the  better  of 
yet  even  then  the  sexton  was  uncoiling  the  rope  ^^""^  °"^-     ^"  ^^^  subsequent  rounds,  however, 
of  his  funeral  bell,  and  today  he  is  not  dead,  but  ^^  ^^^  "'^  ^^^^^  ^^  ^'^^^'  ^^^  ^  ^^^  ^^^e  sec- 
his  doctors  are  gravely  shaking  their  heads  and  "^"^^  ^"^  between  rounds  I  never  failed  to  take 
the  undertal<er  is  in  the  ante-room.     John  Bar-  another  swig  of  my  thought  cure,  and  every  time 
leycorn  no  longer  swaggers  through  Sweden— he  ^^^  ^°"^  ^^"^  ^  tangoed  up  to  my  antagonist  in 
is  scarcely  able  to  creep.  *^^^  """^^^  approved  style.     (By  the  way,  in  a  fight 
I  am  not  reciting  these  facts  in  order  to  cast  "^'^^  J"^^'"   Barleycorn   or  any  other   renowned 
any  shadow  upon  my  native  land  or  its  people,  %hter,  always  tango  up  to  the   scratch,   never 
but  in  order  to  show  you  how  almost  inevitable  hesitation  waltz),  I  won  the  fight  but  it  took  me 
it  was  that   I   should  become  a  drunkard,   and  ^^  ^^^^^  ^  y^^'"  ^^^^^^  ^  ^^^^  safe  at  all,  and  even 
before  I  had  left  high  school  I  had  more  than  a  ^^^^^  *^^^  ^  ^^^  occasional  sparring  matches  with 
nodding   acquaintance   with   John    Barleycorn—  ^""'' '  ^"^  ^^^^  ^  §^°  °"t  of  here  this  time  he  will 
occasionally  it  had  been  a  staggering  one.     Ever  "°  ^^^^^  be  ^  there  to  meet  me  again,  but  this 
since,  up  to  about  fifteen  years  ago,   I   sought  *'"^^  ^^  ^^^"'^  ^  ^^^^  ^"• 

him  for  consolation  in  sorrow,  for  companion-  ^°W'  ^^^  ^^y  ^^^ '    "'^^^t  good  has  it  done 

ship   in   joy   and   for   courage  and   strength    in  >'""'  ^^^^  ^^^  >'^"  bragging  about?     You  are 

emergencies.     It  was  about  that  time,  however.  ^^""^  ^8'^^"'  ^"^  ^''^"  though  you  did  not  drink 

that  John  tripped  me  up  when  I  wasn't  looking.  3^°"  ^^^e  violated  your  parole  and  you  are  ap- 

and  I  had  a  fall  which  landed  me  in  this  peni-  parently  no  better  off  than  you  would  be  had  you 

tentiary  where  the  officials  endeavored  to  cheer  been  drinking."     As  to  the  first  question,  I  have 

me  up  by  telling  me  to  "face  the  wall"  and  prac-  "^^er  been  dirty  or  ragged ;  I  have  never  been 

tice  the  deaf  and  dumb  language.^    Well,  I  did  called  a  bum  or  bar-room  loafer ;  I've  never  been 

not  cheer  up,  but  I  sobered  up,  which  was  more  completely   broke ;   I've   never   woke   up   in   the 

to    the    purpose — and    1    have    been    sober    ever  morning  with  a  brown  taste  in  my  mouth,  and 

since.     In  the  daytime  I  sawed  wood  and  said  the  boilef  makers  working  overtime  in  my  head ; 

nothing;   in  the  evenings   I   read   and  thought,  and  last,  but  not  least,  I've  been  able  to  respect 

Drop    by    drop    the    thoughts    leaked    from   my  myself  and  feel  the. pleasure  that  comes  to  every 


-March   1,   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


uy 


one  who  has  fought  and  conquered  a  fault  or  a 
weakness.  Secondly,  I  am  not  bragging;  if  you 
have  so  understood  me  I  have  failed  to  make 
myself  clear.  I  am  here  again,  and  I  have  vio- 
lated my  parole,  but  that  is  another  story,  and 
The  Joliet  Prison  Post  is  no  place  for  us  to 
air  our  private  mistakes  or  grievances,  fancied  or 
real.  Anyway,  John  Barleycorn  had  no  hand  in 
it  this  time. 

Boys,  if  I  have  succeeded  in  setting  you  think- 
ing I  have  accomplished  the  purpose  I  aimed  at. 
Think!  think!  think!  Thought  created  the 
world ;  thought  peopled  it ;  thought  civilized  it. 
Think  then,  but  think  right.  Wrong  thinking 
caused  ninety-nine  per  cent  of  all  the  wars,  all 
the  crime  and  nearly  all  disease.  Right  think- 
ing builds,  purifies,  enobles ;  wrong  thinking  de- 
stroys, sullies,  makes  beasts  of  us. 

®     ©     ® 

THE  LETTER  FROM  HOME 


By  R.  E.  C. 

A  Prisoner 

Every  evening  a  very  large  majority  of  the 
inmates  here  are  peculiarly  alive  to  the  footfall 
of  the  mail  man.  There  are  expectant  looks 
on  every  face  when  his  approach  is  heralded ; 
likewise,  shades  of  disappointment  gather  on 
those  faces  should  the  hurrying  messenger, 
freighted  with  his  precious  burden,  see  fit  to 
pass  on  without  delivering  the  much  beloved 
and   expected    letter. 

And  why  not?  The  letter  is  the  real  link — 
the  only  link  of  consequence — which  connects 
the  inmate  to  the  world  of  his  interest ;  with- 
out it,  life  would  be  well  nigh  unbearable  here. 
All  the  papers,  magazines  and  books  in  the  world 
could  not  act  as  a  worthy  substitute  for  the 
little  white  sheet  which  can  bring  what  no 
printed  page  could  ever  bring — love  and  hope. 

In  these  days  we  hear  much  about  reform 
and  reformers ;  we  read  of  the  influence  for 
good  that  this  new  school  of  thought  has  upon 
the  prisoner  of  today.  It  is  a  wonderful  work 
that  is  being  done,  and  what  course  the  reform- 
ers may  eventually  pursue  in  the  future  we  may 
assume  will  prove  the  determining  factor  as  to 
the  ultimate  reform  of  the  criminal.  Still,  T 
believe  the  real  seed  of  reform  is  being  con- 
stantly   sown    in    this   pri.son,   while   the   man    is 


yet  a  prisoner  within  its  walls.  The  seed  comes 
to  him,  neatly  sealed  within  a  little  envelope 
and  with  Uncle  Sam's  stamp  of  approval  with- 
out. A  little  .seed  that,  before  starting  on  its 
jlourney,  had  been  blessed,  perhaps,  by  wife. 
sister,  father  or  brother;  more  often  dampened 
with  the  hot  kisses  of  a  faithful  mother,  alwavs 
the  last  to  put  aside  the  paper  and  dry  the  pen 
forever. 

This  will  not  appear  surprising  should  we  take 
time  to  look  into  the  subject  deeply  and  serious- 
ly. I  have  had  occasion  to  talk  with  many  pris- 
oners here,  many  of  whom  I  knew  but  slightly, 
on  the  subject  of  home  letters,  and  I  have  found 
them,  without  exception,  strangely  responsive. 
While  it  seems  a  personal  matter  to  discuss,  they 
did  not  resent  any  approach  which  might  lead 
up  to  it.  On  the  contrary,  a  new  and  altogether 
better  side  of  their  nature  asserted  itself.  Their 
faces  visibly  brighten ;  their  tone  appears  to 
soften ;  questionable  expletives  are  not  drawn 
upon  when  occasion  arises  to  lay  emphasis.  They 
speak  (and  this  almost  without  exception)  of 
their  record  and  past  misdeeds,  not  boastfully, 
but  regretfully  and  remorsefully.  Often  at  this 
time  they  will  express  the  desire  to  live  straight 
— to  make  good.  I  have  more  than  once  thought, 
on  listening  to  a  man  who  was  talking  so  ear- 
nestly of  home  and  home  folks  that  he  would 
have  been  labeled  as  a  decided  bore  in  the  outer 
world,  that  it  only  needed  at  that  exact  and  pre- 
cise moment  the  presence  in  the  flesh  of  some 
member  of  his  household  to  fully  complete  his 
reform,  which  his  confinement  had  started. 
Whether  or  not  it  would  have  proved  a  perma- 
nent reform  is  another  and  still  deeper  question, 
the  discussion  of  which  is  not  wholly  apropos 
to  our  subject  and  would  take  us  from  our  pres- 
ent groove  of  thought.  We  are  treating  of  the 
human  emotions,  not  strength  of  character  or 
hereditary  tendencies. 

So  the  "letter  from  home"  will  ever  continue 
to  come;  it  will  continue  to  brighten  and  awaken 
the  new  thoughts  for  better  things.  It  must 
always  be  .so.  It  is  the  only  thing  which  can 
reach  and  strike  that  chord  which  the  most  un- 
fortunate of  men  have  hidden  within  their 
hearts ;  the  chord  that  can  awaken  the  memories 
'•f  home  and  its  love,  the  mere  recollection  of 
which  must  work  for  the  dawn  of  the  new  im- 
])ulse — for   reformation. 


120 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


MY  WONDER  NIGHT 


By  E.  C.  C. 

A  Prisoner 

The  memory  of  the  events  of  what  I  term 
my  "wonder  night"  is  as  vivid  and  reaHstic  to 
me  today  as  on  the  occasion,  now  near  a  year 
distant,   when  I  experienced  them. 

It  was  the  night  before  Labor  day.  I,  in 
common  with  other  performers,  had  been  de- 
tailed by  our  Warden  to  remain  in  the  chapel 
until  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  in  order  to 
enact  a  full  dress  rehearsal  of  the  entertainment 
we  were  to  present  to  our  fellow  prisoners  on 
the  following  day. 

We  started  our  rehearsal  at  6:30  o'clock. 
About  an  hour  later,  having  nothing  to  do  at 
that  moment,  I  wandered  idly  down  one  of 
the  aisles  of  the  church,  and  passing  through  the 
door  at  the  rear  of  the  room  descended  the 
steps  that  led  to  the  principal  street  of  the  prison. 
No  keeper,  officious  and  surly,  molested  me. 
In  accordance  with  his  plans  of  trusting  some- 
what to  the  honor  of  the  men  under  his  charge, 
our  Warden  had  allowed  us,  to  the  number  of 
nearly  two  score — a  dozen  or  more  of  whom 
were  "lifers" — to  remain  out  of  our  cells  after 
dark  absolutely  unguarded,  with  nothing  between 
us  and  liberty  save  an  unprotected,  easily  scalable 
wall — and,  our  word  of  honor. 

As  I  slowly  descended  the  steps,  I  ruminated 
on  the  dissimilarity  of  the  policy  of  our  War- 
den and  that  of  his  predecessors;  the  former 
trusting  in  the  man,  the  latter  in  the  payroll. 
As  regarding  myself.  I  knew  full  well  which 
would  procure  the  better  results  from  me,  and 
my  feeling  I  believe  to  be  natural  to  all  pris- 
oners who  are  normal. 

I  reached  the  bottom  of  the  flight  of  steps, 
and  opening  the  door  before  me,  a  step  brought 
me  into  the  open  and  into  the  night  with  a  quiet- 
ness so  grave  and  sweet  as  to  seem  almost  un- 
earthly. 

The  feeling  of  delight,  intermingled  with  awe, 
that  swept  over  me  at  the  sight  that  met  my 
eyes  is  indescribable.  For  over  a  decade  I  had 
never  been  out  of  my  cell  after  sundown.  In 
all  those  years  my  only  vision  of  the  night  had 
been  a  wall-like  mass  of  blackness,  a  few  feet 
square,  in  front  of -a  cellhouse  window. 

I  was  in  ecstacy.    My  spirits  soared  as  though 


I  had  quaffed  a  magic  draught  of  the  fabled 
Elixir  of  Life.  I  felt  as  young  and  buoyant  as 
when  I  was  a  child ;  the  weariness,  frets  and 
worries  of  my  life  dropped  from  me  like  a  cloak 
from  the  body. 

I  inhaled  gratefully  the  cool,  damp  night  air 
deep  into  my  lungs.  The  slight  breeze  played 
about  me ;  now  caressing  my  heated  forehead, 
now  departing,  ever  and  anon  returning,  as 
though  to  invite  me  to  join  with  it  in  its  frolic. 
The  suspended  electric  lights,  set  at  irregular 
intervals  along  the  streets,  were  swinging  slight- 
ly by  its  force,  seeming  to  draw  the  shadows 
after  them  in  a  never-ending  movement,  cast- 
ing buildings  into  bold  relief  one  moment  and 
obliterating  them  the  next. 

Directly  opposite  me  stood  the  Warden  House, 
flanked  on  either  side  by  the  cell  houses.  Every 
window  shone  with  light,  and  with  its  dark  back- 
ground of  night  the  scene  seemed  totally  un- 
familiar. 

Beautiful  as  it  was  to  my  unaccustomed  eyes, 
this  vision  of  my  prison  at  night  was  eclipsed 
a  thousandfold  by  the  crowning  glory  that  was 
above  my  head.  Stars,  myriads  of  them, 
gleamed  and  glittered  above  me,  shedding  a  soft, 
silvery  radiance  on  all  beneath. 

I  stood  enthalled,  for  I  know  not  the  space  of 
time,  but  eventually  there  entered  into  my  mind 
thoughts  long  unaccustomed  to  dwell  there.  For 
years,  almost  from  the  time  I  was  old  enough 
to  reason,  I  had  been  beset  by  doubts  relative 
to  the  religion  I  had  been  reared  in.  I  would 
read  or  hear  them  analyzed  and,  perplexed, 
would  interrogate  myself:  "How  is  this  possi- 
ble?". My  perturbation  of  mind  finally  became 
so  great  that  I  dropped  all  thought  of  religion 
and  became  unconcerned  spiritually.  For  years 
I  had  given  absolutely  no  thought  to  God  or 
His  teachings. 

On  that  wonder  night,  as  I  gazed  at  the  dia- 
mond-studded sky  high  above  me — "a  fit  floor 
for  the  heavens" — ^  knowledge  of  the  immensity 
of  God's  power  came  to  me.  The  doubts  reared 
in  my  puny  brain  were  dispelled ;  they  were 
as  nothing;  confidence  was  implanted  in  their 
place.  In  the  sweet  quiet  of  the  night  God  was: 
very  near,  was  about  me — was  beside  me. 
knelt  down  on  the  cold  flagstone  and,  for  the 
first  time  in  my  life  I  prayed,  truly  prayed, 


March   1,   191-1 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


121 


Do  you  understand  why  that  night  to  me  is 
and  always   will  be  my  "Wonder   Xight?" 

It  was  then,  by  the  g^race  of  God,  I  received 
the  greatest  of  all  His  blessings — Faith. 

^     ®     ® 

OUR  OPPORTUNITY 


By  A.  Theist 

A  Prisoner 

We  are  here,  we  men  and  women,  because 
twelve  men  in  whom  we  put  our  trust  have  said 
that  we  are  guilty  of  the  crime  with  which  we 
were  charged ;  or  we  have  taken  a  plea  of  guilty 
to  obtain  a  light  sentence.  Whether  we  or  our 
attorneys  were  lax  in  picking  twelve  men  who 
did  not  happen  to  agree  with  our  view  of  the 
case,  or  whether  the  police  manufactured  evi- 
dence and  railroaded  us,  is  entirely  aside  from 
the  main  issue ;  the  salient  fact  is  that  we  are 
here,  came  here  through  due  process  of  law, 
and  that  the  Warden  and  his  officers  are  not  to 
blame  for  it.  Nevertheless,  here  we  are.  and  we 
are  going  to  stay  (if  we  are  reponsible  prison- 
ers) until  we  are  released  by  the  same  process 
of  law  which  was  responsible  for  our  coming 
here.  Now  then,  let's  be  square.  Let  us  be  big 
enough  to  pay  our  debts  to  the  State  without 
whining  and  cringing,  even  if  we  feel  that  the 
debt  is  unjust.  Emerson  said  :  "Strenuous  souls 
hate  cheap  success."  If  we  can  help  our  War- 
den win  the  battle  that  he  is  waging,  boys,  it 
will  not  be  a  cheap  success ;  it  will  be  a  victory 
of  strenuous  souls  in  every  sense  of  the  word — 
but  we  will  have  to  get  together.  No  one  man 
alone  can  win  a  fight  of  this  kind ;  it  needs  the 
cooperation  of  every  one  of  us,  and  you  and  I 
can  prove  by  our  words  and  actions  that  it  would 
be  possible  for  the  authorities  to  open  the  gates 
of  this  institution  and  leave  them  unguarded, 
knowing  that  the  prisoners  who  are  confined 
within  realize  that  they  are  paying  a  debt  and 
paying  it  honestly  in  the  only  coin  with  which 
debts  of  our  kinrl  can  be  canceled  (the  for- 
feiture of  our  liberty),  and  that  they  can  be 
trusted  to  stay  within  certain  precincts  without 
the  restraint  of  high  walls,  iron  bars  and  armed 
guards. 

Rome  was  not  built  in  a  day  and  the  customs 
and  usages  of  centuries  of  prison  administra- 
tion cannot  be  changed  in  a  week  or  a  year. 
Rut  they  are  being  changed,  and  it  is  up  ta  us 


to  prove  to  the  world  and  society  that  for  cen- 
turies the  men  and  women  who  have  committed 
crimes  have  been  receiving  the  wrong  kind  of 
treatment.  The  public  is  waking  up  to  a  realiza- 
tion of  the  fact  that  it  owes  the  prisoners  some- 
thing; that  men  an<l  women  arc  not  being  sent 
to  prison  only  for  punishment,  but  alscj  to  pro- 
tect society  from  their  jrarticular  form  of  vi- 
ciousness.  ;\  few  years  hence  education  will  . 
supplant  hard  labor  and  reformation  will  be 
more  than  a  mere  word ;  it  will  be  a  reality. 

Do  you  not  see  the  responsibility  that  rests 
upon  the  men  and  women  who  are  now  here? 
We  are  being  given  the  acid  test.  If  we  do  not 
prove  pure  gold,  all  the  good  things  which  we 
now  enjoy,  all  the  better  things  that  are  to  come, 
all  the  hard  work  on  the  part  of  our  Warden 
and  his  workers  will  be  lost  and  this  movement 
for  our  betterment  will  be  set  back  a  number  of 
years.  Wake  up,  you  men  and  women  of  the 
I.  S.  P.  Can  you  not  see  that  every  one  of  us 
is  helping  to  make  history?  We  are  in  a  posi- 
tion to  help  one  of  the  greatest  movements  in 
the  history  of  the  world — a  movement  towards 
a  fuller,  better  civilization.  Let's  get  together. 
Let  us  stop  being  convicts  and  once  again  be- 
come men  and  women.  Any  dead  fish  can  float 
downstream,  but  it  takes  a  live  one  to  swim  up. 
Are  you  alive?  Then  prove  it  every  minute  of 
the  time  that  you  are  with  us  by  your  conduct. 
Set  a  standard  for  yourself  and  make  everything 
you  do  measure  up  to  it.  Look  over  every  prop- 
osition carefully,  and  if  it  does  not  come  up  to 
that  scale,  pass  it  up.  Remember,  men  and 
women,  there  is  one  you  cannot  lie  to.  You 
might  fool  others,  but  'way  down,  deep  in  your 
own  heart  you  know  whether  or  not  you  have 
been  on  the  level  with  yourself.  It  you  arc 
square  with  yourself,  you  will  not  cheat  anyone 
else  very  much^remcmber  that.  Let  us  keep 
every  ounce  of  energ)'  and  good  that  we  have 
in  us.  Men  and  women  will  be  coming  to  this  and 
like  institutions  for  years  after  we  have  passed 
over  the  great  divide,  and  we  owe  them  a  duty 
just  as  much  as  we  owe  a  duty  to  ourselves 
and  to  the  present  administration,  and  that  is  to 
do  the  best  we  can  to  help  our  Warden  show 
the  world  that  the  prisoners  are  responsible  per- 
sons, that  they  can  be  trusted  and  will  not  vio- 
late that  tru.st. 

Do  not  be  a  hard  loser.     If  vou  have  a  debt 


122 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


to  pay,  do  so  with  a  smile.  No  one  likes  a 
welcher  or  a  piker.  Do  not  be  one.  Get  into 
the  band  wagon  with  the  rest  of  us  and  help 
our  Warden  make  of  this  place  one  of  hope ;  a 
place  where  a  person  who  has  never  had  a  chance 
can  come  and  learn  and  go  into  the  world  better 
qualified  to  make  a  fight  for  an  honest  living. 
Boost,  boost,  boost  and  smile.  For  you  know 
that  someone  said  that  "while  you  smile,  another 
smiles,  and  soon  there  are  miles  and  miles  of 
smiles,  and  life's  worth  while  because  you  smile." 


IT'S  UP  TO  US 


By  William  Richards 

A  Prisoner 

Oh,  Spring!  We  greet  you  with  hearts  full 
of  joy,  for  you  bring  us  hopes  of  better  days, 
days  that  we  had  not  hoped  to  see  while  inmates 
of  the  I.  S.  P.  at  Joliet. 

This  spring  there  are  to  be  many  contemplated 
changes  in  addition  to  the  changes  already 
wrought  in  this  institution  that  will  tend  to  the 
betterment  of  all  that  are  confined  within  its 
walls.  Many  of  us  probably  will  be  working 
outside  of  prison  walls,  and  while  not  free  in 
the  true  sense  of  the  word,  yet  out  in  God's  sun- 
shine and  pure  air.  Isn't  it  wonderful  to  know 
that  shortly  many  of  us  men  who  have  been 
behind  these  cold,  gray  walls  with  their  miseries 
and  intrigues  (which  are  no  more),  may  be,  for 
the  first  time  in  many  weary,  hopeless  years, 
enjoy  the  benefits  of  the  new  administration  of 
this  state.  Let  us  hope  that  long  may  it  rule, 
even  forever  and  ever.  Let  us  hope  that  as 
soon  as  the  legislature  convenes  again  they  will 
pass  a  law  allowing  the  life  and  long-time  men 
the  privilege  of  working  outside  of  prison  walls. 
They  are  the  men  who  really  ought  to  derive 
the  benefits  of  the  law  which  now  only  allows 
the  short-time  men  the  profits  of  its  provisions. 
Let  us  who  have  but  short  time  strive  hard 
to  make  a  path  for  the  long-term  men  to  tread 
that  will  lessen  their  burdens.  Let  it  be  a  path 
of  sunshine,  happiness  and  hopefulness.  It  is  our 
duty  to  help  the  life  and  long-time  men  in  this 
prison,  a  duty  which  is  so  important  that  we  who 
might  go  out  on  road  work  ought  well  to  consider 
our  responsibility  towards  the  long  and  life-term 
prisoners.     They  will  he  judged  by  our  ability 


and  deportment.  It  is  up  to  us.  Let  us  do  what 
is  expected  of  us  to  the  best  of  our  ability.  As 
we  sow  so  they  shall  reap.  O,  let  it  not  be  a 
harvest  of  bitter  disappointments,  heartbreaks 
and  utter  hopelessness.  The  disappointment 
would  be  cruel  and  hard  to  bear  by  the  ones 
who  had  hoped  for  much  through  our  efforts. 
Their  future  welfare  depends  on  us.  What  shall 
it  be,  the  utter  hopelessness  or  a  future  of  bright 
prospects?  Let  it  be  the  latter.  We  can  do  the 
right  thing  and  give  confidence  to  our  staunch 
supporters,  so  that  when  they  take  the  mat- 
ter to  Springfield  in  the  near  future  they  will 
have  an  argument  that  cannot  be  successfully 
combatted,  that  of  the  good  work  done  and  the 
deportment  of  the  tried  honor  men.  It  will  be 
very  much  in  our  favor,  I  assure  you,  and  it 
will  not  be  a  drudge  or  a  hardship  on  any  one 
of  us  to  go  out  and  do  a  day's  work.  We  must 
work  in  prison,  as  it  is.  Why  not  outside  of 
it?  And  keeping  the  lifetime  men  in  mind,  it 
ought  to  be  a  pleasure  to  try  and  ease  their 
confinement.  So  let  the  harvest  of  our  effort 
be  a  harvest  of  bright  and  cheerful  prospects 
in  future  days  for  all  men  wearing  the  prison 
garb.  It  will  give  us  much  pleasure  in  after 
years  to  know  that  we  have  had  a  hand  in  the 
uplift  of  prison  life.  It's  in  .us ;  let  us  show 
the  world  at  large  that  we  are  not  what  they 
think  us  to  be,  the  vultures  of  society.  Seeing 
is  believing.  So  let  us  open  their  eyes  to  the 
utmost.  For  only  by  doing  our  level  best  in 
a  straightforward  way  can  we  hope  to  bring 
the  prison  situation  to  the  desired  plane — that 
of  wide-open  gates  and  every  inmate  his  own 
keeper.  Honor  men,  it's  up  to  us;  let  us  do 
that  which  is  desired  and,  above  all,  gain  the 
confidence  of  all  that  are  interested  in  our 
welfare. 


THE  OLD  TIMERS 


By  Abraham  Montague 

A  Prisoner 

There  are  two  classes  of  "old  timers"  in  this 
and  every  other  penal  institution.  One  class 
comprises  the  lifers  and  long-term  men  who  have 
been  in  this  prison  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
the  other  is  composed  of  second,  third,  fourth 
tei-mers,  etc.,  to  which  the  writer  of  this  article 


March   1,   1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


123 


belongs.  Various  people  have  dilferent  opin- 
ions concerning  us.  The  police  say  we  are  old 
offenders.  Criminologists  call  us  habitual  crim- 
inals. State's  attorneys  call  us — well,  some  peo- 
ple have  won  $25,000  damage  suits  for  having 
been  called  the  same  thing.  It  is  about  the  sec- 
ond class  of  "old  timers"  that  this  article  deals 
with.  In  the  past  few  years  there  has  been  a 
general  agitation  and  discussion  about  the  primi- 
tive methods  in  vogue  in  our  penal  institutions 
and  the  treatment  accorded  the  inmates.  All 
right-thinking  and  humanity-loving  people  have 
contended  that  under  the  old  system  the  in- 
mates were  not  being  reformed,  but  deformed. 
There  was  absolutely  no  incentive,  except  in 
isolated  cases,  for  the  inmate  to  regenerate  him- 
self. The  stringent  silent  system  and  other  strict 
rules  of  a  like  nature  appealed  to  the  worst  that 
was  in  a  man,  and  his  thoughts  and  feelings 
were  shaped  accordingly. 

In  short,  society  has  frankly  confessed  that  its 
tolerance  of  past  conditions  in  our  penal  in- 
stitutions bred  criminals.  Therefore,  society  is 
to  some  considerable  extent  responsible  for  the 
evolution  of  the  "old  timers."  We  are  very 
glad  to  be  able  to  write  truthfully  that  since 
our  present  Warden  took  charge  of  this  prison 
in  April,  1913,  he  has  eliminated  the  antiquated 
crime-breeding  methods  of  the  past  and  is  doing 
everything  within  his  power  for  the  uplift  and 
moral  betterment  of  the  inmates.  He  has  our 
good  will,  and  when  the  warden  of  a  penal  in- 
stitution has  the  good  will  and  respect  of  the  in- 
mates in  his  charge  he  has  placed  them  on  the 
road  to  true  reformation.  Gov.  E.  F.  Dunne 
has  done  many  good  things,  but  the  best  thing 
he  ever  did,  from  our  viewpoint,  was  to  give  us 
our  Warden.  Nearly  all  of  us  are  properly  ap- 
preciating the  humane  treatment  that  is  being 
accorded  us  now ;  the  "old  timers"  more  «o  for 
the  simple  reason  that  we  know  the  actual  dif- 
ference between  what  was  and  what  is.  .Xnd, 
in  behalf  of  my  fellow  "old  timers,"  I  have  com- 
posed a  parody  on  an  old  well-known  song. 
There  were  several  suggestive  items  in  the  first 
issue  of  the  Po.«;t  relative  to  the  system  "that 
was,"  and  we  feel  that  the  editor  will  not  dis- 
criminate against  the  following  lines : 

When  we  appear  before  the   Board 

To  tell   our  tale   of  woe, 
"Old   Timers,"   as   we   arc.   \vc   all 

Deserve    some    kind    r)f    show. 


We're   products  ot  a  system  past 

That    wasn't    hardly    fair; 
A  square  deal  is  our  only   pica. 

And   we    will   play   the    square. 

It   makes   no   difference   wliai    r..    .lid 

Once   in  a   bygone   time; 
We    think    the    State    is    paid    in    full 

For    what    we    did    in    crime. 
So   when   we   go   before   the    Board. 

We  hope   to  hear  them   say: 
"It    makes    no    difference    what    they    ivere, 
But   what   they  are   today!" 

We   hope   the    Board   intends   to   start 

With   just   the   cleanest   slate. 
Just    like    the    Warden    here    has    done — 

The  Governor  of  our  State; 
If  a  fellow  here  can  be  a  man, 

Through   treatment   that's  humane, 
It  stands  to  reason  when  he's  out 

He'll   also   be   the   same. 

It  makes  no   difference,  then,   I   say, 

In  what  I  think  or  do; 
If    something    can    be    made    of   us, 

Mr.  Board,  it's  up  to  you. 
Just    do    as    Warden    A.    has    done — 

You'll    hear   him    daily   say: 
"It    makes    no    difference    what    they    were. 

But  what  they  arc  today!" 

©      ^      ® 

WOMEN  LEARNING  THE 
ALPHABET 


By  an  Inmate  of  the  Women's  Prison 

How  happy  the  inmates  of  the  women's  prison 
are  that  conditions  have  changed !  We  now  have 
a  school  and  though  but  composed  of  two  classes 
thirty  out  of  the  sixty-one  inmates  attend. 

.\  few  months  ago  the  alphabet  seemed  to 
some  only  straight  and  curved  lines,  which  they 
were  willing  to  believe  could  have  a  meaning 
because  they  had  been  <^  informed.  They  are 
beginning  to  learn  to  put  the  letters  together 
and  are  finding  out  that  if  used  right  these  let- 
ters will  spell  their  natnes,  tnake  known  their 
wants,  express  their  hopc^  and  may  even  serve 
to  utter  their  thanks  to  those  who  have  extended 
to  them  the  privileges  of  education. 

These  women  in  our  classes  are  thoroughly  in 
earnest  and.  while  timid  and  nervous  at  first  they 
are  beginning  to  venture  and  when  called  upon 
they  give  evidence  of  eager  desires  to  know  how 
and  why  they  improve  by  study.  In  the  begin- 
ner's ila»v  ilu'  sccoinl   reader  i<  u<;ed  a-^  a  text 


124 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


book,  not  because  the  pupils  are  as  yet  fit  for  the 
second  grade  but  because  of  the  recurring  use  of 
simple  and  most  necessary  words.  The  class  re- 
ceives drilling  in  the  use  of  words  under  special 
heads  or  branches,  that  is,  those  meaning  articles 
of  wearing  apparel,  food,  household  goods  and 
subjects  of  history. 

Our  school  room  is  well  lighted  and  thor- 
oughly comfortable.  ( )ur  cell  house  matron  is 
our  principal  and  she  is  a  wonderful  teacher, 
who  combines  class  instruction  with  individual 
teaching.  Her  method  is :  When  pointing  out 
an  error,  a  correction  is  so  placed  or  given  that 
it  becomes  a  comparison  and  the  illustration  is  as 
clearly  shown  as  that  of  a  patent  medicine  ad- 
vertisement of  "before  and  after  taking."  Her 
illustrations  are  of  untold  value  in  convincing- 
skeptical  minds  of  the  real  truth  of  a  statement. 

If  motion  pictures  were  taken,  showing  the 
facial  changes  of  the  students  in  our  school  room, 
I  am  convinced  that  the  smiles  of  satisfaction  on 
the  face  of  the  pupil  when  a  new  word  has  been 
mastered  or  a  correct  answer  given  to  an  in- 
quiry as  to  the  meaning  of  two  or  more  words, 
pronoimced  alike  yet  spelt  dififerently,  would 
prove  that  it  is  worth  while  to  have  this  class. 

One  woman  desired  first  to  learn  how  to  spell 
and  write  the  three  words  "my,"  "dear"  and 
"children,"  so  that  in  her  next  letter  to  her  for- 
mer home  she  might  in  her  own  handwriting  sa- 
lute her  babies.  "My  dear  children."  She  was  con- 
tent for  the  present  to  permit  someone  who 
could  write  better  to  finish  the  letter  for  her. 
Another  woman  after  short  instruction  wrote 
her  first  letter  of  only  four  lines  to  her  husband, 
hoping  that  this  new  accomplishment  might  help 
her  in  retaining  his  aflfection  of  which  she  stands 
in  need.     That  letter  expressed  a  volume. 

®     ®     ® 
TO  MAKE  PRISON  LIFE  BRIGHTER 


If  our  hearts  are  filled  with  bright,  cheerful 
hopes,  difficulties  readily  fade  away.  The  girl 
who  works  without  hope  and  with  her  mind 
over-burdened  with  discouragement  and  doubt 
works  at  an  immense  disadvantage.  Her  hope- 
lessness causes  her  to  be  a  target,  exposed  on 
every  side  to  the  winged  arrows  of  disaster  and 
failure.  Much  of  the  energy  that  should  be  ex- 
pended upon  the  task  at  hand  is  used  up  in  over- 
coming the  inertia  within.  Such  a  girl  is  like 
a  piece  of  machinery,  so  clogged  in  its  joints 
and  bearings  that  every  ounce  of  steam  is  re- 
quired to  turn  its  wheels.  She  wastes  so  much 
of  her  powers  overcoming  internal  resistance 
that  it  is  not  possible  for  her  to  get  but  a  small 
return  for  her  labor. 

Try  to  see  the  good  in  every  task  set  before 
you,  for  there  is  certainly  some  good  if  you  will 
but  look  for  it.  Work  done  hopefully  is  an 
inspiration :  to  work  hopelessly  is  wicked  and 
degrading.  Fill  your  soul  with  hope  and  you 
live.  No  matter  how  dark  and  stormy  your 
prospects  in  life  may  appear,  there  is  always  a 
bright  side  to  it  somewhere,  for  no  cloud  was 
yet  so  heavy  as  to  exclude  forever  the  glory  of 
the  sun.  View  the  future  hopelessly  and  you 
must  see  naught  but  shadows ;  look  upon  it  with 
hope  and  your  shadows  will  become  a  back- 
ground for  a  golden  light. 

So,  girls,  let  us  all  lend  each  other  a  help- 
ing hand  to  make  the  days  bright  and  beautiful. 


WHAT  SHALL  HE  DO  ? 


By  an  Inmate  of  the  Women's  Prison 

When  you  rise  in  the  morning  form  a  resolu- 
tion to  make  the  day  a  happy  one  to  at  least  one 
girl.  It  is  easily  done ;  a  kind  word  to  the  sor- 
rowful ;  an  encouraging  expression  to  the  striv- 
ing will  go  a  long  w^ay.  There  is  nothing  per- 
haps so  essential  to  us  in  this  as  a  sincere,  ear- 
nest and  well-founded  hope. 


By  Robert  F.  F. 

A  Prisoner 

A  second  termer  who  has  been  a  bad  man 
came  to  me  recently  for  advice.  He  is  due  to 
be  discharged  in  April.  He  told  me  that  he 
wants  to  go  straight.  He  did  not  say  whether 
he  considered  honesty  the  best  policy,  or  that  he 
considered  it  wrong  to  steal.  Take  it  either 
way,  he  desires  to  earn  an  honest  living,  and  he 
came  to  me  for  information  as  to  how  to  get 
employment  in  Chicago.  Knowing  him,  I  did 
not  have  to  inquire  as  to  his  qualifications.  In 
his  particular  line  he  is  worth  from  twenty  to 
twenty-five  dollars  per  week ;  with  a  pick  and 
shovel  he  could  earn  about  thirty  cents  a  day 
in  competition  with  new  arrivals  from  Southern 


March   1,   19J4 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


125 


Europe.  As  he  will  have  served  his  full  time 
when  he  is  released,  he  will  have  no  claim  on  the 
assistance  of  the  parole  officers. 

He  seemed  trouhled  because  he  is  not  going 
to  steal  any  more,  and  he  did  not  kncnv  how 
he  could  get  a  situation  and  keep  it.  He  is  in 
good  health  and  when  he  leaves  he  will  have 
ten  dollars,  which  the  state  gives  to  all  pris- 
oners as  a  start  in  life. 

I  desired  very  nuich  to  give  him  encourage- 
ment. 1  told  him  that  if  he  found  employment 
with  a  large  concern  he  would  usually  have  to 
give  a  bond,  and  in  doing  so  he  would  have  to 
account  for  every  year  of  his  life  since  he  left 
school.  I  told  him  that  if  he  secured  employ- 
ment he  would  at  least  be  required  to  furnish 
references,  and  that  he  might  refer  to  the  War- 
den. That  did  not  seem  to  encourage  him,  so 
we  sat  down  to  think  it  over.  He  was  anxious 
to  find  a  way  of  securing  honest  employment  at 
living  wages  and  I  was  equally  desirous  of  tell- 
ing him  how  to  do  it.  We  thought  it  over  for 
half  an  hour  and  then  we  parted  without  saying 
anything  to  one  another. 


A  LIFER'S  VIEWS 

I-ebruary   20.    1914. 
To  the  Editor: 

Among  the  many  changes  brought  about 
here  in  the  last  year  nothing  impresses  me  so 
much  as  the  improved  conduct  of  the  pri.son- 
ers.  I  have  now  been  here  sixteen  years  and 
I  must  say  that  the  last  year  has  been  very 
unlike  the  previous  fifteen  years.  The  old 
spirit  of  hate,  envy,  ill  feeling  among  prison- 
ers is  fast  going.  It  used  to  be  a  iew  vvords 
spoken  between  two  jjrisoners  in  a  low  tone 
of  voice  and  the  next  moment  a  fight.  We 
have  very  few  fights  now. 

.\  few  weeks  ago  my  friend  Henry  informed 
me  that  he  was  in  trouble,  having  been  re- 
ported by  his  keeper  for  disobedience.  I  told 
him  not  to  worry  about  it  but  to  promise 
Deputy  Warden  William  Walsh,  when  he 
came  before  him  for  a  hearing,  that  he  would 
not  disobey  again,  and  then  to  kee|)  his  word, 
and  to  my  great  surprise  Henry  answered  that 
he  woukl  much  rather  be  sent  t<i  the  "hole" 
for  punishment  than  to  face  the  deputy. 


Henrys    preference    ft)r    punishment    made 
me  curious  and  he  told  me  that  he  had  been 
before    Mr.    Walsh    last    fall    on    a    report    for 
inst)lence  to  an  officer  and  that   when  he  ap- 
peared  ft)r  trial  at  the  deputy's  office  he  was 
surprised  to  hear  him  say,  "Sit  down,  Henry. 
Your   keeper   has   reported   you    f«»r   insolence. 
What  ha\e  you  to  say  about  it?     Tell  me  all 
about  it."     lie  rejjlied  to  the  deputy  that  the 
officer  was  right  and   that   he  was  sorry  that 
it  had  occurred.     Then  the  dei)Uty  had  said  to 
him,   "Henry,   the    warden   and    I    wish    to  do 
away    with    the    solitary    cells    and    the    warden 
has  put  it  up  to  me  to  get  rid  of  them.   Neither 
of  us  like  to  punish  our  fellow  men  because 
punishment   is   injurious   to   health    and   char- 
acter, but  we  cannot  get  rid  of  that  place  w  ith- 
out  your  assistance  and  that  of  all  of  the  other 
prisoners.     This  appears  to  me  to  be  a  grxnl 
time  for  you  and  I  to  come  to  an  agreement. 
I  want  you  to  help  me  do  away  with  the  'hole.' 
My  impression   is  that  after  all   the  men  get 
acquainted  with  me  we  will  not  need  it  here. 
When   I   first  came  here  and  learned  exactly 
what   punishment   in   a   penitentiary   meant   it 
seemed  to  me  that  I  could  not  do  my  duty  and 
gain  the  confidence  of  the  men,  and  I  see  no 
way  out  of  it   unless  you  and   all   the  others 
will  help  me.     I   have  been  permitted  to  re- 
move    the     restrictions    against     talking    and 
against  Icjoking  up  from  your  work  benches, 
and  you  are  now  permitted  to  have  lead  pencils 
and   I   make  it  a  practice  to  examine  into  all 
reports  for  misconduct  to  satisfy  myself  that 
you  men  are  getting  a  square  deal,  and   I   do 
not  see  how  I  can  do  much  more  for  you  unless 
all  of  you  will  help  me.  for  there  are  rules  we 
must  enforce  just  as  they  have  always  been. 
We  will  permit  no  in.solence  or  vile  language 
towards   either   an    officer  or  an    inmate,   and 
figiiting  is  strictly   forbidden.     No  officer  will 
be  permitted  to  nag  men.  but  it  is  up  to  you 
boys   to  make   it   p<issil)le   for  me   to  run   this 
prison  the  way  the  warden  and  1  want  it  run. 
It  is  a  very  bard  job,  but  if  all  the  pri.soners 
will  help  it  will  be  easy.     There  is  much  the 
warden   wants  to  do   for  you  boys,  but   it   is 
up  to  all  of  you  to  hasten  or  to  delay  him. 
Now  go  back  to  your  shop  and  tell  your  keeper 
that  I  told  you  to  apologize  to  him.  and  do  so, 
and  say  to  the  pfficer  that  I  will  talk  with  him 


126 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


about  you  this  evening.  You  may  go  now, 
but  remember  that  I  Avant  all  of  you  boys  to 
help  me." 

Henry  told  me  that  he  had  gone  back  to  the 
shop  and  that  he  told  the  officer  what  the 
deputy  had  said,  that  he  had  apologized  and 
that  the  officer  had  said,  "That  is  all  right," 
and  had  sent  him  back  to  his  work.  That  the 
next  morning  the  keeper  had  come  to  his  cell 
and  had  said,  "How  are  you  this  morning, 
Henry?"  and  Henry  told  me  that  he  knew  by 
this  remark  that  the  deputy  had  spoken  to  the 
officer  about  him  as  he  had  promised  to  do. 
Then  Henry  went  on  talking,  saying,  "You  see, 
the  deputy  kept  his  word  and  I  have  broken 
mine  with  him.  That  is  why  I  do  not  want  to 
go  back  to  him.  Just  think  of  it!  Almost  all 
the  men  have  kept  their  word  with  the  deputy, 
and  I  have  broken  mine.  In  former  years  I 
would  not  care.  I  would  get  a  'bawling  out' 
and  be  put  in  the  'hole'  besides,  but  Deputy 
Walsh  reminds  me  of  a  father  talking  to  his 
son  telling  him  to  keep  out  of  trouble.  I  do 
not  know  what  to  say  to  him.  What  would 
you  do  if  you  were  in  my  place?"  I  told  him 
to  tell  the  truth  and  leave  the  rest  to  the 
deputy.  The  next  day  I  saw  Henry  again 
and  I  asked  him  how  it  came  out.  He  said 
that  the  deputy  looked  worried  when  he  came 
in,  but  he  spoke  in  his  usual  low  voice.  That 
he  had  asked  him  if  he  had  been  disobedient, 
and  that  Henry  had  answered  "Yes,"  and  that 
the  deputy  had  answered  him,  "Henry,  I  be- 
lieve yet  that  you  will  be  a  good  man,  and  I 
am  going  to  give  you  another  chance.  I  hope 
you  will  not  forget  that  I  always  keep  my 
promises  to  you  boys,  and  that  I  want  all  of 
you  to  do  the  same  with  me." 

Now,  I  want  to  ask  all  of  the  men  in  this 
prison  how  can  we  get  away  from  a  deputy 
like  that?  Are  we  going  to  try  to  take  an  un- 
fair advantage  of  his  kindness,  or  shall  we  do 
the  best  we  can  to  act  as  he  wants  us  to  do? 
We  have  not  any  too  many  friends  in  the 
world,  surely  not  so  many  that,  we  can  afford 
to  spare  any,  and  when  we  are  lucky  enough 
to  have  a  deputy  warden  who  wants  to 
befriend  us,  there  is  only  one  thing  for  us  to 
do  and  that  is  to  prove  to  the  world  by  our 
conduct  that  our  deputy  has  the  correct  ideas 
on  running  a  penitentiary.    It  jnay  seem  funny 


to  some  of  us  that  Mr.  Walsh  can  put  this  kind 
of  a  "stunt"  over  a  lot  of  men  who  on  the 
whole  have  usually  desired  to  hit  back.  Some 
of  us  feel  lonesome  because  we  cannot  foster 
hard  feelings  against  our  disciplinarian,  but, 
boys,  he  has  us  beaten  and  we  might  just  as 
well  own  up  to  it  and  be  glad  it  is  so. 

Jesse  Sogers. 


We  need  a  new  prison,  by  gosh ; 

In  a  cell  with  two  fellows  it's  "squash." 

For  we  often  collide, 

(Which  is  undignified), 
And  we  stand  on  one  leg  when  we  wash. 

Camp  Hoper's  of  old  Joliet 
May   return    with   a   sense   of    regret; 
If  good  times  befell  them 
The  home  boys  can  tell  them 
Right  here   they  can  be  jolly  yet. 


I  think,  if  we  put  it  to  vote, 

The  chef  in  the  kitchen  we'd  smote; 

While  he  does  his  good  part. 

We  request  a  la  carte 
Instead  of  the  old  table-d'hote. 


Tlie   "Knockers"  are   in   for  a   roast; 
Of  the  warnings  they'd  better  make  most. 

If  the  hints  we  have  sprung 

Cannot  bridle  their  tongue 
We  will  see  they  are  hit  by  a  "Post. 


Our  three  sturdy  plumbers  appear 
To  be  busy  this  time  of  the  year; 

Though  their  wrenches,  I  figure. 
Are  big,  still  is  bigger 
The  wrench  which  has  brought  them  down  here. 


Though  the  Sunday  School  seems  rather  slow, 
In  the  subjects  quite  deeply  we  go; 

But  the  fat  man,  so  wary, 

(Address:  "Solitary,") 
Is  the  most  weighty  subject  we  know. 


"Let  reverence  for  law  be  taught  in  schools 
and  colleges,  be  written  in  spelling  books  and 
primers,  be  published  from  pulpits  and  pro- 
claimed in  legislative  houses,  and  enforced  in 
the  courts  of  justice;  in  short,  let  it  become  the 
political  religion  of  the  nation." — Abraham  Lin- 
coln. 


i 


March   1,    1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


127 


•  •"••••••••  •  •  If 


m 


BY  HERBERT  KAUFMAN 

Copyrighted  by  the  Author 

I  am  soul-sore  and  bended  and  weary, 

And  my  being  is  ancient  and  gray; 
The  heart  in  my  bosom  is  dreary, 

And  I  long  to  be  up  and  away. 
I  want  to  re-spend  what  I  squandered, 

I  seek  but  one  chance  to  repay; 
For  last  night  my  soul  wakened  and  wandered 

O'er  the  road  to  the  gone  yesterday. 
Oh,  the  wrong  that  can  never  be  righted ! 

And  the  wounds  that  can  never  be  healed; 
The  darkness  that  could  have  been  lighted; 

The  truths  that  too  late  were  revealed; 
The  burdens  so  readily  shifted; 

And  the  thorns  that  I  should  have  withdrawn; 
The  anguish  that  might  have  been  lifted 

From  a  heart  that  was  thoughtlessly  torn ; 
The  clean  things  my  foolish  feet  muddied; 

The  innocent  ones  I  judged  wrong; 
The  home  that  with  sorrow  I  flooded ; 

The  deaf  ear  I  turned  to  life's  song; 
The  struggler  so  easily  aided; 

The  reckless  one  I  might  have  checked; 
The  heartlessness  that  I  paraded ; 

The  dear  ones  I  hurt  with  neglect; 
The  flower  I  robbed  of  its  beauty 

And  tossed  in  a  day  to  the  slime; 
The  hour  I  faltered  in  duty; 

The  whim  whose  indulgence  was  crime. 
Oh,  God !  though  I  face  Thee  repentent, 

I  ask  not  Thy  mercy  as  yet; 
I  seek  not  to  find  Thee  relentent 

Until  the  tomorrow  is  met. 
I  thank  Thee  that  Thou  hast  unshuttered 

The  blindness  that  darkened  my  soul. 
My  prayer  to  Thee  now  is  not  uttered 

In  hope  to  default  conscience'  toll, 
I  ask  Thee  to  see  me  in  sorrow 

And  grant  me  the  prayer  that  I  pray — 
That  I  may  make  right  on  the  morrow 

The  wrongs  that  I  wrought  yesterday. 

*PubUshcd  by  the  kind  permission  of  Mr.  Kaufman. 


3^ 


128 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


A  Straigkt  Talk  to  tlie  World 


(Concerning  a  Remedy) 

Written  for  The  Joliet  Priion  Post 


Because    for   years   you    now    have   been   main- 
taining 

That  prison  systems  well  you  understand, 
We  marvel  that  your  tone  is  uncomplaining — 

You  seldom  ask — less  often  make  demand ; 
You  give  but  briefest  thought  in  ascertaining 

The  vital  truth  of  things  at  your  command. 

'Tis  true  we  hear  you  daily  criticizing 
With  silver  tongue,  superbly  eloquent ; 

We  catch  the  words,  "reclaiming,"  "civilizing," 
"Temptation,"  "tendency"  and  "penitent." 

Sometimes  your  tone  is  wholly  sympathizing — 
Your  chosen  weapon  of  accomplishment. 

And  men  of  wealth,  self-satisfied,  all-knowing. 
With  hungry  eyes  upon  their  revenue, 

Proclaim  with  zeal  that  we  are  undergoing 
A  wholesome  change,  undreamed  of  hitherto ; 

A  long-range  view — a  tremulous  tip-toeing 
To  catch  a  hasty  glimpse  of  "something  new." 

The  politicians,  too,  have  congregated 
Conditions  here  to  earnestly  debate ; 

Have  argued,  doubted  and  expostulated 
As  self-appointed  moulders  of  our  fate. 

How  many  of  them,  though,  have  contemplated 
To  personally  the  field  investigate  ? 

Reformers  sound  their  war-cry  optimistic ; 

Their  newest  slogan  is :     "Attack  the  Root ;" 
Their  goodness  blending  with  the  idealistic — 

And  yet  we  have  no  worthy  substitute ; 
Discussing  "bumps"  and  nature's  "dualistic" 

Is  moving  some — but  by  the  longer  route. 


The  daily  press,  when  time  is  quite  propitious, 
Our  cause  is  apt  most  fervently  to  plead, 

Then,  all-forgetful,  fall  to  be  malicious — 
See  not  the  flower,  but  produce  the  weed ; 

And  thus  the  public,  giddy  and  suspicious, 
Forget  the  man  and  only  note  the  deed. 

The  idle  rich  assume  a  blank  expression 

When  "prison"  sounds  upon  their  cultured  ear, 

And  then,  recalling,  make  the  frank  confession 
That  once  a  rare  and  novel  souvenir 

By  chance  had  fallen  into  their  possession 
While  "slumming  in  that  beastly  atmosphere." 

The  blackest  of  us  are  not  hydra-headed, 
Nor  are  we  dyed  in  deepest  villainy ; 

To  crime  think  not  that  we  are  fully  wedded. 
If  lacking  crest  or  ancient  pedigree. 

Yet  often  our  release  is  deeply  dreaded — 
And  so  I  ponder  on — The  Remedy. 

The  Remedy?     O,  be  it  inferential 

That  we,  fast  bound,  the  golden  key  possess? 
Ah !  no.     'Tis  something  subtle  and  potential, 
■  And,  like  the  realms  of  space,  'tis  measureless; 
Full  well  we  know  its  giving  is  essential 

To  blotting  out  life's  growing  wretchedness. 

O,  narrow  world !     'Tis  ripe  for  thy  umasking — 

Thy  gilded  altars  to  be  overthrown; 
For  in  thy  strange  conceit  thou  art  but  basking, 
Yet  dare  wouldst  judge  the  men  thou  dost  dis- 
own. 
While  from  the  depths  thy  castaways  are  asking 
•  For  just  a  simple  heart  that  knozvs  their  own! 

E.  R.  N. 


March  1.   1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


129 


I 


BY  JOHN  LYNCH— A  Prisoner 

Written  for  The   Joliet  Prison  Post 

Gazing  at  the  steel  barred  window 

Rising  up  within  my  view, 
Once  I  stood  and  meditated — 

Life  passed  by  in  mind's  review. 
Ghosts  of  all  my  shattered  prospects 

Seemed  to  pass  in  mournful  file; 
Darkened  more  the  lonely  moments 

As  I  stood  and  thought  the  while. 

How  to  ease  the  doleful  hours 

Came  to  me — O,  fresh'ning  thought ! 
Thus  was  bom  the  new  desire, 

And  the  strength  for  which  I  sought. 
'Twas  a  vine  that  brought  the  message — 

Just  one  stem  which  always  grew 
Round  the  heavy  grated  window — 

The  narrow  window  of  my  view. 

There  I  watched  it  through  the  hours — 

Day  by  day  it  thrived  and  grew, 
'Till  a  few  out-shooting  tendrils 

Missed  hold  of  bars  and  came  to  view. 
Had  they  come,  I  thought,  to  cheer  me? 

Prisoners,  too,  they  seemed  to  be 
Banished  from  the  living  sunlight — 

Creeping,  reaching  out  to  me. 

But  I  knew  the  storms  of  winter 

Soon  would  steal  the  leaves  away; 
So  I  watched  them,  sad  and  lonely 

Through  the  lone  and  weary  day. 
Then  I  thought:  the  vine  would  later 

Grow  its  tendrils,  straight  and  true; 
So  perhaps  my  own  redemption 

From  its  lesson  might  ensue. 

Then  the  sinful  thoughts  departed, 

Trooped  away  to  endless  space; 
Truth  within  my  heart  was  ringing — 

God  had  sent  to  me  his  grace. 
For  I  felt  His  love  quite  near  me, 

Love  so  pure  and  so  divine; 
Thus  to  me  there  came  a  lesson. 

Through  God's  mercy,  from  a  vine. 


s^ 


•  «••••  •"•"•'•'•"•%'•  ••'•'• 


130 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Comratiesi 

Written  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post 

Behind  the  clouds  the  sun  is  ever  shining, 

We  see  it  not  but  know  it's  glowing  there ; 
O'  comrade,  let  us  bide  the  silver-lining 

To  joyfully  break  upon  our  dull  despair. 
And  come  what  may,  the  fair  or  darksome  weather, 

The  blue  skies  restful  or  the  leaden-gray, 
For  us  a  smile — a  sturdy  pull  together, 

Forgetful  of  the  thorns  of  yesterday. 

So,  comrade,  let  us  face  the  new  beginning — 

Firm,  standard  bearers  in  the  coming  race ; 
For  rich  the  prize  and  dearly  worth  the  winning. 

All  brave  the  leaders  who  may  set  the  pace ! 
Look  up  beneath  the  crushing  weight  of  sorrow, 

Let  all  the  fresh  and  good  desires  play 
Forever  in  the  hopeful,  new  tomorrow — 

Turn  o'er  the  bleeding  page  of  yesterday. 

See,  through  the  mists  the  light  is  softly  creeping; 

Cheer  up,  my  comrade,  'tis  a  goodly  fight ; 
Soon,  soon  for  us  the  tired  night  of  weeping 

Shall  end  in  morning's  cool  and  healing  light. 
Then  dawns  the  life  for  which  we  have  been  yearning. 

When  loosened  burdens  shall  be  cast  away 
Along  the  road  to  which  is  no  returning — 

The  hidden  road — the  road  to  yesterday. 

E.  S.  T. 


•.•.•.•.•••.•.♦.•.• 


Written  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post 

He  is  with  us  in  this  prison  on  his  cunning  mischief  bent; 

To  abash  old  Ananias  he  is  fully  competent. 

And  you  need  no  introduction,  nor  give  ear  to  his  remark 

Would  you  take  his  mental  measure — you  can  pick  him  in  the  dark. 

He's  the  "Knocker,"  lone  and  lonesome,  and,  no  matter  where  or  when. 

You  will  never  find  him  chumming  -with,  the  fellows  who  are  MEN. 

It's  enough  to  stir  the  stomach  to  receive  his  evil  smirk; 
It  would  take  a  hundred  verses  to  relate  his  dirty  work. 
But  I  have  an  inspiration — 'tis  a  measure  for  "reform" ; 
If  we  fellows  were  but  voters  'twould  be  carried  through  by  storm; 
Let  us  round-up  all  the  "Knockers,"  with  no  mercy  to  forgive. 
In  a  JAIL  WITHIN  THE  PRISON  where  the  devils  ought  to  live ! 

T.  S.  E. 


March  1.  11H4 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


131 


In  Beer  Ci)oUj)=pet 

AS  SUNG  BY  JOHN  RUDNICK 

Our  Gennaa  Comedian. 


Yer  may  dalk  of  yur  grent  insdeedusions, 
Yur  hombs  by  der  glidderink  zees, 
Nu  Pord  und  drips  in  der  moundens, 
Bud  dis  blaze  iss  O  Kay  fur  me. 
Der  kittcshen  hes  bean  renowaydet 
Der  food  is  axemendt  each  day, 
Und  Walsh  keebs  his  eyes  on  der  menu 
To  zee  der  grub  dond't  get  it  away. 

Chorus : 

Down  in  deer  Cholly-yet 

Vat  a  shange  ve've  got  yu  bet. 

For  Walsh  dond't  led  no  von  sving  on  yur  chaw, 

Or  keebers  to  giff  you  a  deal  dat  is  raw. 

Oh,  it's  nod  der  zame  old  blaze, 

You  kan  zee  it  in  mine  faze. 

Mitt  dis  food  no  dout 

Ve  vill  all  half  der  gout 

In  deer  Cholly-yet. 


Now  dey  dond  sharge  yu  any  atmizion 

Dey  gifT  yer  a  chop  right  avay, 

A  shafe  und  a  hare  cud  fur  noddings 

Und  all  yu  kan  eat  efery  day. 

A  blu  suid't  of  klose  mitoud  hesking 

A  bromize  dey'l  fid  yu  chust  ride, 

A  keeber  to  vatch  vhile  you  sleebing 

Zo  no  von  vill  svipe  you  by  night'd. 

Chorus: 

Down  in  deer  Cholly-yet, 

Vorden  Allen's  der  man  yu  bet. 

For  Allen  iss  hear  for  to  giff  his  boys  cheer. 

Ve've  efery  ding  hear  bud  a  skooner  of  beer, 

Oh,  its  nod  der  zame  olt  blaze, 

Yu  kan  ze  it  mine  faze. 

Mit  foot  balls  und  stake  balls. 

Base  balls  und  round  balls. 

In  deer  Cholly-yet. 


Written  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


! 


Keep  a  laughin',  keep  a  chafin', 

Chase  de  wrinkles  off  yer  brow ; 
Git  a  joke  off  'fore  yu  croak  off 

Wid  de  face  yer  wearin'  now. 
Wid  yer  grouch  on  an'  yer  slouch  on 

Yer  a  rummy  lookin'  jay! 
Cut  yer  whinin',  sun's  a-shinin' — 

Git  yer  fork  an'  make  yer  hay. 


Back  yer  shoulders,  grit  yer  moulders. 

Git  a  gate  an'  take  a  climb ; 
Don't  be  balkin',  keep  a-walkin' — 

Keep  a-movin'  all  de  time. 
Show  a  feller  dat  no  yeller 

Streak  is  bobbin'  'round  yer  way; 
Stop  yer  pinin',  sun's  a-shinin' — 

Grab  yer  fork  an'  toss  yer  hay. 


Kind  o'  tough,  hey, — kind  o'  rough,  hey. 

In  de  inside  lookin'  out? 
Grin  an'  take  it  as  dey  make  it — 

Be  a  gamey  sort  o'  scout ! 
Git  a  hunch  on,  git  a  punch  on, 

I'm  yer  pardner  every  day; 
Quit  yer  whinin',  sun's  a-shinin' — 

Jab  yer  fork  an'  pile  yer  hay. 

E.  T.  K. 


I 


^ 


i 


¥: 


132 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


PRESS  OPINIONS  AND 
REPRINTS 

Warden  Tynan's  Views 

"We  are  paying  to  the  taxpayers  of  Colorado 
$250,CXX)  a  year  in  road  work,"  said  Thomas  Ty- 
nan, warden  of  the  Colorado  State  Penitentiary. 
"In  addition  to  that  our  cash  earnings  amount 
to  $32,000  from  the  sale  of  farm  truck  and  stone 
from  our  quarries,  and  we  are  this  year  adding 
improvements  of  about  $200,000  value  to  the 
state  penal  institutions — all  out  of  an  appropria- 
tion  of  $100,000  made   for   its   maintenance." 

"I  select  the  men  who  are  to  go  on  the  roads. 
We  have  an  audience  system  under  which  any 
man  confined  in  the  penitentiary  can  secure  an 
interview  with  me.  He  writes  his  request  on  an 
'audience  slip,'  which  is  given  to  the  jailor,  and 
he  has  no  trouble  in  getting  to  talk  with  me. 
Each  Sunday  I  devote  several  hours  to  this 
phase  of  the  work,  and  by  that  means  I  learn 
everything  that  is  going  on  in  the  prison  and  the 
men  come  to  me  with  their  grievances. 

"You  have  to  sift  men  as  you  would  sift  flour. 
We  must  separate  the  sheep  from  the  goats. 
Sixty  per  cent  of  the  convicts  can  be  worked 
out.  They  are  put  into  camps  of  about  fifty  men 
each,  under  the  supervision  of  an  overseer  and 
an  assistant,  neither  of  whom  is  armed,  for  the 
men  are  put  on  their  honor.  In  some  instances 
we  have  camps  in  the  state  under  one  overseer 
that  are  several  hundred  miles  apart ;  yet  we 
have  few  desertions,  they  amounting  last  year  to 
only  1  1-5  per  cent.  And  all  those  who  run 
away  are  caught  again  and  made  to  serve  the 
maximum  of  their  sentences  inside — a  rule  that 
has  a  moral  effect  on  would-be  deserters. 

"The  men  put  in  eight  hours  each  day  at  hard 
labor.  Then  they  are  free  to  do  what  pleases 
them.  If  the  camp  be  located  near  a  stream,  they 
may  go  fishing,  provided  they  keep  within  cer- 
tain bounds,  and  they  are  furnished  with  books 
and  a  phonograph.  They  may  play  ball  if  they 
wish  or  indulge  in  other  athletic  games. 

"At  the  beginning  of  his  camp  life,  if  a  man 
is  not  used  to  such  work  he  is  instructed  to  take 
it  easy  until  he  becomes  inured  to  the  work. 
Then  he  is  required  to  do  a  good  day's  work, 
and  if  he  does  not,  he  is  quietly  told  he  will  have 


to  do  better,  and  if  he  ])ersists  in  his  recalcitra- 
tion  he  is  sent  back  to  the  penitentiary. 

"Twenty-five  per  cent  of  our  convicts  worked 
on  the  roads  are  negroes,  and  they  are  the  most 
trustworthy  of  all.  Give  a  negro  a  chance  to  dig 
his  way  out  of  prison  and  he  will  do  it — by 
working  hard  for  a  reduction  in  time.  Another 
tiling  we  find  that  is  somewhat  surprising  at  first 
is  that  one-third  of  our  life-termers  can  be 
worked  on  the  roads,  for  they  realize  that  good 
work  in  this  way  for  a  period  of  years  counts 
heavily  in  their  favor  before  the  board  of  par- 
dons. 

"We  have  built  between  1,200  and  1,500  miles 
of  state  highways  under  this  system  at  a  cost 
of  about  $389  per  mile  for  labor.  These  roads 
and  built  of  disintegrated  granite  and  are  fine 
boulevards — not  ordinary  roads.  We  arc  now 
driving  a  road  through  solid  granite,  sixteen 
feet  wide  and  well  surfaced,  which  costs  us  about 
$1,000  per  mile  for  labor,  and  that  is  the  hardest 
kind  of  construction.  The  roads  are  maintained 
in  good  condition  by  the  use  of  drags.  They 
cost  about  $4  apiece,  and  are  effective  in  keeping 
the  road  well  surfaced,  if  used  after  each  heavy 
rain. 

"The  state  does  this  work  for  the  counties 
by  furnishing  a  dollar  in  lalx)r  for  each  dollar 
that  the  county  provides  for  road  work.  The 
money  the  state  puts  up  is  used  to  maintain  the 
camps,  an  expense  of  32c  per  day  per  man.  It 
costs  alwut  $5,000  to  equip  a  camp;  this  was 
done  in  the  first  instance  by  a  state  appropria- 
tion providing  for  all  the  camps  we  proposed  to 
establish.  One  or  two  since  have  been  equipped 
by  counties. 

"The  state  highway  commissioner,  with  the 
assistance  of  his  engineers,  lays  out  the  roads  to 
be  improved,  and  then  the  county  commissioners 
are  notified  that  we  are  ready  to  help  if  they 
will  furnish  money  in  equal  proportion. 

"The  system  was  first  established  six  year? 
ago.  We  started  by  employing  armed  guards, 
but  soon  found  this  was  not  satisfactory — the 
expense  was  too  great  anfl  the  men  were  dis- 
inclined to  work.  It  is  also  interesting  to  note 
that  when  the  guard  system  was  employed  we 
lost  more  men  by  desertion  than  we  do  at  pres- 
ent, when  we  have  no  guards  except  an  armed 
convict  who  patrols  the  camp  at  night. 

"While   we   do   not   at   present   pay   the   men 


March   1.    r.M4 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


133 


anything  for  their  work,  1  have  been  advocating 
the  setting  aside  of  a  sum  each  day,  which  could 
be  given  to  the  families  of  married  men  for  the 
family  supixjrt  during  the  prison  term,  or  de- 
posited to  the  credit  of  single  men  to  aid  them 
in  making  a  new  start  at  the  time  of  their  re- 
lease. 

"Eighty  ])er  cent  of  the  men  who  leave  our 
prisons  now  arc  making  good  citizens,  after  hav- 
ing had  everything  done  to  them  that  could  be 
done.  Those  who  run  away  from  the  camps,  we 
find,  are  ones  with  other  things  hanging  over 
them  which  they  fear. 

"This  system  does  not  interfere  with  free  la- 
bor, nor  take  work  from  others.  We  are  doing 
work  that  would  not  be  done  at  all  if  this  system 
were  not  in  vogue,  because  we  work  only  in  those 
counties  that  have  not  the  funds  to  employ  free 
labor." 

Mr.  Tynan  also  described  the  rewards  system 
as  carried  on  inside  the  penitentiary  among  men 
not  to  be  trusted  with  the  road  gangs,  and  which 
provides  many  humanities  and  indulgences  for 
the  convicts.  He  stated  that  under  no  circum- 
stances should  more  than  one  man  be  confined  in 
a  cell,  even  in  a  "dark  room."  the  use  of  which 
he  deplored. 

He  critised  the  fee  system  obtaining  in  west- 
ern states  and  declared  that  city  and  county  jails 
are  but  training  schools  for  the  penitentiary. 
"Each  county  jail  should  be  a  farm,"  he  de- 
clared, "and  each  man  should  be  taught  some- 
thing useful." 

He  declared  that  this  system,  or  a  similar  one, 
could  be  used  by  Texas  to  put  her  convict  farms 
on  a  self-supporting  basis,  citing  as  an  illustra- 
tion the  fact  that  his  men  had  worked  an  800- 
acre  farm  under  one  superintendent  for  a  period 
of  one  year,  making  a  profit  of  $20,000. — Ne7cs, 
Galveston,  Texas. 

Missouri  Prisons  Competing  With  Russia 

How  the  fear  of  being  whippeil  drove  ten  po- 
litical prisoners  in  a  Russian  stronghold  in  Si- 
beria to  try  to  commit  suicide  is  told  elsewhere 
in  this  issue.  A  few  weeks  ago,  in  one  of  our 
own  state  capitals,  torture  which,  declares  the 
St.  Louis  Post-Dispatch,  has  been  going  on  con- 
tinuously for  twenty  days,  drove  a  convict  to 
make  a  false  confession,  in  which  he  implicated 


another  convict,  who  wa>  thereuiK)ii  subjectcil 
to  the  same  punishment  which  the  first  one  h.id 
received. 

Moth  prisoners  were  made  t(j  stand  with  their 
faces  X^^  the  wall  and  their  hands  fastened  in 
rings  al)ove  their  heads.  They  were  not  sus- 
pended, but  they  could  do  nothing  to  ease  the 
.strain  on  their  muscles.  An  investigator  who 
let  himself  be  put  in  the  "rings"  begged  to  be 
taken  out  at  the  end  of  two  minutes.  It  is  a 
common  thing  in  this  jirison  to  keep  men  in  the 
"rings"  for  hours. 

The  prison  is  the  Missouri  state  penitentiary 
at  Jefferson  City,  the  largest  in  the  country,  hav- 
ing 2,350  inmates. 

Although  the  whipping  post  was  made  illegal 
some  time  ago,  convicts  are  still  whipped,  the 
Post-Dispatch  states,  which  has  been  making  aii 
exposure  of  conditions  in  the  prison. 

These  facts  about  punishment  have  been  ad- 
mitted by  the  warden,  1).  C.  McClung.  He  de- 
clines to  discontinue  the  method,  contending  that* 
it  is  the  best  he  can  devise.  Before  becoming 
warden,  Mr.  McClung  was  a  clothing  merchant 
in  Jefferson  City. 

Punishment  in  the  "rings"  is  used  for  all  sorts 
of  offenses.  It  is  especially  adapted  to  increasing 
the  efficiency  of  the  contract  labor  system  which 
holds  the  prison  in  its  grip.  Over  1,600  men 
are  said  to  be  in  the  service  of  contractors,  who 
pay  the  state  70  cents  a  day  for  each  worker. 
If  a  convict  does  not  finish  his  minimum  stint 
each  day.  he  is  liable  to  be  put  in  the  "rings." 

The  uncovering  of  these  conditions  has  called 
public  attention  to  other  evils.  So  congested 
is  the  pri.son — it  is  the  only  one  in  the  state — 
that  two,  three  and  sometimes  four  men  are 
crowded  together  in  one  cell.  No  provision  is 
made  for  sports  or  exercise  of  any  kind,  other 
than  that  in  the  workroom,  except  on  Christmas 
Day  and  the  Fourth  of  July. 

.\  grim  phase  of  the  present  exposure  has 
been  the  uncovering  of  a  statute  passed  in  1907 
providing  that  5  per  cent  of  the  earnings  of  the 
l)risoncrs  should  be  set  aside  for  the  use  of 
themselves  and  their  dependents.  Not  a  prisoner 
has  received  a  cent  of  the  money  thus  due  him. 
The  abolition  of  stripes  and  a  new  system  of 
granting  paroles  have  brought  some  improve- 
ment recently,  and  it  is  expected  that  the  pres- 
ent agitation  will  result   in  prohibiting  the  con- 


134                                                            THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  First  Year 

tract  labor  system.     A  reformatory  for  first  and  joy  some  share  of  the  earnings,  and  thus  either 

voung  offenders   is   needed,  and  also   a   special  to  help  those  who   are   dependent   on   them  or 

reformatory    for    women. — The    Survey,    New  accumulate  a   fund  that   will   in   some  measure 

York,    N.    Y.  fortify  them  against  the  temptations  that  beset 

^     ^  a   released   convict  with  peculiar   seductiveness. 

And,  finally,  it  is  a  form  of  employment  which 

Way  to  Employ  Convicts  in  Texas  and  Make  ^^^  only  permits,  but  in  a  sense  requires  that  the 

■^°^"^  convict  shall   in   some  degree  be  put  on  trust. 

The  Neivs  dispatch  from  Austin  reporting  the  Some  may  abuse  that  trust ;  more,  if  those  thus 
closing  of  a  contract  whereby  good  roads  district  employed  are  wisely  selected,  will  justify  it,  and 
No.  1  of  Smith  county,  Texas,  is  to  have  the  use  in  justifying  it  they  will  be  exercising  and 
of  fifty  convicts  is  characterized  as  an  experi-  strengthening  their  moral  fibers,  and  thereby  fit- 
ment. It  is  hardly  that,  inasmuch  as  the  same  ting  themselves  for  the  freedom  they  look  for- 
thing  has  been  done  in  several  states,  many  com-  ward  to.  Surely  such  results  as  these,  even  if 
niunities  and  for  many  years.  Furthermore,  the  they  were  only  possible,  must  commend  this 
results  in  these  other  communities  have  been  method  of  employing  convicts  to  those  who  bear 
such  as  to  prove  that  this  is  altogether  a  feasible  in  mind  that  reform  is  one  of  the  highest  ends 
method  of   employing  convicts.     This  is  not  to  ^^  punishment. 

say  that  the  results  have  been  always  and  every-  Looked  at  from  the  economic  standpoint  this 
where  satisfactory,  for  there  have  been  failures  method  of  employing  convicts  is  no  less  ideal, 
enough  to  give  plausibility  to  the  arguments  that  For  one  thing,  it  is  the  one  method  of  using  con- 
have  been  made  against  this  policy.  But  inves-  vict  labor  that  brings  it  into  least  competfi- 
tigation  has  shown  that  the  failures  have  been  tion  with  free  labor.  Free  labor  does  not  seek 
due  to  the  mismanagement  of  those  in  adminis-  road  work  when  there  is  other  work  to  do,  and 
trative  authority,  and  not  to  any  inherent  and  road  work  affords  a  smaller  wage  than  most 
incurable  defect  in  the  method  itself.  There  is  other  kinds  of  work.  Both  their  own  welfare 
in  every  penitentiary  a  large  number  of  convicts  and  the  public  interest  require  that  convicts  be 
who,  for  one  reason  or  another,  can  not  be  safely  kept  at  work,  and  here  is  a  kind  of  work  that 
used  in  this  way,  but  in  every  penitentiary  there  satisfies  that  requirement  perfectly,  and  yet  with- 
is  perhaps  an  equal,  if  not  a  greater  number,  who  out  incurring  the  objection  which  is  usually  made 
can  be  employed  in  this  way  better  than  in  any  for  free  labor.  For  when  convicts  are  engaged 
other.  The  most  that  may  be  said,  by  way  of  in  making  roads,  they  compete  with  free  labor 
characterizing  this  contract,  is  that  it  constitutes  in  only  a  very  negligible  degree,  if  at  all.  Even 
an  innovation  as  to  Texas,  but  an  innovation  more  than  this  is  to  be  said  in  favor  of  the  policy 
that,  if  fairly  conducted,  will  become  a  practice,  of  making  this  use  of  convicts.  It  is  a  policy  of 
we  believe.  reducing  the  cost  of  roadmaking  to  a  minimum, 

As  an  innovation  it  is  to  be  commended  un-  and  in  doing  that  it  assures  a  more  rapid  exten- 
qualifiedly,  for  if  it  should  turn  out  well,  as  there  sion  of  good  roads  mileage  than  we  could  other- 
is  no  reason  that  it  should  not,  we  shall  be  full  set  wise  expect,  or  even  hope  for.  One  has  only  to 
on  a  policy  that  will  simplify,  if  not  solve,  a  prob-  reflect  on  the  incalculable  economic  and  social 
lem  that  has  vexed  us  for  many  years.  To  the  benefits  that  accrue  from  good  roads  to  be  per- 
extent  that  it  is  practicable,  this  is  not  only  the  suaded  that  if  there  were  nothing  else  to  urge 
best  way  to  use  convict  labor,  but  the  ideal  way.  this  use  of  convicts  it  would  be  abundantly  com- 
It  gives  such  as  are  suitable  for  it  the  best  pos-  mended  by  this  consideration  alone.  The  bene- 
sible  employment.  It  keeps  them  in  the  open  air  fits  resulting  from  good  roads  would  probably 
and  at  a  w^ork  that  will  not  overtax  the  strength,  recompense  the  state  for  the  cost  of  keeping  the 
Hence  it  is  preferable  to  indoor  employment  and  convicts  even  if  they  were  not  made  self-support- 
preferable  even  to  farming,  another  form  of  out-  ing.  In  this  way  the  convicts  could  not  only  be 
door  employment ;  for  farming  does  not  permit  made  to  support  themselves  and  profit  themselves 
a  strict  regulation  of  working  hours.  It  is  a  form  from  their  own  labor,  but  they  could  be  made  to 
of  employment  which  enables  the  convicts  to  en-  render,  on  these  highly  just  terms,  a  public  serv- 


March    I,    I'M 4 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


135 


ice  which  atones  for  the  injury  they  did  to  so- 
ciety. 

It  would  hardly  exagg-erate  this  incident  to  call 
it  epochal.  Certainly  it  will  be  that  if  the  re- 
sults shall  be  what  we  think  there  is  every  reason 
to  expect. — News,  Galveston,  Texas. 

Prisons  Neither  Hells  Nor  Hotels,  But  Schools 
The  investigation  at  Moyamensing  Prison  is 
the  outcropping  of  the  public  conscience  toward 
the  criminal.  Poor  food,  poor  cells,  poor  prison 
regulations  are  the  incidental  defects  of  a  wrong 
doctrine  of  punishment.  Whether  there  is  a 
criminal  class  or  not,  it  is  clear  that  punishment 
is  not  revenge,  but  recovery.  Chastisement  means 
"to  make  clean."  The  soiled  linen  goes  to  the 
laundry  and  undergoes  a  severe  process  of 
cleansing,  but  this  process  is  justified  by  the  re- 
sults. The  linen  comes  out  clean  and  white — 
such  should  be  the  ethical  motive  of  punishment. 
Vengeance  never  helped  anybody.  It  does  not 
belong  to  man  to  be  vengeful.  It  is  not  the  func- 
tion of  the  courts  to  mete  out  vengence.  Pun- 
ishment may  require  severity,  but  its  end  must  be 
the  remaking  of  the  man.  All  true  discipline  is 
helpful — otherwise  it  is  brutality.  All  surgery 
is  hard,  but  health  is  its  aim.  Prisons  are  neither 
hells  nor  hotels,  but  schools. 

Gradually  we  are  awakening  to  the  conscious- 
ness that  we  have  been  ill-treating  humanity  in 
the  name  of  punishment.  This  awakening  began 
with  John  Howard  and  Elizabeth  Fry.  Civiliza- 
tion has  at  last  reached  the  prison  cell,  and  in  this 
way  only  may  the  occupant  of  the  cell  come  back 
to  civilization. — Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


It's  Up  to  You 

What  are  you  going  to  do  when  you  leave 
here?  Oh,  the  joy  of  that  moment  when  the 
warden  calls  you  out  of  line  and  tells  you  to  get 
shaved.  Sleepless  nights  are  forgotten,  and  all 
indignities  suffered  are  forgiven,  and  you  dress 
out.  But  what  then?  The  avenue  leads  directly 
to  town,  and  the  town  leads  to  what?  You  know. 
It  certainly  is  a  problem  which  must  be  solved 
before  all  who  leave  can  be  expected  to  make 
good.  You  leave  here  poorly  equipped  to  fight 
the  battle,  but  if  you  are  sincere  in  purpose  and 
if   your   experiences    have    taught    you    there    is 


nothing  in  being  crooked  ami  that  the  best  you 
can  do  is  the  worst,  then,  and  not  until  then, 
can  you  go  out  into  the  cruel,  merciless  world 
and  make  good. 

There  is  never  a  time  in  a  man's  life  when  he 
must  be  dishonest.  No.  you  don't  need  to  go 
hungry  either,  but  you  must  work.  One  who 
will  not  produce  should  not  be  a  partaker.  Of 
course  this  docs  not  apply  to  people  who,  through 
misfortune,  are  physically  unable  to  cope  with 
life.  Lint  there  are  so  many  who  think  the 
world  owes  them  a  living,  and  proceed  to  steal 
it.  Show  me  where  you  beat  it  from  any  angle, 
and  I  will  admit  that  I  am  wrong. 

Is  not  one's  liberty  and  free  agency  worth 
more  than  all  ill-gotten  gains?  It  certainly  is 
to  me.  Having  tasted  the  bitter  I  want  the 
sweet,  and  the  only  way  to  get  it  is  to  be  a  man. 
Make  all  around  you  recognize  you  as  a  man. 
and  you  will  find  it  pays.  It  means  a  fight,  but 
see  how  sweet  the  victory  is.  Was  there  ever 
anything  of  note  accomplished  that  did  not  cost 
heart  blood?  I-Mnd  the  one  that  has  gained  that 
knowledge  where  he  can  say  to  all,  "1  am  a 
man,"  and  see  if  it  was  not  gained  by  privation 
and  sacrifice,  and  see  too,  if  it  could  be  pur- 
chased  or  otherwise  obtained. 

There  are  many  roads  for  you  to  travel,  but, 
my  dear  brother,  there  is  only  one  safe  one  and 
that  will  have  to  be  narrow.  We  must  labor 
diligently  and  with  patience,  but  the  reward  is 
great.  We  may  not  be  able  to  enjoy  all  the 
little  things  we  think  are  so  necessary  to  us, 
nor  be  able  to  dress  as  nicely  as  some,  but  costly 
thy  habits  as  thy  purse  can  buy.  Not  expressed 
in  fancy,  rich,  not  guady,  for  while  the"  clothes 
often  proclaim  the  man,  it  does  not  necessarily 
make  one,  and  if  he  stands  as  a  man  it  will  not 
he  long  before  he  is  recognized  as  such.  The 
])ast  has  gone,  and  no  man  knowcth  what  is  in 
the  future  for  him,  so  why  worry?  The  ever 
l)resent  "Now"  is  the  time  to  act.  You  can  be 
the  man  of  the  hour  in  your  own  little  world, 
and  while  you  may  never  be  a  Napoleon,  Wash- 
ington, or  a  Lincoln,  you  will  ri.se  to  heights 
you  never  even  dreamed  of.  If  we  have  taken 
to  heart  the  lesson  gained  through  our  expe- 
rience, we  can  go  out  into  the  world  far  better 
and  wiser,  for  we  are  the  ones  that  know,  and 
knowing  we  can  more  easily  avoid  temptations 


136 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


in  the  future  and  be  of  great  help  to  our  weaker 
brother. 

It  is  said,  "Opportunity  knocks  but  once  at  a 
man's  door,"  but  I  hardly  agree,  for  it  is  in 
each  of  us  to  benefit  by  his  experiences,  for  that 
is  the  mother  of  all  learning.  Opportunity,  like 
time,  never  waits  for  anyone — we  must  be  ready, 
and,  if  we  are,  there  is  no  reason  why  we  should 
not  succeed,  even  if  we  have  fallen  once.  There 
is  now  a  good  opportunity  for  all  of  us  here  to 
remodel  our  characters.  Our  old  mould  was 
faulty  or  why  are  we  here? 

We  have  abundant  opportunity  here  to  be- 
fit ourselves  to  meet  conditions  that  will  exist 
when  we  again  take  our  place  among  men. 
Let  us  be  workers  and  not  drones.  We  can 
live  down  the  past,  but  we  can  not  put  anything 
over  on  the  public.  We  must  first  stand  100 
per  cent  perfect  with  ourselves. 

To  thine  own  self  be  true,  and  it  must  follow 
as  the  night  the  day,  thou  cans't  not  then  be  false 
to  any  man. — Lend  a  Hand. 


Day  School  at  Joliet  Prison 

A  school  for  convicts  taught  by  convicts  has 
passed  the  experimental  stage  at  the  Illinois  pen- 
itentiary here.  It  was  organized  by  Chaplain  A. 
J.  Patrick  last  summer  and  attendance  is  volun- 
tary, but  any  convict  who  expresses  the  desire  to 
attend  the  school  is  excused  from  other  employ- 
ment while  the  classes  he  enters  are  in  session. 

The  principal  is  a  Harvard  man  and  has  an 
Annapolis  Naval  Academy  diploma.  He  is  serv- 
ing a  sentence  of  from  one  to  fourteen  years  for 
forging  a  check  for  $3. — Saturday  Blade,  Chi- 
cago, 

Ball  Park  for  Prisoners 

Having  proved  that  penitentiary  convicts  can 
be  put  upon  their  honor  and  sent  outside  the 
prison  walls  without  guards  to  do  road  con- 
struction work,  Thomas  Tynan,  progressive 
warden  of  the  Colorado  penitentiary,  proposes 
to  go  a  step  farther  and  build  an  amusement 
park  for  the  prisoners.  This  plan  is  proposed 
to  furnish  more  adequate  outdoor  amusement  for 
convicts  who  are  not  in  the  "trusty"  class  and 
have  not  gained  the  privileges  accorded  pris- 
oners   who   work   in   the    road   camps.      In    an 


exclusive  statement  today,  Warden  Tynan  dis- 
cussed the  plan  as  follows : 

"While  our  'trusty'  prisoners  have  plenty  of 
outdoor  exercise  in  the  way  of  sports,  we  have 
never  been  able  heretofore  to  take  care,  in  the 
same  way,  of  prisoners  not  considered  trust- 
worthy. I  have  decided  to  create  an  outdoor 
amusement  park  for  this  class  of  men.  We 
are  now  constructing  a  wall  alxDut  a  six-acre 
enclosure  back  of  the  prison,  where  such  men 
can  play  baseball  or  indulge  in  other  sports 
during  their  leisure  hours. 

"Of  course,  we  have  in  the  prison  chapel  the 
regular  motion  picture  shows,  yet  there  are  a 
great  many  men,  who  are  employed  in  our  cell 
houses,  prison  shops,  boiler-room.,  etc.,  who  do 
not  get  enough  exercise. 

"It  has  long  been  my  theory,  and  I  think  it 
has  proved  correct  from  the  experience  we  have 
had  with  men  in  our  road  camps,  that  it  is  hard 
to  build  up  a  man  morally  or  to  strengthen 
his  character  without  first  building  him  up  phys- 
ically. We  purchased  all  the  buildings  of  the 
Fremont  County  Fair  Association  and  are  plac- 
ing a  grandstand  in  this  inclosure  for  the  use 
of  the  prisoners.  There  will  be  an  opening  to 
this  enclosure,  to  what  is  known  as  the  south 
gate  of  the  prison,  which  opens  onto  the  street, 
and  one  portion  of  the  grandstand  can  be  used 
by  the  public  to  see  ball  games  or  other  athletic 
amusements  participated  in  by  the  prisoners. 

"The  main  feature  will  be  that  men,  after 
completing  their  tasks  for  the  day,  will  be  al- 
lowed to  go  into  the  park  for  such  exercise  as 
will  do  them  the  most  good.  Each  prisoner 
in  the  institution  will  be  provided  with  an  honor 
button  and  will  be  allowed  to  have  access  to  the 
park  during  his  leisure  hours,  so  long  as  his 
behavior  is  what  it  should  be.  Should  he  violate 
any  of  the  rules  of  the  institution,  he  will  be 
deprived  of  his  button  and  will  not  have  access 
to  the  park. 

"We  found,  when  we  installed  the  motion 
picture  apparatus  at  the  institution,  that  it  helped 
us  to  keep  discipline,  for  the  reason  that  men 
who  violated  rules  were  excluded  from  the  pic- 
ture exhibitions  for  all  the  way  from  three  to 
six  months.  I  feel  that  with  the  park  in  opera- 
tion it  will  not  only  add  to  the  efficiency  of  the 
work  of  the  men,  but  it  will  have  a  tendency 
to  reduce  violations  of  the  prison  rules. 


March  1.  VM4                                 THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  Kv 

"Of  course,  our  men  in  the   road  camps  are  he  be  taxed  to  keep  violators  of  the  laws  of  tlie 

well  provided  for  in  this  way,  and  they  consti-  land  in  even  comfort?    They  decide  with  but  lit- 

tute  half  of  our  prison  ixtpulation,  but  I   have  tie  thou^dit  that  they  should  not  he  taxed,  and 

have  felt  the  need  of  something  of  this  kind  at  when  a  new  and  advanced  idea  for  the  real  re- 

the  institution  for  a  long  time,  and  with  the  co-  form  of  i)rison  affairs  is  mentione<l,  thev  oppose 

operation  of  the  penitentiary  commissioner,   we  it. 

are   endeavoring   during   this   year   to    put   this  Here  and  there,  but  of  the  great  general  pub- 
park  in  operation." — Star,  Peoria.  111.  lie.  comparatively  few.  you  will  find  a  man  who 

^     ^  will    ask:      What   are    prisons    for?     Arc    they 

for  the  purjiose  of  revenge  or  of  reformation? 

Luxuries  for  Honor  Men  Are  they  for  the  puqxyse  of  aiding  fallen  man 

Columbus.  Ohio.  Feb.  5. — Ohio's  "make  men"  to  be  a  man  again  or  for  the  purpose  of  damning 

policy,   now   governing  what   was   formerly   the  him  forever?    Do  they  make  worthy  members  of 

most  notorious  State  penitentiary  in  the  country,  society  or  make  enemies  of  law  and  of  order? 

will  advance  another  step  in  a  few  days,  when  This  thoughtful  man  will  consider  the  enormous 

Warden  P.  E.  Thomas  will  open  his  "hotel"  for  expense  the  State  now  goes  to  in  protecting  itself 

"perfect   record"   prisoners.     One   hundred   and  from  the  criminal,  and  he  usually  decides  that  the 

twenty  yeggs,  burglars,  porch  climbers,  pickpock-  present  system  of  handling  the  prisoner,  in  the 

ets,  "bad  men,"  embezzlers  and  plain  thieves  with  majority  of  prisons,  is  radically  wrong;  but  how 

"clean  records"  will  be  removed  from  their  cells  can  it  be  remedied.     He  certainly  decides  in  this 

to  a  roomy,  well-ventilated  dormitory.  connection   that  men  convicted  of  crime  should 

Every  one  of  them  will  sleep  at  nigiit  in  a  not  be  pampered  and  live  in  luxury,  and  from 

comfortable  iron  bed  of  the  hospital  type;  will  the  prisoners'  standpoint  (^(wd  Words  can  say 

have  a   locker,   a   bag,    roomy   rocking   chair,   a  that  prisoners  arc  the  last  people  in  the  world 

plain  oak  stand,  and  an  electric  drop  lighl.     A  who  wish  to  be  pampered.     They  do  not  belong 

prison  bar  won't  be  in  sight.     After  the  day's  to  that  class  of  people  pink  teas  appeal  too,  and 

work  is  done  and  the  prisoner  disrobes  for  the  they  prefer  good  soup  to  ice  cream, 

night  he  will  neatly  crease  his  grav  regulation  The   question    though    can    be   asked :      Why 

Irou.sers,  hang  his  coat  on  a  hanger  and  place  should  not  prisons  offer  an  opportunity  for  self- 

the  api>arel  in  a  steel  locker  built  for  the  purpose,  culture  and  improvement,  instead  of  being,  as  is 

On  an  upper  shelf  he  will  find  his  clean  clothing  the  case  in  many  prisons,  the  very  hot-beds  for 

and  in  a  lower  compartment  he  may  deposit  his  ^'^^  conservation  and   intensification  of  criminal 

shoes  and  draw  forth  a  pair  of  bedroom  slippers,  tendencies,  and  for  the  organization  of  criminal 

seat  himself  in  a  big  rocking  chair,  light  his  pipe  enterprises?    Nevertheless,  there  are  now  a  few 

and   under   the    rays   of   his   adjustable    electric  P'''^«"s  conducted  as  far  as  the  law  and  regula- 

lamp  read  the  latest  papers  and  hook,.-Satur-  ^^^^"^  ^^•^  P^""'^'  ''^''''^  ^^^'  '^'"'^'  ''''°"8:  the 

do\  Blade,  Chicago.  ''"^'  °^  reformation  and  redemption  of  the  pris- 
oner may  be  confidently  lacked  for,  nor  is  there 

®     ^  any   doubt   that   these  will  be  increased  as  the 

Pampering  Prisoners  elements  in  the  situati<»n  emerge  and  are  recog- 

In  recent  vears  along  with  all  that  has  been  "'^^''-    ^^''^'^  ^'''^""'^  '''''  ""•'^''  '^''  '"'''"af^'^''"e"t 

said  and  done  to  better  prison  conditions,  there  ^'^  "^^"  ^^•'^"  "^^'^'-  ^•'■^^'"  ''^  i>am,KT,ng  prisoners, 

has   been    as    much    said    against    such    reforms.  '^^'^  ''^'^  ^'""'^  "^  '''^'''^  ^''^'  '"'-'"  ""^'^'''  ^''^''"  ^''" 

These  antagonistic  ideas  can  be  summed  up  un-  ''C  when  they  are  released  and  free  to  roam  an<l 

der  the  one  head,  u.sed  contemptuouslv  and  sar-  '•"  as  their  minds  dictate. 

castically,   "pampering  prisoners,"   and  are.   for  The  crowning  curse  of.  the  pri.son  system  has 

the   most   part,   advanced   by   demagogic   politi-  been,  and  still  is  in  some  states,  the  convict  lca.se 

cians,  narrow-minded  journalists  and  ignorant  or  system.    Under  it  nothing  but  misery  and  degra- 

vicious  officials,   but   regardless   of   their  origin  gation  can  come.     The  knell  of  this  system  has 

these  ideas  find  a  fertile  field  in  the  mind  of  the  been  sounded  and  its  doom  sealed,  but  the  idea 

average  taxpayer  who  asks  himself  why  should  <u\\  prevails  in  most  prisons  that  they  are  for 


138                                                             THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  First  Year 

the  purpose  of  punishment  and  "getting  even,"  over  the  doors  of  our  prisons.     This  inscription 

instead   of    reclaiming   those    unfortunates   who  can  be  left  off  without  "pampering  prisoners." — 

have  fallen  by  the  way,  and  with  this  idea  in  Good  Words,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

the  mind  of  the  prison  officials,  prisoners  are  not  ^     ^ 

made  useful  members  of  society,  but  instead  are  ,    .      .     „ 

made  confirmed  and  hardened   criminals.     The  ^he  Superlative  in  Stupidity 

writer,  has  no  thought  of  pampering  when  he  The  prisoners  are  not  allowed  to  write  letters 

suggests  that  prisons  should  be  regarded  as  a  ""til  they  have  been  incarcerated  two  months, 

place  for  withholding  a  man  temporarily  from  After  that  they  are  permitted  to  write  only  once 

the  companionship  of  evil-doers  and   from  his  a  month.    They  can  be  visited  only  once  a  month 

own  worse  self.    Why  should  not  the  object  of  a  —the  visit,  of  course,  being  in  the  presence  of 

prison  be  to  preserve  and  build  up  rather  than  an  official— and  they  must  not  come  in  contact 

destroy  the  prisoner's  manhood  and  self-respect,  with  the  visitor,  as  by  an  embrace  or  handshake, 

to  teach  him  that  potentialities  for  good  are  dor-  They   must   not    speak   to    one   another   at   all, 

mant  and  may  be  awakened  in  him  and  to  afford  except  during  fifteen  minutes  each  day. 

him  every  available  means  for  their  awakening  They   must   not   even   smile   at    one   another, 

and  development?     Instead  of  despair  and  re-  For  smiling,  a  prisoner  is  made  to  stand  in  the 

sentment  as  cell-companions  he  should  be  given  corner,  face  to  the  wall,  until  the  foul  crime  is 

rational  hope  for  the  future  and  intelligent  in-  burned  and  purged  away.     During  the  precious 

terest  in  practical  means  for  rehabilitating  him-  fifteen  minutes  they  may  speak  only  to  those  sit- 

self .    Then  his  hours  of  solitude  will  not  be  spent  ting  next  to  them  in  the  workroom ;  they  cannot 

in  cursing  his  fate  and  plotting  revenge  on  his  move    from    their    seats    to    speak    to    someone 

enemies — real   or    imaginary — but   he   will   take  at  a  little  distance. 

stock  of  his  own  instruments  for  useful  co-opera-  Such  are  conditions  in  the  women's  prison  at 

tion  with  the  world's  work,  in  polishing  those  he  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  as  described  in  The  Survey  by 

finds  that  he  possesses,  and  in  acquiring  such  as  two    female    investigators    who    got    themselves 

would  complete  his  equipment.    Here,  the  prison  locked  up  for  the  purpose  of  finding  out ;  but 

authorities  can  come  to  his  aid  by  supplying  him  their  equivalents  can  be  found  in  scores  of  other 

with  work  commensurate  with  and  suitable  to  penal  institutions. 

his  special  powers  and  proclivities ;  and  paying  Just  what  a  state  thinks  it  will  gain  by  main- 

him  for  this  work  such  wages  as  will  give  him  taining  an  elaborate  machine  for  dehumanizing 

heart  to  do  it  as  well  as  he  can,  and  will  leave  prisoners,  carefully  squeezing  every  drop  of  hu- 

him  a  visible  residue  after  the  cost  of  his  own  man  interest  and  sympathy  out  of  them,  we  are 

support  has  been  defrayed.     The  library  should  unable  to  imagine.     We  expect  the  state  is  also 

be  arranged  so  as  to  furnish  special  books  and  unable  to  imagine. — Saturday  Evening  Post. 

courses  of  reading  in  various  branches  of  science  ^     ^ 
and  industry.     He  should  have  substantial  and 

palatable  food,  and  the  sanitary  conditions  should  Pointless  Punishments 

be  of  the  best.  Governor  Foss  reports  that  over  ten  thousand 

Evil  deeds  committed  by  normal  man  carry  persons  were  imprisoned  in  the  Bay  State  last 

with  them  their  own  immutable  punishment  and  year  for  debt — that  is,  because  they  were  unable 

the  very  acme  of  suffering  is  often  reached  be-  to  pay  the  small  fines  imposed  on  them;  and  he 

fore  the  term  in  prison  commences — even  if  it  is  opined  that  the  total   commitments,   numbering 

in  the  worst  of  prisons.     Let  our  jails  then  be  something  over  twenty-seven  thousand,  must  have 

hospitals  for  human  weakness  and  depravity,  and  brought  financial  disaster  to  fifty  thousand  per- 

send  forth  their  patients  strengthened  instead  of  sons,    many   of   whom   were   innocent   children, 

weakened  for  the  further  battle  that  awaits  them.  Two-thirds  of  all  commitments  to  penal  insti- 

The  whole  problem  of  prison  punishment  is  a  tutions  were  made  for  drunkenness  or  in  default 

complicated  one,  but  the  sentence  which  Dante  of  fines  imposed  for  drunkenness, 

inscribes  over  the  gates  of  Hell — "All  hope  aban-  Now  what  earthly  good  does  anybody  derive 

don,  ye  who  enter  here!" — should  not  be  written  from  putting  a  drunkard  in  jail?     It  would  be 


March  1,  1914                                  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  139 

far  simpler,  far  less  expensive  to  the  state,  and  by  the  courts,  have  invariably  been  held  uncon- 

incomparably  better  for  the  culprit  and  the  cul-  stitutional   on   the   ground   that   they   interfered 

prit's  family  if  the  court,  instead  of  sending  him  with  interstate  commerce.     The  Boohcr-Hughes 

to  jail  for  a  week  or  a  fortnight,  merely  kicked  bill  has  therefore  been  introduced  into  congress 

him  three  times  in  the  ribs.     He  might  be  lame  and  is  supix)rted  by  the  .\mcrican  Federation  of 

for  a  day,  yet  he  could  return  to  work  with  only  Labor  and  the  national  committee  on  prison  la- 

a  small  loss  of  time;  and  the  magisterial  assault  bor.    This  bill  is  modeled  after  the  Wilson  lic|uor 

on  his  ribs  would  have  at  least  as  much  effect  law     which     restricts     interstate    commerce     in 

in  weaning  him  from  a  career  of  inebriety  as  a  spirituous  licjuors,  and  it  is  hoped  in  the  event  of 

jail  sentence  does.  its  passage  that  the  state  branding  and  licensing 

And  no  man  should  be  locked  up  because  he  laws  will  be  possible  of  enforcement, 

cannot  pay  a  fine,  until  he  has  been  given  a  fair  "New  York  city  has  long  been  the  dumping 

opjjortunity  to  earn  the  money  and  discharge  the  ground   for  convict-made  goods  and  once  it  is 

debt.     Where  a  man's  culpability  is  so  light  that  possible  to  enforce  the  New  York  branding  laws, 

the   state  is   willing  to  accept  a   small   sum  of  the  profits  to  be  derived  from  prison  contracts 

money   in  acquittance,  imprisonment   should   be  ^y\\\  be  reduced  to  a  minimum.     So  great  is  the 

the  very  last  resort.  contractor's  fear  of  the  cflFect  of  such  legislation 

The  truth  is  that  at  least  two  times  out  of  ^g  the  Booher-Hughcs  bill  that  many  contracts 

three— as  the  Massachusetts  statistics  show— we  contain  the  proviso  that  on  its  passage  they  shall 

send  a  man  to  jail  because  we  do  not  know  any-  immediately  become  null  and  void, 

thing  rational  to  do  with  him  and  will  not  take  "The  destruction  of  the  contract  system  would 

the  pains  to  find  out.—Saturday  Evening  Post.  necessitate  the  building  up  of  other  systems  for 

^     ^  the  employment  of  convicts.     In  the  constructive 

program  which  would  be  worked  out  in  each  of 

Pushing  the  Booher-Hughes  Bill  ^,^^  ^^^^^,^  ^^^^  ^^^^,^^  indorsed  as  it  is  by  the 

'•The  development  of  convict  road  work  in  national  committee  on  prison  labor  and  other 
practically  every  state  of  the  union  will  be  the  agencies  for  prison  reform,  would  play  a  large 
natural  outcome  of  the  passage  of  the  Booher-  p^^t.  The  passage  of  the  Booher-Hughes  con- 
Hughes  bill,  now  pending  before  congress,  ac-  yj^t  labor  bill  is  therefore  of  definite  imjuirtance 
cording  to  the  American  Automobile  Association,  ^q  ^h  interested  in  the  movement  for  placing  con- 

"This  bill  which  will  limit  interstate  commerce  ^i^ts  on  the  public  roads,"  concludes  the  state- 
in  convict-made  goods  by  subjecting  such  goods  ,„ent  issued  by  the  American  Automobile  Asso- 
to  the  laws  of  the  state  into  which  they  come  will  ciation  committee  on  prison  labor.— Record,  Fort 
strike  a  fatal  blow  at  the  contract  system,"  states  Worth.  Texas, 
the  prison  committee.  ^     ^ 

"Under  this  pernicious  system  great  quantities 

of  prison-made  goods  are  annually   thrown  on  Real  Prison  Reform 

the  open  market,  and  because  of  the  cheapness  We  have  heard  quite  a  lot  about  "Great  Mead- 

of  their  manufacture  are  sold  at  prices  far  be-  ows"  prison  reform ;  now  we  will  give  you  some 

low  those  at  which  similar  goods  manufactured  real  and  substantial  reforms.     In  North  Dakota 

under  fair  conditions  can  be  sold.     A  cutting  of  we  have  grading  and  merit  systems,  the  inmates 

the  selling  price  of  goods  manufactured  in  free  are  compensated  for  their  labor  to  the  sum  of 

factories  and  a  consequent  lowering  of  the  wage  not  less  than  10  nor  more  than  25  cents  per  day, 

paid  free  workingmen  is  the  consequence.  and  all   over  ten   hours   is  known   as  overtime 

"Against  this  unfair  competition  organized  la-  work,  for  which  the  men  receive   10  cents  per 

bor  has   waged   unceasing   warfare,   striving  to  hour.     We  have  known  men  in  this  prison  to 

overcome  it  by  limiting  the  output  of  the  prisons,  make  as  much  as  $50  in  two  months  as  overtime 

Laws    requiring   the   branding  of   convict-made  money.     We  have  no   prison   rules,  only  tho.se 

goods  and  also  a  license  for  their  sale  have  been  that  are  laid  down  by  the  statute  books  of  the 

written  on  the  statute  books  of  New  York  and  Mate:  we  have  the  best  equipped  cell  house  in 

a  dozen  other  states.     These  laws,  when  tested  the   I  nifi-.I   States,  the  dining-room  is  equipped 


140  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  First  Year 

with  tables  and  tablecloths,  the  men  walk  in,  take  well  pointed  out,  but  we  forgot  the  auty  we  owed 

their  seats  and  eat  their  meals  the  same  as  any  the  man  from  whom  we  had  taken  liberty. 

other  cvilized  man.  the  old  relic  of  refusing  the         Depriving  him  of  liberty,  we  hastened  to  as- 

man  in  prison  the  privilege  of  speech  is  a  thing  sume,  deprived  him  of  all  rights.     Not  so.  Even 

of  the  past  in  this  state,  there  is  only  one  place  a   man    condemned    to    death    possesses    certain 

in  this  prison  where  a  man  is  not  allowed  to  rights.    Especially  does  the  ordinary  convict  pos- 

talk,  and  that  is  at  chapel  service,  and  any  man  sess  rights  which  do  not  belong  to  the  man  who 

with  any  self-respect  will  not  want  to  talk  there,  has  never  been  convicted  of  a  crime.     For,  in 

We  have  a  moving  picture  machine   for  enter-  depriving  him  of  his  powers  of  initiative,  we  as- 

tainment  purposes,  we  have  a  baseball  team  in  sume  those  powers.    Therefore  it  is  his  right  that 

the  summer  months,  and  not  only  play  among  he  should  receive  from  us  the  proper  exercise 

ourselves,  but  go  outside  and  play  with  outside  o^  those  powers  of  which  we  have  deprived  him. 

teams ;  we  have  been  as  far  as  forty-two  miles  Century  Magazine. 

away  from  the  institution  to  play  an  outside  team.  @     @ 

We  have  a  life-term  man  herding  cattle  who  is  „  _     _^        •     /-m_- 

*=        .      .      .  Honor  System  m  Ohio 
from  one  to  ten  miles  away  from  the  mstitution  ,t„        , 

:  111  1  IT    X  '  There  s  a  spark  of  good  m  every  man:  the 

every   day  on  horseback;   we   have  a   life-term  /  .  °  -'         .     , 

,  ,     ,      ,       r/-  1  •  blood  will  tell    idea  is  bosh ;  if  a  man  isn  t  a 

man  as  the  wardens  chauffeur;  this  man  goes  ,       .    .     ,  ,  ,     ,      ,    ,  , 

...  ,  .  thorough  criminal  he  can  be  trusted ;  normal  men 

all  over  the  countrv  in  a  high-power  machine,  ,  ,  ,   ^,  i         i-  j 

'  .  have  honor  and  they  can  be  relied  upon  to  a 

sometimes   not   returning   until   3   a.    m.    in    the  ■   •  .     ■  i       »      t-u 

*'  certain   extent,   some   more,   some   less.       Thus 

morning.    When  a  man  wishes  to  have  his  teeth  p^^f^^j^^  ^,^  explanation  of  Ohio's  new  "make 

fixed,  or  has  any  kind  of  sickness  that  he  does  ,^.,^,^.,  p^,j^^,  ^^-^^^^^^  p  -^  Tho^^^s,  the  first  ex- 

not  care  to  have  the  prison  physician  attend  to,  ^^^^  criminologist  ever  in  charge  of  Ohio's  fa- 

and  has  the  money  to  pay  expenses,  he  is  sent  ^^^^^^^   ^j^l   penitentiary,    told   the   United    Press 

to  the  best   doctor  in   Bismarck  for  treatment,  correspondent  that  the  honor  system  among  con- 

This  is  what  we  call  prison  reform.     And  for  ^/^^^^  j^,  a  success.     Warden  Thomas  has  experi- 

fear  that  some  that  read  this  article  may  think  mented  with  the  honor  system  in  Ohio  a  little 

that  Warden  Talcott  is  giving  the  men  too  much  over  a  year  today.     Here  are  a  few  plain  facts 

l)rivilege,  we  want  to  state  right  here  that  all  of  about  the  system  as  explained  by  the  warden : 
the  privilege  that  is  in  the  gift  of  the  warden         About  3.S0  men  are  working  in  the  open  air  on 

and  Board  of  Control  we  receive.     And  what  their  honor.     A  big  percentage  of  the  men  are 

are  the  consequences?     You  never  hear  of  any  building    roads    for   the    state.      Guards    aren't 

more  assaults  upon  officers  by  inmates,  you  never  needed ;  an  overseer  bosses  the  work.    The  larg- 

hear  of  a  fight  between  an  inmate  and  his  fellow  est  per  cent  of  "honor  men"  are  life  termers, 

worker,  a  thing  that  was  an  everyday  occurrence  They  wear  blue  overalls  like  ordinary  laborers 

not  more  than  twelve  months  ago.     The  factory  and  have  Sunday  clothes.    They  go  to  church  on 

is  running  fifteen  hours  a  day,  the  twine  is  better,  Sundays.     They  work  eight  hours  a  day.    They 

because  the  men  take  an  interest  in  their  work;  are  paid  five  cents  an  hour;  ninety  per  cent  goes 

the  report  blanks  of  the  officers  are  clear ;  sel-  ^^  ^^^^^  dependents,  the  rest  to  them.    Less  than 

dom  does  a  report  have  to  be  turned  m.—The  ^"^  P^^  <^^"t  have  tried  to  escape    in    a    year. 

Reflector   Bismarck   N.  D.  Honor  men  have  all  served  from  one  to  fifteen 

years  behind  bars. 

"The  long  term  men  are  best,"  said  Warden 

Rights  of  the  Criminal  Thomas.    And  Warden  Thomas  is  said  to  know 

We  have  been  shamefully  neglecting  our  crim-  his  men  from  "A  to  Z."    "Criminals  are  classified 

inals  until  very  recently.    After  hunting,  convict-  in  four  divisions,"  declared  the  warden.     "They 

ing  and   imprisoning  them,  we  have  seemed  to  are  the  feeble  minded,  criminal  by  choice;  crim- 

feel  that  our  whole  duty  to  them  and  society  was  inal  by  circumstances  and  criminal  by  environ- 

ended.     We  forgot  not  only  the  duty  we  owed  ment.      The   theory   that    'blood   will   tell;    like 

ourselves,  which  the  word.s  of  President  Hayes  father  like  son,'  is  all  wrong.    Men  are  good  for 


March   1.   Iltl4 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


141 


three  reasons:  Those  of  higher  mentality  do 
right  because  it  is  right  to  do  right;  a  second 
class  do  right  through  hope  of  reward;  a  third 
class  do  right  through  fear  of  punishment."  It  is 
the  first  and  second  divisions  from  which  W'ar- 
den  Thomas  recruits  his  honor  men.  Warden 
Thomas  has  accomplished  other  things  aside 
from  succeeding  with  his  honor  men.  He  has 
eliminated  stripes  and  substituted  a  light  grey 
material  for  prison  uniforms;  abolished  inhuman 
punishments,  such  as  water  cures,  chain  string- 
ings  and  whippings ;  put  into  operation  the  the- 
ory that  a  full  stomach  contributes  to  discipline ; 
built  new  and  better  ventilated  cells  and  estab- 
lished a  dormitory  for  "good"  jirisoners  where 
several  hundred  of  them  will  soon  have  their  own 
tables,  chairs  and  beds  with  no  bars  in  sight. — 
Tde<^raph  Xcx^'s,  Atlanta.  Iowa. 

The  Honor  System  and  Bullets 

The  honor  system,  so  highly  praised  by  penolo- 
gists as  the  most  enlightened  way  of  dealing  with 
prisoners  in  penal  institutions,  cannot  be  a  com- 
plete success  in  pri.sons  which  restrain  such  des- 
perate criminals  as  Chicago  produces.  Bold  men 
who  frequently  have  risked  their  lives  in  lawless 
enterprises  are  not  likely  to  be  l.;ss  timiil  in  fac- 
ing death  when  freedom  from  legal  bondage  is 
the  reward.  Such  incidents  as  the  one  yesterday 
at  Joliet,  where  a  prisoner  was  sliot  while  trying 
to  escape,  do  much  to  hinder  pri^iin  reform. 

When  Warden  Allen  assumed  control  of  Joliet 
penitentiary,  last  year,  he  went  to  Colorado  and 
other  states  and  investigated  the  application  of 
the  honor  system.  On  his  return  he  announced 
his  enthusiastic  belief  in  the  reform,  and  he  has 
been  applying  the  most  humane  methods  in  gov- 
erning the  great  state  penitentiary,  if  reports 
represent  the  true  facts.  Every  prisoner  has 
been  given  his  chance  and  is  being  trusted  as  he 
shows  himself  worthy  of  trust.  The  convicts  who 
worked  on  the  public  highways  last  fall  did  so 
practically  without  restraint  or  guard,  and  they 
remained  at  their  posts. 

Kindness  works  wonders  among  normal  men, 
but  a  large  percentage  of  the  prisoners  in  a  penal 
institution  are  not  normal.  For  such  tiiere  must 
always  be  walls,  bars  and  bullets.  The  act  of  two 
prisoners  should  not  be  sufficient  to  cause  War- 
den .^Uen  to  dismiss  as  entirely  impractical  his 


humane  system,  h  >huuld.  however,  convince 
him  that  the  armed  guard  is  as  necessary  for  one 
class  of  prisoners  as  kindness  for  the  other,  and 
that  a  constant  show  of  firmness  may  prevent  the 
necessity  of   killing.— A'«cj.   Springfield.   111. 

Humanity  Toward  Prisoners 

When  Superintendcm  I'eyton  of  the  Indiana 
Reformatory  brought  a  Ixty  |)risoner  to  Governor 
Ralston  with  the  argument  that  the  lad  would  be 
harmed  more  than  helped  by  serving  his  long 
sentence,  he  offered  an  illustration  of  ihc  new 
element  that  is  entering  into  the  official  treatment 
of  offenders  against  the  law  and  society,  namely, 
the  humane  spirit,  the  friendly  personal  touch. 

Thomas  Mott  Oslwrne.  member  of  the  New 
York  State  Prison  committee,  recently  spent  a 
week  in  Auburn  Prison  in  the  role  of  a  convict 
for  the  purpose  of  learning  how  the  condition  of 
the  inmates  might  be  bettered.  He  was  follow- 
ing out  the  same  idea.  The  result  of  his  obser- 
vations is  now  shown  in  certain  recommenda- 
tions, the  most  important  one  of  which  is  the  ab- 
solute indeterminate  sentence  for  crime — all 
crime.  The  only  safe  ground  on  which  to  build 
a  prison,  he  says,  is  the  principle  of  the  reforma- 
tion of  the  prisoner.     He  adds: 

We  can  not  and  never  will  be  able  to  tell  just  how 
guilty  any  man  really  is,  because  wc  can  not  look  into 
his  soul.  .\s  to  a  theory  of  prisons  based  on  the  de- 
terrent effect  they  may  have  we  are  just  as  hopelessly 
off.  It  never  will  be  possible  to  tell  whether  or  not 
we  are  deterring  a  person  from  crime.  Reformation  is 
the  only  safe  ground  because  it  is  the  economic  attitude 
toward  the  problem.  It  is  the  principle  of  keeping  men 
from  coming  back  to  jail. 

Dr.  Katherine  iJement  Davis,  the  new  commis- 
sioner of  correction  in  Xew  York,  is  proceeding 
on  the  same  principle  when  she  does  away  with 
striped  suits  and  bedticking  dresses  for  prison- 
ers; when  she  demands  m<»re  space  for  the  prison 
pens  in  justices'  courts,  and  plans  for  better  ven- 
tilation and  less  crt)wding  in  the  Tombs  Prison. 
The  .same  humane  and  enlightened  spirit  was 
manifeste<l  by  Judge  Collins,  former  judge  of  the 
lndiana|)olis  Police  Court,  when  he  gave  thou- 
sands of  men  and  women  a  chance  to  reform  by 
granting  them  freedom  imder  suspended  sen- 
tence or  by  applying  the  probation  system. 

It  remains  true,  of  course,  that  certain  persons 
must  be  held  under  restraint  for  the  good  of  so- 


142 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


ciety,  but  the  principle  that  every  man  should 
have  a  chance  to  reform  and  that  he  can  not  do 
it  unless  conditions  be  favorable — unless  he  is 
treated  as  a  human  being — is  none  the  less  sound. 
Even  the  worst  offender  is  entitled  to  feel  that 
he  is  not  without  a  friend,  and  the  right  of  con- 
victs to  kindness  from  their  more  fortunate  fel- 
low beings  is  the  greater  in  that  the  most  of  the 
derelicts  are  weaklings  and  need  a  helping  hand 
on  that  account. — Star,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 


Uncle  Sam  Gives  Free  Legal  Aid  to  Prisoners 

Through  the  efforts  of  Warden  Morgan  and 
the  United  States  district  attorney,  Fred  Rob- 
ertson, the  department  of  justice  has  been  per- 
suaded to  provide  free  legal  aid  for  all  convicts 
who  are  unable  to  provide  their  own  attorney  in 
preparing  writs  of  habeas  corpus.  A  bulletin 
announcing  this  fact  will  be  posted  in  the  prison 
shortly. 

According  to  the  new  ruling,  a  prisoner  who 
believes  himself  entitled  to  release  on  a  habeas 
corpus  writ  may  write  to  the  district  attorney, 
enclosing  a  copy  of  the  indictment  and  commit- 
ment papers.  After  examining  the  papers, 
should  Mr.  Robertson  decide  that  the  man  has 
any  case  at  all,  an  attorney  will  be  appointed 
who  will  prepare  a  petition  of  habeas  corpus. 

Mr.  Robertson,  appearing  for  the  government, 
will  respond  to  the  petition  before  Judge  Pol- 
lock, while  the  special  attorney  appointed  will 
appear  for  the  prisoner.  As  to  whether  the  at- 
torney representing  the  prisoner  will  receive 
compensation.  Warden  Morgan  does  not  know. 
If  he  should,  the  money  will  be  provided  by  the 
court. 

Warden  Morgan  and  Mr.  Robertson  decided 
definitely  upon  this  reform  while  attending  the 
Bryan  banquet  at  Topeka.  The  Department  of 
Justice  gave  its  consent  immediately. 

"It  undoubtedly  will  cause  no  end  of  trouble," 
said  Warden  Morgan  yesterday,  "as  many  men 
who  have  no  case  at  all  will  want  to  take  advan- 
taige  of  the  new  rule.  But  I  am  willing  to 
withstand  whatever  discomfort  it  may  cause  me, 
in  order  to  give  those  who  are  entitled  to  release 
an  opportunity  to  present  their  case  in  the  proper 
manner  before  the  proper  authority. 

"Think  of  having  men  come  up  before  you 
and  say  that  another  man.  whose  case  was  simi- 


lar to  theirs  had  been  released  simply  because 
he  had  $2.S  or  $35  to  employ  an  attorney.  In 
many  cases  that  was  true.  Yet  a  person  could 
do  nothing." 

Several  prisoners  have  prepared  their  own 
writs,  but  none  have  been  released,  as  there 
was  always  some  technical  error  which  made  it 
impossible  to  obtain  a  release.  Errors  on  com- 
mitment papers  or  indictments  provided  liberty 
for  some  men,  and  others  on  whose  papers  the 
same  errors  appeared  were  unable  to  obtain  free- 
dom, on  account  of  poverty. — Times,  Leaven- 
worth, Kan. 


Bridewell  Labor 

The  announcement  that  after  May  1  the  con- 
tract system  of  disposing  of  the  prison  labor  in 
the  bridewell  will  be  abolished,  and  that  earnings 
of  a  man  serving  a  sentence,  after  maintenance 
charges  have  been  deducted,  will  go  to  his  de- 
pendents, is  encouraging.  The  misuse  of  prison 
labor  has  long  been  a  blot  upon  the  community. 
It  thrived  not  because  there  was  any  merit  or 
j'ustice  in  it,  but  because  certain  politicians  and 
their  friends  had  to  make  easy  money  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  public  some  way. 

There  is  much  work  to  be  done  for  the  city 
that  can  be  done  by  the  prisoners  in  the  bride- 
well. They  can  manufacture  a  number  of  articles 
and  materials  for  which  the  city  now  goes  to 
private  employers. 

Aside  from  the  financial  saving  to  the  com- 
munity, however,  the  abolition  of  prison  labor 
contracts  is  certain  to  elevate  the  tone  of  the 
prisoner.  He  is  likely  to  come  out  a  better  man 
after  his  term  in  the  bridewell  has  expired.  The 
self-respect  which  comes  from  being  employed  at 
useful  labor  and  of  getting  the  prevailing  rate  of 
wages  is  incalculable.  It  has  proven  so  in  other 
states.— Tribune,  Chicago. 


Prison  Made  Harness 

Despite  the  protests  of  Missouri  harnessmak- 
ers,  the  State  Prison  Board  has  closed  contracts 
for  working  225  convicts  at  harness  manufactur- 
ing in  the  penitentiary  workshops  at  Jefferson 
City.  The  contracts  are  for  two  years,  which 
fact   makes    the   harness   industry   of  this    state 


March  1.  1914                                  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  143 

face  competition  of  the  most  ruinous  character  The  third  experiment  is  the  state  farm  of 
until  the  close  of  1915.  1,000  acres,  lying  two  miles  east  of  Leesburg, 
This  is  a  disgraceful  action  on  the  part  of  the  in  the  southern  end  of  Cumberland  county.  This 
state.  It  is  undermining  an  industry  in  which  js  pioneer  work.  The  ground  is  covered  with  a 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  capital  are  growth  of  pine  timber  and  much. shrub  and  un- 
invested in  St.  Joseph,  Kansas  City,  St.  Louis,  derbrush  growth.  The  thirty-five  prisoners  there 
Springfield  and  other  Missouri  towns,  and  which  i^^y^  bggn  clearing  more  than  an  acre  a  day  of 
provides  employment  for  about  the  same  num-  j|^jg  heretofore  unused  land.  When  the  roots 
her  of  actual  bench  and  machine  workers  as  ^^^  grubbed  out,  the  land  will  be  ready  for  the 
will  now  do  this  labor  in  prison.  However,  ^]^^^^,,^  of  crops  next  spring.  It  is  virgin  soil 
far  more  employes  are  affected,  for  the  prison-  ^^^^  ^^,.^^  produce  bountiful  crops.  As  this  farm 
produced  harness  will  also  harm  the  traveling  .^  ^^  ^^  ^  permanent  thing,  the  present  tempo- 
salesmen,  clerks  and  stenographers  now  having  buildings  of  frame  construction,  the  lumber 
profitable  employment  with  the  concerns  whose  ^^^^.^^^^  ^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^    ^^ij,  ^,^  ^^p,^^^^  by 

business  is  thus  made  to  suflFer.  ,    .  ,    ,    -i  i- 

.„  ,                  .    r        .,              1                .  brick  buildings. 

It  will  be  a  year  before  the  people  can  get  a  ^^   .            -Ti     ^i    .  lu     *  ..^   ^^^a  /.or,-.,^c   -^nA 

;,,          .       .  It  is  possible   that   the  two   road  camps  ana 

chance  at  the  Missouri  prison  contract  system.  .  ^     r             -n    i      i„„  c.„(V,^;^niU,  fr»  o-Jvp 

,    r         ,  the  state  farm  will  develop  sutticiently  to  give 

It  will  be  another  year  before  the  present  con-  ._  *u-  „  i;i.«  i,..^  v,„nHr/>rl  nr 

•^                                     J      T^  employment  to  something  like  two  hundred  or 

tracts,  closed  last  week,  come  to  an  end.     But  ,       .    j        i  cr* .  .,^„,„Vfc 

.      .         ,    ,                               ,      ,  ,          ,  two  hundred  and  fiftv  convicts, 

the  expiration  of  these  agreements  should  mark  ^^^^^^^^             .^^   ^^^   p^^^^^,^^   ^^  emploving 

the  abolition  of  the  whole  disreputable  system.-  ^^^^^  ^^^^.^^^  .^  ^^  ^^  ^^^^^  ^^  ^^  ^^^^^  ^^^^  i„ 

Gacette,  St.  Joseph,  Mo.  demonstrating  the  use  of  prisoners  in  building 

®     ^  county  roads. 

T3  •         T    u      •     XT        T  The  freeholders  of  Salem  countv  have  agreed 

Prison  Labor  in  New  Jersey  ^"^  nccuwi^^ivicj                          ,.  '     .          ?  ,. 

n     i     u      u  .          1      XT        T            •           1  •  to    undertake   this   under   the   direction    of   the 
braduallv,  but  surelv,  New  Jersey  is  working  ,  .  ,                      .    .              tu„,,  u„„^  tmit 
,        ■    ,  ,.           ''          •         ,1            ui  state  highway  commissioner.     They  have  pur- 
towards  a  solution  of  the  prison  labor  problem.  .                          r  i      i              •*„  f^^  o  ,^r^r, 
-ru                    u        u           .  uy  u  A       A     u     .  chased  two     acres  of  land  as  a  site  for  a  con- 
Three  camps  have  been  established  and  about  _           j  .    u      ^    t^„^t^A  i;«e  Ka 
/     .                        .u      .  .        •           .  V  ct  camp.     The  road  to  be  constructed  lies  be- 
one  hundred  prisoners  from  the  state  prison  at  '               ,   -.r  i          •     *i,     ..^^♦^rr.   r.-,rt 
^      ,               ^            .    .•        .u         1          r   4u-  tween   Elmer  and   Malaga,   in   the  eastern  part 
Trenton    are    demonstrating   the   value    of   this  ,                         t-i       at         r  ..„>.,.    p^m/.-/! 
,       T,,     c    ,                     1*^1.  of    Salem    countv.— The    Nezc   Jersey    Review, 
work.     The  first  camp  was  located  last  summer  .     ,,    t     ' 

Newark    N    T 

on   the   Newton-Andover   state   road   in   Sussex  >      ■  j- 

county,  where  the  problem  is  to  rebuild  a  state  ^     ^ 

highway   by  widening   the    road,    taking   out   a  Legislation  in  Massachusetts 

number  of  sharp  curves,  building  bridges   and  >,Tineteen  bills  dealing  with  the  prison  system 

laying   suitable    drains.  ^^\^^^   Commonwealth   are   pending  before  the 

Camp  No.  2  was  established  late  in  November,  j^^jj-i^ture.     They  provide  the  new   legislation 

on    Mt.  Lucas,  one  mile  from  Rocky  Hill  and  ^^j^'T^j^  ^,^^1^.  j^^^hor,  the  chairman  of  the  Board  of 

three  miles  from  Princeton.  The  job  here  is  to  p^igQ,,  Commissioners,  believes  to  be  essential  to 

transform  a  very  old  and  isolated  farm  road  into  ^   humane  and  commonsense  administration  of 

a  state  highway  from  Princeton  to  Somerville.  J^lassachusetts  prisons.     His  record  in  the  West 

The  camp  is  located  in  an   isolated   spot  on  a  ^^^^^  his  year  of  service  here  show  Mr.  Randall 

rockyridge,  where  there  is  much  rock  work,  grad-  j^^  he  a  conservative  with  ideals,  who  knows  his 

ing  and  filling  to  be  done.    The  Rocky  Hill  camp  problem,  not  through  hearsay  but  by  first-hand 

at  present  consists  of  one  building,  built  by  the  study.     He  suggests  no  legislative  exi-)eriments. 

prisoners,  36x72  feet  in  size,  with  accommoda-  His  recommendations  are   founded   upon   expe- 

tions   for  thirty-five   cots   for   the   convicts   and  ricncc  in  other  States  and  a  searching  examina- 

quarters  for  the  officers.     A  mess  hall  adjoining  tion  of  local  conditions. 

contains  kitchen  and  dining  tables,  with  a  storage  The  last  one  of  the  Randall  prison  bills  ought 

cellar     underneath.      Suitable     frame     buildings  to  pass.    They  are  the  nineteen  necessities  of  this 

have  been  set.  up  for  stable  and  shop  purposes,  session.    They  make  up  a  well-rounded  program 


144 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


of  practical  prison  management.  Their  provi- 
sions reflect  the  experience  of  the  past  and  the 
spirit  of  the  present.  When  enacted  into  law  we 
should  no  longer  be  humiliated  by  conditions  in 
county  prisons  now  beyond  the  oontrol  of  the 
Commonwealth.  These  must  be  merged  into  a 
few  State  institutions  so  situated  and  adminis- 
tered that  they  are  no  longer  breeding  places  for 
crime,  but  restore  while  they  restrict,  and  not 
merely  preach  but  teach  rules  of  right  living. 
We  shall  also  end  the  iniquitous  practice  of  jail- 
ing men  without  their  day  in  court^-for  what 
else  can  we  say  of  a  system  under  whch  men  too 
poor  to  hire  counsel  are  sentenced  without  any 
pretense  at  defence?  One  of  the  pending  bills 
provides  for  the  designation  of  counsel  by  the 
Court  in  such  cases. 

In  all  jails  and  reformatories  the  delinquents 
must  be  segregated  and  adequate  provision  made 
for  those  suffering  from  tuberculosis.  Needy 
and  deserving  prisoners  who  are  discharged 
should  not  be  turned  loose  and  helpless  upon  a 
hostile  community.  To  provide  means  by  which 
prisoners  can  earn  enough  to  pay  the  State  for 
their  keep  and  lay  aside  a  little  for  their  helpless 
families  is  in  the  long  run  governmental  econ- 
omy, as  well  as  ordinary  humanity.  There  are 
other  provisions  in  the  pending  bills  equally 
meritorious. 

Unless  Governor  Walsh  seriously  disappoints 
the  hopes  of  many  of  his  well  wishers  he  will 
make  these  nineteen  necessities  of  the  session  the 
subject  of  a  special  message  at  an  early  day,  and 
the  Legislature  will  fail  of  its  duty  and  fly  in 
the  face  of  an  enlightened  public  opinion  if  it 
refuses  to  write  these  bills  into  the  law  before 
adjournment.  The  public  expects  the  governor 
and  the  Legislature  to  work  together  and 
promptly  to  this  end. — Transcript,  Boston,  Mass. 

Intra-Mural  Schools 

Through  the  efforts  of  the  Baltimore  Nezvs  the 
Maryland  penitentiary,  which  was  considered  a 
model  up  to  two  years  ago,  has  been  thoroughly 
overhauled  and  an  end  put  to  the  numerous 
glaring  evils  that  existed.  Constructive  work 
has  also  been  done,  and  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful innovations  is  the  establishment  of  a  system 
of  intramural  education,    presided    over    by    a 


superintendent,  who  is  himself  a  convict,  and 
taught  by  volunteer  prisoners  who  are  educated. 
The  superintendent -of  the  school  has  written 
a  series  of  five  articles,  which  have  appeared  in 
the  Nezi'S,  showing  the  astonishing  progress 
made  by  the  adult  students.  A  Chinamen,  66 
years  old,  for  instance,  after  four  months  in  the 
school,  can  now  speak,  read  and  write  English 
in  a  measurably  fair  degree.  Another  student 
who  could  neither  read  nor  write  was  able  to 
pen  a  letter,  after  six  months'  instruction,  that 
would  do  credit  to  any  business  man.  A  black- 
hand  convict  learned,  in  a  few  months,  to  write 
a  legible  hand,  and  gives  a  sample  of  his  work 
in  a  letter  to  his  wife.  Another  convict  who 
could  neither  read  nor  write  learned  the  art  in 
six  or  seven  months  so  well  that  he  could  write 
a  letter  home  to  his  wife  and  children.  Fac- 
similes of  these  letters  are  given,  and  also  sam- 
ples of  the  first  exercises,  where  the  novice  was 
given  a  pen  and  told  to  make  straight,  vertical 
or  slanting  lines  and  other  foundation  figures  on 
which  the  alphabet  is  built.  The  intramural 
school  is  doing  a  great  work.  It  keeps  the  minds 
of  the  students  profitably  employed.  Monotony 
is  destroyed  and  the  rays  of  intelligence  are  per- 
mitted to  penetrate  the  darkened  intellects  of  the 
unfortunates,  who  are  thus  given  a  broader  and 
a  clearer  view  of  life,  and  are  enabled  to  see 
beyond  the  mere  brutish  environment  of  the  days 
of  their  ignorance.  Other  states  could  adopt 
this  educational  method  with  much  profit.  Igno- 
rance is  no  crime,  but  ignorance  is  the  cause  of 
most  crimes.  Instructed  men  often  become  crim- 
inals, but  the  percentage  is  very  small,  as  com- 
pared to  the  number  of  criminals  who  are  held 
in  the  bonds  of  ignorance. — Scimitar,  Memphis, 
Tenn. 


He  Played  Safe 

The  juror  who  told  the  court  that  while  he  had 
no  objection  to  capital  punishment  his  wife  had, 
and  should  he  vote  to  find  a  man  guilty  of  mur- 
der in  the  first  degree,  his  wife  would  look  upon 
him  as  but  little  better  than  the  murderer,  had  to 
stand  the  laugh  of  others  in  the  courtroom.  Be 
that  as  it  may,  he  was  a  good  family  man,  who 
placed  his  home  life  above  everything  else, — ' 
Examiner,  Chicago, 


March   1.   lUH 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


145 


A  Prisoner's  Mail 

It  is  very  easy  to  account  for  crime  in  the 
United  States  if  the  daiiy  newspapers  exert  the 
malign  influence  that  many  prison  authorities 
attribute  to  them.  In  sixteen  states — as  appears 
from  an  incjuiry  conducted  by  the  parole  clerk 
of  the  Arizona  state  prison — inmates  of  peniten- 
tiaries are  not  permitted  to  see  any  daily  paper. 

It  would  be  very  interesting  to  examine  these 
prisoners  on  their  release  for  the  purix)se  of 
finding  out  how  much  their  moral  attributes 
have  been  purified  and  strengthened  hv  .some 
years  of  careful  isolation  from  the  degrading 
daily  press.  We  might  then  know  whether  the 
restriction  is  really  worth  while. 

What  good  reason  is  there  for  any  restriction 
of  a  prisoner's  mail — except  to  see  that  drugs, 
weapons  and  the  like  are  not  delivered  to  him? 
Restriction  is  the  rule,  however,  rather  than  the 
exception.  In  most  states  a  prisoner  may  write 
only  one  letter  a  month  or  one  a  fortnight — or 
possibly  one  a  week.  In  a  prisoner's  situation, 
what  influence  is  likely  to  be  more  humanizing 
than  letters? 

These  mail  restrictions  belong  to  the  era — 
only  now  beginning  to  pass  away — when  the 
object  of  prison  discipline  was  frankly  to  crush 
and  dehumanize. — Saturday  Ercuing  Post. 


Honor  Men  Made  Good  in  Nebraska 

One  year  ago  today  Warden  Fenton  took  up 
his  duties  at  the  Nebraska  penitentiary.  During 
the  year  he  has  organized  the  work  at  the  prison 
in  many  ways.  The  honor  system  has  been  used 
among  the  convicts,  both  in  and  out  of  the 
prison.  At  some  times  fifty  men  have  been  work- 
ing in  various  parts  of  Lancaster  county,  unat- 
tended by  guards  and  making  no  effort  to  escape. 
Not  one  prisoner  has  escaped  from  the  peniten- 
tiary itself  during  the  year.  Warden  henton 
is  pleased  with  the  spirit  of  co-operation  which 
exists  between  the  prison  oflFicials  and  the  con- 
victs. He  says  that  most  of  tlie  jjrisoners  are 
assisting  the  authorities  in  maintaining  order 
and  that  they  realize  that  every  effort  to  jielp 
them  is  being  made.  The  suppression  of  the 
dope  traffic  is  one  of  the  reforms  which  Warden 
Fenton  feels  has  been  the  most  imfx)rtant  act 
of  his  administration. — State  Journal,  Lincoln, 
\eb, 


Honor  System  Not  at  Fault 

.Ml  friends  of  humane  administration  of  pris- 
ons will  hope  that  the  tragedy  in  the  ( )klahoma 
state  penitentiary  at  Mc.Mcster  will  not  cause 
a  reaction  in  favor  of  rigid  discipline  and  the 
depriving  of  all  convicts  of  the  privileges  of  the 
honor  system.  The  (|uadru|)le  murder  at  Mc- 
.Mester.  at  this  length  of  time  from  its  occur- 
rence, shocks  all  who  contemplate  the  details. 
The  assistant  dejnity  warden,  the  <lisciplinarian. 
was  killed  because  he  preferred  to  risk  his  own 
lite  to  risking  that  of  a  young  woman  stenogra- 
pher whom  the  escaj)ing  desperadoes  used  as  a 
shieM.  The  killing  of  a  visitor  in  the  office  of 
tile  warden  appears  to  have  been  an  act  of  mere 
wantonness,  as  he  had  his  hands  in  the  air  and 
was  begging  for  his  life.  The  assumption  that 
he  was  mistaken  for  the  wanlen  is  improbable, 
for  the  warden  was  personally  known  to  every 
convict  and  he  bore  not  the  slightest  resemblance, 
it  is  said,  to  Judge  Thomas. 

The  insurrection  in  the  Oklahoma  prison,  the 
reckless  sacrifice  and  the  utter  disregard  for 
human  life  displayed  by  the  imprisoned  men  in 
seeking  liberty  from  restraint,  may  result  in 
much  harm  to  the  honor  system,  but  it  is  hardly 
fair,  after  that,  to  charge  to  all  prisoners  the 
faults  perhaps  l)elonging  to  a  comi)aratively  few 
among  their  number. 

And  yet.  it  is  for  the  prisoners  in  the  several 
states  to  demonstrate  that  they  are  worthy  of 
being  trusted — that  they  have  not  fallen  so  low 
that  honor  has  dei)arted — before  they  can  expect 
very  general  favor  from  tlieir  keci>ers. — Tiftw^ 
Racine.   Wis. 

Why  Prison  Mutinies  Occur 

Discussing  the  causes  which  |)roduce  the  inci- 
dents stich  as  occurred  at  the  Mc.Mester  peni- 
tentiary the  other  day,  resulting  in  the  sacrifice 
of  seven  lives,  the  .McAlester  Navs-Capital  perti- 
nently remarks: 

The  firreat  defect  in  the  manaRcincnt  and  control  of 
tho  Oklahoma  penitentiary  is  the  lack  of  employment 
for  the-  prisoners,  and  this  is  no  fault  of  the  war<lcn. 
as  he  has  repeatedly  urRcd  upon  the  governor  and  the 
state  legislature  that  the  prisoners  be  given  employ- 
ment. He  has  built  the  institution  with  their  lal>or. 
placed  a  2.000-acrc  farm  in  a  high  state  of  ctdtivafion 
and  busied  his  brain  in  finding  something  for  them  to 
do.  He  is  now  almost  at  the  end  of  his  resources  in 
fi^ditig  employment    for   the   prisoners.     There   is   noS 


146 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


any  money  with  which  to  work  them  successfully  upon 
the  public  highways,  and  it  has  been  demonstrated  that 
they  cannot  be  farmed  out  to  the  different  counties  of 
the  state  without  too  large  a  percentage  of  escapes. 

The  News-Capital  has  sized  the  situation  up 
quite  correctly.  Idleness  breeds  crime,  and  crime 
begets  desperate  characters. 

We  have  approximately  1,500  convicts  in  the 
McAlester  institution,  principally  doing  nothing. 
Our  constitution  forbids  their  employment  as 
coal  miners.  The  legislature,  to  date,  has  failed 
of  making  adequate  provision  for  their  employ- 
ment at  any  useful  or  remunerative  occupation. 
Aside  from  the  work  which  Warden  Dick  has 
found  for  them  to  do  in  the  construction  of  the 
penitentiary  buildings  and  the  cultivation  of  the 
prison  farm,  they  have  had  little  else  to  do  than 
hold   their   hands. 

It  is  but  fair  to  state  that  the  new  prison 
Ixiard  is  already  active  in  the  matter  of  finding 
employment  for  the  convicts.  It  has  purchased 
some  machinery  lately  and  purposes  putting  a 
number  of  them  to  work  in  getting  out  granite 
for  use  in  state  buildings.  But  its  hands  are 
largely  tied  for  the  want  of  funds  with  which 
to   do. 

The  next  legislature,  in  spite  of  the  general 
demand  for  economy  in  expenditures,  should  not 
fail  of  providing  means  with  which  to  put  every 
convict  to  work  in  some  useful  occupation.  This 
thing  of  convicting  men  of  crime  and  then  main- 
taining them  in  wanton  idleness  is  about  as  poor 
a  piece  of  business  as  one  is  apt  to  find  in  a 
protracted  search  for  popular  follies. — Okla- 
honiian,  Oklahoma  City,  Okla. 


Convict  Labor  Suggestion 

From  Virginia  comes  another  suggestion  for 
the  useful  and  profitable  employment  of  convicts 
who  are  made  idle  by  the  abolition  of  prison  labor. 
The  state  purposes  using  the  men  in  preparing 
limestone  for  use  on  impoverished  farms.  Thus 
the  limestone  will  enrich  the  land,  instead  of 
being  pulverized  by  horseshoes  and  rubber  tires 
on  rapidly  disintegrating  roads,  and  better  mate- 
rial may  be  sought  for  the  building  of  hard 
roads. 

For  some  time  there  was  doubt  concerning 
the  state's  right  to  make  this  use  of  its  convicts. 
When  it  undertook  the  experiment,  certain  man- 


ufacturers of  fertilizers  objected.  They  got  out 
an  injunction  and  the  industry  was  tied  up  until 
the  courts  could  act  on  the  subject.  Recently 
it  was  decided  that  pulverizing  limestone  for  use 
on  worn-out  lands  is  a  legitimate  line  of  industry 
for  convicts  to  follow. 

If  the  tendency  to  seek  out  new  lines  of  em- 
ployment for  prisoners  continues,  it  is  possible 
that  they  will  yet  become  useful  factors  in  the 
industrial  scheme ;  this,  too,  without  seriously 
interfering  with  established  trades. — Dispatch, 
Moline,  111. 

Trouble  Ahead 

Truck  raisers  around  Nashville  are  making  a 
strong  protest  against  the  suggestion  that  a  part 
of  Baxter  farm  be  used  for  raising  truck.  They 
will  appear  this  afternoon  before  the  prison  com- 
mittee to  protest  against  it.  The  committee  has 
adopted  the  governor's  suggestion  that  the  honor 
system  be  used  among  convicts  who  will  work  the 
Baxter  farm,  and  this  system  will  be  put  in  oper- 
ation.— News,  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Army  Measure  Passed  by  Senate 

On  February  9  a  bill  passed  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States  by  unanimous  vote,  providing 
a  revision  of  the  articles  of  war — the  military 
law  of  the  United  States,  that  has  stood  un- 
changed since  1806 — and  designed  to  make  the 
soldier  guilty  of  purely  military  oflFenses  an 
object  of  reformatory  discipline  instead  of  a 
penitentiary  convict,  with  the  stamp  of  the  crim- 
inal upon  him. — Inter  Ocean,  Chicago. 

The  Prison's  Twin  Curses 

Speaking  before  the  City  Club  of  St.  Louis 
with  the  authority  and  detailed  knowledge  of  a 
former  Charities  and  Corrections  Commissioner, 
Rabbi  Bernstein  declared  that  the  State's  meth- 
ods in  dealing  with  the  practical  problem  of  the 
convicted  wrongdoer  are  a  quarter  of  a  century 
behind  the  times.  On  the  one  hand,  the  peniten- 
tiary exemplifies  the  worst  evils  of  political  con- 
trol. On  the  other  hand,  it  is  a  thoroughly  com- 
mercialized institution  under  the  contract  labor 
system,  as  unjust  to  convict  as  to  free  labor. 

Of  antiquated  construction  and  execrable 
physical  appointments,  mismanaged  by  reaction- 


March    1,   1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


147 


ary  penologists  of  narrow  experience,  turneci 
into  a  school  of  crime  by  the  impossibility  of  sep- 
arating first  offenders  from  hardened  enemies  of 
society  and  cursed  by  the  twin  evils  of  i^olitics 
and  that  unscrupulous  form  of  big  business 
which  exploits  the  labor  of  unfortunate  inmates, 
the  penitentiary  presents  no  features  in  which  in- 
telligent, big-hearted  Missourians  can  feel  any 
pride. 

The  rabbi's  description  should  assist  in  rousing 
the  State  to  an  appreciation  of  the  true  facts. 
The  greedy  prison  contractors  must  be  thrown 
out  and  along  with  ihem  incompetent,  uncom- 
prehending, cruel  officials.  The  autonomy  of  the 
])enitentiary,  of  all  reformatory  and  philanthropic 
institutions,  from  the  machine  must  be  pro- 
claimed. 

The  next  great  movement  on  which  Missouri- 
ans engage  must  be  a  thoroughgoing  reform  of 
the  entire  corrections  and  charities  system  of  the 
State. — Post-Dispatch,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 


Prisoners  Resist  Law  for  Operation 

Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  Feb.  18. — Inmates  of  the 
state  penitentiary  here  today  prepared  to  resist 
through  the  courts  the  enforcement  of  the  Iowa 
law  providing  for  the  sterilization  of  insane,  dis- 
eased and  criminal  wards  of  the  commonwealth. 
A  test  case  will  be  filed  in  the  District  court  by 
R.  A.  Ryun,  a  convict. — Journal,  Chicago. 

Farm  for  Women  Prisoners 

Kansas  City,  Mo.,  Jan.  24. — Women  municipal 
prisoners  soon  will  be  permitted  to  spend  their 
days  of  detention  in  poultry  raising,  butter  mak- 
ing, gardening  and  other  farm  pursuits  as  a  re- 
sult of  an  action  of  the  city  council  today,  ap- 
propriating money  for  a  municipal  farm  for 
women. 

Plans  call  for  an  institution  similar  to  the 
municipal  farm  for  men  prisoners,  conducted  by 
the  city  for  several  years.  The  new  plan  was 
suggested  by  the  Council  of  Women's  Clubs,  and 
is  in  line  with  the  work  of  the  Board  of  Public 
Welfare  toward  the  substitution  of  healthful  out- 
door activity  for  the  close  confinement  of  the  old 
workhouse  plan. — Glohc-Dcmocrat,  *>{.  Louis, 
Mo. 


Favors  Road  Work  for  Prisoners 

Convicts  have  been  worked  on  the  public  roads 
of  Jeflcrson  county.  Alabama,  for  the  last  ten 
months  and  the  Birmingham  A j^e- Herald  says 
"none  of  the  calamities  so  freely  predicted  by 
those  opposed  to  the  system  has  come  to  pass." 

The  convicts'  camps  have  been  orderly  and 
sanitary ;  there  have  been  few  escapes  and  no 
depredations;  lastly,  the  cost  has  been  smaller 
than  was  anticipated  in  spite  of  the  fact  that 
heavy  expense  was  incurred  in  the  purchase  of 
equipment.  "Splendid  new  roads  have  been  built, 
substantial  steel  and  concrete  bridges  have  been 
erected,  old  roads  have  been  repaired  and  all  by 
convict  labor." 

Public  sentiment  is  growing  stronger  all  over 
the  United  States  against  the  leasing  of  convict 
labor.  At  the  same  time  the  plan  of  using 
prisoners  on  the  roads  is  increasing  in  popular- 
ity. Such  opposition  as  there  is,  has  been  manu- 
factured by  the  diligent  eflforts  of  persons  or  cor- 
porations interested  in  the  continuance  of  profit- 
able  leases. — ConrScr-Jourtial.    I>nuisvillc.    Ky. 

Apologizes   to   Convicts   When    He   Sentences 
Man 

Flint.  Mich.,  bcb.  17. —  (Special.) — In  passing 
sentence  upon  Robert  Carlos,  convicted  of  be- 
traying Grace  Hillier,  a  girl  of  tender  years, 
Judge  Wisner  delivered  one  of  the  most  severe 
arraignments  ever  heard  in  a  local  court. 

"I  want  to  apologize  to  the  murderers,  safe 
blowers,  robbers,  and  confidence  men,"  the  judge 
said,  "confined  in  Marquette  pri.son,  for  having 
sent  you  there  and  to  oblige  them  to  endure  your 
presence  for  five  years,  but  I  send  to  them  thi>^ 
little  history,  that  they  may  know  what  manner 
of  man  vou  are  and  avoid  contamination  witli 
you  as  they  would  a  leper." 

Carlos,  who  is  married,  wronged  Miss  Hillier 
under  promise  of  marriage  and  obtained  all  her 
saving'^. — Tribune.   (  liicago. 

^     ^     ^ 

'What  I  want  to  see,"  said  a  reformer,  "is  a 
city  that  knows  absolutely  nothing  of  graft." 

"That's  what  I  wouM  like  to  see."  re|)licd  the 
ward  politician.  "Say.  wouldn't  (hat  be  a  gold 
mine  for  a  fellow  who  knows  tlie  business?" — 
The  Umpire. 


148 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


HISTORY  OF  CAMP  HOPE 

Forty-five  men.  C.  P.  Hardy  and  myself  left 
Joliet  at  5:00  a.  m.  Tuesday,  September  3.  1913, 
changing  cars  at  Aurora  and  Geneva  and  on  ar- 
rival at  Dixon  we  were  taken  in  automobiles  to 
the  camp  (about  six  miles  north,  near  Grand  de 
Tour),  where  we  were  met  by  Warden  Allen, 
Deputy  Walsh  and  Mr.  Sullivan.  On  our  arrival 
at  11:00  a.  m.  tents  had  already  been  set  up, 
and  from  two  to  three  men  were  assigned  to  each 
tent.  A  large  tent  had  already  been  put  up  for 
a  dining  room,  and  the  cooks  got  busy  at  once 
and  set  up  a  stove  in  the  open  and  had  a  good 
dinner  (considering  the  disadvantages  they  were 
working  under),  by  2:00  p.   m. 


After  dinner  a  tent  18x20  was  raised  for  a 
commissary  and  office  and  the  next  day  a  tele- 
l^hone  was  installed  in  same.  The  camp  was 
located  on  a  sandy  knoll  (which  the  warden 
christened  on  the  day  of  our  arrival  as  Camp 
Hope),  surrounded  with  woods  on  a  higher  ele- 
vation except  east  and  southeast  which  is  open 
farm  land.  We  were  very  fortunate  to  have  the 
forest  on  the  north  and  west  which  shielded  us 
from  the  cold  winds  later.  There  is  a  good  well 
and  a  large  reservoir  near  the  cook  house  with  a 
pump  and  wind  engine  that  supplied  us  with 
pure  soft  water  for  drinking  and  other  purposes. 
The  warden  announced  that  the  working  hours 
would  be  from  7:00  a.  m.  to  12:00,  with  one  hour 
for  dinner  and  1 :00  to  5  :00  p.  m.,  with  Saturday 
afternoons  off.  He  also  stated  that  work  would 
not  be  started  on  the  road  until  Monday,  Sept. 
8,  the  balance  of  the  week  being  devoted  to  get- 
ting the  camp  fitted  up  in  proper  order.  The 
next  day  a  lounging  tent  18x40  was  put  up  and 
in  the  next  few  days  floors  were  laid  in  the  large 
tents,  and  a  cook  house  was  constructed  12x24, 
built  of  common  lumber  covered  with  tar  paper, 
and  the  stove  we  had  been  using  in  the  open  was 
moved  in  same. 


About  ten  days  after  the  camp  was  established 
we  put  up  a  tent  18x20  for  laundry  and  bathing 
purposes,  and  on  Saturday  afternoons  the  men 
who  did  not  wish  to  go  to  the  river  took  a  bath 
in  same. 


Mrs.  Allen  presented  the  camp  with  an  Ameri- 
can flag  and  also  a  pennant  bearing  the  words 
"Camp  Hope."  On  Sept.  5  a  flag  pole  42  feet 
high  was  raised,  Mrs.  Allen  putting  in  the  first 
shovel  full  of  earth. 


The  camp  was  conducted  on  the  same  lines  as 
any  construction  camp. 

Our  daily  routine  was  roll  call  at  6:15  a.  m., 
dinner  at  12:00  m..  and  supper  at  5:10  p.  m.. 
retiring  at  9:00  p.  m.  On  Sunday  morning  roll 
call  was  at  7  :00  a.  m.,  breakfast  at  8  :00  a.  m.. 
and  dinner  at  2 :30  p.  m.  On  Saturday  after- 
noons whenever  the  boys  wanted  to  go  in  swim- 
ming Charles  Hardy  would  accompany  them  to 
Rock  river,  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  to  the 
west,  or  the  same  distance  to  the  east,  as  the 
camp  was  located  on  a  peninsula  about  one  and 
one-half  miles  wide.  Some  of  the  boys  went  in 
swimming  as  late  as  Oct.  1. 

On  Monday,  Sept.  9th,  active  work  was  started 
on  the  north  end  of  the  road,  cutting  underbrush 
and  small  trees,  and  fair  progress  was  made  con- 
sidering that  we  had  only  shovels  and  axes  to 
work  with.  On  Tuesday  work  was  started  on 
tlie  new  part  of  the  road  and  about  one-third  of 
a  mile  of  trees  was  cut  down  through  the  forest 
to  the  width  of  70  feet,  some  of  the  trees  being 
18  to  24  inches  in  diameter.  After  the  stumps 
were  dug  out  work  was  started  on  the  hill,  but 
progress  was  not  as  fast  as  we  would  have  liked 
as  the  first  month  or  six  weeks  the  township 
could  not  procure  enough  teams,  as  the  farmer- 
were  all  bu.sy  at  that  time  and  consequently  there 
were  only  five  to  nine  teams  on  the  job  daily. 
l]y  the  latter  'part  of  October  they  were  able  to 
procure  plenty  of  teams,  on  one  day  in  particular 
we  had  twenty  on  the  job,  and  the  work  moved 
on  at  a  lively  clip.  After  removing  some  of  the 
clav  from  the  hill  we  began  to  run  into  shale 
rock.  This  could  be  picked  out  fairly  well,  but 
we  soon  ran  into  big  ledges  of  rock  and  then 
the  township  furnished  us  with  a  traction  engine, 
and  we  started  the  drill.  But  our  troubles  just 
commenced,  as  the  rock  we  drilled  contained  a 
mixture  of  granite  iron  ore  and  silica,  conse- 
quently very  slow  progress  was  made,  and  after 


March    1,    ;'J14 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


149 


drilling  two  tu  four  feel  we  wxniUl  >tril<e  a  layer 
of  clay,  and  after  blastino^  we  would  have  to  dig- 
out  the  clay  before  drilling  again.  If  we  could 
have  worked  in  solid  rock  we  could  have  made 
double  the  progress. 

When  we  had  gotten  about  one-fourth  of  the 
rock  out  the  township  decided  to  put  in  a  crusher 
and  crush  the  balance  of  the  rock,  and  use  same 
as  a  dressini;  in  place  of  gravel  as  originally  in- 
tended, as  the  gravel  pit  was  located  about  two 
miles  from  the  job,  and  taking  in  consideration 
the  long  haul  the  crushed  rock  would  make  a 
better  road,  and  the  cost  would  be  about  the  same 
as  gravel.  A  traction  engine  was  procured  at 
Di.xon  to  haul  the  crusher  out  to  the  job,  but 
they  could  not  get  it  any  further  than  the  bottom 
of  the  hill  by  night.  It  had  rained  slightly  the 
day  before  and  the  crusher,  which  weighed  eight 
tons,  sunk  into  the  mud  and  refused  to  budge. 


The  next  morning  it  was  jacked  up  and  plank? 
put  under  it,  and  with  four  to  six  teams  attached 
to  the  front  and  the  traction  engine  pushing  be- 
hind, they  could  move  it  a  few  feet  at  a  time  and 
by  4 :30  in  the  afternoon  with  the  aforesaid 
teams,  traction  engine  and  advice  given  freely 
by  the  town  people  and  farmers  congregated,  it 
was  finally  placed  in  ])osition  on  the  hill.  You 
can  get  some  idea  of  the  grade  of  this  hill  when 
you  consider  that  farmers  would,  not  think  of 
going  to  Dixon  (even  with  an  empty  wagon),  i)y 
this  route,  without  taking  a  log  chain  along  to 
lock  one  of  the  wheels  in  going  down  same. 
Shortly  after  we  arrived  one  of  the  teamsters 
went  with  a  rack  to  a  farm  about  a  mile  away 
to  get  some  ticks  we  had  filled  with  straw,  and 
about  the  time  he  started  for  the  camp  it  com- 
menced to  rain.  When  he  got  to  the  top  of  the 
hill  he  locked  one  of  the  back  wheels  as  usual, 
but  the  team  could  not  hold  back  the  load  (about 
20  ticks),  and  the  horses  started  on  the  run  and 
the  wagon  slewed  around  and  tipi)ed  over  near 
the  bottom.  The  driver  and  one  of  our  men  (a 
big  blue-eyed  baby),  going  over  with  the  ticks 
on  top  of  them,  but  luckily  they  were  not  hurt 
nuich.  only  shaken  uj).  The  crusher  was  sup- 
posed to  have  a  capacity  of  125  to  200  yards  of 
crushed  stone  per  day,  but  with  four  men  feeding 


it  (  the  >tonc  having  to  be  lifted  up  ami  put  into 
the  hopper),  the  best  day's  work  was  49  yards. 
We  could  cover  only  90  to  112  feet  |)er  day,  8 
inches  thick  and  14  feet  wide.  We  had  some  di- 
versions, from  the  regular  routine.  In  less  than  a 
month  after  we  arrived  one  evening  we  had  a 
telephone  call  from  Mr.  Portner  (who  has  the 
first  farm  I'j  miles  northwest  of  us),  stating 
that  their  barn  was  on  fire.  1  notified  the  men 
that  those  that  wished  to  volunteer  their  services 
could  do  so  and  we  started  on  the  run  for  the 
scene  of  the  conflagration  which  could  be  easily 
seen  by  the  reflection  on  the  clouds.  (The  news- 
papers stated  at  the  time  that  I  led  the  men,  but 
that  was  a  mistake  as  T  brought  up  the  rear.) 
\\  hen  we  arrived  we  were  pretty  well  winded. 
but  got  busy  at  once  and  assisted  in  saving  the 
corn  crib,  and  by  that  time  the  platform  at  the 
top  of  the  windmill  was  in  flames  and  some  of 
the  men  climl)ed  up  with  a  rope  and  began  to 
])idl  up  water  and  succeeded  in  putting  out  the 
fire  at  that  point,  although  the  heat  was  terrific. 
Some  of  the  farmers  made  the  remark  that  they 
would  not  have  gone  uj)  on  that  tower  for  any 
money,  and  thought  oi;r  men  performed  some- 
thing heroic,  but  they  acted  as  if  it  was  an  every- 
dav  occurrence.  \\'e  are  pained  to  ann«>unce  that 
the  fire  chief  stood  over  by  the  fence  and  seemed 
to  be  lost  without  his  hose.  The  barn  and  con- 
tents, 150  tons  of  hay,  threshing  machine,  agri- 
cultural implements  and  a  mnnber  of  head  ot 
cattle  and  horses  were  completely  consumed. 

.\t  another  time  shortly  after  9:00  o'clock  in 
the  evening  we  saw  two  men  with  lanterns  walk- 
ing in  a  cornfield  and  hallo*  "ing  every  few 
minutes.  They  finally  came  to  the  camp  and  one 
of  them,  a  man  past  middle  age.  statetl  with 
tears  in  his  eyes  that  his  child  was  lost.  Me 
^aid  that  his  boy  and  another  neighl)or's  Ixjy  had 
not  returned  home  that  night  and  as  he  never 
stayed  out  after  8:00  o'clock  at  night,  his  mother 
was  nearlv   frantic  with  grief  over  his  absence. 


1  got  all  the  lanterns  in  the  camp,  and  we 
started  a  searching  party  through  the  woods. 
and  in  about  an  hour  and  a  half  we  saw  a  light 
in  the  woods  about  a  mile  away.  an<l  on  drawing 
near  >aw  two  men  (one  alx>ut  21  and  the  other 


150 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


20  years  of  age),  digging  in  the  ground.  The 
man  whose  child  was  lost,  said  to  the  oldest: 
"Alfred,  where  have  you  been?"  And  he  said: 
"See  what  we  got,"  and  he  held  up  a  dead  pole- 
cat. The  father  said  :  "Gosh,  all  hemlock  Al !  his 
hide  is  worth  $.S.0O,  if  it  is  worth  a  cent."  And 
Al  said,  "We  have  got  another  like  him  in  this 
hole,  if  we  ever  get  him  dug  out."  The  old  man 
must  have  forgotten  about  the  grief  and  anxiety 
of  the  mother,  for  he  said:  "Well,  I  guess"  I 
will  stay  and  help  Al  dig  him  out."  To  say 
that  we  were  disgusted  is  putting  it  mildly.  We 
left  at  once  and  on  our  return  to  the  camp  where 
we  were  met  by  those  who  stayed  behind,  we 
were  asked  what  success  we  had.  When  they 
learned  the  particulars,  they  certainly  had  the 
laugh  on  the  crowd  that  went  out  to  rescue  two 
children  and  found  that  the  supposed  children 
were  grown  men  digging  for  skunks. 


We  were  certainly  favored  by  Providence,  or 
we  never  would  have  finished  the  road  before 
spring,  for  when  the  newspapers  reported  eight 
inches  of  snow  at  Chicago  and  Joliet  during  the 
latter  part  of  January,  we  had  none  whatever. 
About  all  the  snow  we  had  was  on  Dec.  23 
(when  it  snowed  one  and  one-half  .inches),  ex- 
cepting the  last  two  days  we  were  on  the  job, 
and  we  did  not  lose  an  hour's  time  again  until 
Jan.  23,  when  we  lost  one-half  day  on  account  of 
rain.  On  Friday,  Feb.  6,  it  started  to  snow  and 
was  quite  cold,  but  we  kept  the  crusher  going 
until  noon,  when  he  had  sufficient  stone  to  close 
the  last  gap  of  60  feet,  open  at  the  beginning 
of  work  that  morning.  In  the  afternoon  we  got 
the  engine  and  crusher  out  of  the  way,  and  on 
Saturday,  Feb.  7,  although  there  was  four  inches 
of  snow  on  the  ground,  by  working  all  day,  we 
were  able  to  spread  the  stone  where  the  engine 
and  crusher  had  stood,  and  open  up  the  ditches, 
and  the  road  was  complete.  Counting  from  the 
day  we  started  work,  Sept.  8  to  Feb.  7,  we  were 
practicality  five  months  on  the  job,  and  in  that 
time  the  men  put  in  112  complete  days  of  nine 
hours  each.  Very  little  time  being  lost,  as  you 
will  see  by  the  following: 

Hours  lost  on  account  of  rain  or  snow : 

Month  of  September 20^4 

Month  of   October 22^ 

Month   of  November 9 


Month  of  December 22 

Month   of  January 9 

Month  of   February 5j4 


,87^  hours 


Total    

or  9  days  63^  hours. 


There  were  times  when  we  were  able  to  work 
in  the  rock  and  stone,  when  the  teams  could  not 
work  at  all. 

Before  closing  we  wish  to  state  that  a  few  re- 
marks in  reference  to  Rev.  A.  B.  Whitcomb,  pas- 
tor of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  church  at  Dixon,  who 
acted  as  chaplain  to  the  camp,  would  not  be  out 
of  place.  He  held  services  every  Sunday  after- 
noon, rain  or  shine,  and  was  always  at  the  serv- 
ice of  anybody  in  camp.  He  went  out  of  his  way 
to  do  errands  and  favors  for  the  camp,  individ- 
ually, as  well  as  collectively,  and  we  feel  we 
never  can  repay  him  for  kindness  shown. 

T.  G.  Keegan. 

"The  Better  Citizen" 

Those  inmates  of  this  prison  who  desire  to 
read  a  really  first-class  prison  paper  of  the 
"uplift"  kind  are  urged  to  subscribe  to  The  Bet- 
ter Citizen,  published  every  second  and  fourth 
Saturday  of  each  month  by  the  inmates  of  the 
New  Jersey  Reformatory  at  Rahway,  N.  J.  The 
subscription  price  is  25  cents  a  year.  Every 
inmate  wdio  has  a  quarter  to  spare  should  sub- 
scribe to  this  paper,  and  after  reading  every 
word  in  it,  he  should  pass  it  along  to  his  friends 
and  enemies — particularly  the  latter. — Editor. 

@     ®     ® 

When  grown  children  desert  an  aged  and 
feeble  father,  who  is  serving  time  and  who 
would  be  released  by  the  state  in  case  the  chil- 
dren would  promise  to  care  for  him,  they  should 
remember  that  Biblical  passage :  "As  ye  sow 
so  shall  ye  reap." 


The  majority  of  prisoners  subject  to  the  parole 
law  would  do  well  to  carefully  study  that  act, 
in  view  of  the  fact  that  it  generally  is  misunder- 
stood. 


March  1,  1914  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  151 

Parole    and    Indeterminate    Sentence    Law    of 

Illinois 

AN  ACT  to  revise  the  law  in  relation  to  the  sentence  and  commitment  of  persons  convicted  of  crime    and 

providmg  for  a  system  of  parole,  and  to  provide  compensation  for  the  officers  of  said  system  of  oarule 
[Approved  April  21,  1899.     In  force  July  1,  1899.]  ^ 

Sf.ntence  to  the  Penitentiary— term  of  disease  or  deformity,  or  other  disability,  acquired 
I. M PRISON MENT.]  §1.  That  cvcry  male  persou  or  inherited.  Upon  the  warden's  register  shall  be 
over  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  every  female  entered  from  time  to  time  minutes  of  observed 
person  over  eighteen  years  of  age,  who  shall  be  improvement  or  deterioration  of  character,  and 
convicted  of  a  felony  or  other  crime  punishable  notes  as  to  the  method  and  treatment  employed : 
by  imprisonment  in  the  penitentiary,  except  trea-  also  all  alterations  affecting  the  standing  or  situ- 
son,  murder,  rape  and  kidnapping,  shall  be  sen-  ation  of  such  prisoner,  and  any  subsequent  facts 
tenced  to  the  penitentiary,  and  the  court  imposing  or  personal  history  which  may  be  brought  of- 
such  .sentence  shall  not  fix  the  limit  or  duration  Acially  to  his  knowledge  bearing  upon  the  ques- 
of  the  same,  but  the  term  of  such  imprisonment  tion  of  the  parole  or  final  release  of  the  prisoner; 
shall  not  be  less  than  one  year,  nor  shall  it  exceed  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  warden,  or,  in  his 
the  maximum  term  provided  by  law  for  the  crime  absence,  the  deputy  warden,  of  each  penitentiary 
of  which  the  prisoner  was  convicted,  making  al-  to  attend  each  meeting  of  the  board  of  pardons 
lowance  for  good  time,  as  now  provided  by  law.  tliat  is  held  at  the  penitentiary  of  which  he  is  the 
[As  amended  by  act  approved  May  1,  1901.  In  warden,  for  the  purpose  of  examining  prisoners 
force  July  1,  1901.  L.  1901,  p.  146;  Legal  News  as  to  their  fitness  for  parole.  He  shall  advise  with 
Ed.,  p.  127.  said  board  of  pardons  concerning  each  case,  and 
DuTV  OF  PENITENTIARY  COMMISSIONERS  TO  furnish  said  board  of  pardons  with  his  opinion, 
ADOPT  RULES,  ETC. — RECEIPT  OF  PRISONERS — EX-  "•  Writing,  as  to  the  fitucss  of  each  prisoner  for 
AMiXATiON  OF — BOARD  OF  PARDONS — REGISTER  TO  P'irole  whosc  case  Said  board  may  be  considering. 
I'.r:  KEPT.]  §  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  board  ^"^^  't  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  every  public 
of  penitentiary  commissioners  to  adopt  such  rules  officer  to  whom  inquiry  may  be  addressed  by 
concerning  all  prisoners  committed  to  their  cus-  ^^^  ^^^^^  ^^  ^'^^  ^o^""^  o^  pardons,  concerning  any 
tody  js  shall  prevent  them  from  returning  to  Prisoner,  to  give  said  board  all  information  pos- 
criminal  courses,  best  secure  their  self-support,  '^''^^  °''  accessible  to  him.  which  may  threw 
and  accomplish  their  reformation.  When  any  ^'^^''  "P°"  '^.^^  ^1"^^'^'°"  °^  '^'^  ^'^"^^^  «^  ^''^'^'  P--'^' 
prisoner  shall  be  received  into  said  penitentiary,  ""f^/"  '"^"'^'^  '^'^  ^''''^^'  °^  P^'^^' 
the  warden  shall  cause  to  be  entered  in  a  regis-  ^^  "'^^  prisoner  sentencei^official  state- 
ter  the  date  of  such  admission,  the  name,  nativity.  "'''^^'^^  °^  J'-^^^''  ^'^^  ^''^''^'^  attorney  to  be  at- 
uationality,  with  such  other  facts  as  can  be  ascer-  '^^^"^»  ™  mittimus.)  §  3.  It  shall  \k  the  duty 
tained  of  parentage,  education,  occupation  and  ''^  ^'^^  J"^'fi^c  before  whom  any  pri.soner  is  con- 
early  social  influences  as  seem  to  indicate  the  con-  ^  '^ted.  and  also  the  slate's  attorney  of  the  county 
stitutional  and  acquired  defects  and  tendencies  of  "''  ^^'^'ch  he  is  convicted,  to  furnish  the  board  of 
the  prisoner,  and  based  ui)()n  these,  an  estimate  penitentiary  commissioners  an  official  statement 
of  the  present  condition  of  the  prisoner,  and  the  o{  the  facts  and  circumstances  constituting  the 
best  possible  plan  of  treatment.  And  the  phy-  crime  whereof  the  pri.soner  was  convicted,  to- 
.sician  of  .said  penitentiary  shall  carefully  examine  gether  with  all  other  information  accessible  to 
each  prisoner  when  received  and  shall  enter  into  them  in  regard  to  the  career  of  the  prisoner  prior 
a  register  to  be  kept  by  him,  the  name,  nationality  to  the  time  of  the  committal  of  the  crime  of  which 
or  race,  the  weight,  stature  and  family  history  of  he  was  convicted,  relative  to  his  habits,  as.so- 
each  prisoner,  also  a  statement  of  the  condition  ciates.  disposition  and  reputation,  and  any  other 
of  the  heart,  lungs,  and  other  leading  organs,  the  facts  and  circimistances  which  may  tend  to  throw 
rate  of  the  pulse  and  respiration,  the  measure-  any  light  upon  the  question  as  to  whether  such 
ment  of  the  chest  and  abdomen,  and  any  existing  prisoner  is  capable  of  again   becoming  a  law- 


152                                                     THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.                                           First  Year 

abiding  citizen  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  ofticial  ollieer  cr  other  person  named  therein,  to  author- 
court  reporter,  at  the  dictation  of  the  judge  of  the  ize  said  officer  or  person  to  arrest  and  deliver  to 
said  court  or  the  state's  attorney  of  said  county,  the  warden  of  said  penitentiary  the  body  of  the 
to  write  the  official  statements  of  the  judge  and  conditionally  released  or  paroled  prisoner  named 
state's  attorney  above  refierred  to  at  the  time  of  in  said  writ,  and  it  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  all 
the  conviction  of  the  prisoner,  and  it  shall  be  the  sheriffs,  coroners,  constables,  police  officers  or 
duty  of  the  clerk  of  the  court  to  cause  such  of-  other  persons  named  therein  to  execute  said  order 
ticial  statements  to  be  attached  to  the  mittimus  or  writ  the  same  as  other  criminal  process.  In 
with  the  copy  of  the  judgment  of  the  court  at  the  case  any  prisoner  so  conditionally  released  or 
lime  of  issuing  the  same,  and  deliver  the  same,  paroled  shall  flee  beyond  the  limit  of  the  State,  he 
so  attached  to  the  mittimus,  to  the  sheriff  of  the  may  be  returned  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  the 
county  for  transmission  to  the  penitentiary,  at  the  law  of  this  State  relating  to  fugitives  from  jus- 
time  of  the  delivery  of  the  prisoner  to  the  war-  tice.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  warden,  imme- 
den;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  warden  to  diately  upon  the  return  of  any  conditionally  .re- 
report  to  the  board  of  pardons  the  receipt  of  such  leased  or  paroled  prisoner,  to  make  report  of  the 
prisoner  with  such  other  official  information  as  same  to  the  State  board  of  pardons,  giving  the 
the  board  may  require  within  five  days  after  the  reasons  for  the  return  of  said  paroled  prisoner, 
receipt  of  such  prisoner.  Provided,  further,  that  the  State  board  of  par- 
BoARD  OF  PARDONS  TO  ESTABLISH  RULE — FOR  dous  may,  in  its  discretion,  permit  any  prisoner  to 
PAROLE  OF  PRISONER — VIOLATING  RULES.]  §4.  The  temporarily  and  conditionally  depart  from  such 
said  board  of  pardons  shall  have  power  to  estab-  penitentiary  on  parole,  and  go  to  some  county  in 
lish  rules  and  regulations  under  which  prisoners  the  State  named  and  there  remain  within  the  lim- 
in  the  penitentiary  may  be  allowed  to  go  upon  its  of  the  county  and  not  to  depart  from  the  same 
parole  outside  of  the  penitentiary  building  and  without  written  authority  from  said  board,  for 
enclosure.  Provided,  that  no  prisoner  shall  be  such  length  of  time  as  the  board  may  determine, 
released  from  either  penitentiary  on  parole  until  and  upon  the  further  condition  that  such  prisoner 
the  State  board  of  pardons  or  the  warden  of  said  shall,  during  the  time  of  his  parole,  be  and  con- 
penitentiary  shall  have  made  arrangements,  or  tinuously  remain  a  law-abiding  citizen  of  indus- 
shall  have  satisfactory  evidence  that  arrange-  trious  and  temperate  habits,  and  report  to  the 
ments  have  been  made,  for  his  honorable  and  use-  sheriff  of  the  county  on  the  first  day  of  each 
ful  employment  while  upon  parole,  in  some  suit-  month,  giving  a  particular  account  of  his  conduct 
able  occupation,  and  also  for  a  proper  and  suit-  during  the  month,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  such 
able  home,  free  from  criminal  influences  and  sheriff  to  investigate  such  report  and  ascertain 
without  expense  to  the  State :  And  provided,  what  has  been  the  habits  and  conduct  of  such 
further,  that  all  prisoners  so  temporarily  released  prisoner  during  the  time  covered  by  such  report, 
upon  parole  shall,  at  all  times,  until  the  receipt  and  to  transmit  such  report  upon  blanks  fur- 
of  their  final  discharge,  be  considered  in  the  legal  nished  him  by  the  warden  of  the  penitentiary  to 
custody  of  the  warden  of  the  penitentiary  from  said  warden  within  five  days  after  the  receipt  of 
which  they  were  paroled,  and  shall  during  the  such  prisoner's  report,  adding  to  such  report  the 
said  time,  be  considered  as  remaining  under  con-  sheriff's  statement  as  to  the  truth  of  the  report  so 
viction  for  the  crime  of  which  they  were  con-  made  to  him  by  the  prisoner.  It  shall  also  be  the 
victed  and  sentenced,  and  subject  at  any  time  to  duty  of  such  sheriff  to  keep  secret  the  fact  that 
be  taken  back  within  the  enclosure  of  said  peni-  such  prisoner  is  a  paroled  prisoner,  and  in  no  case 
tentiary.  and  full  power  to  enforce  such  rules  and  divulge  such  fact  to  any  person  or  persons  so  long 
regulations  and  to  retake  and  reimprison  any  in-  as  said  prisoner  obeys  the  terms  and  conditions 
mate  so  upon  parole,  is  hereby  conferred  upon  of  his  parole. 

the  warden  of  said  penitentiary,  whose  order  or  Warden  to  provide  parole  prisoner  with 
writ  certified  by  the  clerk  of  said  penitentiary,  clothing,  money  and  transportation.  §  5. 
with  the  seal  of  the  institution  attached,  and  di-  Upon  the  granting  of  a  parole  to  any  prisoner, 
rected  to  all  sheriffs,  coroners,  constables,  police  the  warden  shall  provide  him  with  suitable  cloth- 
officers,  or  to  any  particular  person  named  in  said  ing,  ten  dollars  in  money,  which  may  be  paid  him 
order  or  writ,  shall  be  sufficient  warrant  for  the  in  installments  at  the  discretion  of  the  warden, 


March  1.  i'.)it  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  153 

and  shall  procure  traiibportation  for  him  to  his  opiniun  ol   ilic  board,  ihc  pri.suiicr  is  under  the 

place  of  employment  or  to  the  county  seat  of  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  to  transfer  said  prisoner 

county  to  which  he  is  paroled.  to  the  reformatory,  and  the  board  of  managers 

Duty  of  warden— power  of  board  of  par-  of  said  reformatory  shall  have  full  power  and 

DONS  TO  DISCHARGE  PRISONER.]     §6.    It  shall  be  authority  to  grant  parolcs  to  such  prisoners  while 

the  duty  of  the  warden  to  keep  in  communication,  ii«  said  reformatory  in  all  respects  the  same  as 

a.~  far  as  possible,  with  all  prisoners  who  are  on  though  such  prisoners  had  been  originally  com 

parole  from  the  penitentiary  of  which  he  is  the  milted  to  said  reformatory. 

warden,  also  with  their  employers,  and  when,  in  Penalty  for  (»fficek  failing  to  do  his  duty 

his  opinion,  any  prisoner  who  has  served  not  less  i;NDt;R  thi.s  .xct.]    §8.     Any  public  officer  upon 

than  six  months  of  his  parole  acceptably,  has  whom  any  duty  is  by  the  terms  of  this  act  im- 

given  such  evidence  as  is  deemed  reliable  and  posed,  and  who  shall  willfully  and  negligently  re- 
trustworthy  that  he  vvill  remain  at  liberty  without     fuse  or  fail  to  perform  such  duty,  shall  be  subject 

violating  the  law,  and  that  his  final  release  is  not  to  a  fine  of  not  exceeding  fifty  dollars  in  each 

incompatible   with    the    welfare   of   society,    the  case,   recoverable   in   an  action   of  debt    in   the 

warden  shall  make  certificate  to  that  effect  to  the  name  of  the  peojjle  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  the 

State  board  of  pardons;  and  whenever  it  shall  be  proceeds  to  be  devoted  to  the  library  fund  of  the 

made  to  appear  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  State  penitentiary  of  the  proper  district, 
board  of  pardons  from  the  warden's  reports  or  Power  of  penitentiary  commissioners.]  §9. 

from  other  sources,  that  any  prisoner  has  faith-  Each  of  the  board  of  penitentiary  commissioners 

fully  served  the  term  of  his  parole,  and  the  Board  shall  have  power  and  authority  to  appoint  such 

shall  be  of  the  opinion  that  such  prisoner  can  number  of  parole  agents  as  may  be  necessary: 

safely  be  trusted  to  be  at  liberty,  and  that  his  Provided,  that  the  number  of  such  parole  agents 

final  release  will  not  be  incompatible  with  the  appointed  by  the  board  of  i>enitentiary  commis- 

v/elfare  of  society,  the  State  board  of  pardons  sioners    for    the    Illinois   State    Penitentiary    at 

shall  have  the  power  to  cause  to  be  entered  of  Joliet  shall  not  exceed  five,  and  that  the  num- 

record  in  this  office  an  order  discharging  such  ber  of  such  parole  agents  appointed  by  the  board 

prisoner   for,  or  on  account  of  his  conviction,  of  penitentiary  commissioners  for  the  Southern 

which  said  order,  when  approved  by  the  Cover-  Illinois  Penitentiary  shall  not  exceed  two.     Rach 

nor,  shall  operate  as  a  complete  discharge  of  such  of  the  boards  of  penitentiary  commissioners  also 

prisoner  in  the  nature  of  a  release  or  commuta-  shall  have  power  and  authority  to  prescribe  the 

tion  of  his  sentence  to  take  effect  immediately  duties  of  said  officers  respectively  appointed  by 

upon  the  delivery  of  a  certified  copy  thereof  to  them ;  that  each  of  said  parole  agents  shall  at  all 

the  prisoner,  and  the  clerk  of  the  court  in  which  limes  be  subject  to  the  orders  of  the  board  which 

ihe  prisoner  was  convicted  shall,  upon  presenta-  appointed  him  as  provided  in  this  section,  and 

tion  of  such  certified  copy,  enter  the  judgment  of  shall  receive  a  salary  not  to  exceed  fifteen  hun- 

such  conviction  satisfied  and  released  pursuant  to  <lred  dollars  per  year,  payable  monthly,  ujx)n  the 

said  order.     It  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  certificate  of   said   board    and    upon    warrants 

clerk  of  the  board  of  pardons  to  send  written  no-  drawn  by  the  Auditor  of  Public  Accounts,  out 

tice  of  the  fact  to  the  warden  of  the  penitentiary  of  any  money  in  the  treasury  not  otherwise  ap- 

of  the  proper  district,  whenever  any  prisoner  on  propriated.     (As  amended  by  act  approved  June 

parole  is  finally  released  by  said  board.  5,  1911.    In  force  July  1,  1*M1.    L.  1911,  p.  295. 

Power  of  state  board  of  pardons.]     §  7.    In         Sentence  to  the  state  reformatory — the 

any  case  where  prisoners  have  been  transferred  term  to  be  fixed  by  board  of  pardons.]    §  10. 

from  the  Illinois  State  Reformatory  to  either  of  Every  sentence  to  the  Illinois  State  Reformatory 

the  penitentiaries,   the   State  board  of  pardons  of  a  person  hereafter  convicted  of  a  felony  or 

shall  have  power  and  authority,  during  the  time  other  crime,  shall  be  a  general  sentence  to  im- 

such  prisoners  are  in  the  penitentiary,  to  grant  prisonment  in  the  Illinois  State  Reformatory,  and 

paroles  to  such  prisoners  in  all  respects  the  same  the  courts  of  this  State  imposing  such  sentence 

as  though  they  had  been  originally  committed  to  shall  not  fix  or  limit  the  duration  thereof.    The 

such  penitentiary;  and  said  board  shall  also  have  term  of  such  imprisonment  of  any  person  so  con- 

the  power  and  authoritv  in  all  cases  where,  in  the  victed  or  sentenced  shall  be  ternn'nated  by  the 


154 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


board  of  pardons,  but  only  upon  the  recommen- 
dation, in  writing,  of  the  board  of  managers  of 
the  said  reformatory;  but  such  imprisonment 
shall  not  exceed  the  maximum  term  provided  by 
law,  for  the  crime  for  which  the  prisoner  was 
convicted  and  sentenced. 

Board  of  Pardons — salary  of.]  §  11.  There 
shall  be  allowed  to  each  member  of  the  Board  of 
Pardons  the  sum  of  one  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars  per  year  to  compensate  him  for  services 
performed  under  this  act,  said  sum  to  be  payable 
monthly  on  certificates  of  the  board,  approved  by 
the  Governor,  and  payable  out  of  any  money  in 
the  treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated. 

Repeal.]  §  12.  That  an  act  entitled,  "An  act 
in  relation  to  the  sentence  of  prisoners  convicted 
of  crime,  and  providing  for  a  system  of  parole," 
approved  June  15,  1895,  in  force  July  1,  1895; 
also  an  act  entitled,  "An  act  to  amend  an  act  in 
relation  to  the  sentence  of  prisoners  convicted  of 
crime,  and  providing  for  a  system  of  parole,"  ap- 
proved June  10,  1897;  and  Section  13  of  "An  act 
to  establish  the  Illinois  State  Reformatory  and 
making  an  appropriation  therefor,"  approved 
June  18,  1891,  and  in  force  July  1,  1891,  and  all 
parts  of  laws  not  in  harmony  with  the  provisions 
of  this  act  are  hereby  repealed:  Provided,  that 
such  appeal  [repeal]  shall  not  affect  any  convic- 
tion heretofore  had  under  said  laws,  except  that 
any  person  convicted  under  either  of  the  acts 
specifically  named  in  this  section  may,  with  the 
consent  of  the  board,  receive  the  benefits  of  this 
act. 


An  old  colored  man,  charged  with  stealing 
chickens,  was  arraigned  in  court  and  was  in- 
criminating himself  when  the  judge  said:  "You 
ought  to  have  a  lawyer.    Where's  your  lawyer?" 

"Ah  ain't  got  no  lawyer,  jedge,"  said  the  old 
man. 

"Very  well,  then,"  said  His  Honor,  "I'll  as- 
sign a  lawyer  to  defend  you." 

"Oh,  no,  suh  ;  no  suh !  Please  don't  do  dat !" 
the  darky  begged. 

"Why  not?"  asked  the  judge.  "It  won't  cost 
you  anything.     Why  don't  you  want  a  lawyer?" 

"Well,  jedge,  Ah'll  tell  you,  suh,"  said  the  old 
man,  waiving  his  tattered  old  hat  confidently 
"Hit's  jest  dis  way — Ah  wan'  tub  enjoy  dem 
chickens  mahse'f !" — Chronicle-Telegraph,  Pitts- 
burg, Pa. 


THE  GOOD  ROADS  LAW 

An  act  entitled  "An  Act  to  authorize  the  em- 
ployment of  convicts  and  prisoners  in  the  penal 
and  reformatory  institutions  of  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois in  the  preparation  of  road  building  mate- 
rials and  in  working  on  the  public  roads." 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the 
state  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  General 
Assembly:  That  the  commissioners  of  the 
Northern  Illinois  Penitentiary,  commissioners  of 
the  Southern  Illinois  Penitentiary  and  the  board, 
of  managers  of  the  Pontiac  Reformatory  of  the 
State  of  Illinois  are  hereby  authorized  and  em- 
powered to  employ  convicts  and  prisoners  in 
the  penal  and  reformatory  institutions  of  this 
state  who  are  sentenced  to  terms  of  not  more 
than  five  years,  or  who  have  not  more  than  five 
years  to  serve  to  complete  their  sentence,  in  work- 
ing on  the  public  roads  or  in  crushing  stones  or 
preparing  other  road  building  materials  at  points 
outside  the  walls  of  the  penal  or  reformatory 
institutions.  Upon  the  written  requests  of  the 
commissioners  of  highways  of  any  township  in 
counties  under  township  organization  or  the 
commissioners  of  highways  or  boards  of  county 
commissioners  in  counties  not  under  township 
organization,  said  penitentiary  commissioners 
and  board  of  managers  of  the  Pontiac  Reforma- 
tory shall  detail  such  convicts  or  prisoners  as 
in  its  judgment  shall  seem  proper,  not  exceed- 
ing the  number  specified  in  said  written  requests, 
for  employment  on  the  public  roads  or  in  the 
preparation  of  road  building  materials,  in  the 
township,  road  district  or  county  requesting  the 
same,  on  such  terms  and  conditions  as  may  be 
prescribed  by  the  said  penitentiary  commission- 
ers or  the  board  of  managers  of  the  Pontiac  Re- 
formatory. 

Section  2.  The  commissioners  of  highways 
or  boards  of  county  commissioners,  as  the  case 
may  be,  shall  pay  all  additional  .expenses  for 
guarding  such  convicts  while  working  on  the 
public  roads  or  in  the  preparation  of  road  build- 
ing material  outside  the  walls  of  the  penal  or 
reformatory  institutions,  in  their  respective 
townships,  road  districts  or  counties. 

Approved  June  8,  1913. 


Penal    servitude    is    not    unlike    unproductive 
slavery. 


I 


March    1,   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


155 


//ire  /j  /^e  "S/i.;  &  " 
/^/><e  ^y'ere  ou^.  A 


/;oi^tnd  our  ^</a", 

A' 


%«//»^<r  /'4ty  art  /tt^ 
^^  /7/m,^AfyDJ/ar 


^6  -/'f>/?///'f 


(pTY/^d  uy6  G  ////e  ^/e/e  ^o*^. 
/Ye  fj  fjryi 


y^'  *^ 


»  •  •  t  •  •  ••,•-•,•-•,•  •  •_' 


••••••• 


The  Joliet  Prison  Post  editors  were  not  overlooked  on  Saint  Valentine's  Day 


156 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Joseph  McGovern 

The  man  who 
eats  and  sells 

"STAR" 


i€ 


The  Ham  what  Am 


AND  BACON  TOO 


99 


Corner  of  Lafayette  & 
South  Chicago  Streets 


JOLIET,  ILLINOIS 
Both    Phones   425 


Marcli    1,    I'.iH 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


157 


B 


OILER  COMPOUNDS! 
LUBRICATING  OILS! 
GREASES! 


Oldest  and  Largest  INDEPENDENT 
OIL    COMPANY    in    the    West 


On  competitive  tests  every- 
where our  "Famous  Vege- 
table Boiler  Compound " 
ALWAYS  wins  out  against 
all  comers.      : :       : :      : : 


Northrop  Lubricating 
Oil  Company^ 

308  N.  Commercial  Ave.      St.  Louis,  Mo. 


Ws  Easy... 

To  keep  your  Engines  and  Pumps 
running  at  the  highest  point  of 
efficiency    and    economy    when 

"GARLOCK" 

packing  is  used. 


THE  GARLOCK  PACKING  CO. 

CHICAGO 


Joliet  Oil  Refining  Co. 

REFINERS  OF  PETROLEUM 

High  Grade  Illuminating  and   Lubri- 
cating Oil,  Purity  Automobile  Oil 
All  Kinds  of  Grease  Linseed  Oil  Soap 

Located  on  MUls  Road  p,,Tuzi  JOLIET,  ILL 


LYONS  BROTHERS 

LUMBER  and  FUEL  COMPANY 

IVHOLESALE  and  RETAIL 

LUMBER  and  COAL 


Bo«h  TrlrpkofM*  No.  17 


Wuhinston  Street 
and  Yofk  Avenue 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


F.  C.  HOLMES  CS,  CO. 

(INCORPORATED) 

WHOLESALE  DEALERS  IN 

Fresh,  Frozen  and  Smoked 
Fish  —  Oysters  in  Season 


Telephones 
Monroe  180 
Automatic  30-108 


735  West  Randolph  Street 
CHICAGO 


Bush  &  Handwerk 


Wholeiale  and  Retail 


HARDWARE  DEALERS 


SptcialUes 

Factory  and   Quarry  Supplies 

Stoves  and  Ranges 

Plumbing     and     Gas     Fitting 

Steam  and  Furnace  Work 


15-117  JEFFERSON  STREET 
JOLLIET.  ILLINOIS 


158 


THE  jOLiET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


SCOTT 
VALVES 

For    Every     Service 


IF       YOU 
WANT   THE 

BEST 

SPECIFY 

SCOTT 


Scott   Valve 
Company 

Tel.  Main  614 

310 W.Randolph  St. 
CHICAGO,    ILL. 


DANIEL  WEBSTER  SAID:— "Deal  with  the  man  who 
does  the  most  business.   You  will  find  there 's  a  reason  for  it.'' 

Buchanan-Daley 
Company 


Lumber  &  Coal 


Joliet 


Illinois 


TX/E   have   in   our  warehouses 
everything  in  the  steel  line 
and  are  able  to  ship  immediately 
any  order  received. 


Scully  Steel  CS,  Iron  Co. 


Alexander  B.  Scully 
Pres. 


Charles  Heggie 
Vice-Pres. 


When  opportunity  presents  itself, 
SPEAK  A  GOOD  WORD  FOR 

TheP.E.HOLMSTROM 
COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  GROCERS 
JOLIET,  ILLINOIS 


Enterprise  Plumbing 
Supply  Co. 

Plumbing  Supplies 
to  the  Trade  Only 


Randolph  1520 


Auto.  47-313 


26-28  W.  Kinzie  Street 


Chicago 


To  obtain  the  best  results  in  the  safest 
manner,    in    using    High  -  Explosive 


USE 

DYNALITE 

Patented.      Trade  Mark  Reg. 


The  World's   Greatest  High-Explosive 
A    Nitrated    Hydro-Carbon    Explosive 


Used  by  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary 
at  Joliet,  Illinois,  for  several  years. 

Adopted  by  The  Ohio  National  Guard, 
Battalion  of  Engineers. 

Used  by  the  Ohio  State  Penitentiary, 
the  Dayton  State  Hospital  and  similar  in- 
stitutions wanting  and  knowing  the  Best. 


Manufactured  by 

The  American  Dynalite  Co. 

Amherst,  Ohio  U.  S.  A. 


March  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


159 


I.  B.  Williams 
C&Son 


■MANUFACTURERS   OF- 


Oak  Tanned  Leather 
Belting 

Round  Leather 
Belting 

Cut   and   Side   Lace 
Leather 


14  N.  FRANKLIN  STREET 

TELEPHONE  MAIN   1666 

CHICAGO 
AGENTS  IN  ALL  PRINCIPAL  CITIES 


The  Texas  Oil  Co. 


H.  R.  AKIN 

AGENT 


209  Woodruff  Building 


JOLIET, 


ILLINOIS 


J.  O.  Gorman  &  Co 

HEADQUARTERS  FOR  ALL  KINDS    OF 

Tobaccos  and  Fruits 


JOLIET 


t: 


ILLINOIS 


w. 

Freeman 

& 

Co. 

Wholesale  Potatoes 

and  Fruits 

Car  Lots  a  Specialty 

Chicago  Thone  618             N. 

IV.  Vhone  859 

105  S.  JOLIET  STRFFT 

JOLIET. 

ILLINOIS 

WERDEN  BUCK 

BUILDING 
MATERIAL 

511  and  513  WEBSTER  ST. 


BOTH  PHONEIS  215 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


THE  BOSTON  STORE 

Retailers  of  Everything 

Joliet's  Biggest,  Busiest  and  Best  Store 


SAY,  TOMMY,  if  you 
have  any  doubts  about 
this  store  being  the 
best  in  Joilet  just  ask  the 
Warden  in.  He's  traded  with 
us  for  many,  nixuiy  moons 
and  he  says  we've  treated 
him  so  well  that  he  just 
can't  .u[<)  anywhere  else. 


SURE  WE  WANT  YOUR  TRADE.  AND  WK 
WILL  DO  OUR  BEST  TO  PLEASE  YOU.  Of 
course,  if  you  happen  to  order  a  Bull  Pup  or  a  Boston 
Terrier  it  takes  us  a  little  time  to  nunt  up  his 
pedigree  and  to  fill  theordcr.butwe  will  fill  itall  right. 


160 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Save  Money" 

DO  IT  NOW! 


Start  an  account  with  us  and  find  out  how 
much  money  you  will  save  on 

Mechanic's  Tojols 
Mill  Supplies  and 
General  Hardware 


Poehner  CS,  Dillman 

417-419-421-423    CASS    STREET 

JOLIET,  ILLINOIS 

Chicago  Phone  1109  Northwestern  Phone  525 


We  have  2  Autos  and  3  Teams,  insuring 

PROMPT  SERVICE 


ROBERT  T.  KELLY,  Pres.  P.  F.  McMANUS,  Vice-Pres. 

CHAS.  G.  PEARCE,  Cashier      WM.  REDMOND,  Ass't  Cash'r 


K^t  foliet  i^ational 
Panfe 


Vq  on  Savings  S% 
JOLIET  ILLINOIS 


THE  J.  C.  ADLER  CO. 

JOLIET,  ILLINOIS 
If  you  want  the  best  in 

HAMS,  BACON,  LARD 

Sugar  Cure        q„   SAUSAGE    ^^'^^^^  Smoke 

order  ours — we  make  them 

MARCO  GROCERS 


WEBER  DAIRY  CO. 


ure 


Milk 


Sealed  Bottles 


JOLIET. 


ILLINOIS 


When  you  get  out 

TRADE    AT 

Bray^s  Drug  Store 

104  Jefferson  Street 

JOLIET                              :         ILLINOIS 

Veneer 
Manufacturers  Co. 

S.  E.  Cor.  May  and  Fulton  Sts. 

CHICAGO,  ILL. 

VENEERS 

FIGURED  AND 
PLAIN  WOODS 

Circassian,  Mahogany,  Quartered 
Oak,  Curly  Birch,  Walnut,  Bird's-eye 
Maple,  Rosewood,  Gum,  Rotary  Cut, 
Yellow  Poplar,  Red  Oak,  White  Oak, 
Pine,  Birch,  Maple,  Walnut,  Gum. 


March  1,  iyi4  THE  JOLIET  PRISON   POST.  161 


THE   "CLIPPER" 

BLAST   HOLE    DRILL 

Is  made  in  many  sizes  and  types  to  be  driven  by  Steam.  Gasoline, 
Compressed  Air  or  Electric  Power.  This  simple,  economical  and 
long  lasting  Machinery  is  used  by  the  leading  cement  manufactur- 
ers, stone  producers  and  railroad  contractors  of  the  present  day. 
It  will  cut  the  cost  of  getting  out  stone  to  the  very  lowest  notch. 

It  is  at  once  the  most  effective,  economical  and  durable  Blast  Hole 
Drill  in  the  world. 

Used  in  the  stone  quarry  at  the  Illinios  State  Penitentiary,  at  Joliet. 

MADK  ONLY   BY 

LOOMIS    MACHINE    COMPANY 

TIFFIN,     OHIO 


COMPLIMENTS  OF 


SULZBERGER  6  SONS  COMPANY 


U.  S.  A 


Majestic  Hams,  Bacon 
Lard,  Canned  Meats 

FAMOUS  EVERYWHERE  FOR  HIGH  QUALITY  AND  EXCELLENCE  OF  FLAVOR 


162  "      '  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  First  Year 


LUSSKY  WHITE  &  COOLIDGE,  Inc 

IMPORTERS    AND    JOBBERS    OF 

Upholstery  Goods  and 
Cabinet  Hardware 


69-71  WEST  LAKE  STREET  CHICAGO 


Federal  Leather  Company 

LEATHER  FOR  FURNITURE,  CARS, 
CARRIAGES,  WALLS  and  SCREENS 


SPANISH-VENETIAN  LEATHERS,  DECO- 
RATED and  ILLUMINATED,  EMBOSSED, 
TOOLED  and  PLAIN  LEATHERand  BRASS  NAILS 


30  East  42iid  Street  Works 

New  York  New  Rochelle 


March  1.  1914  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  163 


ORGANIZED  1875 


The  Thomas  Lyons  Co. 

Broom  Corn  Dealers 
and  Supply  House 

For  all  kinds  of  Broom  Manufacturers'  Supplies 

ARCOLA  ILLINOIS 


American  Hardwood 

Lumber  Co. 


NORTH  MARKET  AND  WHARF 

ST.  LOUIS,  MO. 


V  A  1>¥\C!        ST.  LOUIS,  MO.  BENTON,  ARK. 

1  i\Il.JLJ»3  :    NEW  ORLEANS.  LA.  NASHVILLE,  TENN. 


164  THE  JOLIET  PRISON   POST.  First  Year 


Wads\¥orth-HoAvland 


Company 


Paint  and  Color  Makers 


Carpenter  and  Fulton  Streets 

Chicago 


&DEHTF 

m^      ^^^^^^^  TRADE    MARK       REGISTERED  ^^^^^B 

Paint  and  Varnish  Products 

Ad-el-ite  Fillers  and  Stains,  Ad-el-ite  Varnishes,  Ad-el-ite 
Enamels,  and  any  Ad-el-ite  Paint  or  Varnish  Product 
Works  Easiest,  Spreads  Furthest  and  gives  Maximum  Results 


"THE  AD-EL-ITE  LINE 

MAKES  all  THE  WORLD  SHINE" 


ADAMS  &  ELTING    CO 

716-726  Washington  Blvd.,  Chicago 
PHONE  MONROE  3000  NEW  YORK  TORONTO 


March  1.  I'.iM  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  •  165 


EFFICIENT  DURABLE 

THE 

LIFE— WALRATH 
POWER  BROOM  MACHINERY 


BROOM  SEWING  MACHINE  WHISK  SEWING  MACHINE 

HURL  CUTTER  WITH  SIZER  ATTACHED 

CORN  SIZING  MACHINE  SCRAPER  WITH  FAN 

IRON  FRAME  WINDER         CLIPPER  WOOD  FRAME  WINDER 


SEND  FOR  FULL  INFORMATION 

LIFE  &  WALRATH  CO. 

SYRACUSE,  N.  Y. 


When  in  the  Market  for 

Chair  Dowels,  Telephone 
Pins  and  Brackets 

Let  Us  Serve  You  With  Your 
Requirements 

VICTOR  PETERTYL 

_  _.  Manufacturer  mm*    i  . 

Traverse  City  Michigan 


166  •  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  First  Year 

PRISON  SUPPLY  CO. 

34  TO  42  SOUTH  FIFTH  AVENUE  CHICAGO,  ILL. 

JOHN  W.  GIBBONS 

SALES  AGENT 

WOOLENS — — 

OFFICERS'    BLUE   UNIFORM    CLOTH 

INMATES'    CADET   GREY 
CLOTH    FOR     DISCHARGED    INMATES 


IKiMMilMLjb  ^g  gQij^j^  y^^^  business  and 
ANDlvJULo  would  be  pleased  to  corres- 
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Tools  Used  in  the  Tailor  Shop 

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CHEMICALS 

FOR  ALL  PURPOSES 


I 


157-159  W.  Austin  Ave.  CHICAGO,  ILL. 


March  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


167 


RESULTS  SUPREME 

USE 

TOUSEY  VARNISHES 

jVlanuractured  by  skillea  Avorkmen  for  every  orancK 
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332  SO.  MICHIGAN  AVENUE 


CHICAGO 


Geo.  M.  Scholl,  Pres.  and  Mgr.  Walter  T.  Werner,  Vice-Pres. 

J.  W.  GouoER,  Sec'y-Treaa. 

The  Michels  Company 

WHOLESALE    CONFECTIONERY 
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168 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Murphy,  Linskey  & 
Kasher  Coal   Co. 

BRAIDWOOD  AND  PONTIAC,  ILLINOIS 


JOHN  MURPHY,  President 
P.  J.  LINSKEY.  Secretary 
THOMAS  KASHER.  Vice-President 


Miners  and  Shippers  of 

Original  Wilmington  Coal 


From  Braidwood  Mine 


Pontiac  Coal 


From  Pontiac  Mine 


Mine  at  Braidwood  on  Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad 

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Chicago  and  Alton  Railroads 


MAIN   OFFICE 

BRAIDWOOD,  ILL. 


DL  (  Chicago  14-M 

Phones :     j„t^rstate  641-L 


THE  JOLIBT 
PRISON  POST 


Vol.  1. 


lOLlKT.    ILLINOIS,   APRIL   l.   l'H4. 


No.  i. 


170                                                      THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST                                            First  Year 

BOARD    OF    COMMISSIONERS  AND   THE  ' ^^^J™"  J.^"'  ■<  -  a  'arge  task  to  properly  guide 

WARDEN  OF  THE  ILLINOIS  STATE  ^lie  energies  of  each  of  a  large  number  of  men. 

PENITENTIARY,  JOLIET.  As  a  practical  measure  it  is  impossible  to  give 

- '. — '. '- individual  treatment,  but  it  is  feasible  to  group 

Address:    THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  pHsoners  in  the  matter  of  giving  them  oonor- 

1900   Collins   Street            .         .         -         .            Toliet,  Illinois  ...                                             o          o                      ff 

'. tumties  and  counsel.    In  order  to  get  good  results 

Y^^  sXcHption:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::ch^i5S;;!r  '^ ''  necessary  to  make  a  study  of  each  prisoner 

Canadian  and  Foreign One  Dollar  and  Fitty  Cents  and  of  all  the  cirCUmstanCCS   which  led  Up  tO  his 

EDITED    BY  A   PRISONER  COnviCtlOn. 

reproductions    permitted    unconditionally 

Entered   as   second-class   matter.  January    15.    1914.    at   the   post-  ^^'^^"   ^""^^   is   largely  the   rCSUlt   of   ignOranCC 

office  at  joiiet,  Illinois,  under  the  Act  of  March  3,  1879.  the  prisoner  should  be  required  to  gain  an  educa- 

G^^^)28  tion  in  order  to  comply  with  one  of  several  essen- 

tials  of  earning  back  his  right  to  freedom.     In 

EDITORI  ALi  addition  to  this,  he  should  be  required  to  give  un- 

mistakable  evidences  of  proper  rehabilitation  of 

Earning  Back  the  Right  to  Freedom  character. 

Mawkish  efforts  at  prison  reform  may  receive  ^ 

passing  notice  but  in  effect  such  efforts  will  only  The  prisoner  should  be  made  to  understand 

retard  the  arrival  of  the  genuine  article.  that  he  is  making  progress  towards  earning  back 

^  his  right  to  freedom  so  long  as  he  gives  proof  of 

Sympathy  for  the  condition  of  the  man  who  is  obedience  and  helpfulness,  with  the  latter  of  at 

sound  in  body  and  sufficiently  equipped  mentally  ^^^^^  ^^"^^  importance, 

to  know  right  from  wrong,  who  finds  himself  in  ^ 

prison  as  the  result  of  the  commission  by  him  of  The  right  to  his  freedom  can  be  earned  back 

a  crime  or  a  series  of  crimes,  is  misdirected.  by  prisoners  in  many  ways.    To  illustrate  : 

@  During  February,  1911,  a  serious  fire  occurred 

True  prison  reform  depends  upon  recognition  "^  ^^^  P°^^^^  ^o"^^  o^  this  prison.     The  prison 

of  the  essential  fact  by  both  free  persons  and  ^"^  ^^^^^^  ^^^  departments  proved  inadequate  to 

prisoners  thTit  2i  prisoner  must  earn  hack  his  right  ^''^"^^^  ^^""^   situation,   consequently  the  building 

to  freedom.    Prison  management  which  does  not  burned  for  many  hours.     During  this  time  fully 

teach  this  from  the  first  day  of  a  prisoner's  in-  ^^^^^  prisoners  were  busy  saving  adjacent  prop- 

carceration  until  the  moment  of  his  release  fails  ^^t^'  "^^  °"^  °^  ^^em  was  reprimanded,  and  so 

in  its  true  purpose  and  is  particularly  harmful  to  ^^^  ^^  ^^  known  no  man  committed  a  wrongful 

the  prisoner.  ^^^'  ^"*^  ^^is  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  discipline 

^  was  relaxed  to  such  an  extent  that  many  of  the 

Every  day  of  a  prisoner's  life  should  be  de-  P^^^^^f^.  ^^  ^  ^^'^^  degree  proceeded  on  their 

voted  to  his  best  efforts  to  earn  back  his  right  to  °'^"  initiative.     One  man  who  had  been  in  the 

freedom  and  with  the  passing  of  time  his  efforts  ^"'7,  ^'^'^  ^^^"ty-five  years   seriously  endan- 

should  grow  in  seriousness  and  effectiveness.  To  ^^'f}'''  ^'^f,  '^  ^"^"^h  the  fire  at  its  inception 

this  purpose  should  be  directed  the  energies  of  \"^  *^'  '^^'^^"^  °^  "^^"^  ^^f  ^^^^  th^^"^^  ^^ 

J  ^1                             ,  the  skin,  yet  not  one  stopped  fiehtine-  the  fire  or 

prison  management  and  there  must  never  be  any  .           -^     , ,                  ^^      "S'^-^i't,  "-uc  mc  ur 

1^+  „^     Tu                 -u-i-i.         .             .1         •  saving  movable  property.     The  human  interest 

letup.    The  responsibility  rests  upon  the  prisoner  ,        ^       ,    ,  .      ^    ^.     -^ 

as  well  as  upon  the  prison  management,  but  the  ^'T''  ?          .  ""'"^''T  ^^"        '  '^'  prisoners, 

initiative  lies  with  the  administration,  as  without  '""f  "°  ^°P'  ?^  '^      '■  f 'T  ^     ""  '"P'  °^  ^°' 

its  help  the  average  prisoner  can  accomplish  little  ^°^^^'  ^^'^^^  battling  ^^ath  all  of  their  power  to 

or  nothing  ^^^^  *^  property  of  the  state  which  held  them 

^  captives.    Every  man  who  did  his  full  duty  that 

day  made  progress  in  earning  back  his  right  to- 

If  given  the  opportunity,  coupled  with  proper  the  return  of  his  freedom.   No  officer  could  stand 

counsel,  the  prisoner  can  earn  back  his  right  to  by  on  that  day  and  see  the  actions  of  the  prison- 


April  1,  1914                                      THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  171 

ers  and   fail  to  appreciate  that  the  instincts  of  Not  all  of  the  inmates  of  this  prison  would 

those  inmates  to  do  right  were  controlling  their  have   done    whac   these   men   did,  but   there  are 

actions.  many  more  men  here  who  would  have  done  as 

^  well,  though  none  could  have  done  better. 

A  better  illustration  can  be  found  in  the  human  w 

interest  feature  of  the  experiment  with  the  com-  Under  severe  discipline  and  cruel  punishment 

pany  at  Camp  Hope.  That  those  men  did  not  run  there  are  but  few  opportunities  for  prisoners  to 

away,  that  they  were  helpful  to  a  neighboring  earn  back  their  right  to  freedom.  Under  progres- 

farmer  when  his  buildings  were  on  fire,  that  they  !^>ve  prison  reform  methods  these  opportunities 

accomplished  a  difficult  piece  of  road  building,  is  occur  frequently  and  in  this  difference  lies  the 

not  of  the  greatest  consequence  in  the  matter  of  true  superiority  of  the  latter  named  method  over 

each   man   earning  back   his   right   to   freedom,  ^lie  former. 

What  is  of  the  greatest  consequence  is  that  every  ^     ^ 

man  in  this  company  who  was  in  at  the  finish  ^  Poor  Showing 

did  his  utmost  to  show  that  he  was  worthy  of  Statistics  recently  compiled  by  the  chaplain  of 

the  responsibilities  of  his  position.     Every  man  ^i^^  Qhio  penitentiary  show  that' out  of  a  total  of 

in  this  company  earned  back  his  right  to  the  re-  i  553  inmates,  27  have  attended  college,  103  have 

turn  of  his  freedom  because  he  did  his  utmost  to  graduated  from  high  schools.  945  passed  through 

make  road  work  by  prisoners  a  success,  and  be-  the  primary  grade,  260  can  read  and  write  with 

cause  the  motive  with  each  man  was  an  unselfish  difficulty,  and  223  are  absolutclv  withoiu  any  odu- 

one  as  he  was  working  for  the  ultimate  good  of  cation  in  letters, 

all  his  fellow  prisoners  who  were  left  behind  in  ^    ^ 

the  prison  and  who  were  anxiously  waiting  their  -pj^^  "Ins"  Become  "Outs" 

turn  to  go  out ;  which  event  would  never  come  to  ^^^^^^  ^^^^^^^^  ^^^^  ^.^^^  j.^^,^  ^^^^^^^  .^^^^^^^^^  ^^ 

pass  had  the  first  company  failed.    Every  man  in  ^^j^^^^^  ^^  ^^^^^  ^j^^^,  ^^^  ^^^^^^^  ^^^^j  ^^.,^^^,^^^ 

that  company  earned  back  his  right  to  freedom  ^^^^  ^^^^  p^^p^^.  opportunities  for  reformation 

when  he  did  his  best  under  adverse  conditions  to  ^^  ^^^^      ^j^^y  ^^^  content  if  the  man  who  has 

l)ring  the  enterprise  to  success  in  order  that  the  committed  a  crime  is  convicted  and  put  out  of 

governor,  the  warden  and  the  other  officials  and  ^j^^  ^^,^y  ^^^  ^j^^y  f^^get  that  he  is  eventually 

the  public  in  general  might  be  pleased  with  the  coming  back, 

outcome.  ^ 

®  The    problem    of    the    ex-prisoner  is    much 

If  enough  reasons  have  not  been  advanced  to  greater  than  the  problem  of  the  prisoners.  There 

prove  that  every  man  in  this  company  has  earned  are  vastly  more  of  the  former.     This  institution 

back  his  right  to  freedom  it  may  be  added  that  alone  has   released  over  five  thousand   inmates 

every  one  of  them  was   free  to   return  to  the  during  the  past  ten  years,  and  most  of  these  peo- 

prison  at  any  time  and  that  when  winter  weather  pie  are  at  this  time  living  in  this  state,  many  of 

overtook  them  and  the  thermometer  dropped  be-  them  have  children  who  in  time  will  become  a 

low  zero  every  man  slept  within  a  tent  by  night  part  of  the  adult  population,  and  consequently, 

and  worked  out  in  the  open  by  day,  in  order  that  citizens  of  Illinois, 

it  could  not  be  truthfully  said  that  the  honor  men  ^ 

had  left  their  work  uncompleted.     In  what  other  .^^^^  foregoing  statement  of  fact  requires  but 

spot  in  the  northern  part  of  Illinois  were  men  j.^^,^  consideration  in  order  to  bring  home  to  our 

voluntarily   sleeping   in    tents    and    working   on  ^.^^^j^  ^^^  realization  of  the  interest  the  pcopl, 

roads  until  the  seventh  day  of  Ecbruary.  1914'  ^^^^   .^^   ^,^^  ^^.^^,^   ,^,^^.^   .^^  j,^^^^  ^^,^j,^^j   p^j^,^,, 

The  ties  which  kept  these  men  to  their  task  dur-  ^^j,^     ^^^^^^  .^  ^^  intimate  relation  between  the 

ing  bitterly  cold  weather  were  (1)   self-respect,  ,,^^^^^„  ^^^^^  j,^^  ..j^^^.,  ^^.,^j^,^  ^^^^^^^^  j,^  ey:idcc\. 
(2)  determination  to  do,  (3)  veneration  for  the 
officer  who  as  the  representative  of  the  state  keeps 

them  captives.  I"  ^'^^  o^  ^^^  foregoing,  why  is  it  not  good 


172 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


policy  to  give  to  the  inmates  of  prisons  every 
opportunity  for  their  reformation? 

A  Lifelong  Prison  Pallor 

The  advocates  of  strict  discipline  and  severe 
punishment  should  ask  themselves  if  it  is  fair  to 
inflict  a  prisoner,  who  has  a  three-year  sentence, 
with  a  pallor  that  he  cannot  shake  ofif  during  a 
Hfetime. 

A  Material  Saving  in  Time 

On  June  23,  1899,  Fred   arrived  here 

with  two  sentences  to  serve.  The  first  one  for 
twenty-five  years  and  the  second  one  from  one 
to  fourteen  years. 

The  first  sentence  being  for  a  fixed  period  did 
not  fall  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  parole  board, 
so  Fred  served  all  his  time  for  it,  namely,  thir- 
teen years  and  nine  months,  the  reduction  from 
twenty-five  years  being  by  reason  of  the  good 
time  law. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  sentence,  Fred 
started  on  his  second  sentence.  A  few  days  ago 
when  he  had  finished  a  year  of  his  second  sen- 
tence he  was  called  before  the  parole  board  and 
asked  what  he  had  to  say  for  himself.  He  handed 
the  chairman  of  the  board  a  slip  of  paper ;  it  was 
his  pass,  dated  last  September,  signed  by  Deputy 
Warden  William  Walsh.  The  pass  permitted 
Fred  to  go  outside  the  walls  at  pleasure  in  the 
performance  of  his  work  and  without  a  guard. 
The  members  of  the  board  looked  at  it,  held  a 
consultation  and  then  the  chairman,  Mr.  Steven- 
son, told  Fred  that  they  knew  his  record  and  that 
he  had  earned  back  his  right  to  freedom  by 
obedience  and  helpfulness  and  that  he  would  be 
free  to  go  on  parole  in  a  few  days,  as  soon  as  the 
papers  could  be  made  out  and  the  requirements 
of  the  law  complied  with. 

He  had  been  highly  recommended  by  the  war- 
den and  deputy  warden,  and  the  board  was  glad 
to  give  the  recommendations  substantial  recog- 
nition. 

Fred  saved  a  considerable  portion  of  his  maxi- 
mum term  besides  making  all  the  "good  time"  al- 
lowed him  by  law,  and  by  obedience  and  helpful- 


ness he  has  trairxcd  himself  so  that  he  will  make 
good  and  enjoy  the  balance  of  his  life  in  the  com- 
pany of  his  wife  and  children,  for  Fred  is  not 
coming  back. 

Prison  Contract  Labor  in  Iowa 

"Prisoners  at  the  Fort  Madison  penitentiary 
get  increased  pay  and  shorter  hours  through  an 
agreement  made  yesterday  by  the  state  board  of 
control  for  the  cancellation  of  one  prison  con- 
tract and  the  transferrence  of  the  contract  of  the 
Fort  Madison  Chair  Company  to  the  Fort  Madi- 
son Tool  Company.  This  takes  175  men  out  of 
the  contract  labor  system. 

"By  the  terms  of  the  arrangement,  the  board  of 
control  may  terminate  the  contract  on  or  after 
March  1st,  1916,  by  giving  90  days  notice.  The 
old  contract  could  not  be  cancelled  before  Octo- 
ber 15,  1917.  The  state  gains  more  than  a  year 
by  the  new  deal. 

"The  board  heard  the  arguments  of  T.  F.  Hitch, 
superintendent  of  the  Fort  Madison  Farming 
Tool  Company.  The  board  took  the  stand  that 
it  would  not  renew  any  contracts,  but  in  view  of 
securing  an  advantage  in  being  able  to  end  all 
contracts  at  Fort  Madison  earlier  than  under  the 
prior  arrangement,  the  board  authorized  the 
chair  company  to  transfer  its  contract  to  the  tool 
company. 

"The  state  will  receive  60  cents  a  day  for  each 
man  employed  by  the  tool  company  under  the 
new  agreement.  In  addition  the  company  will 
pay  each  man  10  cents  a  day  for  himself.  The 
working  day  will  be  cut  from  ten  to  nine  hours." 
— Register  &  Leader,  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

Editor's  Note. — The  preceding  article  reads 
nicely,  but  will  it  bear  analysis?  Increased  pay 
and  shorter  hours  means  that  if  the  prisoners  do 
the  task  allotted  to  them  by  the  tool  company, 
they  will  be  paid  ten  cents  per  day  per  man,  and 
that  a  day's  work  will  consist  of  nine  working 
hours. 

As  the  outside  world  knows  nothing  of  the 
amount  of  work  required  daily  of  a  man  as  his 
task,  both  the  promise  of  increased  pay  and 
shorter  hours  may  be  of  no  value  whatever  to 
the  prisoners. 

When  the  first  contracts  were  made  the  public 
was  led  to  believe  that  only  a  low  price  could  be 


April  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


173 


paid  for  prisoner  labor  because  so  few  prisoners 
are  able  bodied  men,  and  that  seemed  reasonable ; 
now  the  announcement  follows  that  under  a  new 
contract  175  men  have  been  taken  out  of  the 
contract  labor  system,  and  that  seems  liberal ;  but 
how  about  the  ne^ro  in  the  wood  pile?  It  may 
be  that  the  175  men  who  have  been  "taken  out 
of  the  contract  labor  system"  are  the  cripples, 
whose  presence  was  at  first  used  to  support  the 
argument  in  favor  of  a  low  price  per  man.  The 
second  paragraph  in  the  above  cited  article  ex- 
pects readers  to  assume  that  a  state  has  the  legal 
right  to  contract  its  prison  labor  in  advance  for 
many  years,  but  is  this  so?  A  contract  made  dur- 
ing March.  1914,  which  runs  until  March  1,  1916. 
disposes  of  the  labor  of  men  who  are  yet  to  com- 
mit crimes,  be  convicted  and  sentenced. 


As  to  paragraph  three  we  will  simply  assume 
that  Mr.  T.  F.  Hitch  was  perfectly  satisfied  when 
he  came  away.  This  may  be  an  arbitrary  way  of 
coming  to  a  conclusion,  but  it  is  not  very  far 
wrong. 

It  sounds  good  to  say  that  "the  state  will  re- 
ceive 60  cents  a  day  for  each  man  employed  by 
the  tool  company  under  the  new  agreement,"  but 
why  not  put  it  in  this  way :  "The  state  of  Iowa 
has  just  made  a  contract  with  the  Fort  Madison 
Tool  Company  to  sell  into  slavery  until  March 
1st,  1916,  a  large  number  of  prisoners  confined  in 
the  Fort  Madison  penitentiary.  The  said  state 
has  agreed  to  permit  the  said  tool  company  to 
take  its  pick  of  the  inmates  confined  in  the  said 
penitentiary.  The  said  state  has  stipulated  that 
the  selected  prisoners  shall  work  nine  hours  per 
day;  each  man  to  do  the  task  allotted  to  him  by 
the  said  tool  company  and  in  the  event  that  a 
man  fails  to  finish  the  task  prescribed  for  him  by 
the  said  tool  company,  the  said  state  has  agreed 
to  punish  such  prisoners  and  it  has  been  agreed 
that  during  the  time  when  a  prisoner  is  under- 
going punishment  in  the  interest  of  the  said  tool 
company  the  said  tool  company  shall  not  be  re- 
quired to  pay  to  the  said  state  any  money  for  the 
time  of  the  said  prisoner. 

"The  said  state  has  agreed  to  house,  clothe  and 
feed  the  said  slaves  of  the  said  tool  company  and 
to  furnish  medical  attendance  for  the  said  slaves 
including  a  hospital,  and  further  to  furnish  sub- 


stantial buildings  as  shops  for  the  said  tool  com- 
pany, rent  free,  and  electrically  lighted  and  steam 
heated,  all  at  the  expense  of  the  said  state.  The 
said  state  has  agreed  to  place  guards  in  the  shops 
of  the  said  tool  company  and  to  pay  the  guards 
out  of  the  treasury  of  said  state ;  but  the  said  tool 
company  may  secretly  pay  the  said  guards  from 
$10  per  month  upwards  for  requiring  the  maxi- 
mum amount  of  work  from  each  of  said  slaves. 
The  said  tool  company  shall  not  require  the  said 
slaves  to  work  over  nine  hours  per  day  including 
Saturdays,  and  the  said  tool  company  has  agreed 
to  pay  to  each  of  said  slaves  the  sum  of  ten  cents 
per  day,  provided  said  slave  finishes  the  task  set 
for  him  to  do  by  the  said  tool  company. 

".\fter  March  1,  1916,  the  said  state  may  ter- 
minate the  agreement  by  giving  ninety  days  notice 
in  writing  to  the  said  tool  company.  Meanwhile 
the  employes  of  the  said  tool  company  are  to  be 
fed  at  the  expense  of  the  said  state  at  the  officers' 
mess  of  the  said  penitentiary." 

Warden  Woodward  Favors  Prison  Road  Work 
in  Wisconsin 
Speaking  of  the  Colorado  prison,  after  a  visit 
to  it.  the  Rev.  Daniel  Woodward.  Warden  of  the 
Wisconsin  penitentiary  at  Waupun.  states  that 
in  his  opinion  the  Colorado  prison  is  the  most 
successful  prison  from  every  standpoint  he  has 
seen,  and  he  has  seen  many ;  at  that  prison  the 
discipline  is  of  the  best,  the  prisoners  are  in  bet- 
ter condition  physically  and  mentally,  and  that 
he  believes  more  reformation  will  be  worked  out 
under  the  system  of  Warden  Tynan  than  any  he 
has  come  in  contact  with. 

His  visit  to  Colorado — where  he  took  an  auto- 
mobile trip  over  the  Rainbow  route  into  the 
Grand  Canyon  of  the  Arkansas  beyond  Parkdale. 
over  the  sky-line  drive  and  Royal  Gorge  roads, 
all  built  by  prison  labor — has  convinced  him  that 
the  road  work  the  prisoners  in  Colorado  are  do- 
ing compares  favorably  with  the  best  highways  in 
any  part  of  the  country  built  by  skilled  free  labor. 

Warden  Woodward  has  recommended  to  the 
Governor  of  Wisconsin  that  plans  be  marie  to 
install  the  Colorado  system  of  highway  construc- 
tion by  prisoners  of  the  penitentiary  in  Wiscon- 
sin, and  he  feels  confident  that  early  this  .spring 


174 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


he  will  be  permitted  to  establish  camps  for  road 
work. 


And  in  this  way  it  will  come  to  pass  that  the 
good  conduct  and  high  grade  work  of  the  pris- 
oners in  Colorado  will  soon  be  of  benefit  to  in- 
mates of  prisons  in  Wisconsin. 

The  Human  Interest  Place  in  the  Prison 

The  Usher's  office  is  where  the  inmates  receive 
their  visitors.  There  is  no  other  place  within 
the  walls  where  one  can  see  so  many  phases  of 
human  emotions,  from  great  grief  to  extreme 
joy.  Here,  if  never  before,  is  one  place  in  which 
each  person  who  appears  comes  as  they  really 
are.  No  man  or  woman — visitor  or  visited — 
shows  here  any  feeling  other  than  comes  from 
their  innermost  being  and  is  a  true  portrayal  of 
their  real  characters.  In  a  moment  the  inmates 
realize  their  true  position  in  life  and  find  them- 
selves stripped  of  all  sham  and  pretense.  Their 
forced  feeling  of  indifiference  or  courage, 
wounded  vanity  or  deepest  humility  vanishes, 
leaving  only  an  acute  sense  of  shame,  and  they 
"see  themselves  as  others  see  them." 


It  is  here  the  prisoner  is  first  seen  by  wife, 
mother,  father,  sister,  brother,  relative  or  friend 
in  prison  garb.  No  man  who  has  had  the  ex- 
perience ever  forgets  his  feelings  of  deep  hu- 
miliation when  he  appears  for  the  first  time  to 
one  dear  to  him  dressed  and  made  up  for  his 
part — that  of  a  prisoner. 

But  the  saving  grace  of  the  moment  is  the  joy 
with  which  this  humiliation  is  tempered.  What- 
ever else  the  visit  may  mean  or  bring  forth,  noth- 
ing can  completely  overshadow  the  great  joy  re- 
sulting therefrom. 

As  the  moments  pass  there  can  be  witnessed 
a  blessed  revelation  of  the  power  of  Faith,  Hope 
and  Charity,  as  the  happiness  outshines  and  cov- 
ers all  else.  Out  of  a  medley  of  feelings  seems 
to  come  a  complete  understanding,  and  even  the 
heart-rending  sadness  of  the  farewell  seems  to 
lose  much  of  its  sting.  Even  a  disinterested  per- 
son could  not  witness  such  a  scene  unmoved.  In- 
deed, we  have  often  seen  tears  course  down  the 
cheeks  of  more  than  one  Usher  in  one  of  these 
touching  moments. 


It  would  seem  that  an  ot!icer  whose  business 
is,  day  in  and  day  out,  to  supervise  the  meeting 
of  prisoners  and  their  friends  would  get  so  ac- 
customed to  such  sights  that  nothing  would  af- 
fect him,  but  that  is  not  the  case  in  the  Usher's 
ofiice  in  this  prison. 

The  expressions  of  emotions  in  that  place  are 
so  extreme — yet  always  so  extremely  sincere — 
that  perforce  the  Usher  finds  himself  affected  to 
tears  or  laughter  in  spite  of  any  preconceived 
determination  to  the  contrary  he  may  have  in- 
dulged. 

It  is  in  the  Usher's  office  the  prisoner  first 
learns  from  a  Deputy  SheriflF,  when  he  is  served 
with  a  summons  to  appear  in  court  to  answer  to 
the  wife's  bill  of  complaint,  that  she  has  de- 
cided to  obtain  a  divorce  from  him. 

It  is  then  that  the  man  feels  his  helplessness. 
The  Sheriff  can  come  to  the  prisoner  to  bring 
him  "in  court,"  so  that  a  binding  decree  may 
be  entered  against  him,  but  he  can  do  nothing 
towards  preventing  the  mills  of  justice  from 
grinding  out  his  fate  so  far  as  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren are  concerned. 

It  is  this  same  helplessness  that  follows  him 
through  the  after  years  and  helps  him  win  suc- 
cess if  he  is  a  true  man  or  leads  him  to  failure 
if  he  is  a  weakling.  It  gives  birth  to  an  unal- 
terable determination  to  retrieve  the  misdeeds 
of  the  past  in  the  one  and  to  form  a  determina- 
tion to  continue  the  sowing — and  reaping — of 
wild  oats  in  the  other. 

It  is  in  the  Usher's  office  that  a  prisoner  fre- 
quently first  learns  of  the  death  of  his  wife,  a 
child,  a  parent,  a  relative  or  dear  friend,  and 
it  is  not  unusual  to  see  one  man  sobbing  with 
grief  as  the  result  of  bad  news,  while  near  him 
sits  another  prisoner  overjoyed  with  the  good 
news  being  imparted  to  him  by  his  vis-a-vis. 

It  is  here  that  a  prisoner  frequently  hears  the 
news  regarding  the  steps  which  are  being  taken 
to  secure  his  freedom  and  finds  himself  suddenly 
transported  to  a  seventh  heaven  of  delight  or 
engulfed  in  despair.  Sometimes  it  is  the  place 
where  former  friends  decide  to  part  company 
forever  when  they  cannot  agree. 

Owing  to  the  poverty  of  most  of  the  persons 


April  1,  1914                                      THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  175 

who  visit  inmates  of  this  prison,  and  the  long  extended  to  us  by  the  authorities  and  that  the 

distances  which  frequently  have  to  be  traveled,  administration  of  this  prison  is  very  liberal  in 

the  visits  are  usually  far  apart  in  point  of  time,  this  respect. 

so  that  during  the  conversation  and  at  parting  Aside    from    the    possible    punishment    which 

the  question  usually  uppermost  in  the  minds  of  might  be  inflicted  upon  a  prisoner,  which  of  us 

all  concerned  is:     "Shall  we  ever  meet  again?"  cares  to  have  Mr.  Sutfui  regard  him  as  a  sneak 

^    ^  who  would  abuse  a  privilege? 

,  ,       .       .„          ,.         ,      TT  ,      .    ^rr-  0"r  Usher  can  do  a  great  deal  towards  ma'K- 

A  Warnmg  Regarding  the  Ushers  Office  ••.      i          .    i    .      u            n          l- 

^        ^          °  nig  our  visits  pleasant,  but  who  can  blame  him 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  officer  here  known  as  the  f^^  restricting  the  privileges  of  a  prisoner  who 

Usher,  who  presides  over  the  office  where  the  attempts  to  impose  on  him? 

inmates  are  permitted  to  receive  visitors,  to  pre-  ^     ^ 
vent  any  article  from  being  pas.sed  from  a  visitor 

to  an  inmate,  and  vice  versa,  unless  it  has  first  About  the  Colorado  Prison 

been  inspected  by  him  and  his  approval  obtained.  The  system  of  improving  and  building  public 

He.  more  than  any  other  officer  in  the  prison,  highways  by  honor  prisoners,  that  has  been  suc- 

must  strictly  enforce  the  rules  of  this  institution,  cessfully  introduced  and  carried  out  by  Warden 

and  disobedience  on  his  part  might  result  disas-  Thomas  J.  Tynan  of  the  Colorado  Penitentiary 

trously  for  the  inmates  and  the  officers.  during  recent  years,  has  been  reproduced  by  mov- 

Frequently  he  must  refuse  permission  where  ing  pictures,   which   are  now  being   flashed  on 

he  would  gladly  give  it  and  it  might  seem  rea-  screens  throughout  the  country.    These  pictures 

sonable  that  he  should  consent,  but  his  orders  are  show  the  prisoners  at  their  work  and  depict  their 

strict  and  both  the  officers  and  the  inmates  must  life  in  camps. 

always   remember  that  orders   must  be  obeyed,  @ 

because  we  are  in   a  penitentiary  and  not  in   a  ....         ,         i        .     j     r  .u                u 

'                  '  At  this  time  three  hundred  of  the  seven  hun- 

pay     ouse.                     ,rT-r-o.c                 j  dred  and  twenty- four  prisoners  of  the  Colorado 

Our  present  Usher,  Mr.  E.  C.  Sutfin,  is  good  .        .               ^                ,    ,         ^^.^   ^^^^  . 

.„        '       .^    ,         ,  ,      ,            ,         ,  ,  .       , r  penitentiary,  work  unguarded  on  roads,  some  be- 

will  personified,  and  he  has  endeared  himself  to  ;        ,         i       i     i      -i                 r  « „  ♦»,„  ^^-.^^.r. 

,      ',                      ,,        r              •    •  ing  three  hundred  miles  away  from  the  prison. 

all  who  are  capable  of  appreciating  courtesies,  ^^^^  .^  ^^^^^.^  .^  companies  of  about  fifty,  they 

yet  there  are  some  few  prisoners  who  attempt  ^^_^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^^^^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^  Mountains 

to  smuggle  in  articles.     Seated  as  the  Usher  is,  ,                ,,                <,,-r    *^,^^^,  »>  ^.,j  .,n  nf 

•^,^ ,    ,      ,       ,         .,,  and  among  them  are     life  termers,     and  all  ot 

on  an  elevation,  it  is  unlikelv  that  he  will  over-  ,                ,          ,                     ,    ^„^^o«»r«.      xunc* 

them   work   under   unarmed   overseers.      1  hese 

oo     much.  ^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^j,^^  ^^  ^^^j^  before  leaving  the  peni- 

Few   visitors  would   attempt  to  smuggle  any  ^^^           ^^^^  ^^^^  ^^.^^^,^,  ^^^  ^^^^^^^^  ^^  ^^^^^^ 

article,  no  matter  how  harmless,  into  the  pnson  ^^^^  ^^^^^  whenever  possible  they  would  prevent 

if  they  knew  the  consequences  to  themselves  and  ^^^.^  ^^j,^^^,  prisoners  from  making  a  dash  for 

to  the  prisoner.  ^.^^^^      j  ^^^  ^^^^  one-half  of  one  per  cent  of 

^  these  men,  so  trusted,  have  escaped  since  May 

A  visitor  while  on  prison  property  is  there  by  i2th,   1909,  the  day  Colorado's  first  road  camp 

the  courtesy  of  the  management,  and  any  person  ^as  pitched, 

detected  in  handing  something  to  a  prisoner  or  ^ 

receiving  something  from  him,  unless  the  officer  ,.,                          •    -    •  .    ,         u- 

.       ,                       .      •     V  u^     .     u        (      A     A  Warden  Tvnan  is  not  satistied  to  have  his  pris- 

in  charge  consents,  is  liable  to  be  refused  ad-  ...'.,       ,            i     .    i  • 

■    .     Z.    4.U    ■     .-.   .•             r  *           •    *  oners  build  roads,  but  he  conducts  his  camps  so 

mission  to  the  institution  on  future  visits.  ,             •       r           i  t    -i  «• 

.       .               ,             .              ,  ,.                       .  ,  that  everv'  man  mav  learn  scientific  road  building. 

A  prisoner  who  receives  or  de  ivers  any  article  ,..,.,',,       i         •         e  ^^i.^^—c 

'.  .,         .,         ^         ^     .   .         ,         ^       ,     ,  He  is  the  friend  and  the  champion  of  prisoners 

to  a  visitor  without  first  obtaining  the  consent  of  .    .  .  .  ^  :„a.,. 

^u       ai        •       .            •     ,•  .  ,                 -1  and   in  consequence  those  prisoners  are  mdus- 

the  officer  in  charge  is    lable  to  punishment   in  .  „            ,\ ,          .     r  /-  i       i^*-  ^^^..u,:,.^ 

*u^A-        .-        c.u\xr     1           T^       .    \xr    A  trially  a  valuable  part  of  Colorado  s  population. 


the  discretion  of  the  Warden  or  Deputy  Warden. 


^ 


We  must  never  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  being         Outside  of  working  hours  the  prisoners  have 
permitted  to  see  friends  is  a  privilege  which  is     l)ascball  and  football  games,  night  school,  includ- 


176 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


ing  business  courses  and  manual  training  are  at 
their  disposal. 

Warden  Tynan  plans  to  add  five  hundred  acres 
to  the  prison  farm,  and  if  he  is  successful,  it  is 
his  idea  to  employ  experts  on  farming  to  teach 
his  prisoners. 

He  is  substituting  hope  in  place  of  the  thoughts 
of  revenge  in  the  minds  of  his  prisoners. 

Optimism  Under  the  Yoke 

Contrar}'^  to  a  general  prevailing  impression, 
the  inmates  of  states'  prisons  are  not,  speaking 
in  a  collective  sense,  living  within  an  atmosphere 
of  depression  and  hopelessness.  It  is  not  diffi- 
cult in  this  institution  to  search  out  the  true  opti- 
mist, and  to  talk  to  this  class  of  men  is  truly  a 
pleasure,  for  their  tendency  to  take  the  brighter 
view  is  not  necessarily  based  on  their  hope  of 
securing  a  parole  or  pardon  within  a  specified 
length  of  time,  but  in  the  deep  rooted  conviction 
that  they  can  make  good  in  the  world  when  the 
opportunity  is  afiforded  them. 

All  sorts  and  conditions  of  men  bewail  their 
fate  today ;  we  do  not  have  to  turn  to  prison  pre- 
cincts for  typical  illustrations  of  this.  Some  of 
the  best  men  in  the  country,  successful  and  hon- 
ored in  their  community,  are  professional  growl- 
ers. There  is  that  pessimistic  streak  in  their 
make-up  which  the  good  things  of  life  fail  to 
eradicate  and  which  must  ever  be  the  thorn  in  the 
flesh  to  their  interested  friends. 

For  this  reason,  if  for  no  other,  it  is  truly  re- 
freshing and  altogether  remarkable  to  observe 
the  hopeful  spirit  display  itself  so  frequently 
here  ;  to  cite  the  varied  reasons  why  would  neces- 
sitate an  individual  canvas.  While  the  new  atmos- 
phere in  this  prison  engendered  through  the  radi- 
cal policies  of  the  present  administration  has  un- 
doubtedly contributed  its  good  part  towards  the 
creation  of  this  wholesome  spirit,  we  can  go 
deeper  than  this. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  inmates,  regardless 
of  the  nature  of  their  crime,  have  never  previous 
to  their  incarceration  become  acquainted  with 
their  true  self-hood.  They  have  come  from  the 
humbler  walks  of  life  and  undesirable  acquaint- 
ances, unsettled  habits  of  living  and  evil-creating 


environments  have  proved  the  discouraging  bar- 
riers towards  the  efficient  operation  of  the  good 
impulse.  Prison  life  proved  to  be  the  eye- 
opener.  Regular  hours  for  eating,  working  and 
sleeping,  access  to  a  good  library  and  ample  op- 
portunity for  self-study  have  tended  to  lift  the 
prisoner  sufficiently  above  his  former  plane  of 
living  to  enable  him  for  the  first  time  to  obtain  a 
line  upon  his  real  self.  He  awakens  to  the  fact 
that  he  is  capable  by  virtue  of  temperament  and 
intelligence  to  fit  into  a  different  groove  of  life ; 
he  has  sensed  a  new  line  of  development  and  the 
prospect  has  its  natural  fascination.  He  has  be- 
come an  optimist,  while  yet  a  prisoner  and  as 
such,  conveys  a  lesson  to  the  world. 

Build  Jails  Within  the  Prisons 

Miss  Katherine  B.  Davis,  who  was  recently 
appointed  commissioner  of  correction  at  Black- 
well's  Island,  finds  a  great  drawback  to  proper 
prison  management,  resulting  from  the  mixing 
of  prisoners  who  desire  to  render  good  conduct 
with  those  whose  inclinations  are  the  opposite. 
She  holds  that  where  there  is  no  way  of  separ- 
ating the  rebellious  and  troublesome  prisoners 
from  the  others,  those  inmates  who  obey  the  rules 
do  not  get  a  square  deal,  because  their  conduct 
as  well  as  their  treatment  is  adversely  affected 
without  any  fault  of  their  own. 

In  this  respect  the  experience  at  this  prison 
under  the  present  administration  is  the  same.  The 
drawback  has  always  existed,  but  as  liberality  in 
prison  management  is  advanced,  the  necessity  of 
separating  the  good  from  the  bad  becomes  more 
pronounced.  There  are  men  in  this  prison  who 
are  not  fit  to  be  treated  as  well  as  the  present 
management  treats  them,  as  they  take  undue  ad- 
vantage of  kindness  shown  them  and  because 
they  are  mixed  up  with  the  larger  number  of  men 
who  earnestly  try  to  and  do  make  good,  these 
miscreants  frequently  get  away  with  their  mis- 
deeds without  their  identity  being  discovered. 
This  discourages  those  whose  intentions  are  good 
for  two  reasons :  ( 1 )  they  cannot  avoid  sharing 
in  the  blame  ;  (2)  they  resent  imposition  upon  the 
management. 

In  order  to  correct  this  situation  on  Black- 
well's  Island,  Miss  Davis  is  building  a  discip- 


April  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


177 


linary  building  where  the  hoodlums  can  have  it 
out  amongst  themselves,  and,  as  if  fate  intended 
sarcasm,  a  manly  prisoner  drew  the  plans  for  this 
new  building  which  is  to  be  used  for  the  punish- 
ment of  the  reactionaries. 


Trouble  makers  should  immediately  be  taken 
out  of  the  sight  and  hearing  of  the  others.  Mod- 
ern prison  reform  demands  classification  as  one 
of  the  conditions  precedent  and  that  calls  for  a 
separate  building  for  the  disturbers,  and  if  such 
a  building  could  be  made  sound  proof  it  might 
be  made  ideal. 


Appeal  to  Farm  and  Road  Work 

While  the  grip  of  winter  has  in  no  way  re- 
laxed, a  sense  of  the  nearness  of  spring  seems  to 
manifest  itself  these  days;  the  thought  appeals  to 
the  minds  of  the  large  numbers  of  inmates  who 
are  hopeful  of  being  chosen  for  farm  or  road 
service.  The  out-of-doors  appeals  to  most  men 
and  that  its  appeal  should  be  especially  strong  to 
the  inmates  of  a  penitentiary  is  only  natural.  The 
work  will  be  creative  in  a  real  sense,  and  the  at- 
mosphere of  personal  liberty  should  call  forth 
their  best  endeavor. 

Mental  and  Manual  Training 

The  working  out  of  the  prison  problem  is  en- 
gaging the  attention  of  the  best  men  and  nations 
at  the  present  time. 

A  public  sentiment,  based  upon  science  and 
favoring  modern  prison  reform  methods  is  more 
valuable  than  a  public  sentiment  resting  purely 
upon  good  will  and  sympathy. 

The  connection  between  ignorance  and  wrong- 
doing in  a  large  majority  of  instances  is  so 
marked  that  it  is  not  difficult  to  believe  that  in 
most  cases  crime  is  only  misdirected  energy,  and 
that  proper  mental  and  manual  training  will  make 
men  more  fit  to  serve  their  fellows,  and  con.se- 
quently,  less  liable  to  convictions  for  crimes. 

Even  though  applied  late,  the  most  effective 
corrective  influence  for  prisoners  is  the  right 
combination  of  mental  and  manual  training. 


EDITOR'S  COLUMNS 


Our  Cartoon  for  April 

We  always  submit  our  editorial  work  with  a 
sense  of  its  inadequacy,  but  we  feel  qualified  to 
challenge  the  world  when  it  comes  to  work  of 
our  cartoonist,  John  Rudnick  a  fellow  prisoner. 
— Editor. 

Mentioning  Names  of  Prisoners 

Occasionally  we  hear  of  some  prisoner  who 
fears  that  his  name  will  be  mentioned  in  The 
JoLiET  Prison  Post.  It  is  the  policy  of  the  paper 
not  to  mention  any  inmate  by  name,  except  by  his 
consent.  This  rule  does  not  hold  good  in  cases 
where  a  prisoner  commits  an  act  which  brings  his 
name  into  the  public  press.  Whenever  that  hap- 
pens we  feel  at  liberty  to  mention  such  prisoner's 
name,  as  we  fail  to  see  why  one  who,  for  in- 
stance, escapes  and  thus  gets  his  name  into  the 
newspapers  should  object  when  we  mention  his 
name  either  upon  his  escape  or  return. — Editor. 

Life  Termers  Desire  a  Parole  Law 

Men  serving  life  sentences  have  frequently 
asked  us  to  take  the  initiative  towards  obtaining 
the  enactment  of  a  parole  law  for  life  termers,  or 
the  amendment  of  the  parole  law  which  is  now 
in  force,  so  as  to  make  it  applicable  to  inmates 
serving  life  sentences.  We  have  declined  to  do  it, 
because  we  think  it  would  be  against  the  interests 
of  the  life  termers  to  have  us  proceed  as  so  many 
of  them  desire  us  to.  A  movement  contemplating 
a  parole  law  for  life  termers  after  they  have 
served  many  years  should — if  started  within  this 
prison — be  begim  by  the  men  serving  life  sen- 
tences and  not  by  a  magazine  or  its  editor. 


For  the  present  we  advise  the  life  term  men 
who  have  been  here  over  eight  years  and  three 
months  to  petition  the  authorities  for  permission 
to  hold  one  or  more  meetings  in  the  chapel,  where 
the  entire  matter  can  be  discussed  and  a  plan  of 
action  agreed  upon.  We  desire  to  say  that  if  we 
can  be  of  service  as  an  assistant  in  the  matter  we 
shall  be  most  happy  to  do  what  we  can ;  but  we 
will  not  take  the  initiative  nor  at  any  time  take 
over  the  laboring  oar. — Editor. 


178 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


To   the   Men   Confined   m   the    Illinois    State 

Penitentiary  at  Joliet 


The  following  rules  shall,  after  April  1,  1914, 
govern  the  honor  system. 

You  will  be  divided  into  four  grades  as  fol- 
lows: 

Industrial  Efficiency  Grade. 
First  Grade. 
Second  Grade. 
Third  Grade. 

The  Indiistrial  Efficiency  Grade 

This  grade  is  for  inmates  who  are  entitled  to 
particular  distinction  by  reason  of  being  highly 
valuable  to  this  institution  through  exceptional 
efficiency  and  helpfulness  in  addition  to  good  de- 
portment. 

Men  in  this  grade  will  enjoy  all  the  privileges 
allotted  to  the  first  grade  plus  such  additional 
privileges  as  I  may  from  time  to  time  grant  them. 

They  will  wear  cadet  gray  clothing  with  two 
perpendicular  ornamental  stripes  on  their 
trousers,  as  a  mark  of  distinction,  and  they  will 
be  permitted  to  attend  the  meetings — which  will 
hereinafter  be  set  forth — of  inmates  held  in  the 
rooms  in  the  east  and  west  wings,  which  were 
formerly  used  as  school  rooms. 

Appointments  to  rank  in  this  grade  will  be  in 
my  discretion,  and  I  will  make  such  appointments 
only  from  among  men  in  the  first  grade. 

Any  inmate  appointed  to  this  grade  will  be  re- 
duced to  the  first  grade  whenever  I  consider  him 
no  longer  entitled  to  particular  distinction. 

Trusties  and  men  for  road  or  farm  work  will 
be  selected  from  men  in  this  grade. 

First  Grade 

This  grade  is  for  inmates  whose  deportment 
is  good,  who  observe  all  rules  of  the  prison  dis- 
cipline and  who  have  signed  the  honor  pledge. 

Men  in  this  grade  will  be  dressed  in  cadet  gray 
clothing  and  they  will  be  furnished  an  honor  but- 
ton. 

They  wall  be  permitted  to  write  a  letter  and 
receive  a  visit  once  every  week. 

Trusties  and  men  for  road  or  farm  work  will 
be  selected  from  men  in  this  grade. 

Men  in  this  grade  will  be  permitted  to  attend 
the  meetings  of  inmates — hereinafter  provided 
for — to  be  held  in  the  rooms  in  the  east  and  west 


wings,    which    were    formerly    used    as    school 
rooms. 

Second  Grade 

This  grade  is  for  inmates  whose  deportment  is 
good  and  who  observe  all  rules  of  the  prison  dis- 
cipline but  who  have  not  signed  the  honor  pledge. 

Men  in  this  grade  will  be  dressed  in  cadet  gray 
clothing. 

They  will  be  permitted  to  write  a  letter  and  re- 
ceive a  visit  once  every  week. 

Upon  arrival  at  the  prison  the  new  inmate  will 
be  placed  in  this  grade. 

Inmates  in  this  grade  will  be  promoted  to  the 
first  grade  upon  signing  the  honor  pledge,  which 
they  may  do  at  any  time  after  having  indicated 
that  they  understand  its  nature. 

Prisoners  in  this  grade  will  not  be  permitted  to 
attend  the  meetings  b.ereinafter  provided  for. 

No  trusties  for  work  in  and  around  the  prison 
nor  men  for  road  or  farm  work  wall  be  selected 
from  men  in  this  grade. 

Third  Grade 

This  grade  is  for  inmates  who  have  been  found 
guilty  of  an  infraction  of  the  prison  discipline, 
and  have  been  placed  in  punishment  therefor. 

Men  in  this  grade  will  be  dressed  in  striped 
clothing.  They  wall  cell  only  with  prisoners  in 
their  grade  and  in  so  far  as  possible  they  will  be 
kept  apart  from  the  other  inmates.  They  will  be 
barred  from  all  amusements  and  recreation  and 
they  will  not  be  permitted  to  eat  in  the  dining 
hali. 

No  trusties  for  work  in  and  around  the  prison 
or  men  for  road  or  farm  work  will  be  selected 
from  this  grade. 

The  prisoners  who  are  in  this  grade  will  not 
be  permitted  to  attend  the  meetings  hereinafter 
provided  for. 

An  inmate  who  is  reduced  to  this  grade  will 
remain  there  until  I  am  satisfied  that  he  desires  to 
obey  the  prison  rules. 

Meetings 
As  hereinafter  provided,  the  men  who  are  in 
the  Industrial  Efficiency  Grade  and  in  the  First 
Cirade  will  be  permitted  to  hold  meetings  at  least 
once  every  month.     . 


April  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


179 


The  object  of  the  meetings  is  to  permit  the 
men  who  are  in  the  Industrial  Efficiency  Grade 
and  in  the  First  Grade  gradually  and  in  a  limited 
way  to  become  self-governing. 

Commencing  Wednesday  evening,  April  1, 
1914.  the  men  on  galleries  one  in  both  the  cast 
and  west  wings  may  meet  in  the  school  rooms  of 
their  respective  wings,  and  on  the  following  even- 
ing the  men  on  galleries  two  may  meet,  and 
<o  on  until  all  of  the  eligible  inmates  by  galleries 
shall  have  met. 

All  the  men  who  sleep  outside  of  the  wings 
shall,  for  the  purpo.ses  of  this  schedule,  be 
deemed  as  constituting  Gallery  No.  9  in  the  east 
wing. 

Until  further  notice,  I  will  select  the  presiding 
officers  and  secretaries  for  all  meetings  and  a 
chief  to  preside  over  the  meetings  of  the  presid- 
ing officers. 

The  discussions  at  the  meetings  will  be  limited 
to  subjects  appertaining  to  the  discipline  of  the 
pri.son  and  the  general  conditions  of  the  life  of 
the  inmates,  and  the  prisoners  may  vote  on  the 
questions  which  come  before  them. 

After  all  the  inmates  shall  have  met  by  gal- 
leries, the  presiding  officers  will  meet  to  further 
discuss  and  act  upon  the  matters  which  have  pre- 
viously been  discussed  and  acted  upon  at  the 
meetings  of  the  men  by  galleries,  and  their  meet- 
ings will  be  presided  over  by  the  chief. 

The  chief  shall  have  the  right  to  attend  all 
meetings  and  to  take  part  therein.  It  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  chief  to  transmit  to  me  the  results  of 
the  meetings.  He  will  appoint  his  secretary,  who 
will  act  in  his  place  at  all  meetings  which  are  not 
attended  by  the  chief. 

Freedom  of  speech  will  be  permitted  at  all 
meetings,  and  no  man  shall  be  held  to  account  for 
any  speech  which  does  not  in  itself  constitute  an 
infraction  of  the  prison  discipline. 

At  least  one  prison  guard  will  be  present  at 
each  meeting. 

KdmuVjd  M.  Allen,  Warden. 

March  26.  1914. 

©     ®     © 

Contract  labor  is  a  crime  which  is  getting  rec- 
ognized as  such.  It  di.'^graces  the  nation  or  the 
state  which  tolerates  it,  and  the  shame  of  it. 
if  not  its  immorality,  may  lead  to  its  general 
suppression. —  lulian  Hawthorne. 


NEWS    NARRATIVE 


A  SINCERE  SERMONET 


By  An  Inmate 

On  Sunflay,  March  1.  I  attended  chapel  serv- 
ices for  the  first  time  in  several  months  and  was 
fortunate  in  hearing  Father  Edward,  our  Cath- 
olic chaplain,  preach. 

In  rhetoric,  eloquence  and  sincerity  his  sermon 
impressed  me  more  deeply  than  I,  a  Protestant, 
have  ever  been  impressed  at  religious  services. 
.Ml  the  men  that  sat  around  me  in  the  chapel 
and  whom  I  heard  express  themselves  spoke  only 
words  of  commendation  for  the  man  that  was 
displayed  in  the  Father  as  he  spoke. 

One  of  his  statements  was  that  he  would  help 
every  man,  regardless  of  creed.  It  was  not  the 
words  that  so  impressed  me,  but  the  unaffected, 
genuine  manner  in  which  he  uttered  them  and  in 
which  he  implanted  them  in  my  memory. 

When  one  hears  Father  Edward  speak  he  read- 
ily recognizes  the  fact  that  from  him  nothing 
can  emanate  other  than  what  is  right,  and  this 
impression  is  gained  from  the  very  simplicity  of 
his  sermons  and  the  cordial  and  plain  manner 
in  which  he  appeals  to  the  men. 

During  the  short  time  that  the  Father  spoke 
he  preached  more  good,  common  sense  and  genu- 
ine religion  than  I  have  ever  heard  preached 
from  the  pulpit  in  the  numerous  churches  north, 
south,  cast  or  west,  rich  or  poor,  big  or  little. 
city  or  country  that  I  have  attended,  and  that 
religion  was  that  he  would  do  unto  us  as  he 
would  have  us  do  to  not  only  him  but  to  all  that 
we  come  in  contact  with  ;  and  that  he.  like  all  the 
rest  of  the  human  race,  came  from  the  same 
origin,  clay,  and  that  he  with  the  balance  of  u^ 
would  eventually  return  to  it.  He  did  not  hold 
himself  up  to  the  light  as  a  model;  he  did  not 
claim  nor  infer  that  he  was  better  in  all  res|)ccts 
than  his  hearers.  In  his  talk  he  showed  us — the 
inmates  of  this  penitentiary — the  personality  of  a 
sincere  Christian  man  clothed  with  the  cassock 
and  that  man  was  him.'Jelf.  He  in  simple  Ian 
guage  told  and  illustrated  to  us  just  what  a  man 
should  do  to  cleanse  his  .soul  of  the  stigma  of 
crime. 

In  pronunciation,  ainiunciation,  command  of 
the  I'.nglish  language  and  common  sense.  Father 
Edward  is  one  of  the  best  orators  I  have  ever 
heard      He  talked  straight  to  my  heart,  which 


180 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


he  did  not  fail  to  reach  and  from  which  he  did 
not  fail  to  secure  response. 

®     ®     ® 

FRIDAY  THE  THIRTEENTH 


At  the  March  meeting  of  the  Parole  Board  a 
full-blooded  negro,  nicknamed  "Bones,"  ap- 
peared before  that  body  to  have  the  length  of 
his  sentence  determined.  Bones  is  serving  an 
indeterminate  sentence  of  from  one  to  fourteen 
years,  and  as  he  had  served  one  year,  the  mini- 
mum of  his  sentence,  he  was  called  before  the 
Board  in  the  usual  routine  of  business.  The 
question  to  be  decided  was  how  much  longer, 
if  any,  must  Bones  be  required  to  serve.  It  was 
in  the  discretion  of  the  Board  to  let  him  go 
upon  parole  in  a  few  days  or  to  order  him  kept 
here  seven  years  and  three  months  longer,  or 
anything  in  between.  Bones  understood  the  im- 
portance of  the  occasion  fully  when  he  entered 
the  room  in  which  the  hearings  were  being  held. 

Mr.  Stevenson,  who  is  the  chairman  of  the 
Board,  noticed  that  Bones  held  something 
clutched  tightly  in  his  right  hand  and  he  in- 
quired what  it  was.  Immediately  Bones  placed 
his  hand  under  the  table  and  commenced  to 
laugh.  He  was  told  that  he  must  state  what  he 
held  in  his  hand  and  he  replied  that  it  was  his 
rabbit's  foot.  Upon  this  Bones  was  asked  why 
he  had  brought  it,  and  he  accepted  this  as  the  cue 
to  begin  his  speech,  saying:  "Mr.  Stevenson, 
and  Honorable  Gentlemen :  This  sure  enough 
is  Friday  and  the  thirteentli  day  of  March,  and 
I  am  mightily  scared.  I  don't  know  what  I 
would  do  if  it  were  not  for  this  here  rabbit's 
foot."  At  this  Mr.  Stevenson  interrupted  Bones 
by  offering  him  one  dollar  for  his  rabbit's  foot 
if  he  gave  it  up  at  once,  adding  that  after  the 
hearing  it  would  be  only  worth  a  nickel  to  him. 
Bones  replied  that  he  would  not  take  a  milion 
dollars  for  it,  and  that  he  would  take  no  chances. 
He  continued  to  argue  his  case  the  best  that  he 
could,  and  in  a  moment  when  he  was  particu- 
larly fluent,  Mr.  Stevenson  interrupted,  saying: 
"That  rabbit's  foot  of  yours  is  running  pretty 
fast  just  now."  Quick  as  a  flash,  Bones  re- 
sponded: "Yes,  but  I'm  afraid  you  will  make 
him  limp  before  you  get  through  with  me." 

®     ®     ® 

Severe  discipline  frequently  prevented  prison- 
ers from  locating  their  relatives. 


Captain  Kane  Pleads  with  a  Prisoner  Not  to 
Obey  Him 

Captain  Michael  C.  Kane,  our  Assistant  Dep- 
uty Warden,  prides  himself  on  having  his  way 
with  the  prisoners.  He  will  be  obeyed,  and  has 
been  for  over  thirty  years,  but  he  met  his  Water- 
loo Friday,  March  13th.  Which  incident  should 
be  taken  to  prove  that  one  should  give  some 
thought  and  rather  more  attention  to  certain 
days  and  dates.  At  any  rate,  it  may  be  that  the 
Captain  will  look  with  considerable  disfavor  on 
Fridays  and  thirteens — especially  on  any  com- 
bination of  the  two.  Now,  it  happened  in  this 
wise : 

Frank  Holland,  becoming  suddenly  insane, 
climbed  to  the  roof  of  the  Chapel  building  and 
commenced  running  up  and  down,  shouting  or- 
ders to  every  one  within  reach  of  his  voice, 
throwing  rocks  at  officers  for  pastime,  and  aim- 
ing with  a  pick  as  if  it  was  rifle  and  calling: 
"Halt  or  I  fire!" 

Captain  Kane  now  appears  on  the  scene — and 
immediately  halts — and  at  a  glance  has  taken 
in  the  situation  and  sets  out  to  command  some 
of  the  aforementioned  obedience.  He  sternly 
called  for  the  prisoner  to  come  down,  and  that 
at  once.  Holland  started  to  obey — but  in  a  some- 
what different  manner  from  what  the  Captain 
meant.  He  proceeded  to  disrobe,  throwing  his 
clothing,  piece  at  a  time,  to  the  ground  over  the 
front  of  the  building. 

At  last  his  under  garments  flew  over  the  edge 
of  the  roof  and  he  climbed  out,  ready  to  fol- 
low his  clothes — and  to  faithfully  and  literally 
follow  the  Captain's  insistent  commands.  For 
a  moment  the  many  spectators  of  the  incident 
held  their  breath,  for  it  looked  as  if  Holland 
was  going  to  take  the  shortest  way  down — the 
fifty  feet,  or  more — straight  from  the  roof  to 
the  ground. 

Here  is  where  sudden  defeat  overtook  Cap- . 
tain  Kane.  He  pleaded  and  urged  and  coaxed. 
lie  insisted  that  he  had  been  misunderstood,  and 
really  meant  for  Holland  to  stay  where  he  was 
indefinitely.  And  the  Captain  was  as  much  in 
earnest  now  as  he  had  been  in  his  orders  for 
him  to  come  down  a  few  minutes  before.  In- 
deed, it  was  a  serious  moment,  for  a  plunge  from 
the  top  of  the  building  would  have  meant  death 
for  the  prisoner. 

Whether  it  was  the  force  of  habit  in  obeying 


\pril  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


181 


the  Captain  that  held  Holland,  cannot  be  said. 
But  he  hestiated  and  so  gave  opportunity  to  sev- 
eral prisoners  who  had  gained  the  roof  unsaen 
by  him  to  attract  his  attention  to  them.  He 
turned  and  started  to  run  toward  them  and  two 
of  his  comrades  quickly  captured  him.  A  fierce 
-frugglc  ensued  in  which  he  was  finally  over- 
come. 

As  the  roof  was  a  gabled  one  and  very  steep, 
the  rescue  was  a  grand  exhibition  of  courage  and 
physical  fitness,  and  the  two  men  who  effected 
it  deserve  much  admiration  for  successfully  ac- 
complishing a  difficult  and  daring  feat. 

It  required  an  insane  prisoner  to  make  Cap- 
tain Kane  back  up,  thereby  breaking  an  unsul- 
Hed  record  of  over  thirty  years.  We  must  ad- 
mit that  the  Captain  backed  up  enthusiastically 
and  with  good  grace — and  for  a  worthy  cause 
and  to  good  effect — but  he  did  back  up  and  a 
prisoner   made  him   do   it. 

CONTRIBUTIONS 
FROM  INMATES 

MY  FRIEND  JAMES 
By  Jesse  Sogers 

A   Prisoner 

When  I  came  here  during  the  year  1897  one 
of  my  first  friends  was  James,  who  was  serving 
a  life  sentence  for  murder. 

He  was  always  cheerful,  and  he  was  sure  that 
in  time  it  would  be  known  that  he  had  acted 
purely  in  self-defense  and  that  then  he  would 
l)e  discharged. 

Then  he  would  go  back  to  the  old  home  to 
live  with  his  old  mother,  who  was  the  sole  sur- 
viving member  of  the  family. 

When  James  had  been  here  about  nineteen 
years  he  had  at  last  accumulated  enough  money 
to  present  his  petition  for  a  pardon,  together 
with  his  documentary  evidence  to  the  Pardon 
Board,  and  after  that  he  commenced  to  count 
the  number  of  days  which  would  transpire  be- 
fore he  was  released. 

He  had  argued  his  case  the  best  he  could  in 
a  letter  to  the  Pardon  Board  and  he  was  sure 
that  he  had  made  out  a  truthful  case  of  self- 
defense,  and  besides  he  had  presented  a  record 
of  perfect  conduct  in  the  prison  and  this  record 
covered  many  years. 


He  was  sure  that  the  Board  would  have  in 
mind  that  the  Prosecuting  Attorney  in  the  case 
had  been  ambitious  for  a  reputation  as  a  success- 
ful trial  lawyer,  and  that  his  own  poverty-stricken 
condition  at  the  time  of  the  trial  when  he  was 
eighteen  years  old  would  be  considered. 

Mis  documents  showed  that  he  had  no  lawyer 
until  the  court  a[)pointed  one  for  him,  and  that 
he  received  ju?t  the  kind  of  a  defense  that  nearly 
every  man  receives  who  obtains  a  lawyer  in  that 
way. 

He  was  satisfied  that  by  showing  the  inequality 
of  the  contest  between  the  State  of  Illinois  and 
its  machinery  for  prosecuting  on  the  one  hand, 
and  he,  James,  without  money  and  with  an  un- 
known lawyer  appointed  for  him  by  the  court  at 
the  last  moment  on  the  other  hand,  tl^at  he  had 
made  it  perfectly  plain  that  he  had  never  been 
properly  tried. 

One  day  he  handed  me  a  letter  to  read.  It 
was  an  official  notification  that  his  application 
for  a  pardon  or  a  commutation  of  his  sentence 
had  been  denied. 

Shortly  afterwards  I  noticed  that  his  hair  was 
turning  gray,  and  that  the  bright,  cheerful  look 
had  disappeared  from  his  face. 

Instead  there  was  a  sad  and  worried  expres- 
sion which  told  me  that  James  realized  that  all 
he  had  been  able  to  scrape  together  during  eight- 
een years  had  been  lost  in  that  one  venture,  and 
that  it  would  probably  take  another  eighteen 
vcars  to  enable  him  to  make  the  effort  again. 

In  other  words,  James  knew  for  the  first  time 
that  he  was  serving  a  life  sentence,  and  that  he 
was  destined  to  die  in  prison. 

His  hope  that  he  would  again  return  to  his 
mother  in  the  old  home  was  shattered,  and  with 
it  had  gone  all  ambition  and  desire. 

He  felt  that  he  was  not  getting  a  square  deal. 
ill  that  the  lack  of  money  had  prevented  him 
from  bringing  his  case  up  right.  He  saw  other 
men  come  and  go  and  he  knew  that  from  the 
standpoints  of  ability  and  character  he  was  su- 
perior to  nearly  all  of  them,  but  for  him  the 
great  gate  never  had  swung  outward. 

He  understood  that  he  had  never  had  the 
slightest  chance  to  regain  his  freedom  after  the 
gates  had  closed  behind  him,  anrl  that  his  con- 
fidence and  hopes  had  never  had  substantial  foun- 
dation; that  he  had  been  dreaming. 

About  a  month  after  he  had  shown  me  the  no- 
tice I  again  had  a  chance  to  speak  to  him  and 


182 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


I  asked  him  how  he  was  getting  on,  and  he  an- 
swered :  "I  have  nothing  to  live  for  now.  All 
my  hopes  for  the  future  are  shattered." 

He  argued  that  the  men  who  are  in  prison 
under  the  parole  law  could  get  to  see  the  Board, 
but  that  he  had  never  been  face  to  face  with 
any  of  them,  and  that  consequently  he  had  never 
been  able  to  explain  it  right. 

He  wondered  if  some  unknown  enemy  had  put 
in  a  knock  against  him  with  the  Pardon  Board, 
and  it  puzzled  him  to  find  out  if  this  was  the 
fact.  All  he  could  make  out  of  it  was  that  he 
was  helpless  and  that  days,  weeks,  months  and 
years  had  gone  by,  and  that  he  was  just  where 
he  started,  only  he  was  much  older,  and  that  he 
had  worked  hard  in  the  shops  under  the  contract 
system,  so  that  he  would  eventually  have  a  good 
record  to  point  to,  in  order  that  there  might  be 
no  question  about  his  right  to  clemency. 

At  about  this  time  I  was  placed  at  work  in  the 
Hospital  as  nurse,  and  pretty  soon  James  showed 
up  in  the  sick  line  for  the  first  time  during  his 
incarceration. 

He  told  the  Doctor  he  was  not  sick,  but  just 
wanted  to  rest.  Knowing  him  to  be  square,  the 
Doctor  took  him  in  and  put  him  to  bed. 

He  instructed  the  Doctor  that  if  anyone  came 
to  see  him  he  was  not  to  be  bothered,  as  the 
promises  which  had  been  made  to  him  had  all 
been  broken,  and  he  knew  that  his  mother,  who 
was  nearly  eighty  years  old,  could  not  pay  the 
expenses  of  a  trip  from  her  home  to  the  prison. 

James  grew  worse  from  day  to  day,  but  never 
complained  after  he  went  to  bed. 

One  day  I  went  to  the  greenhouse  and  the  offi- 
cer in  charge  gave  me  some  roses  and  morning 
glories  for  the  patients.  I  brought  them  to 
James  and  asked  him  which  he  wanted  and  he 
chose  the  morning  glories,  saying  that  kind  of 
flower  covered  the  veranda  of  his  home  where 
his  mother  lived. 

Pie  grew  weaker  from  day  to  day  and  began 
to  worry  about  his  mother.  He  prayed  to  God 
to  permit  him  to  go  home  to  provide  for  her. 

Our  Father  in  Heaven  must  have  heard  the 
prayer,  for  shortly  after  James  uttered  it  the 
cheerfulness,  which  at  first  had  attracted  me  to 
him,  returned,  though  he  grew  weaker  steadily. 

Soon  his  mind  wandered  and  James  was  happy 
again.  He  believed  be  was  a  little  boy,  calling 
to  his  sister  to  come  and  help  him  get  the  chick- 
ens out  of  the  garden. 


OUR  ANIMAL  FRIENDS 


By  C.  E.  R. 

A    Prisoner 

Starting  off  in  a  very  personal  way,  I  am  very 
fond  of  animals.  For  this  reason  to  properly  de- 
scribe the  traits  and  habits  of  those  who  make 
up  our  little  animal  kingdom  would  take  up  three 
or  four  times  more  space  than  these  few  words 
of  mine  will  occupy ;  and  it  is  not  my  purpose  to 
so  impose  upon  the  editor  of  this  paper.  If  one 
really  likes  animals  and  has  been  accustomed 
to  have  them  around  him,  there  is  much  to  ob- 
serve in  relation  to  their  habits  which  might  be 
entirely  overlooked  by  the  casual  observer. 

Dogs  and  horses  are  the  best  loved  animals  in 
the  w^orld  ;  they  are,  themselves,  the  closest  of 
friends.  There  is  something  very  human  about 
them  at  times.  When  they  really  get  to  know 
us  they  are  keenly  alive  to  our  moods  and  acquire 
a  knowledge  of  our  dispositions  that  no  other 
animals  could  possibly  acquire ;  for  we  make  no 
attempt  in  the  presence  of  our  pets  to  be  any- 
thing but  our  natural  self. 

Our  horses — most  fortunately — are  in  good 
hands ;  this  is  only  another  way  of  saying  that 
the  men  wdio  watch  over  them  are  fond  of  horse 
flesh — and  it  should  ever  be  thus.  You  will  never 
see  the  guardians  of  our  horses  hit  them  hard 
under  the  belly  or  pull  hairs  from  their  tails  or 
manes  should  they  happen  to  fall  into  a  rebellious 
mood ;  it  should  be  a  horse's  prerogative  to  be 
rebellious  at  times,  being  a  sign  of  temper  arid 
surplus  energy,  and  this  is  good  to  see  occasion- 
ally in  all  animals,  both  four-  and  two-footed. 

To  study  horses  properly  we  should  do  so  at 
close  range  with  the  smell  of  the  stable  and  the 
scent  of  the  hay  about  us ;  being  in  their  resi- 
dence, they  will  doubtless  be  on  their  good  be- 
havior. H  you  think  very  much  of  a  horse  you 
are  apt  to  find  yourself  before  very  long  wedged 
within  his  stall,  having  a  quiet  tete  a  tete.  Should 
he  be  expecting  a  lump  of  sugar,  he  wall  be  quite 
rude  enough  to  ignore  your  remarks  until  his 
nose  has  burrowed  into  every  pocket  big  enough 
to  hold  it  (the  nose,  I  mean).  And  as  he  is 
munching  the  delicious  morsel  he  is  contemplat- 
ing just  where  would  be  the  best  place  to  search 
for  another  lump ;  he  is  not  apt  to  look  through 
the  same  pockets  twice. 

It  is  pleasant  to  watch  them  drink — especially 
on  a  hot  day.     How  they  love  to  just  literally 


April  1.  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


183 


nose  around  in  the  water!  So  grateful  and  in- 
vigorating it  seems  to  be  that  oftentimes  they  will 
forget,  for  a  brief  moment,  the  big  fly  which  may 
be  getting  fat  on  some  discreetly  selected  spot  of 
their  anatomy. 

Our  horses  know  when  feed  time  comes 
around ;  should  there  be  much  of  a  delay  they  are 
apt  to  hunt  up  the  commissary.  All  the  peniten- 
tiary horses,  40  in  all.  are  well  {e(\,  tine  looking 
animals,  and  are  always  in  the  pink  of  condition. 
This  is  largely  due  to  the  fact  that  the  stable  men 
take  a  pride  as  well  as  a  personal  interest  in  their 
work. 

The  man  who  does  not  care  for  dogs  must  be 
erratic ;  the  man  who  hates  dogs,  it  seems  to  me, 
must  be  abnormal.  For  the  dog  is,  after  all,  the 
most  responsive  of  all  animals  and  has  more 
friends  among  men  than  all  the  other  animals  in 
the  world  combined.  The  dogs  who  frolic  about 
the  penitentiary  grounds  number  seven.  We 
have  many  varieties  of  all  ages,  from  shepherds 
down  to  poodles,  and  their  dispositions  vary  ac- 
cordingly. Some  are  frivolously  gay  and  care- 
free, while  others  are  retired  and  dignified  in  their 
contemplation  of  a  strenuous  and  well-fed  past. 
We  have  some  with  grayish-white  whiskers 
around  their  noses  and  mouths  who  are  the  hon- 
ored patriarchs,  and  as  such  are  respected.  Rut 
whether  young  or  old,  they  are  all  dogs,  and 
being  so  must  be  the  good  friends  of  us  all. 

The  other  day,  while  in  the  dining  room,  I  sat 
next  to  a  big  fellow  who  was  carefully  wrapping 
up  something  in  a  paper  at  the  close  of  the  meal. 
Presently  he  turned  to  me  and  inquired,  "Do  you 
mind  if  I  take  that  bone  off  your  plate?"  I  was 
not  thinking  of  dogs  then,  and  the  question  gave 
me  rather  a  shock.  Being  satisfied,  however,  that 
my  near  neighbor  had  no  intention  of  eating  the 
bone  himself,  I  said  : 

"For  a  dog,  I  suppose." 

A  look  of  confusion  came  over  the  face  of 
the  big  man  for  a  brief  moment ;  then  he  an- 
swered, with  a  trace  of  embarrassment : 

"No,  it's  my  cat." 

Have  we  cats?  Yes,  and  then  some!  Wher- 
ever we  go  we  have  to  dodge  a  cat.  W^e  have  to 
dodge  them  because  they  are  so  tame  and  so 
superbly  self -engrossed  that  the  results  would 
be  disastrous  if  we  did  not  watch  our  feet  at  all 
times.  The  writer  claims  no  especial  fondness 
for  cats — perhaps  because  they  are  the  natural 


enemy  of  the  ilog ;  Iml  these  penitentiary  cats 
have  evoked  his  interest  because  they  have 
deigned  to  come  from  without  their  shell  of  cx- 
clusiveness  and  their  atmosphere  of  hauteur  to 
make  friends  of  the  dogs.  The  dogs  have  re- 
ceived them  into  their  society  with  fairly  good 
grace.  But  being  dogs,  they  know  the  change- 
ability of  cat  nature  and,  I  dare  .say,  arc  ever 
prepared  to  fight  or  run— as  the  case  may  be. 

This  sketch  would  be  incomplete  without 
speaking  of  our  donkey.  He  is  the  veteran  of 
them  all.  He  is  the  most  intensely  interesting 
character — as  a  study.  He  is  so  old  that  the  mind 
of  man  runneth  not  to  the  contrary,  and  conse- 
quently, with  due  respect  to  old  age,  he  is  not 
overworked.  This  may  be  a  pleasant  way  of 
putting  it ;  i)erhaps  it  would  be  more  to  the  point 
to  say  that  he  will  not  work  unless  the  spirit 
moves  him — and  the  spirit  moves  sluggishly  in 
these  his  halcyon  days.  While  the  old  wicked 
glint  of  the  eye,  betokening  deep  guile,  has  de- 
parted with  most  of  his  sight  and  usefulness, 
there  is  still  a  trace  of  the  old  time  stubborn  de- 
fiance in  his  eyes  which  the  film  of  old  age  has 
not  succeeded  in  obliterating.  He  is  at  peace  with 
the  world  after  a  well  spent  life,  and  through  it 
all  has  done  very  little  kicking — for  a  donkey. 

We  will  say  good-by  to  all  of  our  animal 
friends  for  awhile.  There  are  doubtless  many 
men  here  who  would  like  to  know  them  better, 
and  the  very  thought,  to  my  mind,  must  be 
prompted  by  those  old  associations  which,  with 
gentle  persistence,  keep  tugging  at  our  memory— 
and  we  don't  want  them  to  let  go! 

©    ^    ^ 

TRIALS  OF  A  RUSSIAN 


March   16,   1*M4. 

lo  the  Editor:     I  wish  to  remind  the  prison- 
ers who  have  been  here  over  five  years  of  our 
Russian    friend.  John   Rcgar.      I   use  that   name 
because  it  will  recall  him  to  them  without  dis 
closing  his  identity  outside. 

John  came  to  this  country — fresh  from  the 
Kussian-Japanese  war,  in  which  he  had  scrve<l 
as  a  i)rivate — ab<nit  a  year  before  he  landed  in 
the  penitentiary.  He  was  convicted  of  operat- 
ing a  confidence  game.  .As  he  could  hardly 
speak  English,  I  wondered  how  he  could  have 
worked  a  confidence  game. 

He  studied  hard  and  as  everyone  about  him 


184 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


spoke  English,  he  soon  improved.  Being  a  Rus- 
sian, it  was  easy  for  him  to  acquire  a  new  lan- 
guage. After  John  had  learned  to  make  himself 
understood  he  told  me  of  how  he  had  earned 
the  distinction  of  being  a  confidence  man.  His 
story  was  that  he  had  worked  for  a  Russian 
farmer  in  Dakota  and  that  when  he  left  his  em- 
ploy he  received  sixty-seven  dollars  less  than  was 
due  him  as  wages.  John  returned  to  Illinois  and 
brooded  over  his  loss,  particularly  as  he  was 
anxious  to  send  passage  money  to  Mrs.  John — 
for  herself  and  their  two  babies — to  come  to 
this  country. 

John  remembered  that  the  farmer  had  a 
brother  who  was  a  traveling  man  and  that  the 
latter  sometimes  telegraphed  to  the  farmer  in 
Dakota  for  money,  which  was  always  sent.  John 
decided  to  collect  the  money  due  him,  so  he  vis- 
ited a  telegraph  office  and  with  the  help  of  one 
of  the  clerks  he  wired  to  his  former  employer 
for  sixty-seven  dollars  and  signed  the  name  of 
the  brother  to  the  telegram.  Promptly  advice 
was  received  at  the  telegraph  office  where  John 
was  waiting  to  pay  over  the  money,  and  John, 
still  using  the  brother's  name,  received  and  re- 
ceipted for  it,  which  he  promptly  sent  to  Mrs. 
John,  together  with  what  he  had  saved,  with 
instructions  to  her  to  come  at  once  with  their 
babies  to  the  land  of  plenty.  John  felt  so  good 
over  his  brilliant  stroke  that  he  wrote  to  his  for- 
mer employer,  telling  him  how  he  had  managed 
to  collect  what  was  due  him.  The  Dakota 
farmer  took  an  entirely  different  view  of  the  sit- 
uation and  notified  the  telegraph  company  that 
it  had  paid  the  money  to  the  wrong  man  and 
the  farmer  very  promptly  received  his  money 
back. 

The  officials  of  the  telegraph  company  then 
had  John  indicted  and  arrested  and  the  court 
quickly  disposed  of  him  by  forwarding  him  to 
Warden  E.  J.  Murphy  with  an  admission  ticket 
for  from  one  to  ten  years.  Mrs.  John  and  the 
babies  were  on  the  ocean  when  John  came  to  be 
one  of  us. 

The  first  winter  John  went  to  school  and  be- 
came one  of  my  pupils.  He  studied  English 
assiduously.  Soon  he  applied  to  me  to  be  taught 
what  he  should  do  and  say  in  case  he  was  re- 
ported to  the  Deputy  Warden  for  misconduct. 
I  tried  to  tell  him,  but  made  no  progress,  as  the 
subject,  stated  in  the  English  language,  was  be- 


yond John's  comprehension.  In  despair  I  finall\- 
gave  him  the  following  writing  lesson :  "Dep- 
uty, I  am  guilty;  I  am  sorry.  I  will  never  do  it 
again !"  John  worked  industriously  at  it,  copy- 
ing it  on  his  slate  many  times  every  evening 
for  the  next  seven  months,  as  he  had  been  told 
by  me  that  those  were  the  words  to  speak  when 
he  was  brought  up  for  judgment  before  the 
prison  disciplinarian. 

One  day  John  was  reported  and  at  four  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  he  was  called  before  Deputy 
Warden  Henry  Sims  and  Captain  Michael  Kane 
for  trial  on  the  report  for  misconduct  made  by 
an  officer.  These  trials  were  usually  surrounded 
by  a  great  deal  of  solemnity  and  the  Deputy 
read  the  charges  contained  in  the  report  in  his 
sternest  manner,  and  then  it  was  John's  turn  to 
speak.  He  commenced  :  "Deputy,  I  am  guilty ; 
I  am  sorry.  I  will  never  do  it  again !"  repeat- 
ing the  same  words  over  and  over  many  times. 

John  thought  that  the  oftener  he  said  it  in 
the  short  time  granted  to  him  to  make  his  de- 
fense the  better  for  him.  Of  course,  the  two 
deputies  tried  to  be  serious,  but  how  could  they 
be?  Here  was  a  man  before  them  whom  they 
knew  could  not  speak  English  well,  and  yet  he 
was  pleading  masterfully.  John  got  the  best 
of  them  and  they  were  glad  to  get  rid  of  him. 

The  next  day  John  met  me  and  said:  "Say, 
Mister,  that  password  was  all  right.  I  beat  the 
*  *  *,"  meaning  the  officer  who  had  reported 
him.  At  first  I  did  not  know  what  John  was 
talking  about,  but  he  kept  on  repeating,  "I  beat 
the,"  etc.,  etc.  Finally  he  explained  so  that  I 
understood  him  and  I  learned  that  what  I  had 
started  as  a  joke  had  after  all  served  a  good 
purpose.  That  afternoon  Deputy  Sims  met  me 
and  said :  "Say,  Bobb,  how  did  you  teach  Regar 
so  much  English  in  so  short  a  time?"  This  led 
to  explanations. 

One  day  John  wanted  a  special  permit  to  write 
a  letter  and  to  make  his  case  strong  he  told 
his  keeper  a  fib  to  the  effect  that  he  had  just 
received  a  letter  from  his  wife  and  that  the 
babies  were  both  sick  and  that  his  mother  was 
dead,  and  I  do  not  remember  what  more.  The 
keeper,  who  did  not  overlook  much,  told  John 
to  go  and  fetch  the  letter.  John  started,  know- 
ing that  he  was  expected  to  return  in  a  few  mo- 
ments with  the  letter.  Pretty  soon  he  ap- 
proached the  officer  and  said :    "Say,  Mr.  Miller, 


THE  HEART'S  DESIRE 


April  1,  1914                                    THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  185 

you  have  awful  smart  mans  in  America.     I  did  called  criminnl.     Tliere  are  doubtless  scores  of 

not  know  you  had  such  smart  mans  in  this  coun-  men  in  this  penitentiary  today  who  would  have 

try.     I  lied  only  once  in  my  life  and  you  catch  never  seen  it  had  but  the  good  desire  long,  long 

me.     You  are  very  smart  mans  in  this  country."  ago  found  its  way  to  the  heart  and  lodged  there. 

On  another  occasion  John  had  captured  some  If  we  had  a  question  box  in  this  institution 
ice  cream  which  had  been  left  over  by  the  offi-  (and  I  believe  that  if  such  a  thing  was  insti- 
cers.  It  was  John's  first  taste  of  ice  cream — and  tuted  it  would  certainly  enliven  interest  and 
he  had  plenty  of  it — and  as  he  ate  it  he  looked  bring  the  men  to  a  fuller  understanding  as  to 
at  me  and  said:  "Bobb,  if  the  people  in  Russia  their  relations  to  each  other),  I  am  safe  in  say- 
knew  how  good  it  was  in  the  penitentiary  of  ing  that  in  answer  to  the  question:  "What  is 
this  country  they  all  would  come  to  America  your  greatest  desire?"  one  hundred  per  cent  of 
right  away."  the  inmates  would  write  "Freedom." 

At  the  end  of  eleven  months  John  was  paroled  The  desire   for   freedom  is  inborn.     It  is  so 

and  let  us  hope  that  he  found  his  wife  and  babies  amongst  the  peoples  of  distant  lands,  where,  for 

in   good   health,  and  that   if  he  has   any  more  generations,  they  have  been  laboring  under  the 

claims  to  collect  he  will  at  least  keep  out  of  a  yoke   of  oppression.      Personal    liberty   has    no 

penitentiary.                        Robert  Reedictuer.  price.    It  comes  before  anything  else  and  is  pig- 

^     ^     ^  eonholed  within  a  little  niche  of  its  own,  should 

we  consult  the  great  desires  of  the  heart.     And 
the   strange  thing  about   it   is   that  that   which 

„     J,    T^   p  we    most   dearly   prize — personal    liberty — gives 

A  Prisoner  "s  uo  particular  thought  or  concern  until  it  is 

I  have  chosen  the  words  "Heart's  Desire"  for  rudely  drawn  from  its  niche  and  destroyed.  Be- 

this    article   because    I    believe    that   the    simple  fore  it  was  lost  we  had  taken  its  existence  very 

phrase  in   itself  will  bring  home  to  the  minds  much  for  granted.     It  was  such  a  deep  and  vital 

of  many  of  those  around  us  much  food  for  re-  part  of  life  that  we  never  felt  inclined  to  tap 

flection.     It  is  a  compelling  term.     The  desire  our   imagination    for   the   consequent    results   in 

of  the  heart  fully  realized  can  make  for  either  the  event  of  our  being  deprived  of  it. 

good  or  evil.     It  can  send  a  current  of  influence  What   of   the   present   moment?     While   men 

through  the  world  that  does  its  good  part,  how-  are  here  serving  out  their  term  of  imprisonment, 

ever  small,  in  uplifting  humanity,  in  spreading  another  and  greater  desire   should   not  be   lost 

happiness,   in   alleviating  sorrow.     It  may   also  sight  of  by  them,  for  it  is  an  unselfish  one,  and 

degrade  and  ruin,  and  is  responsible  for  filling  its  presence  in  the  heart  must  needs  be  inspiring 

the  cells  of  this  institution.  and  ennobling.     In  a  word,  it  is  to  (1)  aid  tlic 

As   thinking   men   advance   on   into   life  they  administration  by  observing  the  rules  laid  down 

become,    by    virtue    of    their    experience — often  and,  to  still  go  further,  observing  them  in  the 

hard  earned  and  dearly  bought — more  fully  alive  spirit,  and   (2)    to  endeavor  to  create  a  better 

to  the  importance  of  harboring  the  really  great  and  more  brotherly  atmosphere  amongst  them- 

and  true  desires  which  go  towards  making  life  selves.       It     is     indee<l     wonderful     what     such 

worth  while.     Through  the  early  part  of  their  thoughts  will  do  for  a  man.     He  may  believe 

career,   from  childhood  up  to  the  threshold  of  that  he  is  helping  others  only,  but  he  is  actually, 

manhood,    these   same    men    may   have    realized  with  no  thought  of  self,  stepping  (mward  and 

that  there  was  something  strangely   missing  in  upward  to  a  higher  plane  of  living,  his  horizon 

their  lives — something  intangible  and  indefinable;  becoming  broader  and  fuller  with  the  operation 

they  were  unable   to  put  their  hands  upon   it;  of  every  good  impulse. 

they  were  quite  as  unable  to  point  it  out.     But  Try  it.  men.     Many  of  you  here  have  toiled 

the   secret   of   it   all   was   that   they   never   had  painfully  up  the  mountain  of  life,  having  been 

really  desired  those  good  things  that  were,  so  subjected  to  its  dangers  and  snares,  and  even 

to  speak,  sub-consciously  missed.     The  drift  of  now  stand  at  the  apex,  looking  down  on  the  val- 

years,    with    their    shadows    and    failures,    have  ley  of  a  closing  life.    During  those  years  of  pain 

opened  the  eyes  of  many  a  man— of  many  a  so-  and   happiness,   have  you  ever  experienced   the 


186 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


real  pleasure  which  comes  from  service — from 
giving  the  helping  hand  to  your  fellow  crea- 
ture ?  Have  you  ever  felt  the  desire  ?  The  mere 
fact  that  such  desire  once  found  entrance  into 
your  heart  would  tend  to  make  you  a  bigger 
man,  even  though  for  some  reason  or  other  you 
had  failed  to  put  it  to  accomplishment. 

This  is  a  very  big  subject.  But  there  is  just 
another  thought  to  which  every  man  and  women 
should  harken.  After  freedom — our  great  de- 
sire— then  what?  Because  we  have  been  legally 
released,  because  we  have  been  permitted  to  pass 
without  the  gates,  does  it  necessarily  imply  that 
we  have  gained  the  happiness  which  we  have 
somehow  always  coupled  with  this  word  "free- 
dom"? We  would  be  free  and  no  man  could  say 
us  nay ;  but  right  here,  at  this  vital  moment,  is 
where  we  should  harken  to  the  good  desires 
of  the  heart.  Every  man  has  them ;  they  may  lie 
dormant,  but  they  are  there.  And  while  some 
of  you  men  and  women  may  have  not  made 
proper  use  of  your  talents  during  the  years 
which  have  past,  when  you  turn  your  back  on 
this  institution — let  it  be  hoped  never  to  return 
— and  have  thus  gained  what  we  have  termed 
our  Great  Desire,  let  the  new  realization  of  your 
duty  to  the  world,  to  society  and  to  yourself 
dawn  full  upon  you,  and  let  the  great  desire 
of  your  hearts  run  in  the  new  channel  which 
you  must  mark  out  for  yourselves,  and  in  so 
doing  shall  you  be  a  credit  to  both  the  good  old 
and  new-found  friends,  a  blessing  to  your  fami- 
lies and  men  indeed  in  the  highest  sense  amongst 
the  busy  and  honored  men  of  the  world. 

®     ®     ® 
THE  HONOR  SYSTEM 


ANNOUNCEMENT 


March  16.  1914. 

To  the  Editor:  I  think  the  honor  system  is  a 
great  move  in  prison  reform,  and  I  feel  sure 
that  the  Warden  will  have  no  trouble  with  the 
men  he  picks  to  go  on  the  roads  or  farm.  Nearly 
every  man  here  wants  to  make  good,  and  we  all 
know  that  in  order  to  do  that  we  must  keep  our 
word  after  it  is  given  to  the  Warden. 

The  law  just  passed  in  Texas  pays  a  pris- 
oner seven  and  one-half  dollars  per  month. 
When  a  prisoner  has  a  wife  and  babies  that 
amount  would  come  in  very  handy  for  them,  so 
let  up  hope  that  Illinois  will  see  it  that  way  in 
good  time.  Let  us  be  faithful  to  our  duties  and 
time  will  tell.  A.  W.  D. 


We  are  pleased  to  publish    the    followinj^ 
communication  from  an  attorney  in  Chicago. 

Editor. 
Offices  of  Emile  V.  Van  Bever,  lawyer.  National 
Life  building.  Chicago. 

March   18,  1914. 
The  Editor    The  Joliet  Prison    Post,    Joliet. 

Illinois. 

Dear  Sir :  Upon  a  recent  visit  to  the  institu- 
tion at  Joliet,  I  obtained  a  copy  of  an  edition  of 
the  Post  and  also  became  a  subscriber  to  the 
same  and  I  consider  it  one  of  the  most  interest- 
ing journals  that  I  have  ever  had  an  opportunity 
of  reading. 

I  note  that  there  are  a  great  many  unfortu- 
nates at  Joliet  who  should  and  would  perhaps  be 
at  liberty  if  they  were  in  a  position  to  be  properly 
represented  before  the  Board  of  Pardons,  but 
due  to  the  lack  of  funds  and  friends  who  might 
be  interested  in  their  behalf,  they  are  in  no  posi- 
tion to  be  heard. 

I  take  this  opportunity  of  announcing  through 
your  columns  to  any  inmates  of  the  institution 
who  are  worthy  and  deserving  but  who  have  not 
the  wherewith,  that  if  they  will  communicate  with 
me  and  I  am  'advised  that  they  are  entitled  to 
some  consideration,  that  I  will  be  only  too  glad 
to  offer  my  services  at  my  convenience  in  doing 
anything  that  their  cause  may  merit. 

With  my  best  wishes  for  the  success  of  your 
paper,  I  am, 

Sincerely, 

Emile  A\  \''ax  Beyer. 

®     ®     ^ 

It  is  a  startling  illustration  of  the  power  of 
government  to  see  1.000  or  more  prisoners  walk 
to  their  cells  and  all  together,  at  the  sound  of  a 
signal,  open  the  cell  doors  and  enter,  closing  the 
doors,  so  as  to  make  it  easy  for  the  officers  to 
lock  them  up. 

#     @     # 
Every  man  in  this  prison  today  has  a  better 
opportunity  to  gain  an  education  than  Abraham 
Lincoln    had    during    his    childhood    and    early 
manhood. 

^     #     © 
Inmates  of  penal  institutions  should  bear  in 
mind  that  punishment  is  never  pleasant. 


April  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


187 


^\)t  ILikMrntf^  ^oliloqu}) 


Written  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post 


Though  I'm  not  a  chronic  kicker 
Nor  a  prison  trouble  picker, 
I  would  crave  to  see  a  quicker 

Way  to  solve  a  vexing  question. 
I  may  hold  my  own  opinion 
In  this  wall-embraced  dominion ; 
Yet  I'm  one  in  ninety  million  — 

So  am  open  to  suggestion. 


Though  the  prospect  of  resignment 
To  a  state  of  life  confinement 
Hurls  me  out  of  my  alignment, 

And  distorts  my  mental  vision, 
Hope  would  never  be  discarded, 
And  ambition  but  retarded 
Was  my  welfare  only  guarded 

By  a  just  and  sane  provision. 


There's  a  system  of  paroling 
Nearly  every  charge  controlling ; 
But  the  thought  is  not  consoling 

To  the  straight  time  man  or  lifer. 
We're  not  viewed  as  are  the  masses 
Through  the  legislative   glasses; 
And  the  Why  and  Wherefore  passes 

To  us  fellows  to  decipher. 


I  would  plead  for  unifying — 
Not  for  narrow  classifying; 
There  is  nothing  justifying 

Such  a  line  of  bold  restriction. 
Is  Reform  its  aim  attaining, 
Or  is  social  progress  waning 
Through  Society's  ordaining 

Our  perpetual   eviction? 


It  is  not  inherent  badness 
That  incites  a  deed  of  madness; 
Thus  for  me  the  fuller  sadness — 

So  the  sting  of  shame  sinks  deeper ; 
Thus  the  cry  for  home  rings  truer. 
With  grim  Death  a  closer  wooer: 
Come,  new  law,  as  the  imbuer 

Of  a  Hope  in  me — the  weeper! 

E.  R.  N. 


•.«.«. 


188 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


^f)e  ^rail  of  J^reamsi 

Written  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post 

As  once,  alone,  I  trod  the  guarded  ways, 

I  caught  sweet  fragments  of  a  witching  song; 
Like  melting  clouds,  before  my  wond'ring  gaze. 

The  lofty  walls  grew  strangely  dim — were  gone. 
Abounding  joy  took  place  of  dull  despair. 

As  silver-clear  I  heard  the  voices  ring 
Upon  the  deep  peace  of  the  April  air, 

"Come,  venture  forth — come  seek  the  trail  to  Spring!' 

I  saw,  as  misty  billows  drew  apart. 

The  sun-warmed  meadows  roll  their  silent  swell; 
The  swollen  river  bathe  the  valley's  heart; 

The  distant  mount — the  storm-torn  sentinel. 
I  watched  the  shelt'ring  foot  hills  rise  and  fall, 

While  carols  sweet  were  borne  on  joyful  wing. 
As  broke  again  the  sounding  of  the  call. 

That  bade  me  tread  the  tempting  trail  to  Spring. 

It  took  me  where  the  fragrant  pines  abound; 

Past  warrior  oaks,  in  all  their  kinglihood ; 
It  led  me  where  the  silver  waters  wound 

Deep  through  the  silence  of  the  ancient  wood. 
On,  on,  I  wandered,  free  and  venturesome, 

Then  paused — as  rich  as  purple-mantled  king; 
Unto  its  own  the  winding  trail  had  come. 

And,  lo !  I  worshiped  at  the  throne  of  Spring ! 

O,  peaceful  pathway  to  the  Springtide  land, 

The  memory  of  thy  charm  abiding  seems; 
Thou  led'st  me  back  to  face  the  cheerless  sand, 

Delusive  trail — thou  wert  the  trail  of  dreams! 
Come  break  again  when  eyes  are  closed  in  sleep. 

Come  lead  me  where  the  phantom  voices  sing; 
I'll  follow  where  thy  tangled  windings  creep 

To  find  the  heart,  the  glowing  heart  of  Spring! 

K.  N.  O. 


April  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


189 


Written  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post 

No  written  prescription  can  make  people  happy. 

No  advertised  tonic  one  takes  from  the  shelf ; 
But  here's  a  suggestion  (though  hardly  as  snappy), 

Start  well  at  the  bottom — look  into  yourself. 
This  isn't  a  sermon,  nor  is  it  a  fable, 

'Tis  only  my  secret  to  banish  your  cares: 
Just  be  a  good  fellow  whenever  you're  able — 

The  smile  and  the  handshake  will  fall  unawares. 

With  temper  denied  us  we'd  hardly  be  fitted 

To  fashion  life's  pathway — to  mark  it  afresh ; 
The  knack  to  control  it  must  be,  it's  admitted, 

The  delicate  lever,  the  thorn  in  the  flesh. 
You're  grieved  if  your  comrades  remember  your  blunders. 

Acquire  the  habit  of  not  seeing  theirs; 
Let  grudges  be  side-tracked  and,  wonder  of  wonders, 

The  joy  and  the  laughter  will  come  unawares ! 

Adjust  the  soft  pedal  when  passion  is  rising; 

'Tis  likely,  and  wholly  to  you  unbeknown, 
The  other  mad  fellow  is  truly  devising 

Some  outlet  or  method  to  conquer  his  own. 
Check  tones  that  are  raspy — tune  up  to  the  mellow, 

Sing  down  an  old  riddle  that  vexes  and  wears ; 
The  fact  that  you're  really  a  jolly  good  fellow 

Will  dawn  as  the  morning — will  break  unawares! 

L.  T.  W. 


i 


I 


I 


i 


g 


i 


I 


I 


i 


•••.v.-.v 


190 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


HimttiM 


If  a  Post  you  wish  to  dispatch, 

Do  not  bother  the  stamp  to  attach ; 

Drop  a  lot,  if  you  can, 

For  the  Editor  man 
In  our  POST-office  quite  up  to  scratch. 


The  P.  Post  has  moved  in-as-much 
It  required  that  finishing  touch; 

Now  it  owns  a  whole  block. 

For  it  ousted  Mullock, 
Now,  tell  me — can  you  beat  the  Dutch? 


Father  Edward  his  good  work  pursues, 
For  he's  firm  in  his  faith  and  his  views; 

He  says  what  he  thinks, 

And  effaces  the  kinks 
When  we  have  what  is  known  as  the  "blues. 


Since  the  Joliet  P.  Post  had  birth. 
It  has  nearly  encircled  the  earth ; 

It  will  boost,  slap  and  quiz, 

For  its  policy  is 
Quite  as  broad  as  the  Editor's  girth. 


To  judge  by  their  frank  testimony, 
Certain  inmates  are  getting  too  tony ; 

When  they  eat  3c  soup 

At  South  State  street,  the  Loop, 
They  will  long  for  that  free  macaroni. 


Dickey  Woelle  would  worry  a  saint; 

Though  his  hobby  is  curtains  to  paint. 
We  fume,  fret  and  froth. 
For  the  show  don't  come  off; 

Is  the  box  office  open?    It  ain't. 


Being  bothered  while  during  a  visit, 
A  school  teacher  said,  "Well,  what  is  it?" 
Some  one  said,  "I'm  your  boss, 
And  straight  back  on  the  force 
You'll  be  Welcome — so  nix  on  the  visit." 


As  a  hero  John  R.  we  should  tote ; 

He's  a  pen  and  ink  artist  of  note. 
And  his  delicate  "touch" 
Brought  him  grief,  in-as-much 

That  the  "pen"  got  his  "number" — and  goat. 


The  "Movies"  bore  down  on  the  place ; 

And  they  got  us  side,  quarter,  full  face ; 
But  we  all  thundered,  "No !" 
When  the  guy  yelled  "Tango !" 

(Such  a  thing  would  have  been  a  disgrace.) 


April  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


101 


PRESS  OPINIONS  AND 
REPRINTS 

THE  PENITENTIARY  AT  FLORENCE. 
ARIZONA 


Article  by  John  Henry  Whyte,  Published 

in  the  Globe-Democrat,  St.  Louis, 

Missouri 


George  \\'.  P.  Hunt,  governor  of  Arizona,  is 
a  true  friend  of  modern  prison  reform.  At  the 
state  penitentiary  at  Florence,  Arizona,  the  pris- 
oners have  limited  self-government  through  an 
organization  called  the  Mutual  Improvement 
League,  which  includes  almost  all  the  inmates. 
This  league  has  a  written  constitution  and  a  full 
set  of  officers,  elected  for  a  period  of  three 
months. 

The  town  of  Florence  is  situated  about  sixty 
miles  from  Phoenix,  the  state  capital,  and  the 
prisoners  have  made  a  splendid  road  connecting 
the  two  points.  Several  large  concrete  bridges 
were  constructed  by  the  prisoners,  and  they  are 
beautiful  from  an  artistic  standpoint  as  well  as 
being  substantial  and  lasting.  The  prisoners 
worked  without  guards  and  only  one  man  es- 
caped during  one  whole  year. 

Governor  Hunt  says  that  the  only  source  of 
trouble  in  working  prisoners  on  roads  is  whisky, 
and  he  favors  a  law  making  it  a  felony  to  supply 
whisky  to  a  prisoner. 

He  believes  in  lifting  up  and  assisting  the 
fallen  man  as  the  true  way  to  serve  society. 

His  plan  is  to  seek  to  make  prisoners  better 
men  and  honest ;  not  degraded  and  humiliated  be- 
ings with  sensibilities  deadened,  faith  destroyed, 
hope  gone,  self  reliance  vanished  and  ambition 
repressed. 

He  thinks  that  inmates  in  prisons  should  be 
fitted,  if  possible,  to  take  their  places  in  the  world, 
and  to  honestly  and  .successfully  cope  with  its 
problems  when  their  debt  to  society  has  been 
paid,  and  that  they  should  be  afforded  an  oppor- 
tunity upon  their  release  to  start  life  anew,  with 
a  reasonable  chance  of  success. 

At  the  Florence  prison  Governor  Hunt  permits 
the  prisoners  to  write  as  many  letters  to  relatives 
and  friends  as  they  wish  and  to  receive  all  letters 
that  may  come,  because  the  letters  from  moth- 


ers, fathers,  sisters,  brothers,  relatives  and 
friends  usually  bring  cheer  and  wholesome  ad- 
vice. This  one  avenue  alone  is  working  wonders 
in  the  upbuilding  of  characters  and  driving  out 
gloom  and  despair. 

The  governor  asserts  that  a  prison  should  be  a 
place  where  high  ideals  are  taught,  more  so  than 
in  any  other  institution,  and  that  he  believes  in 
education  as  the  best  one  means  of  bringing 
about  reform. 

Governor  Hunt  permits  the  prisoners  to  play 
baseball  outside  of  the  prison  walls  and  allows 
tinkering  which  brings  the  prisoners  financial  re- 
turns, as  many  are  experts  at  silversmithing, 
weaving  and  braiding. 

He  believes  that  prisons  should  be  places  of 
liope  and  not  holes  of  despair. 

®    ^    ^ 

CONDITIONS     AT     THE      OKLAHOMA 
PENITENTIARY 


Rewritten  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post  From  an 
Article  in  The  Oklahoma  News 


K.  W.  Dick,  warden  of  the  Oklahoma  peni- 
tentiary, has  not  permitted  the  attempted  escape 
of  three  jirisoners — who  on  January  19th,  last, 
assassinated  four  persons  before  they  themselves 
were  killed — to  interfere  with  his  plans  for 
])rogressive  administration  of  the  prison. 

He  argues  that  the  occurrence  only  has  dem- 
onstrated that  there  were  three  men  in  the  pri.son 
who  were  at  that  time  willing  to  resort  to  des- 
perate measures  in  a  foolhardy  attempt  to  regain 
their  freedom  and  that  only  one  of  them  had  a 
revolver  and  ammunition. 

He  believes  that  there  are  about  thirty  out  of 
his  1,500  prisoners  who  would  attem|)t  to  escajK* 
if  they  saw  a  promising  opportunity,  but  he  does 
not  think  it  would  be  right  to  change  his  policy 
towards  all  his  prisoners  by  reason  of  what  n  few 
have  done  or  would  do. 

He  considers  that  his  prisoners  are  men  an<l 
that  with  them  the  hope  of  reward  is  a  greater 
intluence  for  good  than  is  the  fear  of  punishment, 
and  that  in  a  great  many  cases  such  influence  has 
been  lasting. 

He  is  a  great  believer  in  .segregation  of  men 
whom  he  thinks  can  be  trusted  from  those  who, 
in  his  opinion,  are  not  worthy  of  his  confidence. 

The  (  )klahoma  prison  has  between   four  and 


192 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


five  hundred  trusties,  which  is  a  larger  number 
than  in  any  other  penal  institution  in  the  world 
and  it  is  the  intention  of  the  warden  to  increase 
the  number.  Trusties  are  appointed  as  the  result 
of  good  behavior. 

The  real  difficulty  found  lies  in  the  present 
arrangement  of  the  buildings  which  does  not  lend 
itself  to  the  separation  of  the  prisoners  who  are 
both  obedient  and  helpful  from  those  who  are 
disobedient  at  times  and  begrudgingly  obedient 
when  they  are  forced. 

In  order  to  overcome  this  drawback  and  to 
carry  out  his  plans  more  successfully,  Warden 
Dick  is  causing  the  erection  of  a  building  for 
trusties — outside  the  prison  walls — which  will 
be  operated  largely  on  the  plan  of  a  large  board- 
ing school. 

The  trusties  will  sleep  in  the  rooms  of  this 
building  instead  of  cells  and  they  will  be  supplied 
with  moderate  plans  of  amusement,  including  a 
reading  room  and  a  gymnasium,  and  it  is  the  in- 
tention of  Warden  Dick  never  to  send  a  man 
back  to  the  cells  unless  he  betrays  his  trust.  The 
idea  is  to  make  this  home  for  trusties  both  com- 
fortable and  elevating. 

The  work  for  trusties  outside  of  the  walls  will 
be  on  the  farms  and  roads.  The  men  will  come 
and  go  without  guards  wherever  the  work  of  the 
prison  takes  them  and  they  are  placed  upon  their 
honor  to  return  at  least  by  night. 

The  prisoners  who  are  not  trusties  are  kept 
within  the  prison  walls  at  all  times.  They  are 
permitted  to  converse  freely  either  between  them- 
selves or  with  visitors  when  out  in  the  rotunda 
or  prison  yards.  Outside  of  working  hours  they 
are  encouraged  in  their  desire  for  popular  pas- 
times, such  as  playing  cards  and  checkers  or  en- 
gaging in  athletic  sports,  principally  baseball. 

Men  who  do  not  behave  properly  are  punished 
according  to  their  deserts ;  the  infliction  of  cruel 
and  unusual  punishments  is  not  permitted. 

There  is  a  night  school  for  illiterate  prisoners 
with  an  average  nightly  attendance  of  about  one 
hundred  and  forty  scholars. 

A  great  drawback  to  proper  prison  manage- 
ment at  this  institution,  according  to  Warden 
Dick,  comes  from  lack  of  employment  for  the  in- 
mates, his  hands  being  tied  by  lack  of  money 
with  which  to  operate.  It  is  the  intention  to  make 
a  decisive  effort  to  induce  the  next  legislature  to 
make  satisfactory  arrangement  for  more  exten- 
sive work  on  the  roads  of  the  state. 


Although  Warden  Dick  was  appointed  seven 
years  ago  iDy  former  Governor  C.  N.  Haskell,  the 
present  governor,  Lee  Cruce,  has  at  all  times  been 
the  staunch  supporter  of  the  warden's  progres- 
sive prison  policies. 

©    €^    © 

LIMITED      SELF-GOVERNMENT      FOR 

PRISONERS  AT  THE  AUBURN, 

NEW  YORK,  PRISON 


Rewritten  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post  From  an 
Article  in  the  New  York  World 


Warden  Charles  T.  Rattigan,  of  the  Auburn, 
New  York,  prison,  has  permitted  his  1,350  pris- 
oners to  form  an  organization  designated  as  "The 
Mutual  Welfare  League."  The  object  of  the 
league  is  to  promote  the  true  interest  and  welfare 
of  the  inmates  at  the  Auburn  prison.  The 
league's  motto  is  "Do  good,  make  good." 

Any  inmate  in  good  standing  can  become  a 
member  by  signing  the  rules  and  by-laws.  The 
governing  body  of  the  league  is  composed  of 
fifty  delegates  who  were  elected  by  secret  ballot. 
Elections  are  to  be  held  semi-annually. 

After  the  election  had  taken  place  the  fifty 
delegates  were  sworn  in  by  the  warden  amid  im- 
pressive ceremonies  held  in  the  chapel.  The  oath 
was  administered  in  the  following  words : 

"I  solemnly  promise  that  I  will  do  all  in  my 
power  to  promote  in  every  way  the  true  welfare 
of  the  men  confined  in  the  Auburn  prison ;  that 
I  will  cheerfully  obey  the  rules  and  regulations 
of  the  duly  constituted  prison  authorities,  and 
that  I  will  in  every  way  endeavor  to  promote 
friendly  feeling,  good  conduct  and  fair  dealing 
among  both  officers  and  men,  to  the  end  that  each 
man,  after  serving  the  briefest  possible  term  of 
imprisonment,  may  go  forth  with  renewed 
strength  and  courage  to  face  the  world  again.  All 
this  I  promise  faithfully  to  endeavor,  so  help  me 
God." 

Incident  to  the  ceremonies  speeches  were  made 
by  Thomas  Mott  Osborne,  chairman  of  the  State 
Commission  for  Prison  Reform;  President 
George  Black  Stewart,  D.  D.,  of  Auburn  Theo- 
logical Seminary;  Brig.  W.  O.  Hunter  of  the 
Salvation  Army,  and  Judge  Henry  J.  McCann, 
chairman  of  the  State  Board  of  Parole.  In  addi- 
tion telegrams  encouraging  the  prisoners  to  co- 
operate with  the  new  order  in  bringing  about 


April  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


193 


reform  from  the  inside  were  read  from  Governor 
Glynn  and  Superintendent  of  State  Prisons 
Riley. 

The  rules  and  by-laws  provide  for  a  grievance 
committee  which  shall  act  in  all  cases  of  breach 
of  discipline. 

This  movement  is  one  of  the  evidences  of  the 
attitude  of  the  prisoners  towards  a  progressive 
administration  which  has  produced  hope,  where 
apathy  formerly  held  sway. 

The  underlying  principle  of  the  movement  is 
self  reformation  of  the  prisoners ;  the  manage- 
ment and  the  inmates  being  in  accord  in  that  re- 
form of  the  individual  must  come  from  within 
and  can  not  come  from  without. 

This  Is  So  Sudden! 

There  is  published  in  the  Illinois  state  peniten- 
tiary at  Joliet  a  monthly  newspaper. 

It  is  written  and  edited  by  convicts — by  men 
deprived  of  their  liberty  for  periods  ranging  from 
one  year  to  life  sentences. 

Behind  the  mask  of  anonymity  this  prison 
newspaper  has  an  able  editor ;  one  with  a  good 
deal  more  vision  and  penetration  than  hundreds 
of  editors  who  are  at  liberty. 

This  intelligent  editor  and  his  prison  assistants 
make  their  publication  very  much  of  a  news- 
paper. 

When  a  prisoner  is  shot  through  the  head 
while  trying  to  escape  they  print  the  news  of  his 
death.  It  discourages  other  attempts  to  escape 
and  prevents  other  violent  deaths. 

When  five  prisoners  engage  in  making  counter- 
feit coins  in  the  prison  these  editors  talk  about  it. 
"What  chance  have  you  got  to  escape  detection," 
they  ask  the  coiners.  "Held  here  in  prison,  you 
have  no  secrets.  Everything  you  do  is  known 
throughout  the  prison  by  fellow  prisoners  and 
guards  alike.  Even  the  private  affairs  of  the 
prison  officers  and  your  guards  are  known  to  you. 
The  chances  of  escaping  detection  are  a  hundred 
to  one  against  you." 

No  preaching,  no  mawkishness,  no  sentiment. 

The  attitude  of  the  editors  of  The  Joliet 
Prison  Post  is  as  if  the  gambler  in  charge  of  a 
sure-thing  game  faced  his  victim  and  told  him 
exactly  how  the  odds  ran  against  him. 

Other  things  these  convicts  talk  about  that  arc 
more  interesting. 

They  discuss  the  case  of  a  Nebraska  state  pris- 


oner— age  21 — paroled  by  the  governor  of  Ne- 
braska, so  that  he  may  enter  the  state  university 
and  obtain  an  education.  They  don't  believe  the 
experiment  will  be  a  success.  They  know  the 
attitude  of  unconfincd  society  too  well. 

"A  man  who  commits  a  crime  and  is  convicted 
must  know  that  he  will  never  be  welcomed  in 
university  circles,"  .say  the  writers  for  The 
Prison  Post.  "To  have  one's  sins  follow  him 
to  the  grave  seems  to  be  the  inevitable  fate  of  the 
man  who  falls.  We  have  no  remedy  to  suggest 
for  this  condition  except  to  bespeak  generosity 
from  society  for  the  men  and  women  who  have 
paid  the  penalty." 

They  bespeak  it — but  do  not  expect  it. 

Penitentiaries  are  good  places  in  which  to  cure 
drunkards  and  drug  fiends — the  prison  editors 
tell  us  that. 

A  week  of  abstinence,  of  cold  baths  and  atten- 
tion, put  drug  and  liquor  fiends  on  their  feet  and 
regularly  imposed  tasks  choke  the  craving  for 
stimulants  out  of  existence. 

"Prisoners  who  come  here  on  extreme  cases 
of  alcoholism  are  usually  up  and  about  and  work- 
ing within  a  week,"  The  Prlson  Post  tells  you. 

Here  is  inside  information  of  great  value  if 
applied  to  outside  social  and  moral  derelicts. 

The  men  who  write  The  Prison  Post  arc 
very  much  interested  in  the  condition  of  their 
families. 

They  are  opposed  to  contract  labor  being  per- 
formed in  penitentiaries.  They  object  to  the 
leasing  of  prisoners  for  pittance  wages  to  slave- 
driving  manufacturers  who  rob  free  labor  of 
wages  by  having  their  products  made  by  convict 
labor  at  lower  wages. 

But  they  wonder  whether  sending  a  man  to 
prison  and  leaving  his  family  unprotected  isn't 
a  pretty  good  way  to  manufacture  automatically 
still  more  criminals  and  defectives. 

They  discuss  the  suggestion  made  by  Warden 
Moyer  of  the  federal  penitentiary  in  Atlanta 
that  prisoners  be  paid  directly  for  their  labor  and 
a  i)art  of  their  earnings  u^cd  for  the  maintenance 
of  their  dependents  at  home. 

As  you  know,  public  sentiment  has  been  again  t 
this  sort  of  thing.  Taxpayers  have  insisted  that 
paying  convicts  for  their  work  would  increase 
taxation. 

The  Joliet  convicts  think  differently. 

"Will  society  benefit  in  the  long  run  by  sup- 


194 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


])orting  in  this  indirect  way  the  dependents  of 
the  prisoner?"  they  ask. 

"Is  it  right  to  punish  the  innocent  dependents 
of  a  convicted  person?" 

When  these  two  questions  are  answered  intel- 
Hgently  by  the  pubHc,  laws  will  be  passed  to  at- 
tempt the  support  of  innocent  dependents  of  con- 
victed prisoners. 

Here  you  have  a  fair  sample  of  the  things  con- 
victs talk  and  think  about  in  their  calmer  mo- 
ments. This  is  the  first  prison  paper  we  have 
ever  seen  that  is  not  filled  with  complaints  about 
the  injustices  of  life,  about  the  oppression  and 
hounding  of  prisoners,  or  about  the  inexorable 
phases  of  the  law. 

At  Joliet — where  Warden  Allen  is  working  a 
wonderful  transformation — the  stock  injustices 
are  recognized  as  matters  of  course  and  the  news- 
paper that  the  prisoners  produce  goes  beyond 
conchtional  inevitability,  makes  analyses  and 
recognizes  sociologic  causes  and  ultimate  rem- 
edies. 

These  are  things  thitt  thousands  of  free  and 
unhampered  citizens  are  never  able  to  learn. 

If  you  desire  to  devote  a  part  of  an  evening 
to  profitable  reading,  we  would  suggest  that  you 
write  to  Warden  Allen  at  Joliet  and  ask  him  for 
a  copy  of  The  Prison  Post.  It  will  show  you, 
among  other  things,  that  the  men  confined  at 
Joliet  are  doing  more  serious  and  beneficial  think- 
ing than  many  of  those  with  whom  you  come  in 
contact  every  day. — Journal,  Chicago. 

It  Is  Always  the  Ex-Convict 

A  local  paper  says  that  "according  to  police  re- 
ports, two  ex-convicts  recently  out  of  prison  are 
ring  leaders  in  a  band  now  systematically  prey- 
ing on  the  fashionable  apartment  houses  and 
homes." 

It  is  a  very  easy  matter  for  the  police  to  make 
such  an  assertion,  but  I  should  think  the  public 
woukl  want  to  know,  if  the  police  were  close 
enough  to  these  men  to  be  able  to  identify  them 
as  ex-convicts,  why  they  didn't  nab  them  at  the 
time.  The  fact  of  a  robber  being  an  ex-convict 
certainly  cannot  justify  a  policeman  for  failure 
in  making  an  arrest,  so  why  lug  in  the  "ex-con- 
vict?" Suspicion  is  that  they  don't  know,  but  at 
the  same  time,  such  reports  are  hard  on  the  rest 
of  us,  who  expect  to  be  "ex's"  some  day. — The 
Umpire,  Philadelphia. 


The  State  Control  of  County  Jails 

It  will  be  interesting  to  watch  the  action  of  the 
Republicans  in  the  legislature  on  the  bill  provid- 
ing for  the  transfer  of  control  of  the  county  jails 
to  the  state  as  drafted  by  the  prison  commission- 
ers and  still  in  the  committee  on  social  welfare. 
The  measure  is  based  on  the  need  of  carrying 
out,  if  we  are  to  make  a  real  advance  in  prison 
reform,  some  intelligent  system  of  classification 
of  the  inmates.  At  present,  drunks,  drug  cases, 
l)rofessional  criminals,  perverts  are  all  kept  in 
one  institution,  according  to  the  county  from 
which  they  are  committed.  The  results  are  any- 
thing but  encouraging.  More  often  the  prisoners 
lose  rather  than  gain  during  their  stay. 

Under  state  control,  the  twenty-one  county 
jails  could  be  employed  for  housing  the  same 
prisoners  in  diflferent  groupings.  The  cases  of 
similar  kinds  might  be  put  together  and  receive 
the  same  kind  of  treatment.  The  hardened  vicious 
would  have  far  less  chance  of  spreading  the  in- 
fection of  crime ;  the  opportunity  of  getting  at 
the  men  sentenced  for  minor  offenses  in  the  way 
of  reform  would  be  greatly  increased.  It  would 
clear  the  path  for  enlightened  methods  of  dealing 
with  the  penal  community,  which  look  to  the  fu- 
ture as  citizens  of  the  individuals,  while  they  are 
paying  the  penalty  of  law-breaking. 

Such  a  change  in  classification  is  fundamental, 
if  the  state  is  to  bring  its  prison  management  to 
a  level  with  that  of  the  leaders.  And  to  this 
step  the  Republican  party  has  definitely  com- 
mitted itself.  In  the  platform  adopted  last  fall, 
one  of  the  social  welfare  planks  explicitly  pledged 
the  organization  to  support  the  transfer  of  con- 
trol of  the  jails  from  county  authorities  to  the 
state.  Not  a  word  of  opposition  has  been  uttered 
either  at  the  time  or  since,  even  by  the  county 
commissioners,  who  have  in  the  past  made  so 
stubborn  a  fight  against  the  change,  largely  from 
regard  for  their  own  political  power.  Whether 
they  will  be  willing  to  admit  now  that  they  do  not 
read  party  platforms,  or  give  them  heed,  or  not, 
the  pledge  is  on  record.  The  only  obstacles  they 
raise  now  lie  in  the  financial  questions  involved. 
These  are  not  easy  to  adjust,  but  they  certainly 
are  not  incapable  of  adjustment. 

It  might  not  be  fair,  of  course,  to  penalize  any 
county  for  the  care  or  maintenance  of  more  pris- 
oners than  are  committed  by  its  own  courts,  but 
the  problem  here  becomes  one  simply  of  accurate 


April  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


195 


bookkeeping  and  establishment  of  a  system  of 
reasonable  assessment.  The  basic  principle  of 
the  change  proposed  is  sound  and  has  proved  its 
'great  value  in  the  actual,  practical  tests  of  other 
states.  The  majority  party  here  is  on  record  in 
supj)ort  of  it.  There  was  a  Democratic  governor 
in  office  when  the  declaration  was  adopted,  as 
there  is  today.  It  is  not  a  question  of  politics  but 
of  social  advance,  and  political  considerations 
ought  not  to  be  allowed  to  block  its  accomplish- 
ment.— Herald,  Boston,  Mass. 

Parole  Law  in  Kentucky 

In  the  treatment  of  prisoners  convicted  of 
felony  these  principles  are  clearly  sound :  First, 
that  the  prisoner  while  confined  should  be  treated 
humanely,  but  should  not  be  treated  as  a  welcome 
and  favored  guest  of  the  State  at  the  expense  of 
honest,  already  heavily  burdened  taxpayers ;  sec- 
ond, that  convicts  should  not  be  turned  out,  on 
slight  signs  of  improvement,  to  become  again  a 
menace  to  honest,  law-abiding  citizens  and  prob- 
ably to  require  again  a  heavy  expense  to  the 
State  for  their  conviction  for  a  new  crime ;  third, 
that  convicts,  when  paroles  are  to  be  considered, 
cannot  be  handled  in  bunches,  as  we  might  handle 
onions  or  radishes,  and  that  the  automatic  release 
of  prisoners  in  big  bunches  is  illogical  and  dan- 
gerous. 

There  are  convicts  now  in  our  penitentiaries 
that  have  been  sent  to  prison  for  serious  crimes 
six  or  seven  times  in  this  state  or  in  other  states. 
That  fact  is  often  unknown  to  the  Kentucky 
court  that  last  convicted  them.  Their  past  of- 
fenses are  often  not  known  until  the  incorrigible 
offender  is  sent  to  Frankfort  or  Eddyville  and 
is  recognized  there  by  the  officials  or  by  the  other 
convicts.  To  turn  such  convicts  out  automatic- 
ally and  i)erfunctorily  in  bunches  with  men 
who  never  committed  more  than  one  offense  of 
the  lesser  sort  is  outrageous.  It  is  unjust  to  the 
offenders  worthy  of  grace  and  dangerous  to  the 
state  by  diminishing  the  respect  for  law  and  by 
removing  the  fear  of  serious  punishment  even  for 
grave  crimes.  There  are  cities  in  .Xmerica  with 
less  than  three  hundred  thousand  i)eople  whicii 
every  year  have  more  nnirders  than  Paris  or 
Berlin  or  even  London,  with  its  seven  millions 
of  people.  Are  we  more  bloodthirsty  and  less 
civilized  or  is  the  fault  due  to  our  juries,  courts 
and  prisons?    It  is  a  grave  question. 


By  the  decision  of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  in 
\Ul  recent  l)e  Moss  case,  the  intermediate  sen- 
tence and  parole  acts  of  I'.MO  must  automatically 
turn  out  600  or  700  convicts,  if  they  have  served 
the  mininnim  time  of  imprisonment  fixed  by  the 
law,  even  for  such  grave  crimes  as  manslaughter 
(generally  murder).  rai)e.  etc.,  namely,  for  two 
years,  provided  the  convict,  for  the  short  space  of 
nine  months  just  prior  to  the  parole,  has  merely 
<  bserved  the  ordinary  rules  of  the  prison. 

That  was  surely  not  the  intention  of  the  man 
who  prt])are(l  the  acts  of  1910,  and  this  inter- 
pretation makes  an  amendment  of  the  acts  neces- 
sary if  convicts  are  not  to  be  turned  out  auto- 
matically after  a  brief  term  and  after  Ijeing 
obedient  to  the  rnV  lary  rules  for  only  nine 
months. 

The  senate  has  passed  two  bills  intro<luced  by 
Senator  Helm,  of  Newport,  after  a  favorable  re- 
port by  a  senate  committee  and  after  full  discus- 
sion in  the  senate.  .About  the  same  time  Rep- 
resentative Hutchcraft.  of  Paris,  introduced  bills 
on  that  subject  in  the  house,  where  they  are  now 
pending.  There  seems  to  be  an  effort  to  defeat 
the  senate  bills  or  to  prevent  the  passage  of  any 
bill  on  the  subject,  notwithstanding  the  De  Moss 
decision. 

The  senate  bill  seems  best.  The  main  differ- 
ences between  the  two  bills,  as  we  understand  it, 
are  the  following:  The  Helm  senate  bill  gives 
the  prison  commissioners  power,  after  investiga- 
tion of  a  convict's  record  and  his  evidence  of  re- 
form or  criminal  disposition,  to  refuse  a  parole, 
hut  they  cannot  grant  a  parole  without  the  ap- 
l)roval  of  the  governor.  That  is  the  law  of  Illi- 
nois and  other  states.  The  governor  is  elected  by 
the  |)eople  of  the  state,  and  his  responsibility  is 
clearly  fixed.  Ihe  commissioners  are  not  electe<l, 
but  ap])ointed.  and  cannot  be  held  to  direct  and 
clear  responsibility  to  the  people.  Moreover, 
if  the  governor  joins  in  the  parole,  there  can  be 
no  doubt  that  the  hill  is  constitutional,  for,  if  the 
governor  has  the  greater  power  to  pardon,  he  has 
th  •  les.ser  i)ower  to  parole.  The  former  prison 
commissioners  were  removed  from  office  by  the 
act  of  1912.  However  good  the  present  commis- 
sioners may  be,  others  perhaps  not  so  good  may 
follow.  The  law  should  provide  safety  for  any 
situation.  The  house  bill  continues  the  illogical 
provision  of  automatic  paroles.  It  seems  that  the 
senate  bill  is  the  safer  and  better  bill  and  .should 
be      passed      without      delay. — Courier-Journal. 


196 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Prison  Contract  Labor  Calls  for  Abolition 

It  is  a  glaring  inconsistency  that  a  period 
which  gives  liberal  reception  to  all  manner  of 
proposals  looking  to  the  betterment  of  mankind 
should  be  indifferent  to  the  appeals  of  those  who 
see  the  pressing  need  of  reform  in  prison  man- 
agement. That  there  have  been  some  steps  for- 
ward in  this  particular  is  admitted,  but  the  under- 
lying fault  not  only  has  not  been  remedied,  it  has 
hardly  been  touched.  Again  we  find  it  referred 
to  in  the  present  effort  of  a  western  city  of  the 
United  States  to  overthrow  the  contract  labor 
system  in  a  municipal  prison.  An  attempt  is  to 
be  made  to  give  the  prisoners  day  labor  on  public 
improvements  with  fair  remuneration,  to  be  ap- 
plied in  part  to  the  payment  of  their  fines  and  in 
part  to  the  support  of  their  innocent  dependents. 
This  is  a  direct  move  against  the  contract  labor 
privilege  which  exists  in  many  parts  of  the 
United  States  and  which  permits  private  contrac- 
tors to  profit  upon  prison  labor. 

There  are  few  who  give  thought  to  the  fact 
that  under  the  present  prison  system  the  law 
punishes  not  only  the  culprit  but,  in  all  probabil- 
ity, even  more  severely  those  dependent  upon 
him.  Aside  from  whatever  humiliation  and 
shame  may  attach  to  them,  there  is  the  non-sen- 
timental, practical  fact  that,  in  the  case  of  the 
imprisonment  of  a  bread  winner  the  family  is 
deprived  of  the  usual  means  of  support.  This 
may  be  so  even  where  the  prisoner  is  earning  in 
prison  for  others,  under  the  contract  system,  suf- 
ficient over  and  above  the  cost  of  his  maintenance, 
or  in  excess  of  whatever  the  gradual  liquidation 
of  a  fine  may  require,  to  keep  his  family  in  neces- 
saries. 

It  is  the  hope  of  prison  reformers  who  recog- 
nize the  inconsistency  and  the  injustice  of  this 
system  that  the  public  may  give  its  attention  and 
its  sympathy  to  the  work  they  are  trying  to  do. 
This  campaign  has  nothing  in  common  with  at- 
tempts to  condone  offenses  against  the  law  or  to 
set  lawbreakers  on  pedestals.  It  would  have 
the  culprit  work  out  his  sentence  and  his  salva- 
tion, but  it  would  not  make  common  merchandise 
of  his  labor  or  make  it  profitable  only  to  specu- 
lative contractors.  It  would  not  add  to  the  great 
wrong  he  had  already  done  his  dependents,  but 
rather  help  him  to  make  redress  to  some  extent 
for  this  wrong.  Abolition  of  the  prison  contract 
system  seems  to  be  one  of  the  essentials  to  the 


consummation  of  this  great  reform,  and  there  is 
encouragement  in  the  announcement  that  one  of 
the  large  western  cities  of  the  United  States  is  to 
take  this  first  step. — Christian  Science  Monitor,' 
Boston,  Mass. 

A  New  Board 

Without  meaning  to  cast  any  reflections  on  the 
personnel  or  the  efficiency  of  the  present  "board," 
a  prisoner  of  this  institution  thinks  a  parole 
board  composed  of  the  warden,  chaplain,  physi- 
cian, record  clerk  and  deputy  warden  would  be 
much  better  than  the  present  system. 

While  the  public  at  large,  it  seems,  is  seeking 
ways  and  means  of  procuring  the  reformation  of 
prisoners,  criminals  are  being  made,  both  by 
granting  paroles  and  by  withholding  them.  In- 
stead of  granting  or  refusing  a  parole  to  men 
upon  the  merits  of  their  record,  reformation  or 
lack  of  reformation  while  incarcerated  in  a 
prison,  the  parole  boards  of  this  country  are 
granting  or  rejecting  paroles  upon  the  record  of 
the  man  before  he  became  a  prisoner,  and  be- 
cause of  the  amount  of  political  pressure  that  is 
brought  to  bear  on  them  from  the  outside.  To  a 
large  extent  boards  not  actually  connected  daily 
with  prisons  are  appointed  and  consequently  have 
to  act  on  the  matter  of  granting  or  rejecting  a 
parole  for  a  man  from  information  received  sec- 
ond hand. 

Having  no  desire  to  in  any  manner  criticise  the 
present  board  here,  and  without  any  reflections 
on  that  august  body,  I  respectfully  submit  that 
the  most  efficient  and  satisfactory  board,  and  one 
that  would  be  more  or  less  free  from  political 
influences,  would  be  one  composed  of  the  officials 
above  mentioned. 

Give  this  board  the  absolute  power  to  pardon 
or  parole  a  man  when  he  has  become  reformed  to 
the  extent  that  he  will  make  a  good  citizen,  and 
as  long  as  men  of  character  of  the  present  en- 
cumbents are  retained  in  their  respective  offices, 
justice  will  be  done,  and  much  actual  reformation 
accomplished.  It  tends  to  degrade  a  man  and  not 
reform  him  when  a  parole  is  promised  and  for 
no  cause  known  to  him  withheld,  or  for  a  man  to 
earn  a  parole  by  good  record  and  because  of  some 
political  pull  or  lack  of  political  pull,  have  his 
parole  withheld.  Let  us  reiterate,  reformation, 
like  charity,  "should  begin  at  home." — The  Bulle- 
tin, Lansing,  Kans. 


April  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


197 


A  Better  System 

The  recommendation  made  by  Superintendent 
John  B.  Riley,  of  New  York,  that  first  offenders 
be  given  prison  sentences  without  any  definite 
term  corresponds  to  the  Ohio  system  of  inde- 
terminate sentences.  Both  systems,  however,  are 
better  than  the  old  plan  of  fixing  the  punishment 
for  a  particular  crime  for  a  definite  term  of  years 
varying  in  length  from  one  to  twenty. 

The  personal  opinions  of  the  average  judge 
usually  influence  his  judgment  in  spite  of  his  at- 
tempt to  be  fair  and  impartial.  It  is  possible  to 
present  a  given  law  to  a  supreme  court  composed 
of  seven  attorneys  trained  from  childhood  to  re- 
gard property  rights  above  personal  rights  and 
have  it  declared  unconstitutional.  Another  su- 
preme court  composed  of  men  who  have  fought 
their  way  up  from  the  ranks  and  who  are  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  workers  will  declare  the  same  law 
constitutional.  The  same  principle  governs  their 
actions  in  all  other  cases.  As  they  believe  so  will 
their  decisions  be,  and  criminal  cases  are  no 
exception. 

Where  a  judge  believes  that  the  ends  of  the 
law  are  best  served  by  imposing  long  sentences 
upon  offenders,  he  will  send  a  man  to  prison  for 
five  or  ten  years  for  stealing  a  few  dollars.  An- 
other judge  who  believes  that  society  should  re- 
form rather  than  punish  a  criminal,  will  sentence 
a  prisoner  to  the  penitentiary  for  a  year  for  the 
same  offense. 

The  effect  of  these  varying  opinions  regarding 
the  proper  punishment  for  crime  is  bad.  A  con- 
vict who  sees  a  companion  serving  one  year  for 
the  same  offense  for  which  he  is  serving  ten, 
usually  feels  a  burning  resentment  against  the 
machinery  of  society  for  its  unfairness.  It  kills 
the  hope  of  reform  in  him  and  handicaps  the 
prison  ofticials  in  their  efforts  to  turn  him  into  a 
law-abiding,  if  not  a  law-loving  member  of 
society. 

The  indeterminate  sentence  makes  a  man  re- 
sponsible for  the  length  of  his  own  sentence.  It 
places  all  convicts  upon  a  par  and  gives  to  each 
the  power  to  lengthen  or  shorten  his  sentence  as 
he  wills  by  his  behavior.  Ohio  has  a  wise  system 
and  although  the  recommendation  of  Superin- 
tendent Riley  is  a  good  one,  it  seems  that  New 
York  would  profit  by  copying  the  Ohio  law. — 
Su)i.  Springfield,  Ohio. 


Reward  Put  Up  by  Convicts 

Dallas,  Tex.,  March  12.— A  reward  of  $35  for 
the  return  of  two  of  their  number  who  broke 
parole  and  escaped  has  been  offered  by  forty- 
eight  other  convicts,  members  of  a  party  which 
recently  began  working  the  roads  in  Smith 
county  without  guards  or  shackles  under  an  ex- 
perimental plan  of  the  state.  The  reward  is  of- 
fered from  the  wages  of  the  men,  paid  them  as 
I)art  of  the  experiment.  Notification  of  the  re- 
ward was  received  by  a  newspaper  here  yester- 
day, with  requests  that  it  be  published. 

"We,  the  members  of  a  camp  of  honest  men. 
are  ready  to  go  our  limit  to  have  the  deserters 
returned,"  said  the  letter  of  notification,  signed. 
•'The  Boys  in  Cnmp."— Daily  Ne^vs,  Chicago. 

Humanitarian  Improvements  at  Chester 

Since  Frank  Orr  of  this  city  has  become  chair- 
man of  the  commissioners  of  the  Illinois  peni- 
tentiary at  Chester,  a  number  of  changes  of  a  hu- 
manitarian nature  have  been  put  into  effect  at  the 
penitentiary,  which  reflect  credit  upon  our  towns- 
man and  his  fellow  members  of  the  board. 

Word  comes  that  the  convicts  at  Chester  have 
taken  a  new  interest  and  pride  in  things.  The 
changes  that  have  been  made  pertain  to  many  of 
the  inner  details,  but  are  vastly  important  to  the 
life  of  the  hundreds  of  men  in  the  prison. 

The  rules  for  letter  writing  have  been  made 
more  liberal  with  the  intent  of  making  the  treat- 
ment more  humane.  Hitherto  the  first  grade 
prisoners  who  are  of  the  best  conduct  could  only 
write  a  letter  once  a  month.  Now  they  are 
granted  permission  twice  a  month  and  even  the 
prisoners  of  lower  classes  are  given  permission 
once  a  month,  while  previously,  they  could  not 
write  at  all.  In  cases  of  special  importance  they 
are  now  allowed  to  write  at  other  times  with  the 
consent  of  the  prison  officers.  As  many  of  the 
prisoners  have  wives  and  children  or  mothers  at 
home  who  are  extremely  anxious  about  them,  the 
favor  is  very  highly  appreciated. 

The  tradition-bound  custom  of  wearing  striped 
suits,  which  has  been  observed  in  the  case  of 
third-class  prisoners,  has  been  recently  abolished 
at  Chester.  The  odious  striped  suits  engcndere<l 
ill  feeling  and  tended  to  make  the  |)ri.soncrs  feel 
like  animals  instead  of  men,  and  the  more  hu- 
mane view  is  to  remove  this  spirit  at  the  peniten- 
tiary. 


198 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


A  number  of  minor  details  about  the  peniten- 
tiary have  been  changed,  including  the  installa- 
tion of  a  barber  shop  where  prisoners  may  sit  in 
chairs  like  men.  The  hospital  has  been  redec- 
orated and  finished,  giving  it  a  more  cheery  ap- 
pearance. 

The  prisoners  have  taken  an  added  interest  in 
prison  order  and  the  religious  services  on  Sunday 
have  grown  so  popular  that  the  chapel  will  no 
longer  hold  the  crowds  of  prisoners  who  wish  to 
attend.  They  have  splendid  music  of  their  own 
and  their  orchestra  and  band  practice  is  en- 
couraged. 

Mr.  Orr  is  to  be  congratulated  on  his  part  in 
this  good  work. — Mail,  ^Mt.  Sterling,  111. 

Shackles  in  Tennessee 

A  Nashville  newspaper  states  that,  "as  a  result 
of  revolting  conditions  said  to  have  been  found 
on  the  county  roads  in  a  tour  of  inspection,  a  ma- 
jority of  the  members  of  the  workhouse  board 
has  declared  that  use  of  shackles  on  prisoners 
must  be  abolished. 

"According  to  the  statement  of  one  of  the 
members  who  inspected  the  camps,  the  use  of 
shackles  on  human  beings  is  barbarous,  and  the 
sultering  and  inconvenience  caused  the  prisoners 
by  being  forced  to  wear  the  irons  could  only  be 
realized  by  seeing  a  prisoner  who  wore  chains 
which  reached  from  knee  to  ankle  and  a  cross 
chain  connecting  each  leg. 

"Squire  Allen,  in  speaking  of  the  conditions 
which  he  found  to  be  caused  from  the  use  of 
shackles,  said  that  several  of  the  prisoners'  legs 
were  almost  decayed  under  the  clamps  which 
held  the  chains.  Squire  Allen  said  that  especially 
in  the  cases  of  long-term  men — those  who  were 
sent  up  for  eleven  months  and  twenty-nine  days 
— the  wearing  of  the  chains  was  a  horrible  thing 
to  think  about.  He  said  aboUshing  the  custom 
of  wearing  the  irons  would  be  a  great  reform  in 
the  modern  method  of  caring  for  the  county  pris- 
oners. 

"The  shackles  are  riveted  on  the  legs  of  the 
prisoners  the  day  they  are  received  at  the  camps, 
and  the  irons  are  never  removed  for  any  purpose 
until  the  day  the  prisoner  is  given  his  liberty. 
The  prisoner  is  forced  to  sleep  in  the  chains,  it  is 
said,  and  it  is  impossible  to  remove  the  shackles 
without  the  aid  of  a  skillful  blacksmith." — The 
Delinquent,  New  York. 


The  Presumption  of  Innocence 

The  law  wisely  throws  a  presumption  of  inno- 
cence around  an  accused  man,  and  states  in  un- 
mistakable terms  that  that  presumption  shall  re- 
main with  the  accused  until  his  guilt  is  estab- 
lished. Jurors,  judges,  and  the  public,  it  seems, 
have  lost  sight  of  this  principle  of  law,  and  now 
when  a  man  is  merely  accused,  he  is  compelled  to 
prove  his  innocence,  not  only  to  the  court  before 
whom  he  is  tried,  but  to  the  world. 

Recently  a  gang  of  political  outlaws  tried  to 
"hold  up"  the  blind  senator  of  Oklahoma, 
Thomas  P.  Gore,  by  making  scandalous  charges 
against  him ;  and  the  world,  that  is  always  ready 
to  give  a  man  a  shove  down  hill,  waited  to  rejoice 
at  the  senator's  downfall.  But  fortunately,  Sen- 
ator Gore  was  able  to  prove  his  innocence.  Many 
a  man  is  serving  time  in  prison  because  the  pre- 
sumption of  guilt  that  the  judge  and  jury  held 
could  not  be  overcome  by  his  evidence,  while  if 
the  presumption  had  been  of  his  innocence,  as 
the  law  says  it  shall  be,  he  would  have  been  ac- 
quitted.— The  Penitentiary  Bulletin,  Lansing, 
Kan. 

Editor^s  Note. — The  presumption  of  inno- 
cence after  a  man  is  indicted  by  a  grand  jury  in 
Illinois  is  of  some  value  to  an  accused  person 
who  has  a  good  attorney  and  money  to  pay  him 
with,  but  to  a  poor  man  it  is  no  safeguard  what- 
ever. 

Wants  Doctors  to  Pass  Sentences 

Dr.  Harold  W.  Wright,  assistant  alienist  at 
Bellevue  Hospital,  New  York  City,  urges  in  a 
recent  issue  of  the  Journal  of  the  American  Med- 
ical Association  that  sentencing  of  wrongdoers 
and  so-called  criminals  be  taken  out  of  the  hands 
of  judges  and  left  to  physicians  trained  in  men- 
tal diseases,  who  are  in  the  service  of  the  state 
and  consequently  free  from  bias. 

His  idea  is  that  any  method  of  dealing  with  the 
offender  which  contains  an  element  of  punish- 
ment is  illogical  and  unjust.  "The  only  real  jus- 
tice for  the  person  who  is  in  error,"  he  says,  "is 
the  attempt  to  correct  the  condition  which  caused 
him  to  err."  Punishment,  he  asserts,  does  not 
do  this. 

He  suggests  that  under  the  present  system  "the 
habitual  or  instinctive  criminal  is  too  often  set 
free  to  repeat  his  errors,  and  also  to  influence 
the  unrecognized,  potential  criminal  of  the  feeble 


/ 


April  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


199 


minded,  constitutionally  inferior  class,"  and  says  : 
"It  is  the  instinctive  or  habitual  criminal  who 
often  is  pardoned  for  good  conduct  because  of 
his  ready  adaptability  to  prison  life  when  he 
knows  such  an  attitude  to  be  to  his  advantage. 
In  these  offenders,  however,  punishment  only 
arouses  the  desire  for  retaliation  on  society. 

He  believes  physicians  trained  in  dealing  with 
"psychopaths"  are  suited  to  decide  which  of  the 
offenders  is  amendable  to  this,  that,  or  the  other 
form  of  correction ;  to  tell  when  the  person  is 
"sufficiently  corrected  in  his  mental  functions"  to 
justify  his  parole  into  normal  society,  and  to  de- 
termine who  shall  be  kept  in  permanent  custody. 
It  is  not  possible,  he  adds,  for  those  of  the  legal 
profession  to  determine  these  questions  justly ; 
nor -is  it  possible  for  them  to  frame  just  laws  as 
to  penalties. 

"It  is  not  unreasonable,  therefore,"  he  says, 
"to  foresee  the  time  when  the  function  of  the 
lawyer  and  the  judge  will  be  restricted  to  the  de- 
termination of  the  guilt  of  the  offender,  and  the 
function  of  prescribing  what  is  now  called  the 
'sentence'  or  'penalty,'  but  which  some  day  will 
be  called  the  'therapy'  or  'treatment,'  will  be 
taken  over  by  physicians  thoroughly  trained  in 
mental  diseases." 

All  offenders,  according  to  Dr.  Wright,  are 
characterized  by  one  or  more  of  the  following 
attributes : 

1.  Exaggerated  suggestibility. 

2.  Exaggerated  egotism. 

3.  Emotional  instability. 

4.  A  lack  of  altruistic  or  unsellish  motives. 

5.  A  lack  of  the  power  of  sustained  energy — 
that  is,  abnormal  nervous  fatigue. 

6.  A  tendency  to  the  easy  disintegration  of 
consciousness  which  permits  the  brutal  or  in- 
ferior qualities  of  the  subconscious  mind  easily 
to  become  dominant  when  temptation  occurs  and 
to  be  ungoverned  by  the  critical  quality  of  the 
conscious  mind  ;  even  when  the  critical  function 
is  sufficiently  aroused  the  power  of  direction  by 
the  will  is  in  abeyance. 

Those  of  the  insane  most  jirone  to  commit 
-tatute  offenses,  this  Bellevue  alienist  says,  are 
the  paranoiac,  the  epileptic,  the  kleptomaniac,  and 
the  dipsomaniac  and  other  drug  users,  especially 
the  "cocaine  fiend." — The  Index,  Monroe,  Wash. 

Editor's  Note. — The  general  adoption  of  the 
good  doctor's  plan  is  recommended,  only  on  the 


ground  that  many  physicians  are  hard  pressed  for 
money. 

To  Discourage  Parole  Violations 

Advices  come  from  the  convict  camps  at  Lin- 
dale  in  Smith  county  to  the  effect  that  the  pris- 
oners have  organized  themselves  for  the  punish- 
ment of  any  of  their  number  who  may  violate  the 
rules  of  the  parole.  While  this  move  is  not  to 
be  taken  as  one  having  no  bad  features,  we  think 
that  under  good  management  it  will  prove  the 
claim  of  hundreds  of  social  workers  to  the  effect 
that  when  a  man  is  trusted  he  will  seldom  betray 
confidence. — Gazette.  McKinney.  Tex. 

The  Crucial  Period 

A  prisoner  writes,  in  Good  Words,  as  fol- 
lows: "There  is  no  other  situation  incident  to 
mortal  life  more  powerfully  conducive  to  search- 
ing and  even  creative  thought  than  is  enforced 
sojourn  in  a  great  prison.  This  is  true  of  every 
iimiate  in  his  degree ;  but  in  all  prisons  there  are 
a  number  of  prisoners  who,  in  the  outer  world, 
had  been  accustomed  to  apply  the  energy  of 
strong  and  able  intellects  to  dealing  with  the 
problems  of  external  life — chiefly,  of  course, 
such  are  concerned  with  wresting  wealth  and 
position  from  the  world.  When  these  men  are 
suddenly  removed  from  their  activities  and  pre- 
vented from  further  use  of  their  faculties  on  the 
lines  they  have  been  pursuing,  a  phenomenon  of 
singular  psychological  interest  takes  place.  The 
immense  mental  energy  which  the  man  has  hith- 
erto been  applying  to  the  management  of  mate- 
rial things  is  suddenly  and  violently  thrown  hack 
upon  himself,  and  it  generally  creates  there,  at 
first,  a  condition  of  bewilderment  and  distress. 
In  the  majority  of  cases,  however,  this  chaotic 
state  will  be  of  brief  continuance;  a  reaction  oc- 
curs, and  the  man  now  directs  the  force  which 
had  been  used  in  the  ordering  and  subjugation  of 
concrete  matters,  to  the  region  of  the  immaterial 
— that  is.  of  thought.  He  begins  for  the  first 
time — and  he  has  time  to  spare — to  investigate 
and  dissect  the  causes  of  things ;  to  determine 
what  are  the  principles  and  objects  of  existence 
and  of  his  own  part  in  it;  to  ask  himself  what 
is  worth  doing,  and  avoiding,  and  why.  and  to 
measure  and  weigh  the  scope  and  value  of  his 
personal  abilities  and   resources.      The  result  of 


200 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


such  an  investigation  must  be  of  worth ;  and  the 
benefit  of  it  might  be,  and  should  be,  imparted  to 
others,  instead  of  remaining  shut  up  in  the  man's 
private  breast." — The  Delinquent,  New  York. 

Michigan  Prisoners  Placed  Upon  Honor 

Reformation  instead  of  punishment,  a  new  ex- 
periment in  penology,  is  being  tried  out  in  the 
Michigan  state  penitentiary  here.  Freedom  of 
conversation  is  permitted  in  work  rooms,  where 
the  "guard"  now  is  a  sort  of  foreman.  About  a 
hundred  convicts  under  an  honor  system  are  per- 
mitted outside  the  walls  to  work  prison  farms. 
Strict  discipline  is  maintained  and  every  convict 
is  learning  a  trade. — American,  Chicago. 

Organized  Labor  Asks  Public  Sentiment  to 
Abolish  Competitive  Prison  Labor 

Organized  labor  has  called  upon  manufactur- 
ers and  citizens  generally  throughout  the  country 
to  stand  behind  the  National  Committee  on  Prison 
Labor  in  its  endeavor  to  bring  about  in  the  dif- 
ferent states  a  system  whereby  the  prisoner 
shall  be  employed  directly  under  state  control 
on  roads,  farms  or  in  manufacturing  articles 
for  use  in  the  institutions  and  departments  under 
the  control  of  the  state. 

For  the  past  four  years  this  committee  and 
the  labor  unions,  especially  the  United  Garment 
Workers  of  America,  have  been  fighting  what  is 
known  as  the  leasing  system,  whereby  the  labor 
of  the  convict  is  sold  to  the  highest  bidder,  the 
bid  always  being  from  50  to  75  per  cent  less  than 
is  paid  to  the  workers  in  the  same  line  of  industry 
outside  of  our  penal  institutions. 

The  effect  of  this  prison  competition  is  illus- 
trated by  figures  gathered  by  the  Bureau  of  La- 
bor Statistics  of  Missouri,  which  has  just  com- 
pleted an  exhaustive  investigation  into  condi- 
tions at  the  Missouri  State  Prison  at  Jefferson 
City. 

The  clothing  factory  at  that  prison  reported 
an  output  for  1912  of  overalls  and  other  gar- 
ments valued  at  over  $2,500,000.  The  convict 
w^orking  force  consisted  of  887  men  and  44  wom- 
en, a  total  of  931,  while  for  their  labor  the  state 
received  $200,629.  The  total  amount  paid  out  in 
wages  and  salaries  for  superintendents,  etc.,  was 
$371,385.  From  these  figures  it  will  be  noted 
that  the  cost  of  labor  was  so  small  when  com- 


pared to  that  at  a  similar  factory  outside  the 
prison  walls  as  to  be  startling. 

Free  manufacturers  are  asked  to  compare  their 
own  pay  roll  with  that  of  the  contractor  at  this 
prison,  where  for  healthy  male  convicts  75  cents 
per  day  was  paid,  while  for  a  few  cripples  and 
the  w^omen  the  figure  was  only  50  cents  per  day. 

The  National  Committee  on  Prison  Labor  and 
the  unions  see  that  this  unfair  competition  can 
be  overcome  by  the  work  for  the  state  whereby 
no  prison  goods  reach  the  open  market,  but  these 
two  groups  need  the  support  of  all  interested, 
either  for  business  or  humanitarian  reasons,  to 
bring  about  results  which  shall  be  efiFective  and 
lasting. 

From  a  practical  business  standpoint  organized 
labor  has  brought  this  matter  before  the  people 
of  the  country  and  awaits  their  action. — Enquirer, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Minnesota  Prisoners  Are  Self-Supporting 

The  Minnesota  state  prison  was  established  for 
the  "confinement  and  reformation  of  convicts." 
That  is  the  language  of  the  statutes,  and  similar 
language  is  found  in  the  laws  of  only  four  other 
states. 

The  new  cell  block  was  built  at  a  cost  of  over 
$3,000,000  and  satisfies  every  advanced  idea  of 
prison  construction.  No  more  than  one  prisoner 
is  permitted  in  a  cell ;  the  sanitary  arrangements 
are  excellent ;  light  and  heat  and  ventilation  are 
like  those  in  a  school. 

The  discipline  is  very  strict,  but  consistent. 
Everything,  except  some  of  the  machines,  oper- 
ates noiselessly  and  with  precision.  There  is  no 
dark  cell,  no  whipping-post,  no  chaining  device, 
or  any  otlier  manner  of  corporal  punishment.  In 
lieu  of  these  a  system  of  rewards  and  punish- 
ments has  been  evolved.  The  prisoner  who  does 
not  behave  gets  less  food  than  the  others.  If  he 
persists  in  his  contrariness,  he  is  put  in  a  dark- 
ened, not  a  dark,  cell.  As  the  very  limit  of  pun- 
ishment his  tobacco  is  taken  from  him.  The  loss 
of  his  tobacco  usually  appeals  quickly  and  strong- 
ly to  a  convict's  judgment. 

In  so  far  the  Stillwater  prison  is  similar  to  the 
best  elsewhere;  but  in  the  use  of  its  manufac- 
tured products  it  is  unique.  Within  the  prison  is 
located  the  best-equipped  factory  for  the  produc- 
tion of  binder  twine  anywhere  in  the  country,  and 


\pril  1,   1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


201 


it  has  the  third  largest  output  of  any  similar  fac- 
tory. 

Here  is  the  revolutionary  fact.  The  manu- 
facture of  binder  twine  in  the  Minnesota  prison 
is  so  well  managed  that  it  entirely  supports  the 
prison,  and  earns  enough  more  to  give  every  con- 
vict a  small  daily  wage. — Robert  Barry  in  Cen- 
tury for  March. 

Judge  Nervous  About  Dynamite 

Judge  Sabath  ordered  policemen  to  remove 
fifty  sticks  of  dynamite  and  fifty  feet  of  fuse 
brought  into  his  courtroom  as  evidence  against 
George  Williams  of  1332  Cliristiana  avenue,  a 
convict,  who  was  charged  with  helping  William 
Trail  blow  a  safe  a  few  minutes  before  Trail  was 
pursued  and  shot  dead  by  Policeman  John 
Mikula.  Williams  was  ordered  sent  back  to 
Joliet. — Record-Herald,  Chicago. 

A  Governor  and  the  Death  Penalty 

Governor  Ralston,  in  refusing  to  commute  the 
death  sentences  imposed  on  the  wife  murderers 
Chirka  and  Rasico,  makes  it  plain  that  he  can  not 
be  guided  by  any  personal  conviction  on  the  pos- 
sible ethical  error  of  the  capital  penalty,  but  must 
adhere  to  the  law  and  the  evidence.  "It  is  my 
judgment  that  I  would  be  refusing  obedience  to 
the  law  myself  and  doing  the  state  and  society  an 
injustice  if  I  were  to  commute  the  sentences  of 
these  men  or  either  of  them,"  he  concludes.  The 
crimes  were  peculiarly  revolting.  Each  was  pre- 
meditated. 

While  capital  punishment  remains  in  Indiana, 
it  is  the  duty  of  a  governor,  as  Mr.  Ralston  de- 
clares, to  enforce  it  in  the  light  of  the  law  and 
the  facts,  and  not  to  be  ruled  by  moral  or  intel- 
lectual scruples.  He  would  be,  indeed,  a  hard- 
hearted man  who  did  not  approach  with  faltering 
step  and  sorrowful  mind  the  duty  that  compels 
him  to  aflirm  a  process  that  takes  any  human  be- 
ing's life  away. 

The  governor  well  observes:  "I  can  not  ig- 
nore the  rights  of  society  nor  forget  the  two 
wives  slain  by  the  hands  of  the  men  who  had 
taken  a  pledge  before  heaven  to  love,  cherish  and 
defend  them.  I  can  not  close  my  eyes  to  the  fact 
that  the  killing  of  wives  is  becoming  more  and 
more  frequent  in  the  commonwealth  whose  laws 
I  have  sworn  to  have  executed." 


The  state,  in  the  wisdom  of  its  fathers,  has  pre- 
scribed death  as  the  final  deterrent  for  those  who 
will  not  be  prevented  by  the  shadow  of  life  im- 
prisonment from  taking  the  lives  of  fellow  men. 
The  frequency  of  murtlcrs  in  the  United  States  is 
our  shame.  Protests  have  availed  little.  The 
la.xity  of  law  enforcement,  the  sloth  of  courts, 
the  abuse  of  the  pardoning  power,  and,  it  must 
be  confessed,  a  mistaken  liberality  with  the  tools 
of  humane  penology,  have  created  insensibility  to 
law  and  disregard  for  human  life. 

It  is  time  that  these  things  were  corrected,  so 
far  as  is  possible  in  specific  cases,  to  restore  the 
sanctity  of  law  and  life.  In  our  imperfect  .<!0- 
ciety  it  is  a  question  of  the  measure  of  severity. 
We  justify  capital  punishment  not  on  ethical 
grounds,  but  on  grounds  of  necessity.  The  whole 
punitive  system  affronts  idealism,  but  in  the 
finiteness  of  our  corrective  media  we  must  have 
it.  While  the  organic  law  says  that  the  supreme 
reprisal  of  a  life  for  a  life  shall  be  maintained,  it 
would  be  weakening  the  whole  fabric  of  law  not 
to  apply  it  if  the  facts  require  it. — Star,  Indian- 
apolis, Ind. 

Speak  Well  of  Others 

If  you  would  be  well  six>ken  of,  learn  lo  speak 
well  of  others.  And  when  you  have  learned  to 
speak  well  of  them,  endeavor  likewise  to  do  well 
to  them,  and  thus  you  will  reap  the  fruit  of  being 
well  .spoken  of  by  them. — Ef>ictetus. 

Would  Prison  Contractors  Waive  Their  Rights 
Mr.  Furst  suggests  that  there  would  be  no  dan- 
ger of  the  prison  labor  contractors  surrendering 
their  contracts  in  case  the  national  anti-convict 
labor  bill  becomes  law,  because  they  could  find 
an  outlet  for  their  goods  abroad. 

This  possibility  might  easily  be  tested.  H  there 
is  no  likelihood  of  forfeiture,  there  is  no  need  for 
the  cancellation  provision  in  the  contracts.  The 
Neics  suggests  that  Mr.  Furst  obtain  from  the 
contractors  a  formal  release  from  this  clause  so 
far  as  the  right  of  its  exorcise  upon  enactment 
of  the  Booher  bill  is  involved. 

If  the  contractors  consent,  well  and  good.  But 
in  the  conference  that  resulted  in  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  Penal  Legislation  Commission  of 
which  he  is  a  member,  Mr.  Furst  said  he  wished 
to  make  only  one  plea :  that  he  was  ready  for  any 


202 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


reform,  but  that,  whatever  was  done,  the  prison- 
ers must  be  kept  regularly  employed ;  anything 
short  of  that  would  be  sheer  brutality. 

The  question  is:  Shall  the  state  put  itself  at 
the  tender  mercies  of  the  prison  contractors ;  or 
shall  it  make  for  itself  as  adequate  preparation 
for  eventualities  as  in  their  cancellation  clause 
they  have  already  made  for  themselves?  If  the 
latter,  then  the  preparation  must  be  made  now, 
for  the  eventualities  are  well-nigh  upon  us. — 
News,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Denouncement  of  Contract  Labor  System 

The  subject  of  prison  reform  was  discussed  in 
an  able  manner  at  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  temple  in  Free- 
port,  111.,  recently,  when  Miss  Winifred  L.  Tay- 
lor addressed  the  Women's  club.  Miss  Taylor 
has  made  this  subject  a  lifelong  study  and  por- 
trayed the  subject  in  a  manner  clear  and  plain. 
She  said  in  part : 

"This  is  a  subject  that  every  woman  in  the 
United  States  should  be  deeply  interested  in.  Lit- 
tle do  the  millions  of  people  who  are  on  the  out- 
side of  the  prison  walls  know  what  is  going  on 
behind  the  heavy  walls  of  masonry  that  shut  off 
a  large  number  of  men  and  women  from  the  out- 
side world.  The  prisons  of  the  United  States  are 
in  a  far  better  condition  today  than  they  were 
twenty  years  ago,  but  they  are  still  far  away  from 
the  point  where  the  finger  of  criticism  cannot  be 
pointed  at  them  with  righteous  indignation.  For 
a  number  of  years  the  contract  labor  system  ex- 
isted in  the  penitentiaries  throughout  the  United 
States.  This  has  been  stamped  out  by  legislation 
in  some  of  the  states,  but  there  is  still  a  number 
of  prisons  which  are  run  under  the  contract  sys- 
tem, especially  in  southern  states.  The  contract 
system  is  the  most  unjust  and  the  hardest  thing 
to  drive  out  of  the  penitentiaries  that  the  various 
states  have  had  to  grapple  with.  Under  this  sys- 
tem a  number  of  prisoners  are  leased  to  an  out- 
side firm  to  manufacture  the  goods  which  they 
handle.  The  greatest  number  of  prisoners  under 
the  system  are  employed  in  the  shoe  manufactur- 
ing business.  This  is  one  of  the  principal  occu- 
pations which  the  prisoners  are  employed  at  in 
the  penitentiaries.  A  large  shoe  manufacturing 
company  will,  through  political  influence  and 
money,  be  given  the  use  of  the  prisoners'  labor 
to  manufacture  their  products.  The  state  installs 
machinery  in  the  buildings  for  the  making  of  the 


goods,  and  all  the  firm  has  to  do  is  to  step  in  and 
furnish  the  material  to  be  used.  For  this  labor, 
an  average  of  one  dollar  a  day  is  paid  to  the  state 
for  each  able  bodied  prisoner  who  is  employed 
by  the  company.  This  is  the  first  step ;  it  does 
not  look  so  bad  on  the  surface,  the  average  per- 
son will  say,  'Well,  the  state  has  to  support  the 
institution,  has  to  take  care  of  the  prisoners,  feed 
and  clothe  them.  Why  should  it  not  have  the 
right  to  sell  the  labor  of  its  charges  to  the  high- 
est bidder?'  Well,  let  us  go  a  little  farther  into 
this  subject  and  see  where  the  contract  labor  sys- 
tem is  the  worst  possible  thing  that  could  happen 
to  the  unfortunates  that  occupy  prison  cells. 
When  a  new  prisoner  is  taken  to  the  penitentiary, 
he  is  given  his  number.  Whatever  his  name  is,  it 
is  lost  from  the  time  he  enters  the  walls  until  he 
has  either  served  out  his  time  or  through  political 
influence  and  pull  is  pardoned.  The  striped  suit 
is  placed  upon  him,  which  causes  him  to  look 
more  like  a  zebra  than  a  human  being.  His  hair 
is  cut  close  to  the  scalp,  and  he  is  forcibly  re- 
minded that  he  is  now  an  outcast  of  society,  and 
is  subject  to  whatever  treatment  the  officials  of 
the  institution  are  disposed  to  give  him.  He  is 
humiliated  in  every  possible  way  and  made  to 
feel  that  when  he  entered  the  prison  walls  he 
left  all  hope  behind  him.  After  having  his  hair 
cut  short  and  his  striped  suit  placed  upon  his  per- 
son, he  is  taken  into  the  workshop.  Here  he  is 
placed  into  the  hands  of  an  instructor  and  his 
punishment  begins.  He  is  set  upon  one  kind  of 
work  and  if  he  shows  himself  to  be  in  any  way 
skillful,  his  line  of  work  is  never  changed  until 
the  prison  doors  are  swung  open  and  he  is  again 
given  his  freedom.  After  a  week  with  the  in- 
structor he  is  set  to  a  task  to  turn  out  so  much 
work  each  day,  and  if  he  fails  to  turn  out  the 
required  amount,  various  forms  of  punishment 
are  imposed  upon  him,  some  of  which  are  not  far 
removed  from  the  barbarous  methods  used  by 
our  ancestors  of  thousands  of  years  ago.  The 
shower  bath  is  generally  the  first  form  of  torture 
which  the  prisoner  who  fails  to  accomplish  the 
task  which  he  is  given,  is  forced  to  undergo.  This 
is  an  arrangement  where  the  prisoner  is  placed 
in  a  small  enclosure,  and  streams  of  water  are 
played  on  his  body  from  all  angles ;  the  water  has 
a  great  amount  of  pressure  behind  it  and  very 
often  the  prisoner  is  nearly  suffocated  from  the 
water  striking  him  in  the  face  in  such  a  manner 


\pril  1,  1914                                      THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST                                                    203 

as  to  cause  him  to  be  unable  to  draw  his  breath.  Un  the  occasion  when  the  contractor  visits  the 
When  exhausted,  and  he  sinks  to  the  floor  of  the  prison,  the  prisoners  are  warned  beforehand  that 
torture  chamber  in  a  semi-conscious  condition,  he  if  tliey  do  not  want  to  get  the  sliowcr  bath  they 
is  dragged  out  by  the  guards,  the  prison  physi-  liad  better  speed  up.  It  is  not  necessary  to  state 
cian  is  called  and  he  is  revived.  After  a  sample  that  they  do  as  they  are  told.  The  warden  of  the 
of  this,  the  prisoner  generally  revives  with  a  prison  and  the  guards  take  great  pains  on  the  ar- 
curse  on  his  lips  for  all  mankind,  and  murder  in  rival  of  this  human  vulture  to  be  on  their  best 
his  heart.  But  if  he  is  a  wise  man  he  will  suffer  behavior,  and  they  have  the  interest  of  grinding 
in  patience.  After  the  shower  bath  he  is  taken  out  dollars  through  the  toil  and  sweat  of  unfortu- 
to  his  cell,  where  he  is  placed  in  solitary  confme-  nate  victims  of  their  master  at  heart.  Now,  do 
ment  for  the  rest  of  the  day.  The  prison  doctor  not  think  that  the  guard  is  subservient  to  this 
gives  him  what  they  term  a  physical  examination  monster  because  he  has  a  great  love  for  him.  Oh 
the  next  morning,  and  if  he  is  able  to  stand  upon  no,  self-interest  is  the  power  that  rules  in  this 
his  feet  he  is  again  taken  to  the  work-.shop  and  living  hell.  The  guard  is  anxious  to  please  his 
set  at  the  task  again  with  the  admonition  that  a  master  because  it  means  his  bread  and  butter. 
repetition  of  inability  will  be  dealt  with  in  a  much  Many  men  who  have  a  tender  feeling  for  hu- 
stronger  manner  than  the  shower  bath.  Some-  inanity  have  resigned  the  position  of  guard  in  the 
times  it  is  an  utter  impossibility  for  the  prisoner  prisons  because  they  could  not  bring  themselves 
to  do  the  required  amount  of  work,  and  on  the  to  the  point  where  they  could  mistreat  their  fel- 
second  offense  he  is  given  a  number  of  lashes  lowmen  for  the  sole  purpose  of  filling  the  jXKk- 
with  the  cat-tails  and  is  thrown  into  a  dark  cell  ets  of  these  arch-angels  of  satan  with  ill-gotten 
for  a  number  of  days.  The  average  dark  cell  gold.  In  the  state  of  New  York  when  the  con- 
sentence  is  ten  days  wnth  bread  and  water  to  tract  system  existed  in  the  prisons,  the  authori- 
exist  upon  and  the  darkness  of  night  surround-  ties  always  kept  the  penitentiaries  full  of  prison- 
ing him  at  all  times.  Oftimes  strong-minded  men  ers.  As  the  short-term  prisoners'  sentences  ex- 
become  unbalanced  mentally  on  account  of  this  pired  and  the  men  would  gain  their  freedom,  a 
form  of  torture.  On  the  other  hand  if  the  pris-  ^vatch  was  set  upon  them  from  the  time  they  left 
oner  shows  himself  to  be  adapted  to  the  form  of  ^i^g  prison  door  until  one  year  later.  During  this 
work  which  he  is  placed  at,  he  soon  becomes  effi-  ^-^^^  ^f  espionage,  traps'  were  set  for  the  re- 
cient,  and  then  the  speeding  up  process  enters  in.  j^^^^j  prisoner  to  fall  into,  so  an  opi)ortunity 
Each  week  more  work  is  added  to  his  task  and  he  ^^.^^fj  ^^  provided  to  send  him  back  to  the 
IS  compelled  to  turn  out  a  larger  amount  of  work  .^^^^  especially  if  he  was  a  good  worker  and 
m  the  same  amount  of  time.  Failure  to  do  so  ^^.,^^^  ^j^^^  ^^^^^^  ^  ^^^^^j  p^j^^^^^  j^  ^^^  pris- 
places  hmi  m  the  same  position  as  the  inefficient  ^^^^^^  ^^,^^^^j  j^j  ^  straightforward  life  and  did 
prisoner  and  he  is  forced  to  undergo  the  horrors  ^^^^  ^^^^  .^^^^  ^j^^  ^^^p^  ^^^  ^^^  ^j^^^^  ^„,^  ^,,,  prison 
of  the  torture  chambers.  ^^^^^  ^^  j^j^^^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^  ^^^  ,o^^  ,,ord  was 
The  speeding  up  process  is  generally  profitable  ^^^^  ^^  ^,^^  p^,j^.^  department  of  New  York  City 
to  the  prison  officials.  A  bonus  is  paid  on  all  ^^  p^^^  ^^^^  ^,^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^^^  ,,ri„p  i„  whomever 
work  turned  out  over  a  stipulated  amount  to  the  ^j^^^^  ^,^^,,^,  ,-,^^,  j^^-^  ^^^^^^^  ^^.^^  p^,t  j.^to  efTect 
wardens,  the  guards  and  everyone  connected  in  j,„„iediatcly  and  the  result  was  that  men  and 
any  way  with  the  shops  that  manufacture  the  ^^.^^^.n  ^ere  brought  into  court  on  trilling 
>hoes,  clothing  or  whatever  the  prison  has  the  ^.llarges  and  sentenced  by  the  judges,  who  were 
machinery  to  make.  The  contractor  for  the  prison  hirelings  in  the  employ  of  the  contractor  to  the 
labor  is  generally  the  boss  of  the  prison  officials  prisons  for  as  long  a  term  as  the  state  law  al- 
in  an  indirect  way.  He  holds  the  power  in  his  lowed  on  the  charge  made  against  the  prisoner, 
hands  to  have  the  guards  removed  through  politi-  "/^  number  of  years  ago  the  contract  system 
cal  influence.  Even  the  wardens  in  the  peni-  was  abolished  by  the  New  York  legislature.  .'\s 
tentiary  are  under  obligations  to  them  very  often  a  consequence  inside  of  three  years  the  number 
for  the  position  which  they  hold.  This  czar  of  of  prisoners  in  the  state  penitentiaries  decreased 
the  state  penitentiary  visits  the  institution  about  -10  per  cent.  The  graft  was  now  taken  away  from 
once  every  month  to  see  how  things  are  working,  the  politicians  and  the  judges  of  the  courts  and 


204 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


the  enslaving  of  human  beings  behind  peniten- 
tiary walls  ceased,  because  it  was  of  no  interest 
to  the  officials  of  the  law  to  persecute  men  and 
women  any  longer.  In  the  last  fifteen  years  a 
number  of  states  have  abolished  the  contract  sys- 
tem and  the  result  is  that  the  prisoners  in  these 
institutions  are  given  better  treatment  than  was 
ever  known  before.  Where  the  contract  system, 
has  been  abolished  the  inmates  of  the  prison  are 
being  given  a  scholastic  education,  men  of  morals 
are  doing  guard  duty  and  are  studying  up  means 
to  make  the  prisoner  a  model  citizen  on  his  re- 
lease from  the  prison.  The  torture  chambers  have 
been  abolished  and  men  are  taught  to  realize  that 
the  state  prison  is  not  a  place  which  is  used  as 
a  machine  to  grind  their  bodies  into  dollars  for 
some  one  on  the  outside  of  the  prison  walls  to 
squander  in  riotous  living.  The  New  York  state 
penitentiaries  today  are  manufacturing  behind 
their  walls  goods  that  are  used  by  the  state  which 
was  formally  purchased  from  outside  factories  at 
an  enormous  price.  Under  these  conditions  the 
hours  of  employment  in  the  prisons  have  been 
reduced,  the  state  has  been  supplied  with  all  the 
goods  they  use,  and  a  saving  of  several  million 
dollars  a  year  has  been  the  outcome." 

In  closing.  Miss  Taylor  said  that  the  abolish- 
ing of  contract  labor  from  the  state  prisons 
throughout  the  United  States  is  a  work  that  all 
women  can  help  to  do  and  the  sooner  this  was 
accomplished  the  quicker  crime  would  begin  to 
decrease,  as  the  prisoners  of  these  institutions 
would  upon  their  release  become  good  citizens  in 
a  large  number  of  cases,  and  would  not  have  the 
revengeful  feeling  instilled  into  them  which  the 
contract  system  causes. — Bulletin,  Freeport,  111. 

Humanizing  Prison  Management 

The  other  day  a  telegram  came  to  the  warden 
at  the  Colorado  state  penitentiary  at  Canyon  City 
that  the  mother  of  a  "lifer"  dying  up  in  the  moun- 
tains wanted  to  see  her  only  son  before  she  en- 
tered into  eternal  rest.  The  warden  sent  for  No. 
2473  and  said :  "I  am  going  to  try  you  out. 
Your  mother  is  dying.  Here  is  money  for  your 
railroad  fare  both  ways  and  something  else  be- 
sides.   Come  back." 

And  2473  went  a  hundred  miles,  in  the  moun- 
tains, alone,  clasped  his  mother  as  she  died  and 
two  days  after  reported  at  the  door  of  the  "pen." 
Can  you  analyze  that  or  can  you  beat  it  ? 


The  solution  of  the  question  of  the  criminal 
lies  in  the  application  of  the  first  principle  of  hu- 
manity, and  that  is  to  keep  forever  the  door  of 
hope,  to  keep  forever  in  the  eyes  of  the  male- 
factor, however  hardened  apparently  depraved 
"the  light  that  never  was  on  land  or  sea"  to 
make  him  believe  through  kindness  and  charity 
that  he  is  not  forgotten  and  not  wholly  lost. 
Gradually  our  penal  institutions  are  coming  to 
the  recognition  of  this  basic  fact.  And  a  great 
many  of  them  are  applying  it. — New  Era,  Leav- 
enworth, Kansas. 

Prison  Reform  in  Maryland 

A  penal  commission  appointed  some  months 
ago  by  Governor  Goldsborough,  of  Maryland,  to 
outline  a  system  of  prison  reform  for  that  state, 
recently  has  made  its  report. 

In  substance  the  commission  recommends  the 
creation  of  an  advisory  board  of  control,  or  par- 
don board ;  the  establishment  of  the  parole  sys- 
tem and  the  indeterminate  sentence ;  the  abolish- 
ment of  contract  labor ;  the  opening  of  a  penal 
farm ;  the  incarceration  of  women  prisoners  in 
the  house  of  correction  instead  of  in  the  peniten- 
tiary ;  the  revision  of  the  criminal  laws  of  the 
state ;  provision  for  the  proper  care  of  the  crim- 
inal insane  and  the  establishment  of  a  tubercu- 
losis hospital  for  criminals. 

The  commission  recommends  that  the  board  of 
control  be  given  the  power  to  establish  and 
maintain  a  system  of  labor  for  prisoners  to  su- 
persede the  present  system  of  leasing  out  the 
labor ;  that  the  board  shall  have  power  to  place 
prisoners  at  labor  upon  state  works  upon  such 
terms  as  it  may  see  proper ;  that  the  board  shall 
provide  such  form  of  labor  as  will  offer  an  op- 
portunity to  prisoners  to  earn  a  surplus  and  that 
the  board  shall  further  provide  for  the  payment 
of  any  surplus  so  earned  in  restitution  when 
])racticable  or  to  the  prisoner  himself  or  such  per- 
son or  persons  as  he  may  direct. 

There  is  no  specific  provision  for  working  con- 
victs on  the  public  roads,  though  it  would  be  pos- 
sible so  to  employ  them  should  the  board  of  con- 
trol see  proper,  as  that  body  is  given  rather  wide 
latitude  in  the  matter  of  handling  the  prison 
labor.  Only  one  thing  seems  to  be  forbidden 
absolutely  and  that  is  the  continuation  of  the  con- 
tract labor  system.  The  agitation  against  con- 
tract labor  was  responsible  for  the  creation  of  the 


April   1.  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


205 


penal  commission.  Public  opinion  everywhere  is 
solidifying  against  the  leasing  out  of  convicts — 
Courier-Journal,  Louisville,  Ky. 

®    @    ^ 

HABEAS  CORPUS 


\N  ACT  to  revise  the  law  in  relation  to  habeas 
corpus.  [Approved  March  2,  1874.  In  force 
July  1.  1874.] 

1.  Who  May  Prosecute.]  Be  it  enacted  by 
the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois  represented  in 
the  General  Assembly,  That  every  person  im- 
prisoned or  otherwise  restrained  of  his  liberty, 
except  as  herein  otherwise  provided,  may 
prosecute  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus  in  the  manner 
provided  in  thi.s  act,  to  obtain  relief  from  such 
imprisonment  or  restraint,  if  it  prove  to  be  un- 
lawful. 

2.  Application  by  Petition.]  Application 
for  the  writ  shall  be  made  to  the  court  or 
judge  authorized  to  issue  the  same,  by  peti- 
tion signed  by  the  person  for  whose  relief  it 
is  intended,  or  by  some  person  in  his  behalf, 
and  verified  by  affidavit. 

3.  Form  of  Petition.]  The  petition  shall 
state  in  substance: 

(1.)  That  the  person  in  whose  behalf  the 
writ  is  applied  for  is  imprisoned  or  restrained 
of  his  liberty,  and  the  place  where — naming  all 
the  parties  if  they  are  known,  or  describing 
them  if  they  are  not  known. 

(2.)  The  cause  or  pretense  of  the  restraint, 
according  to  the  best  knowledge  and  belief 
of  the  applicant,  and  that  such  person  is  not 
committed  or  detained  by  virtue  of  any  proc- 
ess, judgment,  decree  or  execution  specified  in 
the  21st  section  of  this  act. 

(3.)  If  the  commitment  or  restraint  is  by 
virtue  of  any  warrant  or  writ  or  process,  a 
copy  thereof  shall  be  annexed,  or  it  shall  be 
averred  that  by  reason  of  such  prisoner  being 
removed  or  concealed  before  application,  a  de- 
mand for  such  copy  could  not  be  made,  or 
that  such  demand  was  made,  and  the  legal 
fees  therefor  tendered  to  the  officer  or  person 
having  such  prisoner  in  his  custody,  and  that 
such  copy  was  refused. 

4.  Copy  of  Mittimus.]  Any  sheriff  or 
other  officer  or  person  having  cust(^dy  of  any 
prisoner  committed  on  any  civil  or  criminal 
process  of  any  court  or  magistrate,  who  shall 


neglect  to  give  such  prisoner  a  copy  of  the 
process  or  order  ni  commitment  by  which 
he  is  imprisoned  within  six  hours  after  demand 
made  by  the  prisoner,  or  any  one  on  his  behalf, 
shall  forfeit  to  the  prisoner  or  party  aggrieved 
not  exceeding  $.=^00. 

5.  Award  of  Writ— Penalty.]  Unless  it 
shall  appear  from  the  petition  itself,  or  from 
the  documents  thereto  annexed,  that  the  party 
can  neither  be  discharged,  admitted  to  bail  nor 
otherwise  relieved,  the  court  or  judge  shall 
forthwith  award  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus.  Any 
judge  empowered  to  issue  writs  of  habeas 
corpus  who  shall  corrui)tly  refuse  to  issue  any 
such  writ,  when  legally  applied  for  in  a  case 
where  it  may  lawfully  issue,  or  who  shall  for 
the  purpose  of  oppression  unreasonably  delay 
the  issuing  of  such  writ,  shall,  for  every  such 
offen.se,  forfeit  to  the  prisoner  or  party 
aggrieved  a  sum  not  exceeding  $1,000. 

6.  Writ — Form  of.]  If  a  writ  is  allowed 
by  a  court  it  shall  be  issued  by  the  clerk  under 
the  seal  of  the  court ;  if  by  a  judge,  it  shall  be 
under  his  hand,  and  shall  be  directed  to  the 
j)erson  in  whose  custody  or  under  whose  re- 
straint the  prisoner  is,  and  may  be  substan- 
tially in  the  following  form,  to-wit : 

The  People  of  the  State  of  Illiunis.  to  the  Sheriff 

of county  (or,  'to  A  B,'  as  the  case 

may  be): 

You  are  hereby  commanded  to  have  the 
body  of  C  D,  by  you  imprisoned  and  detained 
as  it  is  said,  together  with  the  time  and  cause 
of  such  imprisonment  and  detention  by  what- 
soever   name    said    C  D    shall    be    called    or 

charged,    before    court    of    

county  (or  before  E  F,  judge  of.  etc.).  at,  etc.. 
immediately  after  being  served  with  this  writ, 
to  be  dealt  with  according  to  law ;  and  have 
you  then  and  there  this  writ,  with  a  return 
thereon  of  your  doings  in  the  premises. 

7.  Indorsement.]  To  the  intent  that  no 
officer  or  person  to  whom  such  writ  is  directed 
may  pretend  ignorance  thereof,  every  such 
writ  shall  be  endorsed  with  these  words:  "By 
the  habeas  corpus  act." 

8.  Subpcna — Service.]  \\  hen  the  party 
has  been  committed  upon  a  criminal  charge, 
unless  the  court  or  judge  shall  deem  it  un- 
necessary, a  subpena  shall  also  be  issued  to 
summon  the  witnesses  whose  names  have  been 
indorsed  upon  the  warrant  of  commitment,  to 
appear  before  such  court  or  judge  at  the  time 


206 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


and  place  when  and  where  such  habeas  corpus 
is  returnable,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
sheriff,  or  other  officer  to  whom  the  subpena 
is  issued,  to  serve  the  same,  if  it  be  possible, 
in  time  to  enable  such  witnesses  to  attend. 

9.  Who  May  Serve  Habeas  Corpus.]  The 
habeas  corpus  may  be  served  by  the  sheriff, 
coroner  or  any  constable  or  other  person  ap- 
l^ointed  for  that  purpose  by  the  court  or  judge 
by  whom  it  is  issued  or  allowed ;  if  served  by 
a  person  not  an  officer,  he  shall  have  the  same 
power,  and  be  liable  to  the  same  penalty  for 
non-performance  of  his  duty,  as  though  he 
were  sheriff. 

10.  Manner  of  Service.]  Service  shall  be 
made  by  leaving  a  copy  of  the  original  writ 
with  the  person  to  whom  it  is  directed,  or  with 
any  of  his  under  officers  who  may  be  at  the 
place  where  the  prisoner  is  detained  ;  or  if  he 
cannot  be  found,  or  has  not  the  person  im- 
prisoned or  restrained  in  custody,  the  service 
may  be  made  upon  any  person  Avho  has  him 
in  custody  with  the  same  effect  as  though  he 
had  been  made  a  defendant  therein. 

11.  Expense  of  Bringing,  Etc.,  Prisoner.] 
When  the  person  confined  or  restrained  is  in 
the  custody  of  a  civil  officer,  the  court  or  judge 
granting  the  writ  shall  certify  thereon  the  sum 
to  be  paid  for  the  expense  of  bringing  him 
from  the  place  of  imprisonment,  not  exceedin'^ 
ten  cents  per  mile,  and  the  officer  shall  not  be 
bound  to  obey  it  unless  the  sum  so  certiliefl 
is  paid  or  tendered  to  him,  and  security  is 
given  to  pay  the  charges  of  carrying  him  back 
if  he  should  be  remanded ;  Provided,  that  if 
such  court  or  judge  shall  be  satisfied  that  the 
person  so  confined  or  restrained  is  a  poor  per- 
son and  unable  to  pay  such  expense,  then 
such  court  or  judge  shall  so  certify  on  such 
writ,  and  in  such  case  no  tender  or  payment 
of  expenses  need  be  made  or  security  given 
as  aforesaid,  but  the  officer  shall  be  bound  to 
obey  such  writ. 

12.  Form  of  Return.]  The  officer  or  per- 
son upon  whom  such  writ  is  served  shall  state 
in  his  return,  plainly  and  unequivocally: 

(1.)  Whether  he  has  or  has  not  the  party 
in  his  custody  or  control,  or  under  his  re- 
straint, and  if  he  has  not,  whether  he  has  had 
the  party  in  his  custody  or  control,  or  under 
his  restraint,  at  any  and  what  time  prior  or 
sul)sequent  to  the  date  of  the  writ. 


(2.)  If  he  has  the  party  in  his  custody  or 
control,  or  under  his  restraint,  the  authority 
and  true  cause  of  such  imprisonment  or  re- 
straint, setting  forth  the  same  at  large. 

(3.)  If  the  party  is  detained  by  virtue  of 
any  writ,  warrant  or  other  written  authority, 
a  copy  thereof  shall  be  annexed  to  the  return, 
and  the  original  shall  be  produced  and  ex- 
hi])ited  on  the  return  of  the  writ  to  the  court 
or  judge  before  whom  the  same  is  returnable. 

(4.)  If  the  person  upon  whom  the  writ  is 
served  has  had  the  party  in  his  custody  or 
control,  or  under  his  restraint,  at  any  time 
l^rior  or  subsequent  to  the  date  of  the  writ, 
but  has  transferred  such  custody  or  restraint 
to  another,  the  return  shall  state  particularly 
to  whom,  at  what  time,  for  what  cause  and  by 
what  authority  such  transfer  took  place.  The 
return  shall  be  signed  by  the  person  making 
the  same,  and  except  where  such  person  is 
a  sworn  public  officer  and  makes  the  return  in 
his  official  capacity,  it  shall  be  verified  by  oath. 

13.  The  Body  Must  Also  Be  Brought— Ex- 
ception.] The  officer  or  person  making  the 
return,  shall,  at  the  same  time,  bring  the  body 
of  the  party,  if  in  his  custody  or  power  or  un- 
der his  restraint,  according  to  the  command 
of  the  writ,  unless  prevented  by  the  sickness 
or  infirmity  of  the  party. 

14.  Examination  in  Case  of  Sickness,  Etc.] 
\\nien,  from  the  sickness  or  infirmity  of  the 
party,  he  cannot  without  danger,  be  brought 
to  the  place  appointed  for  the  return  of  the 
writ,  that  fact  shall  be  stated  in  the  return, 
and  if  it  is  proved  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
judge,  he  may  proceed  to  the  jail  or  other 
place  where  the  party  is  confined,  and  there 
make  his  examination,  or  he  may  adjourn  the 
same  to  such  other  time,  or  make  such  other 
order  in  the  case  as  law  and  justice  require. 

15.  Neglect,  Etc.,  to  Obey  Writ — Proceed- 
ing— Penalty.]  If  the  officer  or  person  upon 
whom  such  writ  is  served  refuses  or  neglects 
to  obey  the  same,  by  producing  the  party 
named  in  the  writ,  and  making  a  full  and  ex- 
plicit return  thereto  within  the  time  required 
by  this  act,  and  no  sufficient  excuse  is  shown 
for  such  refusal  or  neglect,  the  court  or  judge 
before  whom  the  writ  is  returnable,  upon  proof 
of  the  service  thereof,  shall  enforce  obedience 
by  attachment  as  for  contempt,  and  the  officer 
or  person  so  refusing  or  neglecting  shall  for- 


April   1.   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


20; 


feit  to  the  party  aforesaid  a  sum  not  exceed- 
ing $500,  and  be  incapable  of  holdinj^  office. 

16.  Other  Writ  in  Case  of  Neglect,  Etc.] 
The  court  or  judge  may  also,  at  the  same  time 
or  afterwards,  issue  a  writ  to  the  sheriff  or 
other  person  to  whom  such  attachment  is  di- 
rected, commanding  him  to  bring  forthwitli 
before  the  court  or  judge  the  party  for  whose 
benefit  the  writ  was  allowed,  who  shall  there- 
after remain  in  the  custody  of  such  sheriff, 
or  other  person,  until  he  is  discharged,  bailed 
or  remanded,  as  the  court  or  judge  shall  direct. 

17.  Proceeding  in  Cases  of  Emergency.] 
Whenever  it  shall  appear  by  the  complaint, 
or  by  affidavit,  that  any  one  is  illegally  held 
in  custody  or  restraint,  and  that  there  is  good 
reason  to  believe  that  such  person  will  be 
taken  out  of  the  jurisdiction  of  the  court  or 
judge  before  whom  the  api)lication  for  a  habeas 
corpus  is  made,  or  will  suffer  some  irreparable 
injury  before  compliance  with  the  writ  can  be 
enforced,  such  court  or  judge  may  cause  the 
writ  to  be  directed  to  the  sheriff'  or  other 
proper  officer,  commanding  him  to  take  the 
prisoner  thus  held  in  custody  or  restraint,  and 
forthwith  bring  him  before  the  court  or  judge 
to  be  dealt  with  according  to  law.  The  court 
or  judge  may  also,  if  the  same  is  deemed 
necessary,  insert  in  the  writ  a  command  for 
the  apprehension  of  the  person  charged  with 
causing  the  illegal  restraint.  The  officer  shall 
execute  the  writ  by  bringing  the  person  there- 
in named  before  the  court  or  judge,  and  the 
like  return  and  proceedings  shall  be  required 
and  had  as  in  other  writs  of  habeas  corpus. 

18.  Examination.]  Upon  the  return  of  a 
writ  of  habeas  corpus,  the  court  or  judge  shall, 
without  delay,  proceed  to  examine  the  cause 
of  the  imprisonment  or  restraint,  but  the  ex- 
amination may  be  adjourned  from  time  to  time 
as  circumstances  require. 

19.  Denial — Summary  Examination.]  The 
party  imprisoned  or  restrained  may  deny  any 
of  the  material  facts  set  forth  in  the  return, 
and  may  allege  any  other  facts  that  may  be 
material  in  the  case,  which  denial  or  allega- 
tion shall  be  on  oath ;  and  the  court  or  judge 
shall  proceed  in  a  summary  way  to  examine 
the  cause  of  the  imprisonment  or  restraint, 
hear  the  evidence  produced  by  any  person  in- 
terested or  authorized  to  appear,  both  in  sup- 
port  of   such    imprisonment   or   restraint    and 


against  it.  and  thereupon  shall  dispose  of  tin- 
party  as  the  case  may  re(|uire. 

20.  Amendments.]  The  return,  as  well  as 
any  denial,  or  allegation,  may  be  amended  at 
any  time  by  leave  of  the  court  «>r  judge. 

21.  When    Prisoner    Shall     Not    Be    Dis- 
charged.]     Xo  person  shall  be  discharged  un 
(icr  the  {provisions  of  this  act.  if  he  is  in  cus- 
tody either — 

(1.)  By  virtue  of  process  by  any  court  or 
judge  of  the  United  States,  in  a  case  where 
such  court  or  judge  has  exclusive  juris- 
diction ;  or, 

(2.)  By  virtue  of  a  final  judgment  or  de- 
cree of  any  competent  court  of  civil  or  crim- 
inal jurisdiction,  or  of  any  execution  issued 
upon  such  judgment  or  decree,  unless  the  time 
during  which  such  party  may  be  legally  de- 
tained has  expired  ;  or, 

(3.)  For  any  treason,  felony  or  other  crime 
committed  in  any  other  state  or  territory  of 
the  United  States,  for  which  such  per.son 
ought,  by  the  constitution  and  laws  of  the 
I'nited  States,  to  be  delivered  up  to  the  execu- 
tive power  of  such  state  or  tcrritt^ry. 

22.  Causes  for  Discharge  When  in  Custody 
on  Process  of  Court.]  If  it  appear  that  the 
prisoner  is  in  custody  by  virtue  «>f  process  from 
any  court  legally  constituted,  he  can  be  dis- 
charged only  for  some  of  the  following  causes: 

(1.)  Where  the  court  has  exceeded  the 
limit  of  its  jurisdiction,  either  as  to  the  mat- 
ter, place,  sum  or  person. 

(2.)  Where,  though  the  original  imprison- 
ment was  lawful,  yet.  by  some  act,  omission 
or  event  which  has  subsequently  taken  place, 
the  party  has  become  entitled  to  his  discharge. 

(3.)  Where  the  process  is  defective  in 
some  substantial  form  recjuired  by  law. 

(4.)  Where  the  process,  thou^;h  in  proper 
form,  has  been  issued  in  a  case  or  under  cir- 
cumstances where  the  law  d(»es  not  allow  proc- 
ess or  orders   for   imprist»nment  or  arrest   to 

issue. 

(5.)  Where,  although  in  proper  form,  the 
process  has  been  issued  or  executed  by  a  per- 
son either  unauthorized  to  issue  or  execute  the 
same,  or  where  the  i)erson  having  the  custody 
of  the  prisoner  under  such  process  is  not  the 
person  empowered  by  law  to  detain  him. 

(6.)  W  here  the  process  appears  to  have 
been  obtained  by  fal.se  pretense  or  bribery. 


208 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


(7.)  Where  there  is  no  general  law,  nor 
any  judgment,  order  or  decree  of  a  court  to 
authorize  the  process  if  in  a  civil  suit,  nor  any 
conviction  if  in  a  criminal  proceeding.  No 
court  or  judge,  on  the  return  of  a  habeas  corpus 
shall,  in  any  other  matter,  inquire  into  the 
legality  or  justice  of  a  judgment  or  decree 
of  a  court  legally  constituted. 

23.  New  Commitment  —  Recognizance  — 
Witnesses.]  In  all  cases  where  the  imprison- 
ment is  for  a  criminal,  or  supposed  criminal 
matter,  if  it  appears  to  the  court  or  judge  that 
there  is  sufficient  legal  cause  for  the  commit- 
ment of  the  prisoner,  although  such  commit- 
ment may  have  been  informally  made,  or  with- 
out due  authority,  or  the  process  may  have 
been  executed  by  a  person  not  duly  author- 
ized, the  court  or  judge  shall  make  a  new 
commitment  in  proper  form,  and  direct  it  to 
the  proper  officer,  or  admit  the  party  to  bail 
if  the  case  is  bailable.  The  court  or  judge 
shall  also,  when  necessary,  take  the  recog- 
nizance of  all  material  witnesses  against  the 
prisoner,  as  in  other  cases.  The  recogniz- 
ances shall  be  in  the  form  provided  by  law,  and 
returned  as  other  recognizances.  If  any  judge 
shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  bind  any  such  pris- 
oner or  witness  by  recognizance,  or  to  return 
a  recognizance  when  taken  as  aforesaid,  he 
shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor  in 
office,  and  be  proceeded  against  accordingly. 

24.  Order  of  Remand.]  When  any  pris- 
oner brought  up  on  a  habeas  corpus  shall  be  re- 
manded to  prison,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
court  or  judge  remanding  him  to  make  out 
and  deliver  to  the  sheriff,  or  other  person  to 
whose  custody  he  shall  be  remanded,  an  order 
in  writing,  stating  the  cause  of  remanding  him. 
If  such  prisoner  shall  obtain  a  second  writ  of 
habeas  corpus,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  such 
sheriff,  or  other  person  to  whom  the  same 
shall  be  directed,  to  return  therewith  the  order 
aforesaid ;  and  if  it  shall  appear  that  the  said 
prisoner  was  remanded  for  an  offense  adjudged 
not  bailable,  it  shall  be  taken  and  received  as 
conclusive,  and  the  prisoner  shall  be  remanded 
without  further  proceedings. 

25.  Second  Writ  —  Bail  —  Remand.]  It 
shall  not  be  lawful  for  any  court  or  judge,  on 
a  second  writ  of  habeas  corpus  obtained  by 
such  prisoner,  to  discharge  the  said  prisoner, 
if  he  is  clearly  and  specifically  charged  in  the 


warrant  of  commitment  with  a  criminal  of- 
fense; but  the  said  court  or  judge  shall,  on  the 
return  of  such  second  writ,  have  power  only 
to  admit  such  prisoner  to  bail  where  the  of- 
fense is  bailable  by  law,  or  remand  him  to 
prison  where  the  offense  is  not  bailable,  or  be- 
ing bailable,  where  such  prisoner  shall  fail  to 
give  the  bail  required. 

26.  Person  Discharged  Not  Again  Impris- 
oned for  Same  Cause.]  No  person  who  has 
been  discharged  by  order  of  the  court  or  judge, 
on  a  habeas  corpus,  shall  be  again  imprisoned, 
restrained  or  kept  in  custody  for  the  same 
cause,  unless  he  be  afterwards  indicted  for  the 
same  offense,  nor  unless  by  the  legal  order 
or  process  of  the  court  wherein  he  is  bound 
by  recognizances  to  appear.  The  following 
shall  not  be  deemed  to  be  the  same  cause: 

(1.)  If,  after  a  discharge,  for  a  defect  of 
proof,  or  any  material  defect  in  the  commit- 
ment, in  a  criminal  case,  the  prisoner  should 
be  again  arrested  on  sufficient  proof,  and  com- 
mitted by  legal  process  for  the  same  offense. 

(2.)  If,  in  a  civil  suit,  the  party  has  been 
discharged  for  any  illegality  in  the  judg- 
ment or  process,  and  is  afterwards  imprisoned 
by  legal  process  for  the  same  cause  of  action. 

(3.)  Generally,  whenever  the  discharge  has 
been  ordered  on  account  of  the  non-observ- 
ance of  any  of  the  forms  required  by  law,  the 
party  may  be  a  second  time  imprisoned  if  the 
cause  be  legal  and  the  forms  required  by  law 
observed. 

27.  Penalty  for  Re-Arresting  Person  Dis- 
charged.] Any  person  who,  knowing  that  an- 
other has  been  discharged  by  order  of  a  com- 
petent judge  or  tribunal  on  a  habeas  corpus, 
shall,  contrary  to  the  provisions  of  this  act, 
arrest  or  detain  him  again  for  the  same  cause 
which  was  shown  on  the  return  of  such  writ, 
shall  forfeit  $500  for  the  first  offense,  and 
$1,000  for  every  subsequent  offense. 

28.  When  Not  Removed  From  County.] 
To  prevent  any  person  from  avoiding  or  delay- 
ing his  trial,  it  shall  not  be  lawful  to  remove 
any  prisoner  on  habeas  corpus  under  this  act 
out  of  the  county  in  which  he  is  confined, 
within  fifteen  days  next  preceding  the  term  of 
the  court  at  which  such  person  ought  to  be 
tried,  except  it  be  to  convey  him  into  the 
county  where  the  offense  with  which  he  stands 
charged  is  properly  cognizable. 


April  1.  1914  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  209 

29.  Custody  Not  to  be  Changed,  Etc.]  authority  to  issue  writs  of  habeas  corpus,  may 
Any  person  being  committed  to  any  prison,  or  issue  the  same  when  necessary  to  bring-  before 
in  the  custody  of  any  sheriff  or  other  officer  or  them  any  prisoner  to  testify,  or  to  be  sur- 
person  for  any  criminal  or  supposed  criminal  rendered  in  discharge  of  bail,  or  for  trial  upon 
matter,  shall  not  be  removed  therefrom  into  any  criminal  charge  lawfully  pending  in  the 
any  other  prison  or  custody,  unless  it  be  by  same  court;  and  the  writ  may  run  into  any 
habeas  corpus  or  some  other  legal  writ,  or  when  county  in  the  state,  and  there  be  executed  and 
it  is  expressly  allowed  by  law.  If  any  person  returned  by  any  officer  t"  whom  it  i<  dirt-rted. 
shall  remove,  or  cause  to  be  removed  any  pris-  35.  Prisoner  Remanded  or  Punished.] 
oner  so  committed,  except  as  above  provided,  After  any  such  prisoner  shall  have  given  his 
he  shall  forfeit,  to  the  party  aggrieved,  a  sum  testimony,  or  been  surrendered,  or  his  bail  dis- 
not  exceeding  $300.  charged,  or  he  has  been  tried   for  the  crime 

30.  Avoiding  Writ  —  Penalty  For.]  Any  with  which  he  is  charged,  he  shall  be  returned 
one  having  a  person  in  his  custody,  or  under  to  the  jail  or  other  place  of  confinement 
his  restraint,  power  or  control,  for  whose  re-  whence  he  was  taken  for  the  purpose  afore- 
lief  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus  is  issued,  who,  with  said :  Provided,  if  such  prisoner  is  convicted  of 
intent  to  avoid  the  effect  of  such  writ,  shall  a  crime  punishable  with  death  or  imprison- 
transfer  such  person  to  the  custody  or  place  ment  in  the  penitentiary,  he  may  be  punished 
him  under  the  control  of  another,  or  shall  con-  accordingly;  but  in  any  case  where  the  pris- 
ceal  him,  or  change  the  place  of  his  confine-  oner  shall  have  been  taken  from  the  peniten- 
ment,  with  intent  to  avoid  the  operation  of  tiary,  and  his  punishment  is  by  imprisonment, 
such  a  writ,  or  with  intent  to  remove  him  out  the  time  of  such  imprisonment  shall  not  com- 
of  the  state,  shall  forfeit  for  every  such  offense  mence  to  run  until  the  expiration  of  his  time 
$1,000,  and  may  be  imprisoned  not  less  than  of  service  under  any  former  sentence. 

one  year  nor  more  than  five  years.     In  any         36.     Prisoner     for     Contempt     How     Dis- 

prosecution  for  the  penalty  incurred  under  this  charged.]     Any    person    imprisoned    for    any 

section,  it  shall  not  be  neces.sary  to  show  that  contempt  of  court  for  the  non-performance  of 

the   writ  of  habeas  corpus  had  issued   at  the  any  order  or  decree  for  the  payment  of  money, 

time  of  the  removal,  transfer  or  concealment  shall  be  entitled   to  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus, 

therein  mentioned,  if  it  be  proven  that  the  acts  ^nd  if  it  shall  appear,  on  full  examination  of 

therein   forbidden  were  done  with   the  intent  gy^h  person  and  such  witnesses,  and  other  evi- 

to  avoid  the  operation  of  such  writ.  dence  as  may  be  adduced,  that  he  is  unable 

31.  Penalties,  How  Recovered.]  All  the  ^^  comply  with  such  order  or  decree,  or  to 
pecuniary  forfeitures  incurred  under  this  act  endure  the  confinement,  and  that  all  persons 
shall  inure  to  the  use  of  the  party  for  whose  interested  in  the  order  or  decree  have  had  rca- 
benefit  the  writ  of  habeas  corpjis  issued,  and  sonable  notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  trial, 
shall  be  sued  for  and  recovered  with  costs,  by  ^^e  court  or  judge  may  discharge  him  from 
the  attorney-general  or  state's  attorney,  in  the  imprisonment,  but  no  such  discharge  shall 
name  of  the  state,  by  information ;  and  the  operate  to  release  the  lien  of  such  order  or 
amount,  when  recovered,  shall,  without  any  decree,  but  the  same  may  be  enforced  against 
deduction,  be  paid  to  the  party  entitled  the  property  of  such  person  by  execution, 
thereto.  ^    ^    9t 

32.  Pleading  —  Evidence.!     In    any   action  ^     ,,       , 

^    ^,  .  ,        ^     .  .  Couldst  thou  m  vision  see 

or  suit  lor  any  oftense  against  the  provisions  ^,       ,,   ,  r-    i  * 

,    ,  .  ,       ,   r      ,  ,  ,  Thyself  the  man  God  meant, 

of  this  act,  the  defendant  may  plead  the  gen-  ^.  i  i  ..  u 

,    .  .       .  ,  -^    .  ,  _  '^   .  Thou  nevermore  wouldst  be 

eral    issue,    and    give    the    special    matter    in  ^,  ,  _  .     ^ 

.  ,  ^  ^  The  man  thou  art — content, 

evidence. 


—Wilcox,  in  The  New  /('ay. 
«     «     « 


33.  No  Bar  to  Civil  Damages.]  The  re- 
covery of  the  said  penalties  shall  be  no  bar  to 
a  civil  suit  for  damages.  The  only  punishments  that  can  improve  men 

34.  Habeas  Corpus  to  Testify— Be  Surren-  are  punishments  of  conscience  from  within  and 
dered  or  Tried.]     The  several  courts  having  of  love  from  without. — Julian  Hawthorne. 


210 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


$200.00  REWARD 


ESCAPED  PRISONER 

JEFF.  SHARUM,  No.  3009,  Alias  Richard  Benton,  Jeff.  Davis,  ^little  Jeff'^ 

Received  June  12th,  1913,  United  States  Court,  Chicago,  IlUnois. 
Forging  U.  S.  Post  Office  Money  Order;  Sj^  years. 
Age,   5^.     Height,  5   ft.    5^.     Hair,    gray   mixed.     Eyes  green 
slate.     Weight,   119. 

Scars:  Dim  scar  2c  long  outer  thumb  3c  below  wrist.     Small  scar 
front  forearm  at  wrist.     Right   knee    cap  broken,    walks  lame. 
Berlillon:  19.7;  15.2;  1.5;  26.0;  45.1;  167.3;  8.4. 
Escaped  from  Illinois  State  Penitentiary,  August  2  7th,  1913. 

Arrest  and    telegraph    EDMUND  M.  ALLEN,    Warden,   Joliet,    Illinois 


April  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


211 


THE 

BOSTON 

STORE 

Joliet's  Biggest,  Busi- 
est and  Best  Store. 
The  Store  that  knows 
what  you  want — 
and  has  it. 


We   stand   between   you    and 
HIGH      PRICES 


BUCKNER  6  O'BANNON 

929  West  Main  Street,  Louisville,  Ky. 


Independent 
Dealers  in 


LEAF  TOBACCO 


We  buy  our  leaf  tobacco  directly  from  the 
farmers  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  and 
make  a  specialty  of  supplying  manufac- 
turers and  state  institutions. 


Enterprise  Plumbing 
Supply  Co. 

Plumbing  Supplies 
to  the  Trade  Only 


Randolph  1520 


Auto.  47-313 


26-28  W.  Kinzie  Street 


Chicago 


When  opportunity  presents  itself, 
SPEAK  A  GOOD  WORD  FOR 

TheP.E.HOLMSTROM 
COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  GROCERS 
JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


W.   Freeman   &   Co 


Wholesale  Potatoes  and  Fruits 


Car  Lois  a  Specialty 


Chicago  'Phone  618  N.  W.  Thone  859 


105  S.  JOLIET  STREET 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


Bush  &  Handwerk 

Wholesale  and  Retail 

HARDWARE  DEALERS 


Speciallies 

Factory  and   Quarry  Supplies 

Stoves  and  Ranges 

Plumbing     and     Gas    Fitting 

Steam  and  Furnace  Work 


115-117  JEFFERSON  STREET 
JOLLIET,  ILLINOIS 


212 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Wadsworth-HoAvland 
Company 


Paint  and  Color  Makers 


Carpenter  and  Fulton  Streets 

Chicago 


The  Weber  Dairy 

OF  JOLIET 

Established  in  '84,  then  used  the  milk  of 
two  cows,  now  we  use  the  milk  of  400  cows 

DAILY  PURE  MILK  OUR  TRADE  MARK 

AL.  J.  WEBER,  Proprietor 

503  W.  Jefferson  St.,  Joliet,  Illinois 


Wilder  &  Company 

CUT  SOLE  LEATHER 
UPPER    LEATHER 

Art  and  Novelty 
Leathers 

DEPENDABLE    QUALITY 
226-228  W.  Lake  Street  CHICAGO 

Branches:  Boston — Cincinnati — Milwaukee — St.  Louis 


WARLEY'S 

Boiler  Cleansing  Chemicals 
Lubricating  Oils  and  Greases 

are  used  by  those  who  want  abso- 
lutely the  best,  and  are  willing  to 
pay  a  fair  price. 

THOS.  C.  "WARLEY  CS,  CO. 

202  S.  Clark  Street,  CHICAGO 

Sim  J.  Steoenson,  Manager 


Only  TEXACO 
Lubricants  Are  Used 

On  the  Panama  Canal 

Quality   Alone   Made    This    Possible 

THE  TEXAS  COMPANY 


HOUSTON 
CHICAGO 
ATLANTA 
PUEBLO 


BOSTON 
ST.  LOUIS 
NEW  ORLEANS 
TULSA 


PHILADELPHIA 
NORFOLK 
DALLAS 
JOLIET 


April  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


I 


213 


DEALERS 

EVERY\VHERE 

SELL  andRECO^LMEND 

^Jil!ll!HillllfilSMllllllllllllu^ 


DEPENDDN 


...:^ip^,.. 


HOSIERY 

and 

UNDERWEAR 

For  Every  Member 
of  Every  Family 


Joliet  Oil  Refining  Co. 

REFINERS  OF  PETROLEUM 

High  Grade  Illuminating  and  Lubri- 
cating Oil,  Purity  Automobile  Oil 
All  Kinds  of  Grease  Linseed  Oil  Soap 

Located  on  Mills  Ro&d  ij;",,]!  JOLIET,  ILL 


F.  C.  HOLMES  CSb  CO. 

(INCORPORATED) 

WHOLESALE  DEALERS  IN 

Fresh,  Frozen  and  Smoked 
Fish  —  Oysters  in  Season 


Telephones 
Monroe  180 
Automatic  30-108 


735  West  Randolph  Street 
CHICAGO 


LYONS  BROTHERS 

LUMBER  and  FUEL  COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  and  RETAIL 

LUMBER  and  COAL 


Both  Tdcphona  No.  1 7 


Washington  Street 
and  York  Avenue 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


ROBERT  T.  KELLY,  Pres.  P.  F.  McMANDS,  Vice-Pre». 

CHAS.  G.  PEARCE,  Cashier      WM .  REDMOND,  Ast't  Cash'r 


trtc  f  oliet  i^ational 
Panfe 

3%  on  Savings  3% 
JOLIET  ILLINOIS 


The  Powell  Myers 
Lumber  Company 

South  Bend,   Ind. 

Anything  and  Every- 
thing in  Hardwoods 
Cut  to  Your  Order 


OUR  SPECIALTIES 

Oak,   Ash,   Hickory  and  Poplar  Dimension 

Red  and  White  Oak  Car  Stock 

White  Oak  Timbers.  White  Oak  Bridge  Plank 

Wagon  and  Implement  Stock 

Chair  Posts  and   Rockers   Cut  to    Pattern 

Oak  Bending  Plank 

SEND  US  YOUR  INQUIRIES 


214 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


ORGANIZED  1875 


The  Thomas  Lyons 
Company 

BROOM  CORN  DEALERS 
AND  SUPPLY  HOUSE 

FOR  ALL  KINDS  OF 

Broom  Manufacturers' 
Supplies 


ARCOLA 


ILLINOIS 


Bray's  Drug  Store 

The  HOME  of  BRAY'S  COUGH 

MIXTURE.    A  Remedy  that 

cures  where  others  fail. 


25  Cents  —  Per  Bottle  — 50  Cents 
104  Jefferson  Street,  Joliet,  Illinois 


THE  J.  C.  ADLER  CO. 

JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 
If  you  want  the  best  in 

HAMS,  BACON,  LARD 

Sugar  Cure        q^.    SAUSAGE     Hickory  Smoke 

order  ours — we  make  them 

MARCO  GROCERS 


White  Bear  Brand  Steel  Cut 
Coffee 

Superior  in  the  cup — Popular  in  prices 

Durkasco  and  White  Bear  Brand 
Pure  Fruit  Preserves 

Durand  &  Kasper  Co. 

H^holesale  Grocers  and  Manufacturers 

Importers  and  Roasters  of  Coffee 

CHICAGO  ILLINOIS 


WERDEN  BUCK 

BUILDING 
MATERIAL 

511  and  513  WEBSTER  ST. 


BOTH  PHONES  215 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


Prison  Supply 
Company 

JOHN  W.  GIBBONS,  Agent 

Wooltni  anb 
bailors' 


For    Officers,     Inmates 
and  Discharge  Clothing 

Tools  of  Every  Description 

34  S.  Fifth  Ave.,  CHICAGO,  ILL 


April   1,   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


215 


Save  Moneys 

DO  IT  NOW! 


Start  an  account  with  us  and  find  out  how 
much  money  you  will  save  on 

Mechanic's  Tools 
Mill  Supplies  and 
General  Hardware 


Poehner  Sk  Dillman 

417-419-421-423    CASS    STREET 

JOLIET,  ILLINOIS 

Chicago  Phone  1109  Northwestern  Phone  625 


We  have  2  Autos  and  3  Teams,  insuring 

PROMPT  SERVICE 


B 


OILER  COMPOUNDS! 
LUBRICATING  OILS! 
GREASES! 


Oldest  and  Largest  INDEPENDENT 
OIL    COMPANY    in    the    West 


On  competitive  tests  every- 
where our  "Famous  Vege- 
table Boiler  Compound" 
ALWAYS  wins  out  against 
allcomers.      ::      ::      ::      :: 


Northrop  Lubricating 
Oil  Company" 

308  N.  Commercial  Ave.      St.  Louis,  Mo. 


To  obtain  the  best  results  in  the  safest 
manner,     in     using     High  -  Explosive 


USE 

DYNALITE 

Patented.      Trade  Mark  Reg. 

The  World's   Greatest   High-Explosive 
A    Nitrated    Hydro-Carbon    Explosive 


Used  by  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary' 
at  Joliet,  Illinois,  for  several  years. 

Adopted  by  The  Ohio  National  Guard, 
Battalion  of  Engineers. 

Used  by  the  Ohio  State  Penitentiary, 
the  Dayton  State  Hospital  and  similar  in- 
stitutions wanting  and  knowing  the  Best. 


Manufactured  by 

The  American  Dynalite  Co. 

Amherst,  Ohio  U.  S.  A. 


I.  B.  Williams 
(:&Son 

1 
1 

Oak  Tanned  Leather 
Belting 

Round  Leather 
Belting 

Cut    and    Side    Lace 
Leather 

14  N.  FRANKLIN  STREET 

TELEPHONE  MAIN   ItM 

CHICAGO 

1 

AGENTS  IN   ALL   PRINCIPAL   CITIES 

_, 

216 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


•••••••«•••••• 


m^^^f^f^^i^f^^Cfmim^?:^:^ 


;E  assume  that  you  have  read 
this  number  of  The  Johet 
Prison  Po^.  The  inmates 
of  the  Ilhnois  State  Prison,  repre- 
sented by  the  force  in  the  Newspa- 
per Office,  will  do  their  utmo^  to 
publish  a  paper  of  merit. 

If  you  approve  of  the  tone  of  this 
publication,  you  are  respectfully 
requeued  to  send  to  The  Joliet  Prison 
Po^,  One  Dollar,  in  payment  of  sub- 
scription for  one  year.     Address, 


»  •  •  •  ♦  •_•.•  •  •  • 


SCijefoliet^rision^osJt 

1 900  Collins  Street,    Joliet,  Illinois 


•••••••••»••••• 


m^^^i^imm^m^^ymmmvM^ 


•  •.'*.•*•*• 


•••••••••• 


THE  JOLIET 
PRISON  POST 


VOL.  1. 


JOLIET,  ILLINOIS,  MAY  1,  1914. 


No.  6 


Governor  Dunne  Visits  Joliet  Prison.     States  His 
Impressions;  Is  Pleased  With  His  Observations 


April  16,  1914. — Governor  E.  F.  Dunne  paid  a 
visit  to  this  prison  this  afternoon  and,  accom- 
panied by  Warden  Allen  and  Deputy  Warden 
Walsh,  made  a  tour  of  inspection,  during  which 
he  viewed  the  entire  prison,  including  the 
women's  prison,  and  afterward  the  recently  pur- 
ciiased  site  for  the  new  prison  and  the  new  farm. 

Governor  Dunne  was  interviewed  by  The 
Joliet  Prison  Post  after  he  had  finished  his  tour 
of  inspection  and  he  talked  freely  on  all  questions 
brought  to  his  attention. 

The  Governor  stated  that  he  is  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  way  in  which  this  prison  is  being  con- 
ducted, which  is  the  way  agreed  upon  between 
himself  and  Warden  Edmund  M.  Allen.  The 
Governor  said : 

"Men  may  forfeit  their  right  to  their  liberty 
but  that  does  not  take  from  them  their  manhood 
and  their  natural  human  rights. 

"It  is  the  duty  of  prison  officials,  so  far  as  is 
possible,  to  change  the  spirit  of  prisons  from  that 
of  irksome  and  unnecessary  restrictions  of  nat- 
ural rights  to  that  only  of  necessary  and  proper 
restraint  and  along  humanitarian  lines.  This 
will  result  not  only  in  benefit  to  prisoners  but  also 
in  benefits  to  the  whole  community. 

"I  believe  that  after  the  expiration  of  the  term 
of  imprisonment  and  after  the  payment  of  the 
debt  to  society,  the  prisoners  who  have  been  hu- 
manely treated  will  leave  prison  with  a  better  dis- 
l>osition  towards  society  and  the  law  than  they 
would  have  if,  during  their  incarceration,  they 
had  been  dealt  with  with  undue  severity. 

"I  have  always  believed  that  the  infliction  of 
yunishment  should  be  considered  from  the  stand- 


point of  the  payment  of  a  debt,  rather  than  from 
the  standpoint  of  vengeance,  and  that  when  the 
debt  is  paid  the  debtor  should  stand  ac(|uitted  and 
should  be  permitted  to  resume  his  place  in  .society 
with  kindly  feelings  both  on  the  part  of  tiie  pris- 
oner and  on  the  part  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

"I  have  for  some  time  been  promising  myself  a 
visit  to  this  prison  to  see  if  the  new  dispensation 
is  working  well  and  I  am  very  much  pleased  with 
what  I  find  here. 

"It  is  a  pleasure  for  me  to  learn  from  the  in- 
mates that  they  have  a  kindly  feeling  towards 
those  whose  duty  it  is  to  keep  them  in  prison  dur- 
ing the  term  of  their  sentence.  I  believe,  on 
the  whole,  that  the  prisoners  are  responding  to 
the  changes  which  have  been  maile  as  the  result 
of  the  method  of  administration  agreed  to  by  the 
commissioners,  the  warden  and  myself. 

"I  am  happy  to  have  a  share  in  giving  the  pris- 
oners at  Joliet  recreation  during  working  hours 
and  the  delights  of  this  day  are  exceedingly  en- 
hanced from  having  seen  some  of  the  prisoners 
enjoy  their  outing  on  this  beautiful  sunny  day. 

"I  visited  several  shops  and  found  signs  of  ac- 
tivity, but  so  far  as  I  could  learn  from  ob- 
servation and  conversation,  the  men,  though  kept 
busy,  are  not  overworked.    Tiiis  is  as  it  should  be. 

"1  fmd  your  hospital  in  superb  condition  aivl 
this  shows  a  due  regard  for  the  value  of  human 
life.  If  my  administration  has  brought  about 
better  conditions,  I  am  thankful  to  those  who 
have  been  so  active  in  ai)plying  the  improvements. 

"The  women's  quarters  particularly  impressed 
me.  and  I  am  very  sorry  that  the  buildings  for 
the  men's  prison  are  not  as  good  as  the  women's 


Z18                                                              I  tit:  JUl^lh.!    FKISUIM   FUST  Mrst   Year 

Published  Monthly  by  the  ^  g^  lyj  '"T*  D   f  D  f  T  T^  f  /^  IVT  C 

BOARD    OF    COMMISSIONERS    AND    THE  l^V-Ill    ilxlDU    I    IV-TiNO 

WARDEN  OF  THE  ILLINOIS  STATE  O  V    #^I7CI/^I  A  f    C 

PENITENTIARY,  JOLIET,  JD  I      VymV^i/VJLO 

ILL.,  U.  S.  A. 

"^           Address:     THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  CIVIL    SERVICE    LAWS    AND    PENITEN- 

1900  Collins  Street           ....           Joliet,  Illinois  TIARIES 

Single    Copy Ten    Cents 

Yearly    Subscription One    Dollar  —,       _,,             j    nir      ah           \xt       j 

Canadian  and  Foreign One  Dollar  and  Fifty  Cents  tiy    iLamuna    M.    Allen,    Warden 

Since  penitentiaries  are  communities  consisting 

of  men  convicted  of  the  more  serious  crimes  and 

REPRODUCTIONS  PERMITTED  UNCONDITIONALLY  siucc  a  krgc  proportiou  of  the  prison  population 

is  serving  time  for  crimes  of  extreme  violence, 

Entered  as  second-ciass  matter,  January  15,  1914,  at  the  post-  penitentiaries  rcquirc,  as  a  last  rcsort  in  casc  of 

office  at  Joliet,  Illinois,  under  the  Act  of  March  3,  1879.  .    ,                         .                        ,       -                                .            i     .f 

Violence,   a  strong  central  government  and  the 
more  centralized  the  government  the  better  for 

>^*  the  inmates  and  for  the  officers. 

^^^^^^^a^^^^^^mm^^m^^^^,^^,^^^^^^^  This  is  ouly  another  way  of  saying  that  for 

the  good  of  all,  penitentiaries  should  be  under 

prison.     I  regret  to  find  the  men's  buildings  old  one-man  government. 

fashioned  and  antiquated.    Above  all  things,  the  The  need  for  one-man  power  is  greatest  in 

cellhouses  with  their  small,  dark  and  gloomy  cells  penitentiaries  which  house  a  large  prison  popula- 

and  with  their  improper  sanitation,  seem  wrong  tion ;  which  are  near  large  cities  where  a  special 

to  me,  but  this  cannot  be  helped,  because  it  will  brand  of  criminals  are  produced;  and  where  the 

take  many  years  to  build  the  new  prison.  plant  is  old  fashioned  and  where  there  is  over- 

"I  am  particularly  pleased  to  see  this  old  plant  crowding, 

as  well  kept  up  as  it  is,  particularly  as  to  its  clean-  A  penitentiary  at  its  best,  because  of  a  desper- 

liness.    It  seems  to  me  that  everything  that  can  be  ate  element  always  to  be  found  in  the  population 

done  to  preserve  health  and  create  a  sunny  atmo-  of  a  penitentiary,  is  a  slumbering  volcano  and  it 

sphere  is  being  done.  should  be  possible  at  all  times  to  fall  back  upon 

"I  have  just  returned  from  the  one-thousand-  rules   as  strong  as   are   ever  maintained  in  an 

acre  farm  which  was  recently  purchased  as  a  new  army   when   in   the   immediate  presence   of  the 

prison  site,  and  what  I  saw  there  has  made  me  enemy, 

very  happy.    I  refer  to  the  thirty-three  prisoners  @ 

who  are  employed  there  as  farm  hands.     These  If  the  foregoing  is  conceded,  what  can  be  said 

men  are  apparently  under  no  restraint  and  their  in  favor  of  placing  penitentiaries  under  civil  serv- 

clothing  indicates  no  degradation.    I  found  them  ice  laws? 

working  cheerfully  and,  I  might  say  gladly,  under  A  warden  should  be  held  strictly  accountable 

the  sunlight  in  the  open  fields.  for  the  general  management  of  his  prison  and 

'Tt  is  very  gratifying  to  know  that  of  all  the  the  law  should  not  furnish  him  with  valid  reasons 

honor  men  sent  to  Camp  Hope  and  even  to  the  why  in  case  of  mismanagement  he  should  not  be 

large  farm  that  not  one  of  them  has  violated  his  held  responsible. 

trust.  I  hope  that  the  example  of  the  men  who  If  a  warden  is  to  be  held  strictly  accountable 
have  so  far  been  tried  as  honor  men  will  be  fol-  for  the  results  of  his  management,  he  should  be 
lowed  by  those  who  are  now  to  go  out  after  them,  permitted  to  choose  and  to  discharge  his  subordi- 
I  have  suggested  that  the  new  farm  shall  be  nate  officers  so  that  he  may,  in  turn,  hold  his 
named  'The  Joliet  Honor  Farm,'  officers  strictly  accountable  for  the  proper  per- 
"The  Joliet  Prison  Post  is  a  splendid  pub-  formance  of  their  duties.  The  civil  service  law 
lication  and  a  credit  to  the  institution."  prevents  this.  Under  civil  service  the  warden's 
"I  hope  that  the  prisoners  will  appreciate  it  at  subordinate  officers  are  not  chosen  because  they 
its  true  value  and  that  they  will  respomd  to  its  are  in  full  accord  with  and  efficient  for  the  pur- 
teachings  by  preserving  perfect  discipline.  poses  of  the  warden's  policy,  but  because  they 


■lay  1.  1914  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  219 

have  passed  the  civil  service  examination  and  be-         It  is  to  be  expected  that  the  work  of  men  who 
cause  they  come  next  on  the  list.  have  not  enough  self-respect  to  do  their  best  be 

Civil  service  laws  may  be  beneficial  for  all  cause  of  pride  in  doing  good  work,  will  deterio- 
ulher  departments  of  government  and  still  be  un-  rate  in  proportion  to  their  superior's  inability  to 
>^uitcd  to  penitentiaries.  punish  or  to  discharge  them. 

At  a  large  prison  a  warden  does  not  have  the 


I 


There  need  be  no  fear  that  a  warden  of  a  ^""^  ^"  prosccute  all  employes  who  fail  in  their 
penitentiary  who  has  the  requisite  understanding,  '^"t'^;^  ''^^^re  a  civil  service  boar.l.  If  the  war.len 
character  and  courage,  will,  for  political  consider-  '""  '  ^^'^'"P*  to  do  this,  he  would  Jiavc  no  time 
aiions,  discharge  a  loval  and  competent  employe.  *"  """"^"'^  ^"^  ^''^  ""^^^  business  of  supervising  the 
.^uch  men  are  too  scarce.  The  long  hours  and  '''^^^'"^'  "^  '^"  '"^titution.  where  everything  must 
the  low  salaries  at  penitentiaries  do  not  invite  a  '"'  '^""'^  '"  accordance  with  the  technical  require- 
large  number  of  the  best  of  men.  Any  warden  '"''"*'  ""^  ^^'"^  ^"^'"'^  '''""^'^  ^''''^'■"  ^^^''^  l>'*anch  of 
fitted  to  hold  his  position  will  recognize  how  valu-  ^''"^  admimstration  of  the  prison, 
able  every  competent  and  loyal  officer  is.  ^ 

If  the  public  knew  only  a  small  fraction  of  tiic  I^"  -'"'-^    ^'  ^*^^^'  ^'^^rc  were  a  number  of  ef- 

ditticulties  met  by  a  warden  of  a  penitentiary,  it  ^'^''^"t  officers  here  and  there  were  also  a  num- 

would  cease  worrying  about  politics  in  connectitni  '^^''"  ^^'^^  ^^'^^^  "*'^  efficient,  many  of  them  being 

with  the  appointments  a  warden  would  make.  decrepit  old  men.    The  efficient  men  did  not  re- 

So  far  as  this  state  is  conconcerned.  there  is  ^'"'''^  protection  from  discharge  because  the  war- 
little  chance  of  a  party  spoilsman  being  elected  *^^"  "^^^^^^  ^"^1  ^^'0"1^J  •<ccp  these  men;  for  his 
governor,  but  even  such  a  one  would  stand  in  *^^^'"  P^'otection  he  could  not  let  them  go.  The 
fear  of  the  consequence  of  appointing  the  wrong  ^^^^"^  class  were  not  entitled  to  protection 
men  to  the  positions  of  wardens  of  the  peniten-  ^^''''"st  the  acts  of  the  warden  because  they 
tiaries  of  the  state;  consequently  it  is  safe  to  ^^^^^^^^^  'lave  been  discharged  so  that  their  places 
say  that  only  men  of  courage,  intellect  and  char-  ^'°"^^'  ^^  ^^^^^^  ^^'^'^  ^^^^^^  '"^"-  ''^"<'  without  the 
acter  would  be  appointed.  '"'S'^*  to  pick  their  successors,  of  what  avail  would 

While  it  is  wrong  to  hold  a  warden  strictly  '^  '^^  anyway  for  a  warden  to  discharge  every 

accountable  for  the  management  of  the  institu-  '"''*"  ^^'^"  against  whom  charges  might  hold? 

tion  in  his  charge  when  he  is  compelled  to  admin-  ^^^'^"  '^  ^  warden  were  permitted  to  discharge 

ister  the  institution  under  civil  service  laws,  this  ^^  P'casurc.  that  alone  is  not  enough ;  he  must 

is  not  clearly  understood  by  the  public  and  by  ^'^°  l^^  '''^^'^  *^  ^^^  vacancies  with  men  of  his 

the  press  and,  in  actual  practice  he  is  held  ac-  choosing;  this  the  civil  service  law  denies  him. 

countable  even  though  his  authority  over  the  in-  ^^"f^cr    existing   circumstances    and    with   the 

ilution  is  limited.  present  law,  there  is  not  a  man  living  who  can 

A  warden  .should  have  at  his  back  able-bodied,  administer  this  institution  as  it  should  be  admin- 
loyal  men  with  discretion  and  courage,  so  that  if  '^^^'■^^-  ^^v^"  ^^^^  '"ost  gifted  man  would  be 
an  cmergencv  does  arise  he  can  command  the  '■^ompcllcd  to  compromi.se  in  situations  where  only 
maximum  strength  possible  for  the  number  of  'l'"''^'''  ^*-'*'""  ^^■•^"'''  ^"">'  ^^'•^<^-     '^"^''  ^  ^«"'^'- 

employes  at  his  disposal.  ^'"".•'*'  ^''"  '•'^"•''  "^^^''  ^^  "'^■'»^*^*'  '"  •'">'  P<^"'- 

T             ^-       xu       •   -1           •       t           r    f  •  tcntiarv. 

In  practice  the  civil  service  law  of  this  state  ' 

does  not  recognize  this  principle.  ,          .  . 

The  civil  service  law  applying  to  penitentiaries 

®  in  this  state  was  passed  by  a  Republican  legisla- 

On  July   1.   1911.  this  prison  came  under  the  turc  in  the  face  of  a  probable  Democratic  victory. 

civil  service  law  and  .some  of  the  officers  then  on  This,  of  itself,  does  not  prove  that  the  law  was 

duty  began  to  look  upon  their  positions  as  jobs  passed  as  a  measure  of  political  expediency,  but 

for  life.     They  depended  only  upon  their  ability  the  provisions  of  the  law  exempting  all  the  per- 

to  keep  the  warden  from  getting  enough  proof  sons  in  office  on  July  1,  1911,  from  ever  taking  a 

against  them  to  maintain  charges  under  which  civil  service  examination  and  giving  to  them  the 

they  could  be  discharged.  protection  of  the  law,  practically  assured  them 


220                             '                         THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  First  Year 

positions  for  life,  unless  the  warden  would  find  large  sum  of  money  at  his  disposal  the  state  will 
ground  for  charges  against  them  on  which  they  wear  him  out  and  in  the  end  will  obtain  his  con- 
could  be  dismissed.  This  stamps  the  passage  of  viction  on  his  record  for  crimes  which  he  may  or 
the  law  as  a  measure  of  party  expediency  and  may  not  have  committed. 

gives  it  the  taint  of  trickery.  Apart  from  this,  the  futility,  if  not  impossibil- 
There  was  no  honest  excuse  for  bestowing  jobs     ity,  of  prosecution  and  defence  by  one  and  the 

for  life  on  a  number  of  office  holders  and  exempt-  same  man  should  be  obvious, 

ing  those  fortunate  ones  from  ever  taking  a  civil  The  accused  person,  of  course,  has  the  right 

service  examination.    An  honest  law  would  have  to  defend  himself,  if  he  can.    He  has  the  right  to 

required  all  office  holders  to  submit  to  a  civil  engage  learned  and  skillful  counsel,  if  he  has  the 

service  examination  after,  say,  one  or  two  years,  cash  to  pay  for  it,  or  if  he  finds  one  willing  to  de- 

during  which  time  the  system  could  have  been  fend  him  for  nothing.     If  he  is  penniless,  the 

gotten  into  running  order.     No  intentionally  dis-  court  is  bound  to  provide  him  a  lawyer,  though  it 

honest  law  could  have  been  more  effective  in  con-  may  be  a  "shyster,"  who  may  or  more  likely  may 

tinning  the  then  office  holders  in  their  positions  not,  do  his  duty.     In  spite  of  the  presumption  of 

than  was  the  law  passed  which  brought  this  in-  innocence  of  the  accused,  there  is  no  one,  not  even 

stitution  under  civil  service  on  and  after  July  1,  a  "Devil's  Advocate,"  who  takes  an  official  inter- 

1911.  est  in  maintaining  that  innocence.   Hence,  an  ac- 

^    ©    ^  cused  person  labors  under  a  serious  handicap  and 

THE  PUBLIC  DEFENDER.  '"  *^^  ""^^^  °^  *^^  P°°'  ^'^^  friendless,  the  task 
too  often  proves  hopeless  indeed. 

By  the  Catholic  Chaplain  ^°  *^e  layman,  a  remedy  for  this  state  of  af- 

at  the  joiiet  Prison.  f^irs  sccms  simple  euough.     If  the  presumption 

A  man  is  presumed  to  be  innocent  until  he  is  ^^"^^^^  ^  "'^"'^  innocence,  and  if  the  maintenance 

proved  to  be  guilty.     That  is  good  theory  and  ^^  ^^'^^  mnocence  is  just  as  much  the  business  of 

good  law.    A  court  of  justice,  therefore,  it  would  ^he  court  as  the  conviction  of  guih,  why  does  the 

seem,  should  be  just  as  solicitous  to  uphold  a  state  give  its  whole  authority,  influence,  and  aid 

man's  innocence  as  to  prove  his  guilt— nay,  more  to  secure  the  conviction  ?    Why  does  not  the  state 

so ;  because,  as  stated,  the  presumption  is  that  he  provide  an  office,  equal  in  dignity,  influence  and 

is  innocent.     As  a  matter  of  fact,  however,  it  is  emolument  to  that  of  prosecuting  attorney  but 

usually  the  other  way.  charged  with  the  defense  of  accused  persons,  at 

The  state  appoints  and  pays  a  prosecuting  at-  least  of  such  as  cannot  engage  private  counsel? 

torney  and  provides  him  with  every  facility  for  We  may  well  ask,  why?    It  is  a  humiliating  com- 

establishing    the    guilt    of    the    accused    person,  mentary  on  the  boasted  enlightenment,  progress 

Theoretically  the  prosecuting  attorney's  duty  is  to  and  humanity  of  the  age,  that  the  legal  profession 

see  that  the  ends  of  justice  are  attained ;  but  in  and  law-giving  bodies  have  hitherto  paid  so  little 

practice  that  means  conviction.   The  prosecutor's  attention  to  this  hideous  anomaly, 

duty,  according  to  the  laws,  is  to  prosecute,  and  But  the  light  is  breaking,  the  sun  of  justice 

the  number  of  convictions  is  considered  the  test  is  rising,  contrary  to  all  rules  of  the  game,  not 

of  his  fitness.    The  police  department  and  grand  in  the  East  but  in  the  West.    There  seems  to  be 

jury,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  are  only  ad-  something  in  the  balmy  breezes  of  the  Pacific  that 

juncts  of  the  prosecutor's  office.  tends  to  clarify  the  minds  of  men  and  to  eliminate 

It  sometimes  happens  that  an  innocent  man  the  cobwebs  from  their  brainboxes.     In  Califor- 

who  is  accused  of  crime  pleads  guilty  beause  he  nia,    particularly    in    Southern    California,    and 

is  without  money  or  friends  and  he  realizes  that  above  all  in  Los  Angeles,  there  is  a  class  of  people 

he  cannot  make  a  defence ;  and  it  frequently  hap-  who  will  not  sit  idly  by  and  allow  the  problems 

pens  that  a  penniless  ex-convict  is  charged  with  of  the  age  to  solve  themselves.     They   try  all 

a  crime  of  which  he  is  innocent  and  that,  never-  things — some   things   that   are   wise,   and   other 

theless,  the  ex-convict  will  make  the  best  terms  he  some  that  prove  otherwise.     San  Diego,  for  in- 

can  with  the  prosecutor  for  a  light  sentence.    He  stance,  is  credited  with  having  tried  every  scheme 

will  plead  guilty  because  he  knows  that  without  a  of  municipal  government  that  it  is  possible  for 


May  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


■y-) 


1 


the  mind  of  man  to  evolve  and  which  is  not  di- 
rectly opposed  to  the  United  States  Constitution. 
They  do  not  expect  out  there  to  realize  the  ideal, 
but  they  do  hope  to  attain  some  real  and  lasting 
benefit  for  humanity.  Anyhow,  they  try — and, 
if  at  first  they  don't  succeed,  they  try  again.  "Go 
ye  and  do  likewise,"  would  be  a  very  reasonable 
moral  for  other  parts  of  our  country. 

Los  Angeles,  now,  has  been  at  it  again.  Its 
citizens  have  declared  for  the  square  deal  and 
have  determined  that,  in  tlieir  country  at  least, 
the  presumption  of  a  man's  innocence  shall  be 
something  more  than  a  mere  trite  axiom  of  legal 
tiieory.  They  have  devised  a  practical  solution 
of  the  problem  that  should  bring  joy  even  to 
those  holy  angels  and  their  queen,  to  whom  the 
lovely  city  owes  its  name.  The  movement  has 
taken  concrete  form  in  the  appointment  of  a 
"public  defender,"  whose  office  is  co-ordinate 
with  that  of  public  prosecutor,  and  whose  duties 
are  succinctly  outlined  in  the  recently  adopted 
County  Charter.  The  scope  and  significance  of 
this  provision  will  be  best  appreciated  by  a  perusal 
of  the  section  in  question,  which  reads  as  follows : 

ITpon  request  by  the  defendant  or  upon 
order  of  the  court,  the  Public  Defender  shall 
defend,  without  expense  to  them,  all  persons 
who  are  not  financially  able  to  employ  coun- 
sel and  who  are  charged,  in  the  Superior 
Court,  with  the  commission  of  any  contempt, 
misdemeanor,  felony  or  other  ofiFense.  He 
shall  also,  upon  request,  give  counsel  and  ad- 
vice to  such  persons,  in  and  about  any  charge 
against  them  upon  which  he  is  conducting  the 
defense,  and  he  shall  prosecute  all  appeals  to 
a  higher  court  or  courts,  of  any  person  who 
has  been  convicted  upon  any  such  charge, 
where,  in  his  opinion,  such  appeal  will,  or 
might  reasonably  be  expected  to,  result  in  the 
reversal  or  modification  of  the  judgment  of 
conviction. 

He  shall  also,  upon  request,  prosecute  ac- 
tions for  the  collection  of  wages  and  of  other 
demands  of  persons  who  are  not  financially 
able  to  employ  counsel,  in  cases  in  which  the 
sum  involved  does  not  exceed  $100,  and  in 
which,  in  the  judgment  of  the  Public  Defend- 
er, the  claims  urged  are  valid  and  enforceable 
in  the  courts. 

He  shall  also,  upon  request,  defend  such 
persons  in  all  civil  litigation  in  which,  in  his 


judgment,  they  are  being  persecuted  or  un- 
justly harassed. 

The  costs  in  all  actions  in  which  the  Public 
Defender  shall  appear  under  this  section, 
whether  fc.r  plaintiffs  or  for  defendants,  shall 
be  paid  out  of  the  County  Treasury,  at  the 
times  and  in  the  manner  rc(|uircd  by  law,  or 
by  rules  of  court,  and  under  a  system  of  de- 
mand, audit  and  payment  which  shall  be  pre- 
scribed by  the  P.oard  of  Supervisors.  It  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  Public  Defender,  in  all 
such  litigation,  to  procure,  if  possible,  in 
addition  to  general  judgments  in  favor  of  the 
persons  whom  he  shall  represent  therein, 
judgments  for  costs  and  attoniey's  fees. 
where  permissible,  against  the  opponents  of 
such  persons,  and  collect  and  pay  the  same 
into  the  County  Treasury. 

The  proof  of  the  pudding  is  in  the  eating,  and 
all  interested  in  the  improvement  of  our  judicial 
and  penal  systems  will  closely  watch  this  Los 
Angeles  experiment.  An  experiment  it  is,  but 
one  that  has  begun  most  auspiciously  and  that 
promises  to  be  a  success.  All  reports  thus  far, 
without  exception,  give  testimony  to  satisfactory 
results.  Mr.  Walton  J.  Wood,  a  man  eminently 
qualified  for  the  position,  is  the  first  to  fill  this 
unique  office  of  "public  defender."  He  is  assisted 
by  four  lawyers  and  a  clerical  force.  The  I-X)s 
Angeles  Jounial  says  that  over  a  thousand  civil 
cases  have  been  handled  by  the  new  office,  and  in 
a  clear  majority  of  them  a  compromise  out  of 
court  was  effected. 

Prison  matters  are  engaging  the  attention  of 
people  more  than  ever,  and  it  is  of  importance 
that  one  avoid  the  Scylla  of  nuishy.  mawkish  sen- 
timent on  the  one  hand  and  the  Charybdis  of  stolid 
cynicism  on  the  other.  Since  it  avoids  these  ex- 
tremes, the  Los  Angeles  idea  will  contribute  im- 
mensely to  the  betterment  of  penal  affairs.  The 
I^)s  Angeles  move  is  not  a  panacea  for  all  the 
evils  in  our  penal  system,  but  it  docs  strike  at  the 
root  of  one  of  the  most  common  causes  for  the 
mi.scarriage  of  justice.  It  is  not  going  to  obviate 
the  necessity  of  penal  institutions.  But  it  will 
hcl|)  many  an  innocent  man  to  have  the  benefit 
of  the  presumption  of  innocence  in  his  favor,  and 
many  a  guilty  man  from  being  punished  beyond 
his  deserts. 

One  of  the  commonest  of  remarks  that  a  prison 
chai>lain  must  hear   from  outsiders  is,  "I   sup- 


222 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


pose  all  your  boys  claim  to  be  innocent."  To  be 
perfectly  frank,  at  the  time  of  my  appointment.  I 
was  prepared  to  find  this  the  case  and  it  has  been 
a  most  refreshing,  experience  to  find  that  it  is  not 
so.  Some  do  claim  to  be  innocent,  but  the  number 
is  small.  On  the  other  hand,  more  than  one  has 
said  to  me,  "No,  Father,  I  did  not  come  for  help 
in  my  case.  I  got  what  was  coming  to  me  and  T 
am  glad  that  I  got  off  as  easy  as  I  did."  But  be- 
sides these  there  are  many  who  do  claim  they 
did  not  get  a  square  deal,  and  that  if  they  had 
they  would  not  have  come  to  the  penitentiary  or 
they  would  at  least  have  received  a  different  sen- 
tence. 

These  men  ask  for  a  square  deal,  for  all  who 
are  accused  and,  please  God.  the  day  is  not  far 
distant  when  the  perfection  and  general  adoption 
of  the  Los  Angeles  plan  is  going  to  give  accused 
men  what  they  have  a  perfect  right  to  demand 
and  to  expect. 

0     0     @ 

Mr.  y.  Cavanaugh,  Superintendent  of  Mails, 
announces  that  inmates  should  always  write  their 
full  name  and  register  number  in  the  upper  left 
hand  corner  on  their  outgoing  letters.  Letters 
not  so  endorsed  cannot  be  sent  and  also  it  is  im- 
possible to  return  them  to  the  writer.  When  the 
name  and  number  are  given  the  letter  will  either 
be  sent  out  or  returned  to  the  person  who  wrote  it. 

©     ®     © 

Mr.  V.  Cavanaugh,  Superintendent  of  Mails, 
has  fifty  cents  belonging  to  some  inmate  whose 
name  is  unknown  to  him.  This  money,  with  a 
note,  was  left  by  a  visitor  with  Mr.  Cavanaugh. 
The  note  with  a  memorandum  about  the  money 
was  sent  to  the  man,  but  his  name  has  been  for- 
gotten. If  the  person  to  whom  this  note  was 
sent  will  make  himself  known  to  the  super- 
intendent of  mails,  the  money  will  be  credited  to 
him. 

®     ©     @ 

Mr.  F.  L.  Kness,  cellhouse  keeper  at  the  east 
wing,  wishes  to  ask  the  men  to  exercise  patience 
for  the  next  few  weeks.  The  refinishing  of  the 
walls  will  make  it  necessary  to  have  from  five  to 
ten  of  the  cells  empty  until  the  work  is  done.  The 
men  must  change  back  and  forth  in  order  to  ac- 
commodate the  workmen.  It  will  be  unpleasant 
for  a  time ;  someone  may  have  a  cell  mate  whom 
he  does  not  like.    But  as  soon  as  possible  all  men 


will  be  back  to  their  own  places  again  and  the 
walls  will  have  a  fine  white  and  hard  finish,  mak- 
ing them  vermin  proof. 

EDITORIAL 

Authoritative  Announcements  From  Actual 
Work 

The  Joliet  Prison  Post  is  edited  and  pub- 
lished with  the  purpose  to  aid  in  solving  the  ques- 
tions which  now  confront  prison  administrations 
the  country  over. 

These  questions  are  not  questions  that  the 
prison  administrations  have  taken  up  purely  of 
their  own  will.  The  genesis  of  the  questions  is 
deeper  than  any  human  plan  and  the  power  that 
is  carrying  the  questions  toward  solution,  is 
greater  than  that  of  any  individual  purpose  or  of 
the  purpose  of  any  combined  number  of  indi- 
viduals. 

The  movement  for  a  change  of  policy  in  prison 
administration  is  a  part  of  the  world  movement 
which  is  affecting  human  affairs  everywhere.  The 
power  of  the  movement  is  in  that  which,  deep  in 
the  hidden  nature  of  things,  orders  the  destinies 
of  human  life  and  which  through  the  processes 
of  evolution  ever  carries  the  world  on  to  better 
things. 

The  Joliet  Prison  Post  has  no  ready-ar- 
ranged method  which  it  seeks  to  have  applied  as 
a  solution  of  the  questions  with  which  prison  ad- 
ministrations have  now  to  deal,  no  completed 
formula  to  announce  as  the  rule  which  prison  ad- 
ministrations should  follow. 

The  Joliet  Prison  Post  is.  not  to  deal  in  theo- 
ries. It  does  not  set  itself  upon  a  rostrum  raised 
above  the  level  of  the  men  whom  it  would  help, 
to  speak  to  and  for  the  men  as  something  above 
and  apart  from  them.  It  is  not  to  pronounce  what 
should  be  done  with  or  for  "those"  persons  who 
need  "our"  sympathy  and  "our"  uplift.  The 
Joliet  Prison  Post  is  of  the  people  whom  it 
would  help ;  it  speaks,  not  from  an  opinion  of 
how  these  men  should  be  handled,  but  from  their 
own  life,  from  what  they  are  and  from  what  they 
need.  It  tells  what  is  actually  so,  what  the  ad- 
ministration and  the  men  are  actually  doing.  It  is 
the  men  themselves  who  are  speaking.  These  rfien 
are  revealing  what  their  own  lives  are  and  what 


May  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


223 


their  lives  are  coming  to  be;  they  are  telling  of 
the  awakening  that  is  coming  to  them  through 
the  opjxirtunity  given  by  a  beneficent  adminis- 
tration. The  worlil  is  weary  of  what  "ought"  to 
be ;  it  wants  to  know  what  is  and  what  can  be. 

The  administration  of  this  penitentiary  has 
taken  up  the  problem  which  is  confronting  all 
penitentiaries  and,  wisely,  at  the  start  it  has  in- 
cluded the  men — the  prisoners- — in  the  work  of 
carrying  that  problem  through  to  a  solution. 

Week  by  week  and  month  by  month  and  year 
by  year,  what  is  done  here  will  be  told ;  report 
made  of  what  as  time  passes  life  yields  to  our 
inner  consciousness  and  what  of  that  deeper  un- 
derstanding we  are  able  to  work  out  into  our 
practical  living. 

The  JoLiET  Prison  Post  is  not  to  theorize,  to 
speculate.  It  is  to  report  authoritatively  that 
which  the  administration  and  the  men,  working 
co-operatively,  accomplish ;  to  report  that  which 
the  men,  with  the  opportunity  given  them  by  the 
administration,  are  gaining  in  experience,  that 
which  from  a  new  and  higher  purpose  and  clearer 
understanding,  is  transformed  into  daily  lite  and 
practical  benefit. 

We  are  facing  here  the  same  problem  that 
prison  administrations  are  facing  everywhere : 
we  have  no  royal  road,  no  way  of  avoiding  any  of 
the  elements  of  the  problem  ;  we  must  meet  every 
detail  of  the  issue  the  same  as  must  every  other 
prison.  We  accept  the  work  which  is  before  us ; 
we  accept  all  the  complications  and,  in  the  issues 
of  this  magazine,  we  shall  report  so  much  of  the 
solution  of  the  problem  as  we  find. 

This  penitentiary  assumes  notiiing.  With  no 
concepts  to  fortify,  it  takes  up  the  question  before 
it  with  open  mind  and  ready  hand  to  prove  by  ex- 
periment just  how  the  problem  of  prison  better- 
ment can  be  solved.  The  penitentiary  is  an  ex- 
periment station,  a  social  laboratory,  in  which  the 
social  problems  of  its  own  people  are  to  be 
worked  out.  Working  out  these  problems  as  a 
social  community  and  according  to  the  laws  of 
human  life  and  human  progress,  will  make  what 
is  dope  here  a  contribution  toward  the  solution 
of  social  problems  everywhere.  What  is  done 
here  in  accordance  with  the  natural  laws  of  hu- 
man nature  will  be  a  demonstration  of  what  can 


be  done  in  any  community  where  those  laws  are 
learned  and  e(|ually  obeyed. 

In  what  is  now  being  done  and  in  what  will 
be  done  here,  Tin-;  Joliet  Prison  Post  will  siK'ak 
authoritatively.  It  will  tell  what  has  been  shown 
to  be  a  certainty,  what  through  experiment  has 
been  found  to  bo  true. 

The  Convicted  and  the  Unconvicted 

The  Chicago  Examiner,  in  an  editorial  .\j)ril  7. 
takes  up  an  incident  connected  with  this  inrni- 
tentiary  and  observes  that  "notwithstanding  the 
general  ai)plause  at  a  campaign  for  the  ameliora- 
tion of  the  condition  of  those  who  have  ofTended 
against *the  law,  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  the 
])eople  who  have  not  been  convicted  of  crime  have 
also  certain  rights — among  them  the  right  of  pro- 
tection against  the  lawless". 

The  lixamincr  is  fair  in  its  statement  that  the 
rights  of  the  "unconvicted"  should  not  be  ignored 
in  the  "campaign"  for  an  acknowledgment  of 
the  rights  of  the  "convicted".    It  says: 

Everybody  is  in  favor  of  the  reclamation 
of  convicts  from  a  life  of  crime.  N'obody 
wants  to  go  back  to  the  hopeless  days  when 
the  dungeon  and  the  lash  were  part  of  the 
punishment  of  every  man  who  was  sent  to  a 
penitentiary.  The  outdoor  camps  and  the 
honor  system  meet  with  approval  and  the  or- 
ganizations that  provide  time-expired  con- 
victs with  work  arc  performing  a  service  to 
civilization. 

r>ut  while  the  lixamincr  is  fair,  it  is  not  alto- 
gether clear,  and  its  conclusion,  consct|ucntly.  is 
not  as  fair  as  its  attitude.  Its  conclusion  is  not 
{|uite  the  full  answer  to  the  fjuestion  which  it 
raises.  The  mind  is  not  made  to  feel  that  the 
solution  of  the  problem  of  the  involved  riglits  of 
the  "convicted"  and  the  "unconvicted",  has  l>ccn 
stated. 

Proceeding  in  its  ct>nsideration  of  the  incident 
connected  with  this  institution,  the  l-.xamimr 
makes  the  following  comment : 

Penitentiaries  are  maintainetl  for  the  pro- 
tection of  society.  When  a  man  has  shown 
himself  dangerous  to  the  peace  and  dignity 
of  the  state  he  is  locked  up,  partly  to  keep 
him    from    further    mischief   and    partly    to 


224 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


deter  others  who  might  be  tempted  to  com- 
mit a  similar  offense. 

These  purposes  of  the  criminal  law  are 
Mot  served  when  a  two-times  murderer,  who 
•  killed  his  men  in  the  course  of  highway  rob- 
beries, is  given  such  freedom  that  he  simply 
walks  out  of  prison.  There  is  no  lesson  tend- 
ing to  respect  for  law  in  the  circumstance  of 
two  murderers,  one  serving  a  life  sentence 
and  the  other  a  term  of  seventeen  years,  tak- 
ing the  warden's  automobile  to  enjoy  a 
night's  debauch  in  Chicago,  and  be  welcomed 
back  to  prison  as  "naughty"  boys  who  have 
simply  gone  on  a  lark. 

Chicago's  annual  crop  of  holdups  and 
burglaries  due,  the  police  tell  us,  to  the.  dis- 
charging of  the  output  of  the  penitentiaries 
of  half  a  dozen  states  into  this  community, 
is  all  the  evidence  that  is  required  to  show 
that  the  policy  of  prison  reform  needs  a 
measure  of  reform  itself. 

The  whole  community  rejoices  at  the  re- 
generation of  an  evil  man,  but  if  the  cost  of 
milking  a  good  citizen  out  of  a  bad  one  has  to 
be  met  by  honest  people  at  the  point  of  a 
highwayman's  pistol,  the  question,  Are  we 
not  paying  too  much?  must  suggest  itself. 

The  deterreiit  effect  of  the  penal  system 
that  makes  staying  in  jail  optional  with  the 
criminal  cannot  be  very  great. 

@ 

The  Examiner s  conclusion  that  "the  policy  of 
prison  reform  needs  a  measure  of  reform  itself", 
is  the  conclusion  of  every  institution  in  which 
prison  betterment  is  being  tried.  But  the  reform 
which  the  prisons  are  making  is  in  a  different 
direction  and  in  obedience  to  a  different  principle 
from  the  direction  which  the  Examiner  advocates 
and  from  the  principle  which  the  Examiner  seems 
to  follow. 

The  new  movement  in  prisons  means  an  ac- 
knowledgment of  the  prisoners'  natural  rights 
as  human  beings.  The  proper  and  inevitable 
prison  reform,  is  that  progressively  a  way  shall 
be  found  in  which  the  prisoners'  natural  human 
rights  can  be  acknowledged  and  allowed  while 
that  quality  m  the  prisoners  which  would  ignore 
the  rights  of  others,  is,  at  the  same  time,  kept 
i«ider  restraint.  In  the  achievement  of  this  great 
transformation  of  prison  life,  there  naturally 
must  be  a  continual  readjustment,  a  progressive 


reform  in  method  so  as  more  fully  to  allow  the 
natural  individual  rights  which  are  being  sought. 
The  adjustment,  the  reform,  must  be  based  on 
day-to-day  experience,  so  as  to  find  the  true 
rights  of  the  prisoners :  establishing  true  individ- 
ual rights,  always  conserves  also  all  social  rights. 
Both  the  individual  prisoner  and  society  at  large 
are  to  be  served. 

The  Examiner  does  not  have  the  prisoner's 
point  of  view  and,  possibly  for  that  reason,  it 
overlooks  what  must  be  the  prison  reform  move- 
ment's essential  element,  the  movement's  domi- 
nant and  governing  purix)se.  If  in  a  "reform"  of 
the  "policy  of  prison  reform",  the  essential  pur- 
pose of  the  reform  movement  is  itself  overlooked, 
the  reform  policy  becomes,  not  a  corrective, 
constructive  step,  but  a  reactionary  abandonment 
of  prison  reform  itself. 

The  difficulty  in  dealing  with  most  social  prob- 
lems, particularly  with  the  problems  which  con-  \ 
tinually  baffle  the  world's  attempt  at  a  solution, 
such  as  that  of  what  properly  to  do  with  those 
who  commit  social  offenses,  is  that  the  problems 
are  considered  too  superficially.  The  deep,  un- 
derlying forces  of  the  problems  are  not  perceived 
and  dealt  with  and,  therefore,  that  which  it  is 
hoped  will  be  a  solution,  proves  to  be  only  an 
obstacle,  while  the  forces  in  which  the  problem 
generates,  unrecognized  and  unmolested,  soon 
again  disclose  the  probtem  at  another  point  and 
in  a  different  form". 

From  the  beginning  of  social  organization  the 
social  attitude  toward  the  individual,  who  through 
social  power,  has  been  put  under  social  condemn- 
ation, has  been  that  of  judgment — always  have 
those  possessed  of  power  thought  as  suited  their 
own  opinions  about  those  subject  to  that  power. 
The  power  has  made  it  impossible  for  those  in 
power  to  see  the  powerless  person's  rights  as  the 
powerless  person  himself  sees  them. 

We  who  now  live  under  a  republican  form  of 
government,  can  clearly  see  this  principle,  this 
ignoring  of  the  rights  of  the  individual  subject  by 
those  in  whom  the  powers  of  government  are 
vested,  as  that  principle  was  lived  by  kings  who 
held  that  they  governed  by  divine  right  and  that 
the  subjects  of  the  kingdom  were  the  subjects  of 
the  king.  The  principle  is  not  so  clear  when  it  is 
embodied  in  the  social  attitude  of  our  own  day 


Mav  1.   1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


225 


toward  the  itulividual  whom  society  has  con- 
victed. 

Society,  whether  in  the  person  of  a  kinp^  or  in 
the  persons  in  whom  a  more  representative  gov- 
ernment is  vested,  has  always  remembered  its 
own  interests — as  it  has  seen  its  interests— -dui] 
has  ignored  and,  in  the  name  of  social  rights,  has 
denied  certain  of  the  rights  of  the  person  under 
judgment. 

.Society,  like  an  emotional,  high-tempered,  un- 
calculating  and  selfish  father,  has  turned  its  un- 
rulv  son  out  of  doors  and.  closing  its  eyes  and 
feelings  to  its  own  responsibilities,  has  shut  and 
locked  the  door — the  prison  door — against  him. 

Society  has  never  accepted  as  a  principle  in 
governmental  administration,  that  it  itself  may 
be  somewhat  wrong  in  its  connection  with  that  in 
which  the  individual  is  wrong.  And  this  cannot 
be  accepted  until  a  different  foundation  from  that 
upon  which  social  organization  now  rests,  has 
been  found.  Somewhere  there  must  be  absolute 
authority,  from  somewhere  there  must  issue  the 
word  that  is  to  be  accepted  by  all  as  declaring 
that  which  is  right.  Until  people  awaken  to  some- 
thing in  which  authority  may  be  vested  which  is 
more  reliable  than  opinion,  that  opinion,  even 
with  all  its  bias  and  controlling  element  of 
selfishness,  must  rule. 

Ikit,  as  a  proposition  for  progress,  as  distinct 
from  a  principle  in  government,  it  can  be  ac- 
knowledged that  society,  as  a  unit,  is  defective, 
as  well  as  that  the  individual  member  of  that 
same  society  is  defective.  We  can  own  that  so- 
cial administration,  that  the  social  attitude  toward 
the  individual  is  not  all  that  it  should  be ;  and  yet 
until  there  can  be  a  better,  a  more  just  mind  in 
the  people,  we  can  accept  the  verdict  of  society, 
the  voice  of  the  majority  as  declaring  that  which, 
in  our  particular  social  condition  and  circum- 
stance, is  right.  This  will  give  security  in  what 
has  already  been  gained  in  social  organization, 
while  at  the  same  time  it  will  make  a  free  and 
open  way  for  correcting  what  is  still  wrong. 

In  the  movement  for  the  betterment  of  the 
condition  of  those  whom  society  has  convicted 
of  crime,  the  prisoners  are  undertaking  to  work 
out  and  to  set  up  for  the  prisoners'  self  improve- 
ment those  rights  which,  in  convicting  them  of  a 


particular  offense,  society  took  from  them,  but 
which  were  not  involved  in  the  commission  of  the 
])articular  offense  itself. 

In  helping  during  a  period  of  several  months 
to  promote  the  honor  system  and  in  gleaning  im- 
pressions so  as  properly  to  represent  the  senti- 
ment of  this  place,  a  large  number  of  the  men 
here  have  been  interviewed  by  the  writers  of  this 
magazine  and,  of  those  who  are  representative 
of  the  social  thought  of  this  conununity,  we  have 
not  found  one  who  in  any  way  condemns  the 
state  for  its  conviction  of  a  per.son  who  is  guilty 
of  a  crime.  Each  recognizes  that  society  must 
protect  itself  and  no  one  has  said  that  he  expects 
society  to  do  any  better,  to  be  any  more  just  to 
the  person  on  trial  than  it  knows  how  to  be. 

So  long  as  society  thinks  that  a  person  who 
"has  shown  himself  dangerous  to  the  [)eace  and 
dignity  of  the  .state"  should  be  "locked  up,  partly 
to  keep  him  from  further  mischief  and  partly  to 
deter  others  who  might  be  temjjted  to  commit  a 
similar  offense",  every  one  here  concedes  that 
society  should  do  just  that  thing. 

Society,  through  its  courts,  fixes  a  certain 
sentence,  a  certain  period  of  time,  during  which 
the  convicted  person  is  to  be  "locked  up".  In  its 
present  stage,  "prison  reform"  concerns  it.sclf 
with  bettering  the  prisoners'  condition  during  the 
term  of  their  imprisonment,  rather  than  in  at- 
tempting to  set  aside,  to  modify,  or  in  any  way  to 
interfere  with  the  court's  sentence. 

If  a  per.son  is  committed  to  a  penal  institution, 
that  person  is  "locked  up"  in  every  legal  sense. 
and  in  a  very  practical  sense,  whether  during 
every  moment  of  the  time  he  is  inside  or  is  some- 
times outside  of  the  prison  walls.  In  the  neces- 
sary routine  of  prison  management,  some  pris- 
oners must  be  outside  of  the  walls  to  attend  to 
prison  work.  And  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  the 
State  expects  the  Warden  of  this  institution  to 
place  men  outside  of  the  v.alls.  since  when  War- 
den Allen  came  here,  he  found  outside  of  the 
walls  as  a  part  of  the  prison  pro|)erty  which  is  to 
be  taken  care  of  by  the  men  of  the  prison,  six 
large  store-houses,  an  extensive  poultry  plant,  a 
herd  of  cattle  with  a  wi<le  range  for  pasturage, 
a  drove  of  hogs,  a  slaughter  house,  a  dairy,  a 
farm,  a  stone  quarry  which  yields  115.000  cubic 
vards  of  stone  a  year,  five  greenhouses  and  large 
lawns  about  both  the  men's  ?^nd  women's  prisons. 


226 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Where  there  is  the  strictest  discipline  all  pris- 
oners are  under  tlic  care  and  scrutiny  of  a  keeper. 
The  honor  system  contemplates  relieving  prison- 
ers, who  are  believed  to  be  worthy  of  trust,  from 
ihe  surveillance  of  a  keeper,  so  as  to  give  the  pris- 
oner a  chance  to  show  that  the  watchfulness  of 
the  keeper  is  not  necessary,  that  there  is  some- 
thing in  himself  that  can  be  trusted,  to  show  that 
he  is  able,  despite  the  conviction  of  a  particular 
defect,  to  live  true  to  the  qualities  in  him  that  go 
to  make  a  good  citizen.  The  Examiner's  criti- 
cism comes  down  to  a  question  of  what  position 
a  prisoner  shall  fill,  of  what  freedom  of  move- 
ment in  his  employment  about  the  prison  shall  be 
allowed  him. 

In  the  incidents  now  in  question  the  two  men 
who  used  the  automobile  were  given  their  posi- 
tions of  trust,  not  by  Warden  Allen,  but  by  his 
predecessor ;  and,  that  the  men  kept  the  trust  in- 
violate, one  for  two  years  and  one  for  one  year 
under  the  former  warden  and  both  for  nearly  a 
vear  under  Warden  Allen,  shows  that  the  warden 
who  did  put  confidence  in  them  was  not  alto- 
gether unjustified  in  his  confidence.  The  confi- 
dence placed  in  tiie  "two  times  murderer",  based 
on  his  good  behavior  inside  the  walls,  did  not 
prove  to  be  so  well  grounded  as  that  placed  in 
the  two  other  men,  but  there  seemed  to  be  reason 
for  confidence  in  the  way  the  man  had  conducted 
himself  for  several  years  and  he  was  therefore 
trusted.  , 

The  whole  principle  of  punishment -is  that  the 
wrong  in  man  shall  be  repressed ;  the  whole  prin- 
ciple of  the  honor  system  is  that  the  good  in  man 
shall  be  encouraged.  No  man  can  be  wholly  se- 
cure in  another  man ;  no  man  is  wholly  secure  in 
himself.  Circumstances  will  bring  a  man  to  do — 
he  knows  not  what ;  be  it  the  best  of  men  or  the 
worst  of  men.  The  principle  is  the  same :  human 
nature  in  all  persons  is  identical. 

In  what  way  would  the  persons  who  criticise 
those  who  are  undertaking  to  better  the  condi- 
tions of  prison  life,  themselves  effect  that  better- 
ment? There  is  no  other  way  than  to  let  each 
man  disclose  himself;  than  to  let  each  show  that 
he  is  able  to  live  square  and  upright — or,  if  he  is 
not  able  thus  to  live  and  yet  thinks  he  is,  to  let 
him  find  out  for  himself  that  he  is  not  able.  The 
number  of  men — as  experience  shows — who,  with 
the  intent  to  make  it  a  means  of  escape,  can  se- 


cure a  "trusty"  position,  is  so  infinitesimal  that  it 
need  not  be  taken  into  account.  The  purpose  to 
escape  grows  in  some  men  with  continued  oppor- 
tunity and  they  fall  where  they  had  not  intended 
to  fall.  The  whole  movement  for  prison  better- 
ment is  merely  the  proposition  that  predominant 
consideration  shall  be  given  to  the  better  qualities 
in  man.  rather  than  to  make  the  lower  qualities 
the  chief  concern. 

The  Examiner  says  that  "the  policy  of  prison 
reform  needs  a  measure  of  reform  itself".  This 
is  a  question  of  what  constitutes  the  "policy  of 
prison  reform"  and  of  particulars,  since  the  whole 
country  and  the  Examiner  itself  agree  to  the 
proposition  that  "nobody  wants  to  go  back  to 
the  hopeless  days  when  the  dungeon  and  the  lash 
were  a  part  of  the  punishment  of  every  man  wdio 
was  sent  to  a  penitentiary". 

The  particulars  in  the  incidents  which  the 
Examiner  cites,  which  it  points  out  as  evidencing 
faults  in  "the  policy  of  prison  reform"  are  in  a 
strict  and,  therefore,  in  a  literally  true  sense,  not 
as  the  Examiner  states  them,  and  their  nature  and 
(|uality  are  not  at  all  what  the  Examiner  seems  to 
think  and  what  the  words  of  the  Examiner  neces- 
sarily imply. 

The  work  of  the  men  in  question  was  outside 
of  the  prison  walls.  One  \vas  coachman ;  one  was 
chauffeur;  one  was  a  runner.  It  was  necessary 
for  the  officers  in  charge  of  the  gates  to  let  these 
men  pass.  For  years  two  of  them  had  gone  out 
and  in,  in  pursuit  of  their  proper  duties.  This 
one  time  they  fell.  None  of  these  men  were 
"given  such  freedom  that  he  simply  walks  out  of 
prison". 

About  three  hundred  men  "walk  out"  of  the 
prison  gates  every  day  and  have  done  so  for 
many  years,  but  none  of  these  men  "walk  out  of 
prison".  That  these  men  do  not  themselves  con- 
sider that  they  are  "out  of  prison"  is  shown  by 
the  fact  that  they  all  come  back  within  the  walls 
at  night.  And  the  "two  men"  also,  and  of  their 
own  accord,  came  hack.  They  had  misspent  their 
time,  but  it  was  in  Chicago  as  well  as  in  towns 
nearer  to  this  institution,  that  they  found  the 
liquor  which  made  their  hours  a  "night's  de- 
bauch"— let  the  Examiner  please  remember  that. 
And  there  is  also  in  Chicago  many  another 
"night's  debauch"  by  persons  who  do  not  come 
from  within  prison  walls.    The  fact  that  the  two 


Mav  1,  1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


227 


men  from  this  prison  were  on  "a  nij^lit's  de- 
bauch in  Chicago"  ai)i)ears,  therefore,  not  to  he 
all  there  is  to  the  question  of  the  misspent  night. 
What  part  of  the  "fault"  of  these  men  in  this 
"night's  debauch"  is,  after  all,  society's  "fault"? 
The  "convicted"  men  are  plainly  in  error ;  wiiat 
about  the  error  and  the  rcsf^onsihility  of  the  "un- 
convicted"? 

b'urther,  the  lixainincr  conveys  tiic  impression 
that  the  two  men,  after  being  absent  "to  enjoy  a 
night's  debauch  in  Chicago",  were  welcomed  back 
to   prison   as    'naughty'    boys    who   had    simply 
gone  on  a  lark".    This  statement  is  strictly  con- 
trary to   fact,  as  the  records  of  this  institution 
will  show.     The  men  were  both  put  in  the  soli- 
tary, one,  on  account  of  his  condition,  soon  being 
taken  out  by  the  prison  physician  and  conveyed 
to  the  hospital,  while  the  other  remained  in  the 
solitary  the  allotted  number  of  days;  both  were 
given  inferior  positions ;  the  coachman  made   a 
hostler,  the  chautTeur  made  a  mechanic ;  I)<)th  lost 
the  privilege  of  going  outside  of  the  walls  and 
also  the  freedom  to  go  about  the  yard  and  to  visit 
the  Administration  building;  they  lost  their  suits 
of  citizen's  clothes  and  now  wear  the  common 
gray  prison  uniform;  they  have  been  reduced  in 
position  from  first  grade  to  third  grade  with  the 
loss  of  all  the  privileges  that,  as  first  grade  men, 
had  been  theirs ;  and  against  them  both  there  has 
been  entered  on  the  prison  books  the  charge  of 
their  misconduct  which  will  confront  and  embar- 
rass them,  if  ever  either  shall  ask  for  a  commu- 
tation or  pardon.    Does  the  Examiner  think  this 
is  being  "welcomed"  in  the  way  in  which  it  has 
reported  the  men  were  "welcomed";  does  it  think 
this  is  no  discipline  for  the  violation  of  the  ad- 
ministration's confidence?    And  does  the  Exam- 
iner understand  how  keenly  both  the  adminis- 
tration and  the  fifteen  hundred  men  of  this  insti- 
tution feel  the  efTect  of  such  a  mistake  as  was 
made  when  both  the  administration  and  the  men 
know  that  the  act  can  be  so  misunderstood  as  the 
Examiner's  comment  shows  and  that  in  conse- 
quence of  such  acts  the  cause  which  this  prison 
has  taken  up  is  retarded  and  to  a  degree  may  be 
actually  jeopardized? 

The  Examiner  speaks  of  the  inlluence  of  the 
men's  act  and  of  the  act  itself  as  follows: 

There  is  no  lesson  tending  to  respect  for 
law  in  the  circumstance  of  two  murderers, 


one  serving  a  life  sentence  and  the  other  a 
term  of  seventeen  years,  taking  the  warden's 
automobile  to  enjoy  a  night's  debauch  in  Chi- 
cago,  an<l  to  be  welcomed  back  to  pri.soM  as 
"naughty"  boys  who  have  simply  gone  <»n  a 
lark. 

And  yet  the  whole  me.ining  and  cliaracter 
which  the  Examiner  puts  into  the  act  is  seen. 
upon  anrdysis.  not  to  1)c  in  the  act  at  all.  The 
circumstance  is  a  wholly  dilTerent  thing  from 
what  the  Examiner,  from  the  items  in  its  news 
columns,  has  presumed.  True,  "there  is  no  les- 
son tending  to  respect  for  law"  when  a  thing 
takes  place — if  it  ever  should — such  as  the  Exam- 
iner states,  but  the  Examiner  does  not  show  that 
"respect  for  law"  suflfered  in  any  degree  l>ccausc 
of  what  did  take  place. 

The  great  ditViculty  with  the  "unconvicted" 
public  is  that  it  speaks  and  acts  from  the  opinions 
in  its  own  head  and  without  interest  or  patience 
to  learn  the  full  meaning  and  purpose  in  the  life 
of  the  person  who  has  come  under  its  judgment, 
as  that  life  meaning  and  purpo.se  is  known  to  the 
person  himself.  How  far  society  departs  from 
pure  justice  through  this  improper  way  of  judg- 
ing a  person,  will  be  known  to  society  only  when 
society  comes  out  of  the  habit  of  judging  a  \Kr- 
son  in  the  way  in  which  it  now  judges  him  an.i 
when,  in  clear  mind  and  with  a  redemptive  .spirit. 
it  learns  what  pure  justice  iv 

Proceeding  U|)tMi  its  own  notion  ol  what  .son 
of  people  "criminals"  are  and  putting  every  per 
son  who  has  been  convicted  in  a  court  in  the  sam< 
class,  the  Examimv  draws  conclusions  from  th« 
automobile  incident,  which  are  in  no  way  war 
ranted  by  what  took  place,  saying: 

The  whole  connnunity  rejoices  at  the  re- 
generation of  an  evil  man.  but  if  the  c«»st  of 
making  a  good  citizen  out  of  a  bad  one  has 
to  be  met  by  honest  people  at  the  |K)inl  of  a 
highwayman's  pistol,  the  question,  Arc  wc 
not  paying  t(»o  much?  nnist  suggest  itself. 

Nobody  was  nK)lested  by  any  one  qf  the  men 
no    "honest    people"    found    themselves   "at    th' 
point  of  a  highwayman's  pistol";  there  were  no 
•holdups"  ami  no  "burglaries". 

if  the  E.xaminer  justifies  its  declaration  and  it- 
protest  against  the  men's  U-ing  outside  of  the 
prison  wall  on  the  grr.und  of  what  the  men  did 


228 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


years  ago,  we  must  let  the  Examiner  go  its  way 
because  that  is  a  complete  abandonment  of  the 
work  "of  the  reclamation  of  convicts  from  a  life 
of  crime". 

The  two  men  have  shown  that  they  are  not  free 
from  the  power  of  the  habit  of  drink,  but  they 
have  proved,  as  far  as  their  years  of  residence 
here  can  prove  and  as  far  as  what  they  did  not 
do  on  that  unfortunate  trip  to  Chicago  can  prove, 
that  the  Examiner  is  wrong  in  going  back  to  a 
deplorable  act  of  years  ago  and  in  hounding  them 
with  the  claim  that  "honest  people"  are  subjected 
to  being  held  up  "at  the  point  of  a  highwayman's 
pistol" ;  and  even  what  the  men  did  do,  does  not 
justify  the  Examiner' s  criticism  of  the  general 
policy  of  the  administration  here  in  giving  men  a 
chance  to  re-establish  themselves.  The  inference 
that  the  policy  of  the  prison  betterment  as  prac- 
ticed in  this  or  in  any  other  institution,  "makes 
staying  in  jail  optional  with  the  criminal",  is  a 
deduction  from  the  opinions  and  prejudices — ■ 
however  slight — in  one's  own  head  and  is  in  no 
way  justifiably  drawn  from  anything  that  any 
prison  administration  is  doing. 

How  is  "the  reclamation  of  convicts  from  a 
life  of  crime"  to  be  effected,  when  representa- 
tives of  the  public  continually  throw  in  the  faces 
of  men  who  have  once  been  convicted,  the  epi- 
thets, "criminal",  "convict",  "lawless",  "danger- 
ous", "highwayman",  "evil  man",  and  when  these 
representatives  of  the  public  keep  the  public  al- 
ways aware,  for  years  and  even  for  the  man's 
whole  lifetime,  that  a  man — no  matter  how  or- 
derly may  be  his  life  at  the  time — is,  in  conse- 
quence of  what  happened,  perhaps  long  ago,  a 
"criminal",  a  "convict",  a  "dangerous"  and  "evil 
man"  ? 

What  right,  any  way,  has  a  person  to  charac- 
terize another  person  who  even  has  been  con- 
victed of  some  one  thing,  as  an  "evil  man",  as 
"dangerous  to  the  peace  and  dignity  of  the  state", 
as  a  person  of  a  "life  of  crime",  etc.?  It  does 
not  follow  that  a  man  is  bad  in  everything,  merely 
because  he  is — or  has  been — bad  in  one  thing. 
Even  though  these  terms  may  characterize  a  hun- 
dredth part  of  one  per  cent  of  the  men  convicted, 
there  is  no  justification  in  using  such  terms  in- 
discriminately as  designating  and  as  properly  de- 
scribing the  men  as  a  class. 

If  "everybody  is  in  favor  of  the  reclamation  of 


convicts  from  a  life  of  crime",  in  what  way  do 
the  makers  of  public  opinion  propose  that  "every- 
body" shall  show  that  "favor"?  What  is  the 
"general  applause  for  amelioration  of  the  condi- 
tion of  those  who  have  offended  against  the  law"  ? 
Is  it  the  shouting  of  condemnatory  names  called 
forth  when  two  men  who  have  "offended  against 
the  law"  fail?  If  "the  whole  community  rejoices 
at  the  regeneration  of  an  evil  man",  of  what 
moral  quality  can  that  rejoicing  be,  when,  as  oc- 
casionally a  man  falls,  that  same  community  asks 
itself,  "Are  we  not  paying  too  much  ?" 

In  view  of  the  Examiner's  having  so  completely 
misunderstood  even  the  two  men  who  went  on  a 
"debauch"  and  more  particularly  in  view  of  its 
apparent  misunderstanding  of  convicted  men  in 
general  and  in  view  of  its  consequent — and  pos- 
sibly unintentional — misrepresentation  of  these 
men,  is  it  not  possible  for  the  men  also  to  be 
somewhat  misunderstood  by  the  police? 

It  is  the  business  of  the  police  to  account  for 
crime.  The  public  expects  it.  What  is  a  more 
easy  or  an  apparently  more  logical  way  of  ac- 
counting for  crime,  than  to  say  that  all  crime  is 
"due  *  *  *  to  the  discharging  of  the  output  of 
the  penitentiaries  *  *  *  into  this  community"? 
And  how  easy  it  is  to  imply  that  all  of  "the  out- 
put" is  responsible  for  the  crime  when  nobody 
can  find  the  particular  persons — whether  they 
are  former  prisoners,  or  someone  else — who  are 
responsible?  It  is  this  inclusive  charge  which 
the  Examiner  voices  and  it  is  to  such  extrava- 
gant and  unwarranted  statements  as  this  that 
The  Joliet  Prison  Post  objects. 

Probably  the  Examiner  knows  that  the  police 
are  sometimes — and  possibly  are  often — over- 
zealous  in  their  effort  to  make  good  with  the  pub- 
lic. Even  Chicago's  own  state's  attorney  protests 
against  "police  officials  of  high  standing,  trying 
cases  *  *  *  in  the  public  press  and  then  when  the 
promising  clues  have  been  exhausted,  unloading 
the  case  upon  the  state's  attorney's  office".*  If 
the  state's  attorney  does  not  like  being  made  "the 
goat",  how  do  the  people  generally  think  that  the 
"output"  likes  it  when  likely  some  of  them  have 
been  made  "the  goat"  before  ? 

The  men  of  this  penitentiary  whose  thought  is 
represented  in  the  honor  movement  and  in  what 


•"Formal   statement,"   by   Mr.    Maclay  Hoyne,   state's  attorney 
at  Chicago,   in  Chicago  Examiner,  March  17,  1914. 


May  1,  1914                                        THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  229 

is  written  in  this  magazine,  have  no  "grouch"  ural  rights  can  be  acknowledged  and  allowed  even 

against  the  police  as  a  body.    These  men  are  not  while  that  in  the  prisoner  which  would  ignore  the 

so   indiscriminate   and   general    in   (heir   critical  rights  of  others,  is,  at  the  same  time,  kept  under 

comment  as  the  Examiner  appears  to  be.     As  restraint.      The    Examiner   recognizes    that    the 

these  men  recognize  that  law  and  the  courts  are  whole  principle  of  punishment  is  that  the  wrong 

necessary,  so  they  recognize  that  the  police  are  in  man  shall  be  rcj)ressed,  and  in  pushing  too 

necessary  and,  as  citizens  of  the  state,  they  ac-  vigorously  the  question,  "Are  we  not  paying  too 

cept  the  police  amicably  even  though  in  an  indi-  much"?  it  overlooks  what  must  be  the  prison  rc- 

vidual  instance  there  might  be  a  complaint  against  form    movement's   essential   clement,   the   movc- 

a  particular  policeman  because  of  a  personal  ex-  ment's  dominant  and  governing  purjxjse;  it  loses 

perience.  sight  of  the  corrective,  constructive  steps  and  suc- 

Mr.  William  Walsh,  the  present  deputy  warden  cumbs  to  a  reactionary  abandonment  of  prison  rc- 

of  this  prison,  is  an  ex-policeman  and  no  deputy  form  itself. 

was  ever  more  popular  here  than  he  is.     Some  "The  question  *  ♦  *  must  suggest  itself",  Has 

who  knew  Mr.  Walsh  while  he  was  on  the  police  the  Examiner  yet  come  to  the  full  spirit  of  the 

force,  speak  well  of  him  then  also.    In  an  address  new  movement  of  prison  reform ;  is  it  guarding 

to  the  men  i;i  chapel  when  Deputy  Walsh  first  that  of  the  movement  which  must  be  guarded  if 

came,  the  deputy  said  he  had  had  some  misgiv-  the  movement  is  to  succeed? 

ings  about  accepting  the  position  of  deputy  be-  Instead  of  advancing  with  the  prison  reform 

cause  of  his  having  been  a  policeman,  since  he  movement,  the  Examiner  is  holding  to  the  meth- 

had  thought  that  that  might  count  against  him  ods  which  the  world  is  moving  away  from ;  it  is 

in  the  estimation  of  the  men.     But  the  deputy  yielding  to  the  still  lingering  hold  of  the  appre- 

said  he  had  found  no  feeling  of  prejudice  or  an-  hension  of  the  world's  untiuickened  mind,  that  the 

tagonism  and  he  then  thanked  the  men  for  it.  evil  in  man  must  be  chietly  considered,  that  the 

The  men  in  this  institution  who  are  seeking  to  evil  cannot  be  overcome  by  awakening  the  goo<l; 

help  set  things  right  in  society,  are  not  biased,  fearful,  therefore,  of  the  consequence  of  devoting 

They  are  willing  and  they  want  others  to  be  will-  its  energy  to  tiie  support  of  the  proposition  that 

ing  to  acknowledge  things  just  as  they  are.    They  predominant  consideration  shall  be  given  to  the 

do  not  want  to  see  the  "unconvicted"  pitted  in  re-  better  qualities  in  man,  rather  than  fo  make  the 

Icntless  persecution  against  the  "convicted"  on  the  lower  (jualities  the  chief  concern. 

perilous  presumption  that  the  action  of  a  court —  ® 

either  just  or  prejudiced — can  make  any  differ-  The  administration  and  tlie  men  at  the  Joliet 

ence  in  the  laws  and  the  quality  of  human  nature  penitentiary  and  the  administration  and  (he  men 

which  make  for  and  which  determine  progress.  at  other   penitentiaries   throughout   the  a)untry 

^  are  undertaking  something  very  valid,  very  real. 

-r\      n        •            4.                t          '<*i                 1  Thev  are  deeply  in  earnest  about  it  and  they  can- 

I  he  Examiner  gets  away  from     the  general  J^              •  -^             .                                  -^ 

,  .         *  *  *  *                 •       r      ti            1-       *•  uot   endure   such   a  misunderstandmg  as   would 

applause  at  *  *  *  a  campaign  for  the  amelioration  ... 

^  r   -t             I-.-          r   .,             11            a      }    \  come  from  the  Examiner's  editorial  comment, 

of   the   condition    of   those   who   have  offended  ... 

„     •     4.  -u    1      "    r        i    ii    i  <<     u    1            it  The  prisoners  are  asking  noihin;'  of  the  Stite 

against  the  law  ,  forgets  that     nobody  wants  to  *                                -^             **. 

L     1    .     ^u     I        1         1            u       ii       1  bevoiul  what  will  benefit  the  Stale  lull*  as  much 

go  back  to  the  hopeless  days  when  the  dungeon  -jv""^'  «  ui        .                                   , '.             , 

1  ..      ,     1                         i     r  it             •  t         i     f  as  it  will  benefit  tlicm.     1  hev  are  seeking  no  fa- 

and  the  lash  were  a  part  of  the  punishment  of  .',.,•           T      i 

,                    .  .                *     i-       •'     *i  vors  and  they  are  not  trying  to  sluft  any  burdens, 

every  man  who  was  sent  to  a  penitentiary  — the  *"^"           j                             ,.,    ,        ,. 

r:        •        ,            •  Ui     r  *i         .i  •         •      *          i  Thev  see  wherein  .some  have  failed  and  tkey  arc 

Examiner  loses  sight  of  these  things  in  its  zeal  -                      ,         . .               .          ■      .         i 

„             i-       I           r         I-.-  taking  up  their  life  problem  to  solve  it  m  the  only 

to  answer  the  question,  born  of  conditions  gener-  ^^     '                    '              .      ,      ,                 .   . 

^.    1  •     •,     •        ■     r        "\                 i         -4^  way  in  which  it  can  be  solved:  they  are  giving 

ated  in  its  imagination,     Are  we  not  paying  too  -^                     .     .             .           .  .  .       ,          , 

j^^^j  .„^              °                                         "  strength  and   vitality  to  that  within  themselves 

T.,      r.                         I     I     .1    i  iu       u  1        •   ^-  with  which,  in  any  community  and  in  any  con- 

1  he  £.tamj«^r  overlooks  that  the  whole  princi-  '           /               „       ,  ..      ,             i.. 

1       ,  ^,     ,                 ,        •  \t    i  iU           I  •  (htions,  they  can    prove  up    and    make  good  . 

pie  of  the  honor  system  is  that  the  good  in  man  .     .        .      ,,          t^,    .        ,               ,    , 

^1    „    ,                         1     it    .   .1                         I    •  In  signing  the  Honor  Pledge  the  men  declare 

shall   be   encouraged,   that   the   proper   and    in-  .      ,                . 

•  ,  1 ,                      ,           •     .1    .                  -I  their  purpose  in  these  words: 

violable   prison    reform,   is   that   progressively   a  '      *^ 

way  shall  be  found  in  which  the  prisoner's  nat-  I  recognize  that  the  honor  system  opens  an 


230 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


opportunity  for  me  to  bring  out  the  qualities 
of  good  citizenship  and  that  I  am  to  earn  and 
to  prove,  by  my  conduct  and  loyalty,  the 
rights  that  I  am  to  enjoy. 

I  shall  undertake  to  bring  the  work  of  the 
department  in  which  I  am  employed  to  a 
proper  degree  of  efficiency ;  shall  show  my- 
self worthy  to  be  trusted  in  any  situation  or 
to  be  sent  to  any  place  without  a  supervising  . 
or  guarding  officer ;  shall  traffic  in  no  contra- 
band goods  either  within  the  prison  or  with 
the  outside.  And,  above  all  things,  I  shall 
not  seek  to  escape  from  this  institution. 

There  is  a  new  forward  movement  in  the 
world,  not  confined  to  prisons,  and  of  which 
prison  "reform"  is  but  a  feature ;  a  movement 
which  gives  man  a  new  spirit,  a  different  outlook 
upon  life,  a  higher  expectation  in  his  own  possi- 
bilities and  enjoyments,  and  "nobody  wants  to  go 
back"  to  the  days  of  less  hope  and  promise.  The 
JoLiET  Prison  Post  does  not  believe  that  the 
Examiner  "wants  to  go  back".  It  thinks  only 
that  the  Examiner  does  not  know  the  men  who 
have  fallen  under  sentence  through  the  law,  as 
those  men  really  are.  The  men  of  this  experience 
have  always  had  some  hope,  but  now  their  hope 
has  new  security  since,  through  the  publication 
of  journals,  such  as  The  Joliet  Prison  Post, 
edited  by  prisoners  themselves,  these  men  can  de- 
clare themselves  and  their  purposes  and  can  make 
themselves  and  their  purposes  known.  It  is  this 
that  we  are  seeking  to  do  now,  in  correcting  the 
inferences  which  the  Chicago  Examiner  has 
made. 

Warden  Allen  is  standing  by  his  men  and  many 
of  the  men  are  standing  by  their  Warden.  The 
Warden  says:  "It  is  my  intention  to  make  life  in 
this  prison  as  nearly  normal  as  it  is  possible  to 
make  it  in  an  institution  of  this  kind.  I  am  not 
trying  to  make  model  prisoners.  I  am  attempting 
to  make  those  who  have  committed  crimes  into 
good  citizens."  And  the  men  give  back  their  reply 
in  the  pledge :  "I  recognize  that  the  honor  system 
opens  an  opportunity  for  me  to  bring  out  the 
qualities  of  good  citizenship ;  I  shall  show  myself 
worthy  to  be  trusted  in  any  situation.  And,  above 
all  things,  I  shall  not  seek  to  escape  from  this 
institution";  and  while  some  may  likely  fail  to 


keep  this  pledge,  a  sufficient  number  will  keep  it 
to  make  secure  the  conquest  of  the  wrongs  which 
has  been  undertaken.  And  with  this  compact  be- 
tween the  administration  and  the  men,  the  war- 
den gives  to  the  public  an  utterance  with  refer- 
ence to  the  automobile  affair,  which,  in  the  nature 
of  things,  if  the  honor  system  here  does  succeed, 
must  become  historical :  "I  am  going  right  on 
with  my  policies,  but  I  shall  modify  some  of  the 
ways  in  which  I  am  to  carry  them  out.  /  cannot 
let  an  incident  interfere  with  a  cause." 

A  Plain  Proposition 

The  men  of  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary  at 
Joliet  are  facing  an  opportunity  which  has  never 
before  been  offered  to  them  but  which  condi- 
tions and  the  attitude  of  the  public  mind  now  J 
make  possible.  What  this  opportunity  shall  mean 
to  these  men  is  plainly  up  to  the  men  themselves. 

The  Joliet  Prison  Post  was  established  Jan- 
uary 1  of  this  year  by  the  Board  of  Commission- 
ers and  by  the  Warden  of  the  Illinois  State  Peni- 
tentiary, as  an  aid  in  working  out  the  possibilities 
which  the  new  conditions  and  the  new  state  of 
public  feeling  make  possible. 

The  question  of  embracing  the  opportunity  that 
is  before  us  is  much  greater  and  far  more  com- 
plicated than  merely  a  question  of  what  the 
Warden  will  allow  and  of  what  increase  of  privi- 
leges the  prisoners  may  enjoy.  The  Warden 
might  be  willing  to  give  all  the  privileges  we 
would  name,  but  the  change  to  a  more  liberal 
prison  policy  does  not  involve  the  Warden  only; 
it  involves  the  whole  prison  administration — the 
Governor,  the  Legislature,  the  Board  of  Prison 
Industries,  the  Board  of  Commissioners — and  it 
involves  the  prisoners  themselvses  and  the  public. 

The  Joliet  Prison  Post  must  keep  true  to  all 
of  these  interests.  With  any  policy  less  than 
this.  The  Joliet  Prison  Post  would  not  properly 
represent  the  cause,  the  purpose,  which  it  is  pre- 
sumed to  represent  and  it  would  lack  something 
in  power  to  carry  out  that  purpose.  But,  on  the 
other  hand,  if  The  Joliet  Prison  Post  is  kept 
true  to  all  these  interests,  it  is  inevitable  that  it 
shall  help  the  cause  to  succeed,  shall  help  the 
Warden  and  the  prisoners  who  see  what  the 
Warden  sees,  to  realize  their  hope. 


May  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


231 


I 


I 


In  the  wisdom  of  the  prison  administration, 
this  magazine  is  puhhslicd  hy  tlie  Board  of  Com- 
missioners and  by  the  Warden,  but  its  reading 
matter  is  prepared  by  prisoners  and  the  magazine 
is  edited  by  a  prisoner.  It  is  plainly  up  to  the 
men — the  inmates  of  the  Illinois  State  Peniten- 
tiary at  Joliet — whether  or  not  we  are  to  come  tt> 
that  which  the  new  time  and  the  new  administra- 
tion offer  us. 

It  is  an  easy  matter  to  hlame  tiie  administration 
if  we  do  not  get  all  the  things  we  want  or  even 
the  things  we  really  should  have.  It  seems  to  he 
characteristic  of  a  certain  quality  of  mind  to 
blame  some  one  or  something  besides  oneself  for 
that  which  oneself  is  not  able  to  command.  P>ut 
this  will  not  do.  It  invites  no  assistance  and  it 
adds  nothing  to  our  advantages.  With  a  plan  of 
prison  improvement  offered  by  the  administration 
and  with  the  administration  ready  to  guide  the 
men  in  putting  that  plan  into  effect,  the  proposi- 
tion of  what  prison  improvement  shall  be  worked 
out  and  of  what  general  social  advantage  will 
come  from  what  is  now  possible  to  us,  is  a  ciues- 
tion  of  the  inmates  themselves ;  it  is  a  question 
which  we  must  take  up  and  settle  in  our  own 
thought. 

For  nearly  a  year  the  Warden  has  clearly 
shown  his  hand :  he  has  offered  one  opportunity 
after  another,  has  urged  the  men  to  better  things 
and  has  asked  the  public  for  its  confidence  and 
support.  The  improvement  undertaken  in  this 
institution  may  fail,  but  if  it  fails  it  will  be  the 
failure  of  the  men  themselves,  not  the  failure  of 
the  Warden.    Let  us  all  remember  that. 


It  is  possible  that  some  of  the  men  do  not  real- 
ize what  it  means  in  a  community  such  as  this,  to 
bring  in  an  honor  system,  to  provide  such  a  de- 
gree of  natural,  normal  freedom  as  Warden  Allen 
proposes.  And  it  may  be  well  for  all  of  us  to 
look,  somewhat  more  seriously  and  more  deeply, 
into  the  tremendous  thing  that  has  been  under- 
taken. 

Mr.  .Mien  came  into  the  iK)sition  of  Warden 
April  26,  1913.  He  made  one  important  improve- 
ment the  first  week  and  he  continued  bettering 
the  conditions  for  several  months.  Now  the  char- 
acter of  this  place  is  completely  changed  from 
what  it  was  before  Mr.  Allen  came. 


I  f  at  this  point  any  reader  wishes  to  meet  this 
anirniation  with  criticism  an<l  counter  statements, 
let  him  please  wait  until  wc  have  considered  the 
whole  (|uestion. 

« 

Ihe  fact  that  the  character  of  this  institution 
is  changed ;  that  the  underlying  motive  of  the  ad- 
ministration is  different  from  what  the  motive  in 
administration  has  been  before;  that  the  physical 
condition  of  all  of  the  men  has  improved  to  a  de- 
gree and  that  for  many  of  the  men  it  has  im- 
l)roved  greatly ;  that  there  is  more  interest  in  am' 
more  opportunity  for  mental  improvement:  that 
great  inlluences  have  been  and  are  being  set  at 
work  to  help  the  men  into  a  wholly  different  and 
niucli  higher  type  of  life  than  prisons  have  been 
accustomed  to  contemplate  for  prison  inmates — 
will  not  be  denied  by  any  just  and  clear  mind. 

The  difficulty  with  some  of  the  men  seems  to 
be  that  they  think  that  Warden  .Allen  is  to  do 
all  that  is  to  be  done  and  that  they  have  only  to 
enjoy  the  benefits  that  ensue.  That  might  be  .s«)  if 
the  Warden's  purpose  were  something  different 
from  what  it  is.  The  adminiNtration's  purpo.se, 
which  has  been  made  possible  by  the  new  public 
opinion,  is  not  to  provide  the  men  with  an  enjoy- 
able time ;  the  purpose  is  to  open  a  way  for  the 
men  to  become  better  citizens. 

It  is  imixirtant  for  every  prisoner  to  recopiize 
this  fact.     It  will  save  us  some  disapiiointments. 

The  laws  of  human  life  and  human  progress 
are  no  different  in  communities  environc<l  by  re- 
straining walls  from  what  they  arc  where  there 
are  no  such  walN.  .\  man's  character — conceiv- 
ing character  in  its  large  sense — will  fix  a  i>cr- 
son's  position  in  any  community.  If,  in  the  opin- 
ion of  others,  a  person  is  given  a  place  ditTerent 
from  the  place  that  rightfully  belongs  to  him.  the 
force  of  his  character  will,  in  time,  correct  the 
error,  will  bring  the  man  to  where  he  belongs. 

There  is  no  other  provision  for  full  an<l  per- 
manent success.  Among  ourselves  we  use  the 
term,  "make  good,"  but  by  that  we  mean  that  wc 
shall  .set  ourselves  up  among  men  in  what  strength 
of  character  there  is  in  us. 

The  most  essential  thing  in  the  honor  system 
of  this  penitentiary  is,  naturally,  the  honor  policy 


232                                                     THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST                                           First  Year 

which  has  been  inaugurated  by  the  administration  All  know   how   from  the  first  as  the  weeks 

and  which,  in  the  nature  of  the  case,  is  the  foun-  passed,  the  rigidity  of  this  place  dissolved.    One 

dation  of  the  system.     Without  this  policy,  the  man  who  had  been  here  some  years  said  in  be- 

condition  of  the  prisoners  would  be  as  hopeless  as  wilderment :  "This  is  not  the  old  Joliet  any  more ; 

it  has  been  during  the  years  past.    But,  while  that  it  is  something  different."    With  the  interest  of 

is  so,  it  is  nevertheless  also  true  that  all  that  the  the  men  awakened  in  recreation,  the  efficiency  of 

administration  has  done  and  is  now  doing,  can  the  shops  lessened  for  a  time,  but,  even  knowing 

amount  to  nothing  if  the  men  do  not  respond.  We  that.  Warden  Allen  let  it  pass,  recognizing  that 

all  know  the  old  adage  of  one's  being  able  to  lead  something  must  be  given  up  as  the  price  of  inau- 

a  horse  to  water  but  not  being  able  to  make  him  gurating  the  new  policy  he  was  to  work  out. 

drink,  and  some  of  us  know  that  it  is  true — true  A  large  percentage  of  the  men  have  appreciated 

with  beasts  and  true  with  men.  the   opportunities  the  administration  has  given, 

The  Joliet  Prison  Post,  with  an  interest  in  but  there  are  some  who  have  ignored  the  value 

the  men  equal  to  its  interest  in  the  administration  of  the  opportunities  and  who  have  used  their 

and  with  an  interest  in  the  administration  equal  chances  to  carry  out  their  personal  and  purely  sel- 

to  its  interest  in  the  men,  says,  and  says  earnestly,  fish  interests,  unmindful  that  a  cause  in  the  serv- 

that  the  men  must  live  the  honor  system  or  there  ice  of  human  welfare  has  been  begun  here  and 

will  be  no  honor  system.     It  is  not  for  us  to  try  that  their  indulgences  in  selfish  self-interest  would 

the  patience  of  the  Warden ;  we  are  to  accept  the  retard,    if   not    actually   jeopardize,    that   cause, 

opportunity  that  is  offered  and  to  "make  good"  These  men  overlooked  the   fact  that  an  honor 

just    as    soon    as    we   can;    we   are    to    become  system  means  that  there  shall  be  honor,  that  the 

law  abiding  citizens  of  this  settlement  so  that  the  men  shall  be  on  the  square, 

general  public  may  come  to  see  that  there  is  rea-  ^ 

son  to  believe  that  we  shall  be  law-abiding  citi-  ^hjig^  ^^^-^^^  the  passing  months,  the  admin- 

zens  m  any  settlement.  istration  has  continually  undertaken  to  bring  the 

®  honor  system  to  pass,  men  who  have  not  taken 

Even  though  the  men  confined  in  this  prison  proper  account  of  the  value  of  the  honor  system 

might  fail  to  appreciate  the  force  of  all  other  ^nd  who  have  not  properly  estimated  the  relation 

arguments  to   show  that  the  State,  represented  of  their  own  acts  to  the  possibilities  of  the  system, 

here  by  the  prison  administration,  should  be  given  h^ye  done  things  that  have  retarded  the  granting 

first  consideration,  there  is   one  argument  that  ^f  ^  larger  freedom  to  the  prisoners  and  that  has 

must  appeal  conclusively  to  all  of  us ;  that  is,  ^Iso  to  a  degree  embarrassed  the  administration 

that  in  all  that  relates  to  our  present  welfare  and  ^j|.j^  ^^^  public 

to  the  possible  shortening  of  the  term  of  our  im-  ^^^h  the  release  of  the  old-time   stringency, 

prisonment,  power  is  with  the  State  and  not  with  ^^^^^  ^^^  ^  g^j^eral  relaxation"  in  the  shops ;  men 

us.    The  Joliet  Prison  Post  does  not  wish  to  ..^oj-king  in  the  yard  who  were  in  position  to  do 

put  the  acknowledgment  due  the  State  by  pris-  ^^^  undertook  improperly  to  leave  their  work  and 

oners,  on  this  low  ground,  but  it  is  put  on  this  ^^  ^p^^^  ^^^^  ^^  ^^^  playground ;  the  policy  of 

ground  now  so  as  to  bring  each  man  in  this  in-  dressing  the  men  better  and  of  allowing  them  to 

stitution  squarely  to  face  the  solid  fact  that  it  is  ^p^^jfy  ^^^^-^  ^^^^  j,^  clothing,  was  abused  by  men 

only  through  justifying  himself  in  the  eyes  of  the  ^^j^^  ^-^  ^^^  properly  value  what  the  Warden  was 

State,  in  the  eyes  of  the  general  public,  that  he  offering  them;  when  given  the  privilege  to  tinker, 

can  hope,  within  the  term  of  his  sentence,  to  have  ^^^^  ,^g„  ^^  ^^^^  ^^t^jl  overran  the  leisure  time 

any  reliet.  ^£  ^j^^  noon  hour,  carrying  their  tinkering  into 

®  the  business  hours  when  they  should  have  been  at 

When  the  Warden  first  met     the  men  in  the  the  work  given  them  to  do  by  the  State ;  and  the 

chapel  meeting,  October  22,  last  year,  he  said :  men,  moreover,  further  to  extend  their  advantage 

"Boys,  this  is  a  great  work.    It  is  the  turn-  in  tinkering,  also,  in  some  instances  appropriated 

ing  point.    I  must  have  the  help  of  my  men  the  State's  material  for  making  their  trinkets. 

and  I  pledge  you  now  that  I  shall  be  on  the  While  all  of  these  offenses  are  small  in  them- 

level  with  you  at  all  times."  selves,  the  principle  and  practice  is  something 


^Jay  1-  1914  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


233 


that  the  administration  cannot  allow.    It  was  in-  complicate  things  in  any  embarrassing  war     The 

evitable  that  the  Warden  should  do  something  to  dilTerences  of  opinion   would  then  soon  adjust 

make  the  men  realize  the  meaning  of  the  freedom  themselves  to  the  common  interest  of  all  The  diffi- 

he  had  granted,  do  something  to  cause  them  to  culty  in  all  social  administration  where  the  prin- 

stop  the  indulgences  which  were  preventing  the  ciple  of  democracy  is  introduced,  is  that  all  men 

good  he  would  do.  do  not  abandon  themselves  to  the  common  inter- 

®  est  but,  on  the  contrary,  hold  tenaciously  and 

The  problem  of  how  to  meet  this  condition  and  sometimes  viciously  to  their  own  selfish  .self-in- 
still to  carry  out  the  policy  of  greater  freedom  for  terest  without  regard  to  what  the  effect  is  on  the 
the  prisoners,  of  how  to  allow  the  prisoners  more  ^Jody  politic,  on  their  neighbors  and  fellow  citi- 
rights,  continually  confronts  the  administration,  '/ens. 

But   for   this   problem,   progress   in  getting  the  It  is  this  quality  of  mind,  which  never  unites 

honor  system  under  way  would  have  been   far  \vitli  the  common  good,  that  has  made  all  the 

more  rapid  than  it  has  been.  trouble  in  this  prison  that  the  new  democratic 

Some  of  the  prisoners  may  not  have  recognized  l)olicy  has  encountered, 

that  it  is  a  much  greater  undertaking  to  admin-  ^ 

ister  the  affairs  of  a  prison  under  a  policy  "of  lib-  ^              ,              ... 

eral  treafnent  of  the  men,  than  to  administer  ^"' "'"f  '»  P°'"'  ""'.  »"'  *«  "»•  'lo  a«ay 

those  affairs  under  a  pohcy  of  stringent  discip-  "",''  ''''"  '''f  ■'•""K  'I"-''''')'  »'  """J.  <i<^^  "0> 

jjj^g  end  the  selfishness  which  has  outraged  the  good 

Every  relaxation  of  discipline  with  its  corre-  ^"'1^°'^  ""^""'^   *^"  ^^^'■^^"  ^'^'  '^^   ^^^^'^  ^"^ 

sponding  added  degree  of  personal  freedom  for  ''^''^^'  ^'^  ''  '^'^  determined  upon, 

the  men,  means,  to  the  degree  that  there  is  per-  '^^'^''^  ^'^  ^'''^  extremes  in  government  possi- 

sonal  freedom,  that  the  thought  of  many  minds  ^^^  ^°  ^  community:  government  by  one  mind, 

comes  into  the  prison's  affairs  instead  of  those  ^'^^^  '^^>  ^^'^^^  ^^^  authority  vested  in  a  single  per- 

affairs  being  wholly  under  the  direction  (and  die-  ^*^"'   ^"^   government  by  all   the  people  which 

tation  as  in  times  past)  of  but  one  mind.     It  is  '"^^^^   ^'^^   community   a   democracy.      Warden 

this  liberation  of  the  thought  of  many  minds,  as  '^"^"  ^'"^^  relaxed  the  severity  which  had  been 

against  the  single  thought  of  a  prison's  warden  customary;  he  took  away  many  of  the  prohibi- 

that  brings  the   new   problems.     The   problems  ^'''"^  ^^'^^  ^'^^  ^^^"  ^''"'"^  hardships.     Then  he 

come,  and  must  come,  with  the  introduction  of  a  ^^S''^"  ^°  introduce  his  liberal  policy,  began  to 

policy  such  as  Warden  Allen  declared  that  he  is  '^'''''  ^^^  '"^"  °"  ^°  '^'^'^'"^  ^^"^y  ^°"'*^  ^^  '*^^^^  "'" 

determined  to  carry  out.     This  bringing  of  the  ""  '""'^^'^  ^''''>'"  '"^^come  .self-governing."     It  is 

thought  of  different  minds  into  the  prison's  af-  "«^  ^^  ^^  supposed  that  the  granting  of  limited 

fairs  is  necessarily  incident  to  allowing  the  men  self-government  is  in  any  way  an  arbitrary  lim- 

more  freedom  and,  to  avoid  as  many  complica-  '^'"^^'O"  °^  ^'^^  '"*^"'^  opi)ortunities.    When,  at  the 

tions  as  possible,  the  men  are  to  begin  "in  a  lim-  meeting  of  October  22,  the  Wartlen  said  he  would 

ited  way  to  become  self-governing."    The  War-  ^"  ''^^  ^'''  ^^  ^'^^  behavior  of  the  men  would  allow 

den's  announcement  that  the  men  are  to  be  al-  '^''"  *°  ^'''  ^^'"  '"''•'^"^  ^'''^^  ^''^'  '"*"'"  ""'"^  '"'"'''^  ^''"'^ 

lowed  to  help  to  work  out  a  beginning  in  self-  '^'^''^  *'^^'  ^'""^'-^  '>^'  ^^^•"'*'  *'°  ""'  *'''  '"°"'''  "^'^  *'° 

government  is  made  after  the  Warden  had  experi-  ^'^^'"^ '  ^'^^^  ""'^"'^^  ^''^  '"^"  ^^■""'^'  '"•'•^^"  »""''  '" 

enced  all  the  violations  of  his  plan,  all  the  viola-  t'^^'  '-^'Ivantages  h«  offered,  those  thmgs  would  not 

tions  of  order,  which  have  just  been  referred  to.  ''^'  l"--'etical.     It  is.  therefore,  plain  that,  under 

This   fact  alone  shows  the  men  who  want  the  ^'^^'  l^"''*-'-^'  ^^  ^''*^  J""^'^*^"^  administration,  the  men 

Warden's  system  to  succeed,  that  the  Warden  will  ^•""''"^'^'  '"  ^''"^  penitentiary  can  have  all  that  they 

hold  to  what  he  has  undertaken,  that  he  will  make  ^•'»"  ^'i'""'  '^"  ^'^^^  ^'^^^  ^^"  J^^^'^y- 

it  possible  for  these  men  to  do  that  which  they  O 

are  hoping  to  do.  When    in   any   community,   the  movement  to- 

®  wards  democracy  begins  to  break  down,  inevit- 

If  all  men  were  of  true  purpose,  the  liberation  ably  the  government  reverts  toward  the  one-mind 

of  many  minds  in  managing  affairs  would  not  rule,  which  is  the  way  of  government  that  has 


234  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  First  Year 

been  proved  to  be  effective,  and  which,  in  the  than  this.  The  subtlety  of  the  problem  is  that 
process  of  the  world's  social  evolution,  was  the  which  defeats  so  many  of  the  attempts  at  social 
method  of  administration  that  preceded  democ-  ''reform";  the  attempts  are  somewhat  artificial; 
racy.  Likewise,  when  the  men  here  become  law-  they  do  not  deal  with  the  primary  causes ;  they  do 
less  and  the  advice  comes  to  Warden  Allen  to  not  properly  take  account  of  the  inner  forces 
"tighten  up,"  some  of  the  freedom  that  had  been  which,  ever  at  work,  affect  and  govern  men's  ac- 
granted  to  the  men  is  taken  away  and  must  be  tions.  While  it  is  true  that  some  men  are  able 
taken  away.  We  halt  in  our  movement  toward  to  live  their  good  qualities,  and  that  other  men 
self-government  and  take  cover  under  the  au-  are  under  the  power  of  their  evil  qualities,  it  is 
thority  of  a  single  mind,  so  that  peace  and  order  also  true  that  most  men,  according  to  conditions, 
may  be  secure.  The  tightening  up  is  the  rever-  are  subject  to  both  their  higher  and  lower 
sion  to  the  authority  of  a  single  person.  What  "selves."  This  is  the  subtle  condition  in  each  in- 
takes place  is  the  same  as  what  has  taken  place  dividual,  which  continually  defeats  or  which  at 
under  like  circumstances  in  the  social  growth  of  any  moment  in  a  particular  instance  may  defeat 
every  community  since  the  beginning  of  civiliza-  (as  the  experiences  herein  cited  show)  the  War- 
tion.  The  reversion  is  in  obedience  to  a  law  of  den's  or  anybody's  attempt  at  bettering  condi- 
conservation,  which  the  safety  of  society  requires  tions. ' 

shall  accompany  society's  progress.  We  are  under  In  the  first  issue  of  The  Joliet  Prison  Post 

the  same  law  here,  because  the  law  is  a  part  of  Warden  Allen  made  the  following  statement :    "I 

nature.     The  prison  administration  knows  that  am  opposed  to  punishing  all  for  the  faults  of  one 

Warden    Allen — that    one    man    authority — can  or  a  few.    Discipline  is  maintained  by  rewarding 

conduct  the  prison.    Allowing  the  men  a  measure  good  behavior  and  by  punishment  and  segrega- 

of  self-government  in  a  prison  is  still  an  experi-  tion  of  offenders,"  which  advises  us  that  the  War- 

ment.     When  the  venture  in  self-government  so  den  recognizes  and  accepts  the  problem  which  is 

completely  breaks  down  that  the  obligation  of  the  before  him. 
prison  administration  to  the  State  is  threatened,  ^ 

the  administration  is  compelled  to  withdraw  some 
of  the  privileges  that  have  been  granted  the  men. 


The  problem,  then,  with  which  this  penitentiary 
has  to  deal,  stated  succinctly,  is  this:  so  to  adapt 
a  system  of  discipline  to  a  system  of  freedom  that 


Always  we  find  in  man  the  dual  quality  which  that  which  is  good  may  have  free  and  open  way 

urges  them  to  support  a  movement  of  social  in-  and  that  that  which  is  evil  may  be  restrained  as 

terest  and  which  also  causes  them  to  assert  their  fully  as  possible. 

private  selfish  interest,  which  acts  directly  against  It  is  a  problem  which  every  community  has 

peaceful    and,   advantageous    association.      The  faced  and  must  continue  to  face,  until  the  prob- 

ratio  of  the  better  to  the  baser  qualities  varies  in  lem  is  solved  or  until  man's  evil  nature  has  been 

different  men.    In  some  the  good  is  dominant,  in  dissolved  and  man  has  become  altogether  good ; 

others  the  evil  is  dominant ;  some  are  able  to  live  and  prison  communities,  any  more  than  any  other 

under  the  sovereignty  of  their  own  good  purpose,  communities,  cannot  escape  facing  and  cannot  es- 

others  must  be  restrained  in  their  tendencies  and  cape  working  out  the  solution  of  the  problem, 

put  under  the  sovereignty  of  the  good  purpose  of  The  administration  must  face  it  and  the  pris- 

others.    The  good  in  men  may  be  liberated ;  the  oners  must  face  it.    Together  the  administration 

evil  in  men  must  be  restricted ;  men  who  will  be  and  the  prisoners  must  work  their  way  toward 

governed  by  the  good  that  is  in  them,  may  and  the  measure  of  self-government  that  is  to  be  at- 

should  be  given  freedom ;  men  who  are  governed  tempted ;  but  the  prisoners  must  always  remem- 

by   the    evil    that    is    in    them,    must    be    under  her  that  unless  they  do  their  part,  the  administra- 

disciplme.  ^j^^  ^^,jjj  ^^^  ^^  ^^^^  ^^  ^^  ^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^^  j^.  ^o^id 

^  otherwise  be  able  to  do.    As  the  prisoners  show 

But  the  elements  in  the  problem  of  governing  that  they  are  able  to  govern  themselves,  the  ad- 

this  prison  and  in  the  problem  of  governing  any  ministration  can  give  them  more  freedom  in  its 

other  community  are  more  hidden,  more  subtle  government  of  them. 


May  1,  1914                                      THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  235 

Concerning  Warden  Allen's  Communication  to  be  sent  to  any  place  without  a  supervising 

In    a   comniunication   to   tiie   inmates   of  this  or  guarding  officer  ;  shall  traffic  in  no  contra- 

pris<.n    dated    March   26,    which    is   printed    on  '>'iii'l  g'K)ds,  cither  within  the  prison  or  with 

pages   178  and   179  of  the  April  issue  of   this  tlie  outside.     And,  above  all  things,  I  shall 

magazine,  Warden  Allen  makes  known  his  plans  "ot  seek  to  escape  from  this  institution, 

regarding  the  honor  system  which  he  desires  to  Faithfully  subscribed  to, 

see  established.  Name 

The  communication  speaks  plainly  and  there  Register  Number 

is  no  room  for  intelligent  difference  of  opinion  in  Hated    Juliet,    111 

regard  to  the  rules,  which  became  effective  April  I  hereby  certify  that 

1,  1914.    But  the  reasons  for  and  the  logic  behind  No: has  this  day  appeared  before  me 

the  rules  and  their  intent  and  purpose  may  be  in  person  and  expressed  the  wish  to  be  en- 
elucidated,  rolled  in  the  first  grade.    I  have  explained  to 

®  him  the  meaning  of  the  foregoing  pledge  and 

Nothing  will  he  done  about  the  industrial  effi-  lie  has  satisfied  me  that  he  understands  the 

ciency  grade  until  the  work  in  progress  in  the  cell  document,  its  purport  and  the  obligations  ac- 

houses  has  been  finished.  What  will  be  done  then  cruing  under  it. 

is  explained  in  the  Warden's  communication,  as  

far  as  it  can  be  foreseen  at  this  time.     Full  par-  Dated   Joliet,   111 

ticulars  have  not  yet  been  determined  upon  and  @ 

they  will  not  be  definitely  fixed  until  the  time  is  j,^  introducing  the  grades  the  Warden  is  actu- 

ripe  for  carrying  out  the  plan.  .^ted  by  a  single  motive :  he  wishes  to  promote 

What  the  ultimate   outcome  will  be  depends  ti^^  general  welfare  of  the  inmates,  to  raise  the 

upon    the    degree   of   behavior    and    helpfulness  ^^^ral  tone  of  the  prison.  He  does  not  seek,  pri- 

which  the  honor  system  develops.  marily,  to  make  the  first  grade  large  in  numbers. 

@  He  extends  its  privileges  to  the  inmates  who  sin- 

Inmates  in  the  second  gra<le  who  desire  to  rank  ^^^^1>'  '"^end  to  keep  the  covenants  of  the  ple<lge. 

in  the  first  grade  can  gain  promotion  by  signing  .    ^y^^'-^J^"  -^"^'^  ^^'O^^^'  '•^^t'^^'"  ^'^''^  ^''^  ^  ^^^^ 

.,      r  u      •         11  •"  the  first  grade  and  have  those  few  live  up  to 

the  followmg  pledge :  i    •      ,    ,                    •                                              . 

their  pledge  every  nnnute  and  under  every  possi- 

HONOR  PLEDGE.  ^^j^  circumstance,  than  to  have  many  in  the  grade 

I  hereby  certify  my  acceptance  of  the  op-  ^^ith   a  large  percentage   who  would  break  the 

portunities  offered  to  the  second  grade  men  p\ei\gc   if  they   should  think  they  could  escape 

of  the  Illinois  state  penitentiary  at  Joliet  by  discovery. 

Edward  M.  Allen,  w^arden,  and  I  declare  my  0 

lovalty  to  the  whole  honor  movement  and  ^ir         i      •    .•     i                       i 

'    ,          ,           ,.      .       ^         ,    •    •            I  >ve  unhesitatuiglv  recommend  every  prisoner 

hereby  make  application  for  admission  to  the  ^        r    •     e          •    '•      .i       i    i          i       u    r    i 

(•              ,  to  refrain  from  signing  the  pledge  unless  he  tcels 

■     ,    ,     ■,              „    ,         ,        ....  hopeful  and  reasonablv  confident  that  he  will  live 

I  shall  observe  all  the  rules  of  the  institu-  ^    .                       ..'_,.                .t    »     i 

,    „         ...                    •  ,     11    1       re  up  to  its  every  provision.    This  means  that  when 

tion,  shall  work  in  harmony  with  all  the  ofti-  ,     .        ^    e    •  \  ^    e    m         i        mi         i     *  i  •  . 

'                                       ■'          .  he  IS  out  of  sight  of  officers  he  will  conduct  him- 

cers  and  shall  in  all  things  keep  in  harmony  ..   .                    ,            i  i    r  .i     \i'     i      i  •       u 

*^.   .         .                   "^  self  the  same  as  he  would  if  the  Warden  liimsclt 

with  the  ways  of  the  administration.  ,     ,  .         ... 

/      ,         ,      ,  were  looking  at  him. 
I  recognize  that  the  honor  system  opens 

an  opportunity  for  me  to  bring  out  the  quali-  " 

ties  of  good  citizenship  and  that  I  am  to  earn  No  man  need  feel  disgraced  to  be  in  the  second 

and  to  prove,  by  my  conduct  and  loyalty,  the  grade.     The  best  prisoner  in  the  institution  nat- 

rights  that  I  am  to  enjoy.  urally  remains  in  the  second  grade  until  he  signs 

I  sliall  undertake  to  bring  the  work  of  the  the  honor  pledge.  Signing  the  pledge  is  not  an 

department  in  which    I   am  employed  to  a  act  of  merit.  Unless  the  man  who  signs  the  pledge 

proper  degree  of  efficiency :  shall  show  my-  intends  to  adhere  strictly  to  its  provisions,  the 

self  worthy  to  be  trusted  in  any  situation  or  act  is  actually  disgraceful. 


236 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


A  man  who  will  not  sign  a  pledge  because  he 
feels  he  will  not  live  up  to  its  provisions,  is  en- 
titled to  respect  for  his  manliness.  A  man  who 
intends  to  play  square  with  the  officers,  but  who 
will  not  sign  a  pledge  because  he  is  opposed  to 
pledges  on  principle,  is  to  be  admired  for  living 
up  to  his  convictions.  The  man  who  signs  a 
pledge  intending  to  live  up  to  its  provisions  and 
then  fails  to  do  so,  proves  that  he  is  weak.  But, 
the  man  who  signs  a  pledge  without  intending  to 
keep  it,  is  a  man  in  name  only  and  is  to  be  pitied 
for  his  depravity. 

Men  in  the  second  grade  may  write  a  letter  and 
may  receive  a  visit  once  every  week,  the  same  as 
the  men  in  the  first  grade.  This  plan  is  adopted 
because  the  Warden  thinks  it  better  not  to  offer  a 
reward  to  induce  any  to  sign  the  pledge.  What- 
ever rewards  are  to  be  bestowed  will  be  gained  by 
obedience  and  helpfulness  and  not  by  signatures 
to  pledges. 

The  men  in  the  second  grade  .will  not  be  per- 
mitted to  attend  the  meetings  of  the  inmates. 
These  meetings  are  to  promote  the  honor  system 
and  to  enable  the  inmates  gradually  and  in  a  lim- 
ited way  to  become  self-governing. 

Just  how  far  the  self-government  will  go,  de- 
pends upon  the  conduct  of  the  men  in  the  first 
grade.  There  is  no  reason,  except  failure  to  live 
up  to  the  covenants  of  the  pledge,  why  the  men 
may  not,  before  long,  elect  officers  to  maintain 
order  and  look  after  the  interests  of  the  inmates 
in  the  dining  hall.  This  is  cited  as  one  possibility 
out  of  many,  perhaps  fifty. 

By  the  phrase  "looking  after  the  interests  of 
the  inmates,"  we  mean  the  interests  of  the  insti- 
tution, because  the  interests  of  the  inmates  and 
the  interests  of  the  institution  are  inseparable.  The 
success  of  the  honor  system  depends  upon  the 
recognition  of  the  principle  that  what  is  good  for 
the  institution  is  good  for  the  inmates.  In  other 
words,  the  more  the  inmates  do  to  help  the  offi- 
cers ais  a  class,  the  more  the  officers,  from  the 
Warden  down,  can  do  for  the  inmates. 


second  grade  are  not  permitted  to  attend  the 
meetings.  These  meetings  are  held  to  advance 
the  honor  system  and  the  men  who  decline  to 
sign  the  pledge  show  they  do  not  mean  to  take 
part  in  the  honor  movement. 

For  the  same  reason  the  men  in  the  second 
grade  will  not  be  permitted  to  hold  trusty  posi- 
tions and  will  not  be  put  at  road  or  farm  work. 
The  men  in  these  positions  have  the  keeping  of 
the  integrity  of  the  honor  system.  They  are  the 
men  who  can  more  easily  make  their  escape  or 
smuggle  in  contraband  goods  and  they  must  be 
the  men  who  have  pledged  themselves  not  to  do 
those  things. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  say  much  in  explanation 
of  the  third  grade.  The  men  who  may  find  them- 
selves in  the  third  grade  will  know  that  they  are 
there  because  they  have  in  some  way  wronged 
the  institution,  wronged  the  officers  and  the  in- 
mates. The  third  grade  men  will  get  all  they  de- 
serve and  we  hope  it  will  not  please  them.  We 
may  safely  rely  upon  our  Deputy  Warden  to  see 
that  injuring  the  institution  will  be  made  un- 
profitable for  those  who  do  it. 

Two  Joliet  Prisoners  Go  Joy  Riding 

At  about  seven  o'clock  p.  m.,  Monday,  March 
23,  two  prisoners,  one  the  prison  chauffeur  and 
the  other  the  prison  coachman  of  this  institution, 
knowing  that  Warden  Allen  was  absent  and  that 
he  would  not  return  until  the  following  day, 
seized  the  occasion  to  leave  the  prison  in  the 
Warden's  automobile.  Both  men  had  held  their 
positions  for  a  number  of  years,  and  when  Mr. 
Allen  became  warden  he  kept  the  men  in  the  posi- 
tions. The  men  had  given  satisfaction  in  every 
way  and  there  was  no  reason  why  they  should  be 
removed.  Prior  to  March  23  the  prison  record 
of  both  men  was  good.  They  had  worn  citizen's 
clothes  for  many  years,  this  being  more  suitable 
because  of  their  outside  work.  They  made  many 
trips  daily,  principally  between  the  prison  and 
the  railroad  station,  a  distance  of  over  two  miles. 


Warden  Allen  is  not  providing  an  honor  sys- 
tem for  the  men.  He  is  merely  granting  oppor- 
tunities to  the  men  to  establish  an  honor  system 
for  themselves. 

It  will  now  readily  be  seen  why  the  men  in  the 


As  far  back  as  the  oldest  officer  can  remember 
there  have  been  from  one  to  three  prisoners  em- 
ployed as  coachmen  at  a  time ;  and  from  the  time 
the  first  automobile  was  brought  to  the  prison  the 
chauffeur  of  this  story  has  held  that  place.     To 


May  1,  1914                                        THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  237 

appoint  prisoners  as  coachmen  and  chauffeurs  is  wards  officials  from  the  prison  who  were  looking 

the  custom  at  all  penitentiaries,  both  state  and  for  the  men,  hailed  the  car  and  brought  the  men 

federal,  so  far  as  is  known  here.    What  occurred  to  the  prison  under  guard. 

on  the  night  of  March  23  could  have  occurred  at  Upon  entering  the  prison  the  men  were  taken 
any  other  prison,  and  it  could  have  happened  at  to  the  solitary  for  punishment.  One  of  them,  the 
this  prison  at  any  time  in  its  history,  except  that  coachman,  became  very  ill  and  was  sent  to  the 
the  automobile  is  comparatively  a  new  vehicle,  hospital,  where  his  condition  became  serious. 
Either  the  coachman  or  chauffeur  was  free  to  To  hasten  his  recovery,  the  coachman  was  as- 
pass  the  gates  any  time,  on  foot  or  in  his  con-  surcd  that  he  would  not  be  punished  in  the  soli- 
veyance.  The  men's  departure  from  the  prison,  tary.  TIic  chauffeur,  who  is  a  strong  man  in 
therefore,  attracted  no  attention.  good  hcahh,  received  the  usual  punishment  for 

When  at  a  late  hour  in  the  evening  the  men  serious  offenses, 

had   not   returned,   the  officials  wondered  what  ^ 

was  detaining  them  and  inquiries  began.     Noth-  The  honor  system  at  this  prison  is  not  involved 

ing  could  be  learned  and  consequently  their  "es-  in  the  escapade ;  the  men  had  held  their  positions 

cape"  was  proclaimed  as  a  matter  of  duty  and  for  years  before  an  honor  system  was  thought  of 

routine,  not  because  there  was  any  doubt  of  their  and  had  been    found   reliable  and  trustworthy, 

return  if  they  were  alive.  They  returned  to  the  prison  when  they  had  suffi- 

Neither  of  the  men  had  any  idea  of  escaping,  ciently  sobered  up  to  realize  what  had  happened. 

and  while  the  thought  of  it  may  have  crossed  their  When  sober  they  have  common  sense. 

minds,   such  thought  at  no  time  lodged  in  the  The  spectacular  part  of  the  occurrence  has  no 

mind  as  something  that  should  be  done.  value,  as  it  is  well  known  that  there  is  no  limit 

^  to  the  insanity  of  drunken  men.    There  was  gross 

ingratitude  and  dislovalty  to  the  Warden,  but  not 

The  two  prisoners  violated  the  confidence  of  .,^  ^^^-^^^  ^,^^  ^^ip  ^^  Chicago;  it  was  in  taking  the 

the  Warden  in  a  most  flagrant  manner  when  they  .^^chine  out  of  the  prison  for  their  own  use.  in 

left  the  prison  to  take  two  women  riding  in  the  ^^^.-^^   ^j^^    ^^^^    ^^-^^^   ^£   whisky,    which    was 

warden  s  car.  against  the  promises  made  by  both  men  to  the 

The  women  did  not  know  the  men  were  pris-  ^varden,  and  by  taking  two  women  riding  in  the 

oners.     After  taking  the  women  into  the  car,  the  Warden's  family  car. 

party    stopped   at   several   saloons    for    drinks.  The  disloyalty  and  ingratitude  to  the  Warden 

Their  recklessness  increasing  with  the  drinking;  occurred  when  both  men  were  sober, 

the  party  drove  to  Chicago,  where  they  came  to  A  more  sordid  affair  involving  two  men  who 

grief.     They  were  arrested  at  about  ten  o'clock  are  both  intelligent  enough  to  know  right  from 

in  the  evening  by  a  South  Park  police  officer  for  wrong,  can  hardly  be  imagined, 

exceeding  the  speed  limit.  The  whole  party  were  Besides  the  anxiety  caused  our  officials,  this 

taken  to  the  South  Clark  street  police  station  and  wrongful  act  has  discouraged  many  of  the  pris- 

the  chauffeur  was  booked  for  speeding.  oners. 

The  police  had  no  reason  to  suspect  that  the  ^ 

two  men  were  prisoners  of  the  Joliet  prison.  The  There  is  an  extremely  pathetic  side  to  this  af- 

chauflFeur  was  released  early  in  the  morning  after  fair.    The  coachman  is  in  very  poor  health  as  the 

making  a  cash  deposit  of  twenty  dollars  as  a  result  of  many  years  of  shop  work  and  more 

guarantee    for    his    appearance    in    court.      The  years  of  sleeping  in  poorly  ventilated  cells.     I'or 

chauffeur  represented  that  he  had  an  appointment  him  it  is  a  race  with  death  and  the  possibility  of 

with  an  important  official  at  the  prison  at  the  executive   clemency    and   his   disobedience    is   a 

earliest  possible  moment.    This  part  of  the  chauf-  mark  against  him  which  may  injure  his  chances, 

feur's  story  was  only  too  true.  ^ 

^  Returning  to  the  prison,  knowing  what  faced 

When  the  chauffeur  was  released  the  party  im-  them,  showed  determination  which  stamps  both 

mediately  speeded  back  to  the  prison.  The  women  men  as  imbued  with  commendable  courage  and, 

were  left  at  a  convenient  place  and  shortly  after-  as  courage  is  one  of  the  greatest  qualities,  let  us 


238 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


hope  that  the  preponderance  of  this  virtue  will 
prove  the  moral  salvation  of  both  and  that  they 
may  yet  live  to  learn  that  all  men  may  be  for- 
given. 

Reckless  Editing 

When  an  editor  goes  to  an  advertisement  for 
his  inspiration  and  accepts  at  face  all  that  the  ad- 
vertisement claims  and  then,  without  any  investi- 
gation, tells  editorially  how  he  was  "shocked"  and 
that  he  "didn't  think  that  any  prison  in  the  coun- 
try would  descend  to  the  level  of  making  a  pub- 
lic show  of  its  convicted  unfortunates",  etc.,  it 
seems  that  it  is  time  to  point  out  his  shortcom- 
ings. 

The  following  is  reproduced  from  the  editorial 
columns  of  The  Mirror  of  April  9,  1914,  printed 
at  the  Minnesota  State  Prison  at  Stillwater : 

MOVING  PICTURES  OF  PRISONERS 

A  recent  issue  of  the  Billboard  contains  a 
full  page  cover  advertisement  announcing 
that  a  certain  moving  picture  film  company 
has  ready  for  the  market  moving  pictures 
taken  at  a  well  known  state  penitentiary, 
showing — so  the  advertisement  says — every 
detail  of  prison  life,  including  the  "striped 
ball-and-chain  violators  paying  the  penalty ; 
the  Bertillon  measuring  system ;  the  dismal 
punishment  cells,  etc.,  etc.,  etc."  Also,  that 
the  pictures  are  "replete  with  thrills,  throbs 
and  sobs." 

The  announcement  came  to  us  as  quite  a 
shock.  We  didn't  think  that  any  prison  in 
the  country  would  descend  to  the  level  of 
making  a  public  show  of  its  convicted  un- 
fortunates ;  or  make  capital  of  its  methods 
of  punishment  of  refractory  prisoners,  espe- 
cially when  that  punishment  consists  of  the 
ball  and  chain — one  of  the  lats  relics  of  a 
barbaric  age. 

It  is  bad  enough  for  a  convicted  man  to 
have  to  submit  to  being  photographed  upon 
his  entry  into  the  prison,  and  having  his 
picture  adorn  a  place  in  the  prison's  private 
gallery  ;  but  when  it  comes  to  being  subjected 
to  the  publicity  of  moving  pictures  and  be- 
ing held  up  as  a  sensational  atraction  for 
five  and  ten  cent  show  houses  it  seems  to  oe 
a  step  taken  in  the  wrong  direction,  and  the 
positive  limit  of  a  burning  desire  some  pris- 
ons have  for  the  wrong  kind  of  publicity. 


The  Joliet  prison  is  referred  to.  We  wish  to 
say  that  if  the  editor  of  The  Mirror  had  read  the 
daily  press  he  would  know  that  the  moving  pic- 
tures were  taken  after  the  inmates  of  this  prison 
had  unanimously  voted  in  favor  of  them.  Before 
being  "released"  the  pictures  were  to  be  shown  to 
the  prisoners  here  and  the  "release"  was  to  be 
subject  to  the  prisoners'  approval  of  the  pictures. 
The  pictures  were  shown  in  the  chapel  and 
the  prisoners  voted  unanimously  in  favor  of  "re- 
leasing" them.  Every  prisoner  was  convinced 
that  not  a  single  inmate  would  be  recognized  as, 
according  to  arrangement,  the  pictures  had  been 
carefully  taken  from  an  angle  that  could  not  re- 
produce the  features.  After  the  reels  had  been 
made  all  impressions  that  seemed  doubtful  in 
this  respect  were  destroyed. 

Every  inmate  of  this  prison  sat  as  a  censor 
and  it  was  the  unanimous  opinion,  after  the  pris- 
oners had  seen  the  pictures,  that  no  prisoner 
would  be  recognized.  The  prisoners  here  con- 
sider that  the  pictures  are  educational  and  that 
they  are  also  of  great  value  in  the  cause  of  mod- 
ern prison  reform.  The  pictures  will  be  seen  by 
hundreds  of  thousands  who  hitherto  have  known 
nothing  of  prison  life  and,  besides  showing  some- 
thing of  what  prison  life  is,  the  pictures  will  help 
to  make  the  public  realize  that  men — that  human 
beings — are  housed  in  these  dismal  places  and 
they  will  help  the  public  to  awaken  to  an  acknowl- 
edgment of  some  of  the  natural  human  rights  of 
prisoners  which  the  public  has  overlooked. 

We  do  not  know  how  the  advertisement  in  Bill- 
hoard  reads.  It  may  have  some  sensational  state- 
ments. But  we  do  know  that  advertisements 
usually  serve  poorly  as  foundations  for  "shriek 
editorials." 

In  this  case  the  advertisement  is  an  unreliable 
source  of  information,  as  it  caused  an  editor  in 
the  Stillwater,  Minn.,  prison  to  "throw  a  fit"  in 
our  behalf,  when  we  are  getting  on  very  nicely, 
thank  you. 

A  Question  Easily  Answered 

The  Post-Standard  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  re- 
cently published  an  editorial  entitled,  "Criminal 
Biographies,"  which  was  reproduced  in  The  Chi- 
cago Tribune,  April  12,  as  "the  best  editorial  of 
the  day."  It  is  reproduced  in  The  Joliet 
Prison  Post  as  a  concise  statement  of  the  history 
of    the    four    convicted    murderers    of    Herman 


May  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


239 


Rosenthal  and  also  as  a  foundation  for  a  reply  to 
the  Post-Statiihird's  important  question.  The 
editorial  is  as  follows : 

Lefty  Louie  is  not  an  iniinijjrant,  desirable 
or  otherwise.  He  is  not  the  offspring  of 
criminals  or  degenerates.  His  father  is  a 
well-to-do  Jew,  trustee  of  a  synagogue.  No 
suspicion  of  crime  has  ever  been  lodged 
against  any  other  member  of  the  family.  He 
was  carefully  educated. 

W'hitey  I^wis  was  born  in  Poland  and 
came  here  when  he  was  12.  He  had  no  trou- 
ble there.  But  at  16  he  was  sent  to  Elmira 
on  a  charge  of  larceny.  Elmira  didn't  cure 
him,  nor  did  his  service  in  the  army  in  the 
Philippines. 

Dago  Frank  is  also  a  graduate  of  Elmira, 
where  he  was  sent  for  carrying  concealed 
weapons.  '  He  says  they  had  been  "planted" 
on  him  fifteen  minutes  before.  He  is  of 
Italian  blood,  and  no  one  knows  how  he  hap- 
jx^ned  to  be  mi.xed  up  with  Big  Jack  Zelig's 
gang.  It  was  not  for  lack  of  religious  train- 
ing, for  he  had  been  confirmed  in  the  Epis- 
copal church  at  16. 

Gyp  the  Blood  was  educated  according  to 
the  methods  of  the  orthodox  Jewish  house- 
hold. His  father  is  a  well-to-do  tailor ;  but 
at  the  time  of  the  murder  of  Rosenthal  he 
had  been  in  prison  three  times  and  two  of  his 
brothers  had  been  arrested  also. 

•Ml  four  gunmen  were,  it  seems,  "straight" 
and  well  brought  up  until  they  had  reached 
the  age  of  conscious  manhood.  None  of 
their  parents  had  ever  been  in  trouble  with 
the  law.  How  can  the  frightful  degradation 
into  which  they  have  fallen  be  accounted 
for?  What  is  it  that  makes  a  murderer? 
What  is  it,  particularly,  in  the  life  of  a  child 
of  foreign-born  parents  coming  from  Euro- 
pean civilization  to  New  York  City  that 
makes  the  restraints  of  parental  discipline 
and  examjjle  as  nothing  and  lands  the  chil- 
dren of  respectable  and  pious  parents  in  the 
death  house? 

Parents  of  foreign  birth  fre(iuently  do  not  have 
the  influence  over  their  children  in  an  adopted 
country  which  they  would  have  had  in  their  na- 
tive country.  This  is  particularly  true  of  chil- 
dren born  abroad,  who  are  brought  to  this  coun- 


try by  their  parents  before  their  character  has 
been  formed.  Children  learn  the  language  ami 
ways  of  the  new  country  faster  than  do  their 
parents  and,  in  consequence,  the  natural  author- 
ity of  the  parents  and  dependency  of  the  children 
is  disturbed,  both  being  lessened,  and  it  is  this 
which  fre(|uently  results  in  evil  for  the  child  anti 
sorrow  for  the  parents. 

Parental  dependency  and  parental  authority  do 
not  go  well  together.  The  parents  will  realize 
their  handicap  and  will  themselves  lessen  author- 
ity, and  then  the  child,  more  than  ever,  takes  his 
affairs  into  his  own  hands.  This  condition  ac- 
counts for  much  of  the  crime  by  the  children  of 
foreign  parents  where  the  parents  themselves  arc 
industrious  and  honest. 

How  can  the  immigrant  father  of  a  family  who 
earns  a  moderate  wage  exert  proper  authority 
over  his  si.xteen-year-old  son  who  earns  much 
more  than  his  father  earns? 

The  Fun  Worth  While 

Now  that  the  national  game  is  again  the  ab- 
sorbing topic  of  lovers  of  the  sport,  we  recall  that 
real,  unalloyed  fun  is  an  imiwrtant  factor  in  the 
lives  of  the  men  in  a  penitentiary. 

It  does  not  matter  how  strenuously  a  man  goes 
into  a  sport,  so  long  as  he  goes  into  it  for  the 
love  of  it ;  this  is  the  essence  of  the  true  holiday. 
When  the  recreation  hour  brings  groups  of  men 
together,  the  absence  of  envy,  malice  and  worry 
is  noticeable;  all  such  thoughts  arc  forgotten  in 
the  energy  of  action.  When  a  man  is  engaged 
in  a  wholesome  si>)rt  and  is  playing  the  game 
square,  his  mind  must  of  necessity  be  free  from 
morose  thoughts,  morbid  desires  and  shallow 
prejudices.  It  is  no4  so  much  the  change  of  air 
which  causes  the  beneficial  results,  as  the  change 
in  thought. 

The  good  and  ambitious  player  is  a  serious 
thinker  ;  his  mind  during  the  progress  of  the  game 
is  as  intensely  concentrated  as  that  of  the  scholar 
writing  a  treatise  on  the  ftnirth  dimension.  And 
from  his  own  point  of  view  his  responsibility  is  as 
great  as  that  of  the  engineer  whose  hand  i>;  ui>on 
the  throttle  of  his  locomotive. 

.Ml  this  nervous  energy  and  excitability,  this 
plamiing  and  keyed-up  motion,  is  put  forth  and 
exercised  for  fuu;  but  it  is  worth  while  fun,  inas- 
much as  it  calls  into  active  practice  the  healthy 
emotions.     Play  ball ! 


240 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


The  Way  to  Limited  Self-Government 

The  Joliet  Prison  Post  has  no  authority  to 
express  Warden  Allen's  views  or  to  announce  his 
policies  (the  warden's  announcements  are  always 
made  over  his  signature),  but  it  is  evident  that 
the  administration  can  give  more  freedom  to  the 
prisoners  only  as  they  show  that  they  are  able 
to  govern  themselves. 

The  ideal  condition  for  a  prison  is  reaHzed 
when  law  and  order  prevail  without  needing  to 
be  enforced  by  the  officers.  In  so  far  as  this  con- 
dition can  be  established,  self  government  is  pos- 
sible in  this  penitentiary,  but  this  cafinot  come 
until  the  prisoners  obey  the  rules.  If  they  will 
obey  the  rules,  will  live  up  to  all  their  opportuni- 
ties, the  Warden  will  have  realized  his  ambition, 
as  expressed  by  him  recently  to  the  inmates  as- 
sembled in  chapel,  "to  make  life  in  this  prison 
as  nearly  normal  as  it  is  possible  to  make  it  in 
an  institution  of  this  kind,"  and  the  prisoners  will 
have  come  into  an  entirely  different  and  a  much 
higher  order  of  prison  life. 

EDITOR'S  COLUMN 

An  Opportunity  to  Stem  the  Tide 

It  gives  us  pleasure  to  print  extracts  from  let- 
ters which  have  been  received  from  Mr.  A.  D. 
Chandler,  director  of  Harper  &  Brothers,  Pub- 
lishers, New  York,  and  also  a  trustee  of  the  State 
Home  for  Boys  at  Jamesburg,  N.  J.  In  a  letter 
dated  March  16,  Mr.  Chandler  says : 

"I  am  very  much  interested  in  having  the 
boys  that  go  out  of  our  institution  for  juvenile 
delinquents  make  good  and  never  land  in  the 
reform  school  or  state's  prison.  Lots  of  your 
'boys'  are  graduates  from  state  institutions 
for  juvenile  delinquents.  Some  of  them  could 
tell,  if  they  would,  why  they  kept  on  'floating 
down  stream  with  the  current  like  a  dead 
fish,  instead  of  working  up  stream  like  a  live 
one.'  Won't  you  ask  for  letters  or  articles 
on  'Why  I  Did  Not  Make  Good'  and  print 
them  in  the  Post?  If  there  are  any  letters 
you  don't  want  to  print,  or  the  writers  don't 
want  them  printed,  I  would  be  very  glad,  in- 
deed, to  have  them  sent  to  me.  I  w^ant  to 
know  just  what  we  can  do  at  Jamesburg, 
that  we  are  not  now  doing,  to  fit  our  boys  to 
'make  good'  when  they  get  out.    It  seems  to 


me  that  those  who  can  best  help  us  to  help 
these  boys  are  the  ones  who  have  not  'made 
good'  themselves,  by  telling  me  why  a  reform 
school  did  not  reform  them. 

"Will    you    ask    them    to    do    it — either 
through  your  columns  or  to  me  direct?" 

We  are  sure  there  are  a  number  of  men  in  this 
prison  who  could  give  experiences  that  would 
prove  helpful  to  such  boys  as  Mr.  Qiandler  has  in 
mind  and  that  would  especially  prove  helpful  to 
men  in  such  work  as  Mr.  Chandler  is  doing.- 
Lender  date  of  April  10,  Mr.  Chandler  writes 
again : 

"I  have  now  some  two  hundred  letters 
from  the  five  hundred  kids  in  our  institu- 
tion which  tell  how  they  got  there — mighty 
good  stuff  to  show  who's  to  blame  for  their 
being  there.  It's  not  always  the  kid  himself 
by  any  means.  One  can  judge  pretty  well 
from  their  experiences,  told  in  their  letters, 
what  preventive  means  should  be  used  to  re- 
tard this  flood  of  juvenile  delinquents  all 
over  the  country.  (How  the  school  masters 
and  the  parsons  'duck'  when  it's  put  up  to 
them.)  Some  of  us  were  lucky  enough  not 
to  get  caught  when  we  were  kids,  so  we  don't 
know  as  much  about  our  job  as  we  would 
like  to.  Lots  of  the  'boys'  at  Joliet  were  less 
fortunate  and  have  been  put  through  all  the 
grades.  Some  of  them  are,  no  doubt,  better 
fitted  by  experience  to  fill  my  job  than  I  am, 
but,  as  the  editors  say,  'we  do  not  find  them 
available.' 

"I  am  sure  they  will  be  glad  to  help  us  to 
help  the  same  kind  of  kids  they  were  once, 
by  giving  us  the  benefit  of  their  experience 
and  advice. 

"Tell  us  what  not  to  do — what  to  do — and 
how  to  do  it. 

"We  want  human  stuff  and  I  know  I  am 
going  to  the  right  place  to  get  it." 

We  urge  the  men  who  can  do  so,  to  help  Mr. 
Chandler.  The  men  will  thus  take  a  part  in  the 
good  work  that  is  being  done  by  the  State  Home 
for  Boys  at  Jamesburg,  N.  J. 

Address  communications  to  The  Joliet 
Prison  Post.  All  will  be  sent  to  Mr.  Chandler 
and  some  will  be  published  in  this  magazine.  Give 
name,  but  the  name  will  not  be  published.  All 
letters  will  be  in  strict  confidence. 


May  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


241 


Objections  to  Graded  Feeding 

Please  allow  me  to  express  the  scntiinents  of 
the  unskilled  and  uneducated  inmates  of  this  in- 
stitution, individually  and  collectively. 

We  consider  the  article  printed  on  page  104  of 
the  March  issue  of  your  magazine  advocating 
graded  feeding  of  prisoners,  as  a  hoax.  The  plan 
suggests  class  legislation,  which  has  always  been 
tyrannical,  always  causing  discontent  among  the 
common  people. 

We  think  that  food  is  the  most  essential  thing 
to  build  up  a  person,  not  only  physically,  but 
mentally.  When  a  prisoner  has  been  punished,  he 
should  at  once  be  given  substantial  and  palatal)le 
food  in  order  to  strengthen  his  mental  faculties. 

J.  W. 

Editor's  Note — The  foregoing  communication 
is  published  for  its  value  in  illustrating  one  class 
of  contributions  that  should  not  be  sent  to  Tin-: 
JoMKT  Prison  Post*.  "J-  ^•"  forgot  to  disclose 
his  identity  and  we  have  no  use  for  anonymous 
communications.  Contributors  may  adopt  any 
signature  to  appear  in  o'ur  columns  they  wish,  but 
unless  the  person's  correct  name  and  register 
number  are  given  to  us  for  our  information,  his 
communication  will  not  be  printed. 

"J.  W."  speaks  for  "unskilled  and  uneducated 
inmates,"  "collectively  and  individually,"  when  he 
has  no  authority  so  to  speak,  lie  may  be  voicing 
the  sentiments  of  a  few  "unskilled  and  unedu- 
cated inmates,"  but  it  is  impossible  for  him  to 
voive  the  sentiments  of  any  representative  num- 
ber of  these  men,  because  he  does  not  know  and 
cannot  possibly  get  into  communication  with  the 
men.  Tin-:  Jolif.t  Pri.son  Post  receives  many 
contributions  from  inmates  who,  without  war- 
rant, write  as  if  they  had  l)een  selected  by  vote  to 
voice  the  sentiment  of  a  large  class  in  our  com- 
munity. 

Such  communications  promptly  go  into  the 
waste  basket. 

Ciraded  feeding  has  no  resemblance  to  class 
legislation.  A  prisoner  gets  the  better  food  be- 
cause of  good  conduct,  not  because  he  belongs  to 
a  particular  class,  and  he  who  has  the  inferior 
food  gets  that  because  he  is  a  miisance,  a  nui- 
sance to  the  officers  and  to  the  large  majority  of 
prisoners  who  never  need  to  be  discii)lined. 

The  term  "class  legislation"  must  always  be 


considered  in  its  legal  significance,  which  has 
nothing  to  do  with  behavior.  To  illustrate:  one 
"luiskillcd  and  uneducated"  prisoner  may, 
through  good  conduct,  belong  in  one  class  or 
grade,  while  another  "unskilled  and  uneducated" 
prisoner  may,  because  of  misbehavior,  belong  to 
another  class  or  grade;  but.  for  e.KampIe,  if  both 
men  were  barbers  out  in  the  world,  they  would  in 
law  be  in  the  same  class  on  any  proposition  in- 
volving barbers  as  a  class:  the  quality  of  their 
personal  behavif)r  would  have  no  significance. 

"Uneducated"  prisoners  are  prone  to  believe 
that  food  is  the  most  essential  thing  to  l)uild  up 
a  man  "mentally."  It  is  largely  because  these 
j)ersons  live  up  to  that  belief  that  they  remain  un- 
educated, even  in  the  face  of  a  good  schcK^l  here 
and  an  abundance  of  leisure  in  which  they  might 
study. 

We  are  not  surprised  that  "}.  W."  believes  that 
when  a  prisoner  has  been  punished,  he  should  at 
once  be  given  substantial  and  palatable  food.  It 
is  right  here  that  we  should  withhold  the  better 
food.  Withholding  it  would  continue  the  cor- 
rective influence,  as  the  stomach  is  the  weak  spot 
in  men  who  re(iuire  punishment  in  this  prison  at 
this  time. 

Life  Time  Men's  Views  in  This  Issue 

There  appear  in  this  issue  several  contributions 
from  prisoners  serving  life  sentences.  These  con- 
tain accurately  the  views  of  the  men  as  cxpres.scd 
in  the  several  manuscripts  as  they  reached  our 
office.  We  must,  however,  admit  that  we  edited 
the  contributions. — Editor. 

A  Practical  Step  in  Grading 

I'or  some  time  it  lias  been  recognized  that  it 
is  necessary  to  have  the  prisoners  who  earnestly 
desire  to  respond  to  the  policies  of  the  prison 
administration  seiiarated  from  the  prisoners  who 
look  upon  a  well-intentioned  Warden  as  an  easy 
mark,  whose  confidence  may  be  abused  with  a 
considerable  degree  of  safety. 

The  separation  of  the  two  clas.ses  of  men  has 
thus  far  been  embarrassed  by  the  physical  aspects 
of  the  prison  and  the  condition  of  overcrowded 
cell  houses. 


242                                                     THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  First  Year 

The   segregation,    during   working   hours,    of  NE^VS        NARRATIVE 

prisoners  who  are  unsocial,  who  do  not  respond 
to  the  new  prison  pohcies,  makes  necessary  the 

equipment  of  a  shop  where  those  prisoners  may  Pardoned  to  be  Executed 

be  placed  at  work  by  themselves.  The  work  of  A  few  minutes  after  receiving  a  pardon  from 
this  shop  must  be  such  that  one  man  or  two  Governor  Hays,  which  released  him  from  a  115 
hundred  men  may  be  employed  according  to  what  years'  sentence,  Fred  Pelton,  negro,  was  electro- 
attitude  the  men  maintain  at  any  time.  cuted  on  March  28  at  the  state  penitentiary  at 

^  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  for  the  killing  of  Melvina  Hat- 
ton,  negress,  whom  he  murdered  to  secure  50 

A  shop  for  the  manufacture  of  chains  is  being  ^^^^^^     ^^^^^  ^^^^  ^  question  as  to  the  legality  of 

considered.    The  work  of  this  shop  wdl  be  suited  electrocution  of  Pelton  until  after  he  had  served 

to  the  conditions  of  employment  to  which  the  ,^j^   jj^^^^^  sentence,   and  for  this  reason  the 

shop  will  be  sul,ject ;  the  work  will  be  hand  work  ^^^^^^^  ^^,,^^  ^^^^^^^^ 

principally.  ®    ©                                      - 

A  complete  segregation  of  the  offenders  must 

wait  until  the  cell  houses  have  been  renovated.  Death  of  Former  Officer 

which  work  is  in  progress  now  and  it  is  desirable  Mr.  Thomas  Rykert  died  Monday,  March  16, 

that  this  renovating  be  concluded  as  soon  as  pos-  at  the  West  Side  Hospital  in  Chicago,  at  the  age 

sible,  as  further  improvement  waits  upon  having  of  44  years. 

the  cells  made  ready. — Editor.  He  was  superintendent  of  our  prison  farm  un- 

^     ^  til  August  14,  1913,  when  he  resigned  on  account 

of  ill  health. 

A  Contest  for  Cash  Priies  ^^^    j^^^^^^   ^^^-^   i^ng  be   remembered   as   a 

Mr.  George  M.  Weichelt,  an  attorney  at  law,  ge„ial  companion  by  the  officers  and  as  an  ideal 

29  South  La  Salle  street,   Chicago,  offers  two  officer    by    those    inmates    who    were    fortunate 

prizes,  one  of  ten  dollars  and  one  of  five  dollars  enough  to  work  under  his  direction, 

in   cash   for   the   two  best   contributions,   either  He  never  spoke  ill  of  any  one,  either  officer  or 

prose   or   verse,   on    the   subjects   herewith    an-  prisoner.    If  he  ever  felt  angry,  he  never  showed 

nounced.    The  contest  is  open  for  all  inmates  of  it.     His  personality  portrayed  intellect,  character 

this  prison.     A  committee  composed  of  members  ^^^^^\  courage, 

of  tlie  Press  Club  of  Chicago  selected  by  Mr.  &k    ^ 
A\'cichelt,  will  judge  the  papers. 

Mr.  Weichelt  reserves  the  right  to  publish  any  Emptying  Kentucky  Prisons 

article  submitted  in  this  contest.     The  author's  Under  their  recent  decision   in  the  John  De 

name  will  not  be  made  known  if  that  is  desired.  Moss  case,  the  Court  of  Appeals  of  Kentucky 

Contestants  may  write  on  one  or  more  of  the  sub-  holds  that,  under  the  laws  of  Kentucky,  all  pris- 

jects,  which  are  as  follows:  oners  serving  indeterminate  sentences  are  entitled 

"How  should  prisoners  be  reformed  who  will-  to  their  parole  after  having  served  the  minimum 

fully  violate  the  prison  rules?"  time,  provided  the  prisoner  has  a  perfect  record 

"Is  it  morally  right  for  a  government  to  im-  for  good  conduct  in  prison, 

prison  one  who  has  been  adjudged  guilty  of  crime  Lender  this  decision  the  board  of  prison  com- 

without  providing  for  his  dependents  during  his  missioners  has  released  from  the  penitentiary  at 

incarceration?"  Eddyville    and    from    the    state    reformatory    at 

"Honor  system  in  prisons."  Frankfort  450  inmates  within  the  short  space  of 

Articles   shall   be   limited   to   fifteen   hundred  five  weeks.    The  statement  has  been  issued  that 

words.     Copy  shall  be  written  on  one  side  of  the  the  parole  agent  has  experienced  no  difficulty  in 

paper  only.    All  copy  is  to  be  sent  to  this  maga-  securing  employment  for  all  the  men. 

zine  not  later  than  June  1.  1914.  This  decision  probably  has  no  bearing  on  the 

Copy  closely  resembling  any  article  wliich  has  Illinois  parole  law  because  of  the  difference  in  the 

appeared  in  print  will  not  be  considered.— Editor.  lan->uaffe  in  the  two  statutes. 


't3'^'"&'' 


^(ay  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


243 


CONTRIBUTIONS 
BY  INMATES 

LIFE  MEN   NO  EXTRA  SOCIAL  RISK 


REASON    FOR    LIFE-MEN'S    PAROLE 


By  Mack  Wiley 

A  Life  Term  Prisoner. 

In  my  opinion  a  life  term  jjrisoner  should  liavc 
a  chance  to  earn  hack  his  right  to  freedom ;  he 
should  he  enahled  to  earn  it  hack  hy  serving  a 
long  sentence,  hy  good  hehavior  in  prison  and  hy 
giving  satisfactory  evidence  to  pn)i)erly  consti- 
tuted authorities  tliat  he  is  not  a  menace  to  so- 
ciety. 

With  all  respect  to  the  administration  of  jus- 
tice in  the  state  of  Illinois,  it  is  my  view  that  the 
verdict  of  a  jury  having  the  sanction  of  a  trial 
judge,  is  not  always  conclusive  that  justice  has 
heen  done. 

There  is  in  Illinois  too  great  a  difference  be- 
tween the  strength  of  the  state  on  one  side  and 
the  strength  of  a  poor  negro  hoy  charged  with 
a  crime  on  the  other,  to  result  in  a  verdict  so 
equitahle  that  it  should  he  considered  final  for  all 
time  and  that  a  boy  convicted  under  the  circum- 
stances obtaining  in  this  state  should  have  no 
chance  for  all  time  to  come. 

In  my  own  case,  I  should  like  a  chance  to  be 
judged  as  to  my  fitness  for  release  on  parole  by  a 
parole  board  which  would  consider  me  as  I  am 
today.  I  pray  daily  that  the  state  of  Illinois  will 
so  extend  the  provisions  of  the  parole  law  that 
the  question  of  the  charge  I  stand  convicted  of 
may  be  authoritatively  reconsidered ;  that  it  may 
be  reconsidered  in  view  of  everything  that  has  a 
hearing  on  my  sentence  on  the  day  of  such  recon- 
sideration. I  believe  that  every  man  should,  as 
nearly  as  possible,  be  given  his  just  rights  as  well 
as  his  just  i)unishment. 

In  some  states  one  may  commit  a  nuirder  with- 
out fear  of  the  <ieath  pcnnlly.  In  other  states  a 
life  term  prisoner  may  always  Iv.pe  to  ear:'  a 
parole  hy  good  behavior,  as  many  of  the  states 
have  parole  laws  for  life  term  prisons.  While  I 
cannot  name  them  all,  1  know  that  there  are  such 
laws  in  Minnesota.  Nebraska,  Ohio,  Ttah.  I^»uisi- 
nan,  Oregon,  Virginia,  Texas,  California,  Ken- 
tucky,  Iowa,  Montana  and   Nevada. 


By  Joseph  Smith 

.\   Life  Term   Pri»oiier 

I  here  are  reasons  why,  under  certain  condi- 
tions of  eligibility,  the  law  should  provide  that  a 
life  term  prisoner,  after  a  certain  numlwr  of 
years,  should  have  his  case  considered  by  a  l)oard 
of  parole. 

.\  usual  arguincnt  oi  those  who  advocate  a 
continuance  of  the  life  sentence  policy  as  a  final- 
ity, is.  that  life  sentences  without  any  tangible 
hope  of  release  from  prison  are  necessary  as  a 
jjrotection  to  society,  since  they  prevent  the  jHrr- 
son  so  sentenced  from  ever  again  committing  a 
like  offense.  Next,  the  continuance  of  life  sen- 
tences as  finalities  is  asked  as  a  punishment  of 
the  person  who  has  committed  the  oflfense.  .Xnd 
again,  life  sentences  as  finalities  are  urged  on  the 
ground  that  the  influence  of  the  never  ending 
punishment  deters  other  persons  from  committing 
similar  otTcnses. 

That  society  has  the  right  to  protect  itself  and 
that  a  person  should  be  punished  for  committing 
crime,  are  propositions  which  nearly  every  pris- 
oner whom  I  have  spoken  with  admits  heartily. 
But  still  I  submit  that  when  the  sentence  in  any 
case  ceases  to  benefit  either  society  or  the  person 
serving  time,  it  is  worse  than  useless. 

The  ends  that  society  seek  in  its  trials  and  con- 
victions, which  are  the  only  reasons  that  justify 
society  in  those  acts,  have  been  met  when  the 
prisoner  is  no  longer  a  menace  and  when,  there- 
fore, society  no  longer  needs  to  protect  itself 
from  that  person.  .\n«l  finally,  the  deterring  ef- 
fect of  punishment  upon  the  commission  of  crime 
bv  others  can  operate  for  a  .short  time  only  at 
best.  People  do  forget  atul  when  we  have  been 
in  prison  so  long  that  even  our  friends  have  for- 
gotten us,  it  cannot  be  presumed  that  others — 
strangers — will  still  remember  our  deeds  or  re- 
member the  treatment  we  received.  The  deter- 
ring value  of  the  punishment  prescrilnrd  is  cer- 
tainly exhausted  by  the  time  the  two  other  jwints 
mentioned  have  lost  their  value. 

rherefore.  it  would  .seem  that  a  law  i>crmittitig 
parole  and  probationary  release  for  life  sentence 
men  cannot  be  other  than  beneficial  to  all  con- 
cerned and  particidarly  to  men  like  myself  who 
have  heen  here  so  long  that  it  seems  an  eternity. 


244                                                      THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST                                            First  Year 

PAROLE  LAW  FOR  LIFE  TERM  MEN  months,  it  would  not  mean  that  life  sentences  are 

reduced  to  this  period  of  time;  it  would  only 

By  John  Carey  mean  that  at  the  end  of  eight  years  and  three 

A  Life  Term  Prisoner  mouths  the  board  of  parolc  would  considcr  each 

I  have  for  many  years  believed  that  the  day  man's   case  on   its   merits,   taking  into   account 

would  come  when  the  generosity  of  the  people  everything  prior  to  the  crime,  the  circumstances 

of  the  State  of  Illinois  would  find  expression  in  at  the  moment  of  the  commission  of  the  crime 

a  parole   law   for  men   sentenced   to  serve   life  and  the  conduct  of  the  prisoner  since  and  up  to 

terms.  the  moment  the  case  is  reviewed. 

When  I  had  been  here  ten  years,  I  began  to  Such  a  law  would  leave  hope  in  every  life  term 

scan  the  papers  during  each  succeeding  session  of  man's  breast  and  it  would  be  an  inducement  to 

the  legislature,  hoping  all  the  time  that  the  parole  each  to  be  of  good  behavior  and  to  seek  mental 

law  would  be  amended  so  as  to  extend  its  pro-  and  moral  improvement, 

visions  to  men  in  my  class.  There  are  at  present  many  men  in  this  prison 

At  the  end  of  each  session,  with  no  bill  passed  who  have  been  here  over  twenty  years,  who  were 

in  our  behalf,  I  felt  the  pangs  of  deep  disappoint-  boys  when  they  came  and  who  are  no  more  like 

ment,  always  to  find  that  hope  would  revive  with  what  they  were  twenty  years  ago  than  night  is 

the  approach  of  the  time  when  the  legislature  like  day,  yet  they  have  upon  them  the  judgment 

would  once  more  convene.  pronounced   many   years    ago   by    a   judge   and 

There  probably  is  no  class  of  men  so  optimistic  jurors  who  probably  have   for  years   forgotten 

as  prisoners  when  conditions  of  life  are  made  their  existence. 

bearable  and,  in  consequence,  the  recent  change  In  spite  of  the  many  years  I  have  waited,  I 
in  our  situation  has  given  me  more  hope  than  I  still  believe  that  the  people  of  Illinois  will  exert 
have  ever  had  and  I  feel  confident  that  at  the  next  their  authority  in  our  behalf.  The  time  is  here 
session  of  the  legislature  the  parole  law  will  be  ^^^^en  citizens  think  of  prisoners  with  some  kind- 
amended,  so  that,  in  the  discretion  of  the  board  ^^^^^^  ^^^  one  of  the  early  fruits  of  this  happy 
of  parole,  life  term  men  will  be  eligible  to  parole  situation  must  be  that  no  man  will  be  allowed  to 
after  a  number  of  years  have  been  served.  ^^^  ^-^^^^^  ^^^^  ^f  forgiveness  at  some  time  and 

In  talking  this  over  with  many  other  life  term  ^j^^^^  providing  he  strives  hard  enough,  the  merit 

men,  I  find  that  there  is  a  wide  diflference  of  ,         .         -n  /:     n    u        i         i  j     j     • 

...               ,         ,             ,          ,                ,  .  ,  he  wins  will  finally  be  acknowledged, 

opinion  in  regard  to  the  number  of  years  which  ^                                     ,          .            j  t  i          .1 

,.,                        1      ,  ,             ,    r        ,     ,  I  attempt  no  excuse  for  crime  and  I  honestly 

a  life  term  man  should  serve  before  he  becomes  ,    ,.         ,       -r    ,  ,           •                   ,         1 

,.•11.            1  believe  that  I  abhor  crime  as  much  as  the  average 
eligible  to  parole. 

The  men  who  have  been  here  over  twenty  years  P"''°"-     ^  ^"^^"^"  ^"  punishment  for  crime.     I 

usually  think  that  every  prisoner  should  have  his  ^^^^^^^  ^^'^^  ^^"  "^"^^  ^^  ^^°"^^  ^^'  ^"  '°''°^  ^"^ 

case  considered  by  the  board  of  parole  after  he  ^^^^  society  must  protect  itself  against  evil  doers 

has  been  here  twenty  years,  while  the  men  who  ^^  ^^^^^  ^"^  through  courts  and  prisons,  but  I 

have  just  come  think  that  a  life  term  man  should  ^^^o  believe  that  it  is  wrong  to  punish  an  honest 

have  his  case  considered  within  a  few  years.    The  '^^"  ^f  good  character  who  is  forty-five  years  old 

logic  seems  to  be  with  those  who  think  that  a  life  ^or  a  crime  committed  by  a  boy  twenty  years  old. 

term  man  should  have  his  case  considered  by  the  The  real  Law  Giver  said  to  the  Father,  "For- 

board  of  parole  after  he  has  been  in  prison  eight  give  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do."  May 

years  and  three  months,  that  being  the  length  of  I  ask  of  organized  society  that  it  will  extend  to 

time  served  by  a  man  who  is  sentenced  for  four-  us  a  fraction  of  that  teaching? 

teen  years,  the  minimum  sentence  for  murder.  Though  I  have  been  convicted,  I  am  yet 'a  man 

and  who  earns  all  the  good  time  for  good  be-  and  deep  down  in  my  heart  I  know  that  I  would 

havior,  which  it  is  possible  to  earn  under  the  be  a  good  citizen  if  I  were  released  today  and 

good-time  law  of  this  state.  from  my  impression  of  many  others,  I  feel  satis- 

If  the  legislature  should  amend  the  parole  law  fied  that  there  are  many  men  in  prison  who,  if  re- 

so  that  a  life  term  man  would  be  eligible  to  parole  leased,  would  do  unto  others  as  they  would  have 

after  having  been  in  prison  eight  years  and  three  others  do  unto  them. 


May  1,  1914                                      THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST                                                  245 

WHY  IS  A  THIEF?  find  themselves  up  against  a  pretty  stiff  pame. 

In   the  process  of  accumulation  the  social  ma- 

By  Geo.  Swanson  chincry  runs  at  breakneck  speed,  and  those  who 
A  Prisoner.  for  any  reasc^n  are  unahlc  to  keep  up  must  trail 
Are  men  born  thieves?  I  think  not.  Often  behind  where  the  i)ickings  are  meager.  The  man 
men  are  born  with  tendencies  that,  if  misdirected  who  works  the  hardest  sometimes  gets  the  least ; 
and  not  counterbalanced  by  tendencies  of  oppos-  and,  if  he  has  not  been  gifted  by  nature  consid- 
ing  character,  may  predispose  a  person  to  dis-  crably  above  the  average,  his  prospects  for  ad- 
honesty;  but  this  is  somewhat  because  of  present  vancemcnt  are  practically  nil.  Therefore,  where 
economic  and  social  conditions.  Under  better  such  a  man  has  been  fighting  a  losing  battle  f«»r 
economic  and  social  conditions,  these  same  ten-  a  number  of  years  and  his  common  sense  tells 
(lencies  probably  would  have  proved  desirable  as-  liiin  that  he  cannot  rise,  that  he  is  doomed  to 
sets  and  might  have  as  easily  landed  the  person  wield  a  i)ick  and  shovel  or  stay  chained  to  s«jmc 
on  the  board  of  directors  of  a  bank  as  in  the  pcni-  other  task  of  drudgery  for  the  rest  of  his  days. 
tentiary.  and  for  a  mere  pittance,  he  becomes  discouraged. 
Is  it  possible  for  the  phrenologist  and  the  phys-  He  is,  indeed,  endowed  with  more  than  the  usual 
iognomist  to  distinguish,  by  the  aid  of  his  share  of  moral  stamina,  if  he  does  not  fall  into 
science,  between  an  hone^st  man  and  a  thief?  I  ^"y  one  of  the  numerou.5  pits  the  money-devil  has 
think  not,  and  I  have  had  exceptional  oppor-  <liiff  for  'i""-  When,  on  the  other  hand,  he  sees 
tunities  to  put  the  matter  to  a  fair  test  a  dozen  a  uian  whom  he  knows  to  be  a  thief,  whether  one 
times,  but  each  time  the  phrenologist,  though  a  that  steals  within  the  law  or  one  that  defies  the 
man  of  high  standing  in  his  profession,  failed  law,  waxing  fat  and  saucy  on  his  ill-gotten  wealth, 
absolutely.  No,  there  are  no  born  thieves  and  while  he,  an  honest  man,  is  slaving  his  life  away 
thievery  is  not  an  acquired  habit  like  drunken-  for  a  pittance — where  is  tlie  wonder  if  he  begins 
ness.  There  are  professional  thieves,  but  the  pro-  to  question  whether  honesty  really  pays.  Now, 
fessional  thief  steals  from  choice.  He  is  not  of  course,  the  hack-writer,  who  earns  his  right  to 
impelled  to  steal  by  the  force  of  habit.  He  would  live  in  a  garret  by  blazing  the  trail  to  the  foun- 
stop  stealing  at  once  if  he  could,  with  as  little  tain  of  success  in  printer's  ink  upon  the  pages  of 
effort,  get  as  much  or  more  money  legitimately,  the  Sunday  supplements,  will  rap  me  on  the 
I'urthermore,  the  professional  thieves  whose  knuckles,  and  quote  me  the  words  of  hundreds  of 
depredations  are  really  serious  are  comparatively  successful  men.  himself  included,  to  prove  that 
few,  at  least  outside  of  the  world  of  high  finance,  any  honest  and  industrious  man  can  achieve  sue- 
Since  thievery  is  neither  inherited  nor  habitual,  cess, 
what  is  the  cause  of  it?  While  I  will  not  deny  While  I  do  not  wish  to  discourage  any  man 
that  no  matter  how  perfect  economic  conditions  from  trying,  and  while  f)ersonally,  I  wish  that 
may  become,  we  shall  still  have  thieves,  I  do  every  man  were  honest  and  industrious,  I  am 
assert,  that  bad  economic  conditions  are  the  fun-  compelled  to  brand  such  talk  as  fallacious.  There 
lamental  cause  of  much  thievery  and  of  nearly  all  are  and  always  will  be  oidy  a  limited  number  of 
crimes  against  property.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  j(,l)s  in  the  industrial  worlil  that  pay  a  sufficient 
nearly  all  thieves  are  more  or  less  addicted  to  wage  to  insure  their  holders  a  good  living;  and 
drink,  we  have  been  assured  that  drink  is  the  also,  only  a  limited  number  of  business  enter- 
most  fruitful  cause  of  thievery;  but,  those  who  prises  can  succeed  and,  sine*  these  jobs  or  busi- 
say  this  overlook  that  drunkenness  is  but  the  ef-  ness  enterprises  do  not  suffice  by  half  to  p> 
feet  of  a  cause  and  that  that  cause,  again,  is  bad  around,  there  must  always  be  a  great  number  of 
economic  conditions  ;  so  drunkenness  and  thievery  nien  who  must  content  themselves  with  pCKir  jobs 
are  brothers,  not  parent  and  offspring.  and  scanty  earnings,  no  matter  how  honest  and 
How.  then,  do  bad  economic  conditions  produce  industrious  they  arc.  There  is  but  one  hope  to 
thieves?  When  young  men  of  the  nation,  whether  hold  men  back  from  becoming  thieves:  the  wages 
native  or  immigrant,  face  the  world,  perhaps  of  the  common  laborer,  the  factory  hand,  the 
poorly  equipped,  to  fight  the  battle  for  bread,  they  drudge,  must  be  substantially  raised.     If  this  is 


246 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


not  done  the  industrial  mill  will  go  on  turning  out 
l)rostitutes,  drunkards  and  thieves  faster  than  all 
the  reformers  can  reform  them  even  if  they  work 
night  and  day. 

It  is  in  this  way  the  adult  workingman  is 
evolved  into  a  thief,  drunkard,  tramp  or  suicide ; 
and  the  same  had  economic  conditions  are  in 
great  measure  directly  or  indirectly  responsihle 
for  the  juvenile  delinquents  as  well. 

In  further  support  of  this  statement  is  the  fact 
that,  during  periods  of  industrial  depression, 
crimes  against  property  always  increase.  The 
professional  thief  is  not  affected  hy  industrial 
crises.  This  increase,  therefore,  must  be  due  to 
an  additional  number  of  first  offenders  and  to  re- 
lapses of  the  occasional  thieves.  No  one  but  the 
man  who  has  himself  faced  such  temptations  can 
have  an  adequate  idea  of  their  strength  and,  in 
consequence,  the  public  should  be  more  lenient  in 
its  judgment  of  such  offenders  until  the  cause 
which  influences  them  has  been  removed.  The 
butcher  who  does  not  hesitate  to  let  his  own  well- 
fed  dog  roam  at  will  about  his  shop  would  be  sur- 
prised if  he  caught  him  stealing  a  nice  steak;  but 
he  would  not  wonder  at,  and  perhaps  not  alto- 
gether condemn  a  lean,  hungry  street  cur  who 
might  steal  a  march  upon  him  and  incidentally 
steal  a  bone. 

I  do  not  claim  to  have  discovered  a  new  cause 
for  thievery — indeed,  this  would  be  impossible, 
since  everything  from  whooping-cough  to  de- 
cayed teeth  has  already  been  saddled  with  this  re- 
sponsibility— but,  I  have  singled  out  the  one 
thing  that  will  not  vanish  when  the  searchlight 
of  common  sense  and  experience  is  turned  upon 
it. 

®     ^     © 

PUT  IT  UP  AT  THE  HONOR  MEETING 


OPTIMISM  AND  PESSIMISM 


By  A.  Doubter 

A    I'risoiier. 

We  ask,  now  meetings  are  in  vogue. 
Just  where  the  subtle  line  may  be 

Between  the  trusty  and  the  rogue ; 
And  so  appeal  to  Big  Chief  T. 

Attribute   it   to    fancy's   whim 

The  question  wdiich  I  now  propose 

Could  he,  should  pie  be  offered  him, 
Retain  his  normal  equipoise? 


By  Africander 

A  Prisoner. 

There  may  come  a  time  to  us  all  when  one  false 
step  may  throw  our  lives  out  of  balance.  But  no 
matter  how  far  astray  any  of  us  may  go,  we  may 
be  called  back  to  right  acting  and  right  methods 
of  thinking  if  the  proper  influence  is  brought  to 
bear.  There  is  no  man  so  meagerly  endowed  that 
he  does  not  recognize  within  some  ideal  of  right, 
and  so  long  as  he  possesses  the  desire  to  realize 
this  ideal,  just  so  long  will  there  be  hope  of  his 
conquest  of  that  which  is  weak  or  bad  in  him, 
and  his  ultimate  attaining  of  moral  equilibrium. 

Many  of  the  great  arid  spots  of  the  West  that 
showed  nothing  to  the  eye  but  great  stretches  of 
sand  have  yielded  to  the  influence  of  irrigation 
and  man's  untiring  labor  until  the  desert  wastes 
which  once  seemed  hopelessly  dead  to  effort  are 
now  blooming  like  the  fabled  garden  of  Eden. 
When  one  thinks  of  the  great  efforts  made  to 
drag  a  bit  of  land  from  the  encroaching  tides,  or 
protect  some  small  spot  from  the  maw  of  the 
desert  sand  one  is  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  a 
soul  is  of  less  value  in  the  economics  of  our  mod- 
ern civilization  than  a  potato  patch. 

©    #    # 

TO     SUCCESSVILLE— ONE     TURN     TO 
THE  RIGHT 


By  F.  Hanley 

A  Prisoner. 

If  you'll  do  the  best  you  can, 

Keeping  heart  and  conscience  clean, 
Stooping  not  to  do  or  plan 

Any  action  low  or  mean ; 
If  you'll  strive  to  be  the  friend 

Of  the  trembler  in  the  fight. 
Then  you  need  not  fear  the  end — 

You  will  get  along  all  right. 

If  you'll  do  the  simple  task. 

Be  the  man  and  play  the  square; 
If  you'll  grumble  not,  nor  ask 

Other  men  the  yoke  to  bear; 
If  you'll  serve  where  you  are  sent, 

Keep  the  faith  and  face  the  fight, 
You  may  smile  and  be  content — 

You  will  get  along  all  right 


Mav  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


247 


REFORMATION 


By  T.  E.  B. 

A  Prisoner. 

When  I  entered  this  i)rison  I  wa.s  in  despair. 
I  was  under  the  weight  of  the  tliought  of  the 
wrong  I  had  done,  of  the  stignia  I  liad  placed 
upon  my  family,  my  relatives  and  myself. 

That  despair  was  uppermost  in  my  mind  in 
spite  of  the  fact  that  I  was  wearing  a  patched, 
illy-fitting  prisoner's  uniform,  was  eating  coarse 
food  and  was  in  constant  fear  that  through  some 
mistake  I  might,  for  jjunishment,  be  put  in  the 
solitary,  hand-cuffed  to  the  door,  with  one  slice 
of  bread  and  one  quart  of  water  as  my  only  daily 
sustenance. 

During  my  first  months  I  frequently  tried  to 
find  out  why  some  men  returned  to  this  prison 
time  after  time,  when  from  having  beeji  here 
they  knew  the  fate  that  awaited  them. 

I  did  not  find  the  answer  to  my  question  until 
well  along  into  the  first  summer  of  the  present 
administration.  Then  1  found  that,  under  the  old 
conditions,  men  had  frequently  left  here  with  re- 
venge in  their  hearts.  The  revenge  they  felt  led 
them  into  things  that  brought  them  back. 

Now  one  does  not  hear  men  talking  of  leaving 
this  prison  determined  upon  revenge.  In  place 
of  the  revenge  the  truth  is  dawning  on  many 
minds  that  right  should  be  lived  for  right's  sake 
and  that  wrong  is  harmful  to  hfm  who  inflicts 
wrong  as  well  as  to  him  who  is  wronged.  The 
prisoners  are  beginning,  more  and  more,  to  talk 
about  proving  that  they  can  and  will  become 
honest  and  industrious  men — make  good,  they 
call  it — and  that  they  are  willing  to  help  solve 
some  of  life's  problems.  They  show  a  readiness 
to  accept  in  the  future  the  burdens  of  toil  and 
frugality  without  which  no  released  prisoner  can 
establish  himself. 

Through  many  influences  recently  brought  to 
bear,  the  men  are  beginning  to  realize  that  kind- 
liness and  generosity  are  essential  to  true  happi- 
ness. I  do  not  mean  that  tkese  qualities  are 
clearly  understood  by  a  very  great  number  of  the 
prisoners,  but  they  are  seeing  the  A  B  C  of  it. 
Thoughts  are  at  work  and  evidences  are  exhib- 
ited unintentionally  every  day.  The  feeling  of 
utter  despair  is  giving  way  and  with  it  go  the 
thoughts  of  revenge. 

Personally,  I  never  felt  revengeful  and  I  have 


outgrown  the  utter  despair  of  my  first  few 
months.  I  am  bcgiiuiing  to  hope  that  I  will  yet 
earn  the  respect  due  a  g<»od  man.  Through  it  all 
I  think  of  how,  under  what  I  then  considered 
great  ])ressurc,  I  took  money  that  did  not  belong 
t<t  me  and  that  I  earned  for  myself  the  name  of 
felon. 

Recently  opi)ortunities  have  come  which  en- 
able me  to  earn  back  my  self  rcs|K'ct.  I  am  find- 
ing that  true  happiness  is  attainable  only  when 
one  strives  to  help  others  and,  as  I  am  more 
capable  than  some  of  the  men  here,  the  oppor- 
tunity to  help  others  comes  frequently. 

I  shall  always  be  grateful  to  those  wiv)  have 
made  this  possible. 

^    ^    ^ 

THE  PRISON  LIBRARY 


By  S.  K.  E. 

A  Prisuiier. 

A  good  library  is  an  indispensable  department 
to  tlie  well-ordered  penitentiary.  The  inditleren' 
world  may  believe  that  the  great  majority  of  in 
mates  in  prisons  are  not  only  lacking  in  good 
mental  caliber  but  are  in  the  embryonic  stage  of 
development.  An  inside  view  of  library  ci»iuli 
lions  in  this  institution  will  quickly  dispel  that 
illusion. 

Books  are  so  largely  responsible  for  present- 
day  civilization  that  to  my  mind  the  prison  li- 
brary deserves  more  than  passing  notice.  In  in- 
stitutions where  the  standard  of  progress  meas- 
ures up  to  the  demand,  the  library  is  the  one  de- 
partment which  fast  is  becoming  recogjiizcd  as  in- 
dispensable. Its  usefulness  is  twofold:  in  sup- 
plying a  wholesome  recreation  and  al.M)  those 
dee|)  and  more  vital  incentives  which  must  ever 
w(jrk  for  intellectual  development  and  nK»ral  up 

lift. 

The  tastes  of  the  fifteen  hundred  inmates  of 
this  pri.son  can  be  learned  from  the  interesting 
lil)rary  statistics  which  follow,  l-iction  is  far 
the  most  popular,  but  the  statistics  show  that  a 
niunber  of  men  are  seeking  to  improve  their 
minds,  are  paving  their  way  to  a  broader  an<l 
more   useful   life   through   the   medimn  of  gt>od 

l)(M)ks. 

The  prison  library  is  catalogued  under  tlurteen 
classifications,  each  classification  having  a  nuni 
her  of  subdivisions.     The   following  tables  arc 


248                                                       THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  First  Year 

furnished  by  the  chaplain-librarian.     They  cover  when  they  shall  again  mingle  with  society,  is  the 

the  period  from  July  1,  1913,  to  April  1,  1914:  main  object  of  this  administration,  consequently 

Total  number  of  books  in  library 22,068  as  they  behave  better  they  are  duly  rewarded. 

Number  of  books  purchased 125  We   must   always    remember   that   the  parole 

Average  number  of  books  repaired  monthly  board  has  a  duty  to  society  as  well  as  the  pris- 

by  bindery  40  oners,  that  the  parole  board  must  protect  society 

Books  condemned  or  destroyed 10  against  liberation  of  evil-doers.     In  the  exercis- 

The  monthly  issue  of  books  was:  July,  6,006;  ing  of  its  discretion  in  considering  parole,  the  in- 
August,  5,469;  September,  5,178;  October,  5,108;  dividual  character,  as  evidenced  by  his  deport- 
November,  4,531;  December,  5,269;  January,  ment  during  this  person's  incarceration,  must  be 
5,812;  February,  4,302;  March,  4,646.  of  tremendous  deciding  influence. 

The  classification   of  the  books   drawn   is   as  ^     ®     ® 

^°^l°^^s=  WHILE  SMOKING  MY  PIPE 

Dept. —      July    Aug.    Sept.  Oct.    Nov.    Dec.    Jan.     Feb.    Mar. 

Gen.     works      31         31         44         32        27         27        22         15         18  

Philology...     183      158      153      117      154       139      182         96      IO3  -r-.       ^            , 

Religion      ..     138      180      145      144       118      125         87      105      100  Bv   Standet 

Sociology     .     186      160       159      140      123      184       131       132       111 

Philology...     183      158      158      117      152      139       132         96      103  A  Prisoner. 

Nat.    science    175      169      131       134       121         94       119      107      116  „,         j.   .,                ,                   ^      ,,„^                    „        , 

Useful     arts    417      333      281       300      205      255      228      178      209  i  he    lellOW    WhO    WrOtC       btOUC    WallS    dO    nOt    d. 

Fine     arts..       92         87      112         09         75         90         63         68         79  .                 ^,                    .            ,                               )>  1             1             j-j 

Geog.    and  prisou  make,  nor  iron  bars  a  cage,    how  long  did 

history  .  .  755   654   605   550   453   525   412   430   450  ,    ,  ^   T  t.  i.  1        i.   -i.   -.lI,    .l     i.    i. 

Eng.  lit....  340    365    340    297    287    294    431    263    302  he  do ?     1  bet  he  wrote  it  Cither  to  get  out,  or 

MeS  "'•   ''i    '"    '''    '1    "2    ''t    '"    "'    '''  after  he  was  out,  or  he  never  was  in  jail  at  all. 

Fiction      ...3.413  8,101  8,028   3,119  2,782  8,850  3,995  2,718  2,912  j^^p^^y    ^^j^j^    ^^^^^    ^j^^^^j    ^    ^^^^    ^j^-j^    ^^ 

These  tables  show  the  mental  measure  of  the  the  police  force  in  Chicago.    No  wonder  he  only 

inmates;  it  is  seen  that  there  is  a  fair  proportion  ggj-ved  thirty  years.    How  could  he  be  so  remiss 

of  students  and  thinkers  among  the  men.  -^^  j^jg  (j^ty  ? 

©     ^     ®  Dr.  Benson  is  all  right.     Everybody  says  so. 

GOOD   DEPORTMENT  But— why  does  he  never  prescribe  a  change  of 

air? 

By  T.  G.  E.  Speaking  of  popular  songs,  remember  these : 

A  Prisoner.  "HomC,  SwCCt  Home." 

It  is  often  claimed  by  prisoners  that  the  ob-  "If  Mother  Could  Only  See  Me  Now." 

servance  of  prison  rules  will  not  result  in  any  "More  to  be  Pitied  Than  Censured." 

good  for  the  individual.    When  one  considers  the  "She's  Only  a  Bird  in  a  Gilded  Cage." 

nature  of  this  institution  in  all  of  its  aspects,  this  "Don't  Take  Me  Home." 

seems  absurd.  "No  One  Gives  Presents  to  Me." 

The  administration  needs  reliable,  helpful  pris-  "Where  Is  My  Wandering  Boy  Tonight?" 

oners,  just  as  much  as  an  employer  of  labor  any-  I  always  maintained  this  was  a  lovely  place, 

where  needs  good  employes.    The  proof  is  in  the  but  I  was  in  Germany  when  I  said  it. 

number   who   have   been   made   trusties   at   this  Still,    it   might   be    worse.    Remember    twelve 

prison.    Go  to  the  trusty  who  has  a  position  out-  years  ago,  and  contract  labor,  and . 

side  of  the  walls  or  to  one  who  holds  a  good  place  Several  "white  hopes"  in  here, 

within  the  walls  and  ask  him  if  his  good  conduct  I  am  not  asking  for  pie.    Still,  if  some  Sunday 

has  brought  him  anything.    He  will  consider  the  supper  should  consist  of  that  delicacy  it  would 

question  foolish.  be  delightful. 

As   to   the   larger   question   of  good  conduct  Fellow  next  door  humming  "I  would  rather  be 

hastening  parole  for  a  prisoner,  that  can  best  be  on  the  outside  looking  in  than  on  the  inside  look- 
answered  by  those  in  authority,  but  that  does  not*    ing  out."     My  view  exactly,  pal,  but  what's  the 

prevent  me  from  speculating  upon  it,  and,  when  use? 

I  do  this,  I  am  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  in  No,  sir!  This  is  no  place  for  an  honest  man, 

the  logic  of  things  it  must  be  true  that  good  de-  but  neither  is  Chicago. 

portment  in  this  prison  pays  as  well  as  it  does  The  very  quintessence  of  ignorance  and  cow- 
anywhere.     To  bring  men  to  be  better  citizens  ardice  is  hissing.    A  man  gets  up  to  sing  a  song ; 


May  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


249 


some  one  disapproves  and  starts  hissing.  Some 
one's  aesthetic  perception  is  jarred  by  a  dis- 
cordant note  of  the  orchestra  and  he  hisses.  An 
indispensable  announcement  is  made,  and  we 
.  have  more  hisses.  We  have  a  vivid  recollection 
when  "announcements"  were  dispensed  with  and 
all  "explaining"  was  done  in  the  solitary.  Let  us 
hasten  to  add,  that  only  a  small  percentage  of  the 
men  are  guilty  of  this  infraction  of  etiquette,  but 
it  embarrasses  the  other  men.  So,  I  say  to  the 
hissers  if  you  must  hiss,  have  the  decency  to 
stand  up  while  doing  it  and  show  your  face. 

©    ©    ^ 

A   LETTER  TO   YOU,   MR.   CITIZEN 


By  C.  M. 

A  Prisoner. 

Why?  Because  if  a  man  is  convicted  and 
wants  to  know  who  sends  him  to  his  destiny,  the 
jury  will  wash  their  hands  and  tell  you  it  is  up 
to  the  judge.  The  judge  will  clean  his  conscience 
and  explain  to  you  that  it  is  not  him  but  the 
law  and  legislature,  while  by  asking  them  they 
will  prove  to  you  that  they  are  only  instrumental 
and  tell  you  it  is  the  voice  of  the  people,  and  as 
you  are  the  end  result  I  address  this  letter  to  you, 
Mr.  Citizen. 

And  as  you  are  the  cause  I  argue  that  our 
only  hope  lies  in  you.  We  fully  believe  that  at 
the  present  we  have  a  Warden  at  the  head  of  this 
institution  who  fully  realizes  the  necessity  of  such 
reform  movements  and  who,  in  his  shrewdness, 
sees  well  the  everlasting  benefit  that  the  State  of 
Illinois  and  particularly  you,  Mr.  Citizen,  will 
derive  from  his  services.  Our  great  desire,  there- 
fore, is  that  you  will  co-operate  with  him  and  us. 
It  is  not  sympathy,  Mr.  Citizen,  we  ask,  but  ac- 
tion is  what  we  are  looking  for.  My  aim  is  to 
prove  to  you  that  our  Warden  is  absolutely  on 
the  right  track  to  bring  men  back  to  this  stand- 
ard. 

Now,  Mr.  Citizen,  I  am  supposed  to  be  a  crim- 
inal and  you  must  admit  in  sucii  a  jxjsition  who 
daily  deals  with  them  forms  their  friendships, 
to  whom  they  express  their  feelings,  who  himself 
can  feel  like  they  do,  for  he  is  one  of  them,  can 
understand  the  reason  for  crime  much  better  than 
any  criminologist,  and  I  claim  there  is  no  one  that 
can  understand  such  a  man  unless  he  has  been 
through  the  mill  himself. 

Therefore,  Mr.  Citizen,  I  desire  to  give  you 


the  benefit  of  wliat  I  learned  that  you  might  sec 
the  criminal  in  the  right  light. 

To  begin  with,  we  perhaps  have  to  ask  the  most 
serious  question  that  all  our  advanced  knowledge 
of  modern  science  gives  us  no  positive  answer: 
"What  is  the  cause  of  crime?" 

The  doctors  tell  us  that  we  need  an  operation. 
The  scientist  tells  us  it  is  hereditary.  The 
preacher  tells  us  it  is  a  bad,  sinful  heart.  Here 
we  have  medicine,  science  and  theology.  Hut  the 
results,  no  relief  and  they  .still  victimize  you.  Mr. 
Citizen,  don't  they?  You  remind  me  very  much, 
Mr.  Citizen,  of  the  story  of  a  shepherd  who  was 
desperately  hungry  and  whose  dinner  pail  hung 
over  his  head  on  a  tree,  but  he  did  not  want  to  get 
up  and  get  it. 

With  other  words  it's  you,  Mr.  Citizen,  that 
has  to  get  up  and  take  a  hand  in  this  great  rcfomi 
movement  with  our  Warden.  No,  Mr.  Citizen, 
we  need  no  operation,  nor  are  we  b<jrn  criminals, 
nor  are  our  hearts  any  more  sinful  than  those  on 
the  outside.  W^e  are  human,  susceptible  to  sor- 
rows and  joys.  The  only  things  we  do  need  is  a 
little  start.  For  there  is  only  one  reason  what 
made  us  what  we  are,  what  caused  us  to  commit 
crime  and  that  is  indispensable.  We  lost  our 
honor.  A  man  will  at  least  in  the  moment  he 
commits  his  crime  be  stripped  of  his  honor  like  a 
tree  stripped  of  all  its  leaves — let  that  be  in  a 
moment  of  anger,  in  a  moment  to  satisfy  his  pas- 
sionate inclinations,  in  moments  of  fear.  He 
does  not  realize  who  or  what  he  is ;  he  will  com- 
pletely forget  his  honor,  his  manhood.  There- 
fore, Mr.  Citizen,  the  great  question  is,  what  is 
the  remedy?  Is  it  not  a  fact  that  if  you  take  the 
best  natured  dog  and  chain  him  up,  abuse  him,  ill 
feed  him,  etc.,  the  consequence  is  that  you  have 
made  him  a  savage,  uncontrollable  l>cast  ?  There 
is  a  picture  exactly  the  result  of  imprisonment  in 
the  old  form.  The  little  good  that  still  remains 
in  every  human  heart  you  have  crushed  out  and 
you  have  made  him  into  a  beast  with  a  heart  full 
of  hatred — now  do  you  wonder  why  criminals  in- 
irease? 

Therefore,  that  is  positive  this  caimot  be  the 
remedy.  .\nd  now  ask  yourself  who  is  the  fault? 
Was  the  dog  the  fault  that  he  was  made  into  beast? 
it  is  true  by  such  treatment  you  have  your  re- 
venge, but  the  i)rice  you  pay  is  increase  of  crim- 
inals and  constant  fear  of  same.  I  ask  you,  is  it 
worth  it?    Just  let  me  bring  before  you  a  product 


250 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


of  the  old  prison  regime,  one  Spencer,  whose  ter- 
rible confession  still  horrifies  your  hearts.  There- 
fore let  me  ask  you,  do  you  want  more  Spencers? 
There  are  1,500  men  in  here.  On  the  other  hand, 
if  the  plan  of  our  Warden  succeeds  there  are 
1,500  men  in  here  that  will  fight  against  crime, 
become  honorable,  decent  citizens  who  will  be 
again  a  wheel  in  the  great  machinery  of  the  State. 
So  you  see,  Mr.  Citizen,  this  rests  entirely  with 
you.    Which  shall  it  be?    Now  the  remedy. 

Our  Warden  has  instituted  an  honor  system 
that  will  beyond  doubt  in  time  bring  us  back  to 
the  standard  of  honor  which  we  lost.  For  this  is 
most  certain,  a  man  who  stands  on  honor  and 
manhood  cannot  commit  a  crime.  Therefore,  Mr, 
Citizen,  do  you  see  the  great  benefit  that  would 
come  directly  to  you?  What  does  it  mean?  It 
means  to  check  the  crime  wave  and  to  turn  out 
honest,  upright  and  true  citizens.  When  I  kindly 
requested  you,  Mr.  Citizen,  to  co-operate  with 
our  Warden,  I  mean  to  say  that  he  is  a  pioneer  in 
this  reform  work  and  you  know  that  all  reform- 
ers as  a  rule  reap  more  thorns  than  laurels,  al- 
though after  they  are  dead  they  write  books  about 
them  and  set  them  monstrous  tombstones. 
.  Of  course,  I  understand  it  would  be  very  im- 
material to  him.  He  will  get  his  compensation  just 
the  same,  whether  he  runs  it  the  old  way  and 
turns  out  criminals  with  a  heart  full  of  revenge 
or  the  new  way  to  turn  out  men  ashamed  of  their 
past  with  a  heart  full  of  love  to  mankind,  with 
the  determination  to  make  good  upon  their  honor. 
While  financially  it  would  make  no  great  change 
with  him,  but  it  certainly  means  everything  to 
you  and  us.  Therefore,  Mr.  Citizen,  I  wish  you  to 
realize  that  our  Warden  is  doing  this  for  our 
good,  for  your  good,  and  for  the  good  of  the  State 
of  Illinois.  If  once  in  a  while  things  happen 
which  do  not  meet  your  approval  and  which  no 
man  can  prevent,  remember  it  is  pioneer  work 
and  that  our  Warden  cannot  see  into  the  heart  of 
the  man.  But  remember,  no  matter  what  the 
papers  say,  if  our  Warden  succeeds  he  has  solved 
a  question  that  all  the  wisdom  of  2,000  years 
were  unable  to.  Now,  Mr.  Citizen,  I  ask  you 
don't  you  think  the  experiment  is  well  worth  ?  At 
the  present,  Mr.  Citizen,  you  have  sent  the  eagle 
of  the  State  of  Illinois  down  upon  us  and  he  with 
his  fangs  has  gripped  our  hearts  and  throats  and 
bleeding  out  of  thousands  of  wounds  to  the  sor- 


row of  an  innocent  heart-broken  mother  wonder- 
ing and  i)raying  for  her  boy  who  was  her  only 
support.  You  have  made  our  wives  widows,  our 
children  orphans,  left  to  a  merciless  world.  Can 
you  realize,  Mr.  Citizen,  the  tortures  of  one  single 
night  when  we  lie  awake  thinking  what  has  be- 
come of  those  that  are  dear  to  us  ? 

I  close,  Mr.  Citizen,  vv-ith  hope  that  you  will 
think  of  us  when  you  pray  and  forgive  us  our 
trespasses  "as  we  forgive  those  who  trespass 
against  us." 

@    @i    ^ 

WHAT    IS    IT? 


By  Experience 

A  Prisoner. 

A  fool  there  is — and  his  name  is  legion  ;  instead 
of  making  his  prayer,  he  simply  whistles  it.  Now, 
perhaps,  I  should  not  have  used  the  word  "fool," 
but  should  have  moderated  it  by  saying  "wise 
one."  For  you  know,  boys,  that  all  the  suckers 
and  yaps  are  still  at  large,  and  this  small  com- 
munity only  houses  the  very  wise  ones,  which  is 
to  say  that  the  prison  walls  are  the  dividing  line 
twixt  the  wise  guy  and  the  sucker,  the  sucker  al- 
ways playing  to  the  outside  throng. 

Now,  in  my  various  wanderings,  I  have  never 
come  across  so  many  wiseacres  as  I  have  stubbed 
against  since  sojourning  here  and  in  places  of  a 
similar  nature.  But  the  wisest  of  the  wise  are  the 
late  arrivals.  Some  of  them  enter  here  imbued 
with  the  idea  that  we  whom  they  find  here  are 
practically  dead  ones,  or  that  we  are  so  far  behind 
the  times,  and  walls,  too,  for  that  matter,  that  we 
are  not  cognizant  of  current  happenings  beyond 
our  narrow  confines. 

Now,  right  here  is  where  T  rise  to  remark  for 
the  benefit  of  those  late  arrivals,  also  a  few  of  our 
home-grown  cynics,  that  we  were  all  born  out- 
side, and  you  need  not  filch  it  from  me,  but  take 
it  free  gratis  as  facts.  Strange,  but  true,  we  all 
had  to  enter  here  by  due  process  of  law — what- 
ever that  means.  Now,  just  allow  your  Uncle 
Eph.  to  "hep"  you  the  fact  that  we  have  men 
here  from  every  walk  of  life,  and  doing  every 
kind  of  walk  you  ever  saw  in  your  life,  mixed 
with  every  kind  of  talk,  from  the  one-legged  man 
who  walks  with  the  peg  or  crutch  to  the  biped  in- 
dividual who  finds  a  pair  of  front  feet  to  put  into 


May  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


251 


the  trough,  ami  comes  away  walking  like  a  hog. 
Also  men  from  every  station  (house)  in  Chi- 
cago.    Do  you  receive  me,  "Bo?" 

Now,  see  what  you  are  up  against  when  you  ar- 
rive here  and  begin  throwing  that  bull  about  the 
motor  cars  you  own  and  how  many  chickens, 
feathered  and  otherwise,  that  used  to  camp  on 
your  trail ;  and  that  measlcy  "thou.'"  your  lawyer, 
got,  not  to  mention  the  scads  of  masuma  awaiting 
von  in  that  big  trust  company's  keeping  on  I.a 
Salle  street.  O,  well,  easy,  Mabel  dear ;  the  fam- 
ilv  upstairs  are  kicking.  I  say,  when  I  hear  some 
of  our  ex-brokers  and  aldermen  get  together  and 
chew  the  fat  awhile.  T  feel  so  small  and  cheap,  I 
could  do  a  Brody  into  the  big  drink,  and  shed 
fresh  tears  of  envy. 

Gee !  fellows,  it's  tough  to  be  broke.    Speaking 
of  being  born  outside,  reminds  me  of  a  bit  of 
repartee.     (Now,  someone  look  this  word  up  and 
help  me  to  the  definition).    I  overheard  a  deputy 
warden  once  say  he  wished  to  pick  a  man  he 
could  trust.     Now,  I  don't  mean  one  of  the  late 
style  tango  honor  men,  but  a  real  sure  'nuff  trusty 
for  a  job  outside  the  walls.     Well,  he  came  out 
into  the  yard  to  give  the  mob  the  once  over,  and 
spied  an  old  fifth-timer.     He  called  to  him  and 
said,  "Frank,  I  want  a  man  for  a  good  job ;  were 
you  ever  outside?"  (Meaning,  of  course,  had  he 
ever  been  detailed  to  work  beyond  the  walls.) 
Well,  Frank  answered  pat:    "Yes,  sir,  deputy,  I 
was  born  outside."    Well,  I  don't  care  to  say  how 
sore  the  Dep.  was,  but  after  he  saw  the  joke 
Frank  got  the  job.     The  reason  the  Dep.  gave 
for  putting  him  on  the  job  was  that  he  was  glad 
to  know   that   Frank   remembered   having   once 
been  but  in  his  life.    So  you,  too,  remember,  boys, 
that  all  these  old  fellows  you  see  here  plodding 
along  in  the  even  tenor  of  their  ways,  were  born 
outside  and  every  single  individual  soul  e.\i>ects  to 
plant  his  hoppy  feet  uix)n  the  bricks  again.    Now 
hold  the  deal.     This  is  not  an  article,  and  I  am 
sure  the  "Fd."  will  not  construe  it  as  such.    It  is 
simply  an  effort,  or  an  effort  simple.     But,  how- 
ever good  or  bad  it  may  be,  you  have  it  from  one 
who,  O !  well,  let  us  say,  who  whistled  them.  Just 
a  few  stray  thoughts  which  I  hope  reaches  the 
spot  and  riles  no  one.    You  know,  pals,  we  are  all 
a  conceited  lot  at  best.    Show  me  a  man  who  has 
not  lost  some  of  his  conceit  after  his  first  pinch 
and  I  will  show  you  a  man  whose  case  is  hope- 


less. \\  by,  1  remember  the  first  time  I  got  in 
bad.  I  thought  it  was  an  outrage  the  way  they 
neglected  me  at  home  by  not  sh«-»wing  up  a  half 
hour  after  the  pinch.  1  thought  the  street  cars 
should  slop  running  and  the  sun  would  be  delayed 
an  hour  or  so  in  rising  because  I  was  in  durance 
vile.  .\nd  I  thought  the  old  folks  would  ix>t  sleep 
a  wink  that  night,  but  lie  awake  crooning: 
"Where  is  my  wandering  l>oy  tonight?"  Hut 
did  they,  Bibblc?"  Well,  does  a  duck  wear  sox? 
.Any  black  sheep  who  may  unfortunately  wan<lcr 
afar  can  rely  upon  finding  the  family  plate  intact 
when  he  graces  the  festive  board  again  in  little 
old  "home,  sweet  home." 

^     ^     ^ 

TO  MY  BROTHERS  IN   LAW 


By  "Buttons" 

A  Pri»oner. 

Written  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post. 
(  Editor's  Note. — It  is  better  to  t>e  a  good  phil- 
osopher and  a  bad  poet,  than  to  be  a  good  j)OCt 
and  a  bad  philosopher.) 

Softly,  friends,  with  all  this  bull  con 

•Mxiut  our  chances  to  do  right ; 
Don't  spoil  of  a  hand  to  help  us 

Win  the  hard  and  bitter  fight. 
1>T  not  welch  and  ask  for  pity, 

Do  not  blame  society : 
Don't  go  howling  when  in  trouble. 

Think  of  all  while  yet  you're  free. 

We  all  were  free,  our  chances  equal 

To  work,  to  steal,  to  starve,  to  die; 
To  have  a  home  and  wife  and  friendships. 

.\nd  live  beneath  the  same  blue  sky. 
Society  had  naught  against  us. 

No  one  forced  us  to  do  wrong; 
We  were  free  to  choose  our  pathway, 

Pain  and  darkness,  joy  and  song. 

'Twas  up  to  us  which  way  wc  wandered. 

We  were  not  forced  to  work  or  steal ; 
The  i)ath  was  wide,  the  chances  even 

To  win  success  or  pass  the  deal. 
We  took  the  road  that  seemed  so  rosy. 

Ea.sy  money,  wine  and  song; 
While  others  worked  wc  stole  the  proceeds, 

Knowing  well  that  it  was  wrong. 


252 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


We  did  not  kick  while  the  money  lasted, 

No  thought  of  society  bothered  us  then ; 
But  how  quickly  we  howl  for  some  one  to  help  us 

The  moment  we  land  inside  of  the  "Pen." 
The  police  are  all  grafters,  the  judge  was  against 
us, 

Society  made  us,  we  had  no  square  deal; 
We  "never  done  nothing,"  we  all  were  railroaded, 

Poor,  unfortunate  men,  we  are  caught,  so  we 
squeal. 

We  are  mentally  deficient,  had  no  education. 

The  excuses  we  offer  are  numerous  and  long; 
Won't  society  help  us,  defend  us  and  teach  us. 
And  show  us  the  difference  between  right  and 
wrong? 
Oh !  friends,  if  you  worked  three  days  for  three 
dollars, 
And  someone  should  rob  you  as  you  drew  your 

pay, 

Would  you  call  on  society  to  help  him  who  robbed 
you. 
Or  yell  for  a  policeman  to  take  him  away? 

.1 

Would  you  oflfer  him  friendship,  of  crime  hold 

him  blameless. 
Educate  him,  clothe  him  and  help  him  along. 
Tell  him  you  feel  sorry  he  took  all  your  money. 
And  teach  him  the  difference  between  right  and 
wrong? 
Now,  would  you,  I  ask  you,  you  and  I  know  the 
answer, 
So  why  should  we  whine  and  society  blame ; 
We  are  all  started  equal  on  Life's  rugged  high- 
way. 
No  one  forced  us  to  walk  on  this  bypath  of 
shame. 

Can't  we  stand  on  our  feet,  friends ;  are  we  weak, 
are  we  helpless? 
Can't  we  admit  that  we  toot  the  wrong  way  ? 
Can't  we  be  men,  and  without  all  this  whining, 

Come  forward  and  ask  for  a  chance  to  repay? 
Can't  we  say  to  society :  True,  we  have  fallen, 
But  still  we  are  men,  and  have  muscle  and 
brawn ; 
We'll  not  whine  for  help,  but  be  glad  of  your 
friendship. 
When  we  prove  by  success  we've  repaid  for 
the  wrong. 


We  don't  want  your  pity,  our  debt  we  will  cancel ; 
The  dance  we've  enjoyed ;  now  the  fiddler  we'll 
pay. 
When  his  dues  are  collected,  again  we'll  start 
equal. 
But  with  you  on  the  road,  we'll  stick  night  and 
day. 
For  the  music  cost  more  than  the  worth  of  the 
dancing. 
And  blunt  honesty  pays  in  happiness  rare ; 
And  tho'   sometimes  the  lights  will  seem  very 
entrancing. 
We'll  recall  what  we  paid  in  shame  and  despair. 

So,  friends,  don't  you  think  that  society  welcomes 

A  good,  honest  statement  instead  of  a  whine; 
And  be  glad  of  a  chance  to  offer  us  friendship 

After  we've  cancelled  the  bill  for  our  crime? 
Success  we  can  win,  friends,  there's  nothing  to 
stop  us, 

And  the  chances  to  work  are  open  to  all ; 
There's  room  at  the  top  if  you  want  to  fight  for  it. 

There's  room  at  the  bottom  if  rather  you'd  fall. 

LOCAL  PARAGRAPHS 

Mrs.  Maud  Ballington  Booth  spoke  here  Sun- 
day, March  29.  The  day  that  Mrs.  Booth  comes 
is  always  a  day  to  be  looked  forward  to,  and  after 
she  has  gone  a  day  to  be  remembered.  Her  ad- 
dress was  more  beautiful  and  had  more  uplift, 
the  men  say,  than  any  recent  address  given  by  her 
here.  Mrs.  Booth  was  accompanied  by  her 
daughter. 

The  Warden  arranged  an  exceptional  Easter 
service  this  year.  Mr.  Marcus  Kellerman, 
grand  opera  baritone,  who  visited  here  about  a 
year  ago,  was  invited  to  fill  the  full  time  of  the 
service.  Mr.  Kellerman's  selections  were  sacred 
songs,  grand  opera  selections,  ballads  and  ro- 
mances. The  selections  were  sung  in  four  lan- 
guages, English,  French,  German  and  Italian,  Mr. 
Kellerman  remarking  that  he  thought  his  audience 
would  be  pleased  with  the  variety  in  language,  as 
the  nationalities  referred  to  were  probably  rep- 
resented in  his  audience.  There  was  a  most  ap- 
preciative response  to  each  of  the  numbers.  The 
accompanist  was  Miss  Rice,  of  Chicago.  The 
local  orchestra  supplemented  Mr.  Kellerman's 
vocal  work  with  numbers  especially  prepared  for 


:\!av  1.  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


253 


the  Easter  service.     A  number  of  visitors,  both 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  attended  the  service. 

The  orchestra  has  been  furnished  with  new 
dark  blue  uniforms.  These  appeared  for  the  first 
time  at  the  Easter  service. 

The  meetings  announced  last  month  to  be 
held  by  the  men  were  held  as  was  arranged.  The 
men  met  by  galleries  in  rooms  connected  with  the 
respective  wings.  Various  propositions  were  dis- 
cussed and  voted  upon.  All  of  the  men  showed 
an  interest  in  their  new  opportunity  and  they  con- 
ducted themselves  as  parliamentarians  should. 
One  of  the  men  had  been  appointed  chief  presid- 
ing officer  by  the  Warden  for  this  first  month  ;  he, 
with  an  assistant,  presided  at  all  of  the  meetings. 
The  quarry  men  are  spoken  of  as  having  one  of 
the  most  orderly  meetings  and  as  among  those 
who  took  up  the  work  of  the  meetings  with  keen 
interest  and  understanding. 

About  one  thousand  gold  fish  were  carried 
through  the  winter  and  are  now  placed  in  the 
fountain  basin  in  the  yard,  in  the  front  lawn 
pond  and  in  the  various  aquariums  in  the  Admin- 
istration building,  the  office  of  The  Joliet 
Prison  Post  and  in  other  offices.  Two  hundred 
of  these  fish  are  breeders  of  mature  age.  The 
beds  of  pink,  red,  yellow  and  white  pond  lilies 
which  are  growing  up  in  the  front  lawn  pc^nd, 
with  the  mellow  ground  at  their  roots,  furnish  an 
ideal  place  for  breeding,  and  since  no  fish  that 
would  prey  upon  the  gold  fish  are  put  into  the 
pond,  nearly  every  egg  that  is  spawned  is  hatched. 
The  breeders  are  carefully  selected  for  their  color 
and  vitality  and  a  fine  strain  is  produced.  At  the 
close  of  the  season  there  are  literally  thousands 
of  these  golden  beauties. 

The  five  greenhouses  outside  and  the  one  in- 
side the  yard  are  conducted  without  keepers  and 
now,  after  six  months  under  this  plan,  everything 
is  going  nicely.  About  ten  men  are  employed  in 
the  greenhouse  and  lawn  work. 

During  the  past  winter  the  outside  greenhouses 
grew  six  large  beds  of  mushrooms  as  an  experi- 
ment. The  experiment  was  a  success,  enough 
being  gfown  to  supply  the  Administration  build- 
ing, and  next  year  mushrooms  will  be  grown  on 
a  much  larger  scale. 

The  greenhouses  have  grown  sufficient  parsley 


and  mint  during  the  winter  to  supply  the  .\dmin- 
istration  building.  Cantaloupes  and  cucumbers 
for  early  planting  have  been  gri)wn  and  potted 
and  will  be  well  advanced  by  planting  time.  The 
greenhouses  have  also  grown  100,000  tomato  and 
40,000  cabbage  plants,  which  arc  to  be  used  in  the 
farm  gardens.  Eight  thousand  geranium  plants 
have  been  grown  which  will  be  used  in  tlie  flower 
beds  inside  and  outside  the  walls. 

The  large  lawn  in  front  <>f  the  Administration 
building  will  be  particularly  beautiful  this  sum- 
mer. Prominent  in  its  decoration  is  the  pond  of 
gold  fish  with  its  pink,  red,  yellow  and  white  pond 
lilies.  On  a  slope  facing  the  west,  the  national 
colors  are  shown  in  a  large  flower  shield.  On  the 
East  lawn  are  many  beds  of  various  design  of  a 
wide  variety  of  fl<^»wers.  Alternantheria,  or  "car- 
pet bedding,"  of  many  beautiful  colors  will  be 
used  extensively.  On  the  west  side  of  the  drive- 
way there  will  be  lilies  and  pansies.  One  hundred 
and  forty  varieties  of  cut  flowers  are  being  raised 
for  use  in  the  Administration  building,  hospital, 
etc.  All  of  the  greenhouse  work  promises  to  be 
exceptionally  satisfactory  this  year. 

There  will  be  more  truck  gardening  here  this 
year  than  at  any  previous  season.  The  adjacent 
eighty  acres  of  farm  land  will  be  used  mostly  for 
gardening.  Mr.  Emil  Erxlcben,  superintendent 
of  the  gardens,  all  through  last  winter  and  au- 
tumn, proved  that  he  is  a  man  who  proposes  to 
be  "on  the  job."  Nothing  gets  by  his  obscn'ation 
and  nothing  is  left  outside  of  his  calculation. 
During  the  early  spring,  small  neglected  patches 
in  the  fields  were  cleared  up.  fences  were  repaired 
and  new  fences  were  built.  When  warm  weather 
came  the  garden  men  were  fully  abreast  of  the 
season. 

Mr.  Erxleben  proposes  to  make  his  summer's 
work  a  school  in  gardening  for  the  men  who  arc 
working  with  him.  A  munber  of  the  men  will 
studv  the  methods  so  as  to  be  fitted  for  garden 
work  when  they  leave  here.  Al>out  sixty-five  men 
will  be  at  work  in  the  gardens  when  the  sea.son  is 
fully  on. 

.\siile  from  the  school  value  of  the  garden 
work,  the  gardens  are  to  be  of  great  practical 
value.  The  superintendent  says:  "Pnwidence 
and  the  season  permitting,  the  Ijoys  of  this  insti- 
tution are  going  to  be  fed  better  this  season  than 


254 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


they  have  ever  been  fed  before."  There  will  be 
twelve  acres  of  tomatoes,  six  acres  of  onions, 
and  smaller  areas  of  rutabagas,  parsnips,  carrots, 
beans,  peas,  squash,  cucumbers,  lettuce,  radishes 
and  spinach. 

Many  of  the  men  who  will  be  at  the  gardens 
this  year  proved  last  year  that  they  are  faithful 
and  valuable  men.  The  superintendent  speaks 
highly  of  each  of  them.  These  men,  of  course, 
are  all  "trusties."  They  are  outside  of  the  walls 
and,  for  a  great  portion  of  the  time,  are  away 
from  their  keeper. 

At  the  new  farm  one  hundred  acres  will  be 
used  in  gardening.  There  will  be  twenty  acres  of 
potatoes,  twenty-five  acres  of  sweet  corn,  ten 
acres  of  onions,  five  acres  of  early  and  five  acres 
of  late  cabbage.  The  remainder  of  the  hundred 
acres  will  be  planted  with  turnips,  melons,  beans, 
peas,  tomatoes,  cucumbers,  radishes,  lettuce, 
squash,  pumpkins,  beets,  parsnips,  etc.  Mr.  I.  M. 
Lewis  is  superintendent  of  gardening  and  what 
he  has  so  far  done  gives  promise  of  a  good 
i:)roduct  for  the  coming  season's  work. 

The  general  superintendent  of  the  new  farm 
is  Mr.  Bert  H.  Faltz.  Mr.  Faltz  will  give  per- 
sonal attention  to  the  larger  work.  He  now  has 
a  force  of  thirty-five  men,  ten  good  young  horse 
teams,  eleven  young  mule  teams  and  a  complete 
equipment  of  new  farm  implements  and  machin- 
ery. He  will  plant  four  hundred  acres  of  corn, 
will  sow  three  hundred  acres  of  oats,  and  one 
hundred  acres  of  meadow  and  pasture. 

Many,  of  the  men  here  are  hoping  that  they 
may  go  to  work  on  the  new  farm.  The  change 
will  be  a  great  relief  to  those  who  have  been  here 
for  a  long  time.  The  different  environment  and 
the  larger  natural  horizon  will  be  new  life  to 
them. 

Every  man  who  wishes  to  show  that  he  is  fit 
for  limited  self-government  can  show  it  by  be- 
ginning now  to  protect  the  lawn.  For  men  who 
are  to  show  that  they  will  help  take  care  of  things, 
some  have  been  too  careless  about  the  lawn.  Do 
not  walk  on  the  grass.  Let  us  begin  to  take  pride 
in  this  place,  and  let  us  make  it  look  as  good  as 
we  can. 

It  will  be  recognized  that  order  is  necessary  in 
handling  fifteen  hundred  men.     It  is  a  matter  of 


order  as  well  as  a  matter  of  discipline  that,  when 
moving  in  a  body,  the  men  should  march  in  line. 
How  many  men  who  wish  to  show  that  the 
gradual  introduction  of  limited  self-government 
is  possible,  will  now  be  careflil  to  keep  his  line  in 
good  form?  Let  us  begin  to  look  upon  these 
marching  lines  as  military  form  and  forget  th.at 
they  once  were  a  mere  method  for  keeping  the 
men  under  control.  This  institution  can  be  for 
each  person  what  each  makes  it  for  himself.  Each 
must  begin  by  dealing  with  his  own  thought.  We 
are  here  and  for  some  time  we  are  to  remain.  Let 
us  look  upon  the  place  differently  so  that  we 
can  make  the  days  mean  more  to  us  as  they 
go  by. 

This  "town"  needs  a  resident  dentist  and 
oculist.     Is  there  a  dentist  -and  an  oculist  among 

us? 

Arrangements  have  been  made  so  that  the  men 
in  a  number  of  the  shops  are  being  paid  a  nom- 
inal amount  each  month.  Gradually  the  ques- 
tion of  a  wage  for  prison  workmen  is  working 
out  here. 

The  Joliet  Prison  Post  has  moved  into  its  new 
quarters.  It  now  occupies  the  ground  floor  of  a 
building  which  has  been  especially  fitted  up  for  it. 
There  is  a  large  room  with  excellent  light  for 
the  business  force  and  two  good  rooms  for  the 
editorial  work. 

®    ®    ® 
WITHIN   REACH 


Adelaide  A.  Proctor 


Have  we  not  all,  amid  life's  petty  strife, 
Some  pure  ideal  of  a  nobler  life 
That  once  seemed  possible?    Did  we  not  hear 
The  flutter  of  its  wings  and  feel  it  near 
And  just  within  our  reach?    It  was.    And  yet 
We  lost  it  in  this  daily  jar  and  fret. 
But  still  our  place  is  kept  and  it  will  wait, 
Ready  for  us  to  fill  it,  soon  or  late. 
No  star  is  ever  lost  we  once  have  seen ; 
We  always  may  be  what  we  might  have  been. 

— The  New  Way. 

©    ©    ® 
No  power  on  earth  or  under  the  earth  can 
make  a  man  do  wrong  without  his  own  consent. 
— The  Riverside,  Red  Wing,  Minn. 


May  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


255 


i 


"The  teacher,  Hke  the  poet,  must  be  born,  and  then  born  again ;  for  the 
spirit  must  quicken  the  spirit  and  Ufe  inspire  hfe,  before  knowledge  can  grow 
to  wisdom;  and  wisdom,  set  on  fire  with  love,  can  Uft  the  world  to  Him  who 
is  "the  truth  and  the  life."  A.  E.  Freeman. 


tEfje  (Greater  ^otuer 

Respectfully  Dedicated  to  Father  Edward 

Written  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post 

No  day  rolls  by  but  what  the  kindly  voice 

With  fervent  ring  awakes  some  hidden  chord ; 

Brings  home  some  truth,  or  marks  that  path  of  choice 
To  burdened  hearts  all  new  and  unexplored. 

And  were  they  asked  the  secret  of  his  art, 

None  would  presume  to  read  that  quiet  face, 

But  make  reply  that  deep  within  his  heart 

The  Love  divine  had  found  a  dwelling  place. 

Reform   her  triumphs   soon   may   contemplate; 

The  word  of  Law  shall  pardon  and  parole ; 
The  finished  term  can  outward  swing  the  gate. 

But  God's  good  man  has  touched  the  throbbing  soul! 

C.  E.  R. 


I 


I 


g 


ii 


A 


.:» 


'•*•*•'•*•*••'• 


••••••••••••• 


256 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


'ia^j!i^i'A^'ityii}^iiy<iiyjiiy<iMi|tyi|iyt|ii^<iiyji>^^ 


By  Kind  Permission  of  the  Author 
H.  EDWIN   LEWIS,  M.  D. 

Editor  of  American  Medicine 


AY  not,  O  friend,  that  you  are  tired  of  life. 

When  shadows  fall  and  all  the  world  seems  drear, 
For  he  alone  wins  credit  in  the  strife 

Who  still  can  smile  when  grim  care  hovers  near. 


The  Great  Almighty  never  shows  His  plan. 
But  this  is  true  in  Life's  absorbing  game. 

The  cards  are  never  stacked  against  a  man 

Who  plays  his  best — and  seeks  from  men  the  same. 


One  may  not  win  and  carry  off  Life's  prize. 

For  some  must  lose  and  some  are  bound  to  fall, 

But  strong  men  try,  and  herein  honor  lies. 

The  quitter  cheats  himself  the  worst  of  all. 


So  play  your  hand,  one  never  knows  its  worth 
Till  he  has  played,  and  reckoned  up  the  cost. 

And  since  the  only  real  defeat  on  earth 
Is  Death — till  then  no  man  has  lost. 


•••••••••••••• 


•*•*•*•*•*•%*•*•*•'•*•*♦*•'•*•*•% 


May  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


257 


HimericfesJ 


THE  "UPS"  AND  "DOWNS"  OF  IT. 

Two  inmates  went  off  on  a  tare ; 

Took   a   joy   ride   to — never   mind   where ; 
When  they  blew  back  to  "town" 
Certain  laws  were  laid  down, 

And  the  auto  laid  UP — for  repair. 

"VERSATILE"  IS  GOOD. 

On  the  X  Ray  the  "Doc"  is  not  dense; 
And  as  second  "Big  Chief"  he's  immense; 

Snapping  "Mugs"  as  a  biz, 

You'll  agree  that  he  is 
A  versatile  man  in  a  sense. 


^i^ 


ILJL 


VAN-ity. 

The  boys  are  in  toppy  high  fever. 
And  are  now  of  great  plans  the  conceiver; 
When  you  touch  on  their  cases 
They  will  turn  haughty  faces, 
And  say,  "See  my  lawyer,  Van  Bever." 

^• 
SOME  AGE-ency. 

A  copy  we  wished  up  to  date 
Of  the  Statutes  of  Illinois  State; 
One  the  Library  man  found 
Which  was  printed  and  bound 
By  the  Adam  and  Eve  Syndicate. 

^« 

'TIS  NOT  THE  STONE  AGE. 

We  have  a  few  waiter  buffoons 
Whose  ethics  are  those  of  saloons; 

A  refusal  to  eat 

Would  at  least  be  discreet 
When  they  use  their  own  fingers  as  spoons. 


*•••••••••• 


•••••'•'•'••*•• 


/.•.•.'.•.>:.v.:.:,;^:.x.:<.x.x-:.:«:-:*:-:-:-:' 


258 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Written  for  the  Joliet  Prison  Post 

Though  our  helpfulness  is  bridled  and  our  hands  are  somewhat  tied, 
We  would  like  to  show  the  Warden  that  we're  mustered  on  his  side; 
That  we  crave  to  put  our  shoulders  to  the  wheel  he  has  produced, 
And  with  one,  "Now,  all  together!"  give  the  necessary  boost. 

To  be  sure  there  are  those  fellows  who  will  hoodwink,  thwart  and  shirk; 
Quite  prepared  to  shout  directions  as  to  how  to  do  the  work: 
But  the  type  is  fast  declining — they  have  prudently  vamoosed. 
And  the  new  prevailing  spirit  is  the  spirit  of  the  boost. 


Let  the  good  desires  triumph,  let  antagonism  cease, 
And  the  life  within  the  shadows,  boys,  will  often  find  its  peace. 
And  as  smiles  outweigh  ill-temper,  it  must  therefore  be  deduced. 
There  is  something  satisfying  in  the  magic  of  the  boost. 


T.  S.  E. 


% 


Much   pleasure   does   he   oft   derive 
In  wand'ring  down  the  line, 

Alert,  attentive  and  alive 

To  every  mood  and  sign. 


•«•: 


His  peaceful  moments,   though,   are  few, 

For,  if  the  truth  be  told, 
He  only  takes  a  step  or  two 

Before  he's  button-holed. 


May  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


259 


PRESS  OPINIONS  AND 

REPRINTS 
I 

"The  Wages  of  Sin  Is  Death" 

About  three  years  ago  Adolpli   Hcrtchey  suf- 
fered the  death  penalty  at  Trenton  for  the  niur- 
■       der  of  a  man  who  was  attempting  to  defend  the 
^     property  of  his  employer  at  Lakcwood. 

IJertchey  was  a  man  of  attractive  appearance, 
was  well  educated,  and  in  his  daily  life  appeared 
in  every  way  to  be  a  gentleman,  in  fact  among 
the  "I'raternity"  he  was  known  as  "The  Gentle- 
man Hurglai*."  He  could  have  made  a  good  liv- 
ing at  scores  of  occupations,  but  chose  the  easiest 
way — as  he  thought,  and  so  many  foolishly  think 
— by  taking  that  which  belonged  to  another. 

A  day  before  his  execution  Bertchey  was  re- 
quested to  leave  some  word  for  the  youth  of  the 
country  that  might  prevent  them,  perhaps,  from 
following  in  his  footsteps.  His  little  sermonctte, 
written  in  the  shadow  of  the  chair  of  death  was 
penned  in  a  firm  hand  and  without  the  slightest 
sign  of  a  tremor.    It  follows : 

"I  can  add  but  little  to  what  others  have  said. 
I  would  suggest  early  religious  training.  It 
should  begin  with  the  lisping  of  the  child  and  be 
continuous  and  never  end  until  death.  The  child 
should  be  given  to  know  the  dangers  of  environ- 
ment that  is  not  religious.  His  associations 
should  be  only  those  that  reverence  God.  The 
parental  responsibility  comes  in  here.  The  child 
looks  for  examples.  As  the  example  set  before  it 
by  its  parents  or  associates  are  good  or  evil,  so  it 
will  in  most  cases  grow. 

"[f  the  lx)y  be  disciplined  in  religion  with  en- 
vironments good,  associations  good,  and  with  love 
as  his  teacher  till  he  is  come  of  age,  to  the  ago 
of  reason,  the  point  of  the  early  training  will  be 
invariably  a  moral  religious  life.  Not  all  of  these 
came  into  my  early  life,  but  of  those  that  did  my 
one  regret  is  that  I  did  not  use  them  to  my  ad- 
vantage, for  the  wages  of  sin  is  death,  and  the 
gift  of  God  is  eternal  life  through  Jesus  Christ, 
our  Lord.  A.  P>i:rtchi:v." 

— The  Better  Citicen,  Kaluvay.  N.  J. 
Editor'.s  Note. — There  are  men  in  this  i)rison 
who.  if  they  carry  out  their  present  plans  and  gel 
their  deserts  under  the  law,  will  hang  by  the 
neck  until  they  are  dead.  It  is  particularly  for 
the  benefit  of  these  men  that  the  foregoing  article 
is  reproduced. 


Finding  Fault 

The  kicking  game  will  bring  you  fame  un- 
pleasant, grim  and  ghostly,  so  call  a  halt  in  find- 
ing fault  is  what  you're  doing  mostly.  Some  men 
seem  U>rn  distressed,  forlorn,  them  nothing  ever 
pleases;  in  every  cause  they  find  the  flaws,  the 
spavins  and  diseases.  They  kick  at  home  and 
when  they  roam  about  the  town  they  grumble, 
and  every  talk  they  make's  a  knock,  and  every 
step  a  stumble.  They  .scare,  they  scowl,  they 
hoot,  they  howl  at  every  forward  movement: 
they  hurt  the  town,  and  hold  it  down,  and  balk 
at  each  improvement.  There  is  a  trail  of  woe  and 
wail  where'er  they've  galivanted ;  the  l>ooster 
hates  such  moldy  skates  they  should  be  planted. 
They  are  a  bore,  the  town  grows  sore  beneath 
their  ceaseless  wiggings ;  the  band  will  play  some 
music  gay  when  they  have  skipped  the  diggings. 
Just  look  around  and  note,  cogs  woun«l !  how 
much  the  grouch  is  hated,  then  make  a  vow  to 
clear  your  brow,  and  keep  your  bile  abated.  So 
call  a  halt  in  finding  fault  is  now  your  daily  past- 
time  ;  let  out  a  roar  just  one  time  more,  and  let 
that  be  the  last  time.  — Walt  Mason. 

Editor'.s  Note. — A  great  deal  of  reading  and 
studying  is  recjuired  in  order  to  produce  The 
JoF.iET  Prison  Post,  but  the  work  seems  worth 
while  when  we  occasionally  find  something — like 
the  foregoing — to  publish  for  the  particular  bene- 
fit of  our  despised  brothers-in-law,  the  whiners 
and  kickers.    I'p  with  'em  ! 

Come  and  Try  It,  Mr.  C.  S.  D. 

That  prisoners  in  the  joliet  penitentiary  and 
inmates  of  the  state  asylums  for  the  insane  live 
longer  than  they  would  were  they  at  liberty  is  the 
belief  of  former  Governor  Charles  S.  I>neen.  He 
spoke  on  ."Illinois"  last  night  before  meml)ers  of 
the  Men's  club  of  St.  Mark's  Episcopal  church, 
Evanston.     He  saiel : 

"A  wealthy  friend  of  mine  once  aske<l  me  if 
he  could  live  longer  and  rest  in  peace  if  he  went 
to  Italy.  He  was  astonished  when  I  suggcstc<l 
cither  the  asyhun  for  the  insane  or  the  ixMiiten- 
tiary.  Figures  show  that  the  prisoners  and  in- 
mates live  longer  under  the  care  they  get  than 
they  wouhl  if  at  liberty." — Tribune,  Chicago. 

Editor's  Nf)TE. — .\n  ex-governor  shouUl  know 
what  he  is  talking  about  when  he  speaks  of  i)eni- 
tentiaries,  which  until  recently  were  under  his 
control.  The  statistics  of  the  Joliet  prison  will 
not  support  Mr.  Deneen's  claims. 


260 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


There  Is  Another  Side  to  It 

"The  world  owes  me  a  living,"  say  some  fel- 
lows, but  they  never  admit  their  indebtedness  to 
the  world.  If  the  world  owes  you  a  living,  then 
you  owe  the  world  the  very  best  that  is  in  you. 
Value  given  for  value  received.  The  trouble  with 
the  fellows  who  proceed  to  collect  their  living 
is  that  they  never  make  any  attempt  to  pay  the 
world  what  they  owe  it.  You  give  the  world  its 
due,  and  you  will  find  it  only  too  willing  and  anx- 
ious to  meet  its  obligation. — The  Better  Citizen, 
Rah  way,  N.  J. 

Finding  His  Place 

One  day,  years  ago,  in  Texas,  Paul  Graynor 
killed  a  man  in  a  quarrel.  He  was  tried  and 
received  a  40-year  sentence.  In  prison  a  change 
of  heart  came  to  him.  He  sought  and  found  the 
Savior,  and  began  to  lead  others  to  Him.  Fifteen 
convicts  yielded  to  his  efforts,  became  Christians, 
and  having  served  their  time,  went  forth  to  lead 
useful,  honorable  lives.  Graynor  also  organized 
classes  and  taught  bookkeeping,  stenography, 
commercial  arithmetic  and  Spanish.  Those  who 
knew  him  were  so  convinced  of  his  sincerity  and 
Christianity,  that  after  fifteen  years  they  sought 
and  obtained  a  pardon  for  him.  This,  Graynor, 
refused  to  accept.  He  sent  word  to  the  governor 
that  he  was  worth  nothing  to  the  outside  world, 
but  in  that  prison  he  had  an  influence  ior  good, 
and  he  desired  to  stay  there  and  use  it.  So  he 
found  where  he  could  be  an  under  shepherd  to 
some  forlorn  sheep.  Was  it  not  also  a  laying 
down  of  his  life,  that  he  might  take  it  again? 
And  he  laid  it  down  of  himself  when  he  refused 
that  pardon. 

"Stone  walls  do  not  a  prison  make 
Nor  iron  bars  a  cage." 

— Prison  Monitor. 

Editor's  Note. — Graynor  had  found  the  life 
worth  while.  Men  of  bad  character  will  scoff  at 
his  choice,  because  to  them  it  will  seem  that 
Graynor  made  a  sacrifice  by  remaining  in  prison 
when  he  was  free  to  go.  Those  who  understand 
that  true  happiness  lies  in  helping  others  will 
appreciate  that  Graynor's  refusal  of  the  pardon 
under  the  circumstances  was  the  true  test  of  his 
manliness. 


On  Being  Sorry 

By  George  Matthews  Adams 

Many  a  man  makes  a  blunder  and  spends  the 
rest  of  his  life  being  sorry  for  it.  Thousands  of 
people,  every  day,  literally  eat  their  lives  to  star- 
vation because  at  some  time  or  other  they  stubbed 
their  toes. 

It  is  well  to  be  sorry,  but  after  that,  you  should 
forget  it. 

Repentance  is  good,  but  reparation  is  better. 
Time  heals  and  forgets.  What  you  are  now  is 
better  than  what  you  were  then.  It's  what  a  man 
does  noiv  that  makes  him  valuable  and  like- 
able. History  thinks  too  much  of  its  spare  time 
to  talk  much  about  the  blunders  of  its  actors. 

The  best  way  to  be  sorry  is  to  show  the 
world  in  deeds  that  you  are  human  enough  to  be 
bigger  than  your  error. 

Be  sorry.  It's  good  for  your  soul.  But  get 
over  it  and  beyond  it  as  quickly  as  you  can. 

The  Land  of  Beginning  Again 

Day  before  yesterday,  Wilmer  Atkinson,  who 
runs  the  most  unusual  and  interesting  farm  paper 
in  this  or  any  land,  sent  me  a  copy  of  this  little 
house  organ,  "Gumption,"  with  a  big  pencil  mark 
drawn  around  a  set  of  verses  by  "A.  P." 

The  poem  is  without  title,  but  the  first  stanza 
reads  thus : 

I  wish  that  there  were  some  wonderful  place 
Called  the  Land  of  Beginning  Again, 

Where  all  our  mistakes  and  all  our  heartaches 
And  all  of  our  poor  selfish  grief 

Could  be  dropped,  like  a  shabby  old  coat,  at  the 
door, 
And  never  put  on  again. 

I  guess  this  wish  is  about  as  common  among 

folks  generally  as  the  desire  for  three  meals  a 

day.    YET— 

I 

If  you  are  a-wishing  some  wonderful  place 
Called  the  Land  of  Beginning  Again, 

Where  all  your  mistakes  and  your  stumbles 
from  grace 
And  all  of  your  sorrow  and  pain 

Could  be  dropped,  like  a  shabby  old  coat,  at  the 
door. 
Nevermore  to  be  worn  among  men — 


.\!ay  1.  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


261 


Let  me  tell  you,  my  friend,  that  just  such  a  fine 
place 
Is  next  door  to  the  house  where  you  live — 

Next  door  to  the  house  whose  front  porch  is 
your  face, 
And  whose  walls  are  the  efforts  you  give 

To  he  honest  and  kind  and  to  do  your  work 
well 
And  help  others  live  while  you  live! 

Its  limits  are  houTidless ;  there's  room  for  each 
one 
W'iio  wishes  a  home  in  that  land, 
Antl  whatever  you've  done  or  have  left  all  undone 

Doesn't  matter, — your  dwelling  is  planned 
So  that  when  you  go  in  you  put  off  all  the  things 
That  have  mocked  you  on  every  hand. 

The  name  of  this  wonderful  land  is  TODAY, 

The  road  to  its  gate  is  your  will. 
When  your  mind  is  made  up  you  are  well  on  the 
way 

But  your  journey  is  fruitless  until 
You  know  in  your  sowl  that  the  past  is  stone  dead 

And  that  all  your  regretting  is  nil. 

Yes,  NOW,  at  this  moment,  you  stand  at  the  gate 

To  the  Land  of  Beginning  Again, 
<  )f  course,  if  you  choose,  you  may   falter  and 
wait, 
But  it's  mighty  poor  policy  when 
You  can  enter  with  such  a  small  key  as  "I  WILL" 
And  make  a  fresh  start  among  meii. 
It  is  never  too  late 

To  start  in  on  the  way, 
For  however  you  wait 

It  is  always  TODAY— 
The  Land  of  Beginning  Again  ! 

— Leigh  Mitchell  Hodges,  in  The  Philadelphia 
North  American. 

Gov.  Fielder  on  Prison  Management 

Governor    James    I'^airsman    h'ielder    of    New 
Jersey,  in  his  inaugural  address,  said  in  part : 

"Confinement  and  harshness  in  penal  institu- 
tions will  never  check  crime.     I  favor  a  system 
diich  would  tend  to  remove  the  causes  of  crime, 
rather  than  a  system  of  punishment. 

"I-'or  prisoners  I  recommend  work  which  will 
naka  them  hetter  ahle  to  take  up  the  duties 
of  life  when  released." 


Studying  the  Criminal 

Our  conception  of  the  criminal  is  changing. 
When  a  man,  and  especially  a  young  man,  a  first 
offender,  is  brought  before  the  bar,  where  his 
future,  his  entire  life,  hangs  in  the  balance,  wc 
hesitate.  Instead  of  accepting  the  evidence  of 
guilt  without  (|uestion  and  meting  out  punish- 
ment accordingly,  we  have  learned  to  look  for 
causes.  We  are  beginning  to  proceed  ujion  the 
theory  that  no  man  would  willingly  thrust  a  knife 
into  his  own  back — and  that  is  what  committing 
a  crime  and  being  sent  to  jail  or  the  gallows  for 
it  means.  We  inquire,  therefore,  why  did  he  do 
it?  Was  he  misled  by  improper  surroundings? 
Was  it  want  and  poverty  that  forced  him  to 
criminal  ways?  Or  was  it.  perhaps,  natural  dis- 
advantages? Is  his  brain  defective?  Is  he  suf- 
fering from  injury  or  disease  which  makes  him 
irresponsible,  and  consequently  subject  for  the 
hospital,  the  sanitarium,  or  insane  a.sylum  instead 
of  the  reformatory,  the  prison,  or  the  gallows? 

In  this  new  attitude  toward  the  criminal  we 
are  not  alone.  Most  of  the  advanced  nations  of 
the  world  have  adopted  it.  The  old  theory  that 
the  criminal  is  a  special  type,  is  of  a  race  apart, 
has  given  way  before  scientific  research.  En- 
vironment — bad  environment — poverty,  and  dis- 
ease are  coming  to  be  accepted  pretty  widely  as 
the  chief  sources  of  crime.  This  often  too  great 
emphasis  on  environment  has  been  assaile»l  from 
many  quarters.  Among  those  disappr(»ving  of 
such  overstraining  of  the  environment  theory 
and  neglecting  heredity  and  other  infiuences  en- 
tirely is  the  noted  Italian  student  of  the  subject. 
Baron  Raffaele  Carofalo,  whose  monumental 
work  on  "Criminology"  has  just  been  published 

in  I'jiglish. 

Nevertheless,  this  view  is  gaining  ground  and. 
even  according  to  Baron  Carofalo,  has  alrea<ly 
done  much  good,  for  it  has  acted  as  a  check  on 
the  tendency  to  impose  haphazard  sentences  on 
criminals— the  sort  of  sentences  which  arc  char- 
acterized as  a  "leap  in  th<-  dark"  and  harm  both 
the  criminal  and  society. 

In  furtherance  of  this  more  rational  attitude 
toward  crime  and  criminals  a  bill  has  been  in- 
troduced in  congress  calling  upon  the  department 
of  justice  to  establish  a  bureau  "for  the  study  of 
the  abnormal  classes"  and  for  the  "collection  of 
sociological  and  pathological  data,  especially  such 


262 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


as  may  be  found  in  institutions  for  the  criminal, 
pauper,  and  defective  classes." 

Such  a  bureau  will  do  good  service.  It  will  be 
a  mistake,  however,  to  leave  the  study  of  crim- 
inals to  the  federal  government.  The  most  that 
such  a  federal  bureau  should  be  expected  to  do  is 
to  act  as  a  co-ordinating  agency.  The  material 
to  be  co-ordinated,  however,  must  come  from  the 
various  cities  and  states  in  the  country.  The 
criminal  should  be  studied  not  after  sen- 
tence has  been  passed  upon  him  and  he  has  been 
confined  in  an  institution,  but  at  the  time  he  is 
tried.  The  result  of  such  study  should  determine 
his  sentence. 

Chicago  is  doing  this  now.  It  has  established 
a  psychopathic  laboratory,  which  will  serve  as  an 
auxiliary  to  the  Municipal  court.  The  criminal, 
especially  the  youthful  criminal,  will  be  taken  to 
this  laboratory  and  his  physical  and  mental  con- 
dition will  be  thoroughy  looked  into  before  he  is 
placed  on  trial.  If  the  boy  is  found  to  be  a  de- 
fective, a  "moron,"  this  finding  will  put  an  en- 
tirely different  construction  upon  his  acts.  Chi- 
cago's psychopathic  laboratory  is  the  first  in  the 
United  States,  but  it  should  not  be  the  last.  Every 
community  should  study  its  own  criminals. — 
Tribune,  Chicago. 

Ignorance  and  Drunkenness 

Dr.  Rock  Sleyster's  report  of  an  investigation 
of  conditions  at  the  state  prison  is  said  to  be  the 
most  complete  ever  conducted  in  the  United 
States.  Dr.  Sleyster  is  superintendent  of  the 
state  hospital  for  the  criminal  insane  and  was 
formerly  ])hysician  in  charge  of  the  state  prison 
hospital  at  Waupun. 

The  report  shows  that  more  than  90  per  cent 
of  the  269  men  committed  to  the  state  peniten- 
tiery  at  Waupun  for  murder  in  recent  years  were 
sent  to  work  before  they  were  15  years  of  age. 

Of  these  269  convicts,  of  whom  a  special  study 
has  been  made,  about  one-third  have  never  been 
to  school,  half  reached  the  fourth  grade  and  but 
3.2  per  cent  finished  high  school. 

Alcohol  was  used  to  excess  by  41.5  per  cent, 
while  but  12.6  per  cent  were  abstainers.  Nearly 
half  were  under  the  influence  of  alcohol  when  the 
crime  was  committed  and  27.9  had  been  arrested 
before  for  drunkenness. — Enterprise,  Oconomo- 
woc,  Wis. 


Entertaining  Witnesses 

President  McCormick's  veto  of  the  state's  at- 
torney bills  for  entertaining  witnesses  for  the 
state  will  be  backed  by  every  citizen  who  stops  a 
moment  to  think  what  these  bills  mean.  In  his 
veto  message,  President  McCormick  thus  de- 
scribes them: 

These  bills  are  for  the  entertainment  of 
state  witnesses  until  they  are  required  to  test- 
tify  in  behalf  of  the  state  in  various  cases. 
They  include,  besides  board  and  lodging,  al- 
most every  luxury  that  can  be  obtained  at  a 
hotel.  Some  of  the  items  included  are  drinks, 
cigars,  cigarettes,  pressing  clothes,  repair- 
ing and  blackening  boots,  newspapers,  maga- 
zines, laundry,  tips,  drugs,  cleaning  clothes, 
candy,  telephone,  etc.  There  is  even  a  bill 
for  a  suit  of  clothes  amounting  to  $35.  There 
is  one  bill  for  $365  for  money  advanced  by 
the  hotel.  The  amount  is  never  less  than  $10 
for  any  one  day  and  is  as  high  as  $45  in  one 
day.  The  automobile  bills,  which  are  not 
itemized,  run  as  high  as  $19  and  $20  for  each 
"riding"  as  stated  by  the  bill. 

There  is  too  much  of  the  flavor  of  bribery  in 
the  provisions  of  luxuries  for  witnesses,  a  bribery 
within  the  law  and  indirect,  but  morally  dubious. 
The  state  does  not  want  convictions  on  the  testi- 
money  of  witnesses  who  have  been  "jollied,"  fed 
up,  and  filled  with  alcohol. 

If  the  practice  of  Mr.  Hoyne's  office  is  tradi- 
tional, it  should  be  ended  now  that  attention  has 
been  called  to  it.  If  it  is  a  policy  of  Mr.  Hoyne's 
invention,  he  should  give  himself  the  benefit  of 
second  thought. — Tribune.  Chicago,  111. 

Convicts  for  Irrigation  Work 

Boise. — Idaho  launched  a  new  scheme  to  solve 
the  convict  labor  problem  when  the  land  board 
and  the  prison  board  in  joint  meeting  decided 
to  employ  convict  labor  in  the  reclamation  of  10,- 
000  acres  of- state  land  in  the  Gem  irrigation  dis- 
trict in  Owyhee  county,  about  thirty  miles  from 
Boise.  This  is  considered  some  of  the  best  land 
in  the  state ;  water  is  available  by  pumping  from 
Snake  river  and  the  state  is  already  taxed  fo 
maintenance  of  the  system.  There  are  about  300^ 
convicts  in  the  penitentiary  and  100  of  them 
will  be  placed  on  this  land  to  clear  ofif  the  sage- 
brush, level  the  land,  dig  the  canals  and  laterals 
and  put  the  entire  10,000  acres  under  cultivation. 


Mav  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


263 


Diseased  Minds  and  Crime 

How  large  a  part  defective  mentality  plays  in 
crime  is  a  problem  which  the  nioilern  world  is 
trying  to  determine.  Doubtless  many  who  were 
led  into  wrongdoing  by  some  obscure  mental 
weakness  are  now  in  prison.  As  most  physicians 
know,  there  is  a  twilight  zone  between  sanity  and 
insanity  which  often  defies  the  best  ecjuipped  in- 
vestigators to  define.  Therefore  the  creation  of 
a  psychopathic  laboratory  as  an  auxiliary  to  the 
Municipal  court  of  Chicago  is  a  promising  addi- 
tion to  this  community's  equipment  ft)r  dealing 
with  lawbreakers. 

If  the  new  department  in  its  zeal  to  make  itself 
etTective  goes  to  absurd  extremes  it  will  cause 
the  city  to  regret  the  appropriation  for  its  first 
year's  work.  If  it  refuses  to  use  its  power  for 
the  shielding  of  criminals  and  if  in  all  of  its  ex- 
aminations it  remembers  to  mingle  good  sense 
with  science  it  will  do  much  to  add  to  this 
city's  reputation  for  progressive  action. 

It  has  been  found  in  Germany  that  criminal 
acts  very  often  are  merely  manifestations  of  men- 
tal disease.  Thus,  after  release  from  prison,  a 
person  so  afflicted  generally  becomes  a  recidivist, 
a  repeater.  Detection  of  these  weaknesses  can 
be  followed  by  their  correction  in  many  instances. 
In  addition,  the  study  of  such  cases  should  lead 
to  the  compilation  of  data  valuable  in  dealing 
with  the  untoward  conditions  that  breed  mental 
afflictions. 

The  psychopathic  laboratory,  in  short,  should 
prove  of  distinct  value  to  this  community. — Daily 
Nezvs,  Chicago. 

Progressing  Towards  Prison  Road  Work  in 
Wisconsin 
If  the  cities  of  Waupun  and  Chester  and  the 
intervening  towns  on  the  road  connecting  the 
two  places  co-operate,  the  first  state  highway  to 
be  constructed  by  the  use  of  prison  labor  will  be 
built  there.  This  was  decided  at  a  meeting  of 
the  state  board  of  control  which  has  just  con- 
cluded its  sessions  here.  The  last  legislature 
appropriated  $25,000  to  make  experiments  with 
convict  labor  in  road  building.  It  is  probable  that 
l)rison  labor  will  be  used  to  build  the  roads  to  the 
tuberculosis  camp  near  Tomahawk,  and  also 
some  roads  within  the  forestry  reserve. — Ncivs, 
Milwaukee,  Wis. 


How  Did  He  Mean  It? 

Winston    Churchill    recently    declared    in    the 
1  louse  of  Commons  that  "the  attitude  of  the  pub 
lie  in  regard  to  the  treatment  of  crime  and  crim- 
inals is  one  of  the  be.st  tests  of  the  civilization  of 
any  people." 

Encouraging.  If  True 

Gent  up-town  telephones  for  an  officer  at  onci 
"I'urglar  in  the  house." 

"Let    me   see,"    said   the   captain,    retlectivcly 
"I've  got  four  men  censoring  plays,  two  inspect 
ing  the  gowns  at  a  society  function,  and  two  inort- 
supervising  a  tango  tea.    Tell  him  I  can  send  him 
an  officer  in  about  two  hours." — Journal,  Kansas 
City. 

Help  the  Prisoners  You  Leave  Behind 

The  Better  Citiccn,  published  by  the  inmates 
of  the  New  Jersey  reformatory,  gives  the  follow- 
ing admonition  to  men  about  to  be  paroled : 
Your  attitude  toward  your  future  is  far 
more    reaching    than    your    individual    life. 
Whether  you  make  good  or  not  means,  cither 
one  more  example  added  to  the  argument 
that  men  can  reform,  or  it  gives  the  cynic  a 
reason  for  not  giving  the  fellows  who  follow 
you  on  parole  another  chance.     I'^orgct  that 
there  is  such  a  term  as  individualism — to  you 
there  is  no  such  word. 

l>y  your  acts  are  all  men  who  have  been 
placed  in  your  jKisition  judged.  When  you 
go  out  from  this  institution  what  you  do  will 
either  be  a  help  or  a  hindrance  to  the  thou- 
sands of  fellows  who  are  fighting  for  another 
chance.  When  a  man  leaves  here  on  parole 
the  world  places  a  large  question  mark  be- 
fore his  name.  It  has  been  predicted  that  he 
will  make  gotxl— the  officials  of  the  institu- 
tion have  said  so  by  their  very  act  of  paroling 
him — he  has  said  so — the  world  wants  to  be 
convinced,  and  the  only  proof  of  these  pre- 
dictions lies  with  the  man  himself.  H  you 
fail  through  your  own  carelessness  and  lack 
of  interest  you  have  placed  an  additional 
burden  on  the  backs  of  your  fellow-men.  Be 
fair,  fellows.  Don't  be  egoists,  thinking  of 
your  own  welfare  entirely.  Help  your  brother 
to  gain  that  which  we  all  covet— an  honor- 
able place  in  the  world. 


264                                                     THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST                                           First  Year 

A  Lawyer's  Version  Conserving  the  Boy  in  Chicago 

A  Duluth  lawyer,  whose  client  had  been  Founder  of  the  juvenile  court  and  later  or- 
trapped  into  the  meshes  of  the  law  through  the  ganizer  of  a  municipal  court  to  displace  the  "jus- 
activities  of  a  "stool  pigeon,"  during  his  speech  tice  shops,"  Chicago  has  now  formed,  as  a  link 
to  the  jury,  delivered  his  ideas  of  that  class  of  between  these  two,  a  boys'  court  for  the  handling 
"cattle"  as  follows:  exclusively  of  cases  in  which  youths  from  17  to 

"A  'stool  pigeon'  is  a  person  bereft  of  decency,  21  are  concerned.  This  tribunal  is  intended  to 
shunned  and  despised  by  all  respectable  mankind,  "^^^t  ^  want  discovered  by  sociological  workers, 
When  God  made  the  rattlesnake,  the  toad  and  the  """^n  and  women.  Jane  Addams,  Mrs.  Joseph  T. 
vampire.  He  said  He  had  some  awful  substance  Bowen,  Judge  Merritt  W.  Pinkney,  Minnie  F. 
left,  with  which  He  made  a  'stool  pigeon.'  A  Low,  officers  and  patrons  of  the  Workings  Boys' 
'stool  pigeon'  is  a  two-legged  animal  with  a  Home,  the  Juvenile  Protective  Association,  and 
corkscrew  soul,  a  water-sogged  brain  and  a  com-  other  organizations  of  hke  character,  were  in- 
bination  backbone  made  of  jelly  and  glue.  Where  strumental  in  securing  the  legislation  and  support 
other  people  have  their  hearts  he  carries  a  tumor  necessary  to  its  creation.  It  may  be  regarded  as 
of  rotten  principles.  When  the  'stool  pigeon'  the  latest  and  most  advanced  legal  recognition  of 
comes  down  the  street  honest  people  turn  their  the  truth  that  it  is  far  better  to  develop  the  good 
backs,  the  angels  in  heaven  take  precipitate  refuge  i"  the  boy  than  to  attempt  his  reformation  by 
behind  their  harps,  and  the  devil  bars  and  locks  discovering  whatever  of  seeming  bad  may  be  in 
the  gates  of  heW'—Lend  a  Hand,  Oregon  State  ^'^^>  and  punishing  him  in  proportion  to  the  re- 
Prison,  suits  of  this  discovery. 

^    @  We  are  told  that  the  prime  object  of  this  new 

Prison  Pardons  court  is  to  save  the  "first  offender" ;  to  judge  him 

In  Massachusetts,  last  year,  the  governor  par-  ^^  an  individual  and  not  merely  as  the  trans- 
doned  69  penitentiary  convicts.  It  seems  that  an  pressor  of  a  certain  numbered  section  of  the  legal 
examination  of  these  cases  reveals  the  fact  that  code.  "If  he  is  given  a  chance,"  says  Mrs.  Bowen, 
the  trials  were,  in  many  respects,  faulty  and  did  "the  average  boy  who  will  come  under  the  juris- 
not  get  out  of  the  charges  the  truest  interpreta-  diction  of  this  court  will  become  a  good  citizen." 
tion  of  the  facts.  There  is  no  intimation  against  ^t  is  interesting  to  notice  in  the  disposition  of 
the  court  or  its  officers — only  that  our  judicial  the  very  first  case  before  the  court  in  what  man- 
system  is  not  fully  competent  to  deal  with  ner  the  boy  offender  is  to  be  given  a  chance.  The 
crimes.  defendant  was  a  Chicago  boy  who  had  run  away 

So  much  is  this  the  case,  that  the  prison  com-  ^rom  home  and  had  returned  to  the  city  after 

missioner  of  the  state  asks  that  the  indeterminate  passing  through  a  severe  experience.    He  sought 

sentence  be  extended,  so  as  to  embrace  felonies,  a  place  to  sleep  in  a  downtown  building  and  was 

and  thus  give  the  parole  board  a  better  oppor-  picked  up  by  the  police.     The  judge  turned  the 

tunity  to  revise  the  action  of  the  courts.  It  seems  lad   over  to   a   responsible   representative  of   a 

singular   that   administrative   appointees    should  fraternal  society. 

thus  be  placed  above  the  court,  but  certainly  a  Final  judgment  in  a  matter  of  this  kind  cannot 
review  of  the  Massachusetts  cases  justifies  such  a  be  based  upon  single  instances  or  isolated  cases, 
course.  In  all  the  cases  referred  to  there  is  an  The  juvenile  court  idea  was  not  at  first  well  re- 
apparent  lack  of  substantial  justice.  ceived;  but  it  has  spread  into  scores  of  cities;  it 

It  would,  no  doubt,  be  a  great  improvement  if  has  accomplished  a  tremendous  amount  of  good, 
criminal  courts  could  be  made  more  like  courts-  The  "boys'  court"  is  also  to  be  tested;  it  is  in- 
martial  or  the  federal  courts,  when  sitting  to  set-  tended  to  be  a  still  greater  step  away  from  the 
tie  contentions  between  a  seaman  and  the  master  punitive  impulse  and  toward  the  motherly,  fath- 
of  a  ship.  The  writer  has  been  judge  advocate  erly,  brotherly  and  sisterly  in  human  nature.  The 
in  courts-martial  and  United  States  marshal  be-  boys  are  not  to  be  pushed  down,  but  raised  up, 
fore  a  federal  court,  and  he  knows  that  both  turned  about,  given  a  right  direction,  encouraged 
events  worked  hke  a  charm  every  time.  We  need  to  take  it  and  to  keep  it.  It  seems  much  the 
a  new  system;  not  a  patchwork  of  the  old. —  better  way.— Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston, 
Journal,  Columbus,  Ohio.  Mass. 


May  1.  1914                                       THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  265 

Crime  and  Punishment  University  Course  for  Prisoners 

A  recent  report  by  the  police  commissioner  of  Inmates  of  Folsom  i)cnitcntiary  take  kindly  to 

New  York,  stating  that  double  the  number  of  the  university  extension  course  of  the  l^niversity 

crimes  were  committed  in  the  metrojxilis  in  1913  of   California,   says  a   report  of   Warden   J.   J. 

than   were   in   1912,  draws  fire  from  a  veteran  Smith  to  Governor  Johnston, 

judjje  in  that  city.    Why  this  phenomenal  increase  The  report  covers  prison  improvements  of  the 

in  crime?  asks  this  jurist,  and  proceeds  to  answer  last   two  years,   made  possible   largely   through 

his  own  question.  legislative  appropriations. 

He  begins  by  making  allowances  for  some  of  The  prisoners,  it  is  reported,  specialize  in  a 

this  increase.     It  is  due,  he  says,  to  a  number  of  large  variety  of  subjects  offered  by  the  extension 

sinister  evils  which  are  primarily  characteristic  of  courses,  and  their  efforts  are  aided  by  weekly 

the  large  city.    Thus  in  a  city  whose  population  visits    from   a   university    instructor   who   holds 

runs  into  several  millions  a  criminal  can  escape  classes  in  the  prison. 

more  easily.     He  can  lose  himself  in  the  throng  Entire  segregation  of  tubercular  prisoners  and 

on  the  street.    Then  there  is  the  question  of  more  those  suffering  from  other  infectious  diseases  is 

acute  poverty  in  the  city.     Also  the  fact  that  in  "ow  possible  at  the  institution  for  the  first  time 

the  large  city  men  often  are  utterly  detached  from  i"  its  history,  according  to  Warden  Smith,  and  a 

all  friends.     There  is  no  moral  force,  no  shame  complete    ventilating    system    sends    pure    air 

for  neighbors  in  the  big  city  as  there  is  in  the  through  every  cell. 

small  town  to  deter  a  man  from  a  desperate  deed.  ^he  prison  farm  of  300  acres  is  now  ready  to 

But  after  allowances  have  been  made,  the  judge  P^^^"^^  ^"  the  vegetables  for  the  prisoners'  mess. 

asserts,  the  number  of  crimes  in  our  large  cities  is  ^^'t  ^he  convicts  also  will  grow  their  mvn  tobacco. 


The  new  cellhouses,  to  cost  $100,000,  are  near- 
ing  completion. — World,  New  York,  N.  Y. 


still  frightfully  overlarge.    The  responsibility  for 
this   he   places   on   what   he   calls   our   sluggish 

method  of  punishing  criminals.     There  are  too  ©    0 

many  loopholes  in  our  legal  machinery,  he  says.  Prison  Journalism 

Between  the  arrest  of  the  criminal  and  the  final  a  prison  paper  to  be  of  the  most  service  to 
disposition  of  his  case  so  much  time  elapses  that  all  parties  concerned  should  be  an  expression  of 
the  criminal  can  summon  all  the  crooked  re-  ])rison  life.  In  the  main  all  matters  of  discus- 
sources  at  his  command,  and  with  the  aid  of  these  sion  should  be  from  the  prisoner's  point  of  view, 
resources  he  often  gets  the  opportunity  to  escape  and  not  so  much  from  that  of  the  official.  True 
punishment.  The  escape  from  justice  once  en-  there  must  be  an  official  censorshij)  over  it  all. 
courages  him  to  continue  his  career  of  crime,  pro-  but  not  to  such  a  degree  as  to  destroy  the  prison 
vided  he  takes  what  he  thinks  are  "proper  pre-  expression, 
cautions."  Some  of  the  best  ideas  of  prison  refonn  have 

Another  of  the  evils  in  our  court  system,  ac-  emanated   from   the   prison   world;   for   who   is 

cording  to  this  judge,  is  that  the  trial  of  a  crim-  more  competent  to  point  out  the  defects  in  our 

inal  often  becomes  a  mere  battle  of  wits.     The  penal  institutions  than  the  man  who  wears  the 

general  object  of  the  trial  frequently  is  not  to  uniform?    He  of  all  the  people  knows  fmm  cx- 

ascertain  the  truth.     Each  side  is  merely  inter-  perience  the  deleterious  effects  of  some  of  our 

ested  to  win  the  case.  I^rison  regulations. 

The  elimination  of  some  of  these  features  from  The  prison  paper  should  be  tiie  prisoner's  mc- 

the    court    proceedings,    the    New    York    jurist  dium  of  expression  to  the  outside  world.     Here 

thinks,  along  with  the  introduction  of  such  re-  the  immured  man  may  i>>int  out  to  us  in  his  own 

form  measures  in  our  prisons  as  would  give  every  language  and  manner  many  things  to  the  advan- 

nian  sentenced  to  jail  a  chance  to  learn  a  trade  tage  of  the  imprisoned.    Very  true  that  many  of 

there,  are  the  only  things  that  will  materially  cut  his   suggestions   might   be   impracticable,   but   in 

down  the  appalling  rate  at  which  crime  is  in-  giving  him  a  hearing  in  this  way  undoubtedly 

creasing  in  the  United  States  at  the  present  time,  good  would  be  the  result.— T/ir  Penitentiary  Hul- 

—Trihune,  Chicago.  Ictin.  Lansing,  Kan. 


266 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Unlawful  to  Flog  Prisoners 

In  the  opinion  just  delivered  by  the  Supreme 
Court  of  North  Carolina  there  is  one  in  the  noted 
case  of  State  vs.  Nipper  and  Johnson,  from 
Wake,  involving  the  right  of  convict  guards  to 
flog  unruly  convicts  or  administer  other  corporal 
punishment,  the  Supreme  Court  holding  with 
Judge  Cooke,  of  the  Superior  Court,  that  there 
is  no  such  right  either  through  the  State  Consti- 
tution or  through  legislative  statute. 

The  Supreme  Court  declares,  Chief  Justice 
Clark  writing  the  opinion:  "In  view  of  the  en- 
lightenment of  this  age  and  the  progress  which 
has  been  made  in  prison  discipline,  we  have  no 
difficulty  in  coming  to  the  conclusion  that  cor- 
poral punishment  by  flogging  is  not  reasonable 
and  cannot  be  sustained.  That  which  degrades 
and  embrutes  a  man  cannot  be  either  necessary 
or  reasonable." 

The  opinion  cites  the  passing  of  flogging  as  a 
punishment  in  the  armies  and  navies  of  the  world 
and  for  convicts  in  great  numbers  of  the  foremost 
countries,  even  Mexico  having  in  1903  abolished 
such  punishment  for  convicts  by  special  act.  The 
court  says:  "While  the  North  Carolina  consti- 
tutional provision  against  the  infliction  of  cor- 
poral punishment  as  a  part  of  the  sentence  by  the 
courts  does  not  directly  prohibit  its  infliction  in 
prison  discipline,  its  spirit  is  certainly  against  the 
longer  use  of  flogging  for  that  purpose." — Vir- 
ginia Pilot,  Norfolk,  Va. 

Our  Prisons 

The  national  committee  on  prison  labor  is  ar- 
ranging for  a  series  of  meetings  throughout  the 
country,  under  the  auspices  of  its  educational 
department,  when  possible  development  of  con- 
vict road  work  and  other  features  will  be  dis- 
cussed and  work  will  be  done  to  bring  about  the 
establishment  of  an  office  of  prisons  under  the 
federal  government  at  Washington. 

"John  D.  Rockefeller,  Jr.,  in  establishing  a  re- 
search laboratory  at  the  Bedford  Reformatory 
for  Women,  has  pointed  the  way  towards  scien- 
tific prison  reform,"  said  James  Bronson  Rey- 
nolds, speaking  recently  before  a  gathering  of  the 
national  committee  on  prison  labor  at  the  home 
of  Mrs.  John  H.  Flagler  in  New  York  City.  The 
suggestion  made  by  Dr.  Whitin  that  Sing  Sing 
be  abolished  and  a  receiving  station  established 


on  tlie  old  site,  is  in  line  with  the  Bedford  work, 
and  will  make  possible  the  right  classification  of 
the  many  feeble-minded  and  defective  prisoners 
which  are  sent  up  by  the  courts." 

"I  am  nineteen  years  old,"  a  small  boy  assured 
Dr.  Whitin  while  inspecting  the  Indiana  Re- 
formatory, "but  the  doctor  says  I  ain't  that  old." 
The  doctor's  chart  showed  tests  equal  only  to 
those  of  a  boy  of  seven,  both  physically  and  men- 
tally, yet  the  judge  had  sentenced  him  on  the 
basis  that  he  was  nineteen  for  a  trivial  oflfense 
for  which  a  boy  of  seven  would  have  received  a 
spanking.  How  many  such  are  in  our  penal 
institutions  no  person  knows,  but  Mr.  Reynolds 
urged  upon  his  hearers  that  it  is  high  time  we 
find  out. 

Thomas    Mott    Osborne,    who    had    served    a 
voluntary  sentence  under  the  alias  Tom  Brown,] 
contended  that  the  prison  system  itself  was  feeble- 
minded, and  told  of  his  experience  in  the  "soli- 
tary" at  Auburn  prison,  which  he  claimed  had 
been  invented  as  an  incubator  for  mental  defec- 
tiveness.    While  urging  the  need  of  prison  dis-j 
cipline  and  contending  that  even  more  men  should 
be  confined  for  a  longer  period  than  now,  Mr. 
Osborne  denounced  the  imbecility  of  the  whole' 
damnable    system    and    showed   that   the   newly 
formed  welfare  league  at  Auburn  prison  was  but 
the  first  step  toward  building  up  the  latent  man- 
hood in  the  convict. 

Dr.  Percy  Grant,  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascen- 
sion, pointed  to  the  ignorance  of  the  actual  con-] 
ditions  on  the  part  of  the  public  throughout  the 
country,  but  declared  that  the  women  were  get- 
ting aroused  and  through  this  awakening  great  j 
results  would  come. — Free  Trader,  Ottawa,  111. 

Alcohol  as  a  Remover 

An  exchange  says  that  "alcohol  will  remove] 
stains  from  summer  clothes."  The  exchange  is 
right.  It  will  also  remove  the  summer  clothes,! 
and  the  summer,  also  the  spring,  the  autumn  and 
winter  clothes,  not  only  from  the  one  who  drinks 
it,  but  from  the  wife  and  family  as  well.  It  will 
also  remove  the  household  furniture,  the  eatables 
from  the  pantry,  the  smiles  from  the  face  of  his 
wife,  the  laugh  from  the  innocent  lips  of  his 
children  and  the  happiness  out  of  his  home.  As 
a  remover  of  things  alcohol  has  no  equal. — The^ 
Better  Citizen,  Rahway,  N.  J. 


May  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


267 


Ohio  Prisoners  on  Farm 

Columbus,  O.,  March  18. — Prisoners  from  tlic 
>tatc  penitentiary  to  he  known  as  honor  squads 
will  spend  this  spring  and  summer  at  the  new 
penitentiary  farm  near  London,  Madison  county, 
cultivating  food  products  on  about  500  acres  for 
consumption  at  the  penitentiary. 

The  state  board  of  administration  will  super- 
vise this  work.  Meat  for  the  convicts  next  winter 
will  be  provided  for  by  raising  pigs  and  calves  on 
the  farm. — Beacon  Journal,  .\kron.  (  )hio. 

Self-Governing  Welfare  League  of  Prisoners 
"1   solemnly  promise  that   I   will  do  all  in 
my  power  to  promote  in  every  way  the  true 
welfare  of  the  men  confined  in  Auburn  Pris- 
on;  that  I  will  cheerfully  obey  the  rules  and 
regidations  of  the  duly  constituted  prison  au- 
thorities, and  that  I  will  endeavor  to  pro- 
mote friendly  feeling,  good  conduct  and  fair 
dealing  among  both  officers  and  men  to  the 
end  that  each  man  after  serving  the  briefest 
possible  term  of  imprisonment  may  go  forth 
with  renewed  strength  and  courage  to  face 
the  world  again.     All  this  I  promise  faith- 
fully to  endeavor;  so  help  me  God." 
This  oath  was  taken  a  few  weeks  ago  by  forty- 
nine  men  prisoners  standing  with  uplifted  hands 
in  the  chapel  of  the  New  York  .State  Prison  at 
Auburn.     These  men  had  been  elected  in  secret 
ballot  by   1,350  of  their  fellow  inmates  to  con- 
stitute the  board  of  delegates  of  the  new  "Mu- 
tual Welfare  League." 

This  league,  the  formation  of  which  has  been 
the  work  of  the  prisoners  aided  by  Thomas  Mott 
f)sborne,  chairman  of  the  state  commission  on 
prison  reform,  is  an  experiment  in  enabling  pris- 
oners to  fit  themselves  for  a  more  self-controlled 
life  outside  prison  by  giving  them  greater  con- 
trol of  their  life  inside. 

Only  as  the  i)risoners  show  that  they  can  be 
trusted  with  power  will  the  .scope  of  the  league 
be  extended ;  but  it  has  already  demonstrated  its 
usefulness  to  such  an  extent  that  the  warden  has 
given  to  its  grievance  committee  the  administra- 
tion of  the  minor  discipline  of  the  prison.  A 
similar  league  has  been  organized  among  the  117 
women  in  the  women's  prison. 

At  present  the  executive  committee  has  charge 
of  the  formation  of  clubs,  conduct  of  lectures,  en- 


tertainments and  other  activities.     A  delegate  is 
elected  for  six  monllis  and  may  be  recalled. 

Any  prisoner  signing  the  rules  and  bylaws 
may  become  a  member,  but  membership  is  for- 
feited if  his  behavior  is  not  satisfactory  to  the 
league.  These  rules  were  adopted  by  the  men 
themselves  in  open  debate.  The  clause  in  the 
oath  which  calls  for  obedience  to  the  authorities 
was  not  included  in  the  original  draft,  but  was 
inserted  by  the  pri.soners.  The  motto,  "Do  good, 
make  good."  was  chosen  by  the  men.  Many  of 
the  delegates  are  old  and  .serious  ofTcndcrs,  but 
they  are  men  whose  personalities  have  impressed 
their  fellow  inmates. — The  Sun'cx.  New  York, 
N.  Y. 

Protecting  Paroled  Men 

The  action  of  Superintendent  I^onard  of  the 
Mansfield  reformatory  in  sending  out  men  to  in- 
vestigate cases  where  paroled  prisoners  have 
been  arrested  on  various  charges  should  puf  an 
end  to  the  hounding  of  released  convicts  by  the 
police. 

Many  men  have  been  railroaded  back  to  prison 
because  the  police  wanted  the  reward  for  the  re- 
capture of  convicts  breaking  parole  and  some 
means  should  be  adopt e< I  to  stop  this  practice. 

The  average  policeman  is  more  intent  upon 
making  a  record  for  arrests  than  uiH>n  dealing 
justice  and  enforcing  the  law  fairly  and  impar- 
tially. The  paroled  convict  offers  an  ea.sy  victim 
for  this  misplaced  energy.  It  is  an  easy  matter 
to  arrest  him,  without  friemls  or  money,  and  with 
the  blot  upon  his  name  of  a  previous  conviction, 
lodge  a  charge  against  him  and  send  him  back  to 
the  reformatory  for  violating  his  parole  whether 
he  is  guilty  or  innocent.  The  reward  is  easily 
earned  and  the  police  care  little  if  it  kills  in  the 
heart  of  the  victim  all  desire  for  reform  or 
rehabilitation. 

Superintendent  Leonard's  field  officers  now  in- 
vestigate the  cases  of  prisoners  arreste<!  for  vio- 
lating their  parole  and  if  there  arc  not  reasonable 
grounds  for  holding  them,  they  arc  releasc<l.  The 
innovation  is  not  popular  with  the  police,  but  it  is 
one  which  is  in  keeping  with  modern  humani- 
tarian methods  and  it  reflects  credit  uiK>n  the  su- 
perintendent. It  means  a  square  <leal  for  the 
man  who  is  down,  and  guarantees  that  he  will  be 
protected  from  injustice  and  persecution. — Sun, 
Springfield,  Ohio. 


268 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Heard  in  the  Courtroom 

An  Irish  witness  was  being  examined  as  to 
his  knowledge  of  a  shooting  affair. 

"Did  you  see  the  shot  fired?"  the  magistrate 
asked. 

"No,  sor ;  I  only  heard  it." 

"That  evidence  is  not  satisfactory,"  replied  the 
magistrate  sternly.     "Step  down." 

The  witness  proceeded  to  leave  the  box,  and 
directly  his  back  was  turned  he  laughed  de- 
risively. 

The  magistrate,  indignant  at  this  contempt  of 
court,  asked  him  how  he  dared  to  laugh  in  court. 

"Did  you  see  me  laugh,  your  honor?" 

"No,  sir,  but  I  heard  you." 

"That  evidence  is  not  satisfactory,"  said  the 
witness,  with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye. 

At  this  everybody  laughed  except  the  magis- 
trate.— The  Pioneer,  Pontiac,  111. 

Life  Convict  Becomes  Rich 

Pere  la  Capinette  murdered  a  man  in  a  jealous 
passion  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago  in  France  and 
was  sent  to  New  Caledonia  to  serve  a  life  sen- 
tence. 

A  commission  was  recently  sent  out  to  inspect 
the  convict  prison  and  inquire  into  the  govern- 
ment lands  that  are  allotted  to  convicts  who  are 
released  for  gQod  conduct. 

They  found  Pere  la  Capinette,  white  haired  and 
venerable  with  his  70  years,  surrounded  by  his 
sons,  whom  he  had  brought  from  France.  He 
showed  the  commissioners  over  the  coffee  planta- 
tion on  which  he  had  settled. 

"I  am  making  25,000  francs  a  year  now,"  he 
explained,  and  then  he  added,  "if  I  had  commit- 
ted my  murder  twenty  years  earlier  I  should  have 
been  a  millionaire  by  now." — Tribune,  Chicago. 

He  Beats  All  Records 

Cole  L.  Blease,  governor  of  South  Carolina,  re- 
leased fourteen  prisoners  during  April.  This 
makes  1,190  convicts  to  whom  Governor  Blease 
has  extended  clemency  since  he  assumed  office  in 
January,  1911. 

There  were  more  than  1,300  prisoners  in  the 
state  penitentiary  when  Mr.  Blease  became  gov- 
ernor, but  there  are  only  186  left,  and  they  will 
leave  before  long,  as  the  governor  told  a  com- 
mittee of  the  legislature  that  he  proposed  to 
empty  the  penitentiary  by  August  1, — Chrpnicle, 
Hoopston,  111. 


Sterilization  of  Criminals 

Iowa's  recent  decision  to  operate  upon  twen- 
ty convicts  does  not  meet  with  favor  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  country,  it  being  condemned  by  such 
a  widely  known  authority  as  Dr.  Edward  Anthony 
Spitzka,  director  of  the  Baugh  Anatomical  Labor- 
atory of  Jefferson  Medical  College,  who  simply 
said:    "Hands  off!" 

When  the  warden  of  the  Eastern  State  Peni- 
tentiary at  Philadelphia  was  asked  his  opinion  on 
the  subject  of  sterilizing  criminals  and  chloro- 
forming criminal  insane,  he  said:  "If  the  plan 
of  chloroforming  the  criminal  insane  is  pushed 
to  a  conclusion,  the  time  will  come  when  the  last 
man  will  have  to  chloroform  himself,  for  there 
won't  be  anybody  left  to  do  the  job. 

"In  my  experience  I  have  met  some  great 
doctors,  and  I've  seen  a  good  many  post-mortems. 
One  old  doctor  used  to  say  to  me,  when  he 
reached  the  brain  in  performing  a  post:  'Bob, 
we're  all  of  us  a  little  insane.'  Now,  it  is  a  sure 
thing  that  if  all  of  us  were  honest  with  ourselves, 
we  would  have  to  admit  that  we're  also  a  little  bit 
criminal,  so  you  see  if  you  carried  that  plan  out 
completely  there  wouldn't  be  anybody  left. 

"No,  we  don't  execute  insane  murderers,  be- 
cause we  say  they  are  not  responsible  for  their 
actions.  If  we  don't  execute  them  for  murder, 
why  in  the  name  of  conscience  should  we  execute 
them  for  being  insane,  which  they  certainly  can't 
help? 

"Surgical  operations  on  ex-criminals  is  a 
mighty  touchy  subject.  It  is  my  opinion  that  it 
involves  the  constitutional  rights  of  the  indi- 
vidual. I'm  not  a  lawyer,  but  I'll  bet  if  any  of 
those  fellows  condemned  to  an  operation  make  a 
fight,  the  question  will  wind  up  in  the  United 
States  Supreme  Court.  Why,  that's  a  life  sen- 
tence. They  send  a  man  up  a  few  years  for  his 
crime,  and  then  execute  a  life  sentence  on  him. 
What  chance  has  he  ever  got  to  reform?  They 
might  better  be  executed. 

"Personally,  I  should  think  they  would  have 
trouble  getting  a  surgeon  to  perform  the  opera- 
tion. Of  course,  it  would  have  to  be  done  with- 
out the  consent  of  the  patient,  and  think  of  the 
awful  comeback  if  the  courts  ever  hold  it  illegal. 
Where  would  the  surgeon  be?" — Umpire,  East- 
ern State  Penitentiary,  Philadelphia. 

Subscribe  to  The  Joliet  Prison  Post. 


Mav  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


269 


Prisoner    Placed   on    His    Honor    Returns    to 
Penitentiary 

"There  goes  an  honest  man  of  tlie  highest  type, 
even  though  he  is  hrandetl  as  a  prisoner,"  said 
Warden  Fcnton  last  night  at  the  penitentiary 
when  the  long  line  of  gray-clad  prisoners  filed 
through  the  chapel  after  a  hard  day's  work  in 
the  shops. 

Earl  Brittain,  sentenced  from  this  county  last 
July  for  forgery,  was  the  prisoner  who  evoked 
the  warden's  remark. 

It  was  a  week  ago  last  Thursday  a  telegram, 
ad<lrcssed  to  Brittain,  reached  the  penitentiary 
and  was  opened  by  the  warden,  following  the 
usual  custom.  The  message  bore  tidings  that 
Brittain's  mother  was  dying — that  it  was  her 
wish  that  she  might  see  her  son  before  she  died, 
even  though  he  was  languishing  behind  prison 
walls  for  having  forged  a  check. 

Calling  Brittain  from  his  work  in  the  shops,  the 
warden  told  him  of  the  message.  He  then  told 
Brittain  that  he  would  be  placed  on  his  honor 
and  money  would  be  advanced  him  to  go  home. 

Brittain  arrived  too  late — his  mother  died  be- 
fore he  reached  home,  but  the  prisoner  returned 
to  the  penitentiary  without  delay  and  again  re- 
sumed his  work. — Nezv  Era,  Leavenworth,  Kan. 

Men  With  Clean  Prison  Records  to  Be  Tried 
on  Road  Work  in  Wisconsin 

Prisoners  are  likely  to  be  employed  in  state 
road  making  in  Wisconsin  this  year  and  it  is 
possible  that  their  first  work  may  be  done  in  the 
vicinity  of  Waupun. 

According  to  a  report  sent  out  from  Madison 
recently  they  may  start  the  work  on  the  women's 
reformatory  which  is  to  be  erected  on  the  ledge 
east  of  the  city  this  year  after  which  they  will 
be  available  for  work  in  other  parts  of  the  state. 

The  honor  system  will  govern  the  men  while 
they  are  out.  Only  men  with  clean  records  will 
be  allowed  on  this  work.  Tliey  will  be  looked 
after  by  an  officer  of  the  state  prison,  who  is  also 
fitted  for  the  supervision  of  the  road  building. 
He  will  have  assistants,  but  there  will  be  no 
armed  guard. 

This  plan,  as  tried  in  Illinois  and  Colorado, 
was  a  great  success.  It  is  in  line  with  the  at- 
tempts to  make  a  prison  a  reforming  agency 
rather  than  a  place  to  punish  men. — Comtnon- 
wcalth,  Fond-du-Lac,  Wisconsin. 


Lucky  to  Have  a  Family 

.A  respite  of  a  year  and  a  day  was  granted  by 
Governor  Cox  recently  in  the  case  of  Leslie 
Humi)hries,  who  was  under  sentence  to  die  in 
the  electric  chair. 

While  the  death  sentence  will  continue  to  liang 
over  the  man,  Governor  Cox  made  it  known  tliat 
he  will  recommend  to  future  governors  that  re- 
spites be  granted  from  year  to  year,  provided 
Humphries  makes  a  good  record  as  a  prisoner  in 
the  Ohio  penitentiary. 

His  wages  as  a  prisoner  will  be  turned  over  to 
his  dependent   family. 

The  governor's  action  in  the  Humphries  case 
is  withmit  precedent  in  Ohio.  Humphries  killed 
Samuel  S.  Kelleyof  Lanark,  W.  Va.  After  his 
arrest  he  confessed  he  had  robbed  his  victim  of 
several  hundred  dollars.  Later  he  maintained 
that  the  killing  resulted  during  a  fight. — Ctobe, 
Joplin,  Mo. 

Treatment  of  Ex-Prisoners 

There  may  be  such  a  fine  thing  in  this  great 
land  of  ours  as  presumption  of  innocence  until 
proven  guilty,  but,  if  there  is,  such  a  presumption 
does  not  exist  in  favor  of  the  man  who  has  served 
a  term  in  *he  "pen." 

Our  system  of  dealing  with  young  men  sent  to 
the  state  prison — who  for  a  better  term  we  call 
criminals — is  wrong. 

It  is  fundamentally  unjust. 

It's  against  civilization. 

These  thoughts  are  called  forth  by  the  arrest 
here  Saturday  night  of  Wilburt  Bryant  and 
Ernest  Domingue,  two  white  boys  just  past  21. 

These  boys  had  actually  been  guilty  of  entering 
a  lumber  camp  and  stealing  a  frying  pan.  They 
were  sent  to  the  state  penitentiary  for  one  year 
for  larceny. 

No  wonder  we  have  a  few  socialists  and  an- 
archists. 

Here  are  two  boys  fishing,  take  some  pots  and 
pans  and  skillets  that  are  not  used,  and  they  get 
one  vear  in  the  state  penitentiary  f<>r  it. 

They  come  to  Baton  Rouge — seven  hours  after 
they  have  been  released  from  the  state  peniten- 
tiary, and  are  arrested  on  the  word  of  a  drunken 
man.  who  tells  a  rather  incoherent  story  alwut 
being  robbed  of  $15. 

The  action  of  the  Baton  Rouge  police  is  not 
unnatural. 


270 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


It  is  the  attitude  assumed  everywhere  against 
men  released  from  the  penitentiary. 

In  the  first  place,  young  men — just  beyond  21 
— should  not  be  sent  to  the  penitentiary. 

The  state  should  hasten  the  organization  of  its 
reform  school,  and  boys  who  take  frying  pans 
from  lumber  camps  should  be  sent  to  these 
schools  rather  than  to  the  state  prison,  to  be 
branded  for  life  as  felons. 

Society's  treatment  of  these  two  boys — and 
they  are  merely  used  because  they  are  typical — 
is  wrong. — Times,  Baton  Rouge,  La. 

Bridewell  Labor 

The  announcement  that  after  May  1  the  con- 
tract .system  of  disposing  of  the  prison  labor  in 
tlie  bridewell  will  be  abolished,  and  that  earnings 
of  a  man  serving  a  sentence,  after  maintenance 
charges  have  been  deducted,  will  go  to  his  de- 
pendents, is  encouraging.  The  misuse  of  prison 
labor  has  long  been  a  blot  upon  the  community. 
It  thrived  not  because  there  was  any  merit  or 
justice  in  it,  but  because  certain  politicians  and 
their  friends  had  to  make  easy  money  at  the 
expense  of  the  public  some  way. 

There  is  much  work  to  be  done  for  the  city 
that  can  be  done  by  the  prisoners  in  the  bride- 
well. They  can  manufacture  a  number  of  arti- 
cles and  materials  for  which  the  city  now  goes  to 
private  employers. 

Aside  from  the  financial  saving  to  the  com- 
munity, however,  the  abolition  of  prison  labor 
contracts  is  certain  to  elevate  the  tone  of  the  pris- 
oner. He  is  likely  to  come  out  a  better  man  after 
his  term  in  the  bridewell  has  expired.  The  self- 
respect  which  comes  from  being  employed  at  use- 
ful labor  and  of  getting  the  prevailing  rate  of 
wages  is  incalculable.  It  has  proven  so  in  other 
states. — Tribune,  Chicago. 

What  Oregon  Has  Done  With  Prison  Labor 

Elsewhere  in  the  Nezvs  today  is  printed  an 
address  on  penal  reform  delivered  recently  in 
New  York  by  Governor  West  of  Oregon  before 
the  National  Civic  Federation.  The  address  em- 
braces so  many  of  the  problems  that  are  now  be- 
fore this  state  for  solution  in  connection  with 
prison  labor  that  those  interested  in  the  matter 
will  find  much  that  is  helpful  on  this  account  of 
what  has  been  done  in  Oregon. 

The   most  gratifying   feature  of   the   experi- 


ments made  in  Oregon  and  other  states  with  the 
parole  and  honor  system  and  with  the  use  of 
convicts  for  state  work,  either  in  or  out  of  prison 
walls,  is  that  it  shows  us  we  are  not  confronted 
with  an  insoluble  problem.  We  can  do  what  has 
been  successfully  done  elsewhere. 

With  our  large  negro  population  it  is  no  doubt 
true  that  the  class  of  convicts  here  may  present 
a  more  difficult  question.  But  nobody  defends 
the  present  method  of  handling  these  prisoners 
and  it  is  by  no  means  to  be  regretted  that  the 
prospective  passage  in  congress  of  the  bill  re- 
stricting the  shipment  of  convict-made  goods 
compels  Maryland  and  other  states  that  still  ex- 
ploit prisoners  to  devise  some  other  way  of  using 
them  than  hiring  them  out  to  contractors. — 
Nezvs,  Baltimore,  Md. 

PUBLISHED  IN  COMPLIANCE  WITH 
U.  S.  POSTAL  LAWS 


Statement  of  the  ownership,  management,  cir- 
culation, etc.,  of  The  Joliet  Prison  Post,  pub- 
lished monthly  at  Joliet,  Illinois,  required  by  the 
Act  of  August  24,  1912. 

Editor— Peter  Van  Vlissingen,  1900  Collins  St., 
Joliet,  Illinois. 

Managing  Editor- — Peter  Van  Vlissingen.  1900 
Collins  St.,  Joliet,  Illinois. 

Business  Manager — Peter  Van  Vlissingen,  1900 
Collins  St.,  Joliet,  Illinois. 

Publisher — The  Board  of  Commissioners  and 
the  Warden  of  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary, 
Joliet,  Illinois. 

Owners  not  a  corporation ;  no  stockholders ;  no 
stock.  Owner — The  Illinois  State  Penitentiary 
at  Joliet,  Illinois. 

Known  bondholders,  mortgagees,  and  other 
security  holders,  holding  1  per  cent,  or  more  of 
total  amount  of  bonds,  mortgages,  or  other  se- 
curities— No  bonds  or  bondholders  ;  no  mortgages 
or  mortgagees. 

Peter  Van  Vlissingen,  Editor. 

Sworn  to  and  subscribed  before  me  this  twenty- 
sixth  day  of  March,  1914. 

Alice  H.  Tindall, 

(Seal.)  Notary  Public. 

(My  commission  expires  Oct.  1,  1914.) 

(Advertising  rates  upon  application.) 


May  1,  1914. 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


271 


THE 

BOSTON 

STORE 

Joliet's  Biggest,  Busi- 
est and  Best  Store. 
The  Store  that  knows 
what  you  want — 
and  has  it. 


We    stand    between   you    and 
HIGH      PRICES 


Only  TEXACO 
Lubricants  Are  Used 

On  the  Panama  Canal 
Quality   Alone   Made    This    Possible 

THE  TEXAS  COMPANY 


HOUHTDN 
CHICAGO 
ATLANTA 
PL'EBIX) 


BOSTON 

HT.  Loris 
NEW  UIU,EANS 
TUI^A 


I'HII.AIiKI.l'HIA 
NOKKol.K 
DALLAS 
JuLIKT 


\A7E  have  in  our  warehouses 
everything  in  the  steel  line 
and  are  able  to  ship  immediately 
any  order  received. 


Scully  Steel  CS,  Iron  Co. 


Alexander  B.  Scully 
Pres. 





Charles  Heggie 
Vice-Pres. 


The  Weber  Dairy 

OF  JOLIET 

EliUblithcd  in  '84.  ihco  utcd  the  milk  of 
Iwo  cowt.now  wc  utcthe  milk  of  400  cowi 

DAILY  PURE  MILK  OUR  TRADE  MARK. 

AL.  J.   WFBER,  Proprietor 

503  W.  Jefferson  St.,  Joliet,  Illinois 


WARLEY'S 

Boiler  Cleansing  Chemicals 
Lubricating  Oils  and  Greases 

are  used  by  those  who  want  abso- 
lutely the  best,  and  are  willing  to 
pay  a  fair  price. 

THOS.  C.  WARLEY  CSi  CO. 

202  S.  Clark  Street,  CHICAGO 

Sim  J.  SUoenion,  Manager 


Bush  &  Handwerk 

Wholesale   and  Retail 

HARDWARE  DEALERS 


specialties 

Factory  and   Quarry  Supplies 

Stoves  and  Ranges 

Plumbing     and     Gas    Fitting 

Steam  and  Furnace  Work 


15-117  JEFFERSON  STREET 
JOLLIET.  ILLINOIS 


272 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


CHICAGO  BUTCHERS 
PACKING  COMPANY 


216-222  North  Peoria  St. 
CHICAGO  ::  ILL. 


The  ''I  WilV  Brand 
Hams,  Bacon  and  Lard 


SAUSAGES  of  all  kinds, 
which  are  known  for  their 
QUALITY  and  FLAVOR  and 
which  do  not  contain  any  ce- 
real, but  which  are  pure  meat. 


COMMISSION  A  SPECIALTY 


LYONS  BROTHERS 

LUMBER  and  FUEL  COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  and  RETAIL 

LUMBER  and  COAL 


Both  Telephones  No.  17 


Washincton  Street 
and  York  Avenue 


JOLIET,  ILLINOIS 


ROBERT  T.  KELLY,  Pres.  P,  F.  McMANUS,  Vice-Pres. 

CHAS.  G.  PEARCE,  Cashier      WM.  REDMOND,  Ass't  Cash'r 


^f)e  Joliet  iSational 
Panfe 


^  on  Savings  3^ 
JOLIET  ILLINOIS 


Sherman  Bros.  &  Co. 


Growers  and  Importers' 


TEAS,  COFFEES 

AND  SPICES 

CHICAGO         :!        ILLINOIS 


"NoneSuch'FoodProducts 

THE  BEST  THAT  SKILL  AND 
NATURE  CAN    PRODUCE 

GUARANTEED   TO   COMPLY 
WITH  ALL  PURE  FOOD  LAWS 

Manufactured  by 

McNeil  &  Higgins  Company 

Chicago,   Illinois 


MURPHY,  LINSKEY  & 
KASHER   COAL   CO. 

MINERS   AND    SHIPPERS    OF 

Original 
Wilmington  Coal 

FROM  BRAIDWOOD  MINE  ON 
CHICAGO  &  ALTON  RAILROAD 

Pontiac  Coal 

FROM  PONTIAC  MINE  ON  ILLINOIS 

CENTRAL,  WABASH  AND  CHICAGO 

AND  ALTON  RAILROADS 


Main  Office,  BRAIDWOOD,   ILL. 

Phones,  Chicago   1  4-IVI 

Interstate  641-L 


TR 


May  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


273 


MILL  SUPPLIES 

Hose — Water — Steam 

Steam  and  Hydraulic  Packings 
Belting — Rubber  and  Leather 
Pipe  and  fittings 

Valves  and  Valve  packings 
Wire — Steel  and  cut  Lacings 


Quotations  submitted  upon  request 


All  Deliveries  Made  Promptly 


POEHNER  &  DILLMAN 

417-419-421-423  Cass  St. 
JOLIET,   ILL. 

Chicago  Phone   119  Northwestern  Phone  525 


When  opportunity  presents  itself, 
SPEAK  A  GOOD  WORD  FOR 

TheP.E.HOLMSTROM 
COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  GROCERS 
JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


Our  Brands 

Boulevard  Brand 
Renroh  Brand 
Kan  Brand 

Ask  your  grocer  for  above  brands  and 
get    quality    consistent    with    price 

HENRY  HORNER  &  CO. 

Importers  ind  M&nufacturers  of  Groceries 
CHICAGO,  U.  S.  A. 


Joliet  Oil  Refining  Co. 

REFINERS  OF  PETROLEUM 

High  Grade   Illuminating  and   Lubri- 
cating Oil,  Purity  Automobile  Oil 
All  Kinds  of  Grease  Linseed  Oil  Soap 

located  on  Mills  Road  i,,^",,,,  JOLIET,  ILL 


F.  C.  HOLMES  CS,  CO. 

(INCUKPUkA1KI)> 

WHOLESALE  DEALERS  IN 

Fresh,  Frozen  and  Smoked 
Fish  —  Oysters  in  Season 


Telephones 
Monroe  IM 
Automatic  30-108 


736  West  Randolph  Street 
CHICAGO 


WEBB'S 

GAS  ROASTED 

COFFKK 


Puhl-Wehl) 
Company 

Iinportt^rN  niul 

KoilHtCTH 

Cliinijiio     ::     IllinoiH 


274 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Prison  Supply 
Company 

JOHN  W.  GIBBONS,  Agent 

bailors' 

For    Officers,     Inmates 
and  Discharge  Clothing 

Tools  of  Every  Description 

34  S.  Fifth  Ave.,  CHICAGO,  ILL 


W.   Freeman  &  Co. 


Wholesale  Potatoes  and  Fruits 


Car  Lots  a  Specially 


Chicago  'Phone  618  N.  IV.  'Phone  859 


105  S.  JOLIET  STREET 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


Chicago  Phone :  Office  1037. 


Residence  548. 


Daniel  Feely 

Wholesale  Dealer  In 

MEATS  AND 
PROVISIONS 

Room  4,  Clement  Building 
Ottawa  Street        :         :         :        JOLIET,  ILL. 


Telephone  Yards  5150  and  5151 

Holman  Soap  Company 


Manufacturers  of 


ALL  KINDS  OF  SOAP 

Toilet  Preparations,  Perfumes,  Toilet  Soap, 
Soap  Powder,  Scouring  Powder,  Scouring  Soap, 
Metal    Polish,    Furniture    Polish,     Inks,    Etc. 


3104  to  3106  Fox  Street 


Chicago 


Enterprise  Plumbing 
Supply  Co. 

Plumbing  Supplies 
to  the  Trade  Only 


Randolph  1520 


Auto.  47-313 


26-28  W.  Kinzie  Street 


Chicago 


I.  B.  WiUiams 
CS,Son 

Oak  Tanned  Leather 
Belting 

Round  Leather 
Belting 

Cut   and   Side   Lace 
Leather 

14  N.  FRANKLIN  STREET 

TELEPHONE  MAIN  1666 

CHICAGO 

AGENTS  IN  ALL  PRINCIPAL  CITIES 

May  1,  1914. 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


275 


ADAMS  &  ELTING    CO 

Manufacturers  of  AD-EL-ITE 
PAINT  AND  VARISH  PRODUCTS 


The  Ad-el-ite  line 

makes  all 
the  world  shine 


We  Are  Specialists 

and  can  help  you  in  all  of  your  wood  or 
metal  finishing  problems  on  either  new 
or  old  work.  Use  AD-EL-ITE  Fillers 
and  Stains,  AD-EL-ITE  Varnishes, 
Enamels,  etc.  Consult  with  us  and  get 
your  full  dollar's  worth. 

SEE  US  FIRST 


716-726  Washington  Blvd.,  CHICAGO 

NEW   YORK  TELEPHO   N  MONROE  3000  TORONTO 


BUCKNER  6  O'BANNON 

929  West  Main  Street,  Louisville,  Ky. 


Independent 
Dealers  in 


LEAF  TOBACCO 


Wc  buy  our  leaf  tobacco  directly  from  the 
farmers  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  and 
make  a  specialty  of  sui)i)l}'ing  manufac- 
turers and  state  institutions. 


White  Bear  Brand  Steel  Cut 
Coffee 

Superior  in  the  cup     Popular  in  price* 

Durkasco  and  White  Bear  Brand 
Pure  Fruit  Preserves 

Durand  <^   Kasper  Co. 

IVholesale  Grocen  and  Manu/acluttrt 

Imporlcn  and  Roosltn  of  Cofft* 

CHICAGO                                                   ILLINOIS 

Bray's 

Drug  Store 

The  HOME  of  BRAY'S  COUGH 

MIXTURE.    A  Remedy  that 

cures  where  others  fail. 

2S  Cents 

Per  Bottle      SO  Centa 

104  Jefferson 

Street,  Joliet,  Illinois 

What  Husiiioss  Are 
Y(Mi   (joinji    IiHo? 

Did  yuu  ever  consiilcr  the  ;  ■ 

Wc  would  like  to  Ulk  to  y 

you  are  at  lU>eny  to  Uke  it  up  with  U-s. 

Cnir.il  ;  '    opj>ortunilJcii.     bniuil 

.iin'.unl     •     ■-,  - 

CniiipboH   llohoii  A:  Co. 

H  HOI.KSAI.K   <i  in  mi:  US 

|{Iooiiiiiiii(oii  11  IlUnoi* 


276 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


To  Obtain  the  Best  Results  in  the  Safest  Manner,  in  Using  High -Explosive 

USE 

Patented.     Trade  Mark  Registered 

The  World's  Greatest  High-Explosive 

A  Nitrated  Hydro-Carbon  Explosive 


Dynalite  is  used  at  the  quarry  of 

the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary  at 

Joliet,  Illinois,  where  it  has  given 

satisfaction  for  many  years. 


Adopted    by  The    Ohio    National    Guard, 
Battalion  of  Engineera. 

Used  by  the  Ohio  State  Penitentiary,  the 
Dayton  State  Hospital  and  similar  institu- 
tions wanting    and    knowing    the  BEST. 


MANUFACTURED  BY 


THE  AMERICAN  DYNALITE  COMPANY 

Amherst,  Ohio.     U.  S.  A. 


WERDEN  BUCK 

BUILDING 
MATERIAL 

511  and  513  WEBSTER  ST. 


BOTH  PHONES  215 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


THE  J.  C.  ADLER  CO. 

JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 
If  you  want  the  best  in 

HAMS,  BACON,  LARD 

Sugar  Cure        ^^   SAUSAGE    "-'^''^  Smoke 

order  ours — we  make  them 

MARCO  GROCERS 


ORGANIZED  1875 


The  Thomas  Lyons 
Company 

BROOM  CORN  DIALERS 
AND  SUPPLY  HOUSE 

FOR  ALL  KINDS  OF 

Broom  Manufacturers' 
Supplies 


ARCOLA 


ILLINOIS 


THE  JOLIBT 
PllISONPOST 

Published  Monthly  by  the  Board  of  Commissioners  and  Warden 
of  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary,  Joliet,  III.,  U.  S.  A. 


One   Dollar  a   Year 


EntrriHl  an  8p<-ond  riniw  m>tter.  Janiiarv  l.'i   |y|«,  at  the 
l»ot>t<>nu-o  at  Jolli't.  llllnolH.  miller  Art  nf  M»r.-li  S,  liO». 


Ten  Cents  the  Copy 


EDITED  BY  A  PRISONER 


Vol.  1 


JOLIET,  ILLINOIS.  JUNE  1.  1914 


No.  6 


The  First  Anniversary  of  the  Period  of  Hope 
ana  Reconstruction  at  the  Joliet  Prison 


By  Lloyd  Baldwin, 
A    Prisoner 


The  shrill  harsh  note  of  the  big  steam  whistle 
sounded  and  immediately  thereafter  the  doors 
of  the  chapel  were  opened,  and  the  long  files  of 
men  dressed  just  alike  marched  into  the  room. 
They  had  entered  the  shops  as  usual  in  the  morn- 
ing and  at  10:15  the  signal  of  the  whistle  for 
assembly  at  the  chapel  brought  them  to  the  reali- 
zation that  something  unusual  was  going  to  take 
place. 

The  prison  orchestra  of  twelve  pieces  had  been 
stationed  on  the  chapel  platform  and  commenced 
to  play  as  the  men  filed  in.  The  occasion  was 
the  celebration  of  the  anniversary  of  Mr.  Allen's 
wardenship  and  the  discussion  of  the  honor  sys- 
tem. 

@ 

The  day  was  very  warm  and  this  called  atten- 
tion to  the  fact  that  all  the  jirisoncrs  were  wear- 
ing neat  thin  cotton  coats,  instead  of  the  heavy 
woolen  ones  lined  with  bedticking  worn  hereto- 
fore during  the  four  seasons,  cold  or  warm,  under 
all  previous  administrations. 

It  was  most  interesting  to  see  the  long  files  of 
men  march  into  this  immense  hall,  which  has  a 
seating  capacity  of  over  twelve  hundred,  each 
line  under  the  direction  of  a  prison  guard.    Each 


line  gained  its  projjcr  place  in  military  precision. 
without  the  utterance  of  an  order  on  the  part  of 
tlie  officers.  Hoth  officers  and  men  are  so  ac- 
customed to  these  silent  maneuver.s  that  the  long 
lines  move  from  place  to  place  without  the  slight- 
est hesitation  or  necessity  of  a  command  from 
the  officers. 

The  prisoners  went  to  their  respective  scats  in 
the  cha])el  on  this  occasion  not  knowing  what 
was  in  store  for  them,  and  it  was  ver>'  noticeable 
that  each  wondered  what  it  might  be.  Every- 
thing had  l>een  kept  a  secret,  and  even  to  the 
oldest  men  in  terms  of  years  in  the  institution 
none  could  remember  a  similar  unheral<lc<l  event 
of  importance,  as  all  felt  this  to  be.  although  none 
suspected  the  treat  in  stcjre.  As  the  inmates  were 
seated  every  one  was  trying  to  find  out  his 
neighlK)r's  opinion  as  to  what  was  to  follow. 

« 
After  the  prisoners  were  scate<l  five  men  came 
in  through  the  south  door  of  the  chapel  and  look 
seats  on  the  platform.  Four  of  them  were  inimc- 
diatelv  recognized  as  \Var<len  E«lnnmd  M.  Al- 
ii n.  Doptity  Warden  William  Walsh.  Captain 
Michael  c'  Kane  and  Rev.  Father  Edward. 
(  )nlv  a  few  of  the  inm  ■•—  "C  ''i'-  fri^r.n  rco.g- 


278 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


nized  the  fifth  member  of  the  party,  but  those  few 
soon  spread  the  news  abroad  over  the  house  that 
Mr.  Clarence  S.  Darrow  was  on  the  platform 
and  it  was  generally  assumed  that  he  was  there 
for  the  purpose  of  addressing  them.  That  Mr. 
Darrow  was  their  hero  and  duly  worshipped  by 
all  was  easily  believed  from  the  expression  of  in- 
tense excitement  on  the  faces  of  those  to  whom 
he  was  to  speak. 

The  effect  of  Mr.  Darrow's  presence  coming 
as  a  surprise  as  it  did  increased  the  interest,  and 
it  can  hardly  be  understood  by.  any  one  not  know- 
ing how  Mr.  Darrow  is  regarded  by  the  inmates 
of  this  institution,  what  that  interest  amounted 
to.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  he  is  idealized  by  the 
men  here  above  every  other  man. 

During  Mr.  Darrow's  recent  experience  in  Los 
.■\ngeles.  and  until  the  end  of  the  last  chapter  of 
it.  his  fortunes  were  followed  by  the  inmates  of 
this  prison  as  a  matter  of  the  greatest  conse- 
quence, and  if  good  wishes  could  have   heli)ed 
him  there  were  enough  wishes  emanating  from 
this  prison  to  have  dispelled  all  his  troubles.  It 
is  safe  to  say  there  is  no  other  place  in  the  United 
States  where  he  has  so  many  friends  in  propor- 
tion to  the  population  as  behind  the  walls  of  the 
])rison  at  Joliet.     There  are  hundreds  of  men  in 
this  prison  who  would  have  unhesitatingly  suf- 
fered time  to  be  added  to  their  sentences,  if  by  so 
doing  they  could  have  saved  Air.  Darrow  from 
what  was  generally  regarded  by  them  as  persecu- 
tion. 

This  may  be  a  juvenile  way  of  approaching  or 
viewing  the  matter,  but  when  it  comes  to  a  con- 
sideration of  the  human  qualities  many  of  the 
prisoners  might  be  termed  childish,  but  whatever 
tb.e  quality  is  called  it  is  their  expression  of  gen- 
erosity towards  those  whom  they  idealize. 

This  was  a  complete  surprise,  no  one  knew 
what  to  expect,  no  one  knew  what  the  occasion 
was,  or  suspected  it.  It  must  be  remembered 
that  the  life  in  prison  is  one  of  routine,  into 
which  surprises  seldom  creep.  During  the  few 
minutes  between  the  time  the  men  were  seated 
and  the  commencement  of  the  memorable  pro- 
gram  such  questions  as  these  could  be  heard  on 
all  sides:  What  is  going  to  happen?  What  is 
the  occasion?  W1iat  has  happened?  Are  we  to 
hear  good  news  ?  Has  someone  died  ?  And  then 
the  grateful  knowledge  seemed  to  come  from 
everywhere  that  Mr.  Darrow  was  to  speak,  that 


man  who  is  regarded  as  the  champion  of  cham- 
pions of  the  men  who  are  down. 

The  hu!ii  of  whispered  conversation  ceased 
and  I  looked  up  to  see  Father  Edward  coming 
to  the  front  of  the  platform  to  give  us  his  delight- 
ful address. 

Speech  by  Father  Edward. 

^^onr  Honor,  my  friends '  The  organizers  of 
this  meeting  have  put  one  over  on  me.  I  had 
expected  them  to  follow  the  advice  of  the  stew- 
ard in  tile  gospel.  When  our  divine  Saviour,  as 
you  may  remember,  had  changed  water  into 
wine,  the  steward  took  some  of  it  to  the  groom 
and  rebuked  him  for  keeping  the  best  wine  to  the 
last.  He  declared  that  it  was  the  better  policy 
to  put  on  the  best  wine  first,  because  when  the 
guests  were  thoroughly  drunk,  they  wouldn't 
care  what  sort  of  stuff  they  put  into  themselves. 
Hence,  I  had  expected  that  our  distinguished 
guest  would  address  you  first,  and  when  he  had 
thoroughly  intoxicated  you  with  the  brilliancy 
of  his  discourse,  you  would  be  satisfied  with  any- 
tliing  that  I  might  be  able  to  offer.  They  have 
seen  fit.  however,  to  have  me  start  the  ball  roll- 


We  are  assembled  here  this  morning  to  cele- 
brate the  first  anniversary  of  Warden  Allen's  ac- 
tivities among  us.     We  are  here  to  congratulate 
him  and  to  express  the  wish  that  he  may  be  here 
on  many  more  anniversaries,   to  grace   the   oc- 
casion with  his  presence.    We  are  celebrating  this 
occasion  by  the  inauguration  of  the  honor  system. 
concerning  which   you   have  heard   so  much   of 
late.     To  me  has  been  assigned  the  duty  of  dis- 
cussing  this    system    today.       Xow    right    here, 
someone  may  think,  what  has  this  Catholic  chap- 
lain got  to  do  with  the  honor  system?     That's 
just    it.      Paradoxical    as    it    may    seem.    I    am 
going   to   speak  on   this   honor   system    just   be- 
cause   it    is    none    of    my    business.      Other    of- 
ficers   might    speak    better    on    the    subject,    but 
you  might— I  don't  say  that  you  would  or  that 
you     should — but    you    might    have    reason    to 
think  that  they  had  an  ax  to  grind.     This  is  not 
the  case  with  me.     My  job  does  not  depend  on 
politics.     I  am  not  subject  to  the  Civil  Service 
Commission.     I  passed  no  examination  in  theol- 
ogy before  assuming  my  position  here,  and  if  I 
preach  heresy  it  is  none  of  their  business.     I  do 
not  depend  on  this  job  for  a  living.     Personally 


II 


J""e  1.  1-J14  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  27^ 

I  do  not  receive  one  cent  of  salary  for  my  work,  this  nu.rning  only  in  a  general  way,  leaving  par- 

If  1  am  kicked  out  of  this  job.  there  is  another  ticulars   for  a  later  occasion.      If  there  is  one 

lie  waiting  for  me.  I  couldn't  dodge  a  job  if  I  thing  more  than  any  other  that  I  have  denounced 
wanted  to.  and  wherever  I  land.  I  am  reasonal)ly  from  this  platfcjrm  it  is  hypocricy.  It  would 
-urc  of  my  three  per.  My  activities  in  this  in-  be  poor  jx.licy  for  me  to  disregard  my  own 
>titution  do  not  depend  on  the  honor  system.  You  preaching  by  trying  to  make  you  believe  some- 
might  enter  this  chapel  in  the  old  time  lock  step,  thing  that  I  do  not  believe  myself.  Hence,  I 
\«)U  might  sit  there  dressed  in  the  old  time  stripes  trust  you  will  believe  me  when  I  declare  that  I 
and  be  further  adorned  by  the  ball  and  chain,  consider  this  honor  system  a  good  thing.  I  d.. 
These  windows  might  still  be  barred  and  the  not  say  that  it  is  j)erfect,  or  that  it  mav  not  ii«  ■  1 
rifle  cages  might  still  stand  in  the  corner;  they  amending  after  it  is  put  into  practice.  In  fact 
would  not  affect  me.  I  would  .still  stand  at  the  1  know  of  only  one  code  of  legislation  that  is 
altar  and  read  the  mass :  I  would  still  lay  down  i)erfect  and  has  never  needed  amending,  and  that 
the  law  to  you  from  this  platform:  1  would  still  is  the  legislation  promulgated  by  (i<Hl  Himself 
listen  to  your  tale  of  sin  and  woe  in  the  con-  amidst  the  thunder  and  lightning  of  Sinai  and  re- 
fessional :  I  would  still  go  amongst  you.  Catholic  enforced  by  the  loving  accents  of  that  same  (lod 
and  non-Catholic  alike,  and  do  what  little  good  made  man  during  the  course  of  his  mortal  life 
I  could.  Of  course.  I  do  not  deny  that  this  is  and  especially  in  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount.  The 
much  more  pleasant  work  imder  the  present  cir-  Constitution  of  the  L'nited  States  is  undoubtedly 
cumstances.  one  of  the  grandest  documents  which  the  mind  of 

One  other  point  I  wish  to  impress  upon  you  is,  "i^"  lias  ever  evolved ;  yet,  even  the  men  who 

that  I  am  not  a  Victor  talking  machine,  simply  framed   it   were  conscious  of  its   imperfections. 

giving  forth   what  others  have  dictated  to  me.  ^""^  ^"^^  ^^ai"  even  within  the  last  two  years 

Right  here  I  wish  to  give  public  testimonv,  that  ]'^  ^'""''^  ^'^'^  ^°  ''""^"''  "•  '''"'*'  ^''*-'  P>-o»"»>'t'on. 

ff^^,  *u^  r^..^^^^^   1  1  .1  'sts  and  suffragettes  do  not  think  it  i)erfect  vet. 

trom  the  (jovernor  down,  no  one  has  ever  tried  ,,.,        ,  **  i  ^    ^^i     ,... 

.     .  „  u  ^  T     1      1  1  1  .  ^^  'i''it  t'len  can  we  exiiect  in  forming  a  code  of 

to  tell  me  what  I  should  preach  or  not  preach.  ,     ■  ,    •        ,        ,  •     ■ 

,  ,  ,  .  ,..  legislation    for    this    institution.'        i  he     present 

1  must,  however,  make  one  exception.     When  I  ,  *       •         *  •  i  •  i 

^  honor  svstem  is  certamlv  an  improvement  on  that 

hrst  came  here  I  was  verv  green,  and  I  wanted         i  •  i    u       »  •  '        i     •        .i 

>  ^  v.v_ii,  a  lu  ±  vvaiiicu  xvhich  has  been  in  vogue  during  the  past  vear 

to  get  a  line  on  you  fellows  with  your  likes  and  .„!.!  which  has  proved"  inadequate.     This  shows 

dislikes.     I  stopped  a  likely  young  inmate,  he  is  that  the  administration  is  sincere  and  is  learning 

not  very  far  from  me  now.  and  got  him  going,  by  experience,  and  will  not  hesitate  to  make  such 

He  gave  me  some  excellent  advice  about  preach-  amendments  as  circumstances  seem  to  demand. 

ing.    In  the  first  place  he  told  nie  above  all  things  It  is  now  up  to  you  to  co-<Ji)erale  with  the  ad- 

n<n  to  talk  too  long.     He  gave  me  several  other  ministration  and  rise  sui)erior  to  trivial,  scltish 

good  points  for  which  I  am  very  grateful,  but  it  motives,  and  to  do  all  in  your  jiower  to  make 

was  all  of  a  negative  character.  this  honor  movement  a  success.     There  may  l>c 

Concerning  this  honor  system,  so  far  as  any-  pessimists  and  cynics  among  you ;  but  I  ask  you 
thing  has  passed  between  us.  the  Warden  does  all  to  look  the  facts  squarely  in  the  face  and  an- 
not  know  whether  I  am  going  to  boost  it  or  swer  honestly,  would  any  of  you  like  to  have 
knock  it.  I  have  always  looked  upon  the  War-  this  place  put  back  on  the  basis  of  a  year  ago? 
'den  as  a  big  enough  man  to  attend  to  his  business  (  Shouts  of  "No!")  Uo  you  want  to  give  up  your 
without  any  gratuitous  advice  on  my  part,  and  baseball?  Do  you  want  to  give  up  other  things 
he  has  not  con^i(lere^l  it  necosary  to  ask  my  ad-  that  serve  lo  brighten  your  lives?  (  Ke|K:ated 
vice  on  thi^;  honor  system,  tor  which  I  am  very  shouts  of  ".\o!")  ( )f  course,  all  ho|)os  have  not 
thankful  to  him.  My  whole  duty  in  regard  to  the  been  realized,  some  privileges  have  had  to  lie 
honor  system  is  to  instruct  the  inmates  of  this  abolished  or  curtailed,  but  every  honest  right 
prison  from  time  to  time  as  to  the  obligations  thinking  man  must  acknowledge  that  the  net  re- 
assumed  by  those  who  sign  the  honor  pledge.  I  suit  of  the  year's  work  has  been  for  good.  Let 
stand  in  the  same  relation  to  it  as  my  brother  the  g«)od  work  go  on.  Let  nothing  on  your  part 
chaplain  stands  to  the  rules  of  the  institution.  ever  fru-^trate  the  efforts  of  those  who  have  your 

In  regard  to  the  honor  system,  I  shall  speak  interests  and  welfare  at  heart.     Progress  must 


280                                                     THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  First  Year 

necessarily  be  slow  if  it  is  to  be  sure.  I  have  that  the  administration  should  demand  some 
not  noticed  any  great  over-enthusiasm  amongst  pledge  from  those  who  are  placed  in  those  posi- 
the  inmates  in  regard  to  this  new  system,  and  I  tions.  This  it  is  which  constitutes  the  first  grade, 
am  glad  of  it.  It  shows  that  they  are  going  to  It  might  be  a  very  beautiful  thing  if  every  in- 
consider  the  matter  well  before  they  bind  them-  mate  in  this  institution  took  that  pledge,  but  it 
selves  by  any  pledge.  This  is  as  it  should  be.  On  would  be  a  most  dishonorable  thing  and  deserv- 
the  other  hand  I  must  congratulate  the  admin-  ing  of  the  severest  censure  if  any  man  would 
istration  on  the  deliberation  with  which  they  are  merely  take  that  pledge  for  the  purpose  of  ob- 
proceeding.  Only  step  by  step  will  this  honor  taining  an  opportunity  to  violate  the  rules  or  to 
system  be  introduced.  You  have  had  your  meet-  make  an  escape,  hence  the  administration  is  not 
ings,  where  you  were  at  liberty  to  express  your  anxious  to  have  a  great  number  in  this  first 
sentiments  freely,  and  all  that  was  set  forth  is  grade,  and  you  need  not  think  that  you  are  put- 
now  before  the  Warden  for  consideration.  In  ting  yourself  in  bad  by  remaining  in  the  second 
sorhe  points  he  has  already  acted  in  accordance  grade.  Rather  a  half  dozen  trusty  men  than  fif- 
with  your  wishes,  and  I  can  safely  assure  you  teen  hundred  on  whose  loyalty  no  reliance  could 
that  you  have  not  heard  the  last  on  the  subject,  be  placed.  Neither  must  the  men  take  the  pledge 
The  next  step  that  concerns  us  today  is  the  in-  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  privileges.  It  is 
troduction  of  the  grades.  There  is  one,  the  in-  not  said  that  every  one  that  signs  the  pledge  will 
dustrial  efficiency  grade,  which  may  be  passed  obtain  a  trusty  position,  for  there  are  not  enough 
over  today ;  it  is  something  special  and  for  the  *«  S^  around.  He  must  sign  the  pledge  simply 
present  nothing  will  be  done  in  regard  to  it.    In  ^^^^"se  ^e  wishes  to  be  an  honor  man.     The 

J  J.    ^u      J.U      4.U              J      4.U        •            i-u  i.  highest  test  of  loyalty  is  given  by  him  who  re- 
regard  to  the  other  three  grades  there  is  one  that  '^                             ,        ,         .  ., 
,  '  .          ,     ,             -11       •          1                          T    •  mains  faithful  whether  the  privileges  are  received 
1  sincerely  hope  will  exist  only  on  paper.     It  is  ,     , 
1  •    ,          ,           ,              •         ,            1      1  o""  revoked, 
the  third  grade,  and  comprises  those  who  have  ^         .               _             „  •         , 

,.,...       ^,  Sometime  ago  i  was  talking  about  prison  mat- 

senouslv  violated  the  rules  of  the  institution.  The  .                "           ,                                       ,      , 

ters  m  company,  and  a  person  present  made  the 

second   grade   is   an   honorable  grade.      No   one  ,     .<t    t  •  i            V  n                  •                      i 

,    "    ,          ,        ,    ,               .        T    .            ,.  remark,     1  think  you  folks  are  trying  too  much 

need  be  ashamed  to  belong  to  it.     It  is  no  dis-  ,      ,               ;    ,          ^  ,,         „"  -mr  ,i    t    •     , 

■           ,          ,,  r  to  make  heroes  of  those  fellows.     Well,  i  sizea 

grace.    On  the  contrary  it  speaks  well  for  a  man  ,                     ,  ^                   ,             .... 

°  ,              ...                ,  ,              ,      ,    ,     ,  up  that  guy.  and  J  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it 

if  he  remains  in  the  second  because  he  feels  that  ,.  ,   .          '               ,.,,.,              ,       ,       , 

,       ,        ,    ,          ,  .  ,  didn  t  amount  to  a  hill  of  beans  what  he  thought 

he  cannot  conscientiously  take  the  pledge  which  ,  .               ,         .         . 

,..,_'           ,       ^-.^,  on  any  subject;  and  so,  just  for  politeness  sake, 

would  put  him  in  the  first  grade.     Hence  i  have  _      ,     ,  ,  .      ..,       i         i      •        •  ,         •     ,    r 

„                 -        ,                  ,               .       .      .  i  asked  him  if  he  thought  it  might  rain  before 

all  respect  for  the  man  who  remains  in  the  sec-  .                   .                          . 

ond  grade  because  he  intends  to  make  use  of  any  *='  ^  -  *= 
opportunity  that  may  present  itself  to  escape  »^?  ^^  intellectuality  in  that  individual  I  would 
from  this  institution.  By  staying  in  the  second  ^^^^'^  answered,  "Yes,  we  are  trying  to  make 
grade  he  virtually  lets  it  be  known  that  he  may  heroes  of  those  fellows,  and  we  cannot  try  too 
take  that  opportunity.  Regarding  him  the  offi-  much."  If  I  know  my  business  as  a  Catholic 
cers  know  where  they  are  at  and  can  take  the  priest,  and  I  flatter  myself  that  I  do,  it  is  just  ex- 
precautions  to  prevent  his  escaping  and  they  are  actly  my  business  to  make  heroes  of  men.  Right 
paid  for  so  doing.  There  is  nothing  dishonorable  out  there  in  my  office,  I  have  seen  heroic  vie- 
in  this.  tories  achieved,  victories  over  self,  victories 
Now  the  first  grade.  There  are  many  posi-  greater  than  any  ever  achieved  by  Alexander, 
tions  of  trust  in  an  institution  of  this  kind  that  Caesar  or  Napoleon,  and  that  is  what  this  honor 
it  is  highly  desirable  to  fill  with  inmates  and  it  is  system  is  designed  to  accomplish.  I  appeal  to 
of  the  utmost  importance  that  these  be  men  in  you  further  as  a  man,  as  a  friend,  as  a  chaplain 
whom  the  administration  can  place  their  confi-  to  rise  superior  to  all  feelings  of  selfishness  and 
dence.  They  must  be  men  who  will  observe  the  to  give  this  honor  system  a  fair  trial.  Remain 
rules  and  will  make  no  attempt  to  escape  even  in  the  second  grade  or  enter  the  first  grade  as 
when  not  under  the  supervision  of  an  officer.  The  your  conscience  dictates.  Keep  out  of  the  third 
positions  naturally  bring  with  them  certain  priv-  grade ;  be  men,  be  loyal,  so  that  each  recurring 
ileges  and  liberties,  and  it  is  nothing  but  right  anniversary  may  record  a  long  step  forward  in 


June  1,  1914                                      THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST                                                    281 

the  betterment  of  prison  conditions  here  and  else-  this  world,  probably  has  a  better  time  out  of  it, 

where.  if  he  sticks  pretty  close  to  the  rules  of  the  game. 

©  He  may  not  be  any  better  than  the  other  fellow, 

That  Father  Edward  is  a  great  favorite  witii  ^'"*  ^^  '^  ^^''''*^'*'  ^"^  >f>"  *i''»ve  to  be  wise  if  you 

the  inmates  at  the  prison  was  indicated  by  the  ^'^^  ^  '°"S:  I'fc  in  this  world,  and  have  much  fim 

heartv  applause  he  received  at  the  close  of  his  °"^  ""^  '^-     '^'^^'''^  ^^"^  ^"  "^•'»"y  P'-"**^*^^-  ^o  "'^ny 

^  ^pgj,j,  chances  to  get  up  against  something,  that  you 

He  introduced  Mr.  Darrow  in  the  following  '^^''^  *°  ^^'•'^^^'^  ^"^  •'^"  ^'^<^  ^""C-    '^^'^  ^^^^'ow  who 

words:    I  now  have  the  honor  of  introducing  to  ^^''^'  "Eternal  vigilance  is  the  price  of  liberty." 

you.   a  man   of   international   reputation   as   the  ''•'^.  V^^}'^^^y   thinking   of   keeping  out   of   the 

friend    of    the    down-trodden    everywhere,    Mr.  penitentiary. 

Clarence  S.  Darrow.  y^^^^.    j  j,^;,,,.  j  j,nderstand  all  of  vou  people. 

(Mr.  Darrow  was  greeted  with  applause.)  j  ^^j,^,^  j  understand  you  better  than  Ido  the  i>eo- 

Speech  by  Clarence  S.  Darrow,  pie  outside ;  I  am  probably  nearer  to  you.     I  re- 

I  renieniber  some  years  ago,  when  I  was  down  member  when   I   took  my  boy,  who  was  quite 

here  for  the  first  time.     I  was  out  on  the  station  young,  down  east  to  college.     He  hadn't  l>een 

platform  waiting  for  the  train  to  go  away,  and  a  away  from  home  before,  and  I  left  him  there.     I 

prisoner  who  had  charge    of    the    platform,  a  said  I  wasn't  going  to  give  him  any  advice,  but 

"trusty,"  said  to  me.  that  T  had  no  idea  how  many  if  he  ever  got  into  any  difficulty  of  any  kind  what- 

friends   I   had   here   in   the  penitentiary.     They  ever,  probably  he  had  better  tell  me  about  it.  bc- 

werent  all  my  clients.     Some  of  them  were;  but  cause  T  didn't  think  he  could  get  into  anything 

anyhow,  I  felt  that  was  a  great  compliment,  and  I  I  hadn't  been  in.     So  I  think  that  on  this  same 

still  feel  it.     I  think  that  you  people  know  who  theory  you  people  had  better  carry  your  troubles 

your  friends  are,  and  you  can  tell  when  a  man  to  the  Warden  or  the  Chaplain.     I  do  not  know 

means  what  he  says,  or  when  he  is  giving  you  whether  or  not  this  is  the  place  where  I  can  do 

hot  air."     Now,   I   don't  dare  tell  all   I  think,  much  good  by  saying  some  of  the  things  that  I 

today.     I  respect  the  Warden  and  the  Chaplain,  think  about  crime  and  about  criminals.    We  have 

Since  this  honor  system  has  been  started  down  to  use  those  words,  although  they  d<in't  mean 

here  I  suppose  I  am  on  my  honor,  too.     So,  I  anything.     Everybody  in  this  world  is  t  crim- 

can't  make  much  of  a  speech,  but  I  want  to  say  inal,  more  or  less.     Some  haven't  been  appre- 

some  things  to  you.    There  are  a  lot  of  things  I  bended,  and  some  of  us  are  only  partially  so. 

know  without  having  learned   them,  and  I  al-  Everybody  is  made  up  of  all  kinds  of  feelings,  of 

ways  knew  you  couldn't  divide  people  into  good  desires,  of  character,  good  and  bad.     There  are 

people  and  bad  people.     All  the  people  in  the  very  few  perfect  people  in  the  world,  and  when 

penitentiary  are  not  good,  and  all  the  people  out-  vou  find  one  of  them,  you  don't  want  to  meet  him. 

side  are  not  bad.     I  know  you  can't  divide  them  That  is  the  trouble  with  him ;  he  is  too  good  for 

into  good  people  and  bad  people,  because  I  know  this  world.     The  world  is  changing  in  its  ideas 

I  am  both,  and  that  it  is  a  pretty  hard  fight  with  on  this  qtiestion.    Almost  everybody  knows  today 

me  all  the  time,  to  see  which  is  ahead.  that  what  I  say  about  crime  is  true.    A  few  years 

I  know  that  if  everyone  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  ago  there  were  only  a  few  who  knew  it,  and  they 
who  had  violated  a  criminal  statute  was  in  prison,  didn't  dare  say  it.  Now,  a  great  many  know  it. 
there  would  be  few  outside ;  probably  the  War-  and  they  are  beginning  to  say  it.  .\n«l  they  arc 
den  and  the  Chaplain  would  be  about  all  that  beginning  to  look  on  the  man  who  has  l)een  con- 
would  be  left.  Some  fellows  are  luckier  than  the  victcd  and  served  a  term  in  the  penitentiary,  just 
rest,  and  at  that  we  often  have  a  clo.se  call.  I  the  same  as  they  do  on  every  other  man.  Of 
know  that  we  have  too  many  laws,  and  we  are  so  course,  everybody  doesn't  do  it ;  but  the  world,  all 
many  kinds  of  persons,  each  one  of  us.  that  it  is  that  part  of  it  that  is  worth  while,  is  beginning 
out  of  the  question  to  get  through  life  without  to  look  at  men  that  way.  They  are  beginning 
running  against  some  of  the  laws,  unless  we  are  to  find  out  why  it  is  that  men  commit  crimes; 
"dubs"  and  don't  move  around  much.  At  the  and  I  am  going  to  use  the  word  "crimes."  in  the 
same  time,  I  know  that  one  gets  along  better  in  same  sense  that  lawyers  and  other  ignorant  peo- 


282 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


pie  use  it :    A  man  who  has  violated  a  law  and  .s^ot 
caught,   is  a  criminal,  and  that  is  the  sense  in 
which  I  use  the  word.     I  do  not  include  the  peo- 
ple who  violate  a  law  and  do  not  get  caught. 
The  world  is  just  beginning  to  find  out  why  it  is. 

Tlie  old  time  prison  will  disappear  pretty  soon. 
It  is  disappearing  today ;  nrobably  ten  years  is 
about  as  long  as  it  will  live.  T  hope  you  will  all 
be  out  before  that  time.  It  will  be  changed  very 
greatly  in  the  next  five  years.  It  has  been 
changed  very  greatly  in  the  last  five  years,  and  it 
has  been  changed  because  people  have  a  better 
understanding  of  what  it  means  to  go  wrong,  as 
thev  ]nit  it.  Xow,  I  can  show  it  right  here  in  this 
audience.  Here  I  see  a  great  many  colored  peo- 
ple. I  asked  the  Warden,  and  he  told  me  one- 
third  of  all  the  inmates  were  colored.  I  haven't 
stopped  to  figure  it  out,  but  T  would  say  that  the 
population  of  colored  people  in  Illinois  is  one  out 
of  every  one  hundred,  and  yet,  of  the  population 
of  this  penitentiary  at  Joliet,  one-third  is  col- 
ored. Now,  why  is  it?  There  is  a  reason  for 
everything  in  this  world  if  we  are  wise  enough  to 
find  it.  \''ery  few  people  are  wise  enough.  That 
is  the  reason  I  am  telling  you.  It  isn't  because 
colored  people  are  more  wicked  than  white  peo- 
ple. The  color  of  a  man's  skin  hasn't  anything  to 
do  with  goodness  or  badness.  It  is  because  the 
colored  people,  as  a  class,  are  poorer  than  the 
white  people.  They  have  had  no  chance  to  live, 
as  compared  with  the  white  people.  They  have 
no  property.  The  world  is  against  them,  and 
there  isn't  much  else  they  can  do  but  break  in 
here.  Now,  is  there  any  doubt  about  it?  I'll 
venture  the  majority  of  the  colored  people  who 
are  in  here  are  better  fed,  clothed,  and  housed 
than  they  were  outside ;  not  all  of  them,  but  the 
majority  of  them.  You  haven't  a  chance  outside. 
That  isn't  your  fault  any  more  than  it  is  your 
fault  that  your  face  is  black  instead  of  white,  or 
yellow  or  green,  or  something  else.  It  is  simply 
because  the  white  people  have  taken  everything 
there  is.  except  the  porter  on  the  Pullman  car, 
barber  and  waiter,  and  a  few  little  things  like 
that,  and  the  colored  people  are  poor.  Even  the 
labor  unions  don't  give  them  the  chance  they 
ought  to  give  them,  and  sooner  or  later,  on  ac- 
count of  poverty,  you  step  over  the  narrow  line 
which  we  call  lawful  conduct  and  unlawful  con- 
duct, and  you  get  into  prison. 


Most  all  the  people  in  here  are  poor,  and  have 
always  been  poor ;  have  never  had  a  chance  in 
this  world.  A  few  have  taken  all  the  earth.  Mr. 
Rockefeller,  Mr.  Morgan  and  a  few  other  people 
who  haven't  been  in  jail  have  taken  it  all ;  and 
when  they  take  it  they  don't  steal  it ;  they  just 
take  it :  and  when  the  great  mass  of  people  who 
are  living  along  close  to  want,  reach  out  their 
hands  to  get  something  they  go  to  jail.  Pretty 
nearly  everybody  in  jail  is  poor.  You  can  take 
up  a  collection  in  the  jail,  and  you  won't  hardly 
find  money  enough  to  hire  a  good  lawyer.  The 
are  working  for  the  corporations  because  it 
doesn't  pay  to  work  for  the  people  in  jail. 

The  first  great  cause  of  crime  is  poverty,  and 
we  will  never  cure  crime  until  we  get  rid  of  pov- 
erty ;  until  men  have  a  chance  to  make  a  decent 
living  in  this  world,  and  when  they  have  a  chance 
to  make  a  decent  living  they  won't  adopt  any  such 
extra  hazardous  profession  as  attempting  to  burg- 
larize a  neighbor's  house,  in  the  dark. 

A  great  many  of  you  people  are  here  because 
you  had  a  poor  lawyer.  I  have  a  few  clients  here 
myself.  A  lawyer  is  a  very  important  thing  to 
have  on  special  occasions,  and  the  reason  you  had 
a  poor  lawyer  was  because  you  were  poor.  You 
can't  get  a  good  lawyer  unless  you  have  money. 
If  you  had  money  you  wouldn't  need  a  lawyer. 
I  know  of  at  least  one  person  in  here  that  I  am 
sure  should  not  have  been  convicted.  I  want  to 
tell  you  right  off  I  didn't  defend  him  either,  but 
I  know  it.  I  am  sure  there  are  a  great  many 
others.  I  am  sure  "that  a  great  mass  of  the  people 
who  are  here  wouldn't  have  been  here  if  they 
could  have  had  a  proper  defense.  Now,  I  am  not 
saying  a  great  mass  of  you  didn't  do  what  you 
are  here  for.  Probablv  vou  did,  and  like  the  rest 
of  us,  if  you  didn't  do  that,  you  did  something 
else.  Probably  the  great  majority  of  you  did  do' 
the  particular  thing  that  you  are  here  for,  but 
that  isn't  the  important  thing.  The  important 
thing  is  to  tell  what  kind  of  men  you  are. 
Whether  you  did  something  or  not,  doesn't  cut 
much  figure.  The  question  is  how^  you  did  it,  and 
what  made  you  do  it?  That  is  the  only  thing 
that  determines,  and  the  law  never  looks  into 
that  at  all.  The  law  is  about  the  farthest  behind 
of  anything  there  is  in  the  world  except  the  law- 
yers. It  never  asks  a  man's  motives.  It  just 
asks  if  he  did  a  particular  thing.     If  he  did,  and 


June   1,   1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


2t^ 


it's  found  out,  it's  "all  off."  unless  he  .Ljets  a  good 
lawyer,  and  then  once  in  a  while  he  can  pull  out ; 
not  alwavs.    Now.  every  one  of  vou.  if  vou  stud- 
ied  over  it.  could  find  out  why  you  did  the  thing 
you  did.     It  isn't  always  easy  to  find  it  out.     A 
j^reat  many  of  you  don't  know  at  all.     The  c|ues- 
tion  is  whether  you  violated  a  law,  hut  you  can 
find  out,  if  you  try.  why  you  did  it:  and  there 
isn't  a  man  that  I  ever  knew  who  was  placed  on 
trial  who  didn't  have  a  good  excuse  for  what  he 
did.   iust  as  we  all  have  for  evervthiner  we  do. 
If  I  could  put  myself  in  your  place,  I  would  find 
I  had  as  good  an  excuse  for  doing  what  vou  did 
as  I  find  now  for  doing  what  I  do,  and  a  better 
one.    .A  l)ctter  one.  because  the  most  of  you  can't 
help  it.     I  do  some  mean  things  T  could  get  along 
without  doing,  because  I  have  a  better  chance, 
but  most  of  you  can't  help  it;  and  the  world  is 
just  beginning  to  understand  and  find  out'  why 
these  things  happen. 

Xow.  first  of  all.  most  of  the  crimes  committed, 
like  burglary  and  robbery  and  murder,  are  com- 
mitted by  boys,  young  people.     Of  course,  there 
may  be  second  or  third  or  fourth  offenses,  but 
they  begin  with  boys.     And  they  are  boys  of  a 
certain  class;  boys  who  live  in  a  tenement  di.s- 
trict ;  boys  who  are  poor  boys ;  who  have  no  play- 
ground but  the  street :  boys  whose  only  place  is 
on  the  railroad  track  at  night  where  they  learn 
to  steal  coal  because  they  need  it.  and  then  go 
into  a  vacant  building,  and  finally  into  a  building 
that  isn't  vacant,  and  gradually  learn  crime,  the 
same  as  we  learn  to  be  a  lawyer,  and.  of  course, 
after  they  get  started  then  it  is  easy.     .Almost  all 
of  them  come  from  this  environment,  and  gener- 
ally begin  as  boys.    You  can't  tell  anything  about 
a  boy  in  the  adolescent  age.     Take  a  boy  from 
fifteen  to  twenty-five,  when  his  voice  is  changing 
and  his  beard  is  growing,  he  begins  to  have  feel- 
ings, and  desires  that  he  never  dreamed  of  before. 
He   may   lie,    he   may   steal,     he    may    commit 
burglary  that  he  is   in   no  way  responsible   for. 
You  take  that  boy  and  put  him  on  a  farm  and 
he  will  get  along  all   right.     liut  put  him   in  a 
crowded   city   and    he   is   apt   to   take   a   certain 
course.     I  undertake  to  say  that  very  few  people 
are  past  forty  years  <»ld  when  they  commit  their 
first  burglary.     I  don't  want  to  say  that  there  are 
no  elderly  people  here  for  burglary.    There  i*rob- 
ably  was  a  first  time:  but  they  developed  ir.to  it 
by  a  condition  of  life,  and  vou  can  never  change 


it  until  you  chan^^e  their  condition  of  lite,    liivc  a 
boy  out-door  exercise— give  him  plenty  <»f  food 
and  air.  and  a  chance  to  live,  and  he  won't  \k  a 
burglar      It  wont  be  necessary  for  Imn  to  be  a 
burglar.     He  won't  develop  thai  way.     He  will 
develoj)  some  other  way.    What  is  the  Ixiy  in  ihc 
tenement  district  to  do  ?    What  other  activities,  t.r 
what  other  life  can  he  have?    .And  the  wise  law- 
yers   punish    the    individual    who    ct)mmits    the 
burglary,    without    ever   trying   to   find   out    the 
cause  and  cure  the  cause.    As  I  have  often  said 
before,  in  showing  how  wise  we  lawyers  are,  if 
a  doctor  was  called  on  to  treat  a  patient  witli 
typhoid   fever,  he  would  look  around  and  find 
out    what   kind   of   water   the   patient   had   been 
drinking,  or  what  kind  of  milk,  to  see  whether 
it  was  infectevl.  and  if  it  was  he  would  clean  out 
the  well,  so  nobody  else  would  get  it.     But  if  a 
lawyer  was  called  in  to  treat  a  i>atient  with  ty- 
phoid fever,  he  would  give  the  patient  sixty  days 
in   jail :  he  would  think  he  could  cure  typhoid 
fever  by  sending  the  sick  man  to  iail.    .\n«l  then, 
if  he  gets  well  in  two  weeks,  he  would  leave  him 
there  until  the  sixty  days  were  up;  and  if  at  the 
end  of  sixty  days  he  was  still  sick,  he  would  let 
him  out  anyhow,  because  his  time  was  up.   .^ome 
time  we  will  begin  to  understand  this  (|uestiun. 
Air  the  peoi)le  in  this  world  witrth  while  know 
now  that  the  men  in  jail  and  out  of  jail  are  just 
alike,  as  an  average. 

.\  good  mails    nlmi-  a>;'»  in  I'.ngland  they  iiad 
so  manv  criminals  they  didn't  know  wiiat  to  do 
with  them,  and  so  they  took  all  the  inmates  of 
the  jails,  all  the  worst  of  them,  anyway,  and  the 
women    from    the    red-light    tlistricts    and    they 
sent  them   to  .Australia.     There  wasn't  anyone 
•  here  but  savages,  and  that   was  a  good  place 
for  them,  and  they  had  a  chance  when  they  got 
to  .Australia.     The  lan«l  was  free,  the  opiwrtuni- 
tics  were  plenty,  and  they  went  to  work  and  were 
like  every l)ody  else.     It  was  so  easy  for  them 
to  raise  sheep  that  they  didn't  steal  mutton :  they 
rai-^ed  it.    Those  people  were  just  as  or«lerly  and 
well  behaved  a^^  any  other  people,  and  their  de- 
scendants iK'came  aristocrats  and  began  building 
jails  of  their  own.     Now  you  can  take  the  in- 
mates out  of  all  the  jails  in  this  country,  and 
a  few  of  the  most  abandoned  women,  and  place 
them  where  Mr.  Carnegie  hasn't  got  all  the  iron 
ore  and  Mr.  Rockefeller  hasn't  all  the  oil,  and  the 
goofl  people  haven't  all  the  land  ;  send  them  out 


284 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


in  a  country  and  give  them  a  chance,  and  they 
will  become  just  like  anybody  else;  because  it 
would  pay,  that's  all;  there  would  be  an  induce- 
ment to  do  it ;  and  you  can't  make  men  good 
dnless  it  pays  to  be  good.  You  can't  make  them 
observe  the  rules  of  the  game  unless  it  pays  to 
observe  the  rules  of  the  game.  Mr.  Rockefeller 
would  be  a  very  foolish  man  if  he  would  com- 
mit a  burglary.  He  doesn't  need  to.  If  he  wants 
my  property,  he  can  just  raise  the  price  of  oil ; 
but  if  he  raises  it  too  high,  I  might  have  to  com- 
mit burglary. 

A  good  many  years  ago  a  Great  English  phi- 
losopher and  historian,  in  studying  the  cause  of 
crime,  found  out  that  the  number  of  men  that 
went  to  jail  increased  as  the  price  of  bread  went 
up  and  decreased  as  the  price  of  bread  went 
down.  When  it  was  easy  to  live,  people  lived 
out  of  jail ;  when  it  was  harder,  more  people 
went  to  jail,  and  more  people  always  go  to  jail 
in  the  winter  than  in  the  summer,  not  because 
they  are  more  wicked,  but  because  it  is  not  so 
easy  to  get  a  living,  and  when  they  can't  get  a 
living  in  one  way,  they  must  get  it  in  another. 
Of  course,  I  know  this  doesn't  seem  to  apply 
to  everybody,  but  it  pretty  nearly  does.  I  know 
there  are  here  a  great  many  people,  and  you 
know  it,  who  have  been  violating  the  laws  so 
long  that  it  doesn't  even  do  them  any  good  to 
parole  them — they  come  back.  They  think  they 
will  get  out  of  it  this  time,  and  they  don't,  and 
they  get  back.  They  have  educated  themselves, 
and  have  been  educated,  along  a  certain  line  of 
conduct  so  long  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to 
help  it.  They  fall  into  it  naturally ;  what  we  call 
the  habitual  criminals  get  trained  in  it  and  can't 
follow  any  other  profession,  and  they  will  fol- 
low criminal  careers,  and  it  is  hard  to  do  any- 
thing for  those  men.  That  is,  it  is  hard  to 
change  their  course  of  life.  Some  of  them  could 
make  a  fairly  comfortable  living  in  some  other 
way.  But  while  the  great  mass  of  men  are  here 
because  they  are  very  poor,  there  are  others  here 
who  could  make  a  very  comfortable  living.  You 
get  a  banker  every  once  in  a  while.  That  is  the 
only  way  you  will  ever  get  a  chance  to  associate 
with  bankers.  When  you  do,  you  will  find  out 
the  reason  why  you  get  him  is  because  he  sees 
other  people  richer  than  he  is,  and  he  gets  the 
money-getting  disease,  which  is  just  as  plain  a 


disease  as  typhoid  fever.  He  got  it,  and  he  can't 
lielp  it,  and  he  tries  in  various  ways  to  get  more 
money.  And  there  are  people — a  considerable 
number  of  people  here  who  could  have  made  a 
fairly  decent  living  without  violating  the  law. 
but  who  saw  other  people  getting  rich,  and  richer 
than  they  were,  and  many  times  by  ways  that  are 
really  worse  and  more  crooked  than  the  ways 
they  used,  alhough  lawful,  and  who  adopted 
that  method,  and  who  might  live  some  other  way, 
I  don't  know  as  I  blame  them  either.  If  I  had 
to  choose  my  living-  between  work  and  taking 
another  chance,  I  don't  know  what  I  would  do. 
I  never  had  to  work,  so  how  can  I  tell?  I  do 
know  that  there  is  a  cause  for  everything  in  this 
world.  And  I  do  know  that  in  this  criminal 
business  we  have  never  been  looking  for  the 
cause,  and  have  never  tried  to  change  the  cause, 
and  "we  had  better  begin  to  try  to  cure  crime. 

I  know  another  thing,  and  perhaps  the  Chap- 
lain here  will  disagree  with  me.  I  don't  want 
him  to  think  I  am  "scabbing  on  his  job,"  or  any- 
thing like  that — his  theology —  I  know  people 
have  very  little  to  do  with  themselves  in  this 
world.  We  do  pretty  much  what  we  have  to  do. 
The  laws  above  us,  and  the  things  around  us  are 
so  much  stronger  than  the  individual  that  we 
have  but  mighty  little  to  say  about  what  we  do 
ourselves.  I  can  look  over  my  life,  and  I  find 
here  and  there  quite  a  number  of  people  whose 
lives  I  have  influenced ;  but  I  don't  believe  I  ever 
had  any  influence  on  my  own.  I  never,  some- 
how, could  control  mine,  although  I  might  help 
others  to  control  theirs — helped  them  or  bull- 
dozed them,  one  way  or  the  other.  Let  anybody 
look  over  their  past  life,  whether  the  good  things 
you  did,  or  the  bad  ones,  it  doesn't  make  any 
difference,  and  see  why  you  did  them,  and 
whether  you  could  have  done  anything  differ- 
ently at  the  time.  You  may  say :  "Yes,  if  I 
hadn't  done  this  thing  away  back  there,  I 
wouldn't  have  done  the  other.  Why  did  you  do 
that  thing  away  back  there?  You  can't  tell.  We 
didn't  all  of  us  exercise  good  judgment  when 
we  chose  our  grandfathers  and  grandmothers. 
We  all  have  peculiarities  of  character,  disposi- 
tion and  feeling,  as  sent  down  to  us  through  cer- 
tain environment  and  certain  surroundings  that 
were  all  powerful,  and  we  struggled  along  as 
best  we  could,  trying  to  make  the  best  possible 


June  1,  11114 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


285 


use  out  of  our  lives,  and  a  large  part  of  it  is  a 
failure  with  every  man,  no  matter  who  it  is. 

Now,  i  know,  and  you  know,  that  whether  a 
man  is  to  blame  or  not,  we  can't  help  it.  We 
are  in  a  certain  society,  and  we  must  stand  tlie 
conse(|uences  of  that  society.  Society  makes 
certain  rules  and  regulations,  and  if  we  don't 
live  fairly  well  up  to  them,  we  have  to  take  the 
chance,  and  the  chance  is  a  pretty  hard  one  to 
take.  Large  numbers  of  you  have  taken  it.  Per- 
haps you  have  improved  your  condition  by  tak- 
ing it ;  some  of  you  haven't.  The  rule  may  be 
wrong;  in  many  instances  it  is  wrong — but  what 
are  we  going  to  do  about  it?  The  great  mass 
of  men  say  so,  and  we  can't  help  it.  For  in- 
stance, I  think  1  have  voted  against  pretty  nearly 
every  law  ever  passed.  I  don't  believe  in  them, 
generally.  Generally  speaking,  they  are  wrong, 
but  they  have  been  passed  and  I  can't  help  it, 
and  what  am  I  going  to  do?  I  must  stick  to 
them  pretty  fairly  well  or  get  run  over,  that's 
all ;  and  1  would  rather  not  get  run  over.  I  may 
not  be  as  brave  as  the  rest  of  you,  I  may  not  be 
as  reckless,  1  may  be  wiser — anyway,  I  have  got 
to  live  fairly  well  up  to  the  rules  of  the  game 
or  I'll  suffer  by  it. 

Now,  let  us  see  what  that  has  to  do  with  this 
question  today.  You  are  here  because  you  can't 
get  away.  That  is  the  reason  I  am  talking  so 
long.  Next  time  1  make  a  speech  out  in  the 
country  I  am  going  to  get  a  lot  of  guards  to  sit 
around  the  place  so  that  nobody  can  get  away. 
The  people  I  need  to  talk  to  all  go  out ;  you 
can't ;  maybe  you  don't  want  to. 

Most  everybody  who  comes  down  here  begins 
by  making  an  effort  to  find  out  how  quick  he  can 
get  away.  I  know  that.  Whenever  my  friends 
or  clients  begin  to  think  of  coming — when  they 
come  to  me  they  always  think  of  coming — 
they  then  begin  to  wonder  how  quick  they  can 
get  out ;  how  is  the  best  way  to  get  out.  Some 
take  one  way,  some  another — some  stay. 

I  don't  think  the  prisons  today  are  horrible 
institutions,  although  I  don't  want  to  come.  No- 
body wants  to  come.  They  arc  not  what  they 
once  were,  and  in  a  few  years  they  will  be  as 
much  better  than  they  appear  today  as  the  con- 
dition now  is  better  than  it  was  ten  years  ago, 
but  nobody  wants  to  be  in  prison.  We  want  to 
feci  that  we  are  free.     If  a  man  lives  in  Chicago, 


he  wants  to  feel  he  can  go  to  New  York,  even 
though  he  probably  never  can  go.  You  live  in 
Chicago,  and  you  might  like  to  go  to  Joliet. 
Most  of  you  would  like  to  come  if  you  could 
get  away.  A  large  part  of  it  is  in  your  attitude 
of  mind.  Vou  know  that  as  well  as  1 — not  all 
of  it,  but  a  large  i)art  of  it.  Of  course,  wc  arc 
all  of  us  more  or  less  prisoners,  1  would  like 
to  go  to  the  moon,  but  1  can't.  I  have  got  to 
stay  here,  and  after  a  while  die.  I  don't  want 
to  do  that,  but  I  can't  help  it.  I  would  like  to 
go  to  New  York  a  good  many  times  when  I  can't 
go,  but  still  1  have  nK)re  lil>erty  than  you  have. 
None  of  us  have  absolute  liberty.  AH  we  can 
do  is  to  take  life  as  we  find  it,  and  make  the 
best  we  possibly  can  out  of  it.  A  man  gets  along 
better  if  he  takes  it  as  he  finds  it;  if  he  harmon- 
izes himself  to  it,  than  he  does  if  he  is  all  the/ 
time  kicking  against  it,  and  isn't  willing  to  har- 
monize himself  to  it,  because  a  large  part  of  our 
troubles  are  inside  of  us.  First  of  all,  we  want 
some  hope.  Fveryone  here  wants  hope.  They 
think  they  couldn't  live  without  hope;  still  they 
would.  The  habit  of  living  is  strong,  and  wc  live 
anyhow.  We  all  want  some  hope  held  out  to 
us,  and  that  does  more  to  make  life  worth  while 
than  anything  else.  I  have  always  been  expect- 
ing to  do  a  lot  of  things  I  never  will  do.  Every- 
body has  to  take  life  as  he  finds  it,  and  fight  it 
out  alone,  and  decide  how  he  can  make  himself 
the  happiest  under  the  conditions  in  which  he 
finds  himself.  If  you  can  change  them,  all  right ; 
if  you  can't,  then  what?  Here  is  the  truth  in 
Christian  Science.  The  truth  in  it  is  that  the 
main  condition,  after  all.  is  your  mental  condi- 
tion, and  if  you  can't  get  that  right,  yoti  r.nn't 
get  anything  right. 

I  believe  that  Wanlen  Allen  is  trying  to  work 
out  a  scheme  that  will  give  every  jHrrson  wlio 
comes  here  sumcthiii<i  to  look  foncard  to;  not  a 
dream,  but  a  reality:  give  them  some  ambition  to 
live;  to  do  their  work  and  some  ho|K'  not  only 
that  they  will  get  out  of  here  as  men,  but  that 
the  ignoraiU  and  stupid  society  that  they  g«»  out 
into  will  recognize  that  they  are  just  like  all  the 
rest  of  the  people  in  the  world  that  haven't  been 
here.  I  think  he  is  doing  as  much,  or  more,  than 
any  man  1  know  of  today  in  that  work,  and  that 
is  saying  a  very  great  deal,  and  I  <lon*t  care  for 
Mr.  Allen.  I  am  not  si)ccially  interested  in  him. 
but  T  am  interested  in  that  great  mass  of  people 


286                                                     THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  First  Year 

who  are  down,  and  who  through  want  have  been  chances  through  the  pardon  board,  where  there 

sent  to  jails  and  penitentiaries  and  laden  with  is  one  the  other  way.     I  know  that  the  Warden 

abuse  and  have  had  no  fair  chance.     1  am  inter-  and  all  the  people  with  him  are  anxious  to  carry 

ested  in  giving  them  a  fair  chance,  and  interested  this  lionor  system  as  far  as  they  possibly  can,  and 

in  the  time  that  will  soon  come  when  there  will  for  your  benefit.     It  isn't  for  your  benefit  alone, 

be  no  prisons  anywhere  on  the  earth.     And  I  but  what  you  succeed  in  here,  they  will  do  in 

think    he    is    helping    today    to    work    out    that  Indiana,  they  will  do  in  Pennsylvania,  they  will 

scheme,  and  I  think  that  scheme  is  up  to  you  do  in  New  York,  they  will  do  all  over  the  United 

people  more  than  it  is  up  to  him.     You  have  a  States,  until  they  will  finally  get  the  people  on 

chance  to  help  even  more  than  he  has  a  chance,  the  outside  educated  to  know  that  they  are  like 

and  I  want  to  talk  fo  you  a  little  about  that  be-  the  people  on  the  inside,  only  they  happened  to 

cause  so  much  depends  on  you.  have  a  chance.     It  isn't  the  bad  people  I  fear 

so  much  as  the  good  ones.  When  a  person  is 
Every  man  in  this  prison  would  like  to  see  the  ^^^^^  ^^at  he  is  good,  he  is  pretty  nearly  hope- 
time  come  when  there  wouldn't  be  any  prisons,  j^^^ .  ^^  ^^^^  ^^uel.  He  can't  understand  any- 
not  only  for  himself,  but  for  the  world.  I  think  ^,^j,^^^  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^^  ^j^^  difficult  ones  to  deal  with 
every  person  in  this  prison  must  know  that  the  ^^  ^he  outside.  They  believe  in  punishment, 
world  has  been  unfair  to  prisoners ;  that  the  great  ^hey  can't  understand  why  you  did  the  reckless 
majority  of  men  in  jails  haven't  had  a  fair  ^^-^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^^  ^f  ^^^^^^^^  ^j^^^  ^^^ 
chance.  Anybody  who  doesn't  believe  it  ought  ^o-ainst  vou 
to  stay  here  until  he  does.     I  would  never  be 

in  favor  of  paroling  a  man  until  he  had  that  idea  Now,  I  was  glad  of  what  the  Chaplain  said  to 
in  his  head  anyhow.  It  is  for  you  to  help  that  you  in  one  regard.  He  said  he  wouldn't  person- 
cause.  Everybody  has  got  to  do  some  good  in  ally  blame  any  one  of  you  for  escaping,  but 
the  world  if  they  can.  It  is  up  to  you  to  do  some  he  said  if  you  promised  to  join  this  honor  scheme 
good  in  the  world.  that  you  ought  to  keep  your  pledge.     I  think 

,        ,     ,           ,      ,                             ,  .  ,  that  he  is  the  best  chaplain  that  I  ever  heard  of, 

1  have  heard  about  the  lionor  system  which  ,  _                             i       i-  i    .i    .                  ..       ^ 

,   r  ,    ,•         •      •        T  and  I  say  to  you  as  he  did,  that  you  must  not 

you  are  starting  here,  and   I  believe  in  it.     1  ,       ,                    j  ,     .i        a    •   •  ^    ^-         c. 

,  ,  ,.,                  .                      .,   .           ,         ,  break  your  word  to  the  administration  after  you 

would  like  to  see  it  go  on  until  it  reaches  the  .       .       ^r             r           r  n         .u-  i    ..u 

".           ^         ,  ,  ,.,  give  it.     If  any  of  you  fellows  think  there  is  a 

last  inmate  in  every  prison.     I  would  like  to  see  ,             ,            ,     ,m      ^  .,„  ,               .   .           ^  .  , 

..  better  chance  to     beat  it    by  remaining  outside 

it  go  on  until  every  man  who  comes  to  prison  r    ^     ^                ^        ^i        j         ^  -  •     -^        j  -r 

.    ^                   .          ,          1        ,                     T  of  the  honor  system,  then  do  not  join  it;  and  it 

IS  presented  with  a  key  when  he  enters.     It  will  ^^^^  ^^  ^^^^  ^j^.^j^  ^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^^^  yourselves, 

come  some  time.  I  hope  you  won't  have  to  stay  ^,^^^^  ^^  ^^^  p,^^^  ^^^  ^^,^^^^^^  .^^  ^  p^^i^j^^  ^^^^^ 
here  until  it  comes.  It  will  come,  and  you  can  j^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^^  consequences  by  reason  of  his 
do  something  to  bring  it  about.  You  can  do  attempts  to  better  your  condition, 
more  than  you  could  do  on  the  outside,  and  it's  There  are  probably  some  of  you  who  know 
worth  while  to  work  for  it.  I  know  that  the  yo^  can't  trust  yourselves— pretty  hard  thing  to 
Warden  of  this  penitentiary  will  go  as  far  as  you  trust  yourself,  and  to  those  I  say  keep  out  of 
people  will  let  him  go ;  I  am  sure  of  it.  Now  if  this  honor  system.  I  swear  oflf  smoking  cigar- 
I  had  been  here  long  enough  I  could  pick  out  ettes  every  day  or  two.  I  get  tired  of  swear- 
two-thirds  of  you  whom  it  would  be  perfectly  ing  off  because  I  smoke  so  much  afterwards, 
safe  to  trust  anywhere ;  to  go  away  and  come  and  so  I  know  it  would  be  hard  for  anybody 
back.  Probably  the  other  one-third  could  not  be  to  make  these  promises  themselves  and  be  sure 
trusted.  After  a  while  it  would  be  only  a  quar-  they  would  keep  them ;  but  it  is  mighty  import- 
ter,  after  a  while  a  fifth,  and  after  a  while  a  ant  for  you  to  keep  a  promise  if  you  make  one. 
tenth,  and  so  on.  Running  away  from  prison  Everything  depends  on  you.  I  have  been  saying 
is  a  hard  job  these  days.  They  have  such  fine  what  I  said  today  for  twenty  years.  After  a 
ways  of  measuring  you,  and  they  have  the  auto-  while  it  will  be  so  commonly  preached  that  I'll 
mobile,  the  motorcycle,  the  telephone  and  the  think  it  isn't  true.  I  have  been  waiting  to  see 
telegraph,  so  that  it  is  very  difficult  to  "beat  it."  the  time  come  which  I  say  is  coming — and  f 
There    are    probably    more    than    a    thousand  know  how  critical  the  situation  is.     For  instance, 


June  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


287 


if  Warden  Allen  were  to  put  the  lid  on  ti^ht, 
and    half    a    dozen    of    you    broke    out,    nobody 
would     say     anythinj^     about     it.     NewspajKrs 
wouldn't  hardly  mention  it — only  something  like 
an  obituary  notice.     If  he  gave  you  a  chance  to 
inipro\e    your    conditions,    and    one    person — 
one  lone  man — runs  away,  then  every  newspa- 
per in  the  state  will  take  it  up  and  visit  the  wrath 
of  the  people  on  this  system  that  he  has  inaug- 
urated here.     You  know  it.     I  know  it  is  almost 
certain  that  some  of  you  won't  remain  true.     It 
could  scarcely  be  exi>ccted.     1    have  been   sur- 
prised that  so  many  have  been.    I  know  the  pub- 
lic.    I  know  they  are  always  ready  to  take  up 
any  mad,  wild  cry  against  any  person.     Today 
they  will  laud  you  to  the  skies,  and  tomorrow 
they  will  crucify  you.      1    love  the   mob  and   I 
despise  it,  both.     I  have  had  the  mob  place  me 
on  a  pedestal  and  I  have  had  the  mob  trample 
me  under  their  feet,  and  they  were  wrong  both 
times.     I  know  perfectly  well   that   T   would  be 
no  ornament  for  a  pedestal,  and  I  know  I  don't 
belong  in  the  other  place  any  more  than  the  rest 
of  you;  but  I  know  that   if  you   talk  about  a 
thing  enough  in  the  newspapers  you  can  get  the 
people  to  do  anything  except  what  is  right.    And 
I  know  that  if  something  serious  should  happen 
under  the  system  that  the  Warden  is  trying  to 
carry  out.  I  know  the  leading  newspapers  of  the 
state  would  start  trouble  for  the  Warden,  and  he 
can  stand  it.    He  doesn't  need  this  job.    I  would 
rather  have  yours,  if  you  were  out,  and  he's  out, 
but  it  will  hurt  you.    That  is  what  I  am  worry- 
ing about — it  will  hurt  you.     It  will  hurt  every 
other  person  all  the  world  over  who  is  suffer- 
ing  in   prison   and   looking    for   deliverance.      I 
want   to   see   the   people   of   this    institution   do 
everything  they  possibly  can  to  show   they  can 
be  trusted ;  that  when  the\-  place  themselves  upon 
their  honor  they  will  stand  by  it.     It  isn't  stand- 
ing individually,   but   standing  by   the   Warden, 
who  is  standing  by  you ;  it  is  standing  by  your 
fcUowmen.   who   are   suffering   with   you;   it   is 
standing  by  the  cause,  worth  more  than  all  the 
rest ;  and   T   am  anxious  to  say  anything  I  can 
say.  and  do  anything  I  can  do  to  see  this  cause 
go  on  and  on — and  on,  and  see  the  Warden  of 
this  pcntitentiary  set  an  example  to  every  war- 
den in  the  Ignited  States,  until  every  person  will 
have  a  chance,  no  matter  what  he  is  here  for. 
You  can't  do  much  without  hope.  Life  isn't  worth 


living  without  hope.     It  <locsn't  matter  so  much 
whether  the  hopes  arc  ever  realized,  wc  must 
have  them.      If   we  arc  poor,   wc  hope  to  get 
rich ;  if  we  are  lawyers,  wc  hope  to  be  famous — 
Lord  knows  what  for;  if  wc  are  in  prison,  wc 
hope  to  get  out ;  if  we  are  sick,  we  hope  to  get 
well;  if  we  die,  we  hope  we  will  g«>  to  heaven. 
Everybody  in  the  world  has  always  lived  on  hoi>c, 
which   is  spelletl   pretty   nearly  like  "d»»iH.*."     Il 
may  be  dope,  but  we  have  got  to  lake  do|)c  lo 
live.     There  is  so  nuich  trouble,  so  much  sor- 
row, so  many  disappointments,  so  much  misery 
in  the  world  that  we  have  lo  take  something  to 
live.     So  we  live  on  hope,  and  your  warilen  has 
given  you  some  hope.     It  isn't  dreamy  aiu!  far 
off.     It  is  here,  and  it  will  help  all  of  you,  and 
after  a  while  we  can  go  out  to  the  people  on  the 
outside,  who  are  the  most  hojKdess  of  all.  and 
convert   them   to   it.     There  are  some  things  a 
man   can   do   in    prison,      .\fter   all,   as   you   gu 
through  the  world,  you  find  that  the  things  you 
did  for  other  people  give  you  the  most  satisfac- 
tion, and  the  people  here  are  just  as  kind.  ju'«t 
as  charitable,  just  as  humane,  just  as  sympathetic 
as    people    on    the    outside — sometimes    I    think 
more  so;  just  as  quick  to  help  their  fcllowmen 
as  the  people  on  the  outside.     The  best  way  wc 
have  to  forget  our  troubles  is  to  do  something 
for  some  other  fellow  who  is  in  tn^uble.     I  don't 
know  what  I  would  have  done  in  mv  own  life 
if  I  hadn't  helped  the  other  fellow  that  wa>  in 
trouble;  it  was  the  only  chance  I  had  to  stop 
thinking  of  my  own.    There  isn't  a  man  here  that 
doesn't  have  more  chance  to  help  hi.-  fellowmcn 
than  anv  person  on  the  outside.      If  you  have 
got  something  to  do  in  the  world,  you  can  do 
il  here.     Here  is  the  place  for  sorrow,  for  dis- 
api)ointments.   for  suffering,  and  here  is  plenty 
(.f  opportunity  for  everylwdy.  and  the  man  who 
hasn't  it   in  him  to  help  his   fcllowmen  doesn't 
know  what  real  plea>«ure  is. 

I  was  reading  the  other  day  the  life  of  Hable. 
the  great  German  ScK'ialist.  a  great  scholar  and 
humanitarian,  who  spent  a  great  many  years  in 
jail.  A  large  part  of  the  best  |)copIc  in  the  world 
have  been  in  jail.  Some  of  the  l)est  U>oks  that 
have  ever  been  published  have  been  written  in 
jail,  r.able  gave  a  list  of  the  books  he  read  in 
jail,  which  seems  to  be  pretty  nearly  all  the  books 
in  the  world  that  were  worth  while.  He  culti- 
vated  his  mind:  he  developed  his  strength;  he 


288                                                     THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  First  Year 

grew  in  jail.  He  isn't  the  only  man.  There  are  about  you,  and  I  believe  you  will  come  out  feel- 
hundreds  and  thousands  of  men  who  laid  the  ing  and  believing  that  your  time  here  has  not 
foundation  of  a  great  character  in  jail.  You  been  wasted,  and  that  you  have  laid  the  founda- 
can't  do  it  if  you  haven't  got  it  in  you.  You  tion  of  a  character  which  is  greater  than  you 
don't  need  to  be  great.  Greatness  and  goodness  could  have  laid  without  this  experience,  which 
were  never  very  near  relations  anyhow ;  they  is  hard,  indeed.  I  ^m  very  glad  to  come  here, 
hardly  have  a  speaking  acquaintance.  You  don't  There  isn't  anything  that  I  can  do  that  I  wouldn't 
need  to  be  great  to  be  of  some  service  to  others,  be  glad  to  do  for  each  individual  if  I  could.     I 

can't — that's  the  trouble.     I  believe  the  warden 
You  people  who  have  a  taste  for  reading  ought  j^  helping  not  vou  alone,  but  helping  in  a  great 
to  read  all  the  books  you  can  get.  and  you  who  ,,,ork,  and  I  hope  everybody  who  is  here  today 
haven't  ought  to  develop  a  taste  for  it.     You  will  join  with  him  in  helping  to  move  the  world 
will  find  your  own  lives  developing,  your  m.inds  forward,   by   making   this   great   work   succeed, 
e.xpanding,  and  your  troubles  fading,  if  you  can  (Great  applause.) 
do  it.     Take  some  simple  book.     A  great  many  @ 
of  you  haven't  been  used  to  books.     Take  Tol- 
stoi's short  stories.     I  don't  know  if  the  library  Father  Edward  next  introduced  Captain  Kane, 
has  them.   I'll  find  out,  and  if  it  hasn't,  I'll  have  ^^  ^"  officer  who  had  been  in  the  institution  for 
it  get  them.    There  isn't  a  man  here  that  can't  "^^^^  *^^^"  ^^'^^^  ^^^^^  ^"^  ^^'^^o  ^^o"^*^  ^P^^^ 
understand  them.     There  isn't  a  man  here  that  ^^*^*"  ^   knowledge   of   long  experience.      (Ap- 
won't  get  comfort  and  consolation  and  hope  from  P^^-^se.) 
them.  There  isn't  a  man  here  that,  if  he  reads  Remarks  by  Captain  Michael  C.  Kane. 

them  and  understands  them  and  knows  and  eets  t  i                   j     ^  ^i  •        •         r      i             .1 

,,         •  .     1  •    i.f      ,              ,,.,,.  I  have  served  at  this  prison  for  longer  than 

them  into  his  life  that  won  t  think  he  is  better  ,,  •  ^                    ,  t  1                  •         .11 

,,       ^,     r  1,          1           ,  ,  .     ,               , thirty  years  and  1  have  seen  it  go  through  many 

than  the  fellow  who  sent  him  here,  and  he  will  be  ,               ,         ,                                       .             . 

L^..  ^  -r  ,  ^  ^^  1,         ,     ,,      yr    .  ■      1  •           ,1    ,  changes,   but   there   never   was    a    time    when 

better  if  he  really  gets  the  life  into  him  so  that  ,                              ,           r               ,        , 

he  understands.  A  great  many  people  who  come  '^^^"^"/  ^''"  "^^^'  '°  ^^'^  ^'  '^'^^  ^'^'  ^''" 
out  of  this  prison  and  other  prisons  are  harmed  "'^^^  ^"""^  ^^^  P^'^  ^^^'-  ^'^^  ''  ^  '^^'°°^  ^"  ^'^^ 
by  it;  probably  four  out  of  five  are  crushed  and  *'"'^-  ^  ^""""^  ''^^"  ^*  '^^'°°^  '"  ^^'^  P"'°"  *■^^^^^' 
hopeless.  But  I  have  seen  some  great  characters  "'^  "'>"  education  from  the  prison  officials  during 
come  out.  I  have  seen  some  men  come  out  and  *''^  P^^'  ^^"''^-^  ^^^^^  ^"^  ^  ^"'^^^  that  I  have 
I  have  said  to  them :  "I  am  awfully  glad  you  learned  every  year,  but  I  also  know  that  I  have 
went — you  needed  it."  I  don't  mean  they  needed  "^^  learned  so  much  in  thirty  years  as  I  have 
it  because  they  did  wrong — not  that,  but  they  during  the  past  year  under  the  wardenship  of 
needed  it  for  the  development  of  their  own  char-  Mr.  Allen,  on  account  of  his  generosity,  and  my 
acter,  for  the  growth  of  their  own  soul.  Un-  observations  of  the  prisoners  when  things  were 
fortunately,  a  large  class  of  the  men  who  need  niade  easier  for  them,  and  their  conduct  under 
it  are  the  men  who  escape  real  trouble,  sorrow  the  improved  conditions.  As  it  is  long  past  the 
and  misery  in  this  world,  and  they  don't  come,  dinner  hour,  I  will  give  the  rest  of  my  speech  to 
But  every  man  in  here,  if  he  has  any  of  the  germ  the  reporter  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post,  who 
of  real  character,  if  he  has  in  him  the  right  kind  I  see  is  here.  Before  I  close  I  would  like  to  ask 
of  a  soul  and  spirit,  can  broaden  and  expand  the  Warden  to  permit  us  to  have  the  chairs  re- 
his  mind  and  character,  and  find  in  the  end  that  moved  from  the  elevated  platforms  along  the 
the  course  he  has  had  in  prison  did  him  more  side  walls  and  that  in  the  future  you  will  be  al- 
good  than  any  course  he  could  have  had  in  lowed  to  come  together  in  this  room  without  be- 
school — but  it  takes  a  man.  I  say  to  you  the  ing  under  guard.  I  want  to  show  to  the  people 
only  bit  of  consolation  that  I  can  think  of — de-  of  Joliet  and  all  the  people  of  the  earth  that  the 
vote  yourselves  to  your  employment  the  best  you  inmates  of  the  penitentiary  at  Joliet  no  longer  re- 
can  ;  be  square  and  true  with  the  warden,  and  to  quire  prison  guards  over  them  when  assembled  in 
this  system  that  he  is  trying  to  carry  out.  Look  the  chapel,  whether  that  be  at  religious  devotion 
in  your  own  mind  and  your  own  heart,  and  see  or  in  case  of  meetings  like  this  one  or  entertain- 
what  there  is  there  to  develop;  help  all   those  ments.     I  will  stake  my  reputation  as  a  prison 


June  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


289 


official,  gained  by  thirty  years  service,  upon  your 
good  behavior. 

(Prolonged  applause  and  great  excitement.) 

(The  Captain's  manuscript  which  was  handed 
to  the  reporter  of  The  Joliet  Prison  Post, 
omitting  the  parts  spoken  by  him,  is  as  follows:) 

I  am  not  a  trained  speaker  so  I  have  written 
down  what  I  have  to  say  to  you. 

I  am  pleased  to  address  you  on  this  occasion, 
the  anniversary  of  the  beginning  of  Warden  Al- 
len's service  here. 

I  have  always  felt  that  it  is  my  duty,  so  long 
as  I  stay  here,  to  carry  out  the  orders  of  the 
Warden.  When  T  find  that  I  cannot  be  square 
with  the  Warden,  it  is  up  to  me  to  get  off  the 
job. 

Tf  Warden  Allen  desired  a  very  conservative 
administration,  I  should  try  to  carry  out  his 
wishes  and  in  so  far  as  he  desires  to  carry  out  a 
liberal  policy,  I  am  with  him  as  far  as  my  un- 
derstanding goes. 

As  we  grow  older,  we  grow  in  wisdom  and  as 
we  approach  the  call  of  death,  we  frequently 
change  our  natures.  I  do  not  feel  that  I  have 
any  excuses  to  make  for  the  past  as  I  have  al- 
ways labored  for  what  I  thought  was  to  the  bene- 
fit of  the  prison  and  that  includes  officers  as  well 
as  inmates  and  inmates  as  well  as  officers. 

It  is  generally  accepted  that  the  older  we  grow 
the  slower  we  learn  and  I  used  to  believe  that 
but  I  think  so  no  longer.  I  have  learned  from 
Warden  .Mien  that  a  liberal  policy  can  be  so 
adjusted  that  it  can  be  made  to  work  in  this  peni- 
tentiary and  I  have  learned  from  you  men  that 
many  of  you  have  the  good  sense  to  do  right  be- 
cause you  want  to  do  right.  Considering  the 
rapidity  with  which  changes  have  been  made  din- 
ing the  past  year  your  general  good  conduct  has 
shown  that  many  of  you  have  good  common 
sense  and  I  wish  that  I  might  say  that  of  you  all. 
Then  there  would  be  no  trouble  between  the  (•di- 
cers and  the  men. 

You  all  know  that  you  were  most  fortunate 
in  having  Warden  Allen  sent  to  you.  He  would 
iiave  done  even  more  for  you  than  he  has  done 
if  you  had  all  behaved  as  well  as  most  of  you 
have.  There  are  still  better  days  in  store  for 
this  prison.  Improvement  will  come  as  fast  as 
the  bad  actors  come  to  their  senses  and  as  fast 
as  the  officers  and  the  prisoners  find  out  those 
who  will  not  resixjnd  to  good  treatment. 


Prison  reform  is  an  experiment  and  as  the 
officials  and  the  inmates  learn  what  it  means  and 
what  its  possibilities  arc,  the  methods  will  have 
to  be  changed  and  each  change  will  be  an  im- 
provement. I  hope  that  you  will  make  your 
honor  system  a  success  and  I  .say  that  you  must 
do  this  because  in  this  manner  alone  can  you 
pay  the  debt  you  owe  to  W.irrlen  Edmund  M. 
Allen. 

I  knew  the  Warden  when  he  was  a  very  young 
man  and  I  want  to  tell  you  how  I  think  he  hai>- 
pens  to  feel  as  kindly  toward  prisoners  as  he 
does. 

When  Warden  Allen's  father  was  warden 
here,  Ked  was  a  youngster.  His  father  did  for 
the  pri.soners  all  that  public  opinion  would  then 
allow  him  to  do,  but  that  was  little  compared 
with  what  is  possible  now.  As  a  youngster,  Ned 
saw  fully  grown  men  suffer  what  to  a  boy  would 
seem  unbearable  burdens.  His  father  left  here 
long  before  the  load  could  be  lifted  and  Ned  car- 
ried away  with  him  the  impressions  he  had  ob- 
tained. He  frequently  talked  these  matters  over 
with  his  father  and  as  the  child  is  often  of 
keener  perception  than  the  "grown  ups,"  he  saw 
what  we  did  not  see. 

As  the  years  rolled  by  he  saw  that  public  sen- 
timent was  changing  in  favor  of  prisoners  and 
with  the  change  of  public  sentiment  his  hoi)es 
of  some  day  carrying  out  his  ideas  increased. 
If  you  ask  him  he  will  tell  you  that  he  has  al- 
ways desired  to  be  warden  here  so  that  he  could 
do  what  he  believed  should  be  done.  Finally, 
with  the  election  of  Edward  F.  Dunne,  as  gover- 
nor, his  opportunity  came  and  he  asked  to  Ik* 
allowed  to  come  here  as  warden. 

His  profit  was  to  realize  his  ambition  to  help 
you  one  and  all ;  your  profit  was  to  be  the  change 
in  your  condition. 

There  may  be  a  few  other  men  in  the  United 
States  who  have  the  qualifications  for  humane 
administration  of  a  prison  pos.scs.sed  by  Warden 
Allen,  but  if  there  arc,  their  fathers,  too.  must 
have  been  wardens  before  tlu-m.  Such  great 
kindness  towards  prisoners  can  only  spring  froni 
the  observations  of  youth  and  then  only  when 
the  impulses  have  been  kept  fresh  by  the  charac- 
ter of  a  generous  hearted  man. 

I  shall  close  my  remarks  by  relating  an  inci- 
dent which,  though  it  occurred  many  years  ago, 
is  as  fresh  in  my  mind  now  as  at  the  time  it  hap- 
pened. 


290 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


During  Ned  Allen's  father's  administration, 
the  boy  spent  much  of  his  time  inside  the  prison 
yard  and  one  day  he  was  reported  for  playing 
catch  with  a  prisoner.  He  was  severely  repri- 
manded and  he  answered  that  some  day  all  the 
prisoners  would  be  permitted  to  play  ball.  We 
wlio  heard  him  did  not  believe  that  he  had  what 
you  would  call  "the  right  dope."  but  what  the 
youth  spoke  and  the  gray  beards  doubted  has 
come  to  pass  in  this  prison  as  we  all  know. 

Father  Edward  next  introduced  our  Deputy 
\\'arden,  Mr.  ^^'illiam  Walsh,  who  was  greeted 
with  great  applause: 

Remarks    by    Mr.    William    Walsh,    Deputy 

Warden 

It  would  not  be  fair  for  me  to  make  a  speech, 
it  would  not  be  fair  to  the  other  speakers,  and  as 
the  hour  is  growing  late,  I  thank  you  for  your 
greeting. 

Father  Edward  next  introduced  the  Honor- 
able Edmund  M.  Allen,  the  Warden  of  this  peni- 
tentiary.    (Great  applause.) 

Remarks  by  Edmund  M.  Allen,  Warden 

When  I  came  to  you  a  year  ago  I  realized 
that  you  did  not  know  me  and  that  I  did  not 
know  you,  and  your  applause  on  that  occasion 
seemed  superficial  to  me.  The  spirit  that  has 
pervaded  this  meeting,  and  the  applause  with 
which  you  have  greeted  the  officers,  and  the  ap- 
plause with  which  you  greet  me  now,  conveys  to 
me  that  you  are  sincere,  and  consequently  I  can 
appreciate  your  applause  and  give  it  its  full 
weiglit. 

The  suggestion  made  by  Captain  Kane  that  in 
the  future  the  guards  do  not  occupy  the  elevated 
positions  along  the  side  walls  in  this  chapel,  dur- 
ing religious  services  and  on  all  other  occasions, 
is  granted.  His  judgment  is  always  good.  Here- 
after you  will  not  be  under  the  supervision  of  the 
officers  while  in  the  chapel.  I  might  say  that  I 
had  resolved  some  time  ago  that  the  guards  could 
be  dispensed  with,  but  I  have  thought  of  no  other 
way  to  get  a  little  religion  into  these  'hard 
shelled  keepers.     (Applause.) 

This  brought  the  meeting  to  a  close. 


After  the  meeting  Mr.  Darrow  was  inter- 
viewed by  The  Joliet  Prison  Post,  He  seemed 
in  a  very  happy  frame  of  mind,  and  when  asked 
the  occasion  for  it,  he  answered  that  he  had  al- 
ways believed  that  men  were  abjectly  miserable  in 
prisons  and  that  they  hated  the  officers,  but  that 
he  had  just  learned  that  there  was  something  en- 
tirely new  on  earth,  and  that  it  made  for  the 
happiness  of  men  who  were  down,  and  that  noth- 
ing could  have  come  into  his  life  which  was  as 
grateful  and  soothing  as  the  scenes  he  had  just 
witnessed.  He  added  that  no  one  could  have 
made  him  believe  that  such  good  feeling  from 
prisoners  towards  officers  existed  anywhere,  but 
that  he  had  seen  it  for  himself  and  that  the  at- 
mosphere could  not  be  misconstrued,  that  it  was 
sincere,   beneficial,   and  lasting. . 


FUTURITY 

[Written   for  The  Joliet  Prison   Post] 

Has  all  been  lost?     Nay,  not  that  force  of  life — 
My  faith,  which   is  the  enterprise  of  mind; 

So  I  command,  when  bitterness  is  rife, 
A  weapon  rare,  my  fetters  to  unbind. 

O,  Faith!     What  power  in  thy  name  expressed! 

For  thou  art  mind  when  mind  is  at  its  best. 

Hope  is  my  sunshine;  unafraid,  unbowed, 
The   daily   task   I 'faithfully  perform; 

The   rim   of  silver   creepeth   round   the   cloud — 

The  rainbow  breaketh  through  the  mists  of  storm. 

Hope,  parent  of  my  Faith,  who  would  gainsay 

Thou  lingereth  when  all  else  has  passed  away? 

Through  mist,  through  cloud.  Love  signals  far  ahead ; 

O,   Love!     Of  gods,   the   noblest   one  thou  art; 
Thy  shining  lamp  is  ever,  ever  fed 

From  oil  that  issues  from  another's  heart; 
Nor  would  I  strain  my  ear  for  spoken  word — 
Thou  hast  no  language  which  can  e'er  be  heard. 

So  joy  awakes,  though  secret  tears  may  shine; 

So  Life's  rich  strain  rings  down  my  dark  abyss; 
Faith,  Hope,  O    Love!     Immutable,  divine, 

What  miracle  of  every  day  is  this? 
For  lo!     Within  my  heart  with  sorrow  torn, 


The  future  bright  and  beautiful  is  born! 


W.  L.  T. 


li 


June  1.  1014  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  291 


Respectfully  Dedicated  to  Edmund  M.  Allen 

In  Honor  of  the  First  Anniversary 

of  His  Wardenship. 

(Written  (or  The  Joliet  Prison  Post) 


Ere  you  took  command  as  Captain,  ere  the  creaking  helm  you  grasped, 
How  the  old  ship  dipped  and  trembled,  all  her  decks  with  wreckage  massed 
For  her  sails  were  soiled  and  tattered  and  her  spars  were  blunt  and  old, 
And  Despair  crept  through  the  shadows  of  the  dank  depths  of  her  hold. 


Heavy  clouds  of  Public  Opinion  hovered  darkly  overhead ; 
Stem  to  stern  her  timbers  shivered  at  the  thunderbolt  of  Dread ; 
With  the  stinging  wind  of  Malice  screeching  forth  its  baneful  hiss, 
And  the  sea  of  Life  relentless  with  the  waves  of  Prejudice. 


Now  another  course  is  taken,  and  the  master  at  the  wheel 

Guides  her  through  the  quiet  waters  on  a  steady,  even  keel : 

All  her  spars  are  new  and  gleaming,  sails  and  shrouds  are  fair  to  see, 

And  within  her  thousand  cabins,  Hope  has  kissed  Captivity ! 


For  the  fury  of  the  tempest  is  a  tale  of  yesterday: 

O'er  the  ocean's  rippled  surface  doth  the  breeze  of  Progress  play. 

And  from  decks  to  sky-dipped  masthead  toil  the  sailor  Honor  men. 

As  they  scan  the  far  horizon  for  the  Port  of  Start  Again ! 

K.  N.  O. 


g 


g 


ft: 


•M 


292 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Address   by  Edmund  M.  Allen,  Warden    of  the   Illinois  State 

Penitentiary  at  Joliet,   at  the  Annual   Meeting    of  the 

Illinois  State  Society  of  the  American  Institute  of 

Criminal  Law  and  Criminology,  Held  at  the  Hotel 

La  Salle,  Chicago,  111.,  May  27,  1914 


Having  been  invited  to  address  you  on  the  sub- 
ject of  "The  Execution  of  the  Court's  Sentence," 
I  take  it  that  you  have  invited  me  to  tell  you  what 
I  consider  to  be  the  warden's  duties  in  the  mat- 
ter of  the  execution  of  our  courts'  orders  in  so 
far  as  they  affect  the  inmates  of  the  prison  under 
my  care. 

As  the  laws  of  the  various  states  differ  mate- 
rially regarding  prisoners  and  penitentiaries,  it 
is  not  possible  for  me  to  treat  this  subject  in  a 
general  way,  for  a  method  of  procedure  under 
the  laws  of  one  state  might  be  a  complete  de- 
parture from  the  spirit  of  the  law  in  another. 

No  official  has  any  right  to  permit  his  per- 
sonal views  and  desires  to  influence  his  conduct 
in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties,  so  far  as 
such  duties  are  fixed  by  statute,  but  in  so  far  as 
he  is  not  positively  dictated  to  by  the  statutes, 
he  must  exercise  reasonable  discretion.  This  dis- 
cretion is  largely  influenced  by  the  views  and  de- 
sires of  the  official,  and  as  I  believe  that  there 
is  at  Joliet  too  much  punishment,  due  to  the  phys- 
ical condition  of  the  prison,  overcrowding,  and 
insufficient  appropriations  for  its  support,  the 
prisoners  shall  be  treated  with"  as  much  gener- 
osity as  the  laws  of  this  state  will  permit,  always 
keeping  in  mind  the  rights  of  each  individual 
prisoner  as  established  by  his  or  her  conduct  in 
the  prison. 

The  statutes  of  the  state  make  it  plain  that  our 
prisoners  are  primarily  to  be  so  treated  as  to 
bring  about  their  reformation,  and  secondarily 
that  they  are  imprisoned  for  punishment.  Under 
a  conservative  interpretation  of  the  law  it  is  eas- 
ily seen  that  the  reformation  of  the  prisoner  is 
the  most  important  feature  to  be  considered  and 
that  in  proportion  thereto  the  punishment  is  of 
only  secondary  importance.  The  law  is  not  dif- 
ferent now  than  it  as  been  for  the  last  fifteen 
years,  and  as  the  prisoners  are  treated  more  len- 
iently than  they  have  ever  before  been  treated, 
either  I  am  unreasonable  in  the  exercise  of  my 


discretion,  or  my  predecessors  since  1899,  when 
the  parole  law  was  passed,  have  not  been  rea- 
sonable in  the  exercise  of  their  discretion.  I  do 
not  care  to  evade  a  fraction  of  this  issue. 

By  an  act  entitled,  "An  Act  to  provide  for  the 
management  of  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary  at 
Joliet  (approved  June  16,  1871,  and  in  force  July 
1,  1871),  the  duties  of  a  warden  at  the  Joliet 
prison,  in  the  execution  of  the  court's  sentence 
are  defined  in  the  following  language : 

"That  the  penitentiary  at  Joliet,  in  the 
county  of  Will,  until  otherwise  provided  by 
law,  shall  be  the  general  penitentiary  and 
prison  of  this  state  for  the  CONFINE- 
AlENT  and  REFORMATION,  AS  WELL 
AS  FOR  THE  PUNISHMENT  of 
all  persons  sentenced  by  any  court  of  com- 
petent jurisdiction  in  this  stat^,  for  the  com- 
mission of  any  crime,  the  punishment  of 
which  is  confinement  in  the  penitentiary,  in 
which  the  person  so  sentenced  shall  be  se- 
curely confined,  EMPLOYED  AT  HARD 
LABOR,  and  governed  in  the  manner  here- 
after directed." 

The  words  "for  the  confinement  and  reforma- 
tion as  well  as  for  the  punishment  of"  and  the 
order  in  which  they  are  used  need  to  be  care- 
fully considered  in  determining  the  duties  of  the 
warden  in  the  execution  of  the  court's  sentence. 
From  the  arrangement  of  the  wording  of  the  act 
quoted  it  is  very  apparent  that  confinement  was 
the  primary  object  of  the  act,  therefore  the  first 
duty  that  devolves  upon  us  is  the  prevention  of 
escapes.  It  is  most  important  that  the  dignity  of 
the  state  shall  be  upheld. 

The  next  condition  scheduled  in  the  act  is  the 
reformation  of  the  prisoner.  The  only  possible 
interpretation  to  be  placed  upon  the  language  of 
the  statute  regarding  reformation  is  that  the 
prison  shall  be  so  managed  that  the  largest  pos- 
sible number  of  inmates  shall  be  improved  in 
character,  and  each  of  them  to  the  greatest  pos- 


June  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


293 


sible  degree.  The  word  reformation  used  in  the 
wording  of  this  part  of  the  act  is  followed  by 
the  words  "as  well  as  for  the  punishment  of  all 
persons,"  etc. 

The  word  punishment  comes  last  and  seems 
to  be  modified  by  the  words  "as  well  as  for  the." 
This  seems  to  mean  that  besides  safeguarding 
against  escapes  and  the  bringing  about  of  refor- 
mation, there  must  also  be  punishment;  and  the 
stipulation  that  the  prisoner  shall  be  employed  at 
hard  labor,  seems  to  indicate  the  intent  of  this 
provision  of  the  act.  This  interpretation  of  Sec- 
tion 1  of  Chapter  108  of  the  statutes  seems  to  be 
borne  out  by  Section  10  of  the  same  act,  which 
defines  the  duties  of  the  prison  commissioners  in 
part  as  follows: 

"They  shall  make  and  require  to  be  en- 
forced all  such  general  rules,  regulations  and 
orders  for  the  government  and  discipline  of 
said  penitentiary  as  they  may  deem  expedi- 
ent, and  may,  from  time  to  time,  alter  and 
amend  the  same ;  and  in  making  such  rules 
and  regulations  it  shall  be  their  duty,  in  con- 
nection with  the  governor,  to  adopt  such  as 
in   their   judgment,    while   being   consistent 
with  the  discipline  of  the  penitentiary,  shall 
best  conduce  to  the  reformation  of  the  con- 
victs, and  they  shall  make  all  necessary  and 
suitable  provision  for  the  employment  of  said 
convicts,  subject  to  the  limitations  and  pro- 
visions hereinafter  contained — " 
The  interpretation  of  this  section  of  the  stat- 
ute is  clearly  to  the  eflfect  that  the  prison  shall 
be  so  conducted  and  managed  as  to  bring  about 
the  reformation  of  the  convicts  as  well  as  fur- 
nish suitable  employment  for  them.    Here  it  dis- 
tinctly appears  that  reformation  is  of  greater  im- 
portance than  employment,  and  who  can  reason- 
ably find  fault  with  this  order  of  precedence,  with 
regard  to  the  relative  importance  of  the  reforma- 
tion and  employment? 

It  seems  that  by  the  act  of  1871  the  order  of 
importance  is  as  follows : 

1.  Detention  until  discharged  by  due  process 
of  law. 

2.  Reformation. 

3.  Punishment. 

4.  Employment. 

In  the  year  1899,  twenty-eight  years  after  the 
enactment  of  the  Act  for  the  management  of  the 
Joliet  Penitentiary,  the  Parole  and  Indeterminate 


."sentence  Law  of  Illinois  was  passed,  and  this  pa- 
role law  makes  it  even  more  |»lain  that  reforma- 
tion is  more  important  than  puiiisluncnt. 

.Section    1   of  the  parole  law  reads  in  part  as 
follows: 

"That  every  male  person  o\li  iwciuv  unc 
years  of  age,  and  every  female  person  over 
eighteen  years  of  age,  who  shall  be  convicted 
of  a  felony  or  other  crime  punishable  by  im- 
])risonment  in  the  jxjnitentiary,  except  trea- 
son, murder,  rai)e  and  kidnaping,  shall  Ik; 
sentenced  to  the  penitentiary,  and  the  court 
imposing  such  sentence  shall  not  fix  the  limit 
or  duration  of  the  same,  but  the  term  of  such 
imprisonment  shall  not  be  less  than  one  year, 
nor  shall  it  exceed  the  maximum  term  pro- 
vided by  law  for  the  crime  of  which  the  pris- 
oner was  convicted,  making  allowaiKe  for 
good  time,  as  now  provided  by  law." 
Your  attention  is  called  to  the   fact  that  all 

crimes  are  under  the  provision  of  the  j)arole  law, 

except, 

1.  Treason, 

2.  Murder, 

3.  Rape, 

4.  Kidnaping, 

and  that  the  parole  law  nowhere  mentions  pun- 
ishment other  than  the  imprisonment  itself.  The 
word  "imprisonment"  docs  not  mean  puni^^hmcnt, 
except  that  punishment  which  is  unavoidable  by 
reason  of  loss  of  freedom.  Webster's  dictionary 
defines  imprisonment  as  follows: 

"Imprisonment — 

"Act  of  imprisoning,  or  state  of  being  im- 
prisoned ;  confinement ;  restraint.  In  law. 
imprisonment  is  any  restraint  of  a  person 
cither  by  force  or  by  such  other  coercion  as 
restrains  him  within  limits  against  his  will." 
Rlackstone  declares  this  of  imprisonment : 

"Every  confinement  of  the  person  is  an 
imprisonment,  whether  it  be  in  a  common 
prison,  or  in  a  private  house,  or  even  by  for- 
cibly detaining  one  in  the  public  streets." 

The  population  of  the  Joliet  Prison  is  1,560. 
Of  this  number  1,082  are  serving  sentences  for 
crimes  which  come  under  the  provision  of  the 
parole  law,  while  in  all  487  inmates  are  serving 
straight  sentences  of  from  one  year  to  life.  The 
physical  conditions  of  the  Joliet  Prison  make  it 
unavoidable  that  the  prisoners  sentenced  for  fixed 


294 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


jDeriocIs  and  those  under  the  parole  law  shall  be 
mixed,  and  as  the  prisoners' cannot  be  separated 
they  must  all  be  treated  alike,  and  as  the  parole 
law  must  be  held  more  nearly  to  represent  the 
wishes  of  the  people  of  Illinois  at  this  time  (the 
parole  law  having  been  passed  twenty-eight  years 
after  the  penitentiary  act),  it  is  necessary  to  con- 
form to  the  manner  of  executing  the  sentences  of 
the  courts  as  nearly  as  possible  to  the  spirit  and 
intent  of  the  parole  law. 

The  portion  of  the  parole  law  so  far  as  quoted 
contains  the  following -language: 

"The  court  imposing  such  sentence  shall 
not  fix  the  limit  or  duration  of  the  same,  but 
the  term  of  such  imprisonment  shall  not  be 
less  than  one  year,  nor  shall  it  exceed  the 
maximum  term  provided  by  law  for  the 
crime  of  which  the  prisoner  was  con- 
victed— '' 

It  being  thus  clearly  expressed  that  the  parole 
law  contemplated  the  paroling  of  prisoners  dur- 
ing the  term  of  their  sentences,  it  follows  that 
the  time  when  a  prisoner  is  to  be  released  upon 
parole  depends  upon  his  reformation,  and  not 
upon  the  amount  of  punishment  he  has  endured. 
That  reformation  is  desired  is  again  made  plain 
by  the  first  sentence  in  Section  2  of  the  parole 
law,  which  reads  as  follows: 

"It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  board  of  peni- 
tentiary conmiissioners  to  adopt  such  rules 
concerning  all  prisoners  committed  to  their 
custody  as  shall  prevent  them  from  return- 
ing to  criminal  courses,  best  secure  their 
self-support,  and  accomplish  their  reforma- 
tion." 

Adopting  such  rules  as  shall  prevent  prison- 
ers from  returning  to  criminal  courses  and  ac- 
complishing their  reformation,  simply  means  that 
such  rules  should  be  adopted  as  shall  reform  them 
permanently,  and  the  provisions  for  adopting  such 
rules  as  will  best  secure  their  self-support  is  only 
a  part  of  the  lasting  reformation. 

The  next  sentence  in  Section  2  reads  as 
follows : 

"When  any  prisoner  shall  be  received  into 
said  penitentiary,  the  warden  shall  cause  to 
be  entered  in  a  register  the  date  of  such  ad- 
mission, the  name,  nativity,  nationality,  with 
such  other  facts  as  can  be  ascertained  of 
parentage,  education,  occupation  and  early 
social  influences  as  seem  to  indicate  the  con- 


stitutional and  acquired  defects  and  tenden- 
cies of  the  prisoner,  and,'  based  upon  these, 
an  estimate  of  the  present  condition  of  the 
prisoner,  and  the  best  possible  plan  of  treat- 
ment." 

Note  the  closing  words  in  this  sentence,  "the 
best  possible  plan  of  treatment." 

The  next  sentence  of  Section  2  reads  as 
follows : 

"And  the  physician  of  said  penitentiary 
shall  carefully  examine  each  prisoner  when 
received  and  shall  enter  into  a  register  to 
be  kept  by  him,  the  name,  nationality  or  race, 
the  weight,   stature  and   family   history  of 
each  prisoner,  also  a  statement  of  the  condi- 
tion of  the  heart,  lungs,  and  other  leading 
organs,  the  rate  of  the  pulse  and  respiration, 
the  measurement  of  the.  chest  and  abdomen, 
and  any  existing  disease,  deformity,  or  other 
disability,  acquired  or  inherited." 
These  instructions  for  the  examination  by  the 
physician  establishes  clearly  what  is  meant  by  the 
word   "treatment,"   used   in   the   preceding   sen- 
tence, and  as  the  prison  physician  is  not  expected 
to  examine  the  prisoner  in  order  to  estimate  how 
much  punishment  he  or  she  may  be  able  to  stand, 
it  again  follows  that  reformation  is  the  object 
for  which  the  word  treatment  stands. 

The  same  section  next  proceeds  as  follows: 
"Upon  the  warden's  register  shall  be  en- 
tered from  time  to  time  minutes  of  observed 
improvement  or  deterioration  of  character, 
and  notes  as  to  the  method  and  treatment 
employed ;  also  all  alterations  aflfecting  the 
standing  or  situation  of  such  prisoner,  and 
any   subsequent    facts    or    personal    history 
which  may  be  brought  officially  to  his  knowl- 
edge bearing  upon  the  question  of  the  pa- 
role or  final  release  of  the  prisoner." 
As  the  parole  or  final  release  of  the  prisoner 
is   intended  before  the  maximum   sentence  has 
been  served,  it  again  appears  that  the  parole  law 
contemplates  the  prisoner's  reformation  and  not 
his  punishment.    If  punishment  were  desired,  the 
amount  could  be  computed  in  years  in  fixing  the 
sentence,  but  as  reformation  is  sought,  the  dura- 
tion of  the  sentence  must  be  left  to  future  de- 
velopments. 

The  prisoner  is  first  to  be  paroled  and  then 
to  be  finally  released.  It  is  plain  that  the  pris- 
oner is  to  be  paroled  after  he  has  served  the  mini- 
mum sentence  imposed  upon  him,  and  has  dem- 


June  1.  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


20S 


onstrated  his  fitness  for  the  limited  freedom  al- 
lowed a  paroled  prisoner,  and  tliat  he  is  to  re- 
ceive his  final  discharge  after  he  has  demon- 
strated, during  the  jjrohation  period,  that  he  is 
fit  to  live  the  life  of  freedom  among  men.  All 
this  is  dependent  u[Km  the  prisoner's  reformation 
and  his  ability  to  support  himself,  and  not  u|)on 
the  amount  of  punishment  that  has  been  visited 
upon  him. 

Before  leaving  the  subject  of  the  parole  law, 
I  wish  to  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  there 
is  not  a  word  in  the  act  to  indicate  that  prison- 
ers sentenced  under  it  are  to  be  punished  except 
by  the  deprivation  of  their  liberty  until  paroled 
and  finally  discharged. 

The  execution  of  the  court's  sentence  is  also 
aflfected  by  an  act  entitled, 

"An  Act  to  authorize  the  employment  of 
convicts  and  prisoners  in  the  penal  and  re- 
formatory institutions  of  the  state  of  Illi- 
nois in  the  preparation  of  road  building  ma- 
terials and  in  working  on  the  i)ublic  roads." 
Section  1  of  this  act  reads,  in  part,  as  follows: 

''Upon  the  written  requests  of  the  com- 
missioners of  highways  of  any  township  in 
the  counties  under  township  organization  or 
the  commissioners  of  highways  or  boards  of 
county  commissioners  in  counties  not  under 
township  organization,  said  penitentiary 
commissioners  and  board  of  managers  of  the 
Pontiac  Reformatory  shall  detail  such  con- 
victs or  prisoners  as  in  its  judgment  shall 
seem  proper,  not  exceeding  the  numl>er 
specified  in  said  written  requests,  for  em- 
ployment on  the  public  roads  or  in  the  prep- 
aration of  road  building  materials,  in  the 
township,  road-district  or  county  re(iuest- 
ing  the  same,  on  such  terms  and  conditions 
as  may  be  prescribed  by  the  said  peniten- 
tiary commissioners  or  the  board  of  man- 
agers of  the  Pontiac  Reformat(jry." 
There  are  two  purposes  in  this  law : 

1.  The  improvement  of  the  roads  of  the  state ; 

2.  The  beneficial  eflfects  that  out-of-doors 
work  will  have  on  the  prisoners. 

These  purposes  are  on  the  surface,  but  there 
is  an  underlying  purjwse  which  is  not  so  appar- 
ent. Under  this  law  prisoners  are  to  be  sent  to 
different  parts  of  the  state  to  perforin  labor  on 
roads,  which  can  usually  be  accomplished  in  one 
season.     Therefore,  it  follows  that  the  prisoners 


must  be  sheltered  in  tem|)orary  buiMings  and  that 
they  may  easily  escajx*.  It  can  scarcely  be  believed 
that  the  state  of  Illinois  cares  more  for  the  un- 
]>aid  lalx)r  of  its  prisoners  than  it  rioes  alx>nt  their 
reformation.  iherefiire,  I  reas<»n  that  the  law 
contemplates,  as  its  chief  object,  the  placing  «»f 
the  prisoners  i\\Hn\  tiieir  hoimr  not  to  esca|)e, 
with  only  their  word  and  the  jxissibility  or  proba- 
bility, as  the  case  may  be.  of  their  rcca|)turc, 
between  them  and  freedom.  Thus  it  is  the  evi- 
dent intent  to  refonii  the  prisoners  by  teaching 
them  what  honor  means  and  by  strengtheninR 
their  bodies  by  healthy  out-of-doors  wt)rk.  I 
believe  that  it  will  be  conceded  from  this  inter- 
])retation  of  the  law  that  in  the  execution  of  the 
court's  sentence,  after  guarding  the  lives  and 
health  of  the  prisoners  in  my  custody,  my  first 
duty  toward  the  state  is  to  prevent  esca|)cs;  sec- 
ond, to  reform  the  prisoners  and  teach  them  to 
become  self-supporting;  third,  to  keep  them  oc- 
cupied at  hard  labor;  and  last,  to  punish  them 
for  the  crimes  they  have  committed,  and  that  of 
all  these  objects  the  punishment  is  of  the  least 
importance. 

Under  the  heading  of  preventing  escapes,  I 
wi>h  to  point  out  that  the  physical  aspects  of  the 
joliet  prison  indicate  that  the  state  is  willing  to 
have  many  prisoners  empk^yed  ontsi<le  of  the 
walls,  for  there  are  located  outside  of  the  prison 

walls : 

Six  large  storehouses, 

.\  herd  of  cattle  with  a  wide  range  of  |)asture, 

.\  drove  of  hogs  and  alx-nt  hftv  sheds  for  rais- 
ing pigs, 

A  slaughter  house, 

.\  dairy, 

A  large  truck  farm, 

I'ive  greenhouses, 

Extensive  lawns  antl  flower  licds.  and 

.\  large  i)«)ultry  plant. 

It  has  always  secine«l  to  me  that  this  exi>cn- 
sive  and  valuable  outfit  was  intended  to  be  made 
I)roductive,  and  I  am  jjroceeding  on  that  theory. 
In  order  to  do  this,  many  prisoners  mus»  be 
trusted.  an<l  it  sometimes  ha|)pens  that  mistakes 
are  made  in  picking  men  for  these  trusty  |)osi- 
tions,  and  occasionally  one  yields  to  temptation 
and  walks  away.  .\nd  when  this  takes  place  the 
matter  is  refKjrted  by  the  press  as  a  highly  ex- 
citable event' of  a  «laring  escape  over  ih.-  w.il!<;. 
amidst  a  hail  of  rifle  bullets. 


296 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Departing  for  a  moment  from  the  subject,  I 
wish  to  say  that  during  the  year  that  I  have  been 
warden  onlv  two  men  have  been  shot  at.  One  of 
them  was  instantly  killed,  and  the  other  never  got 
beyond  two  hundred  feet  from  the  officer  who 
recaptured  him.  To  absolutely  prevent  an  occa- 
sional escape,  it  would  be  necessary  to  lock  these 
men  within  the  walls  and  close  down  all  the  out- 
side industries,  but  this  cannot  be  done.  The 
business  end  of  the  industries  outside  of  the  walls 
of  the  institution  are  being  run  at  their  maximum 
capacity,  and  if  an  average  crop  is  grown  this 
year  in  Illinois,  the  prison  farm  will  produce 
three  times  as  much  in  crops  as  it  has  ever  be- 
fore produced,  and  all  the  industries  outside  of 
the  walls  are  expected  to  bring  corresponding 
results. 

Undoubtedly  there  will  be  escapes  in  propor- 
tion to  the  number  of  men  employed  outside  of 
the  walls,  but  every  effort  will  be  made  to  use 
good  judgment  in  the  selection  of  men  for  trusty 
work,  and  in  having  them  supervised  as  well  as  it 
may  be  done  with  the  money  available  for  sala- 
ries to  guards,  and  the  kind  of  men  furnished 
for  guard  duty  by  the  Civil  Service  Commission 
of  the  State  of  Illinois. 

The  enclosure  within  the  walls  is  less  than  six- 
teen acres  in  extent,  in  which  more  than  four- 
teen hundred  prisoners  are  confined.  Between 
the  hours  of  5  o'clock  in  the  evening  and  about 
half  past  6  in  the  morning  these  men  are  con- 
fined in  an  old-fashioned  cell  house,  usually  two 
in  each  cell.  The  cells  are  seven  feet  high,  four 
feet  wide,  and  seven  feet  long,  and  are  from 
twelve  to  twenty  feet  from  the  narrow  windows 
of  the  cell  house.  These  cells  never  receive  any 
sunlight,  are  built  of  stone,  top,  bottom  and  sides, 
except  one  end,  which  contains  a  narrow  door 
of  iron  bars.  Each  of  these  cells  contains  a  two- 
story  bed,  about  two  feet  wide  and  about  five 
feet  high.  The  man  who  sleeps  on  the  lower  bun"k 
has  about  twelve  inches  of  space  (when  his  head 
rests  on  the  pillow)  between  himself  and  the  bot- 
tom of  the  bed  above  him.  The  man  who  sleeps 
on  the  upper  bunk  has  about  fourteen  inches  of 
space  between  his  head  and  the  ceiling.  When  the 
inmates  are  not  in  bed  they  must  either  lean 
against  the  iron  bed  on  the  one  side  or  the  stone 
wall  on  the  other,  and  if  the  man  in  the  iront 
end  of  the  cell  desires  to  move  to  the  further 
end,  he  must  first  embrace  his  cell  mate  and  then 


squeeze  him  and  himself  in  order  to  get  by. 
When  one  of  the  men  is  stout  I  do  not  know  how 
it  is  done ;  when  both  are  stout,  one  must  go  to 
bed  while  the  other  passes. 

On  Sundays  and  holidays  the  men  are  locked 
up  in  their  cells  over  two-thirds  of  the  day,  in 
addition  to  their  confinement  at  night.  The  cells 
are  not  equipped  with  toilets,  but  are  furnished 
with  one  tin  bucket,  which  serves  for  all  pur- 
poses of  sanitation. 

The  prisoners  are  fed  three  times  a  day  at  an 
expense  of  less  than  six  cents  per  meal  per  man. 

From  a  reformative  standpoint,  the  one  great- 
est fault  of  the  Joliet  Penitentiary  lies  in  the  fact 
that  it  is  impossible  to  classify  the  inmates  to 
any  great  extent.  They  should  be  classified  ac- 
cording to  their  intellects,  viciousness,  records, 
ages  and  conduct,  and  this  is  impossible  under 
the  present  conditions.  At  present  the  first  of- 
fender may  become  the  associate  of  the  oldest 
professional  gunman. 

Everything  that  is  possible  is  being  done  along 
the  line  of  reformation,  and  the  first  objective 
sought  along  this  line  is  to  make  the  life  the 
prisoners  lead  as  nearly  normal  as  possible.  Food 
is  furnished  in  sufficient  quantity,  and  in  conse- 
quence the  prisoners  are  stronger  than  they  were 
a  year  ago.  Within  the  walls  we  have  a  first- 
class  hospital  and  the  sick  receive  the  best  pos- 
sible care  and  treatment.  The  hospital  is  ab- 
solutely up  to  date,  and  for  this  the  inmates  are 
duly  thankful. 

Humiliating  treatment,  such  as  facing  the  wall 
and  other  old-time  practices  of  this  nature  have 
been  discontinued,  as  we  do  not  believe  a  crimi- 
nal can  be  reformed  through  humiliation.  Self- 
defense  is  the  only  provocation  for  an  officer 
striking  an  inmate.  Alcoholic  drinks  and  inju- 
rious drugs  are  not  obtainable.  Recreation,  such 
as  baseball  and  other  out-of-door  sports,  are  al- 
lowed for  one  hour  every  day  when  the  weather 
permits.  During  cold  weather  marching  around 
the  yard  in  companies  is  substituted  for  these 
until  the  men  show  a  desire  to  remain  within 
doors. 

Out-of-door  employment  is  being  given  just 
as  fast  as  such  work  can  be  procured  for  the  pris- 
oners, in  order  to  overcome  as  fast  as  possible 
the  evil  effects  of  the  small,  poorly  ventilated  and 
over-crowded  cells. 


June  1.  1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


20; 


The  road  camps  are  reformative  in  their  re- 
sults. The  men  in  the  camps  learn  to  enjoy  hon- 
orably fulfilling  their  pledges  made  to  the  prison 
authorities,  while  the  men  who  are  not  .so  fortu- 
nate as  to  be  assigned  to  the  camps  learn  that 
their  salvation,  to  a  large  extent,  depends  upon 
the  good  conduct  of  the  men  in  the  camps,  and 
consequently  the  camps  become  schools  in  morals 
for  the  entire  prison  population. 

Men  selected  for  their  probable  trustworthi- 
ness are  sent  to  the  newly-purchased  eleven-hun- 
dred-acre farm,  and  to  the  road  camps  as  fast 
as  openings  can  be  made  for  them,  and  at  these 
camps  and  on  the  farm  the  men  live  the  healthy 
and  natural  life  of  the  laborer. 

A  day  school  was  started  last  spring,  and  every 
prisoner  who  desired  to  attend  was  excused  from 
work  for  one  hour  each  day.  The  ordinary  com- 
mon school  branches  were  taught.  Men  are  per- 
mitted to  take  books  to  their  cells  for  study,  and 
are  furnished  with  pencils,  slate  and  paper  for 
studying.  The  long  hours  of  confinement  in  the 
cells  have  but  one  redeeming  feature — that  is, 
they  result  in  much  study. 

The  prisoners  are  being  made  to  realize  that 
their  future  salvation  depends  on  them  individu- 
ally, and  that  in  order  to  better  their  condition 
they  must  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunities 
at  hand  for  their  individual  improvement,  and 
thus  be  able  to  return  to  the  world  and  become 
good  citizens. 

The  inmates  of  the  prison  at  Joliet  are  treated 
as  men.  Coercion  is  not  resorted  to,  except  as 
a  measure  of  last  resort.  The  men  are  being 
taught  that  they  must  resix)nd  to  good  treatment, 
and  that  reformation  depends  upon  themselves, 
and  that  the  most  a  warden  can  do  is  to  give 
them  opiX)rtunities  for  reform,  but  that  reform 
must  come  from  within. 

©    @    @ 
OFF  TO  THE  NEW  PRISON   FARM 


They're  going  forth  to  till  and  sow, 
Yet  most  of  them,  I  vow, 

H  put  to  test  would  scarcely  know 
A  harrow  from  a  plough. 

But  let  them  in  their  luck  rejoice. 
And  prophesy  their  feats ; 

We  only  ask  in  prayerful  voice, 
"Please  send  us  on  the  eats!" 


THE  TWO  EXTREMES 
By  Peter  Van  Vlissingcn 

A  Prikoner 

I  agree  heartily  with  the  propositions  that  so- 
ciety has  the  right  to  protect  itself  against  crim- 
mals,  and  that  it  is  folly  to  release  a  man  from 
I)rison  of  whom  it  can  be  said  with  reasonable 
certainty  that  he  will  return  to  a  career  of  crime; 
yet,  I  insist  that  there  is  something  beyond  this. 

I  maintain  that  society  has  no  right  to  punish 
a  Mian  beyond  his  deserts,  and  that  it  is  wrong 
to  keep  a  man  in  a  penitentiary  by  reason  of  what 
he  is  going  to  do.  When  the  offender  has  been 
sufficiently  punished,  the  punishment  must 
cease.  When  that  ix)int  has  been  reached  so- 
ciety still  has  the  right  to  protect  itself,  but  it 
should  do  this  by  restraining  the  man.  While 
the  protection  of  the  law  abiding  portion  of  the 
I)opulation  should  be  the  first  consideration  of 
government,  the  right  of  the  ofifender  who  has 
been  sufficiently  punished  should  be  deemed  a 
very  great  responsibility.  In  this  connectii>n  it 
must  be  borne  in  mind  that  there  is  no  form  of 
punishment  so  severe  as  imprisonment  in  peni- 
tentiaries. 

A  man  may  commit  a  crime  for  which  he 
serves  two  years  in  prison.  He  may  at  the  end 
of  that  period  of  time  be  no  more  fit  for  freedom 
thaii  he  was  when  he  came  to  that  prison.  So- 
ciety has  the  right  to  protect  itself  against  the 
presence  of  such  a  man,  but  it  has  no  right  to 
continue  to  punish  him,  yet  it  may  restrain  him. 
Continuing  a  man  in  the  penitentiary  is  more 
than  restraining  him.  The  man  may  never  be 
able  to  give  evidence  that  he  is  .safe  to  return  to 
society  as  it  is  constituted.  Does  that  mean  that 
he  must  remain  in  prison  all  his  life? 


Society  demands  the  greatest  |H)ssible  freedom 
for  the  individual  and  this  I  know  is  right. 
Penitentiaries  represent  the  least  possible  free- 
dom combined  with  the  maxinunn  punishment 
permitted  by  public  opinion.  Here  we  have  the 
two  extremes.  There  should  be  a  place  in  l>c- 
tween  for  those  men  and  women  who  have  been 
sufficiently  punished  for  the  crime  or  crimes  they 
have  conunitted  and  who  at  the  same  time  are  not 
fit  for  freedom  by  reason  of  the  likelihood  of 
their  returning  to  criminal  practices. 


298 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


EDITORIAL 


What  to   Do   With   One   Class   of   "Habitual 
Criminals" 

Last  fall  there  was  at  Camp  Hope  a  man  who 
takes  turns  at  being  a  "barrel  house  bum"  and  a 
penitentiary  inmiate.  To  be  more  explicit,  he  makes 
his  home  in  prisons  and  spends  his  vacations  in 
"barrel  houses."  At  Camp  Hope  he  was  reliable, 
industrious,  and  on  his  honor  not  to  go  beyond 
certain  geographical  bounds,  and  while  there  he 
proved  true.  At  Camp  Hope  he  had  some  money 
in  his  pocket,  was  dressed  in  citizen's  clothes, 
and  there  were  saloons  within  walking  distance. 
The  restraint  of  his  pledge  and  the  authority  of 
the  officers  proved  sufficient  to  keep  him  from 
drjnk.  When  his  time  was  up  he  was  discharged, 
but  two  days  later  he  appeared  at  the  front  en- 
trance of  this  prison  thoroughly  intoxicated  and 
really  worse  oft"  than  when  he  was  a  prisoner. 


drugs,  the  man  is  cured  as  long  as  the  restraint 
lasts.  Alcoholics  and  dope  fiends  do  not  have  a 
strong  craving  for  either  alcohol  or  drugs  after 
they  have  been  in  prison  a  few  weeks.  They 
soon  learn  that  drink  and  dope  are  not  to  be  had 
and  then  they  settle  down.  The  efficacy  of  the 
cure  lies  in  the  fact  that  the  mind  becomes  at 
rest  just  as  soon  as  it  is  fully  realized  that  alco- 
hol and  drugs  are  out  of  reach. 

Of  these  men  not  one  in  five  hundred,  when 
sober,  or  not  under  the  influence  of  drugs,  would 
walk  five  miles  to  where  whisky  flowed  freely 
from  a  spout,  yet  if  whisky  or  drugs  were  placed 
within  immediate  reach  they  would  barter  away 
their  hopes  of  freedom  for  one  drink,  or  a  "pull 
at  the  pipe,"  or  a  hypodermic  injection  of  cocaine. 

Many  of  these  men  would  walk  five  miles  to 
go  to  a  picnic  and  then  get  drunk,  while  not  one 
of  them  would  walk  that  far  to  get  drunk  and 
then  go  to  a  picnic. 


Over  one-half  of  the  inmates  of  this  prison 
are  more  or  less  of  this  man's  class.  They  are 
too  good  to  be  in  prison  and  too  weak — by  reason 
of  addiction  to  alcoholic  drinks  or  drugs — ^to  be 
free.  This  class  of  men  usually  leave  prison 
determined  to  succeed  in  life,  but  they  seldom  do. 
There  is  no  other  class  of  persons  so  hopelessly 
trapped  as  drunkards  and  drug  fiends  who  have 
spent  one  or  more  terms  in  prison.  While  they 
do  not  like  imprisonment  they  no  longer  fear  it. 
Over  one-half  of  the  prisoners  at  Joliet  would  be 
harmless  outside  of  prisons  if  it  were  not  for 
alcohol  and  drugs.  They  come  to  prison  because 
drunkards  and  dope  fiends  cannot  obtain  honest 
employment.  They  steal  in  order  to  get  food, 
lodging,  clothing,  alcohol  or  drugs,  and  they  con- 
tinue to  steal  while  the  alcohol  or  drugs  control 
their  mental  faculties.  Neither  parole  laws,  re- 
ligion, education  or  prison  reform  will  save  them, 
but  instead  of  being  a  burden  on  the  taxpayers 
and  a  menace  to  society  they  can  easily  be  made 
useful,  happy  and  contented. 

Persons  addicted  to  over-indulgence  in  alcoholic 
liquors  or  the  use  of  drugs  do  not  suflfer  for  the 
want  of  them  in  prisons  where  neither  are  obtain- 
able. Delirium  tremens  is  easily  outgrown  in 
prison.  After  a  few  weeks  of  regular  life  and  no 
opportunity  for  indulgence  in  either  alcohol  or 


Upon  entrance  to  a  prison  there  is  no  appre- 
ciable shock,  to  their  health  and  mentality,  caused 
by  the  sudden  change  from  over-indulgence  to 
absolute  abstinence.  The  men  accept  it  as  a 
matter  of  fact  and  there  is  the  end  of  it. 

The  craving  for  alcohol  or  drugs  comes  from 
the  opportunity  to  get  them  and  then  is  after- 
wards stimulated  by  their  use.  Drunkards  and 
dope  fiends  will  plead  pitifully  for  stimulants 
when  there  is  a  chance  of  gratifying  their  appe- 
tites, but  they  will  readily  forget  about  either  or 
both  when  they  know  the  goods  are  not  to  be  had. 

When  in  prison  these  men  realize  what  their 
habits  have  done  for  them,  and  if  the  prohibition 
of  alcohol  and  drugs  were  left  to  their  decision, 
during  their  incarceration,  they  would  vote  the 
earth  "drugless"  and  "dry."  Many  of  these  un- 
fortunates are  good  men  in  prison,  and  they  prove 
industrious  and  intelligent.  Most  of  them  are 
really  good  fellows  and  many  of  them  show  that 
their  early  training  has  been  good.  All  intelligent 
men  who  have  had  prison  experience,  know  that 
a  large  part  of  the  mien  in  prison  could  safely 
be  released  if  there  were  neither  drugs  nor  alco- 
hol on  earth,  and  if  jobs  were  to  be  had.  Send- 
ing these  men  to  prison  does  no  good  whatever, 
except  to  get  rid  of  them  for  a  limited  length  of 
time  at  an  enormous  expense. 


June  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


299 


The  so-called  habitual  criminal  is  usually  either 
a  drunkard  or  a  dope  fiend  anil  fre(|uently  both. 

l^t^'ective  reformation  cannot  be  provided  for 
alcoholics  and  dope  fiends  until  it  becomes  gen- 
erally known  that  there  is  only  one  real  cure  for 
them.  They  must  be  taken  to  some  place  where 
alcohol  and  drugs  cannot  be  obtained.  The  rcm^ 
edy  is  obvious,  it  lies  in  colonization.  One  large 
suitable  island,  under  I'edcral  military  control, 
with  strict  prohibition  and  used  as  a  home  for 
those  who  combine  alcohol  and  drugs  with  crime, 
will  reduce  crime  over  one-half. 

A  few  years  after  the  problem  is  thus  properly 
attacked,  we  will  find  there  arc  too  many  prisons 
and  that  they  are  too  large ;  that  we  have  too 
many  criminal  courts  and  prosecuting  attorneys ; 
that  the  size  of  the  police  forces  can  be  materially 
reduced ;  that  we  have  not  nearly  as  many 
habitual  criminals  as  we  believed  we  had  ;  that  the 
streets  in  our  large  cities  are  more  safe  under 
this  remedy.  By  this  plan  the  edge  will  be  taken 
off  the  contest  between  the  "wets"  and  "drys." 

With  reasonable  help  from  the  Government  in 
getting  started,  many  of  the  so-called  habitual 
criminals  will  become  prosperous  artisans,  farm- 
ers, business  and  professional  men  in  their  own 
community. 

Whether  these  men  should  be  permitted  to  take 
their  families  with  them  is  a  matter  of  detail 
which  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  fundamental 
proposition. 

Before  colonization  under  I'^edcral  control  can 
be  inaugurated,  an  amendment  to  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States  may  be  necessary,  and 
it  may  even  require  amendments  to  the  constitu- 
tions of  the  several  states,  but  even  if  so,  there 
are  no  insurnx)untable  difficulties  in  the  way  of 
any  plan  which  the  public  desires  and  to  which 
there  is  no  objection. 

Waupun,  Wis.,  Prisoners  Give  Money  in  a 
Good  Cause 
The  inmates  of  the  State  Penitentiary  at  Wau- 
pun. Wisconsin,  have  pledged  themselves  to  fur- 
nish $67.00.  which  is  the  amount  required  to  pay 
for  one  acre  of  the  farm  of  the  Wisconsin  Home 
and  Farm  School  at  Dousman.  So  far  $46.75  of 
the  amount  pledged  has  been  paid  in  cash.  Father 
J.  S.  Dowling.  chaplain  of  the  penitentiary,  in- 
augurated the  nx)vement. 


Reprieves,  Commutations  and  Pardons 

J^eclion  13  of  .\rticlc  5  of  the  Constitution  of 
Illinois  reads  as  folU)ws : 

"The  Governor  shall  have  power  to  grant 
reprieves,  commutations  and  pardons,  after 
conviction,  for  all  offences,  subject  to  such 
regulations  as  may  be  provided  l)y  law  rela- 
tive to  the  manner  of  applying  thercft»r." 
1  lere  we  have  unqualified  authority  not  from 
any  legislative  body  but  by  the  people  of  Illinois 
and  expressed  in  the  Constitution  of  the  Slate. 
and  until  chanj^ed  by  amendment  or  repeal  there 
is  no  law  superior  to  it ;  no  power  alxivc  it.    The 
people   of   Illinois   saw   fit   in   the  year    1870  to 
write  these  lines  into  their  Constitution  and  the 
pronouncement  has  never  been  challenge<l. 

Innocent  men  and  women  have  been  sent  to 
prison,  are  being  sent  to  prison  and  always  will 
continue  to  l>e  sent  to  prison,  at  least  so  long  as 
there  arc  prisons.  Unjust  and  excessive  .sen- 
tences have  been  imposed  and  will  always  con- 
tinue to  be  imposed.  Perjury  has  been  committed 
and  is  the  prevailing  crime  of  the  time. 

.^o  long  as  malice  or  greed  can  swir.n  .iw.iy 
liberty :  so  long  as  it  is  human  to  err ;  so  long  as 
judges  and  juries  are  amenable  to  human  passions 
and  hunwn  fear;  so  long  as  persons  charged  with 
crime  are  tried  in  advance,  and  <luring  their  trials 
in  the  public  press,  must  the  i>owcr  of  reprieve, 
commutation  and  pardon  remain. 

It  is  as  much  the  duty  of  the  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Illinois  to  grant  reprieves,  commuta- 
tions and  pardons  in  worthy  cases  as  it  is  his  duty 
to  sign  extradition  papers  uixm  the  proi>er  show- 
ing. No  governor  is  ever  censured  for  signing 
extradition  papers  and  few  ever  esca|)c  censure 
for  granting  reprieves,  comnuitations  and  par- 
dons. The  extent  of  the  adverse  criticism  has 
been  so  great  an«l  its  kind  so  severe  that  it  might 
reasonably  be  feared  that  the  intent  of  the  Consti- 
tution has  to  a  large  degree  been  overridden. 

0 

Lawyers  and  judges  prate  about  the  sanctity  of 
judicial  decrees  and  the  danger  of  having  them 
minified,  but  they  never  mention  the  unqualified 
language  of  the  Constitution  and  the  i>owcr  which 
has  been  conferred  upon  the  governor  and  the 
duty  which  as  necessarily  follows  that  |>owcr  as 
daylight  follows  dawn. 


300 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


The  Presumption  of  Innocence 

What  can  be  said  about  the  presumption  of 
innocence  so  long  as  a  man  accused  of  crime,  but 
who  has  not  been  convicted,  is  thrown  into  the 
same  jail  with,  and  gets  exactly  the  same  treat- 
ment, as  is  accorded  those  who  have  been  con- 
victed ?  The  presumption  of  innocence  is  of  more 
value  to  those  who  can  furnish  bail  awaiting  trial 
than  to  those  who  are  unable  to  bring  in  accept- 
able bondsmen. 

To  a  poor  and  friendless  man  who  is  accused 
of  crime  the  theory  of  the  presumption  of  inno- 
cence is  a  myth. 

The  World  Owes  Me  a  Living 

Frequently  a  prisoner  is  heard  to  voice  the 
statement  that  the  world  owes  him  a  living,  and 
he  excuses  theft  and  dishonesty  in  that  way. 

We  will  readily  agree  that  a  man  must  live, 
but  we  fail  to  understand  why  one  man  must 
steal,  while  another  works. 

If  the  world  owes  a  thief  a  living,  what  right 
has  he  to  take  from  an  honest  man  the  fruit  of 
his  toil?  It  must  always  be  remembered  that  if 
the  world  owes  a  thief  a  living,  it  must  also  owe 
an  honest  man  one. 

There  are  in  Illinois,  millions  of  men  who 
keep  out  of  jails  and  only  thousands  who  get 
in,  and  the  world  owes  a  living  equally  to  all, 
therefore,  we  propose  the  questions : 

How  does  it  happen  that  only  a  small  propor- 
tion of  the  entire  population  get  into  prison? 

Is  it  likely  that  the  small  number  know  the 
correct  way  of  extracting  that  living  which  the 
world  owes  them,  and  that  millions  of  people  are 
wrong  ? 

What  kind  of  a  place  to  live  in,  would  Illi- 
nois be,  if  all  the  inhabitants  proceeded  on  the 
theory  that  theft  is  justified  by  the  fact  that  the 
world  owes  every  man  a  living? 

It  would  be  hard  to  find  men  in  the  world 
who  squeal  louder  about  what  is  dishonestly 
taken  away  from  them  than  these  same  thieves, 
who  justify  their  crimes  on  the  theory  that  the 
world  owes  them  a  living.  Take  but  a  piece  of 
tobacco  away  from  one  of  them  and  he  will  go 
to  endless  trouble  to  find  the  man  who  took  it, 
and  he  will  not  rest  satisfied  until  he  has  had 
revenge,  yet  he  is  always  talking  disparagingly 
of  "knockers." 


Geographical  Distinctions 

We  print  below  two  items  reproduced  from  the 
same  page  of  the  Chicago  Examiner  of  May  3, 
1914,  and  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  it  is  fair 
to  infer  from  reading  the  items  that  what  is  ap- 
plauded when  done  in  Indiana,  is  ridiculed  when 
done  at  Joliet  . 

The  items  follow — headings,  misprint  and  all, 
just  as  they  appeared  in  the  Chicago  Examiner: 

HERE  IS  SOME  REAL  "INSIDE" 
BASEBALL. 


And  a  Ball  That  Goes  Over  the  Fence  Stays 

There. 

(Headline  by  C.  Dry  den.) 
La  Porte,  Ind.,  May  2. — In  the  presence 
of  1,200  cheering  convicts.  Warden  Fogarty 
of  the  Northern  Indiana  prison  race  for  the 
pennant  in  the  league  in  race  for  the  pennants 
in  the  league  in  which  four  teams  of  convicts 
will  play.  Today's  game  was  between  the 
White  Sox  and  the  Red  Sox.  Preliminary 
to  the  opening  game  the  1,200  convicts  joined 
in  a  parade  headed  by  the  prison  band,  led  by 
a  life  convict. 

DINNER  A  LA  CABARET  LATEST  AT 
JOLIET. 


Convicts  Eat  and  March  to  Work  to  Music 
of  Band. 

I  love  the  cows  and  chickens,  but 
This  is  the  life 

Catchy  strains  from  the  latest  popular 
songs  soon  will  be  echoing  through  the  walls 
of  Joliet  prison.  Cabaret  meals  for  convicts 
in  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary  is  the  latest 
"punishment."  Warden  Edmund  M.  Allen, 
who  completed  his  first  year  in  office  last 
Thursday,  celebrated  it  yesterday  by  estab- 
lishing the  cabaret  dinner  in  Joliet.  Already 
the  lockstep,  the  prison  haircut  and  the  prison 
uniform  had  been  banished. 

"This  is  the  life!"  exclaimed  a  number  of 
convicts — murderers,  holdup  men  and  burg- 
lars— when  asked  yesterday  how  they  liked 
the  change. 

"Naw,    we're    not    anxious    to    leave — why 
should  we  bibble  about  that?" 


June  1.  rJll 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


301 


The  band  of  twenty-five  pieces  will  play 
(luring  the  meals,  and  while  the  men  march 
to  and  from  work. 

We  wish  to  say  that  the  lock  step  and  prison 
haircut  were  abolisiied  in  the  Joliet  prison  many 
years  before  Warden  Edmund  M.  Allen  came 
here,  except  that,  as  to  the  latter,  every  new  in- 
mate's hair  is  clipped  when  he  enters  the  prison 
anil  the  reason  for  this  is  that  many  men  coming 
from  jails  are  infested  with  vermin.  After  the 
first  hair  cut  the  prisoners  are  permitted  to  wear 
their  hair  as  they  please.  Warden  Allen  has  made 
no  changes  with  regard  to  the  hair  cutting. 

As  to  cabaret  meals,  so  far  the  prisoners  con- 
fined at  Joliet  have  only  the  Chicago  Examiner  s 
word  for  it.  In  fact  the  Joliet  prison  is  many 
years  behind  in  having  a  band  play  in  the  dining 
hall,  inasmuch  as  at  the  date  this  is  written  (May 
14,  1014),  band  concerts  during  meals  have  only 
occurred  three  times,  while  in  many  prisons  they 
have  been  of  common  occurrence  for  many  years. 
We  doubt  if  the  Chicago  Examiner  can  see 
any  real  harm  in  the  fact  that  Warden  Allen 
permits  twenty-six  prisoners  to  play  on  brass 
horns  for  the  amusement  of  the  prison  popula- 
tion, and  we  humbly  beg  leave  to  state  that  poli- 
tics should  have  no  part  in  a  newspaper's  attitude 
toward  prison  reform. 

No  Escape  From  This 

We  published  in  our  April  issue  on  page  1^7 
an  item  from  the  Chicago  Daily  Netvs,  stating 
that  forty-eight  prisoners  in  an  "Honor  Camp" 
working  in  Smith  county,  Texas,  had  oflfered  a 
reward  of  $35  for  the  return  of  two  of  their  num- 
ber who  had  violated  their  pledges  by  escaping 
from  the  camp. 

This  raises  the  question :  Is  it  right  for  pris- 
oners to  help  in  the  recapture  of  some  of  their 
number  who  have  escaped,  when  the  escape  in- 
volves the  violation  of  an  honor  pledge? 

We  invite  the  inmates  of  this  prison  to  send 
us  their  views  on  this  subject  to  be  published 
over  the  name  or  register  number  of  those  re- 
sponding, and  we  particularly  request  those  who 
respond  to  state  their  reasons  pro  and  con  for 
their  views.  This  request  is  made  in  order  to 
test  the  inmates  in  this  prison  on  the  (|uestion 


of  coming  out  into  the  open  on  a  matter  in  which 
some  prisoners  would,  if  asked  to,  express  one 
opinion  to  our  Warden  and  a  totally  different 
one  to  the  prisoners. 

The  Editor  of  Tin-  Jolikt  I'ki>o.s  i'usr  re- 
alizes that  it  would  not  be  right  for  him  to  put 
this  awkward  proposition  up  to  his  fellow  in- 
mates without  promising  that  he  will  over  his 
name,  express  his  views  in  unequivocal  language. 

All  answers  received  will  be  published  in  order 
that  when  we  arc  thn>ugh,  all  may  be  counted  as 
for.  against,  or  silent. 

Profit  Sharing  at  Joliet 

The  prisoners  who  work  in  the  reed  and  rattan 
department  at  this  prison  earn  abrjut  five  dollars 
per  month  each,  the  amount  depending  upon  the 
value  of  the  lalxir  performed  during  the  month. 
-Ml  men  must  come  up  to  a  standard  of  efficiency 
or  they  are  transferred  out  of  this  department. 
This  plan  was  introduced  three  months  ago  and 
has  proven  very  satisfactory  to  the  administra- 
tion, as  well  as  to  the  inmates. 

Under  the  old  system  the  men  entered  the  shop 
in  the  morning  without  any  incentive,  other  than 
to  put  in  their  time  and  keep  out  of  trouble.  Now 
they  hope  that  business  will  keep  up  so  that  they 
may  be  kept  employed.  This  change  in  attitude 
on  the  part  of  the  inmates  was  brought  about 
without  expense. 

The  men  are  n*)W  permitted  one  hour  jnir  day 
for  recreation  and  in  spite  of  this  reduction  in 
hours  of  labor,  the  increase  in  production  per 
man  is  marked,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  comparison 
in  figures  between  March,  1913  and  March,  1914: 

March  March 

1913  1914 

Number  of  pieces  made.  . .  .   5,153  6,595 

Men  employed  (average  ) .  .  .      288  J.~'> 

Working  days                               26  26 

The  (juality  of  the  work  done  is  better  than  it 
was  when  the  prisoners  did  not  earn  money,  and 
as  the  clerks,  janitors  and  window  washers  share 
equally  with  the  reed  workers,  the  cleanliness 
and  up-kcep  in  the  shop  has  improved,  because 
these  prisoners  will  lose  by  it  if  their  work  proves 
unsatisfactory. 

Harmony  and  an  inclination  to  help  one  an- 
other has  resulted,  and  the  inmate^-  arc  more  con- 
tented and  less  troublesome. 


302 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Escaped  Lifer  Returns  Voluntarily 

Albert  Wing,  who  on  January  7,  1908,  escaped 
from  the  Frankfort  (Kentucky)  penitentiary, 
where  he  was  serving  a  life  sentence  for  murder, 
voluntarily  surrendered  to  the  police  at  Cincinnati 
on  April  29,  1914,  in  order  to  be  returned  to 
prison. 

Wing  belonged  to  a  very  prominent  family  and 
received  an  exceptionally  good  education.  He 
has  committed  many  crimes  and  has  twice  been 
convicted  of  murder.  For  the  first  murder  he 
served  out  his  sentence  at  the  Jefferson  City 
(Missouri)  penitentiary.  Shortly  after  his  re- 
lease he  killed  his  wife  for  which  crime  he  was 
sent  to  the  Erankfort   (Kentucky)   penitentiary. 

At  the  present  time  Wing  is  53  years  old. 
Upon  his  return  to  the  prison  at  Frankfort  he 
gave  as  a  reason  for  his  voluntary  surrender  that 
he  had  found  the  life  of  a  fugitive  harder  to 
bear  than  life  in  prison.  He  states  that  a  fugi- 
tive cannot  get  ahead  because  he  is  always  looking 
back  to  see  if  he  is  being  followed,  and  that  his 
mind  is  always  on  the  secret  which  he  cannot 
confide  even  to  his  best  friend.  He  found  that  he 
was  always  busy  trying  to  cover  up  his  trail,  and 
explained  that  circumstances  always  keep  a  fugi- 
tive on  the  move  so  that  he  cannot  get  a  foot- 
hold anywhere. 

Being  without  references  or  recommendations 
he  had  to  take  the  sort  of  jobs  that  did  not  re- 
quire references,  and  found  that  by  trying  to 
evade  recognition  he  attracted  attention.  The 
fear  of  detection  was  the  spectre  that  dogged  his 
every  footstep.  When  he  became  finally  ex- 
hausted, he  decided  to  return  for  rest  to  the 
prison  from  which  he  had  fled. 

There  is  nothing  unusual  in  this  man's  case. 
Nearly  every  prisoner  who  has  been  a  fugitive 
acknowledges  that  he  found  relief  by  going  to 
prison,  and  many  men  who  have  committed  one 
crime  after  another,  have  found  life  in  prison 
preferable  to  their  former  life  of  deception  and 
the  constant  fear  of  detection. 

Many  men  who  have  fought  their  cases  through 
the  upper  courts,  and  have  finally  come  to  prison, 
regret  every  minute  of  the  time  they  suffered 
anxiety  awaiting  the  final  decision.  They  bear 
witness  to  the  fact  that  uncertainty  is  far  more 
trying  than  prison  life  itself. 


In  most  cases  it  pays  a  man  who  has  committed 
a  crime,  to  make  the  best  terms  he  can,  and  then 
to  pay  his  debt  to  the  state  at  the  earliest  possible 
moment.  The  quicker  it  is  begun  the  sooner  it  is 
over  with.  After  all,  unless  death  intervenes,  the 
debt  must  be  paid. 

The  best  way  to  avoid  the  shock  of  going  into 
cold  water  is  to  jump  into  it  head  first;  the  way 
to  increase  the  agony  is  to  walk  into  the  cold 
water  slowly  . 

Jail  Sentences  for  Debt 

We  congratulate  ourselves  that  the  day  is  past 
when  men  are  sent  to  jail  for  debt.  We  would 
not  go  back  to  the  old  order  for  anything  in  the 
world. 

The  foregoing  sounds  true,  but  it  is  not,  be- 
cause thousands  of  men  are  sent  to  prison  every 
week  for  debt.  When  a  man  is  fined  he  owes  a 
debt  to  the  community  which  imposes  the  fine, 
and  when  he  does  not  hand  over  the  money  he 
goes  to  prison,  but  if  he  pays  up  he  goes  free. 

For  example,  two  men  commit  identically  the 
same  offense  and  are  sentenced  alike ;  one  has 
sufficient  money  in  his  pocket  to  pay  his  fine,  the 
other  is  without  funds,  what  happens  ?  The  man 
who  is  able  to  pay  his  fine  is  freed,  and  he  who  is 
not  goes  to  prison. 

Again,  let  two  men  commit  identically  the  same 
offense  and  be  fined  $100  each,  to  be  paid  in 
money,  or  worked  out  in  jail  at  the  rate  of  fifty 
cents  per  day,  and  let  one  of  the  men  have  $99, 
while  the  other  has  no  money,  what  happens? 
The  man  with  money  remains  in  prison  two  days 
when  he  only  owes  $99  and  then  the  amount  of 
his  capital  is  large  enough  to  cancel  his  debt,  so 
he  pays  up  and  goes  free,  while  the  other  prisoner 
remains  in  prison  two-hundred  days  in  all. 

This  illustrates  that  money  acts  as  the  key  to 
open  the  prison  door  outward. 

We  should  put  the  soft  pedal  on  our  talk  about 
the  law  being  alike  for  the  rich  and  the  poor,  until 
men  are  no  longer  sent  to  prison  for  debt,  and 
until  money  can  no  longer  purchase  release  there- 
from. 

A  large  portion  of  the  population  of  the  Bride- 
well in  Chicago,  are  in  prison  for  debt.  Im- 
prisonment for  poverty  should  cease.  Violations 
of  law  which  send  a  man  without  money  to 
prison  should  also  send  a  man  with  money  to 
prison. 


June  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


303 


The  Adam  and  Eve  Way 

Dr.  H.  Morrow,  a  dentist  of  Iowa  City, 
Iowa,  was  recently  em])loycd  by  the  State 
Board  of  Control  of  Iowa  to  investigate 
the  condition  of  the  teeth  of  prisoners  in  that 
state. 

In  a  preHminary  report  he  announces  that 
ninety  per  cent  of  the  prisoners  in  the  I-'ort  Ma(H- 
son  (Iowa)  penitentiary  have  defective  teeth,  and 
that  their  mentahty  and  physical  heakh  suffers 
in  consequence. 

There  is  nothing  startHng  about  this  report 
when  common  sense  is  apphed  to  the  subject. 
Everybody  knows  that  teeth  must  have  attention ; 
that  dentists  charge  for  their  work,  and  that 
prisoners,  as  a  class,  have  no  money,  and  that  in 
nearly  all  prisons  the  only  attention  paid  to  de- 
caying teeth  is  to  pull  tiiem  out. 

It  need  only  be  known  that  even  a  life-term 
prisoner,  in  most  prisons,  cannot  get  a  tooth 
brush  unless  he  has  the  money  to  purchase  one. 
The  consequences  can  be  reasoned  out  by  every 
person  for  himself. 

Prisoners  Held  Cheap  in  Toronto 

The  Toronto  (Canada)  jail  is  condemned  by 
Dr.  Bruce  Smith,  Provincial  Inspector  of  Prisons. 
He  recommends  that  the  Government's  grant  for 
up-keep  costs,  which  covers  about  one-third  of 
the  expenses  of  the  prison,  be  withheld  until  the 
municipal  authorities  accord  decent  treatment  to 
the  prisoners. 

His  complaint  is  that  the  prison  is  over- 
crowded ;  that  over  one-half  of  the  prisoners  sleep 
on  mattresses  on  the  floor  of  the  prison,  instead 
of  in  the  cells,  and  that  in  consequence  the  build- 
ing, with  an  average  of  300  prisoners,  is  a  fire 
trap. 

Fire  could  easily  start  among  the  mattresses 
on  the  floor,  and  in  that  case  it  would  be  sure 
death  for  the  men  who  are  locked  up  in  the  cells. 

The  authorities  of  Toronto  have  evidently 
overlooked  the  fact  that  when  they  take  from  a 
man  the  opportunity  to  shift  for  himself,  from 
that  moment  the  responsibility  of  safeguarding 
that  man  is  their  duty. 

How  can  municipalities  expect  respect  for  law 
when  under  their  sanction  lives  are  endangered 
in  a  manner  which  they  would  not  tolerate  in  a 
hotel  or  factory? 


Change  of  Management  at  Women's  Prison. 
On  May  1,  1914.  Miss  Maria  Susanna  Mad- 
den, matron  of  the  Women's  Prison  of  the  Jolict 
IVnitentiary,  resigned  her  ix)sition  by  reason  of 
ill  health.  Miss  Madden  is  seventy-three  years 
old  and  has  been  connected  with  this  institution 
for  over  twenty-two  years.  She  is  considered 
one  of  the  foremost  prison  officials  of  the  coun- 
try, having  had  a  long  experience  and  having 
brought  to  her  prison  work  when  she  entered  it 
great  ability.  Her  resignation  was  regretfully 
accei)ted.  At  the  .same  time  Mrs.  M.  E.  Tresizc, 
who  had  been  employed  at  the  prison  seventeen 
years,  and  Mrs.  O.  A.  Cotton,  who  had  served 
here  ten  years,  tendered  their  resignations.  Both 
of  these  ladies  were  far  advanced  in  years  ami 
had  earned  an  extended  vacation.  The  iwsition 
of  acting  matron  was  given  to  Miss  Frances 
Cowley,  who  had  been  Miss  Madden *s  first  as- 
sistant since  September  18,  1913. 

What  it  means  in  good  fortune  to  the  inmates 
of  the  Women's  Prison  to  have  the  services  of 
Miss  Cowley  can  only  be  appreciated  by  those 
who  know  her  well. 

By  description.  Miss  Cowley's  individuality 
can  be  more  readily  ajjpreciated  by  those  who 
have  been  both  so  unfortunate  as  to  have  been 
very  ill  and  so  fortunate  as  to  have  been  nursed 
back  to  good  health  by  a  perfect  trained  nurse. 
A  perfect  trained  nurse  should  inspire  the  con- 
fidence of  her  patients.  To  do  this  retjuirei  a 
healthy,  alert,  active  woman  who  makes  every 
movement  count,  one  who  is  Ixjth  sympathetic 
and  firm,  one  who  understands  her  calling,  a 
woman  in  whom  good  nature  and  untiring  devo- 
tion are  natural  attributes.  Miss  Cowley  was 
that  kind  of  a  trained  nurse  before  she  accepted 
employment  at  the  Women's  Prison  of  the  Illi- 
nois State  Penitentiary  at  Joliet,  Illinois. 

She  has  the  correct  conception  of  the  im- 
jiortance  of  good  health,  and  in  the  discharge 
of  her  duties  towards  her  charges  she  has  this 
contiiujally  in  her  mind.  She  believes  that  good 
health  dei)en(ls  largely  ujwn  contentment,  con- 
sequently she  aims  to  have  the  inmates  in  this 
prison  as  happy  as  it  is  possible  for  them  to  be 
in  a  prison,  and  to  this  purjwse  she  devotes  her 
character,  courage  and  ability.  The  State  of 
Illinois  can  pay  a  salary  to  Miss  Cowley,  but  it 


304 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


cannot  recompense  her.  The  women  in  her  care 
can  extend  to  her  their  undying  devotion,  but 
they  can  never  return  an  equivalent  for  what  she 
gives  them. 

The  inmates  under  her  charge  are  now  per- 
mitted from  one  liour  to  one  and  one-half  hours 
for  recreation  daily.  When  the  weather  is  fa- 
vorable they  play  out  of  doors  in  a  spacious  yard, 
surrounded  by  a  stone  wall  thirty  feet  high.  As 
there  are  no  men  to  look  on,  they  can  go  the 
limit.  The  favorite  game  is  baseball,  which  is 
played  with  regulation  balls  and  bats,  and  it  has 
even  been  whispered  that  the  players  slide  to 
bases,  regardless  of  appearances. 

When  the  weather  is  unpropitious  the  women 
have  music,  reading  and  games  indoors  during 
the  recreation  period.  On  Sunday  mornings,  the 
weather  permitting,  the  prisoners  go  to  the  rec- 
reation ground  immediately  after  the  religious 
services,  where  Miss  Cowley  reads  to  them  until 
dinner  time.  During  the  evenings  the  women 
spend  the  long  hours  in  their  cells,  doing  all 
kinds  of  needlework,  which  is  sold  for  their  in- 
dividual benefit.  Many  of  the  women  are  very 
clever  with  their  needles,  while  a  few  are  begin- 
ners. They  are  all  being  instructed  by  an  ex- 
pert. It  would  be  very  fortunate  for  the  in- 
mates if  Miss  Cowley  could  arrange  with  some 
large  dry  goods  store  in  Chicago  to  dispose  to 
good  advantage  of  the  articles  made  by  these 
women,  and  these  lines  are  penned  in  the  hope 
that  someone  outside  of  the  walls  will  take  the 
subject  up  where  we  must  leave  off. 

For  the  benefit  of  those  who  believe  in  severe 
punishment  for  women,  we  will  add  that  these 
prisoners  are  required  to  perform  labor  for  the 
state  daily. 

Suggestions  Made  by  Prisoners 

The  one  thing  prisoners  know  the  most  about 
is  prisons.  If  prisons  have  any  reformative 
qualities,  it  must  be  conceded  that  there  must  be 
men  that  go  out  of  prisons  who  have  something 
to  contribute  to  society. 

Many  prisoners  are  men  of  average  intelligence 
and  a  few  have  exceptional  intellects.  An  in- 
telligent prisoner  usually  appreciates  that  he 
should  be  punished  for  what  he  has  done  and  he 
begins  the  task  of  serving  his  time  in  the  proper 
spirit ;  that  is,  he  accepts  the  blame  for  what  has 


come  to  him  and  has  no  resentment  towards  any-      J 
one.    This  type  of  man  usually  gets  along  well  in 
prison,  and  after  his  release  has  the  opportunity      ■ 
of   contributing   his   experience   for   the   benefit     " 
of  all. 

It  should  be  the  latter  class  of  men  that  make     1 
suggestions    about   the    treatment   of    criminals, 
which  are  well  worth  considering. 

A  prisoner  from  the  Federal  prison  at  Atlanta, 
has  made  the  suggestion  that  ex-prisoners  form 
an  organization  to  agitate  for  better  prisons.  We 
are  not  passing  judgment  upon  the  value  of  this 
suggestion,  but  we  are  pressing  the  point,  that 
ex-prisoners  can  be  of  great  value  in  pointing 
out  where  improvements  can  be  made  in  the 
administration  of  justice  and  the  execution  of 
the  court's  sentence. 

Kentucky  Prisoners  Win  Suit  for  Back  Pay 

The  prisoners  in  the  Kentucky  prisons  won  a 
legal  victory,  when  on  May  2,  1914,  Judge  Stout 
of  the  Franklin  County  Circuit  Court,  decided 
that  they  were  entitled  to  back  pay  out  of  their 
earnings  under  the  prison  labor  contract  be- 
tween June  15,  1910,  when  the  law  allowing  them 
pay  became  operative,  until  August  1,  1912,  when 
their  pay  began. 

Under  the  decree  as  entered  the  Board  of 
Penitentiary  Commissioners  must  place  to  the 
credit  of  each  prisoner  confined  in  the  Kentucky 
State  Reformatory  and  the  Kentucky  State  Peni- 
tentiary during  the  period  between  June  15,  1910, 
and  August  1,  1912,  such  an  amount  of  the  aver- 
age earnings  to  which  each  prisoner  is  entitled  as 
the  Board  may  deem  equitable  and  just,  taking 
into  consideration  the  character  of  the  prisoner, 
the  nature  of  the  crime  for  which  he  is  im- 
prisoned, and  his  general  deportment.  The  Board 
is  ordered  to  report  to  the  Auditor  of  Public  Ac- 
counts the  amount  of  the  earnings  to  which  each 
prisoner  shall  be  entitled,  with  directions  to 
whom  such  earnings  shall  be  paid  and  in  what 
amounts.  An  appeal  was  taken  by  the  Board 
of   Penitentiary  Commissioners. 

Should  the  judgment  be  affirmed  it  is  estimated 
that  it  will  cost  the  state  about  $100,000,  if  the 
present  basis  of  pay  is  adopted.  Since  August  1, 
1912,  the  aggregate  pay  drawn  by  the  prisoners 
has  been  about  $50,000  annually.  Many  of  the 
men  and  women,  who  under  the  decree  are  en- 
titled to  pay,  have  been  returned  to  freedom. 


June  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


305 


No  Poetic  License  Permitted  Judges 

The  Chicago  Tribune  of  May  3,  is  authority 
for  the  statement  that  Judge  Charles  A.  Mc- 
Donald, of  Cook  County,  111.,  upon  the  occasion 
of  sentencing  a  man  to  the  Joliet  penitentiary  for 
life,  recently  S|X)ke  the  following  words  to  the 
convictetl  man : 

"John,  when  the  gates  of  the  penitentiary 
clang  behind  you,  you  will  know  they  have 
shut  you  in  for  allyour  life.  Outside  those 
gates  y(Hi  have  left  all  the  happiness  of  life. 
Inside  you  will  find  nothing  but  toil  and  bar- 
renness and  sorrow  and  disappointment. 

"You  will  never  again  breathe  fresh  air. 
nor  see  the  sunshine  except  through  the  bar.s 
of  your  cell.  Iron  and  stone  and  steel,  work 
and  confinement  and  despair — these  will  be 
yours,  John,  until  you  die." 

Luckily  it  is  not  so  bad  as  that.  While  many 
men  work  in  shops  and  sleep  in  a  cell  house,  yet 
they  breathe  the  fresh  air  and  see  the  sunshine, 
and  not  through  bars. 

In  this  prison  it  is  very  difficult  to  see  sunshine 
through  the  bars.  When  we  see  the  sun  "we  take 
ours  straight."  Hundreds  of  our  men  are  as 
sunburned  as  farmers. 

It  is  right  to  permit  poetic  license  to  a  poet, 
but  a  judge  should  confine  himself  to  actualities. 

What  Brought  Him  to  Prison? 

Ben  Bucker  came  to  this  prison  December  18. 
1905,  under  a  life  sentence  for  murder.  Through- 
out his  whole  incarceration  to  the  beginning  of  the 
present  year  he  has  been  a  very  unruly  prisoner. 
During  this  time  he  has  been  reported  for  mis- 
conduct on  nineteen  dift'erent  occasions  and  placed 
in  solitary  punishment  fourteen  times.  He  was 
so  quarrelsome  that  he  was  not  wanted  anywhere. 
The  prisoners  feared  him  as  a  man  who  provoked 
fights  and  dragged  others  into  punishment  with 
him. 

Such  was  the  character  of  Bucker  prior  to 
January  23,  1914,  when  he  applied  at  the  hospital 
for  treatment  because  as  he  stated  of  "running 
sores  on  his  head,  headaches  and  a  constant  fever- 
ish condition." 

The  patient  gave  a  hi^tory  of  having  received 
three  gun  shot  wounds  in  1901.  One  bullet  had 
been  removed  shortly  after  the  date  of  his  in- 
juries.    He  stated  he  had  sufi'ered  considerably 


since  that  time.  At  the  time  of  the  examination 
at  the  prison  hospital  it  was  found  that  two  bullets 
had  not  been  removed.  It  was  decided  not  to 
dislodge  one  of  the  two  remaining  bullets,  because 
it  was  apparently  not  doing  any  injury.  .After 
a  consultation  of  the  physicians  of  the  prison 
hospital  an  operation  was  dcterniined  upon  to 
remove  the  other  bullet,  which  had  Io<lged  in  a 
depression  between  the  external  and  internal 
plate  of  the  parietal  bone.  A  cursory  examina- 
tion before  the  operation  disclosed  c<»nsidcrablc 
hyperplasia  of  tissue  and  two  fistulae  at  the  site 
of  this  bullet  wound.  The  operation  was  per- 
formed on  the  following  day  by  Dr.  Haldanc 
Clemenson  under  the  immediate  supervision  of 
Dr.  J.  P.  Benson,  the  Prison  Physician. 

There  was  evidence  of  an  old  linear  fracture 
of  the  internal  plate  showing  that  there  had  been 
'slight  pressure  on  the  brain  substance.  The  bul- 
let was  dissected  out.  necrosed  bone  was  curretted 
out,  the  fistulous  canal  cut  out  an«l  the  wound 
closed.  Trephining  at  this  time  was  <leemed 
inadvisable  owing  to  the  presence  of  pus.  The 
patient  remained  in  the  hospital  for  several  weeks 
after  the  operation  and  was  then  discharged  to 
work. 

His  demeanor  soon  showed  a  strange  c«~tntrast 
to  his  previous  disposition.  He  became  docile. 
obedient  to  the  prison  rules,  agreeable  to  his 
keepers  and  fellow  imnates. 

Congratulations  are  due  to  I'ucker  an<l  the  hos- 
pital staflf. 

Personal  Bravery  and  a  Commutation 

(lovernor  Eilward  !•'.  Dunne  has  coinuuUcil  the 
sentence  of  Ix»ton  Dale,  of  White  County.  Illi- 
nois, to  expire  on  May  31,  1914.  Dale  was  am- 
victed  for  nunder  in  1W>.  and  was  serving  a 
sentence  of  fourteen  years.  The  decision  of  the 
governor  was  owing  to  bravery  on  the  part  of 
Dale  during  a  recent  fire  in  the  Illinois  State  Peni- 
tentiary at  Chester.  Clad  only  in  his  night  clothes, 
Dale  saved  between  30  and  40  nudes  which  were 
quartered  in  the  stable  that  had  taken  fire;  his 
proinj)tness  of  action  save<l  the  dcNtruction  of 
valuable  state  pn)perty.  1  le  suffered  severe  burns 
and  jeopardized  his  own  life.  The  commutation 
was  recommended  by  the  prison  warden,  the 
.State  Board  of  Pardons,  Judge  Newlin.  who  pre- 
•^ided  at  the  trial,  and  States  .\t1orney  Pcarce, 
who  prosecuted. 


306 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


ANNOUNCEMENTS 


Eating  at  the  Milk  Table 

Dr.  J.  P.  Benson,  the  prison  physician,  an- 
nounces that  prisoners  who  are  placed  on  a  milk 
diet  are  permitted  to  eat  only  bread  and  milk.  He 
has  many  applications  from  prisoners  for  per- 
mission to  eat  at  the  milk  table,  who  look  upon 
that  as  a  means  of  obtaining  milk  in  addition  to 
the  regular  bill  of  fare.  The  doctor  desires  every 
prisoner  to  know  that  if  he  applies  for  permission 
to  eat  at  the  milk  table,  and  if  the  request  is 
granted,  such  prisoner  thereby  loses  all  other 
food. 

Money  and  Stamps  Through  th«  Mail 

The  transmitting  of  money  in  the  form  of 
silver  and  currency  through  the  mail  is  not  prac- 
tical, and  entails  the  danger  of  loss  to  both  the 
sender  and  receiver.  It  is  distasteful  to  our 
Superintendent  of  Mails,  as  it  necessitates  con- 
siderable work  to  discover  where  such  losses  oc- 
cur and  to  satisfy  the  receiver  that  the  fault 
does  not  originate  in  the  mail  office.  If  you  will 
kindly  advise  your  correspondents  to  send  their 
contributions  in  the  form  of  drafts,  express  or- 
ders, post-office  money  orders  or  checks,  it  will 
meet  with  the  hearty  approval  of  Mr.  Cavanaugh. 

"news  NARRATIVE 

THE  MEETINGS  OF  THE  INMATES 
By  George  Taylor 

A  Prisoner. 

The  monthly  meetings,  by  galleries,  of  the  in- 
mates who  are  in  the  First  Grade  were  inaugu- 
rated April  1,  1914,  as  announced  by  the  Warden 
in  the  April  issue  of  The  Joliet  Prison  Post. 

There  were  two  meetings  each  evening  until 
the  series  was  completed,  one  being  held  in  the 
east  wing  and  the  other  in  the  west  wing,  both 
being  convened  at  the  same  time,  and  continued 
until  all  the  galleries  in  both  wings  had  their  turn. 

Having  been  appointed  Chief  by  the  Warden, 
I  assumed  charge  of  the  meetings  in  the  east 
wing,  and  H.  E.  Webster  was  selected  to  preside 
over  the  meetings  in  the  west  wing.  It  was  con- 
sidered expedient  to  have  the  same  chairman  pre- 
side over  all  the  meetings  in  each  wing,  because 
in  that  way  he  could  on  each  succeeding  night 


indicate   what  had   taken  place  at   all  previous 
mieetings. 

One  keeper  attended  each  meeting,  to  enforce 
order  if  necessary,  but  there  has  been  nothing 
for  him  to  do.  There  were  eighteen  meetings 
each  month  and  perfect  order  was  maintained. 

The  spirit  was  prevalent  to  make  the  most  of 
the  good  opportunity  presented  and  to  discuss  all 
questions   seriously. 

The  wise  plan  of  the  administration  to  let 
the  men  work  out  their  own  problems  was  strictly 
adhered  to.  The  result  of  the  April  mieetings  was 
a  number  of  requests  for  improvem-ents.  Many 
of  these  requests  were  granted  and  some  were 
refused  for  good  reasons.  In  all  the  inmates 
gained  much  through  the  meetings  in  spite  of  the 
fact  that  the  improvements  which  were  granted 
do  not  call  for  any  additional  expenditure  of 
money. 

The  meetings  for  the  month  of  May  began  on 
the  first  day  of  the  month  and  continued  until 
finished  on  the  fifteenth.  The  propositions  con- 
sidered were  with  regard  to  the  discipline  of  the 
prison.  The  men  are  coming  to  recognize  the 
fact  that  what  is  good  for  the  officers  is  good  for 
them,  and  from  that  point  they  argue  that  good 
behavior  is  going  to  benefit  the  prison  community. 
They  are  fast  learning  that  they  must  justify  the 
administration's  measures  by  helpfulness  and 
good  conduct. 

What  an  object  lesson  it  would  be  for  those 
who  hold  to  the  "severe  discipline  and  cruel 
punishment"  doctrine,  if  they  could  attend  one 
series  of  these  meetings,  and  see  the  interest  the 
men  take  in  working  out  the  beginning  of  limited 
self  government! 

The  men  govern  themselves  at  these  nieetings 
and  that  is  the  starting  point  from  which  the 
miovement  must  work  out.  Of  course  nothing  can 
be  put  into  efifect  without  official  sanction.  There 
is  developing  in  the  minds  of  the  inmates  a  feeling 
of  responsibility  for  their  conduct  which  will 
eventually  improve  life  in  this  prison. 

It  now  looks  as  if  the  next  step  will  be  for  the 
men  to  seek  permission  to  elect  from  their  own 
numbers  monitors  to  stand  in  the  aisles  of  the 
dining  hall  during  the  midday  meal  to  see  that 
order  is  maintained,  with  only  one  officer  to  over- 
see all.  If  this  can  be  brought  about  it  means 
that  the  officers,  who  now  have  only  thirty  min- 


A 


June  1,  1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


307 


utes  in  which  to  eat  their  dinner,  will  have  at  least 
an  hour. 

Nothing  could  be  more  instructive  to  sluilonts 
in  penology  than  to  see  the  serious  niaiuier  in 
which  the  inmates  approach  matters  which  come 
up  for  discussion  at  these  meetings.  The  spirit 
of  their  efforts  is  typified  in  the  following  set  of 
resolutions  which  were  worked  out  and  adopted 
at  one  of  the  meetings : 

"We,  the  inmates  celling  on  gallery  *  *  *^ 
do  hereby  wish  to  make  known  to  the  warden  our 
desire  to  earnestly  co-operate  with  the  adminis- 
tration to  the  end  of  making  life  in  this  institu- 
tion for  the  inmates  as  nearly  norn>al  as  it  is 
possible  to  have  it  in  a  ])enitentiary,  so  therefore 
be  it 

"RESOLVED,  that  we  individually  and  col- 
lectively put  our  shoulder  to  the  wheel,  and  In- 
making  an  honest  effort  to  obey  the  rules  promul- 
gated by  Warden  Allen,  make  the  work  of  the 
officers  in  a  disciplinarian  way  as  easy  as  possible, 
and  be  it  further 

"RESOLVED,  that  we  desire  to  go  on  record 
that  we  will,  by  using  our  influence  for  good 
eliminate  or  eradicate  in  so  far  as  possible,  the 
intentions  or  actions  of  whomsoever  desires  to, 
or  whon.isoever  does,  break  the  rules  of  this  insti- 
tution ;     Therefore  be  it  further 

"RESOLVED,  that  we.  through  our  helpful- 
ness to  the  administration  and  our  deportment 
during  our  incarceration,  shall  in  time  prove  to 
the  outside  world  that  we  are  fit  for  citizenship. 
Therefore,  be  it  further 

"RESOLVED,  that  we  extend  to  the  warden 
our  unanimous  vote  of  sincere  thanks  for  the 
opportunities  of  becoming  better  men.  which  he 
has  extended  during  the  past  year,  and  especially 
for  the  privilege  of  holding  monthly  meetings,  to 
discuss  such  subjects  as  pertain  to  the  betterment 
of  our  conditons." 

Mexican  Dungeons 

The  investigation  by  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment authorities  of  the  dungeons  of  the  old  for- 
tress of  San  Juan  de  Ulua,  at  Vera  Cruz,  Mexco, 
revealed  frightful  conditions.  Many  of  the  dun- 
geons were  found  to  be  below  the  water  line  when 
the  tide  was  nnming,  the  inmates  being  drenched 
in  consequence.  Other  dungeons  were  so  con- 
structed that  it  was  im^wssible  f<»r  the  occupants 
to  lie  down. 


.\l  the  time  t)l  the  .American  occupation  the 
prison  contained  400  inmates,  most  of  whom  were 
confined  for  jjolitical  offences.  Some  of  these 
prisoners  have  in  the  past  been  prominent  in 
society  or  politics  Imt  tlic-ir  name-;  h.-m-  ln-.-n  .il- 
most  forgotten. 

I'y  reason  of  their  long  confinement  in  scini- 
(larkness,  many  of  the  prisoners  were  found  to  be 
half  blind,  while  others  were  enfeebled  and  ema- 
ciated through  the  treatment  received. 

Rear  .Admiral  I'letcher  has  ordered  the  pris«»n 
vacated,  and  three  hundred  of  the  prisoners  have 
been  released,  transferred  to  other  prisons  or  re- 
moved to  hos|)itals ;  the  remaining  inmates  will 
be  removed  as  soon  as  possible. 

Knights  Templar  Band  Concert 

Sunday,  .\j)ril  2^).  the  regular  hour  of  t*hai>cl 
service  was  given  over  to  the  .'^iloam  Conimand- 
cry  No.  .^4.  Knights  Templar  Band,  of  Oak  Park, 
Illinois.  I'ifty  members,  augmented  by  a  drum- 
corps  of  ten  field  drums,  were  present.  lames 
Sydney  Camj).  director  of  a  number  of  bands  in 
and  around  Chicago,  is  also  conductor  of  the 
Knights  Templar  Rand.  Mr.  I'Vank  15.  I'>lls, 
manager  of  the  organization,  introduced  the 
band,  and  his  declaration  that  it  was  an  honor  and 
a  pleasure  to  play  for  us  was  enrphasized  by  the 
long  program,  with  many  encores,  which  was 
rendered. 

To  give  due  creilit  for  this  splemlid  entertain- 
ment;  The  Masonic  Snititn'l  (Chicago.  .April  29, 
V)\4),  explains:  "Some  time  ago  Sir  Knight 
Messkin.  in  charge  of  the  work  for  the  care  of 
released  prisoners,  suggested  to  Sir  Knight 
'limmy'  Camp  that  it  would  be  a  noble  act  for 
Siloani  band  to  play  for  the  prisoners.  Sir 
Knight  Camp  imn>ediately  placed  the  matter  be- 
fore the  organization,  which  instantly  and  unani- 
mously consented.  Sir  Knight  Messlein  sug- 
gested then,  to  Warden  .Allen,  that  he  formally 
invite  the  boys,  which  he  did,  and  the  result  was 
that  1.4U0  Down-and-Outers'  were  intensely  ap- 
preciative listeners  to  a  concert  program  ren- 
dered by  this  splendid  organization." 

To  descrilx;  the  music,  as  it  ajipcalcd  to  us, 
with  mere  words  would  be  difticult.  indeed ;  while 
to  give  even  a  faint  idea  of  the  appreciation 
shown  by  the  men  who  packed  the  chajK-l  v^oidd 
be  impossible.     .An  outside  observer  nnist  have 


308 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year^ 


been  thrilled  by  the  spontaneous  response  to  every 
selection,  and  the  demonstration  which  followed 
the  playing  of  the  national  airs  would  have  sur- 
prised many  folks  of  the  world,  who  are  prone 
to  look  upon  prisoners  as  beings  different  from 
themselves.  The  musicians  hardly  needed  further 
expression  of  appreciation  or  thanks  than  the 
rapt  attention  and  sincere  applause  given  their 
efforts. 

It  was  evident  that  their  thoughtfulness  and  gen- 
erosity brought  us  the  treat  of  months.  Illustra- 
tive of  the  results  sincere  effort  and  appreciation 
must  ever  bring,  is  shown  by  Oak  Park,  111.,  Oak 
Leaves,  of  May  2,  1914,  saying:  "Having  found 
a  new  way  of  giving  relief,  for  an  hour  at  least, 
to  the  unfortunate,  the  band  has  now  accepted  an 
invitation  to  play  a  concert  program  at  the  Bride- 
well for  the  hundreds  of  prisoners  there." 

Major  Messlein  and  General  Fielding,  of  the 
Chicago  Post  of  Volunteers  of  America,  accom- 
panied the  Knights  Templars,  the  General  speak- 
ing for  a  few  moments  to  the  men,  as  it  was  his 
first  visit  to  this  institution. 

Death  of  Former  Officer  W.  C.  Trimble 

Mr.  William  Clark  Trimble  died  April  8, 
1914,  at  a  sanitarium  at  Charleston,  111.  His 
death  was  unexpected,  although  he  had  been  suf- 
fering from  heart  and  stomach  troubles  for  some 
time.  He  voted  on  Tuesday,  April  7th,  and  from 
the  polls  he  proceeded  to  the  sanitarium,  where  he 
expired  on  the  following  day,  at  the  age  of  44 
years. 

After  resigning  his  positon  at  this  prison  dur- 
ing October,  1913,  Mr.  Trimble  made  his  home 
with  his  brother,  Mr.  T.  J.  Trimble,  City  Clerk, 
of  Charleston,  111. 

Shortly  after  Mr.  Trimble  assumed  duty  at  this 
prison  he  was  nicknamed  "Abe,"  on  account  of 
his  resemblance  to  Abraham  Lincoln,  therefore, 
after  that,  he  was  known  as  Abe  by  the  officers, 
and  as  Abe  Trimble  by  the  prisoners,  but  he  was 
never  again  spoken  of  as  William  or  Clark.  He 
was  a  "good  fellow"  in  the  clear  and  wholesome 
interpretation  of  that  phrase.  Being  witty  and  a 
good  story  teller,  he  was  very  popular  with  the 
officers.  A  prisoner  could  have  trouble  with  him 
only  by  seeking  it. 

Mr.  Thomas  Rykert,  whose  death  is  reported 
in  our  Mav  issue,  was  his  chum  and  room-mate 
for  many  years. 


CONTRIBUTIONS 
BY  INMATES 

FATHER  EDWARD  AND  THE  HONOR 

SYSTEM 
By  K.  N.  O. 

A  Prisoner 

Judging  from  the  interest  and  enthusiasm  dis- 
played and  applause  given  during  and  after  the 
address  of  Father  Edward  at  the  Anniversary 
meeting,  Tuesday,  April  28th,  and  also  from  the 
favorable  comments  I  have  heard  from  many 
quarters,  the  Administration  has  made  a  notable 
forward  step  in  securing  the  services  of  the 
Catholic  Chaplain  in  connection  with  the  Honor 
System. 

If  I  understand  the  arrangement,  all  inmates 
who  are  desirous  of  signing  the  Honor  pledge  are 
first  required  to  confer  with  Father  Edward, 
whose  purpose  it  is  to  explain  the  finer  details  of 
the  system,  and  to  emphasize  the  responsibility 
which  an  inmate  assumes  on  signifying  his  will- 
ingness to  remain  or  to  become  an  Honor  man. 

The  specific  ground  of  complaint  from  those 
men  who  are  and  voluntarily  remain  in  the  second 
grade,  is  that  an  Honor  man  cannot  prevent  him- 
self from  being  a  stool  pigeon — speaking  in 
prison  parlance.  Father  Edward  doubtless,  will 
have  much  to  say  and  explain  on  this  one  point, 
with  the  result,  I  am  certain,  that  many  of  the 
doubting  ones  will  rally  under  the  Honor  stand- 
ard, through  the  influence  of  his  wise  and  kindly 
council.  The  best  possible  proof  that  the  existing 
plans  will  eventually  succeed  in  establishing  a 
permanent  and  lasting  Honor  system,  is  in  the 
keen  and  lively  interest  which  the  great  majority 
of  inmates  have  displayed  and  are  displaying. 

Father  Edward  is  admirably  fitted  for  this 
work.  His  dignity  of  character,  his  fresh  natural- 
ness, the  charm  of  his  personality,  and  his  abiding 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  "boys,"  has  won 
their  respect,  confidence  and  affection.  I  remem- 
ber telling  someone  once  that  the  Father  was  al- 
ways real — and  I  think  that  this  simple  word 
explains  the  secret  of  his  success.  He  never 
allows  himself  to  get  out  of  focus — to  be  subdued 
by  his  environment. 

The  Catholic  Chaplain  is  at  his  best  at  the  Sun- 
day morning  service — but  entirely  without  effort. 
He  delivers  his  message  to  you,  not  to  a  great 


June  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


309 


assemblage  of  men.  \Vc  have  discovered  that  he 
is  a  gootl  story-teller,  for  he  lias  shown  no  hesita- 
tion, should  the  moment  seem  p^jpitious,  in  ap- 
pealing to  our  sense  of  humor  while  in  his  robes 
of  office;  yet  his  quiet  dignity  is  never  lust. 
Rather,  in  these  rare  moments,  he  gives  anew  an 
impression  of  simplicity  and  geniality,  qualities 
which  have  endeared  him  to  every  man,  irre- 
spective of  religious  belief.  As  I  have  listened 
to  him,  it  has  seemed  to  me  that  the  most  illiter- 
ate man  as  well  as  the  most  confirmed  skeptic 
could  not  fail  to  understand  and  be  stirred.  He  has 
mastered  the  difficult  art  of  moralizing  without 
seeming  to  do  so.  Indeed,  he  has  come  with  a 
broader  message  than  the  teaching  of  morality — 
that  of  appreciation  of  our  difficulties,  our  need 
of  encouragement. 

®     ©     ® 
KICKED  OUT 

[Written  for  The  Joliet  Prison   Post] 

A  grim,  nioinentous  incident 

Has  recently  transpired"; 
-    I'll  give,  devoid  of  garnishmeiit, 

The  details  I've  acquired; 
Though  loath  to  be  irreverent — 

The  Editor  is  "fired." 

Right  on  the  job  he's  always  been, 

A  worker  and  a  fighter; 
A  perfect  crank  on  discipline, 

A  kicker  and  a  smiter; 
If  things  blew   out  or  things  caved   in, 

lie  was  the  dynamiter. 

As   for  his  popularity, 

I've  heard  it  intimated, 
The   best   liked   man    is  ever  he 

Who  likewise  is  best  hated; 
A  type  of  man,  it  seems  to  me, 

To  be  congratulated. 

As    Editor-in-Chief  lie   fought 

The    prison    trouble    brewer; 
A   message   to   the   world  he   brought  — 

A  real  old  truth  bestrewer; 
Contented  in  the  simple  thought 

That  deeds  survive  tlie  doer. 

E.  T.  K. 

Editor'g  Note — Poets  arc  incliiu-d  to  be  optimistic  and  ilie 
author  of  the  above  verses  indnlRcd  his  optimism  when  he 
assumed  from  the  fact  that  the  Kditur's  petition  for  a  jiarilon 
is  pending  and  that  a  hearing  on  it  was  granted,  that  he 
would  soon  be  required  to  move. 

The  Editor  thinks  that  he  holds  a  good  position.  _yet  ho 
would  like  to  be  discharged,  "kicked  out"  or  "tired."  The 
power  is  with  the  Pardon  Board;  the  W.nrden  will  not  do  it. 

With  regard  to  the  verses  the  Editor  fecN  like  the  con- 
valescent who  read  his  own  obituary  notice,  which  by  mistake 
had  been   prematurely   published.  • 

Until  he  is  fired  he  is  going  to  enjoy  writing  for  an  audience 
which  cannot  get  away  from  him  and  from  whose  wrath  he  i- 
securely  sheltered  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  he  has  a  monopoly 
of  the  newspapers  in  this  prison. 


MISCELLANEOUS 

The  Prison  Supply  Company,  at  34  Fifth  ave- 
nue, Chicago,  deals  exclusively  with  state  insti- 
tutions throughout  the  United  States.  Its  agent. 
John  \V.  Gibbons,  visits  all  the  large  prisons  in 
the  country,  and  in  consequence  thereof  he  has 
learned  much  al>out  prisons,  and  as  his  heart  is 
right  he  is  a  friend  to  prisoners  as  a  class. 

In  a  letter  to  The  Joi.iet  Prlson  Post  of  re- 
cent date,  Mr.  Gibbons  informs  us  that  he  has 
read  our  initial  number  and  each  succeeding 
issue  from  cover  to  cover ;  that  he  believes  the 
magazine  must  prove  very  useful  and  encourag- 
ing to  men  brliind  tlu-  w:t1N  I'vt-ryw  In*--- 


PRESS  OPINIONS  AND 
REPRINTS 

Relating  to  Pjirdons 

I  Reprinted   from  Springfield.  III..  News] 

On  the  theory  that  a  man  who  will  rush  into 
a  burning  building  and  save  the  lives  of  twenty 
mules  in  the  face  of  death  cannot  be  such  a  bad 
fellow  after  all.  Governor  Dunne  today  commuted 
the  sentence  of  Loten  Dale,  sentenced  to  Chester 
penitentiary  for  murder  in  1909  by  the  circuit 
court  of  White  county.  His  term  is  for  fourteen 
years,  but  because  of  his  bravery,  displayed  in  a 
recent  fire  in  the  stables  of  the  penitentiary,  he 
will  go  free  May  31. 

The  governor  also,  this  afternoon,  commuted 
the  sentence  of  Andrew  Henzey,  sentenced  for 
fourteen  years  for  murder  in  St.  Clair  county  in 
1907,  to  expire  July  4,  and  of  John  McCully. 
Randolph  county,  sentenced  for  life  on  a  nuinler 
charge  in  1890,  to  expire  May  30. 

TIIESR  MUST  RKMAIN 

All  three  commutations  were  made  on  recom- 
mendation of  the  state  boar<l  of  pardons. 

Commutations  were  denied  the  following: 

Thomas  Perkins,  murder,  Cook  county;  James 
lormsby,  murder.  Cook  county:  David  Kelly, 
murder,  Cook  county;  G.  L.  Ol>erton.  munlcr. 
Cook  county;  Levi  Stunson,  Hanty  Rudy  and 
Cody  Rudy,  associated,  murder.  .Valine  county; 
Llovd  Policy,  murder,  Shelbv  county;  F.  Ains- 
worth,  murder,  Greene  county;  William  Cham- 
bers, murder,  Franklin  county;  Ira  Kwing.  mur- 
der. .Mexander  county  ;  Ilosea  Smothers,  mur.l.r. 
IVanklin  county. 


310 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 

Tke  Sliame  of  a  Broken  ParoL 


First  Year 


(Copyrighted,  1914,  by  the  North  American  Co.) 

[Reprinted    from    The    North    American,    Philadelphia,    Pa.,    by 
kind  permission] 

If  the  moralist,  seeking  men  who  have  made  the 
most  miserable  wreck  of  their  lives,  will  go  to 
the  Eastern  Penitentiary  and  glance  into  a  few 
of  its  hundreds  of  cells,  he  will  find  them  there. 
There  may  be  two  prisoners  in  each  of  those 
cells,  but  in  some  of  them  at  least  one  of  the 
two  will  show  in  every  lineament  of  his  face, 
in  every  movement  of  his  body,  the  wretched- 
ness of  the  man  who  has  no  friend. 
He  is  the  prisoner  who  lives  in  a  changeless 
shadow — in  the  shame  of  his  broken  parole. 
No  other  convicts,  however  grave  their  crimes, 
know  such  loneliness  as  he,  for  all  of  them, 
even  to  his  cellmate,  shun  him  as  a  traitor  to 
his  kind. 
Decrease  in  Crime 

Not  many  convicts  liave  broken  parole ;  and 
not  only  do  fewer  break  it  now  than  did  pre- 
viously, but  there  are  fewer  to  break  it  if  they 
want  to.  It  is  the  opinion  of  the  penitentiary 
authorities  that,  since  the  parole  system  went  in- 
to operation  five  years  ago,  it  has  steadily  de- 
creased crime  and  has  continually  reformed 
habitual  criminals. 

There  have  been  exceptions — exceptions  in 
which  the  original  offense  was  repeated  in  its 
whole  round  of  damning  evidence.  Those  cases 
might  be  held  up,  very  plausibly,  as  proofs  that 
you  can't  cure  the  criminal  of  his  besetting  sin 
any  more  than  you  can  change  the  leopard's  spots. 
r>ut  when  it  appears  that  during  those  five  years 
the  repetitions  of  original  offenses  have  amount- 
ed, all  told,  to  far  less  than  1  per  cent  among 
the  prisoners  released  on  parole,  the  proportion 
of  leopards  must  be  surprisingly  small,  or  the 
parole  system  must  be  mighty  efficient  in  knock- 
ing the  spots  out  of  them. 

System  Reduces  Offenses 

On  January  1,  1909,  the  Eastern  Penitentiary 
held  1,582  prisoners.  The  number  of  inmates 
had  been  increasing  with  unfailing  regularity.  If 
nothing  had  intervened  to  halt  that  persistent  in- 
crease, the  number  when  spring  began  this  year 
should  have  been  at  least  2,000.  Instead  of  that, 
a  count  taken  about  that  time  showed  only  1,433. 


The  decrease  was  not  simply  the  difference  of 
nearly  150  prisoners  from  a  total  of  1,582,  but  the 
difference  between  the  number  actually  in  the 
cells  at  this  time  and  the  number  who  must  have 
been  there  had  the  rate  of  increase,  counted  on 
five  years  ago,  been  maintained  during  the  inter- 
val up  to  the  2,000.  In  round  figures,  the  parole 
system,  which  appears  to  have  been  the  sole 
factor  injected  into  the  problem  of  holding  in 
check  the  growth  of  the  criminal  class,  has 
served  within  five  years  to  reduce  the  number  of 
grave  offenses  some  25  per  cent,  representing  the 
proportion  between  the  2,000  prisoners  who 
would  have  been  in  the  penitentiary  and  the  500 
who  are  now  missing  from  its  somber  roll  call. 

What  has  become  of  the  criminals? 

The  parole  officers  can  answer  that  question, 
almost  to  every  man  of  them.  The  old  criminals 
released  on  parole  can  all  be  located,  and  they 
are  all  occupied  with  the  humdrum  task  of  earn- 
ing a  living  quite  honestly,  industriously  and  un- 
ostentatiously. This  is  a  very  prosaic  and  com- 
monplace outcome,  but  it  is  regarded  among 
penologists  as  just  about  the  best  they've  ever 
dared  hope  for  in  their  most  sanguine  moments. 

The  oft'enders  who  are  in  the  penitentiary  now 
are  mostly  first  offenders,  for  as  yet  society  has 
devised  no  means  to  stop  people  from  landing 
in  prison  at  least  once  in  a  lifetime.  The  signi- 
ficant change  in  criminal  affairs  is,  that  where 
formerly  a  first  oft'ender  was  distinctly  prone  to 
prove  an  kabitual  criminal,  he  is  now  more  likely 
never  to  sin  again ;  and  what  is  more,  nearly  all 
the  old,  habitual  criminals  are  doing  their  earnest 
best  not  to  sin  again.  It  looks  as  though  the 
criminal,  as  a  class,  has  at  length  been  furnished 
with  a  password  to  social  salvation. 

Since  1909  prisoners  to  the  number  of  800 
have  gone  out  from  the  Eastern  Penitentiary  on 
parole  and  fifty-five  have  come  back.  There,  in 
a  sentence,  are  the  best  and  the  worst  that  can 
be  said  of  Pennsylvania's  system  of  parole.  Ex- 
cellent as  is  the  showing,  for  it  is  less  than  7 
per  cent  in  all,  it  appears  far  worse  than  it  is. 
Less  than  half  the  number  of  returned  parole 
prisoners  are  back  because  of  fresh  crimes.  Those 
fresh  offenders  number  only  twenty-three,  and 
out  of  the  twenty-three  only  half  a  dozen  were 


June  1.  I'JH                                      THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.                                                   311 

jailed  for  having  coininittcd  anew  the  crime  for  cahnncss  about  the  certainty  with  which  the  i>cni- 

which  they  were  originally  sentenced.     Of  those  tentiary  authorities  regard  the   future  of  those 

six,  two  have  been  :igain  imprisoned  for  the  crime  fugitives. 

most   likely   to   be   repeated,   aggravated   assault  '*(  )h.    they'll    be    back,"    say    the    |)cmuniury 

and  battery.     They  are  men  with  e.\cq)ti<)nally  keepers.     "W'c    never    fail    to   get    tlicm,    some 

ugly  temjKrs,  criminals  under  tiie  law,  yet  scarce-  time." 

ly  criminals  of  the  type  usually  regarded  as  dis-  Those  keepers  are  so  certain  liecause  the  whole 

playing  the  profound  moral  turpitude  attaching  \hA\cc  .system  of  the  country  keq)s  special  watch 

to  other  otlenses.     Of  the  four  others,  two  com-  for  the  fleeing  parole  man,  and  because  tiie  state 

mitted   larceny   again   and    two   were  guilty   of  of  Pennsylvania,  in  the  interest  of  its  jwrolc  sys- 

forgery.     The   histories   of   the  cases   involving  tem,  stands  ready  to  send  for  such  a  pris<:)ner 

repetition  are  found  on  investigation  to  be  sim-  as  far  as  the  ix)les. 

ilar.  The  System's  Inflexibleness 

The  paroled   prisoner  makes   the   mistake   of  Out  of  the  tifty-tive  parole  men  wivj  arc  -back, 

taking  a  drink  or  two,  then  m«kes  the  bigger  there  are  eight  poor  wretches  who  surrendered 

mistake   of  getting   drunk,   and   finally,   his   old  themselves.     The  stern  inflexibleness  of  the  sys- 

impulses  rising  in  his  consciousness  and  catch-  tcm  seems  to  bear  hardest,  almost  unfairly,  on 

ing  him  with  his  guard  down,  he  makes  the  big-  them.     They  come  to  the  priMni  di«.r  nwA  ring 

gest  mistake  of  all  in  trying  anew  the  trick  that  the  fateful  bell. 

landed  him  in  prison  previously.     Thus  the  pair  "Where's  the  warden?"  they  ask  dejectctlly. 

of  fools  who  are  now  serving  two  crushing  terms  They  are  admitted  and  the  warden  sees  them; 

for  forgery,  instead  of  being  free  and  happy  on  he  is  as  di-scomfited  as  they  are. 

parole,  didn't  need  the  money  when  they  wrote  "Here  I  am,  boss,"  they  say.     "I've  been  drink- 

tlieir  forgery.     The  checks  they  drew  were  tri-  ing  and  breaking  i)arolc.     But  I'm  not  going  to 

vial;  $35  was  the  largest.     They  knew  to  a  cer-  throw  you  down.     You  can  put  me  back  in  my 

tainty  that  they  would  be  caught.     But,  just  as  cell." 

they  were  drunk  when  they  did  their  first   for-  Under  the  inevitable  law.  back  in  their  cells 

gery.  so  they   were  drunk   when   they  tried  the  they  go,  to  serve  in   full  the  terms  from  which 

second.  tiiey  were  respited  by  the  pan)le  they  broke. 

The  thirty-two  remaining  out  of  the  fifty-five  I'l^e  fifty-five  cells  which  hold  those  returnetl 

who    broke    parole    have    not    committed    fresh  I>a'"ole  prisoners  are  the  unhappiest  among  the 

crimes,  they  have  merely  broken  parole— a  fault  '^^  '"  ^''c  prison.     The  warden  himself,  who  has 

in   itself  constituting  an   offense  grave  enough  ^  '^rgc  sympathy  for  weak  hmnanity.  may  feel 

to  force  the  serving  upon  capture  or  surrender  sorry  for  them.     I'.ut  he  has  a  duly  to  do  to  the 

of  the  full  term  for  which  they  were  originallv  others  who  have  not  broken  parole,  even  if  their 

sentenced.     Some  simply  got  drunk ;  others  did  freedom  from  fault  in  that  rcsi>cct  is  that  they 

not  report  regularlv,  as  they  are  re(|uired  to  do  'i^ven't  had  the  chance  to. 

underthestringentVulesof  the  stern  if  beneficent  ^'"^^cr  ^J^c  law  applying  i..  uork  in  iKMiitcn- 

parole  laws;  others  quit  their  jobs  and  left  the  ^•^^'''«'  ""  '"«'"^"  »''''^"  •^■'  »*"  ''''''  "^  ''"-*  ^"'^^ 

state,   their  taste  of  libertv   sickening  them  of  ""'"'^^'-  "^  ^'''^'''''''  ■^''\^^\^''^"^  employment  at 
,,                in',               1      .         1  manufacturmg  articles  which  are  s«.ld  for  a  pro- 
surveillance  and  impellmg  them  to  hasten  else-       "^                   ,          ,  .          ,    ,  .             , 

,                  ,               ,        ,          .  .     .     ,        ,  lit.      1  he   rest   nviv  work   making  clothing  and 

where,  anywhere,  so  that  they  nught  be  free  from  ^^^^^^^  ^^^.^^^^  ^^.,^.;.,^  ^^^^^  ^  ,,^^^,  „^  „,^.  j,^j^„„ 

the  hated  supervision  and  reports.  ^y^^^,  ^^  ^^„,^  ,^j„,,  -^  ^^e  price  of  mental  ease 

No  matter  how   far  some  of  them  went,  the  ^^^^  j^„  ,,f  them;  an«l  what  they  value  nM)rc  is 

long  arm  of  the  law  reached  them,  in  rx)s  Angeles.  ,,,,,  ^^j^.^  ^f  tobacci^ :  no  work.  n<i  tobacco.     The 

Cal.,  and  in  Butte,  Mont.,  and  brought  them  back.  profit-earning  work   is   most   .sought,  Inrcausc   it 

Some  few,  a  very  few — like  the  notorious  Pink  enables  a  pri.soner  to  share  in  the  profit,  and  he 

Shirt  Twins,  who  broke  jail  at  Bridgeton.  N.  J.,  can  find  a  place  for  every  cent  he  can  cam  in 

after  fresh  arrest — have  escaped  the  law's  clutdi-  pris<in  and  call  his  own. 

es;  but  there  is  a  curious  and  very  convincing  Necessarily,  where  the  nature  of  prison  work 


312 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


compels  discrimination,  the  men  whose  records 
are  clean  must  be  assigned  the  best,  and  those 
who  are  under  any  sort  of  ban  must  get  the 
worst.  Any  other  arrangement  would  fill  the 
whole  place  with  sullen  anger  at  the  very  insti- 
tution charged  with  instilling  into  criminals  the 
principles  of  justice. 

Under  these  conditions  only  four  prisoners  out 
of  fifty-five  parole  men  have  been  assigned  to 
work  on  which  they  can  earn  a  percentage.  The 
fifty-one  remaining  are  given  the  lowest  unpaid 
labor  allowed,  the  sewing  of  carpet  rags,  and, 
since  work  on  those  rags  lets  them  earn  their 
weekly  quota  of  tobacco,  they  are  glad  to  get 
that.  The  plying  of  the  humble  needle  con- 
stitutes the  one  relief  the  returned  parole  man 
enjoys  from  the  wretchedness  of  his  lot. 

Although  he  is  dealt  with  in  all  other  respects 
like  his  fellow-prisoners,  he  realizes  from  the 
hour  of  his  second  incarceration  what  it  means 
to  be  under  a  universal  ban.  The  keepers  may 
feel  as  sorry  for  him  as  is  the  warden.  But  a 
penitentiary  is  a  social  body,  just  as  intimately 
joined  in  the  relations  of  the  individuals  who 
are  its  members  as  is  society  outside.  When  the 
men,  in  batches  of  fifty,  share  in  their  forty 
minutes  daily  exercise,  they  are  not  allowed  to 
speak  to  one  another;  but  the  parole  man,  ex- 
ercising with  the  rest,  knows  that  the  glances 
resting  on  him,  friendly  as  they  are  when  di- 
rected to  any  one  else,  stare  at  him  with  a  cold 
enmity  as  an  offender  against  his  kind.  He  feels 
that  abiding  resentment  wherever  he  may  be. 
No  one  takes  the  smallest  trouble  to  hide  it  from 
him.  He  has  betrayed  them  ;  he  has  done  what 
he  could  to  bring  into  disrepute  the  system  under 
which  they  hope  to  go  free  with  nothing  to  re- 
nuind  them  that  they  are  still  the  law's  prisoners 
except  the  duty  of  reporting  to  their  appointed 
officers. 

The  solitary  confinement  plan  of  the  peniten- 
tiary nowadays  is  more  theoretical  than  prac- 
tical, for  experience  has  shown  that  men  im- 
mured with  nothing  but  their  own  thoughts  to 
engage  them  are  easy  victims  of  insanity.  Un- 
less a  prisoner  is  rated  as  being  of  a  peculiarly 
dangerous  type,  he  shares  his  cell  with  another, 
and  their  companionship  is  the  greatest  safe- 
guard they  have  against  the  hideous  prison  des- 
pairs which  lie  in  wait  for  weak,  ignorant  and 
morbid  natures. 


But  the  parole  man,  sewing  his  pitiful  rags  in 
his  cell  while  his  fortunate  fellow-prisoner  works 
away  cheerfully  knitting  socks  at  a  hand  machine, 
finds  himself  deprived  of  even  that  relief. 

He  is  always  hopeful  at  first.  When  he  is  as- 
signed to  his  cell  he  studies  his  cellmate  with  the 
covert  scrutiny  of  his  earlier  prison  experience 
and  gives  him  the  familiar  greeting  of  the  old  • 
hand.  But  it  is  received  in  angry  silence.  The 
other  prisoner  resents  him,  resents  every  cir- 
cumstance which  has  compelled  the  sharing  of 
the  cell  with  a  prisoner  who  has  done  his  worst 
to  ruin  their  common  chance  for  liberty. 

After  a  while  the  grim  silence  gets  on  the  re- 
turned convict's  nerves.  He,  in  his  turn,  re- 
solves on  complete  solitude,  so  far  as  any  rela- 
tions with  his  companion  go.  He  accepts  his 
carpet  rags  as  his  merited  portion,  and  he  works 
at  them  for  the  sake  of  his  tobacco.  But  be- 
neath his  silence  he  seethes.  It  goes  on,  day 
after  day,  inexorable  as  some  grim  fate  to  which 
he  has  doomed  himself,  until  at  last  human  na- 
ture cannot  stand  the  continuous  strain. 

Shunned  by  Cellmates 

He  appeals  to  his  cellmate.  He  tries  to  explain 
how  he  happened  to  break  parole.  He  reviews 
all  the  details  of  his  fall  from  grace.  But  it  is  in 
vain.  These  men  of  his  own  stripe  can  see  in 
his  protests  and  appeals  nothing  but  the  whining 
of  the  weakling,  or  the  welching  of  a  backslider 
who  is  unwilling  to  take  the  punishment  that  is 
due  him.  He  has  not  merely  betrayed  himself, 
he  has  betrayed  his  fellows,  and  that  is  a  sin 
the  criminal  world  does  not  forgive.  The  parole 
breaker  finds  a  convict  more  implacable  than  the 
most  severe  among  his  keepers. 

Warden  McKenty  regards  the  system  as  the 
one  efficient  means  of  relieving  the  community  of 
its  class  of  habitual  criminals. 

"Do  you  know  what  this  parole  system  is  ac- 
complishing?" he  said.  "It  is  steadily  operating 
to  place  under  the  direct  control  of  the  prison 
authorities,  as  embodied  in  the  parole  and  its  ap- 
plication, every  habitual  criminal  in  the  state. 
Ultimately,  all  habitual  oflfenders  will  be  cor- 
nered into  lives  which  are  honest  and  law-abiding. 
The  results  shown  in  the  continual  reduction  of 
the  number  of  prisoners  here  are  not  a  bit  sur- 
prising; they  were  only  to  be  expected.  It  pays 
a  prisoner  so  well  to  keep  his   parole   that   he 


June  1.  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


313 


cati't  afford  to  break  it,  just  as  it  pays  him  so 
well  to  accept  it  that  he  can't  afford  to  refuse  it. 

"It  works  from  the  very  beginning  of  its  aj)- 
plication  to  a  prisoner  differently,  and  more  bene- 
ficially, than  the  old  system  of  sentence  di<l. 
Formerly,  a  man  convicted,  say,  of  burglary, 
never  got  his  full  sentence.  The  maximum  was 
ten  years ;  but  a  burglar  got  a  year,  eighteen 
months,  or  if  his  crime  was  especially  flagrant,  he 
might  get  two  years  and  a  half.  If  the  judge 
sentenced  him  t<>  five  years,  it  was  considered 
an  awful  dose. 

"Now  the  judges  sentence  such  offenders  to  the 
maximum,  and  it  is  up  to  the  prisoner  to  lower 
that  maximum  by  good  behavior  in  order  to  earn 
his  parole  from  the  rest  of  his  sentence  period. 
1  le  goes  out  and  is  given  every  assistance  in  lead- 
ing an  honest  life.  We  try  to  find  him  employ- 
ment, so  that  he  shall  not  be  driven  by  necessity 
to  dishonesty.  All  he  need  do  is  behave  him- 
self to  be  wholly  free  when  the  rest  of  his  time 
has  gone  by.  But  until  it  is  past  he  is  under  com- 
plete supervision.  If  he  breaks  his  parole  he  is 
brought  back  to  serve  the  full  maximum  of  his 
term  in  the  penitentiary. 

"The  effect  of  that  unfinished  imprisonment 
is  to  make  it  hang  over  his  head  as  the  most 
powerful  deterrent  which  has  been  found  in  deal- 
ing with  criminals.  They  realize  that  any  de- 
parture from  the  straight  road  means  almost 
certain  arrest  and  the  bringing  down  on  them- 
selves of  all  the  punishment  they  have  escaped. 

"They  have  no  convenient  means  of  fleeing  the 
jurisdiction  of  their  parole.  New  Jersey  has  a 
similar  law ;  the  national  government  will  follow 
them  in  like  fashion.  If  they  commit  a  crime  in 
either  of  those  jurisdictions,  and  are  caught,  they 
get  the  maximum  there,  and  as  soon  as  that  term 
is  ended  they  are  brought  back  to  Pennsylvania 
and  are  compelled  to  serve  the  rest  of  their  orig- 
inal maximum  here. 

"N'ery  few,  as  the  figures  show  for  the  la>t  five 
years,  have  deliberately  broken  parole.  Most  of 
them  have  been  poor  devils  who  couldn't  keq) 
away  from  lic|Uor,  and  when  they  are  brought  in 
they  are  so  ashamed  they  won't  even  speak  to  me. 
They  just  throw  up  their  hands  in  despair  and 
turn  away  when  I  first  see  them. 

"With  all  the  deterring  influences,  and  with 
whatever  aid  we  give  the  paroled  man  in  nviking 


good  when  he  is  released,  he  has  another  power- 
ful safeguard.  The  parole  officers  know  where 
he  works,  know  all  his  jMrople,  know  all  his  as- 
sociates. They  are  in  constant  touch  with  hitn, 
and  that  unfailing  companionship  acts  not  only 
as  a  brace  to  his  resolution  to  lca<I  a  blameless 
life,  but  serves  as  a  persistent  reminder  that  it 
is  mighty  dangerous  for  him  lo  take  even  the 
least  step,  to  maintain  even  the  most  casual  ac- 
quaintance, leading  toward  his  old  form  of  exist- 
ence. 

"I'd  have  bet."  Warden  McKenty  added, 
shrewdly,  "on  the  parole  system  clearing  up  the 
class  of  habitual  criniinals  if  I'd  never  seen  the 
inside  of  a  i)rison.  It  gets  them  going  and  com- 
ing, and  in  the  middle  of  their  sentence,  too." 

Partly  True 

[Reprinted   from  New  York  World) 

Reix)rt  that  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  our 
imprisoned  bankers  is  suffering  from  prison 
rigors  and  is  slowly  dying  causes  no  surprise.  It 
is  the  usual  thing.  The  ver)'  day  a  banker  enters 
prison  in  this  country  he  begins  to  die.  Nor  is  he 
permitted  to  die  in  peace.  On  the  contrary,  bulle- 
tins of  his  health  arc  given  out  with  incrca<;ing 
frequency  until  the  distressed  public  can  endure 
no  more  and  is  easily  induced  to  jx^titi-.n  for  par- 
don. 

The  peculiar  effect  of  prison  life  ujwn  bankers 
is  the  more  notable  because  as  a  rule  its  discipline 
is  phvsically  beneficial.  The  hours  of  sleep  arc 
rcgidar,  the  exercise  good,  the  food  simple,  and 
the  work  not  of  a  kind  to  cause  worry  or  weari- 
ness. Generally,  therefore,  the  inmate  of  a  prison 
is  healthful  enough.  It  is  a  peculiarity  of  bank- 
ers that  they  suffer  from  such  nuxles  of  living, 
and  that  while  they  cat  well  and  sleep  well,  tiny 
fall  inevitably  into  slow  but  sure  movements  to- 
waril  the  grave  and  die  a  little  every  day. 

It  is  easy  to  recall  the  sad  case  of  Mr.  Morse. 
who  patiently  and  pathetically  went  on  dying 
week  after  week  until  he  was  released,  and  then 
at  once  recovered.  The  present  sufferer  has  now 
been  in  prison  for  as  much  as  six  weeks,  and  his 
weeping  friends  say  he  cannot  stand  it  for  six 
nwnths.  Society  must  either  condone  his  offense 
and  let  him  go  or  else  it  must  face  the  fact  that 
it  is  keeping  in  prison  a  man  who  will  some  day 
die. 


314 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 

Tke  Printing  Press  in  Prison 

[Reprinted   from   The   North   American,   Philadelphia.    Pa..   April  21.   1914] 


First  Year 


Once  upon  a  time  Pennsylvania  had  a  governor 
who  would  have  liked  to  put  in  prison  those 
printing  presses  whence  issued  criticism  of  his 
application  of  medieval  thought  to  modern  needs. 

He  tried  and  failed. 

Since  we  never  have  deemed  discussion  of 
antiques  beneficial  to  the  common  people  we  seek 
to  serve,  mere  mention  of  this  near-historic  at- 
tempt at  muzzling  must  suffice  to  preface  an  an- 
nouncement that  the  printing  press  is  getting  into 

prison. 

In  many  parts  of  the  land  it  has  been  admitted 
—not  sent— to  state  and  federal  penitentiaries 
and  within  such  walls  allowed  a  measure  of  free- 
dom which  cannot  but  startle  the  quixotic  per- 
sonage above  mentioned. 

Even  individuals  more  in  step  with  the  times 
in  which  we  live  might  be  surprised  to  read  in  a 
paper  published  in  prison  such  comment  as  this : 
"Kansas  maintains  a  hotbed  for  tuberculosis 
and  calls  it  a  prison.     She  works  her  convicts  in 
coal  mines  and  profit-making  twine  factories  and 
brick-making  industries,  for  which  it  pays  these 
poor  men  the  munificent  wage  of  a  trifle  over  4 
cents  per  day.     In  addition  to  this,  in  their  spare 
time  these  same  poor  fellows  plod  away  on  the 
manufacture  of  trinkets,  to  be  sold  not  for  their 
personal  benefit,  but  to  support  the  impoverished 
families  of  those  languishing  in   its  mines  and 
tubercular-infested  cells.     Shame  on  Kansas!" 

This  outspoken  criticism  of  the  notorious  in- 
stitution at  Lansing — where  conditions  once  were 
far  worse  than  they  are  now — we  clip  from  the 
current  issue  of  the  Umpire,  a  weekly  paper  edit- 
ed and  printed  by  inmates  of  the  Eastern  Peni- 
tentiary in  this  city,  and  according  to  its  own 
statement,  "devoted  to  the  interests  and  entertain- 
ment of  its  readers." 

In  the  same  issue  is  reprinted  the  telegram  sent 
to  Governor  Glynn,  of  New  York,  by  Warden 
Tynan,  of  the  Colorado  Penitentiary,  protesting 
against  the  electrocution  of  the  four  gunmen  as 
unjust  while  "the  big  crooks  go  free." 

We  cite  this  as  remarkable  evidence  not  only 
of  the  freedom  of  the  prison  press,  but  of  the 
radical  change  taking  place  in  public  opinion,  as 


reflected  in  the  attitude  of  those  charged  with 
the  care  and  conduct  of  prisons.  While  there 
are  in  this  country  some  penal  institutions  where 
the  Russian  custom  of  censoring  newspapers  and 
magazines  that  are  placed  within  reach  of  in- 
mates still  holds,  and  while  a  few  of  the  prison 
papers  now  published  are  little  more  than  organs 
of  apology  for  the  continuance  of  obsolete  or  in- 
human methods  of  treatment,  a  majority  of  the 
presses  that  have  been  admitted  to  prisons  oper- 
ate with  that  freedom  which  has  come  to  be  re- 
garded as  the  very  bulwark  of  democracy. 

Among  these  latter  are  the  Umpire,  already 
mentioned;  the  Index,  published  in  the  Wash- 
ington State  Reformatory;  the  Better  Citizen, 
published  by  the  boys  in  the  Rah  way  Reforma- 
tory ;  Good  Words,  the  widely  known  product  of 
the  federal  prison  in  Atlanta;  the  Reflector, 
which  issues  from  the  North  Dakota  Peniten- 
tiary, and  The  Joliet  Prison  Post,  newest  and 
most  notable  among  such  publications. 

Not  only  because  of  its  size  and  general  typo- 
graphical excellence,  but  chiefly  on  account  of  its 
editorial  policy  and  the  nature  of  its  contents, 
the  last-named  monthly  deserves  special  consider- 
ation from  those  interested  in  prisons  as  mediums 
for  reform  rather  than  punishment;  those  who 
share  the  verdict  of  modern  science  that  crime  is 
largely  the  fruitage  of  misdirected  energy.. 

In  the  first  number  of  this  fifty-page  monthly 
was  printed  the  constitution  of  the  United  States. 
The  next  number  contained  an  editorial  which 
read,  in  part,  as  follows : 

We  printed  the  constitution  of  the  United 
States  in  our  January  number  for  two  reasons: 

( 1 )  Every  man  should  know  at  least  the  fun- 
damental principles  of  the  government  under 
which  he  lives,  and  frequent  reading  of  the  con- 
stitution is  educational  and  helpful. 

(2)  Until  recently  there  were  a  number  of 
orators  in  this  prison  who  claimed  to  know  every- 
thing in  and  about  the  constitution  and  who 
could  point  out  to  any  prisoner  just  why  the  lat- 
ter's  conviction  had  been  obtained  in  violation 
of  the  constitution.  Knowing  that  no  one  could 
disprove  their  positive  assertions,  these  "attor- 
neys," in  order  to  appear  right,  placed  into  the 


June  1,  1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


315 


constitution  everything  which  they  found  neces- 
sary to  support  their  arjjunients. 

We  have  deemed  it  worth  while  to  attempt  to 
put  a  stop  to  this  irresponsible  talk,  and  find  that 
the  mere  furnishing  of  a  copy  of  the  constitution 
to  each  inmate  has  had  the  desireil  eflfect.  The 
talk  about  the  constitution  has  ceased,  because 
the  man  who  speaks  of  it  now  is  addressing  men 
who  have  a  way  of  checking  up  his  statements. 
There  were  far  too  many  "constitutional  law- 
yers" in  this  prison,  nwiiy  of  whom  had  never 
read  the  constitution.  They  have  been  put  out 
of  business,  and  it  will  prove  of  benefit  to  the  in- 
mates, because  it  injures  men  and  women  when 
they  are  led  to  believe  that  they  have  been  illegal- 
ly convicted,  when  such  is  not  the  case. 

We  shall  not  attempt  to  disprove  the  many 
tnisstatements  which  have  been  made  witii  re- 
gard to  provisions  of  the  constitution,  as  the  copy 
of  that  document  is  in  the  hands  of  every  in- 
mate and  speaks  for  itself. 

Those  prisoners  who  now  think  that  they  are 
in  this  prison  in  violation  to  the  provisions  of 
the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  or  who  are 
worrying  about  others  whom  they  think  are  so 
situated,  are  invited  to  write  to  us  regarding 
these  cases,  and  we  will  publish  all  legitimate 
discussion  and  inquiries,  reserving  the  right  of 
editorial  comment. 

Here  is  a  sample  of  the  new  order,  which 
might  be  followed  with  profit  by  many  a  paper 
published  outside  prison  walls.  Its  significance 
is  magnified  many  times  by  remembrance  that 
only  a  few  years  ago  Joliet  was  a  pillar  of  de- 
fense for  those  who  think  convicts  should  be 
treated  without  humanity ;  that  they  have  no 
rights,  and  therefore,  should  be  granted  no  jiriv- 
ileges. 

What  must  be  the  attitude  of  such  standpat- 
ters when  told  that  the  .-Xpril  issue  of  the  Prison 
Post  prints  in  full  the  Illinois  statute  governing 
the  right  of  habeas  corpus !  .\nd  commits  lese 
majestc  to  the  unthinkable  extent  of  blistering 
the  board  of  control  of  the  Iowa  Penitentiary  at 
I'ort  Madison  for  a  new  prison  lalxjr  contract  it 
has  approved  ! 

The  best  answer  as  to  whether  such  things  pay, 
it  seems  to  us,  is  contained  in  the  following  ])ara- 
graph  from  a  letter  to  the  editor  of  the  Post. 
written  by  a  man  who  is  in  for  life,  and  printed 
in  the  March  issue : 


".Among  the  many  changes  brought  about  here 
in  the  last  year  nothing  im|)resses  nic  so  nujch 
as  the  improved  conduct  of  the  prisoners.  I 
have  now  been  here  sixteen  years,  and  I  must  say 
that  the  last  year  has  been  very  unlike  the  pre- 
vious fifteen  years. 

"The  old  spirit  of  hate,  envy,  ill  feeling  among 
prisoners  is  fast  going.  It  used  to  be  a  few 
words  spoken  between  two  prisoners  in  a  low 
tone  of  voice  and  the  next  moment  a  fight.  Wc 
have  very  few  fights  now." 

"Lifers"  have  nothing  to  gain  by  coinniending 
prison  administration,  for  as  yet  they  are  not 
eligible  to  i)arole,  so  this  is  a  testinniiiial  worth 
considering.  It  is  <Mdy  one  of  many  contributed 
by  inmates,  but  in  each  is  voiced  a  spirit  of 
change,  due  to  the  cJianged  manner  in  which  the 
writers  are  being  treated. 

This  re])lacing  of  inhumanity  with  humanity 
has,  in  that  prison  as  well  as  in  our  own  Eastern 
Penitentiary  and  every  other  institution  so  affect- 
ed, hcli)ed  to  build  uj)  a  new  sense  of  personal 
responsibility  on  the  part  of  prisoners.  As  the 
editor  of  the  Post  says  in  his  current  issue: 

"True  prison  reform  depends  ui)on  recognition 
of  the  essential  fact  by  both  free  persons  and  pris- 
oners that  a  prisoner  must  earn  back  his  riglit  to 
freedom.  Prison  management  which  does  not 
teach  this  from  the  first  day  of  a  prisoner's  in- 
carceration until  the  moment  of  his  release  fails 
in  its  true  juirpose  and  is  particularly  harmful  to 
the  prisoner." 

Such  advice  is  equally  beneficial  to  those  with- 
in and  those  without  prison  walls.  The  more 
general  its  circulation  on  Ixth  sides  of  this  divid- 
ing line,  the  better  for  the  future  of  l)oth  classes. 
Indeed,  we  think  Tm:  Joi.iet  Prison  Post  should 
be  more  read  among  tJiose  who  have  not  Inrcn 
caught  than  anwng  those  who  have,  for  it  iHif 
only  bristles  with  human  interest,  but.  by  rca.son 
of  the  latitude  allowed  its  editor  and  contributors, 
presents  a  fair  view  of  the  prison  situation  from 
the  side  least  known  to  the  public. 

Throughout  the  worhl  men  and  women  are 
studying  the  great  problem  of  crime  and  crim- 
inals. In  this  country,  where  economic  con>id«r- 
ations  are  coming  into  their  own.  we  are  begin- 
nijig  to  sec  in  our  thousands  of  imprisone<l  of- 
fenders a  staggering  measure  of  waste.  Just 
how  much  of  this  can  be  eliminated  by  more  en- 
lightened treatment  none  knows,  as  yet. 


316 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


We  do  know,  however,  that  crime  and  crimin- 
als are  costing  ns  in  actual  outlay  more  than 
$3,500,000  a  day;  that  the  average  annual  cost 
just  about  equals  the  value  of  our  production  of 
wheat,  wool  and  coal. 

This  is  the  cost  of  such  offenses  against  the 
law  as  are  constantly  and  zealously  followed  up 
by  those  sworn  to  uphold  the  law.  It  does  not 
take  into  consideration  the  equally  costly  offenses 
of  those  whose  cheating,  stealing  and  murder- 
ing are  carried  on  in  the  name  of  "business"  or 
inider  the  convenient  cloak  of  respectability. 

Anything  that  tends  to  lessen  this  waste  is  of 
potent  worth.  Tliat  is  why  we  now  call  special 
attention  to  the  printing  press  in  prison,  for,  if 
rightly  guided,  its  power  may  prove  as  beneficial 
there  as  elsewhere. 

New  York  to  Build  Big  Jail  for  Women 

To  comply  with  the  provisions  of  a  new  law 
for  the  separation  of  man  and  woman  prisoners, 
the  city  will  build  a  special  jail  of  the  modern 
office  building  type,  fourteen  stories  high,  at  135 
to  139  West  30th  street.  Part  of  this  site  for- 
merly was  occupied  by  the  old  "tenderloin"  police 
station.  The  jail  will  be  the  highest  building  of 
its  kind  in  the  world. 

The  building  will  have,  besides  the  jail,  court- 
rooms, a  detention  department  and  offices  for  di- 
rection of  the  city's  correctional  work  among 
women.  The  board  of  estimate  appropriated 
$450,000  for  constructing  the  building. — Neivs, 
Chicago. 

Progress  in  Nebraska 

According  to  the  Lincoln  (Neb.)  Journal,  "one 
year  ago  Warden  Fenton  took  up  his  duties  at 
the  Nebraska  penitentiary.  During  the  year  he 
has  organized  the  work  at  the  prison  in  many 
ways.  The  honor  system  has  been  used  among 
the  convicts  both  in  and  out  of  the  prison.  At 
some  times  fifty  men  have  been  working  in  va- 
rious parts  of  Lancaster  county,  unattended  by 
guards  and  making  no  effort  to  escape.  Not  one 
prisoner  has  escaped  from  the  penitentiary  itself 
during  the  year.  Baron  von  Werner  was  one 
man  who  broke  his  word  to  the  prison  author- 
ities and  since  he  was  recaptured  at  Woodstock, 
111.,  has  been  deprived  of  the  privileges  which  he 
previously  enjoyed.     He  had  been  taken  to  the 


home  of  Chaplain  Johnson  at  Tecumseh  for  a 
visit  and  escaped  frorn  that  town.  Warden  Fen- 
ton is  pleased  with  the  spirit  of  co-operation 
which  exists  between  the  prison  officials  and  the 
convicts.  He  says  that  most  of  the  prisoners  are 
assisting  in  maintaining  order  and  that  they  real- 
ize that  every  effort  to  help  them  is  being  made. 
The  suppression  of  the  dope  traffic  is  one  of  the 
reforms  which  Warden  Fenton  feels  has  been 
the  most  important  act  of  his  administration. 

What  the  New  Ohio  Penitentiary  Will  Be 

From  the  Louisville  (Ky.)  Herald  we  learn 
that  "the  new  penitentiary  of  Ohio  is  going  to  be 
a  great  1,600-acre  farm,  modeled  after  the  Cooley 
farm  at  Warrensville,  which  is  used  by  Cleveland 
instead  of  the  orthodox  workhouses  of  other 
cities. 

"In  this  new  kind  of  penitentiary  the  prisoners 
will  sleep  in  white  iron  beds — not  in  cells ! 

"They  will  work  outdoors  without  guard ! 

"They  will  go  to  school  to  learn  the  interesting 
things  they  have  never  heard  of ! 

"They  will  be  taught  trades  so  when  they  leave 
they  can  earn  an  honest  living  out  in  the  world! 

"They  will  get  exercise,  medical  attention  and 
the  best  of  foods. 

"They  will  get  the  benefit  of  all  the  latest  dis- 
coveries in  scientific  penology." — The  Delinquent, 
New  York. 

Teaching  Honesty 

Lemmy  Williams,  a  little  colored  boy,  was 
caught  in  several  petty  delinquencies  and  was  at 
last  sentenced  to  a  short  term  in  the  reform 
school,  where  he  was  taught  a  trade. 

Shortly  after  his  return,  he  met  a  prominent 
woman,  who  asked : 

"Well,  Lemmy,  what  did  they  put  you  at  in 
prison?" 

"Dey  started  in  to  make  an  hones'  boy  out'n 
me,  ma'am,"  was  the  reply. 

"That's  good,"  replied  the  woman,  approving- 
ly.   "I  hope  they  succeeded,  Lemmy." 

"Dey  did,  deedy,  ma'am." 

"And  how  did  they  teach  you  to  be  honest?" 
queried  the  woman. 

"Why,  dey  done  put  me  in  the  shoe  shop, 
ma'am,"  explained  the  boy,  "nailin'  pasteboard 
onto  shoes  for  soles,  ma'am." — Chronicle,  Pitts- 
burg, Pa. 


J""e  1,  1914  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


317 


Wadsworth-Howland 
Company 


Paint  and  Color  Makers 


Carpenter  and  Fulton  Streets 

Chicago 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 

1900  COLLINS  STREET,     JOLIET,   ILL. 

^  1914 

Enclosed  find for   One    Dollar,    in   payment 

of  subscription  for  One  Year. 

Name 

Street  and  No. 

City 


County. 
State 


CUT    THIS    OUT    AND    MAIL    IN     YOUR     SUBSCRIPTION 


318 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


ADAMS  &   ELTING  CO 


AD-EL-ITE  Paint  and  Var- 
nish Products  cover  everything  in 
the  line— AD-EL-ITE  Varnishes, 
Fillers,  Stains,  Enamels,  Waxes, 
Brushes,  etc.     SEE  US  FIRST. 


726  Washington  Boulevard,  Chicago     Tel.  Monroe  3000 
New  York  Toronto 


BUCKNER  6  O'BANNON 

929  West  Main  Street,  Louisville,  Ky. 


Independent 
Dealers  in 


LEAF  TOBACCO 


We  buy  oiir  leaf  tobacco  directly  from  the 
farmers  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  and 
make  a  specialty  of  supplying  manufac- 
turers and  state  institutions. 


White  Bear  Brand  Steel  Cut 
Coffee 

Superior  in  the  cup — Popular  in  prices 

Durkasco  and  White  Bear  Brand 
Pure  Fruit  Preserves 

Durand  &  Kasper  Co. 

IVholesale  Grocers  and  Manufacturers 

Importers  and  Roasters  of  Coffee 

CHICAGO  ILLINOIS 


Bray's  Drug  Store 

The  HOME  of  BRAY'S  COUGH 

MIXTURE.    A  Remedy  that 

cures  where  others  fail. 


2S  Cents  — Per  Bottle— 50  Cents 
104  Jefferson  Street,  Joliet,  Illinois 


What  Business  Are 
You   Goin^  Into? 

Did  you  ever  consider  the  retail  grocery  business? 
We  would  like  to  talk  to  you  about  this  line  when 
you  are  at  liberty  to  take  it  up  with  us. 
Central  lUinois   offers   good   opportunities.     Small 
amount  of  capital  required. 

Campbell  Holton  &  Co. 

^V^HOLESALE  GROCERS 
Bloomiiigton  t:  Illinois 


June  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


31'^ 


sive 


To  Obtain  the  Best  Results  in  the  Safest  Manner,  in  Using  High-Expio 

USE 

Patented.     Trade  Mark  Registered 

The  World's  Greatest  High-Explosive 

A  Nitrated  Hydro-Carbon  Explosive 


Dynalite   is   used  at  the  quarry  of 

the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary  at 

Joliet,  Illinois,  where  it  has  given 

satisfaction  for  many  years. 


Adopted     by  The    Ohio    National    Cuard. 
Battalion  of  Enginerrt. 

Uted  by  the  Ohio  Stale  fenitenliiry .  Iht 
Dayton  Slate  Hotpital and linyilar  inttilu- 
tioni  wanting    and    knowing     the    BUST. 


MANUFACTURED  BY 


THE  AMERICAN  DYNALITE  COMPANY 

Amherst,  Ohio.     U.  S.  A. 


WERDEN  BUCK 

BUILDING 
MATERIAL 

511  and  513  WEBSTtRST. 


BOTH  PHONES  213 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


THE  J.  C.  ADLER  CO. 

JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 
If  you  want  the  best  in 

HAMS,  BACON,  LARD 

Sugar  Cur.        ^^    SAUSAGE     H.cLory  Sn,oke 

order  ours — we  make  them 

MARCO  GROCERS 


Louis  Stoughton  Drake 

Incorporated 


Fabricators  of  the  Celebrated 

LOONTIE 
CANE  and  REEDS 


Boston 


Massachusetts 


320 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Prison  Supply 
Company 

JOHN  W.  GIBBONS,  Agent 

IS^oolens  anb 

For    Officers,     Inmates 
and  Discharge  Clothing 

Tools  of  Every  Description 

34  S.  Fifth  Ave.,  CHICAGO,  ILL. 


W.   Preeman 

& 

Co. 

Wholesale  Potatoes 

and  Fruits 

Car  Lots  a  Specialty 

Chicago  'Phone  6  1 8               N. 

IV.  'Phone  859 

105  S.  JOLIET  STREET 

JOLIET, 

ILLINOIS 

Chicago  Phone:  OflBce  1037. 


Residence  548. 


Daniel  Feely 

Wholesale  Dealer  In 

MEATS  AND 
PROVISIONS 

Room  4,  Clement  Building 
Ottawa  Street       :        :        :        JOLIET,  ILL. 


Telephone  Yards  5150  and  5151 

Holman  Soap  Company 


Manufacturers  of 


ALL  KINDS  OF  SOAP 

Toilet  Preparations,  Perfumes,  Toilet  Soap, 
Soap  Powder,  Scouring  Powder,  Scouring  Soap, 
Metal    Polish,    Furniture    Polish,    Inks,    Etc. 


3104  to  3106  Fox  Street 


Chicago 


Enterprise  Plumbing 
Supply  Co. 

Plumbing  Supplies 
to  the  Trade  Only 


Randolph  1520 


Auto.  47-313 


26-28  W.  Kinzie  Street 


Chicago 


I.  B.  Williams 
CS,Son 


-MANUFACTURERS  OF- 


Oak  Tanned  Leather 
Belting 

Round  Leather 
Belting 

Cut   and   Side   Lace 
Leather 


14  N.  FRANKLIN  STREET 

TELEPHONE  MAIN   1666 

CHICAGO 

AGENTS  IN  ALL  PRINCIPAL  CITIES 


June  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


321 


MILL  SUPPLIES 

Hose — Water — Steam 

Steam  and  Hydraulic  Packings 
Belting — Rubber  and  Leather 

Pipe  and  fittings 

Valves  and  Valve  packings 
Wire — Steel  and  cut  Lacings 


Quotations  submitted  upon  request 


All  Deliveries  Made  Promptly 


POEHNER  &  DILLMAN 

417-419-421-423  Cass  St. 
JOLIET,   ILL. 

Chicago  Phone  119  Northwestern  Phone  525 


When  opporlunily  presents  itself, 
SPEAK  A  GOOD  WORD  FOR 

TheP.E.HOLMSTROM 
COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  GROCERS 
JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


Our  Brands 

Boulevard  Brand 
Renroh  Brand 
Kan  Brand 

Aab  your  grocer  for  above  brands  and 
get    quality    consistent     with     price 

HENRY  HORNER  &  CO. 

Importers  and  MaLnufacturers  of  Groceries 
CHICAGO,  U.  S.  A. 


Joliet  Oil  Refining  Co. 

REFINERS  OF  PETROLEUM 

High   Grade   Illuminatint;  and   Lubri- 
cating Oil,  Purity  Automobile  Oil 

All  Kinds  of  Grease  Linseed    Oil   Soap 

Located  on  Mills  Roid  ....S:*,,!,  JOLIET,  ILL. 


F.  C.  HOLMES  CS,  CO. 

IINCOHPtjRATKlJ 

WHOLESALE   DEALERS  IN 

Fresh,  Frozen  and  Smoked 
Fish  —  Oysters  in  Season 


Telephones 
Monroe  180 
Automatic  30-108 


736  West  Randolph  Street 
CHICAGO 


WEBB'S 

GAS  uoasti:d 

coi  I  i:k 


Pull  I- Mo  hi) 
Company 

I  iiiporfrrs  mid 

HoilsttTM 

Cliitajio     ::     Illinois 


322 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


THE 

BOSTON 

STORE 

Joliet's  Biggest,  Busi- 
est and  Best  Store. 
The  Store  that  knows 
what  you  want — 
and  has  it. 


We   stand    between   you    and 
HIGH      PRICES 


Only  TEXACO 
Lubricants  Are  Used 

On  the  Panama  Canal 
Quality   Alone   Made    This    Possible 

THE  TEXAS  COMPANY 


HOl-STdN 
CHICA(!0 
ATLANTA 
PUEBLO 


Bt)STOX 
ST.  LOUIS 
NEW  ORLEANS 
TULSA 


PHILADELPHLA 
NORFOLK 
DALLAS 
JOLIET 


"^^E  have  in  our  warehouses 
everything  in  the  steel  line 
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OF  JOLIET 

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two  cows,  now  we  use  the  milk  of  400  cows 

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AL.  J.  WEBER,  Proprietor 

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luiK-   1.   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


32.^ 


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324  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  First  Year 


—  INSTITUTION  SUPPLIES— 


for   Goverment,    State    and    Municipal   Institutions 

Clothings   Bedding,   Dry 
Goodsy  Rubber  Goods,  Etc. 

•  ■■     lll-M        — -     -^^^—  ■■-  ■■■■■■■■  I  ■      ■  I  I        ■     ■■  11  ■!  ■I.M..  I        ,  I    _^^^^^  „    ^ 

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COMPLIMENTS   OF 


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FAMOUS  EVERYWHERE  FOR  HIGH  QUALITY  AND  EXCELLENCE  OF  FLAVOR 


THE  JOLIBT 


EDITED  BY  .1    PR  I  SOS  ER 


Published  Monthly  by  the  Board  of  Commissionera  and  the  Warden 
of  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary.  Joliet.  III.,  U.  S.  A. 


One  Dollar  the  Year 


Kntprcd  ks  nwond  i-laiw  nimttvr.  J«nu«rr  li.  I»l«.  at  Ihc 
I'uKtomec  at  Joliet.  UIIdoIb.  under  Act  of  Marcli  3.  ICZ*. 


Ten  Cents  the  Copy 


Vol.  1 


JOLIET,  ILLINOIS.  JULY  1,  1914 


Governor    Edward    F.  Dunne's    Speech   to  Prisoners    at  Camp 
Dunne,  Near  Ottawa,  Illinois,  May  22,  1914 


1  am  pleased  to  have  the  opportunity  to  ad- 
dress you  men. 

The  state  has  deprived  you  of  your  liberty, 
but  not  of  your  manhood.  Your  presence  in  this 
camp  today,  on  your  honor  as  men,  proves  that 
the  administration  has  faith  in  your  manhood. 
We  expect  you  as  individuals  to  succeed.  Your 
individual  success  means  also  the  success  of  the 
experiment  of  putting  prisoners  upon  their 
honor  in  camps  and  at  road  work.  No  one  can 
tell  what  beneficent  results  will  ultimately  come 
from  experiments  like  this  one.  If  you  prove 
loyal  you  will  profit  by  it,  and  throug"!!  your 
good  conduct  the  men  who  may  hereafter  incur 
prison  sentences  may  profit  even  more  than  you 
will. 

The  state,  and  society  in  general,  are  making 
efforts  to  remove  those  conditions  which  either 
directly  or  indirectly  are  more  or  less  respon- 
sible for  the  plight  in  which  you  find  yourselves 
today.  If  you  i^rove  loyal  to  the  trust  which 
has  been  rcpo.scd  in  you,  the  problems  which 
now  seem  insolvable  may  be  partially  solved. 

The  state  assumes  the  right  to  use  the 
strength  and  time  of  its  pri.soncrs  to  its  own 
benefit.  In  the  past  the  state  has  placed  too 
much  emphasis  upon  this  right,  and  too  little 
upon  the  rights  of  its  prisoners.  This  condition 
society  is  attempting  to  change.  The  state  no 
longer  seeks  to  enslave  its  prisoners  by  placing 
upon  them  burdens  which  they  are  cither  unable 
or  unfit  to  carrv.     Prisoners  in  this  state  arc  no 


longer  subjected  to  hardships  for  the  mere  sake 
of  causing  them  pain  or  fatigue,  nor  arc  they 
any  longer  exploited  to  the  financial  gain  of 
contractors  of  prison  labor. 

We  are  beginning  to  see  the  prisoner's  .side  of 
the  situation.  We  have  already  learned  that  his 
rights  are  as  important  as  those  of  the  .*itatc,  yet 
many  of  tJie  problems  which  the  relation  of  gov- 
ernment and  prisoners  presents  have  not  been 
solved,  and  in  this  regard  a  tremendous  task  is 
still  before  us. 

In  recent  years  the  state  of  Illinois  has  abol- 
ished the  prison  contract  labor  system.  In  i'.s 
place  is  left  prison  shop  labor  which  is  not  let 
out  by  contract.  Even  this  is  unsatisfactory. 
This  administration  is  striving  to  find  the  right 
substitute  for  prison  shop  lalwr  and  to  employ 
the  men  of  our  prisons  in  a  manner  that  will 
bring  out  the  very  best  in  them ;  to  develop  them 
in  body  and  mind  and  to  restore  them  to  society 
as  useful  members. 

The  treatment  of  and  the  disj^sition  to  be 
made  of  those  men  and  women  who  fall  within 
the  meshes  of  the  law.  ami  the  reformation  of 
the  children  who  fall  into  evil  ways,  are  two  of 
our  gravest  and  most  widely  studied  and  dis- 
cussed public  questions. 

Here  in  Illinois  we  are  e.xi'ciimcnting  in  a 
way  which  has  been  suggested  by  our  study, 
and  this  camp  is  the  result.  We  who  represent 
the  govermncnt  are  asking  you  who  represent 
the  men  in  the  prisons  to  help  us  better  the  con- 


326 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


ditions.  We  go  to  the  man  behind  the  bars  and 
ask  him  for  his  opinions  and  for  his  co-opera- 
tion.    We  appeal  to  you  today  to  do  your  best. 

All  beneficent  progress  made  in  the  world  is 
attained  through  study  and  labor;  that  is, 
through  the  best  use  of  our  mental  faculties  and 
pliysical  equipment;  this  being  so,  the  state 
should  place  at  your  disposal  reasonable  oppor- 
tunities for  study  and  work. 

So  far,  the  administration  has  been  able  to 
accomplish  but  a  fraction  of  what  it  thinks 
should  be  done  for  the  men  and  women  confined 
in  our  prisons,  but  we  have  made  a  beginning, 
and  we  ask  you  prisoners  to  assist  us  in  making 
our  efforts  successful. 

In  my  inaugural  message  to  the  General  As- 
sembly I  recommended  that  a  law  be  passed 
authorizing  the  employment  of  prisoners  at  road 
building.  My  reasons  for  making  this  recom- 
mendation were  purely  humanitarian.  I  knew 
that  many  of  you  would  enjoy  the  liberties  of 
life  in  camps  and  the  invigorating  influences  of 
toil  in  the  open.  I  was  satisfied  that  the  oppor- 
tunities I  had  in  mind  for  you  would  elevate  you 
morally,  intellectually  and  physically ;  would  in- 
crease your  self-respect  and  appeal  to  your  sense 
of  honor.  I  had  hopes  that  you  would  feel  your- 
selves partners  in  a  plan  for  the  betterment  of 
the  thousands  who  today  live  apart  from  society. 

I  felt  sure  that  if  such  a  law  were  enacted  and 
successfully  operated,  it  would  pave  the  way  for 
other  and  more  far-reaching  legislation  designed 
to  improve  your  conditions  and  the  conditions 
surrounding  those  still  within  our  prison  walls. 
The  legislation  was,  I  am  happy  to  say,  enacted 
in  response  to  my  recommendations  and  as  a 
result  you  are  now  at  work  on  these  roads  under 
the  terms  of  that  legislation. 

The  act  as  passed  did  not  specifically  confer 
on  me  authority  to  grant  you  a  reward  for  meri- 
torious conduct,  but  I  have  the  powers  of  par- 
don and  commutation  given  to  me  by  other  laws, 
and  have  exercised  those  powers  to  commute  to 
you  one-fourth  of  your  time  for  good  work  and 
manly  conduct. 

You  are  all  familiar  with  the  law  under  which 
Camp  Dunne  has  been  established  and  you  are 
familiar  Avith  the  rewards  in  the  form  of  "time 
earned"  which  I  have  proclaimed. 

The  state,  the  nation,  the  whole  civilized 
world  is  looking  to  Illinois  to  see  whether  this 
experiment  will  succeed  here.     Good  men  and 


women  throughout  the  world  hope  it  will  suc- 
ceed, for  they  all  believe  it  is  a  step  toward 
the  solution  of  the  one  of  society's  many  prob- 
lems in  which  you  are  most  interested. 

The  administration  is  willing  to  help  you  if 
you  desire  help,  and  this  latter  will  be  deter- 
mined by  your  conduct.  So  far  you  have  started 
well  and  I  hope  that  you  will  end  well. 

No  force  has  been  applied  to  you  to  bring  you 
from  behind  the  prison  walls  to  this  open  air 
labor  upon  a  public  highway.  You  have  elected 
to  work  here  under  the  terms  of  the  honor  sys- 
tem. The  products  of  your  hands  and  strength 
might  well  be  sacrificed  if  its  money  value  were 
the  only  consideration ;  but  it  is  the  least. 

To  fan  into  flame  the  spark  of  hope  that  lives 
in  the  human  heart  so  long  as  life  lasts  was  my 
sole  object  in  recommending  the  law  under 
which  you  are  now  here,  and  it  was  also  the 
legislature's  sole  object  in  enacting  it,  as  well  as 
society's  sole  object  in  sanctioning  it  and  long- 
ing for  its  success.  Through  your  labor  the 
state  might  in  time  get  good  roads,  its  people 
would  enjoy  the  fruit  of  your  toil,  our  state's 
resources  would  be  enriched,  its  products  would 
be  increased  and  enhanced  in  value,  but  what 
would  all  that  be  if  it  should  not  accomplish  that 
which  we  are  primarily  seeking — the  improve- 
ment of  the  minds  and  bodies  of  those  who  are 
prisoners  and  their  ultimate  restoration  to  soci- 
ety as  good  citizens? 

As  the  governor  of  this  state  I  have  told  the 
people  and  their  representatives  that  you  can  be 
trusted.  Your  warden  has  trusted  you  and  you 
are  here  now  to  trust  one  another.  You  are  here 
to  contribute  some  good  to  those  who  are  to 
follow  you.  Do  not  forget  them.  You  have 
sympathy  for  all  others  who  have  gone  down 
under  the  same  misfortunes  which  have  engulfed 
you  and  for  all  others  who  may  yet  succumb  to 
them.  You  must  always  think  of  the  thousands 
who  are  to  follow  you.  If  by  your  conduct  and 
loyalty  you  make  this  experiment  a  success  it 
means  more  and  wider  liberties  for  both  you  and 
others  in  the  future.  And  if  by  your  conduct 
you  bring  failure  to  this  experiment  we  must 
return  to  the  old  system,  to  remain  there  for 
how  long  no  one  can  say. 

I  plead  with  you  as  a  camp  and  as  individuals 
to  stand  firmly  together  to  make  the  new  law  a 
success.  Let  each  man's  strength  be  thrown 
into  the  common  pool  for  the  equal  benefit  of  all. 


July  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


32; 


Place  confidence  and  trust  in  one  another  and 
when  temptation  confronts  you  go  seek  the  com- 
panionship of  your  fellows,  and  with  due  consid- 
eration for  them  and  for  the  future,  fight  away 
that  temptation. 

You  all  look  forward  to  your  liberty  and  the 
restoration  of  your  citizenship.  Many  of  you 
have  a  wife  and  children,  a  mother,  a  father, 
sisters,  brothers,  relatives  and  friends  who  are 
awaiting  anxiously  the  arrival  of  the  day  when 
vou  shall  have  completed  the  payment  of  your 
debt  to  society.  In  the  prison  at  Joliet  there  are 
other  prisoners  who  long  for  the  same  fond  day. 
Remember  that  tomorrow  others  will  arrive  at 
the  prison  to  begin  their  service,  and  that  next 
year  and  in  the  years  after  other  hundreds  shall 
fill  up  the  ranks.  It  is  for  you  of  today  to  say 
whether  you  shall  shorten  your  time,  whether 
they  may  shorten  their  time,  whether  both  you 
and  they  shall  eventually  return  to  your  places 
in  society,  benefited  physically  and  uplifted  mor- 
ally by  dignified  labor,  and  having  earned  the 
public's  confidence,  under  the  terms  of  the  law 
which  has  authorized  your  employment  at  this 
camp. 

I  ask  you  what  do  you  think  of  it  ? 

Do  you  not  think  it  would  be  a  terrible  thing 
to  break  your  word  by  violating  this  form  of 
parole  which  has  been  granted  to  you,  and  by 
so  doing  cutting  oflf  yourself  and  your  fellow 
prisoners  whom  you  have  been  selected  to  repre- 
sent from  the  chance  which  has  come  to  you  to 
show  that  you  are  all  we  trust  you  to  be— men 
who  wish  to  rejoin  society? 

Racking  a  Woman's  Sensibilities 

On  June  6,  a  Deputy  Sheriff  from  Cook 
County  brought  thirteen  prisoners  to  the  prison. 
1\velve  were  men  and  one  was  a  young  woman. 
Half  way  between  Chicago  and  the  prison  the 
woman  collapsed  and  upon  her  arrival  at  the 
prison  railroad  station  she  Itad  to  be  lifted  from 
the  car  and  moved  from  the  station  to  the  prison 
in  an  invalid's  chair.  The  prison  physician  re- 
vived her. 

We  should  like  to  know  why  the  Sheriff  of 
Cook  County  compelled  a  woman  to  travel  m 
the  company  of  twelve  male  prisoners  who  were 
shackled  like  so  many  wild  beasts? 


EDITORIAL 


The  Sheriff  and  the  Summons 

The  sentence  of  the  court  is  only  a  part  of  the 
prisoner's  punishment.  There  are  many  punisli- 
ments  added  which  are  collateral.  The  sheriff 
with  his  summons  is  to  the  man  in  prison  like 
a  pestilence  to  a  community.  The  prisoner 
cannot  move  away  from  the  slicriff  and  he  can- 
not be  warded  off. 

The  law  declares  that  every  defendant  must 
be  given  his  day  in  court,  yet  let  us  see  how 
the   prisoner   has   his   day   in   court. 

The  sheriff  calls  and  the  prisoner  is  niarche<l 
to  the  front  to  meet  him.  The  prisoner  is  handed 
a  paper;  the  sheriff  makes  a  return  on  the  sum- 
mons and  the  prisoner  is  declared  to  be  in  court. 
But  to  what  practical  benefit  to  himself? 

Usually  the  prisoner  is  without  money  and 
cannot  secure  a  lawyer;  still  the  mill  of  justice 
grinds  on  unmercifully.  Sometimes  the  litiga- 
tion involves  property,  but  usually  it  is  a  case  of 
divorce. 

It  is  admitted  that  conviction  for  a  felony 
should  usually  be  a  proper  basis  for  a  divorce. 
but  why  try  the  issues  in  the  absence  of  a  <lc- 
fcndant  ? 

When  the  state  takes  a  man's  freedom  and 
with  it  his  opportunity  to  earn  money  why  does 
it  still  assume  that  the  man  can  answer  the  sum- 
mons and  provide  for  himself  a  defense  as  is 
justly  assumed  when  a  man  is  free?  A  prisoner 
cannot  leave  prison  except  by  order  of  court  and 
without  funds  he  cannot  secure  a  representation. 
Recently  a  man  came  to  this  prison  for  a  crime 
which  did  not  involve  money  or  debt.  His  wife 
visited  him  regularly  and  promised  undying  «le- 
votion.  Cru.shcd  and  heli)less.  the  prisoner  finally 
deeded  over  to  his  wife  all  his  proiK-rty.  and 
inunediately  thereafter  the  sheriff  called  with  a 
summons  in  chancery  t*.  answer  a  divorce  pro- 
ceeding. 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  all  the  circumstances 
l)oint  to  a  complete  contlonation  which  if  made 
known  to  the  court  would  serve  to  defeat  the 
application,  the  suit  will  be  tried  and  decide<l  in 
favor  of  the  wife  who  has  played  the  Judas  part. 
In  the  prisoner's  absence  the  court  will  <lccide 
his  rights  with  regard  to  his  children  and  it  will 
be  trulv  said  that  -hr  ha-  had  his  day  in  court." 


328  THE  JOLIET 

Dynamics  of  the  Prison  Betterment  Move- 
ment 
There  is  something  more  in  the  movement  for 
prison  betterment  which  is  sweeping  the  country 
than  merely  the  good  purposes  of  the  persons 
who  are  voicing  that  movement.  There  is  some- 
thing more  in  the  movement  than  those  con- 
template who,  with  their  opposition,  think  they 
can  stem  that  movement. 

Speaking  of  persons  who  have  gotten  into 
prison,  Governor  Dunne  says  in  his  Camp  Dunne 
address : 

"The  state  has  deprived  you  of  your  lib- 
erty, but  not  of  your  manhood.  Your  pres- 
ence in  this  camp  today,  on  your  honor  as 
men,  proves  that  the  administration  has 
faith  in  your  manhood.  We  expect  you  as 
individuals  to  succeeed." 

There  is  dynamic  power  in  this  prison  move- 
ment. It  must  go  on.  The  spirit  in  man  is  im- 
pelling man  to  undertake  that  which  his  cal- 
culation and  his  will  would  shrink  from.  Men 
are  caught  up  in  the  hands  of  a  mighty  inner 
power  and  are  moved  to  act  in  obedience  and  to 
give  utterance  to  that  Vvhich  is  too  subtle  for 
them  to  explain  and  too  great  for  them  to  com- 
prehend and  to  understand ;  the  persons  who 
oppose  the  new  movement,  do  not  adequately 
compass  its  powers ;  those  who  endorse  and  sup- 
port the  movement,  are  themselves  unequal  to 
its   mighty   reaches. 


PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Men  unlawfully  at  large  are  fugitives.  Even 
if  the  law  has  been  unjust  with  them,  still,  the 
law  is  sovereign.  The  law  will  pursue  them  and 
they  will  not  be  free  until  the  demands  of  the 
law  are  satisfied.  They  skulk  and  dodge.  Never 
in  a  work  shop  dare  they  give  their  true  history ; 
never  at  a  boarding  house  can  they  tell  where 
they  are  from.  Home  can  have  no  fireside  for 
them:  the  law  watches  their  homes  and  a  visit 
or  a  letter  to  those  with  whom  nature  has  joined 
them  will  betray  them. 

Often  does  a  visit  or  a  letter  betray  a  man 
who  is  fleeing  the  law  and  he  is  brought  back  to 
where  he  went  from ;  back  to  satisfy  the  law's 
demands. 

The  fugitive  has  no  peace.  He  does  not  know 
either  security  or  rest.  His  days  are  haunted 
and  his  nights  are  hideous  dreams  of  the  stealthy 
approach  of  the  authorized  agent  of  the  State :  a 


man  without  a  country,  without  a  home ;  without 
a  friend  to  whom  he  may  go  in  full  confidence 
and  to  whom  he  can  unburden  his  weighted  soul. 
The  fugitive  has  escaped  from  the  prison  walls 
but  he  is  bound  with  more  trying  fetters  still. 
The  dangers  of  being  retaken  environ  him ;  the 
closed  opportunities  in  his  unnatural  situation 
engulf  him;  his  fears  of  apprehension  haunt  and 
involve  him  and  he  finds  no  freedom ;  his  con- 
science continuously  smites  him  and  he  finds  no 
peace. 

Contrasted  with  men  who  thus  leave  prison, 
are  such  as  those  who  within  the  past  few  days 
have  gone  to  Camp  Allen. 

For  these  men  the  dawn  is  breaking,  their 
horizon  is  broadening.  Sunday  is  a  visiting  day 
for  them  and  their  friends  and  families  can  come 
to  them  and,  in  the  open  air  and  on  the  fresh 
green  lawn  under  the  glorious  life-giving  sun, 
they  can  talk  and  plan  with  those  they  love  and 
in  whom  is  all  their  hope.  A  few  short  weeks, 
a  few  short  months,  a  few  years  and  the  de- 
mands of  the  law  are  satisfied;  the  men  travel 
the  distance  between  them  and  their  loved  ones 
and  there  is  separation  no  more. 

The   State  has   dismissed   its   requirement;   it 
shows  its  other  and  helpful  attitude;  it  extends 
its  opportunities  like  open  arms  to  the  man  who 
had  gone  to  the  camp  and  who  has  "made  good." 
The  man  is  free. 
He  fears  nothing;  not  even  the  State  itself, 
because  he  has  made  the  State  his  friend.  There 
is  no  shudder  at  the  sight  of  an  officer  of  the 
law ;  he  has  no  secrets  to  hide  from  his  fellow 
workmen  or  from  his  employer ;  his  conscience 
is  clear  and  all  the  spiritual  life,  all   the  truth 
that  is  in  him,  is  giving  him  strength :  the  hus- 
band can  sit  in  the  quiet  twilight  with  his  wife, 
the  father  can  watch  the  little  child  climb  upon 
his  knee,   himself  extending  his   helping  finger, 
and  he  can  love  the  wife  and  the  child  and  can 
know^  that  they  are  his  and  that  he  is  now  to  be 
with  them  to  the  end 'of  his  days. 

He  is  rewarded  for  his  patience  in  being  true 
to  the  requirements  of  the  State,  with  a  reward 
that  he  who  flees  from  justice  can  never  know. 


The  persons  who  oppose  the  new  movement, 
do  not  adequately  compass  its  powers ;  those  who 


July  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


3>) 


endorse  and  support  the  movement,  are  them- 
selves unequal  to  its  mighty  reaches. 

Society  as  a  whole  will  need  to  come  to  ac- 
knowledge the  great  awakening,  the  great  ex- 
altation of  the  power  that  is  in  a  loyalty  to  the 
building  of  one's  own  character. 

The  new  administrations  of  prisons  and  the 
men  resident  in  prisons  are  determined  not 
longer  to  allow  the  kind  of  prison  life  and  the 
kind  of  prison  policy  that  has  until  recently — 
with  all  of  our  moral  and  material  progress,  em- 
phasized by  our  peace  conventions,  our  civic  bet- 
terment conferences,  our  centennials  and  our 
world's  fairs, — blackened  the  history  of  even  our 
fairest  states. 

From  experience,  it  has  been  learned  that 
principally  liquor  is  the  cause  of  the  deeds  that 
send  men  here,  that  principally  liquor  is  the 
cause  of  the  violations  of  the  pledges  which  the 
men  make  when,  in  the  purpose  of  making  good, 
they  go  out  to  the  farm  or  on  the  road. 

The  prison  administration  has  become  the 
prison  resident's  friend.  The  administration  is 
undertaking  to  guard  the  man  where  the  man 
is  not  able  wholly  to  guard  himself.  The  drink 
that  makes  the  man  weak,  that  makes  the  man 
defeat  himself,  the  prison  administration  keeps 
away  from  him.  To  this  end  are  the  pledges 
asked  of  the  men  who  have  just  gone  to  the  new 
Camp  Allen ;  to  this  end  was  the  Chaplain's 
earnest  talk  and  the  Warden's  encouraging 
words. 

The  man  is  not  alone  to  blame,  the  authority 
over  him  has  its  responsibility  also.  Prison  ad- 
ministrations are  acknowledging  that  responsi- 
bility :  they  do  all  they  can  to  outlaw  licjuor  and 
the  liquor  habit  within  the  province  of  their 
|)ower. 

May  not  society  at  large  learn  something  from 
what  is  going  on  in  the  prison  places  ?  I  f  prison 
administrations  would  not  do  what  they  can  to 
remove  liquor  from  the  pathway  of  the  men  who 
are  liable  to  fall  by  it,  how  could  the  adminis- 
trations hold  the  individuals  wholly  responsible 
for  what  they  might  do  as  the  result  of  drink. 

.\uthority  is  coming  to  see  that  it  should  be- 
friend and  aid  the  subject.  Responsibility  is  not 
with  the  indivitlual  alone. 

Why  is  this  mighty  onward  social  movement? 

Shall  not  society  itself  acknowledge  and  con- 
form to  what  the  movement  re(|uires — the  guard- 


ianship of  the  welfare  of  the  individual  by  so- 
ciety as  a  whole? 

Is  it  to  l>c  left  to  the  children  t\i  \\\v  wjMir- 
ness  to  lead  the  chosen  of  this  world  into  the 
promised  way? 

The  Ethics  of  Band  Music  in  Prison* 

The  unbroken  logic  of  the  experience  of  the 
world,  is  that  there  is  a  better  way  of  handlinK 
men  4han  by  using  mere  force. 

There  is  in  man's  nature  something  that  re- 
sents subjugation  and  there  is  something  that 
res|)onds  to  acknowledging  and  allowing  hi«» 
rights.  The  world's  inevitable  tendency  has 
I)een  to  move  away  from  mere  domination  by 
those  in  power  and  to  grow  into  a  plan  of  l 
ornment  that  shall  be  "by  the  consent  of  the  gu>  - 
erncd." 

It  must  be  acknowledged,  even  by  those  of  us 
who  wish  the  best  for  men  in  prisons,  that  there 
are  some  low  type  men  in  the.se  communities. 
It  is  the  presence  of  this  type  of  men  that  has 
appeared  to  justify  the  policy  of  force  and  pun- 
ishment that  in  years  past  has  been  the  practice 
in  prisons.  The  tortures  that  have  been  inflicted 
and  suffered  in  prisons,  the  human  rights,  even 
of  men  imprisoned,  that  have  been  denied,  the 
life  values  that  have  been  crushed  out  of  nat- 
urally hopeful  and  naturally  gotxl  men,  the  un- 
necessary ruining  of  men  financially,  physically. 
morally  and  spiritually  (so  far  as  this  world's 
iiopcs  go),  that,  in  the  name  of  "justice"  and  in 
tiie  name  of  "protecting  society."  has  through  all 
generations  been  common  practice  in  the  pris«»ns 
of  the  world,  will  never  and  can  never  be  known. 
And  Illinois  as  well  as  other  states  and  as  well 
as  the  different  coiuuries.  has  her  blackcnc<l  hi-i- 
tory  of  the  way  in  which  her  prisoners  have  been 
treated. 

Tin:  Joi.iKT  pRi.soN  Post  seeks  to  repre-sewt 
what  is  being  done  in  this  prison,  rather  than  to 
represent  merely  the  men  who  arc  doing  it. 
But.  nevertheless,  the  fact  is  to  be  acknowledged 
that  the  change  in  the  character  of  the  man  >. 
ment  of  the  prison  began  with  the  present  ad- 
ministration. 

The  present  admiiu>iiaii"n  ^  iK)lKy  i>  lo  har- 
in«mize  with  and  to  lead  the  men,  as  against  the 
|>olicy  of  ignoring  natural  rights  and  doniinat- 
ing  the  men. 


330 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Generally  those  in  power  have  overlooked  the 
deep  inner  forces  which,  even  above  men's  wills, 
control  the  men's  lives  and  the  consequent  super- 
ficial treatment  the  subjects  have  received  from 
those  in  power,  has  not  yielded  the  results  that 
the  public  might  have  hoped  for. 

The  first  step  in  the  new  type  of  prison  admin- 
istration, was  to  make  the  lives  of  the  men  as 
normal  as  possible  in  the  conditions  under  which 
the  men  live  and  in  keeping  with  what  is  re- 
quired by  the  State. 

This  consideration  of  the  men  has  so  changed 
the  men's  attitude  that,  for  the  most  part,  the 
men  have  become  supporters  of  the  administra- 
tion's policy  instead  of  being,  as  heretofore, 
merely  in  subjection  to  that  policy  and  rebellious 
at  heart. 

There  are  now  within  the  walls,  at  the  road 
camps  and  on  the  new  farm  fifteen  hundred 
and  ninety-one  "inmates"  of  this  institution. 
Thirteen  hundred  and  thirty-six  of  these  are 
first  grade  men  who  have  signed  the  honor 
pledge  in  which  they  agree  to  conform  to  the 
administration's  rules  even  though  those  rules 
restrict  them. 

In  view  of  what  is  to  work  out  for  them,  these 
men  have  come  to  a  willing  acceptance  of  the 
restrictions :  the  great  accomplishment  of  the 
new  administration's  first  year's  work,  is  the 
prisoner's  acceptance  of  the  conditions  and  rules 
which  are  necessary  at  any  particular  time. 


Under  the  old  regime  the  marching  was  one 
of  the  severe  forms  of  discipline.  Every  face 
must  be  kept  directly  forward ;  everybody  truly 
in  line ;  every  step  in  strict  harmonious  move- 
ment with  the  steps  of  the  other  men.  A  falling 
out  of  line,  a  turning  of  the  head  to  one  side, 
a  shuftling  of  the  step  was  an  occasion  for  pun- 
ishment and  many  a  man  has  been  sent  to  the 
"hole"  for  such  "insubordination." 

Some  weeks  ago  the  Prison  Honor  Band  was 
organized.  At  first  this  band  furnished  music  in 
the  dining  hall  during  the  Sunday  dinner.  Now 
every  day  at  a  quarter  to  twelve  and  at  a  quarter 
to  five  o'clock,  the  band,  at  the  head  of  Ad- 
ministration avenue,  plays  a  variety  of  choice 
marches  while  the  men  are  moving  in  line  from 
the  shops,  the  quarry  and  the  farm  to  the  dining 
hall.  At  one  o'clock  the  band  plays  again  while 
the  men  march   from  their  cells  back  to  work. 


The  band  also  plays  in  the  dining  hall  during 
dinner  and  supper. 

The  administration's  policy  is  not  to  force  the 
men  but  to  make  them  natural ;  to  give  them 
something  to  live  for.  The  marching  lines  are 
now  a  part  of  the  approved  order  of  the  place : 
the  men  look  forward  to  the  marching  as  one  of 
the  pleasures  of  the  day. 

Captain  Michael  J.  Kane,  who  has  been  an 
officer  of  this  institution  for  thirty  years,  and 
who,  as  he  himself  announces,  is  one  who  has 
believed  in  "discipline,"  knows  the  experience 
of  this  institution  during  some  of  its  blackest 
days  and,  in  contrast,  is  witnessing  what  is  being 
experienced  here  now. 

Captain  Kane  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
keenest  observers  of  the  men.  In  consequence 
of  his  experience,  he  probably  has  a  closer  knowl- 
edge of  the  men  individually  than  any  other 
officer.  Captain  Kane  has  charge  of  the  dining 
hall  and  it  is  he  who  arranged  for  the  band's 
playing  while  the  men  march.     He  says : 

"The  influence  of  the  music  on  the  march- 
ing is  wonderful  to  me.  I  notice  that  the 
men  are  keeping  step;  that  they  are  erect; 
their  heads  rise  and  their  shoulders  come  up 
as  soon  as  they  leave  the  cell  house.  There 
is  also  a  difference  in  the  dining  hall.  The 
life  of  the  men  used  to  be  only  silence  and 
work.  No  conversation  and  no  noise  was 
permitted  while  at  meals.  The  contrast  is 
great.  Anyone  coming  in  could  not  help 
noticing  it.  There  is  less  liability  to  quar- 
rels. In  place  of  men  getting  into  a  quar- 
rel, their  attention  is  given  to  the  music ; 
the  music  changes  the  temper  of  the  men." 
Mr.  John  Keeley,  Yard  Superintendent,  is  an 
officer  who  also  has  had  experience  under  the 
earlier  system.  When  asked,  "Does  the  music 
help  any?"     Mr.  Keeley  said: 

"It  helps  a  good  deal.  The  men  keep  in 
step ;  there  is  not  so  much  talking  and  look- 
ing around  in  line.  The  men  like  to  march 
to  the  music.  You  will  see  them  jump  into 
step  if  they  happen  to  be  out  of  step.  In 
the  dining  hall  there  is  not  so  much  talking 
and  there  is  less  noise." 

Mr.  Keeley  contrasts  the  marching  and  the 
dining  hall  with  the  more  immediate  period 
when  the  severity  of  the  rules  had  been  relaxed 
and  the  men  in  line  and  at  meals  had  dropped 

It  was  suggested 


away  from  the  old  rigiditv 


II 


July  1,   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


331 


that  the  men's  cheering  in  the  ilining  hall  after 
a  particularly  tine  piece  of  music  and  tlieir  en- 
cores are  "noise."  "Yes,"  said  Mr.  Keeley, 
"the  men  cheer,  !'itt  what  hurt  docs  that  do.''" 

The  significance  of  this  whole  experience  is 
that  what,  under  the  old  order  of  things,  could 
be  done  only  with  severity  and  cruelty  is  done 
willingly  and  spontaneously  under  the  new  ad- 
ministration's policy.  The  lines  now  march  with 
a  steady,  stately  tread;  there  is  a  strong  uniform 
advance  with  something  like  militarv  jirecision 
and  pride.  A  few  days  since  a  small  squad  of 
men  came  in  ahead  of  a  long  marching  line.  The 
leader  of  the  line  called  out  to  the  sc|uad  in  a 
mufHed  but  determined  voice,  "Get  out  of  the 
way ;  you  are  breaking  up  the  line." 

The  installation  of  the  band  is  one  of  the 
features  of  the  new  administration's  policy.  The 
ethical  value  of  the  band  music  is  a  part  of  the 
ethical  value  of  the  whole  policy  of  the  admin- 
istration. 

H'hcn  men  come  to  zvant  to  do  the  thin<rs  that 
ought  to  be  done,  it  is  the  making  of  character. 

Prison  Citizenship 

Under  the  old  order  of  things  punishment  was 
no  particular  discredit.  Punishment  was  given 
so  often  and  on  such  slight  pretext  and  the  con- 
ditions of  life  were  so  hard  that  the  mark  of  a 
violation  of  the  rules  had  no  particular  sig- 
nificance to  the  men.  Punishment  meant  only 
that  the  prisoner  had  failed  to  "get  by"  with 
something — whatever  it  was — that  nearly  every 
other  prisoner  thought  he  was  justified  in  trying 
to  get  by  with. 

I»ut  today  it  is  different.  Today  the  policy  of 
the  prison  administration  is  to  acknowledge  the 
natural  rights  of  prisoners  and  to  grant  those 
rights  as  the  action  of  the  men  justify  their  be- 
ing granted  and  as  conditions  make  it  possible 
to  grant  them. 

Today  the  wearing  of  stripes  docs  not  mean 
suffering — which  is  the  essence  of  punishment — 
so  much  as  it  means  classification.  The  strii)es 
signify  that  the  men  wearing  them  have  not 
made  good  in  the  increasing  opportunities  which 
the  present  administration  is  offering. 

The  purpose  of  restricting  the  men  who  abuse 
the  new  opportunities  to  only  what  is  allowed 
third  grade  men   is  to  serve  in   preserving  the 


opi)<>rtunitics  for  the  men  who  d«)  profit  by 
them.  Those  who  have  the  op|x)rt unities  do  not 
wish  to  see  them  denied  to  other  men. 

There  arc  only  a  few  men  in  stripes,  but  at 
times  some  of  these  are  men  of  too  high  intelli- 
gence and  of  too  clear  a  countenance  t«)  l)c  K">"g 
about  among  the  other  men  lalnrled  as  of  a 
"third  grade."  Let  us  see  these  tine  fellows  ask 
to  be  restored  to  secon<l  grade  as  soon  as  they 
feel  that  they  are  justified  in  asking  to  Ik  re- 
stored so  that — some  time — there  shall  be  no 
men  wearing  stripes  and  eating  in  the  cell  house 
away  from  the  other  men. 

OpiX)rtunity  is  being  offere<l  to  live  the  l>cst 
that  is  in  us.  Let  us  raise  the  standard  of  the 
citizenship  of  this  community. 

Which  Shall  It  Be? 

There  are  two  ways  to  conduct  i)cnitentiarics. 
One  method  requires  the  co-operation  of  the 
prisoners;  the  other  does  not.  The  second 
method  means  that  the  UKiment  the  big  iron 
door  closes  upon  a  man  who  enters  the  prison 
he  becomes  a  convict  in  the  old  accei)te<l  sense. 
He  is  at  once  made  to  face  a  wall,  to  wait  for 
an  officer;  and  if  he  looks  to  the  right  or  left 
he  is  reprimanded.  He  is  ordere<l  about  sternly 
from  the  beginning:  he  is  told  to  forget  that 
he  was  ever  addressed  as  mister  an<l  that  no 
one  wearing  prison  garb  may  Ik-  thus  addressed ; 
he  is  told  that  coffins  are  cheap  and  the  cemetery 
is  large  and  that  men  who  do  not  behave  do  not 
live  long;  he  is  told  that  convicts  have  no  right 
to  think  and  that  a  convict's  word  cannot  be 
taken  on  any  occasion.  It  would  take  volumes 
to  describe  this  form  of  prison  mctho<ls,  but  it 
will  be  sufficient  to  say  that  meek  oboliencc  is 
the  first  and  only  aim. 

The  other  way  of  conducting  a  prison  is  for 
the  administration  to  seek  the  tnie  welfare  of 
its  |)risoners  but  no  administration  can  do  this 
without  their  co-operation. 

In  the  latter  method  there  is  a  choice  for  tlic 
prisoners.  Those  prisoners  who  believe  in  the 
ix)licy  of  enforced  meek  <»l>edience  may  projHrrly 
l>e  against  the  administration:  those  who  l>elicve 
in  the  In'tter  treatment  nmst  l)e  with  it.  Those 
who  wish  to  co-operate  with  it  must  help  it  by 
goo<l  conduct,  patience,   industry  an«l  economy. 

In  the  Warden's  first  address  in  chai>cl  he  said 
he  woidd  do  his  best   for  us  l)Ut  that  we  must 


332 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


meet  him  half  way.  This  statement  was  greeted 
with  unanimous  applause  by  the  prisoners,  which 
showed  their  hearty  approval,  and  then  and  there 
an  implied  contract  was  created ;  there  was  a 
meeting  of  minds. 

The  administration  has  done  more  for  the  men 
than  was  thought  could  be  done.  On  the  other 
liand,  have  the  men  done  all  that  they  could  have 
done?  Are  there  not  too  many  men  here  who 
accept  all  that  comes  their  way  and  then  clamor 
for  more,  and  who  at  the  same  time  take  pride 
in  being  contrary  and  deceitful? 

Must  Pass  Test  to  Get  Parole 

The  Chicago   Tribune  of  Alay  31,  says: 

A  new  system  of  requiring  a  mental  and  psy- 
chological examination  of  all  convicts  in  the  Kan- 
sas oenitentiary  to  determine  their  fitness  to 
become  good  citizens  when  released,  has  brought 
that  state  face  to  face  with  an  entirely  new 
problem  in  dealing  with  its  criminals.  Gov. 
Hodges  put  the  new  system  into  effect  in  Feb- 
ruary, and  the  first  tests  have  just  been  sub- 
mitted to  him  by  the  parole  board. 

What  should  the  state  of  Kansas  do  with  men 
and  women  of  legal  age,  whose  mental  activi- 
ties are  those  of  young  children?  Thirty-eight 
prisoners  asked  for  paroles  last  month.  The 
thirty-eight  were  examined  by  the  prison  physi- 
cian as  to  their  bodily  health,  mental  condition, 
sociological  and  psychological  record  to  deter- 
mine just  what  chances  the  prisoners  had  to 
"make  good"  as  citizens. 

Only  six  had  the  normal  mental  activities  of 
their  age.  Four  were  slightly  below  normal  and 
twenty-eight  men  and  women,  from  23  to  58 
years  old,  were  proven  by  actual  tests  to  be  really 
nothing  more  than  children  from  7  to  12  years 
old.  These  people  showed  slow  mental  proc- 
esses, but  all  were  unusually  quick  tempered  and 
it  is  seldom  that  one  was  reported  as  having  a 
fairly   even   temper   and   pleasant   disposition. 

One  white  man,  58  years  old,  who  had  served 
seven  years,  when  put  through  the  psychological 
tests  showed  he  thought  and  acted  only  as  a 
child  of  9  years.  He  had  no  more  the  sense  of 
wrongdoing  than  a  small  boy  in  the  third  grade 
at   school. 

Another  white  man,  30  years  old,  had  attained 
the  mental  activities  of  a  child  of  7  years.  This 
young  chap  thought  that  the  highest  profession 


to  which  it  was  possible  to  attain  was  that  of  a 
professional  prize  fighter.  It  was  his  greatest 
ambition  to  have  physical  training  that  he  might 
become  a  "white  hope"  and  redeem  the  pugilistic 
honors  of  his  race. 

Anotlier  man,  charged  with  murder,  was 
found  to  be  56  years  old,  but  talked  and  acted 
like  a  boy  of  7  years.  A  negro  man,  38  years 
old,  had  the  mental  activities  of  a  child  of  8 
years.  This  boy  was  put  into  a  reform  school 
when  9  years  old.  He  spent  seven  of  the  next 
ten  years  in  reform  schools,  jails  and  reforma- 
tories. Then  he  enlisted  in  the  army  and  for  the 
three  year  period  of  his  enlistment  this  negro 
spent  two  years  and  nine  months'  actual  time  in 
the  guardhouse  and  had  five  or  six  years  addi- 
tional time  on  his  head  when  his  enlistment  ex- 
pired and  he  was  dishonorably  discharged  by  the 
army  officials  to  get  rid  of  him. 

"What  are  we  going  to  do  with  these  men  and 
women?"  said  Governor  Hodges,  when  the  re- 
ports were  presvtnted.  "Not  one  of  these  twen- 
ty-eight men  has  an  equal  chance  with  other 
folks  if  they  are  released  from  prison.  They  are 
too  old  to  submit  to  the  same  treatment  as  a 
child  of  the  same  mental  age,  but  they  are  act- 
ually only  children  in  grown-up  bodies.  They 
have  been  the  victims  of  environment,  lack  of 
training,  and  control  at  home  and  their  minds 
stopped  developing  early  or  when  they  stopped 
going  to  school. 

"Most  of  these  men  and  women  went  to  school 
for  a  few  years,  maybe  until  they  were  8  or  9 
years  old,  and  their  minds  did  not  develop  any 
from  that  time  until  the  present.  They  are  not 
insane  and  cannot  be  said  to  be  feeble  minded, 
but  there  has  been  no  development.  In  numer- 
ous cases  we  have  found  that  the  prisoners  were 
mentally  almost  normal,  but  were  morally  de- 
ficient. 

"These  men  and  women  can  be  easily  led  into 
trouble  again.  They  have  little  sense  of  right 
and  wrong.  They  assume  toward  any  one  who 
befriends  them  an  attitude  of  childish  confidence 
and  accept  the  instructions  of  this  person  with- 
out question.  Let  them  out  of  the  prison  and 
they  are  up  against  an  unequal  fight  with  the 
world  and  the  human  jackals  seize  upon  them  to 
do  their  dirty  work. 

"When  these  people  commit  a  crime  of  a  felo- 
nious class  they  must  be  sent  to  prison.  They 
do  not   reform  and   they   seldom   improve  their 


July  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


^iS 


condition  so  that  they  have  a  better  chance  to 
make  g^ood  than  before  they  were  sent  there. 
The  prison  is  not  the  place  for  them.  They 
must  be  punished,  of  course,  but  they  need  de- 
velopment and  contact  with  other  men  and 
women  to  improve  their  mental  and  moral  con- 
ditions. To  turn  them  out  in  their  present  men- 
tal and  moral  state  with  the  stigma  of  a  prison 
upon  them,  makes  the  fight  so  unequal  that  it 
is  no  wonder  so  many  are  returned. 

".Steps  should  be  taken  to  prevent  the  repro- 
duction of  this  class." 

The  Topeka,  Kansas.  Capital,  commenting  edi- 
torially. June  17,  on  the  situation  described  by 
the  Trilnnic  in  the  foregoing  paragraphs,  has 
this  to  say : 

Mental  tests  made  at  the  State  peniten- 
tiary at  Lansing  are  said  to  show  that  eight 
out  of  every   10  convicts  have  "six  to   12 
year  old  minds."     Assuming  these  tests  are 
real  and  dependable,  that  ought  to  be  a  re- 
assuring discovery.     It  is  something  for  hu- 
man nature  at  its   supposed  worst  to   find 
that  even  of  convicted  criminals  only  two 
out  of  10  choose  a  course  of  crime  deliber- 
ately.    The  others   fall   into  it  and   follow 
it  because  they  lack  the  intelligence  of  nor- 
mal   individuals,   their   mental   development 
suddenly  "quit  on  them"  before  they  grew 
up   to   responsible  years.     The   tests  them- 
selves are  simple,  being  such  as  would  be 
applied  to  children  in  perhaps  the  third  or 
fourth  grade  in  school,  some  of  the  tests 
such  as  a  first  or  second  grade  child  might 
be  expected  to  "pass."     They  are  tests  of 
mental  capacity.     For  example,  three  geo- 
metrical figures  are  drawn  and  the  convict 
is  asked  to  put  a  cross   in   tlie  circle.     He 
must    have    the    intelligence    to    distinguish 
between  a  square,  a  circle  and  a  triangle.    A 
circle  is  drawn  with  a  dot  in  the  center  and 
the  pupil  is  asked  to  put  a  dot  below  the 
center.     A  number  of  questions  are  calcu- 
lated to  show  how   far  in   fact  the  convict 
did   get   in   school,  other  (|uestions  test   his 
powers  of  observation  and  others  his  con- 
trol   over    his    muscular    reactions.      What 
these  tests  taken   together   indicate  is  that 
80  per  cent  of  the  convicts  in  the  peniten- 
tiary  have   arrested    minds   that   ceased    to 


grow  before  they  reached  their  teens.  Some- 
times this  cessation  of  development  was 
due  to  a  severe  sickness,  sometimes  to  an 
accidental  injury  and  sometimes  to  causes 
that  do  not  api)ear.  The  condition  is  incur- 
able, but  it  is  preventable,  and  criminolo- 
gists are  doing  a  good  deal  to  promote  pre- 
ventive measures  that  will  shut  oflF  a  big 
percentage  of  criminality  due  to  infantile 
or    subnormal    intelligence. 

The  Joliet  Prison  Post  has  recognized  this 
condition  from  the  day  of  its  birth,  except  as  to 
the  proportion  of  those  suffering  from  what 
we  choose  to  call  disability.  We  recognize  that 
the  first  duty  of  government  is  to  protect  law 
abiding  citizens,  but  we  ask  what  is  society  to 
do  about  those  who  suffer  from  di.sability,  who 
are  consequently  unfit  for  freedom  and  who 
have  been  sufficiently  punished? 

It  is  not  right  to  return  defectives  to  society ; 
neither  is  it  rij^ht  to  punish  them  forever  by 
incarceration.  Life  in  prisons  cannot  help  these 
people.  It  will  be  conceded  that  at  least  some 
of  the  thirty-eight  prisoners  and  perhaps  all  who 
were  examined  by  the  parole  board,  must  have 
been  punished  sufficiently  to  be  entitled  to  their 
parole,  that  so  far  as  they  were  able  they  had 
paid  their  respective  debts  to  society.  That 
adults  with  the  minds  of  children  were  convicted 
does  not  need  even  to  be  taken  into  account. 

Before  parole  laws  were  passed,  one  convicted 
of  crime  received  a  definite  sentence  according 
to  the  finding  of  judge  or  jury  base<l  upon  the 
facts  in  the  case.  Under  the  parole  law  verdicts 
run  from  one  to  five  years  and  to  from  one  year 
to  life.  The  convicted  person  is  passed  along  to 
a  parole  l)oard  which  is  to  fix  the  length  of  the 
sentence.  The  jiarole  board's  first  duty  is  to 
protect  .society.  It  is  remiss  in  its  duty  if  it 
paroles  a  prisoner  who  is  likely  to  l>c  a  jncnacc 
to  society.  W'e  do  not  condemn  parole  laws  as 
always  wrong  or  defend  the  system  of  fixed 
sentences  as  always  right.  The  parole  laws, 
however,  have  brought  their  own  evils  which 
society  has  not  met.  We  point  out  that  society 
is  attending  to  all  of  this  and  that  the  so-called 
"criminal  class"  has  no  voice  in  it.  Whatever 
injustice  results  therefore  from  parole  laws, 
comes  from  the  law  abiding  element  of  society. 


334 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Parole  laws  have  been  in  force  long  enough 
for  glaring  injustices  that  work  out  under  them 
to  have  been  corrected.  Society  through  negli- 
gence is  frequently  cruel  and  this  seems  to  be  an 
instance  in  point.  Under  present  conditions  de- 
fectives are  punished  longer  than  those  who  are 
up  to  or  over  the  average  in  mental  and  physical 
condition.  Society  must  learn  that  it  should  not 
punish  persons  for  disability,  but  that  is  just 
what  it  is  doing  when  parole  boards,  in  their 
effort  to  protect  society,  hold  men  because  of 
men's   disability. 

The  degree  of  twentieth  century  civilization 
may  well  be  questioned  when  under  parole  laws 
the  punishment  of  defective  persons  is  prolonged 
only  because  society  had  not  devised  a  more  just 
way  of  protecting  itself   from  these  persons. 

Aside  from  the  question  of  injustice,  we  point 
out  that  confining  men  in  penitentiaries  is  a  very 
expensive  method ;  it  costs  human  utility  and  it 
costs  dollars.  To  lock  two  men  one-third  of  the 
time  in  a  cell  four  feet  wide,  seven  feet  long  and 
seven  feet  high  is  an  almost  perfect  way  to  re- 
duce men's  efficiency  to  the  lowest  point.  This 
one  thing  accounts  largely  for  the  poor  showing 
made  by  prison  industries.  Besides,  when  de- 
fectives are  kept  in  company  with  dangerous 
criminals  as  much  expense  is  involved  in  guard- 
ing the  defectives  as  in  guarding  the  criminals, 
which    is   unnecessary. 

Localizing  Responsibility 

I'^rom  the  Jackson,  IVIichigan,  prison,  comes 
tlie  proposition  that  men  sent  to  prison  from  any 
community  shall  be  received  back  by  that  com- 
munity when  paroled  or  discharged. 

This  is  a  part  of  a  plan  for  im.provement  which 
is  being  promoted  under  Warden  Nathan  F. 
Simpson. 

The  proposition  is  the  result  of  observations 
made  by  the  prison  management  which  .show 
that  "the  attitude  of  society  toward  the  ex- 
prisoner  is  such  that  he  is  almost  compelled  to 
find  his   associates   among  criminals." 

The  chaplain  of  the  Michigan  state  prison  is 
to  be  sent  into  various  communities  to  lecture  on 
the  causes  of  crime  and  to  quicken  a  public  in- 
terest in  discharged  prisoners'  welfare.  The 
chaplain  will  also  undertake  to  effect  local  or- 
ganizations which  will  be  auxiliary  to  the  exten- 
sion department  of  the  prison. 


A  Prison  as  an  Industrial  Community 

The  National  Civic  Federation  is  turning  at- 
tention to  the  question  of  improving  the  manage- 
ment of  prisons  and  makes  suggestions  which 
indicate  a  change  in  the  fundamental  conception 
of  the  office  of  a  prison  as  a  social  institution. 

The  primary  purpose  of  a  prison  is  to  separate 
from  society  persons  who,  through  the  processes 
of  social  machinery,  have  been  adjudged  offend- 
ers against  society. 

That  prisoners  shall  be  confined  during  the 
period  of  their  sentences,  everybody  agrees.  Be- 
yond this  there  are  differences  of  opinion  and  it 
is  in  this  field  that  the  changes  are  urged. 

The  committee  on  prison  reform  of  the  Na- 
tional  Civic   Federation,   recommends : 

The  elimination  of  politics  from  the  manage- 
ment of  correctional   institutions. 

The  development  of  character  and  self-control 
in. the  prisoner  through  the  honor  system  and  a 
larger  degree  of  self-government  within  cor- 
rectional institutions. 

The  study  and  further  development  of  the 
principle  of  the  indeterminate  sentence. 

The  development  of  farm  industrial  prisons 
and  other  modern  correctional  institutions. 

The  development  of  the  state  use  system  of 
prison  labor  throughout  the  country  in  order  to 
develop  the  best  that  is  in  the  prisoner  and  at 
the  same  time  conserve  the  interest  of  the  state. 

Co-operation  to  secure  federal  legislation 
which  will  make  possible  an  effective  state  use 
system  in  every  state. 

The  application  of  proper  rules  regarding  just 
compensation  of  prisoners  in  all  correctional  in- 
stitutions, with  a  view  to  creating,  in  the  pris- 
oner, an  interest  in  his  work  and  a  sense  of  re- 
sponsibility for  the  support  of  himself  and  his 
family  and  ability  to  provide  such  support. 

The  establishment  and  improvement  of  prison 
schools  for  instruction  in  elementary  subjects 
in  correlation  with  industrial  education. 

The  state  use  system  means  that  the  products 
of  prison  labor  shall  be  used  to  supply  the  needs 
of  the  state  as  against  putting  those  products 
on  the  open  market  and  thus  bringing  the  labor 
of  prisoners  in  direct  competition  with  the  free 
labor  of  the  country. 

Whenever  an  agreement  is  reached  between 
the  advocates  of  changes  in  prison  management 
and  the  general  public  that  will  leave  prisons 


J"'y  1-  131^  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


X^5 


free  to  make  the  most  of  their  industrial  possi-  The  Monthly  Meetings 

hihties    there  will   be  a  tremendous  advance  in  The  monthly  meetings  of  ,he  men  have  now 

the  value  of  prisons  both  to  the  individual  pris-  pro^^ressed   far  enou^^h   to   show   something  of 

oner  and  to  society  itself.  ,,hat  thev  are  likelv  to  be  worth. 

For  the  most  part  prisons  have  been  rottin.c:  The   meetings  are  not  lej^nslativc  assemblies- 

pens.     Men   have  been   thrown   into  them  and.  thev  are  op,>ortunities  for  .leliberation  and  pcti- 

when  once  convicted,  the  cry  of  "Unclean,  un-  ii..„.     Thev  are  held  under  a  privilege  grantH 

clean,"  has  gone  up  from  all  grades  and  inter-  bv  the  Warden  to  first  grade  men  and  the  pre- 

ests  of   society.     Those   susceptible  of  contam-  si,ii„cr  officers  are  appointed  bv  the  Wanlcn 

mation  have  learned   from  the  worst  criminals  There  are  two  series  of  meetings,  one  in  each 

what  they  had  not  known  before  and  those  who  of  the  two  assemblv  rooms  of  the  two  wing*, 

kept  above  the  contamination,  together  with  all  The  meetings  begin  "the  hrst  of  each  month,  one 

the  others,  have  been  weakened  perceptibly  and  irallcry  of  each  wing  meeting  each  evening. 

continuously  both  in  mind  and  in  body.  The  plan  of  these  meetings  contemplates  later 

Whenever  the  opportunity  is  opened  for  pris-  the   election   of   a   chainnan    for   each    meeting 

ons  to  make  the  most  of  their  possibilities,  when  chosen  from  the  men  of  that  gallery. 

the  prison  communities  are  made  industrial  com-  Men  cmployeil  in  any  one  department,  cell  on 

munitics   with   all   the  opportunities   to   the   in-  the  same  gallery,  so  that  meeting  by  galleries 

dividuals  that  can  be  allowed,  many  of  these  in-  brings  together  the  men  of  a  particular  common 

stitutions  will  become  self-supporting.     The  dif-  interest.     >reeting  by  galleries  corresjwnds,   in 

ference  in  this  institution  in  the  men's  interest  eflfect.   with   ward   representation   in   municipali- 

in  their  work  in  shops  where  a  sort  of  wage  ties :  men  united  in  a  particular  local  interest  are 

scale  has  been  introduced,  shows  what  a  great  ""'^s  in  the  management  of  the  community  as 

change    will    come    when    penal    institutions   are  ^  whole, 

made   places   of   opportunity    for   the    men   con-  4^ 

fined.     In  general,  penitentiaries  now  repress  not  Different  things  have  been  suggote.l  and  dis- 

only  what  is  wrong  in  man  but  also  that  which  ^^^^^^^  ^^  j,,^^^  monthly  meetings  and  the  things 

IS  worthy.  ^1^^^^  ^^^  approved   have,  through  the  presi«ling 

The  residents  of  every  state  institution  where  ^f^^^^^^^  ^^^^^  p^^^^j  o„  j,^  ^^^^  Wanlen.     Manv 

industrial  activities  are  possible   should  progres-  ^f  the  requests  thus  presented  have  l>ecn  granted. 

sively  be  given  the  fullest  opportunity  to  make  There  have  been  a  number  of  changes  in  the 

themselves  as  valuable  industrially  as  they  can.  ,,ji,  ^f  f^^^e  which,  until  the  new  administration 

^  came  in,  was  as  stereotyped  as  the  declamations 

As  the  public  comes  to  .see  that  persons  who  which,   through   the  ages,  have  come  down   to 

have  been  convicted  of  a  social  offence    are  not  the  present  day  from  the  lips  of  each  generation 

by  that  conviction  made  any  different  from  what  of  rural   school  boys,  a  condition   which   would 

they  were  before  but  that  the  individual  interest  have  enabled  some  person  a  thousand  years  ago. 

to  succeed,  the  natural  personal  pride  in  doing  basing  his  calculation  on  the  natural  charactcr- 

what  the  person  is  able  to  do,  the  love  of  family  istics  of  the  school  I>oy  mind,  to  have  told  alwut 

and  of   fortune  that  the  person  had  before,  is  what    would    be   the   program    at    any   country 

with   the   person   still,   the   wisdom   of  allowing  sch(X)l  commencement  the  present  spring.     Men 

the  person  to  continue  to  make  the  most  of  what  here  say  that  un<ler  the  old  regime  they  could 

good  there  is  in  him  will  be  seen.  tell   fifteen  years  in  advance  what   they   would 

It  is  right  and  necessary  to  repress  in  people  have  for  supiK-r  on  any  particular  night, 

the  tendency  to  do  wrong  but   it   is  a  distinct  The  water  jugs  of  the  cells  are  now  scalded 

social  loss  to  restrain  a  man  or  a  woman   from  an<l  cleaned  at  proper  intervals:  the  cell  house 

living  out  that  which  is  beneficial.  blankets    are    cleaneil    and    aired    once    in    two 

Since    society    wishes    fully    to    protect    itself,  weeks, 
let  there  be  an  opportunity  for  pri.soners  while  Pass  books  are  issued  to  the  men  of  the  corn- 
imprisoned  to  use  their  best  faculties  and  to  be-  munity.  the  debit  and  credit  items  of  each  pcr- 
come  as  proficient  as  they  can.  sonal  account  being  entered  each  month,  so  that 


336 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


each   man   knows   every   day   his   personal   cash 
balance  at  the  front  office. 

At  the  last  meetings  the  men  of  nearly  every 
"ward"  voted  to  ask  permission  to  have  the 
guards  released  from  the  dining  hall  during  the 
dinner  hour.  The  proposition  is  to  have  one 
officer  in  charge  and  to  have  the  twenty-eight 
keepers  who  are  stationed  about  the  dining  room 
replaced  with  monitors  chosen  from  the  ranks  of 
the  men.  Recently  all  the  keepers  were  released 
from  all  chapel  meetings  and  if  the  proposition 
to  replace  the  officers  with  the  monitors  is  al- 
lowed and  if  the  men  prove  in  this  also  that  they 
can  manage  themselves — that  they  can  exercise 
this  added  measure  of  limited  self-government — 
it  is  expected  that  some  further  moves  in  the 
way  of  self-government  will  also  be  granted. 

But  of  greater  interest  and  value  than  any 
particular  thing  that  has  been  gained  through 
the  meetings  is  the  meetings  themselves. 

It  is  a  great  thing  for  a  penal  institution, 
which  in  general  has  been  conceived  to  be  a  place 
for  punishment — and  the  public's  awakening 
conscience  has  lately  added,  "and  for  reforma- 
tion"— to  be  losing  its  severe  discipline  and  to 
be  turning  some  of  the  minor  matters  in  the 
administration  of  the  men  over  to  the  men  them- 
selves. 

It  must  be  a  great  relief  to  the  administration 
to  find  the  men  becoming  more  orderly.  It  is  no 
snap  to  be  a  warden,  w^e  take  it ;  especially  under 
the  old  plan  when  in  nature  all  the  men  must 
be  against  him. 

Yet,  when  the  men  come  to  wish  to  do  better, 
they  are  still  facing  the  task  of  learning  how  to 
do  better.  The  w-ay  of  one's  life  is  not  wholly 
a  matter  of  mere  will.  There  are  impulses  to 
which  one  is  subject  until  one  learns  how  and 
also  gains  the  power  to  be  true  to  reason. 

Communities  of  men  and  women  all  about  us 
— the  regular  municipalities — are  themselves 
having  their  problems  of  how  best  to  get  on ; 
why  should  not  we,  who  are  young  in  this 
municipal  business,  have  such  problems  also? 

Mr.  George  Taylor,  chief  presiding  officer, 
has  observed  a  significant  growth  in  the  men. 
He  says : 

"At  the  first  meeting  the  men  were  re- 
ticent   about    speaking.      They    were    still 


under  the  sense  of  the  old  time  restrictions 
and  feared  to  say  what  they  thought:  To 
have  openly  spoken  one's  own  opinion  and 
to  have  tried  to  have  that  opinion  accepted 
by  others  would,  under  the  old  order,  have 
put  a  man  in  the  solitary. 

"When  the  men  found  that  the  Warden 
was  living  up  to  what  he  had  said  about 
guaranteeing  to  each  full  liberty  of  speech 
on  the  permitted  subjects,  the  men  began  to 
talk  freely;  began  to  say  just  what  they  felt 
in  mind  and  heart.  Also,  with  the  experi- 
ence of  the  meetings,  the  men  have  gained 
in  self-confidence,  in  poise,  in  command  of 
language  and  in  concentration  on  the  one 
subject  in  hand. 

"In  the  discussions  the  men  are  becoming 
better  acquainted  with  one  another  and  bet- 
ter acquainted  with  the  institution.  They 
are  beginning  to  see  that  what  is  helpful  to 
the  officers  is  also  helpful  to  themselves,  and 
there  is  a  better  feeling  than  there  ever  has 
been  before  between  the  men  and  the 
officers." 

One  of  the  propositions  offered  at  the  last 
month's  meeting  of  several  of  the  galleries  was 
to  have  two  meetings  each  month  for  each  gal- 
lery instead  of  one  a  month.  The  reasons  urged 
were  that  more  frequent  meetings,  with  their 
opportunity  for  discussion  and  collective  thought, 
would  facilitate  progress.  It  was  proposed  that 
two  galleries  meet  together,  which  would  give 
the  men  two  meetings  a  month,  but  with  the 
same  number  of  actual  meetings  per  month  as 
now,  wath,  consequently,  no  extra  expense  to  the 
institution. 

The  objection  to  having  two  galleries  in  one 
meeting  was  that  it  would  bring  men  of  differ- 
ent departments  together  and  make  a  discussion 
of  questions  in  wdiich  the  one-half  of  the  men 
would  not  be  interested. 

Both  the  point  urged  in  favor  of  more  fre- 
quent meetings  and  the  point  presented  against 
having  the  galleries  meet  together  have  their 
value  but,  later,  when  the  smaller  and  more 
immediate  questions  are  somewhat  out  of  the 
way,  it  may  be  advisable  and  it  certainly  would 
be  logical  to  have  the  men  of  different  depart- 
ments come  together  in  one  meeting  for  the  dis- 
cussion of  the  larger  questions ;  questions  of  in- 


July  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


337 


terest,  not  to  one  department  only,  but  to  the 
whole  community. 

There  should  be  "city  conventions"  as  well  as 

"ward  caucuses."    The  men  are  learning  how  to 

live  a  proper  social  life  here  so  that  they  may — ■ 

some  of  them — know  how  to  live  a  proper  life 

elsewhere    and    anywhere. 

The  meetings  are  proving  their  worth.  They 
are  helping  the  men  to  come  into  their  own. 

We  Advise  the  Shortest  Way 

In  the  matter  of  reformation,  criminals  may 
be  placed  in  two  classes — those  who  will  reform 
themselves  and  those  who  must  be  reformed. 
The  man  who  thinks  that  crime  is  excusable  has 
no  business  walking  the  streets.  This  is  only 
another  way  of  saying  that  society  is  entitled  to 
protection. 

Men  in  prisons  should  realize  that  they  can 
reform  themselves  in  much  less  time  than  they 
can  be  reformed.  Reformation  is  complete  when 
the  golden  rule  has  been  accepted  without  quali- 
fication or  evasion.  The  prisoner  who  will  not 
reform  himself,  has  nothing  to  complain  of  if  he 
finds  that  training  him  for  reformation  is  a  slow 
process. 

He  Wants  No  Money 

Prisoners  are  particularly  warned  against  the 
lawyer  who  wants  no  money  until  he  has  secured 
his  client's  release. 

There  are  many  lawyers  who  invite  confidence 
by  promising  prisoners  that  they  "do  not  want 
a  cent  until  you  are  on  the  street."  This  sounds 
good  but  it  is  "bunk."  Such  lawyers  talk  glibly 
about  putting  the  money  in  escrow.  By  this 
method  they  find  out  how  much  money  the  man's 
relatives  can  produce.  When  the  money  is  to 
be  placed  in  escrow  the  lawyer  usually  suggests 
an  accomplice  as  stakeholder,  and  the  escrow 
agreement  is  drawn  so  that  the  lawyer  may  soon 
draw  on  the  money.  If  Mr.  Lawyer  fails  to 
have  the  money  put  up  in  e.scrow  he  begins  to 
talk  for  $50  or  $100  expense  money  and  fre- 
quently he  gets  it. 

Honest  lawyers  seldom  hover  about  jails  and 
penitentiaries  and  the  man  who  connnits  crime 
usually  meets  his  superior  criminal  in  the  law- 
yer  who   pretends   to   be   his    friend. 

Subscribe  to  The  Jolif.t  Prison  Post. 


EDITOR'S  COLUMN 


Many  persons  will  receive  this  issue  of  this 
magazine  who  are  interested  in  the  question  of 
prison  betterment.  The  magazine  deals  not  at 
all  in  sophistry  or  in  speculation  and  theory: 
the  solutiun  of  prison  questions  is  xvorking  out 
in  this  commufiiiy  ami  this  magazine  is  rcportini; 
that  solution.  We  believe  that  what  this  ma  ; 
zine  reports  is  an  actual  contribution  to  tlic 
study  so  many  are  making  of  the  pri.son  ques- 
tion. I'or  the  furtherance  of  the  work  of  our 
common  interest,  we  should  like  to  have  the 
persons  who  receive  this  magazine  and  who  arc 
impressed  by  it  and  who  are  not  subscribers, 
subscribe  now.  In  each  number  some  vital 
prison  question  will  be  considered  in  the  light  of 
what  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary  is  actually 
doing.  There  is  a  general  social  value  in  what 
is  being  done  and  in  what  is  being  re|>orted  from 
here. 

This  magazine  is  a  home  product.  Every- 
thing published,  unless  otherwise  credited,  is 
from  persons  resident  in  this  community.  The 
Jolii:t  Prison  Post  is  in  the  service  of  upbuild- 
ing this  community,  and,  whatever  quality  it  may 
have,  it  borrows  none  of  it  from  outside  without 
giving  i)roper  credit. 

We  wish  to  call  special  attention  to  the  cnm 
munication   this  month  of   Mr.   Louis   F.   I 
Assistant  Secretary  pf  the  Department  of  Labor, 
of  Washington,  D.  C.     Mr.   Post  is  a  man  of 
great  heart  and  wide  experience;  he  is  deeply 
interested  in  the  work  of  prison  betterment  and 
particularly  in  the  work  that  is  being  done  1  ■    ■ 
His  contribution  is  of  such  an  especial  value  liiit 
we  hoi)e  none  of  our  readers  will  overlook  it. 

We  should  like  one  or  two  comnumications 
each  month  from  men  in  this  community.  The 
purpose  of  publishing  these  communications  is 
to  show  to  the  public  the  character,  the  pur|>osc 
and  also  the  ability  of  the  men  here.  I>»  not  try 
to  deal  with  any  general  subject;  do  not  try  to 
be  literary;  do  not  try  to  educate  the  public.  If 
there  is  something  y«)U  feel  deeply,  something  in 
vour  oum  experience  that  you  think  would  help 
the  prison  cause  if  the  i>eople  knew  of  it.  write 
about  that.  Write  an  earnest  letter  directly  to 
the  Editor  telling  him  all  al)out  it.  and  if  you 
honestly   tell   what    v..ii    rr.iHrc   is  a   truth,  the 


338 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Editor  will  put  what  you  say  before  the  public. 
If  you  honestly  feel  something,  ivritc;  but  write 
concisely  about  only  the  one  thing.  Then,  later, 
write  again  on  some  other  thought. 

May  the  Editor  suggest  that  it  might  be  very 
appropriate  to  have  the  Company  agreement 
signed  by  the  Honor  Company  who  went  this 
month  to  Camp  Allen  framed  and  hung  up  at 
Camp  Allen  as  one  of  the  treasures  of  the  place? 
It  is  the  Magna  Charta  of  those  men  and  it 
should  and  it  likely  would  be  revered  by  them; 
and  it  would  probably  also  serve  to  keep  alive  in 
the  men  that  which  will  give  them  power  to 
keep  faith.  When  the  other  companies  at  Camp 
Dunne  and  the  Joliet  Honor  Farm  have  signed 
their  agreements,  it  would  be  of  value  to  them 
also  to  have  their  agreements  framed  and  in 
camp. 

Also  we  oflfer  the  idea  of  a  formal  march  by 
the  men  who,  dressed  in  citizens'  clothes,  are 
moving  out  of  the  prison  on  their  w-ay  to  the 
road  camps  and  to  freedom.  All  of  the  pris- 
oners should  see  these  men  go.  It  would  be  a 
message  of  encouragement  and  hope  for  the  men 
of  the  prison,  lined  up  on  either  side  of  the 
street,  to  see  the  men  who  are  going  out,  led  by 
the  band,  march  up  Administration  avenue  to 
the  Administration  building.  To  see  the  men, 
chosen  by  the  Warden  and  by  other  officers  be- 
cause they  have  conducted  themselves  in  a  way 
to  give  the  administration  confidence  in  them, 
marching  toward  the  gate  that  leads  to  the  out- 
side world,  with  the  band  in  the  lead  playing 
some  inspiring  and  loved  national  air,  would  be 
an  uplift  to  the  men  left  behind ;  would  be  an 
influence  to  quicken  those  who  had  been  sloth- 
ful in  their  behavior  and  negligent  in  their  suj)- 
port  of  the  administration's  cause.  It  would 
help  them  to  be  better  men  hereafter ;  to  become 
themselves  worthy.  Let  there  be  some  patriot- 
ism in  the  cause  which  the  administration  here 
has  undertaken ;  let  there  be  the  call  to  victory 
in  every  movement  we  make. 

There  is  some  misunderstanding  about  the 
time  one  gains  by  going  on  the  road.  The  man 
is  to  work  three  days  and  he  is  then  given  one 
day  extra,  being  credited  with  four  days  in  all. 
Three  months'  work  gains  a  credit  of  four 
months,  and  nine  months'  work  gains  a  credit  of 


one  year.     The  person  gains  one-fourth  of  his 
whole  time. 

The  Joliet  Prison  Post  is  still  being  sent  to 
this  office  by  some  of  the  inmates  with  insuffi- 
cient address  of  the  person  to  whom  the  maga- 
zine is  to  be  sent.  Make  the  full  address  plain 
and  always  give  your  own  name  and  number. 
Then  if  the  address  is  not  understood,  someone 
can  be  sent  to  you  for  further  advice.  Remem- 
ber also  never  to  write  anything  on  the  magazine 
itself.  It  is  against  the  postal  rules  and  a  maga- 
zine with  w^riting  on  it  will  not  be  mailed. 

In  June  we  asked  for  expressions  from  the 
inmates  in  answer  to  the  question,  "Is  it  right 
for  prisoners  to  help  in  the  recapture  of  some 
of  their  number  who  have  escaped,  when  the 
escape  involves  the  violation  of  an  honor 
pledge?"  A  number  of  replies  besides  the  one 
from  Fred  E.  Stewart,  published  this  month, 
have  been  received,  which  were  also  to  have 
been  published  in  this  issue  but  which  cannot  be 
published  for  lack  of  space.  The  other  articles 
w^ill  be  considered  for  our  August  number. 

It  is  significant  to  note  that  this  month  the 
Board  of  Parole  gave  the  maximum  to  ten  men 
who  had  been  returned  to  the  prison  for  parole 
violation.. 


NEWS  NARRATIVE 


A     NEW     ROAD      CAMP 

A\'e  are  in  the  chapel  this  Sunday  afternoon. 
It  is  now  a  quarter  of  three.  In  a  few  minutes 
the  men  are  to  arrive  who  are  to  go  to  the  new 
road  camp,  Camp  Allen,  at  Beecher,  Illinois — 
the  third  good  roads  camp  to  be  sent  from  this 
institution  out  into  the  broad  areas  of  the  state 
of  Illinois. 

Warden  Allen  and  Deputy  Walsh  are  pac- 
ing up  and  down  the  long  central  aisle  of  the 
chapel. 

It  is  time  for  the  road  men  to  arrive.  The 
door  from  the  hall  into  the  chapel  opens  and, 
dressed  in  citizen's  clothes,  in  come  the  forty- 
four  men  who  have  been  chosen  to  go  to  the 
new  camp. 

The  camp  was  named  by  the  Governor  in 
honor  of  the  W^arden. 


July  1.  l'J14 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


339 


Exceptional  care  has  been  taken  in  the  se- 
lection of  the  men  for  this  camp.  The  rec- 
ords of  the  men  have  been  scanned,  and  sev- 
eral officers,  one  after  another,  who  have 
knowledge  of  how  the  men  have  conducted 
themselves  since  they  ha\c  been  here,  have 
l)assed  upon  them.  Some  were  rejected  and 
many  were  passed  who  will  be  considered  in 
the  future.  These  forty-four  men  now  coming 
in  the  chapel  door  and  marching  up  the  aisle, 
were  chosen.  .A.fter  all  the  care  that  has  been 
taken  and  all  the  earnest  affirmations  by  the 
men.  there  is  great  confidence  in  what  these 
men  will  do. 

Warden  Allen  is  closely  observing  the  men : 
the  men  march  to  the  front  of  the  large  chapel 
and  take  their  seats. 

Directly  in  front  of  them  is  a  table  on  which 
lies  the  newly  drafted  agreement  which  is  to 
be  explained  to  the  men  and  which  they  are 
to  sign.  They  will  organize  themselves  into 
an  Honor  Company  to  go  out  into  the  world 
under  the  grace  of  the  present  prison  adminis- 
tration and  for  the  honor  of  this  institution 
and  for  the  honor  of  the  state. 

At  either  end  of  the  table  sit  the  two  men 
who  are  to  assist  later,  when  the  .signatures 
will  be  given.  The  Warden  and  the  Deputy 
stand  close  by  looking  at  the  men.  Father 
Edward,  prison  chaplain,  is  on  the  rostrum 
standing  back  of  the  pulpit.  The  observer 
who  is  to  paint  for  you  this  pen  picture  of  this 
impt)rtant  meeting  sits  at  one  side  to  the  left. 

All  the  men  are  now  quiet.  Warden  Allen 
continues  to  look  at  them.  He  turns  to  Father 
Eldward  and  is  saying,  "Do  you  not  think  this 
is  a  pretty  good  looking  company?" 

The  men  acknowledge  the  kind  compliment. 

Turning  to  the  men  the  Warden  continues, 
"Father  Edward  is  going  to  read  a  new  pledge, 
boys,  which  we  have  prepared." 

Father  Edward  looks  over  the  pulpit  into 
the  faces  of  the  men.  The  men  look  back  at 
him.  They  know  that  what  he  is  about  to  say 
is  worthy  of  their  attention.  They  have  found 
in  their  experience  with  him  that  he  has  a 
human  interest  in  them.  He  has  been  a  man 
here,  serving  in  the  office  of  a  priest:  not  a 
priest  serving  in  the  absence  of  a  man.  I-'ather 
Edward  is  speaking: 


"We  are  ab<»ut  to  take  another  imi>ortant 
step  in  the  movement  which  is  now  under  way 
in  this  institution.  What  is  being  done  here 
is  being  watched  all  over  the  I'nitcd  States. 

"Every  time  there  is  an  escape  the  papers 
take  it  up  and  it  gives  our  w«)rk  a  black  eye. 
It  hurts  you  and  it  hurts  priMin  reform  work 
tiiroughout  the  country. 

"We  have  two  documents  here  for  you  to 
sign.  One  is  an  application  which  you  arc  to 
make  to  the  Board  of  Commissioners  and  to 
the  Warden,  to  go  on  the  road,  in  keeping  with 
the  opening  they  have  made  for  you  to  go  on 
the  road  and  to  the  farm;  and  the  other  is  an 
agreement  which  you  are  to  niake  with  <>nc 
another. 

"These  documents  are  not  something  <lif- 
fcrent  from  the  honor  pledge  which  you  have 
already  signed.  They  are  only  to  emphasize 
certain  features  of  that  pledge,  which  ex|>cri- 
cnce  has  shown  it  is  necessary  to  empha>ize 
in  all  arrangements  with  men  to  go  to  a  \*'ork 
that  is  outside  of  the  prison  walls. 

"The  two  points  which  these  documents 
emphasize  are:  (1)  there  must  be  no  attempts 
to  escape,  and  (2)  there  must  be  no  use  of 
liquor." 

Now  the  Chaplain  is  reading  the  application 
to  go  on  the  road  which  the  men  are  to  make: 
"I  hereby  api)ly  for  the  privilege  of 
working  on  the  Joliet  Hon(»r  Farm  <»r  on 
the  roads  of  Illinois,  under  the  Act  entitled, 
'An  .\ct  to  authorize  the  empU>yment  i>f 
convicts  and  prisoners  in  the  penal  and 
reformatory  institutions  of  the  State  of 
Illinois  in  the  preparation  of  road  building 
materials  and  in  working  on  public  rcwds. 
.Approved  June  8,  1913.' 

"I  realize  that  the  success  of  the  n»a(l 
an«l  farm  work  and  the  In'nefits  to  l>c  de 
rivetl  by  those  who  are  appointed  to  that 
work,  depends  upon  the  loyalty  t«>  the  a<l- 
ministrati(»n  of  each  prisoner  thus  assigne<l 
and  on  the  loyalty  of  the  men  to  one 
another.  I  realize  that  when  I  invite  the 
ct)nfidence  of  the  administration  and  am 
given  that  confidence  and  ap|)ointed  to 
work,  either  on  the  road  or  the  farm,  that 
my  first  duty  is  to  keep  faith  with  the 
prison  administration  an<l  to  help  all  f»ther 


340 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


men  who  have  been  chosen  as  I  have  been 
chosen  also  to  keep  faith. 

"I  realize  that  under  the  terms  on  which 
I  am  to  accept  work  on  the  road  or  the 
farm,  my  first  obligation  being  to  the  ad- 
ministration, to  the  Warden  and  to  the 
officers  directly  over  me,  that  I  am  under 
no  obligation  to  any  prisoner  to  keep 
secret  anything  that  is  recognized  and 
acknowledged  to  be  detrimental  to  the  ad- 
ministration and  to  the  best  interests  of 
the  prisoners  themselves,  to  keep  secret 
any  prisoner's  purpose  to  escape  or  his 
handling  or  use  of  alcoholic  liquors. 

"Therefore  if  I  am  chosen  to  go  on  the 
road  or  to  the  Joliet  Honor  Farm,  I  prom- 
ise, in  addition  to  what  I  have  already 
promised  in  signing  the  honor  pledge 
to  do  everything  in  my  power  to  prevent 
escapes.  I  promise  that  .if  I  have  any  in- 
formation of  a  proposed  escape,  immedi- 
ately and  openly  to  give  that  information 
to  the  officer  in  charge  and  to  the  men  of 
the  company  to  which  I  am  assigned ; 
and  I  promise  further,  to  report  every  fact 
that  will  serve  to  prevent  any  prisoner's 
escape. 

"I  promise  also  that  I  will  not,  under 
any  circumstances,  purchase  or  accept  as 
a  gift,  or  drink  or  sell  or  give  to  others, 
any  alcoholic  liquors.  I  promise  to  im- 
mediately and  openly  report  to  the  officers 
and  to  the  men  of  the  company  to  which 
I  am  assigned,  everything  I  may  know  of 
any  alcoholic  liquors  being  obtained  or 
being  in  the  possession  of  or  used  by  any 
of  the  men  of  my  company. 

"And  I  agree  further,  if  under  any 
evil  influence  I  shall  ever  think  of  or 
plan  an  escape  or  shall  have  in  my  posses- 
sion or  shall  use  in  any  way  any  alcoholic 
beverages,  that,  in  order  to  protect  the 
trust  which  the  prison  administration  has 
put  in  me  and  in  the  others  of  my  com- 
pany, it  is  the  duty  of  each  and  any  mem- 
ber who  knows  what  I  am  thinking  and 
of  what  I  am  planning  to  do,  to  report  it 
to  the  officers.  I  now,  while  under  agree- 
ment with  the  prison  administration  to 
work  on  the  road  or  the  farm  according  to 


the  terms  of  this  document,  herewith  re- 
nounce any  views  I  may  hitherto  have 
held  of  its  being  my  duty  or  any  prisoner's 
duty  to  protect  a  prisoner  in  the  things 
which,  by  this  document,  are  acknowl- 
edged to  be  a  detriment  to  the  well  being 
of  all. 

"I  make  this  pledge  of  my  own  free  will 
and  without  any  mental  reservation  what- 
ever and  with  a  full  knowledge  of  the  con- 
tents thereof." 

This  application,  it  is  to  be  noticed,  is  to  be 
made  by  men  who  are  to  go  to  the  farm  as 
well  as  by  those  who  are  to  go  on  the  road. 

Now  Father  Edward  takes  up  the  agree- 
ment which  the  men  are  to  sign  for  their  own 
honor  organization  and  reads : 

"We,  the  undersigned  members  of  the 
Illinois  State  Penitentiary  Honor  Com- 
pany to  be  stationed  at  Beecher,  Illinois, 
hereby  pledge  ourselves  to  one  another 
not  to  buy,  accept,  receive,  use,  sell  or 
give  away  any  alcoholic  beverages  of  any 
kind  whatever,  and  not  to  attempt  to 
escape. 

"We  further  pledge  ourselves  that  if 
we  have  any  information  of  any  one's 
buying,  receiving,  accepting,  having,  using, 
selling  or  giving  away  any  alcoholic  bev- 
erages, or  of  any  one's  planning  or  at- 
tempting to  escape,  that  we  will  at  once 
and  openly  give  such  information  to  the 
officers  and  all  the  members  of  the  com- 
pany. 

"We  understand  and  expressly  agree 
that  no  member  of  this  company  is  under 
any  obligation  to  any  other  member  to 
secrete  anything  that  is  detrimental  to  the 
welfare  of  the  company  or  to  the  prison 
administration. 

"If  any  member  receives  any  informa- 
tion of  any  other  member's  planning  to 
escape  or  of  any  other  member's  buying, 
having  or  using,  selling  or  giving  away 
any  alcoholic  beverages  and  does  not  im- 
mediately report  it  to  the  officers  and  to 
the  other  members,  we  hereby  agree  that 
he  himself  shall  be  deemed  a  traitor  to  this 
company. 

"This  agreement  is  entered  into  to  pre- 


Tuly  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


341 


vent  any  person's  betraying  the  interest 
in  which  the  new  hope  of  prisoners  is 
grounded." 

The  Chaplain  continues  speaking: 
"These  two  documents  provide  that  you  are 
to  be  loyal  to  the  administration  and  loyal  to 
each  other.  They  establish  a  double  confi- 
dence, you  sec,  one  with  the  officers  and  one 
among  yourselves. 

"In  accepting  the  opportunity  opened  to  you 
by  the  prison  administration  to  go  out  on  the 
road,  you  take  into  your  hands  the  welfare  of 
this  whole  prison  and  the  welfare  of  the 
prisons  of  the  whole  country. 

"You  must  now  give  up  any  right  you  may 
think  you  have  had  to  escape  or  to  use  liquor. 
Get  the  idea  of  escape  so  completely  out  of 
your  head  that  you  can't  think  of  it  any  more. 
"In  these  documents  you  pledge  yourselves 
to  protect  one  another    from    violating    your 
pledges.     This    is    not   'stool-pigeoning':   you 
are  to  report  any  person  to  the  officers  and  to 
the  other  men  who  violates  or  intends  to  vio- 
late his  pledge.    Notice,  you  are  to  make  y(Uir 
report   openly— that   is   the   language  of  your 
agreement.    You  are  not  to  tell  an  officer  any- 
thing  secretly   to   get   someone    into   trouble. 
You  are  to  speak  openly  so  that  all  may  know 
and  so  that  all  may  be  kept  out  of  trouble. 
"If   anyone   comes   around   there   trying   to 
'      i^ive  any  of  you  liquor,  I  think  it  would  be  no 
>in  for  you  to  take  such  a  fellow  and  kick  him 
bodily  out  of  the  camp.     I  do  not  believe  in 
disorder;  I  believe  in  order,  and  I  think  to  get 
rid  of  a  fellow  who  would  come  to  your  camp 
'      to  give  you  liquor  is  a  good  way  to  keep  order. 
I         "I  charge  you  who  are  Catholics  to  be  true 
to  the  pledge  which  you  this  day  make  to  the 
l)rison  administration  and  which  you  make  to 
each  other.     And  you  who  are  not  Catholics, 
are  just  as  dear  to  me  as  these  Catholics  are. 
I   ask  you    to    keep    your    pledges,  too,  and 
altogether  we  will  show  everybody  that  we  art- 
just  as  good  a  community  here  as  any  com- 
munity anywhere." 

Father  Edward  has  ceased  speaking. 
Now  one  of  the  men  at  the  table  is  calling 
the  men  by  turns  and  they  are  going  to  the 
table  and  are  signing  their  names. 

Listen!     The    band    is    playing  in  the  cell 


house  just  across  the  street  from  us — a  Sun- 
day afternoon  concert  for  the  men  locked  up. 
It  seems  as  if  a  real  deliverance  from  the  sor- 
rowful and  dark  ways  of  life  is  coming  to  pass. 
The  man  at  the  table  is  calling  and  the  men 
are  still  going  forward  and  signing. 

Now  the  signing  is  completed.  W  ardcn 
Allen  is  standing.     Listen: 

"I  wish  you  would  all  wear  your  honor  but- 
tons on  the  left  lapel  of  your  coats. 

"I  want  this  company  to  go  through  and 
to  go  through  right.  I  picked  you  because  I 
have  confidence  in  every  one  of  you. 

"The  Governor  named  this  new  camp  after 
me,  and  boys,  let  us  do  or  die.  If  you  do  go 
through,  why  next  year  long  time  men  can 
also  have  a  chance ;  if  you  fail,  there  won't  be 
any  long  time  men  go  to  the  camps. 

"When  you  leave  here,  I  want  you  to  make 
good.  Don't  do  anything  except  what  your 
good  sense  tells  you  to  do. 

"You  will  have  good  beds  and  good  food.  If 
any  of  you  feel  weak  and  think  you  can't  stand 
up  under  any  temptation  that  may  come,  say 
it  now  and  don't  go  out.  I  think  I  shall  ask 
all  of  you  in  the  morning  to  raise  your  hands 
in  the  open  air  under  the  light  of  the  morning 
sun  and  promise  the  Governor  and  me,  and 
promise  yourselves— promise  the  very  best 
there  is  in  you— that  you  will  keep  the  faith 
you  have  pledged  here  this  day." 

The  buttons  were  brought  and  every  man 
with  his  own  hand  put  the  button  on  the  left 
lapel  of  his  coat.  "That  is  nearest  the  heart." 
speaks  out  the  Warden  ;  then  turning  to  Father 
lulward:  "I  think.  Chaplain,  this  is  a  pretty 
good  looking  company." 

The  meeting  closed  with  this  benediction— 
the  expressed  faith  of  the  Warden  in  the  men. 
the  faith  which  the  Warden  had  also  expressed 
when  the  meeting  opened. 

We  follow  the  men  now  down  the  stairway. 
They  go  to  the  new  sanitary  fountain  and.  in 
turn,  are  drinking  from  the  flowing  cups— the 
last  drink,  if  all  g«>es  well,  that  many  of  them 
will  ever  have  behind  prison  walls. 

It  is  evening  now  and  all  the  men  are  at 
supper.  Others  about,  who  are  not  to  go,  are 
congratulating  them.  It  is  a  jolly  crowd,  a 
merry,  healthful  feast. 


342 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Supper  is  finished  and  the  men  are  now 
passing  into  the  sleeping  quarters  for  the 
night. 

The  night  has  passed  and  the  lark  is  singing  his 
morning  song,  soaring  in  the  sky.  The  sun  is 
up.  The  signal  has  sounded  and  the  men  are 
coming  out  to  acknowledge  the  new  day.  They 
pass  through  the  Administration  building 
beyond  the  massive,  heavy  hinged,  grated 
front  door.  They  are  outside  of  the  prison 
walls  in  the  great  open  way  of  the  wide  world. 

The  Warden  and  the  Deputy  are  with  them. 
The  right  hands  of  the  forty-four  men  are 
raised  and  are  swept  by  the  healthful  fresh  air, 
warmed  and  illumined  with  the  golden  early 
morning  light  of  God's  glorious  sun.  Faith  is 
pledged  again  and  the  men  go  from  the  prison 
house. 

There  are  day  dreams  of  homes  and  children. 
What  was  is  forgotten  in  what  the  day  dreams 
say  is  yet  to  be. 

Doors  Unlocked  and  Gates  Wide  Open 

At  the  state  penitentiary  at  Rusk,  Texas,  the 
practice  of  leaving  all  cell  doors  unlocked  and 
the  prison  gates  wide  open,  was  recently  adopted. 
This  experiment  was  made  in  order  to  test  the 
honor  of  the  inmates  who,  under  this  arrange- 
ment, are  free  to  go  and  come,  by  day  or  night, 
as  they  please.  All  but  two  guards  have  been  dis- 
charged, and  their  services  will  be  dispensed  with 
if  the  new  system,  continues  to  work  well.  So 
far  not  a  single  prisoner  has  attempted  to  escape. 
They  are  employed  during  the  day  on  the  state 
farm,  which  is  situated  a  mile  from  the  prison. 

Cure  the  Drink  Habit 

To  cure  the  drink  habit  substitute  sugar.  That 
is  the  gist  of  the  advice  offered  in  the  current 
number  of  the  Journal  of  the  American  Medical 
Associatiou,  which  calls  the  idea  "a  new  and  logi- 
cal treatment  of  alcoholism." 

The  article  says : 

"When  the  body  cells  are  supplied  with  a 
physiologic  balance  of  carbohydrates  there  is  no 
further  demand  for  alcohol. 

"At  the  inception  of  the  treatment  the  diet 
is  modified  to  contain  an  abundance  of  sugar 
cereals  with  cane  sugar,  sweet  fruits,  pastries, 
chocolates  and  ice  cream  are  advised. 


"In  some  cases,  owing  to  a  distate  for  sugar, 
this  change  must  be  gradual  to  prevent  rebellion. 
Here  lactose  is  used,  a  gram  every  two  hours, 
given  in  the  form  of  a  medical  powder  to  en- 
courage the  psychic  effect.  Later,  as  the  demand 
for  alcohol  is  palliated,  ordinary  sugars  are  taken 
with    avidity." 

Spanish     Prisons     Visited    by    an    American 
Woman 

Spanish  prisons  were  commended  by  Mrs. 
Mary  E.  Ide,  of  Chicago,  in  a  recent  interview 
with  a  correspondent  of  the  Chicago  (111.),  News. 
She  stated  that  she  had  recently  visited  many 
prisons  in  Spain  and  that  she  was  surprised  at  the 
advanced  methods  of  administering  prisons  in 
Spain,  the  system  observed  being  the  modern  one 
which  is  aimed  at  reformation  of  character 
rather  than  the  punishment  of  the  individual. 

Mrs.  Idef,  according  to  the  Spanish  minister  of 
justice,  was  the  first  American  to  visit  a  Spanish 
prison  and  the  first  woman  of  any  nationality  to 
visit  a  men's  prison  in  the  city  of  Madrid. 

"A  feature  of  the  system  is  that  the  prisoners 
are  kept  strictly  together  according  to  their  crimes 
— murderers  with  murderers,  pickpockets  with 
pickpockets.  The  aim  is  to  prevent  contamina- 
tion and  to  localize  criminal  knowledge." 

He  Refuses  to  Leave  Prison 

According  to  the  South  Bend  (Ind.)  Tribune, 
Matthew  Jones,  who  was  recently  pardoned  by 
Governor  Goldsborough  of  Maryland,  refuses  to 
leave  the  penitentiary  of  that  state.  After  hav- 
ing served  fifteen  years  in  an  unnatural  atmos- 
phere, it  stands  to  reason  that  this  man  does  not 
know  what  to  do  with  himself. 

Long  confinement  in  a  prison  takes  from  a 
prisoner  all  initiative  and  self-reliance,  because 
there  he  only  does  as  he  is  directed.  He  is 
taught  to  take  everything  as  it  comes  and  to 
express  no  preferences  nor  to  go  after  anything. 

In  consequence,  when  a  prisoner  who  has 
served  a  long  term  is  returned  to  the  world, 
he  generally  does  not  know  what  to  do,  as  there 
is  no  one  to  tell  him.  It  is  the  tendency  of  prison 
life  under  long  sentences  to  unfit  men  and  women 
for  normal  lives. 


I 


July  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


•W.t 


.V^ 


i^^lc 


lll'l 


^^ith  Evens  breath  tKe  dreamy  sky  seems  filled. 

The  sun  its  soft'nin((  presence  pales  before; 
Tbe  forge  is  cold,  the  belted  wheel  is  stilled — 

The  clarion  blast  has  signaled  work  is  o  er: 
A  moment  tense,  when  thought  is  not  enchained; 
When  eye  enkindles  and  list'ning  ear  is  strained. 

Hark!   s-weetly  clear  upon  the  hush  there  breaks 
The  opening  measure  of  the  Honor  Band. 

E'en  as  I  barken,  knowledge  new  awakes — 
I  trace  a  pathway  hitherto  unscanned: 

It  pointetb  not  towards  Love,  or  Home  s  fair  fhrine. 

But  to  the  hearts  of  men  it  winds  from  mine. 

Ye  trumpeters,  blow  on!   But  not  alone 

Through  melody  the  tender  passions  play: 

I  see  the  ancient  customs  overthrown. 

The  golden  dawn  of  Honor's  fairest  day: 

I  know  that  Hope  is  grappling  with  Despair. 

That  Victory's  chant  the  issue  will  declare. 

I  sense  the  struggle  in  the  burdened  soul 

To  throttle  doubt,  to  quell  the  troublous  fears: 

1  mark  that  Weakness  kneels  to  Sclf-Control 
From  out  the  ashes  of  the  buried  years; 

Behold  I.  Mind,  to  loftier  things  aspire; 

The  life  retrieved — the  v^rakened  heart's  desire. 

Sweet  spirit!    Linger  through  this  kindly  hour. 

Flood  wistful  eye.  call  forth  the  olden  smile; 
Be  thou  the  force,  be  thou  the  subtile  power. 

To  mark  the  way.  to  mould  the  life  worth  while; 
And  when  Life's  eternal  law  is  understood. 
Then  men  shall  know — and  walk  in  brotherhood 


>      \    V    i     f     /      /     ' 


^\ 


\- 


>^ 


344 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


CONTRIBUTIONS 

PAY  YOUR  PASSAGE. 


By  Louis  F.  Post,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 


We  are  all  sailing  through  space  on  "The 
Good  Ship  Earth,"  as  Herbert  Quick  calls  our 
planet. 

With  steering  this  old  craft  we  have  nothing 
to  do;  with  making  things  ship-shape  on  board 
we  have  everything  to  do.  It  is  by  such  work 
that  we  pay  our  passage. 

Each  of  us  must  pay  his  own  passage  with  his 
own  work.  He  cannot  pay  with  money  unless 
he  himself  earns  the  money.  Whoever  pays 
with  money  he  didn't  earn,  is  paid  for  by  who- 
ever did  earn  it. 

If  he  pays  his  passage  with  money  he  got  as 
a  gift,  what  is  he  but  a  charity  passenger?  If 
he  got  it  by  trick  or  device  or  force,  whether 
according  to  the  shipping  articles  or  in  defiance 
of  them,  what  is  he  but  a  thief  or  at  best  a 
sponge?  Every  one  of  us  must  work  his  pas- 
sage on  the  good  ship  Earth  or  be  a  loafer.  And 
on  this  ship  a  loafer  is  a  parasite;  for  every 
one's  work  is  needed,  and  if  any  loaf  others 
must  overwork. 

It  isn't  a  question,  either,  of  working  on  the 
bridge  or  on  the  deck,  in  the  cabin  or  in  the  hold. 
Useful  work,  not  its  grade,  is  the  kind  that 
counts  in  paying  our  passage  on  the  good  ship 
Earth. 

Dropping  Quick's  nautical  metaphor,  the 
question  with  everyone  who  would  not  be  a  para- 
site, is  how  can  he  serve  his  fellow  men. 
Whether  he  is  rich  or  poor  makes  no  diflference, 
or  free  or  slave,  at  liberty  or  in  prison,  edu- 
cated or  ignorant,  of  good  repute  or  bad ;  he  can 
nevertheless  be  useful,  and  unless  he  is  useful  he 
helps  to  make  this  a  disorderly  world.  In  as 
much  as  he  is  useful  he  serves,  whereas  if  he  be 
not  useful  he  is  a  loafer  of  the  kind  that  is  also 
a  parasite. 

The  old  Negro  who  boasted  of  his  indispensa- 
bility  at  Sunday  School  was  as  useful  as  he 
thought  he  was.  Though  despised  as  a  slave, 
too  ignorant  for  a  teacher,  too  old  for  a  pupil 
and  too  crippled  to  distribute  and  gather  up  the 
books  or  sweep  the  room,  he  was  useful  in  the 
Sunday  School  because,  as  he  himself  explained, 


he  '"just  sat  on  the  pulpit  stairs  and  smiled  at 
the  children." 

To  give  pleasure  is  to  serve.  To  augment 
comfort  is  to  serve.  To  encourage  good  service 
is  to  give  good  service.  To  promote  freedom, 
or  education,  or  a  larger  participation  of  all  in 
the  benefits  of  civilization,  is  to  be  useful.  Who- 
ever does  any  of  these  things  faithfully  is  pay- 
ing his  way  as  truly  as  if  he  were  clearing  for- 
ests with  the  work  of  his  hands.  Slavery  and 
prisons  and  monopolization  of  the  benefits  that 
civilization  has  to  offer  are  obstacles,  and  in 
helping  society  to  put  them  aside  there  is  work 
to  do. 

Such  work  The  Joliet  Prison  Post  is  doing. 
It  is  a  public  service  that  can  be  done  in  prison 
and  by  prisoners  as  well  as  by  others  and  out 
of  prison.  It  can  be  done  by  even  the  humblest 
prisoner.  In  so  far  as  any  prisoner  moulds  his 
own  life  in  the  moral  and  civic  matrix  the  Post 
is  making,  to  that  degree  is  that  prisoner  work- 
ing for  the  abolition  of  prisons.  Not  merely  by 
making  less  occasion  for  them  through  indi- 
vidual self  reform,  but  also  by  making  less  public 
necessity  for  them  through  social  reform. 

That  those  obstacles,  and  all  others,  may  be 
soon  removed  from  the  paths  of  civilization  is 
greatly  to  be  desired.  But  even  while  they  re- 
main there  is  work  to  do,  not  only  for  their 
removal  but  within  their  limitations.  In  prisons 
and  out  of  prisons,  as  in  poverty  and  above  its 
reach,  the  need  of  useful  service  is  insistent  and 
opportunity  for  it  abundant. 

No  one  is  so  poor  that  he  cannot  do  some- 
thing to  help  others,  no  one  is  so  much  a  pris- 
oner that  he  cannot  freely  serve  in  some  way,  no 
one  is  so  ignorant  that  he  cannot  teach,  no  one 
is  so  degraded  that  his  friendship  is  altogether 
unwelcome.  Or,  if  there  be  any  such,  then  at 
any  rate  there  is  no  one  who  cannot  do  service 
by  refusing  to  do  harm. 

It  would  revolt  me  to  be  suspected  of  handing 
these  thoughts  patronizingly  to  prisoners.  There 
is  no  more  need  for  them  inside  of  prisons  than 
outside,  nor  by  the  most  hopeless  convict  than 
by  myself.  In  so  far  as  they  may  be  a  prison 
sermon  it  is  my  wish  that  instead  of  a  sermon 
handed  in  to  prisoners  they  may  be  regarded  as 
a  sermon  handed  out  by  prisoners. 

For  that  reason  I  invite  their  first  publication 
in  The  Joliet  Prison  Post.  The  Post  appeals 
to  me  as  the  local  paper  of  a  community  that 


July  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


345 


interests  me.    It  interests  me  not  for  the  peculiar 
misfortunes   of   its    inhabitants — the    inhabitants 
of   all    communities    have    misfortunes — but  for 
the  good  it  is  beginninj^  to  do,   for  the  public 
service  it  is  beg^inning  to  develop.     Tiik  Jolikt 
Prison    Post   reflects   local   interests   and   local 
character.  Like  any  other  local  paper,  it  is  pub- 
lislied  for  local  service  and  not  for  the  informa- 
tion or  education  of  other  communities;  yet  it 
contributes,  even  as  all  local  papers  do,  to  the 
information  and  the  education  and  consequently 
to  the  fraternal  unifying  of  all  communities.     It 
belongs  to  that  great   family    of    local    papers 
through  which  communities  come  to  know  one 
another  and  to  recognize  their  likeness  as  groui)s 
in  the  common  whole  of  civilization.     Published 
primarily  for  the  Jolict  Prison  community,  Tin-: 
Prison   Post   photographs  the  character  of  its 
comnumity   even   as   other   local    papers   photo- 
graph the  character  of  theirs.     It  is  therefore  as 
their  own  message   from  themselves    to    them- 
selves,— this   community   at   Joliet, — and   by   re- 
flection to  their  fellow  citizens  of  the  world,  their 
fellow  passengers  on  board  the  good  ship  Earth, 
that  I  prefer  seeing  this  little  discourse  appear 
first  in  the  Post.    I  would  rather  have  it  go  from 
them   with   their   genuine    endorsement    than    to 
them  for  their  supposed  edification. 

©     ^     ® 
THE  CONCERN  OF  ALL 


By  Fred  E.  Stewart 

When  a  man  pledges  his  word  to  ilo  a  certain 
thing,  he  has  pledged  his  most  sacred  posses- 
sion— his  honor. 

When  faith  is  lost  and  honor  dies,  the  man 
himself  is  dead. 

When  a  man  breaks  his  word,  who,  then  is 
going  to  put  any  faith  in  him  ?  Would  you  trust 
a  person  upon  whose  word  you  cannot  rely? 

The  present  administration  had  enough  faith 
in  us  to  have  a  law  passed  permitting  prisoners 
to  work  on  roads.  That  in  itself  shows  the  con- 
fidence the  powers  that  be  had  in  us.  They  be- 
lieved and  they  still  believe  that,  if  given  the 
right  treatment  and  a  chance,  prisoners  will 
show  that  they  are  no  different  from  the  rest 
of  mankind ;  and  that  the  men  will  make  good, 
will  prove  their  worth. 

The  road  law  was  not  passed  without  opposi- 
tion.     Humane    treatment    was    considered    a 


wrong — was  considered  loo  good  for  prisoners. 
Many  pe()j)Ic  and  a  numl>cr  of  newspapers  tried 
to  throw  a  wet  blanket  over  the  whole  plan ;  to- 
day, I  understand,  a  suit  is  pending  in  the  courts 
to  have  the  law  set  aside. 

We  can  easily  sec  that  much  hard  work  was 
given  by   Governor   Dunne  and   Warden   Allen 
to  make  it  possible  for  the  prisoners  of  this  slate 
to  have  a  chance  to  prove  themselves.    "An  in- 
jury to  one  is  the  concern  of  all"  is  a  watch- 
word of  a  certain   world-wide  organization  of 
which  the  writer  is  a  member.    Throughout  the 
entire  world  that  organization  lives  up  to  thai 
motto.     Never  in  all  its  history  has  it  failed  one 
member.     No  obstacle  is  too  large  to  surmount 
when  a  man  has  been  injuretl.     What  of  ihc 
citizen  of  "our  little  republic,"  as  Father  Edward 
puts  it,  who  goes  to  an  honor  camp  and  tlicn 
runs   away?     Shall   we  applaud  and   commend 
him?     Shall   we   reproach   and   condemn   him? 
Shall  we,  if  we  are  at  the  camp,  aid,  if  possible, 
in  his  recapture?    An  injury  by  t»ne  is  the  con- 
cern of  all.    In  this  case,  should  we  protect  our- 
selves   or    <;hnnl<!    wc    dclibcr.ntclv    iniurc    our- 
selves ? 

What  of  the  poor  devil  waiting  his -chance. 
pcrhajjs  after  many  years?  Shall  we  dash  to  the 
ground  the  wine  of  hope  ere  it  reaches  his  lips 
and  enshroud  him  in  the  robe  of  disappointment 
and  despair?  What  about  the  Warden?  Isn't 
he  also  an  injured  party  when  a  trusted  man 
breaks  his  word?  I  don't  care  what  the  calamity 
howlers  may  say.  I  address  myself  to  the  worth- 
while people.  An  injury  by  one  is  the  concern 
of  all.  What  helps  Warden  Allen  helps  us  all. 
What  injures  him  injures  you  and  nu 

Every  man  who  runs  away  from  an  honor 
camp  does  .so  much  to  shut  the  door  of  oppor- 
tunity and  hope  on  every  man  here. 

Were  I  in  an  honor  camp,  it  wouM  be  my  duly 
and  will  to  aid  in  the  recapture  of  anyone  who 
had  run  away.  It  would  be  an  injury  lo  all  and 
the  concern  of  all,  if  wc  did  anything  but  this. 
We  cannot  stand  on  the  Plutonian  shores  of 
night  and  nuitter  a  false  code  of  ethics  and  loy- 
alty. Let's  away  with  those  cror)ke<l  and  per- 
verted ideas  of  loyally. 

Too  many   people  here  aic  afraid   of   prison 
]Miblic  opinion  or  loss  of  popularity.     If,  after 
careful  analysis,  sound  reasoning  and  logical  de 
duction,  T  nm  satisfied  that  a  thing  is  right,  I 


346 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


stick  to  that  opinion  against  the  whole  world. 
One  man  with  right  on  his  side  is  a  majority. 
The  fear  of  human  judgment  makes  moral 
cowards  of  men. 

There  are  men  who  go  to  the  camps  with  a 
world  of  good  intentions,  but  there  comes  a  pull 
in  the  heart  that  is  stronger  than  their  word,  an 
overmastering  desire  to  see  some  loved  one — a 
sister,  mother,  wife,  or  little  child — and  they 
beat  it. 

We  feel  sorry  for  such  men,  but  let  them 
count  the  cost  before  they  go. 

Should  prisoners  in  honor  camps  aid  in  the 
recapture  of  one  who  runs  away?  Yes;  the 
man  who  runs  away  from  an  honor  camp  steals 
every  man's  chance  to  go  to  such  a  camp.  Every 
time  an  honor  man  runs  away,  the  devil  de- 
clares a  holiday  in  hell  and  the  denizens  of  that 
darkened  region  take  a  day  off  to  celebrate. 

Remember  this;  engrave  it  upon  the  tablets 
of  your  memory :  The  power  that  gives  has  the 
l)ower  to  take  away.  The  legislature  of  Illinois 
can  repeal  the  road  law  if  it  so  wills  and  even 
our  best  friends,  from  the  Governor  down, 
would  be  powerless  to  stop  it  if  two-thirds  of 
that  body  should  so  vote.  They  won't,  some  say. 
Better  laws  have  been  repealed.  Let  there  be  a 
tew  more  escapes  and  see  what  the  honorable 
gentlemen  at  Springfield  will  do  \vith  the  road 
law.  The  law  has  enough  enemies  now;  con- 
sider this  and  be  wise. 

Finally,  let  us  think  of  the  best  class  of  men 
here,  as  far  as  faithfulness  goes,  "the  lifers," 
and  let  us  then  remember  that  they  are  the  men 
lowest  down  in  the  scale  of  hope  and,  as  men 
and  humanitarians  iii  whose  hearts  the  milk  of 
human  kindness  still  flows,  let  us  make  good  so 
that  the  Door  of  Hope  shall  not  be  always  closed 
to  them. 

^     ©     ® 

EARLY     TRAINING     AND     CRIMINALS 
By  Lloyd  Baldwin 

A   Prisoner 

Criminal  statistics  show  that  a  great  many 
of  our  criminals  are  being  punished  for  crime 
before  they  arrive  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 
This  necessarily  shows  that  the  criminal  char- 
acteristics are  formed  when  the  criminal  is 
very  young,  while  in  only  a  few  cases  the  child 
grows  up  so  ignorant  that  it  breaks  the  laws 
of  society  without  knowing  that  it  is  doing  so. 


The  first  punishment  administered  a  young 
criminal  is  usually  a  term  in  a  reform  school, 
which  in  many  respects  is  a  modern  school  of 
crime,  and  when  again  released  to  liberty  he 
usually  believes  that  a  criminal  career  can  be 
managed  without  further  punishment.  Caught 
once  more,  and  the  graduate  from  the  reform 
school  lands  behind  the  bars  of  a  prison  for  a 
post  graduate  course  in  the  higher  arts  of 
crime. 

Many  criminals  have  not  sufficient  strength 
of  will  at  the  time  they  are  released  from 
prison  to  withstand  temptation  in  the  various 
forms,  and  therewith  the  post  graduate  from 
prison  becomes  an  habitual  criminal,  and  is 
no  longer  a  safe  ingredient  of  society,  and  with 
a  few  vacations,  during  which  he  is  usually  a 
fugitive,  he  remains  behind  the  walls  the  big- 
gest part  of  his  life. 

The  conditions  surrounding  the  child  of  the 
poorer  class  are  abnormal,  and  such  that  un- 
less that  child  has  the  attention  of  devoted 
parents  and  an  example  of  unselfishness  con- 
stantly before  it,  it  frequently  develops  an  ab- 
normal character,  one  that  is  not  necessarily 
made  up  of  criminal  characteristics,  but  may 
be  abnormal  in  any  other  respect. 

Being  poor,  the  child  naturally  associates 
with  the  offspring  of  the  poorer  class  in  gen- 
eral, who,  in  cities,  frequently  have  only  the 
streets  for  their  playgrounds,  and  consequently 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  the  abnormal 
child  may  easily  have  learned  all  that  a  child 
of  the  street  can  learn  of  the  methods  of  secur- 
ing a  living  without  working  for  it,  and  if  his 
abnormal  characteristics  are  criminal  the  child 
is  on  the  road  to  ruin. 

The  building  of  a  character  begins  at  the 
time  the  child  shows  its  first  inclination  to 
have  its  own  way.  Its  characteristics  or  at 
least  the  three  principle  ones — selfishness,  lazi- 
ness and  deceitfulness — usually  appear  before 
the  child  is  six,  or  at  most,  seven  years  of  age. 
This  period  of  the  child's  life  is  sometimes 
called  the  formative  period,  and  impressions 
and  habits  formed  during  that  period  fre- 
quently remain  throughout  life. 

It  may  be  truly  said  that  the  criminal  was 
unfortunate  in  an  early  training  and  an  en- 
vironment surrounding  him  which  led  to  his 
downfall,  but  who  is  responsible  for  that  early 


July  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


.^47 


training-  and  environment?.  The  social  laws 
which  permitted  the  cnvirt»nment  that  sur- 
rounded any  particular  criminal  when  he  was 
a  child  were  not  made  by  him.  and  if  his  early 
training  was  such  that  he  did  not  have  the 
strength  to  withstand  the  temptations  thrown 
in  his  way  he  could  not  be  wholly  responsible. 

Cause  and  effect  are  absolutely  inevitable, 
and  the  effect,  in  this  case  the  criminal,  must 
have  had  its  cause.  The  responsibility  must 
be  placed  somewhere,  and  it  cannot  be  fixed 
on  the  criminal.  When  children  are  brought 
into  the  world  and  then  not  surrounded  with 
the  safeguards  that  will  protect  them  from 
crime,  when  grown,  they  cannot  be  blamed  for 
becoming  criminals. 

Sometimes  the  interests  of  the  father  and 
mother  drift  apart,  and  under  these  conditit)ns 
the  child  usually  becomes  the  burden  of  the 
mother,  who  like  the  child,  has  not  the  in- 
centive to  put  her  heart  and  life  into  the  task 
before  her,  and  the  child  has  an  indifferent 
bringing  up.  To  the  mother,  divorce  or  de- 
sertion is  often  the  result  of  this  drifting  apart, 
and  added  to  this  the  support  of  the  child, 
which  she  is  not  able  to  support  in  a  way  that 
is  conducive  to  the  development  of  a  healthy 
moral  character. 

The  conditions  set  out  above  are  the  con- 
ditions which  have  surrounded  a  great  many 
of  the  children  who  have  developed  into  crim- 
inals of  the  younger  class. 

Prison  reform  and  the  reformation  of  the 
criminal  is  a  subject  that  is  being  given  a  great 
deal  of  thought  and  attention,  but  the  con- 
ditions which  were  the  cause  of  the  criminal 
class  referred  to  here  are  gradually  intensify- 
ing, and  the  number  of  criminals  from  that 
source  and  class  are  on  the  increase. 

It  is  scarcely  possible  that  the  reformers  of 
social  conditions  will  render  society  more  safe 
by  giving  their  attention  to  the  result  than  to 
trying  to  remove  the  cause.  The  social  world 
is  gradually  extending  the  limits  of  social  re- 
strictions in  all  directions.  Children  of  ten  «)r 
twelve  years  usurp  many  privileges  that  their 
grandparents  enjoyed  when  they  were  nearly 
grown  men  and  women,  and  these  children,  in 
many  cases,  are  beyond  the  control  of  their 
parents. 

The  wave  of  crime  cannot  be  decreased  by 


cutting  off  the  outer  ends  of  its  growth.  Init 
only  by  digging  it  out  by  the  roots.  Perhaps 
it  is  too  broad  a  statement  to  say  that  the  cure 
must  come  from  within  the  individual,  an«l 
only  to  a  certain  extent  can  it  l>c  brought 
al)out  by  remodeling  the  social  laws,  yet  it 
must  be  the  work  of  the  individual  parents  by 
surrounding  their  children  with  conditions  that 
bring  about  the  change.  Without  the  resolve 
within  each  parent  that  he  or  she  will  per 
sonally  give  more  attention  to  the  child,  the 
evil  environment  will  continue  to  <lrag  <lown 
its  share  of  the  young  and  make  habitual  crim 
inals  of  them. 

The  parents  must  more  fully  rcali/c  that 
their  first  duty  to  civilization  and  their  «jwn 
children  is  to  see  that  the  children  are  brought 
up  jjroperly  and  taught  that  right  is  the  only 
possible  source  of  happiness,  that  selfishness 
and  disobedience  of  the  m<»ral  and  social  laws 
lead  to  misery  and  sorrow. 


LOCAL  PARAGRAPHS 

The  Prison  Honor  Band  now  have  their  full 
uniforms.  They  are  made  of  a  fine  grade  of 
khaki  with  modest  blue  decorations  on  the  coat. 
The  members  of  the  band  attend  to  their  music 
only ;   they  are  excuse<l    from   other   work. 

The  refjuest  is  still  out  for  any  resident  ocu- 
list or  dentist  to  refwrt  his  presence  in  this  com- 
munity. If  there  is  an  oculist  or  dentist  here, 
it  is  important  that  he  should  sec  al)oui  taking 
up  his  own  work  for  the  l>enefit  of  his  fcllt)w 
prisoners. 

Captain  Kane  recently  announced  to  the  men 
while  at  diimer  that  thereafter  fresh  and  cool 
drinking  water  would  be  delivered  at  the  cells 
at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  at  eight  o'clock 
ill  the  evening.  People  can  understand  what 
the  earlv  morning  drink  of  fresh  water  means 
if  they  will  think  of  themselves  drinking  every 
morning  only  water  that  has  stood  in  their  bc<l- 
room  over  night.  Little  improvements  like  this 
are  coming  all  of  the  time.  In  acknowledgment 
of  the  order  for  fresh  water,  one  of  the  men 
said,  "This  place  is  certainly  getting  civilized." 

Henry  Walters,  whose  work  is  in  the  dining 
room,   recently   secured   the   Warden's  approval 


348 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


and  provided  a  large  arm  chair  with  upholstered 
cushion  for  Captain  Michael  J.  Kane.  The  chair 
is  placed  on  a  high  platform  at  the  head  of  the 
large  dining  room  where,  until  the  chair  was 
supplied,  Captain  Kane  had  stood  during  each 
of  the  three  meals  a  day.  Henry  Walters  real- 
ized, from  being  on  his  feet  in  his  own  work, 
that  standing  each  day  during  all  of  the  meals 
is  a  tedious  task  for  a  man  with  many  other 
duties.  When  Captain  Kane  arrived  at  dinner 
time,  he  announced  his  surprise  and  thanked  the 
men  for  their  kind  interest  in  his  welfare. 

The  Joliet  Prison  Post  acknowledges  the 
good  work  of  James  Schroff  and  John  Peters,  of 
the' carpenter  shop,  in  screening  the  doors  and 
windows  of  its  offices. 

The  Flower  Mission  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  made 
its  annual  distribution  of  bouquets  on  June  11, 
to  the  residents  of  this  community — one  for 
each  person;  some  fifteen  hundred  of  them.  If 
the  men  could,  many,  very  many  would  thank 
these  thoughtful  and — it  must  be — loving  women 
for  so  kindly  and  so  graciously  remembering 
them.  At  least  the  men  have  gained  enough  ac- 
cess to  the  outside  world  to  be  able  to  thank  the 
Flower  Mission  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  through  the 
columns  of  The  Joliet  Prison  Post.  Can  the 
W.  C.  T.  U.  women  realize. what  it  means  to 
men  to  gain  even  so  much  connection  as  that 
with  the  actual  world?  The  flowers  connect  us 
still  more — and  with  nature.  A  number  of  the 
men  wore  the  flowers  on  their  coats  the  follow- 
ing day;  and  for  several  days — as  long  as  the 
flowers  kept  their  bloom  and  their  fragrance — 
many  of  the  bouquets  could  be  seen  through  the 
iron  grating  of  the  doors,  sitting  in  tin  cups  of 
water  *on  the  little  shelf  in  the  corner  of  the 
cell.  The  flowers  have  spoken  to  the  best  that 
is  in  us  and  we  have  heard  their  voice. 

Each  month  there  are  special  features  at 
chapel  service  which  are  worthy  of  note.  Early 
in  the  month  Miss  Ethel  Bernard  Snow,  of  East 
Orange,  N.  J.,  gave  a  number  of  soprano  solos 
which  were  greatly  appreciated  by  the  men.  Miss 
Snow  had  been  here  a  few  weeks  before  and  the 
men,  remembering  her  clear  and  cultivated  voice, 
were  glad  to  welcome  her  again. 

Judge  Bregstone,  of  Chicago,  brought  to  us 
Miss  Klander,  pianist,  and  Mr.  Brunetti,  bari- 
tone.     Both    were    encored    several    times    and 


Judge  Bregstone  promised  they  should  come 
again.  Judge  Bregstone  has  a  sincere  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  the  men  here  and  in  many  ways 
has  helped  especially  the  men  of  his^own  re- 
ligion. Recently  he  helped  the  Jews  to  secure 
the  celebration  of  the  Feast  of  the  Passover, 
which  privilege  was  greatly  valued  by  the  men 
favored. 

One  of  the  greatest  features  of  the  month  was 
a  visit  from  the  Americus  Council  Minstrels, 
Knights  of  Columbus,  Chicago.  These  minstrels 
are  "good  Catholics,"  as  Father  Edward  said, 
having  gone  to  very  early  maSs  so  as  to  get  here 
in  automobiles  by  ten  o'clock.  Professor  Thomp- 
son, singing  director,  paid  the  visiting  young 
men  the  compliment  of  promising  that  if  any  of 
them  should  ever  become  residents  here,  they 
should  have  a  place  in  the  choir.  The  minstrels 
intend  to  visit  other  institutions  in  the  State 
to  lend  what  cheer  they  can  to  the  residents. 

Our  Flag  day  Sunday  service  was  graced  by 
the  presence  of  the  choir  of  about  thirty  persons 
from  St.  Mary's  church,  Joliet.     Introducing  the 
choir,    Father   Edward   said:      "Some   of   these 
good  people  from  St.  Mary's  church  have  been 
here  before  and  I  trust  they  can  see  the  progress 
that  has  been  made.     Others   may   have   come 
here  expecting  to  see  a  prison  congregation  but 
I  do  not  think  they  see  any  freer  looking  con- 
gregation   in   their   own   church."      Mr.    Daniel 
McGlynn,  choir  master,  had  arranged  for  some 
exceptionally    choice    musical    numbers.      There 
were  songs  by  the  choir ;  a  duet  by  young  ladies ; 
a  solo  by  a  young  man ;  a  ladies'  quartette  which 
was  received  with  exceptional  favor;  two  solos 
with  chorus  by  the  choir;  solo,  "Coming  Thro' 
the  Rye,"  in  native  tongue  by   Mr.    McGlynn. 
Miss  Pauline  McKeon,  a  bright  and  fascinating 
young  lady,  was  most  cordially  endorsed  in  her 
dramatic  readings.     The  closing  number  of  the 
choir  was  a  medley  of  national  hymns.     Led  by 
Captain  Kane,  the  congregation  rose  and  sang 
with    the    visitors    the    closing     national     song, 
"Three  Cheers  for  the  Red,  White  and  Blue." 
After   chapel    service,    the    singers    visited    tha 
dining  hall  at  the  dinner  hour,  where  our  own 
band  furnished  some  of  its  choice  music. 

The  band  began,  June  14,  to  play  Sunday  aft- 
ernoons in  the  cell  houses.  The  men  who  are 
kept    m   their    cells    now    have    a   band    concert 


July  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


349 


to   shorten  the  long  Sunday   hours.     The  band 
members  themselves  are  also  pleased,  as  before 

this  they,  too,  had  been  kept  in  their  cells. 

The    foregoinu^   sentences   were     written     imme- 
diately after  the  band  members  had  entered  the 
cell  house  for  the  afternoon  concert.     The  play- 
ing had  not  proceeiled  long,  when  the  men  in  the 
cells  broke  out  in  cheers  and  in  such  yells  that 
soon  the  noise  was  so  great  that  it  was  heard 
in  the  Warden's  apartments  in  the  Administra- 
tion building.     It  was  necessary  for  the  Warden 
to  send  down  word  to  have  the  music  stopped. 
He  said  that  before  the  concerts  could  proceed 
the  men  must  be  "talked  to."    Two  things  are 
disclosed :   the  way   in  which  the  men  here  cut 
themselves  out  of  things  and  Mr.  Allen's  way 
with  the  men.     The  Warden  speaks  as  a  friend, 
not  as  a  master.     He  says  the    men    must    be 
"talked  to."    In  the  dark  ages  of  this  place,  every 
man  who  helped  to  make  the  disturbance  would 
have   been    sent    to    the    "hole"— that     panacea 
which  in  defiance  to  all  the  laws  and  rules  of  hu- 
man life  was  prescribed  for  everything  that  hap- 
pened.    The   old    method    would    have    secured 
quiet  with  punishment  and  coercion;  the  Illinois 
Honor    System    secures   quiet   with    having   the 
men  know  that  if  they  will  be  quiet,  they  may 
have    a    Sunday    afternoon    band    concert— may 
have  what  they  would  have  if  they  were  in  Lin- 
coln or  Jackson   Park,   Chicago.     It   should  be 
said,  however,  that  the  noise  the  men  made  was 
not  any  intended  infraction  of  prison  order.  The 
music    surprised   them;    they    welcomed    it    and 
they  naturally  "broke  out." 

A  new  sanitary  drinking  fountain  has  been  set 
up  in  Administration  avenue  near  Center  Park. 
There  are  three  flowing  drinking  cups  and  the 
water  is  always  cool  and  refreshing.  This 
change  from  the  large  oi)cn  well  which  hereto- 
fore has  supplied  the  drinking  water  is  a  fur- 
ther step  toward  making  all  things  in  this 
"town"  sanitary.  Up  to  the  time  that  the  new 
order  of  civilization  began  here  with  the  incom- 
ing of  the  present  administration,  there  was  at 
this  well  a  rusty,  highly  unsanitary  cup  from 
which  all  of  the  men  who  visited  this  well,  some 
of  them  unfortunately  fearfully  diseased,  were 
compelled  to  drink.  A  year  ago  the  adminis- 
tration gave  out  individual  collapsible  drinking 
cups.  The  new  drinking  fountain  is  a  furflier 
improvement.     It  is  a  i^art  of  the  modernization 


which  is  working  out.  The  fountain  was  planned 
by  Mr.  Thomas  R.  O'Brien,  Chief  Knginc^r. 
The  design  was  drawn  and  tl  >  '  '  print  made 
by  Kdward  English,  Chief  (Ji.i.*^..  >  draftsman, 

who    \\'><    '.ifli'i-    Iiicti    iiiriili-il        \tr      T'ii!'1i-1i    -ilvii 


THK  NKW  SA-MIAKV   UKINMNU  FOUNTAIN 

maile  the  patterns  from  which  the  fountain  wa> 
moulded.  The  concrete  work  was  done  by  Wil- 
liam Keinert,  also  now  paroled.  Mr.  English 
is  now  at  work  for  the  Jolict  Bridge  and  Iron 
Comi)any  and  Mr.  Rcincrt  is  at  concrete  work  in 
Joliet.  Does  anyone  think  tliat  these  two  men 
were  anv  different  in  nnlnrc.  were  of  any  differ- 
ent "class,"  while  they  liveil  here  from  what  they 
are  now  that  they  are  in  the  general  activities  of 
the  world?  Is  not  the  "class"  to  which  men  con- 
victed in  a  court  are  said  to  Inrlong  merely  a 
•class'  created  and  maintained  in  i>e<)ple's  opin- 
ion? 

In  the  past  month  there  has  Wen  a  local  fire. 
About  one-half  of  one  of  the  300-foot  rattan 
.  h.iir  factory  buildings  burned.     The  fire  brokt 


350 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


out  at  10:45  in  the  evening.     At  10:20  one  of 
the  men  had  passed  the  building  and  everything 
seemed  to  be  right.     So  far  as  is  known  the  fire 
was  caused  by  crossed  electric  wires.    The  build- 
ing was  gutted  and  tlie  roof  completely  burned, 
although    none   of   the    macliines    were   spoiled. 
Our  own  twelve  firemen   were  called  out  who 
with   the  five  night   watchmen   and  three  other 
men  turned  on  direct  pressure  streams  from  our 
own    iiydrants.      Later   three    companies     came 
from  Joliet.     The  men  here  fought  as  valiantly 
as  the  men  of  the  visiting  companies.     Human 
nature  and  the  responsiveness   of   character   in 
time  of  need,  is  the  same  in  man  whatever  may 
have  been  a  man's  misfortune  in  some  particular 
thing.    Two  of  the  Joliet  companies  stayed  until 
three  o'clock  in  the  morning:  the  third  company 
did  not  leave  until  seven  o'clock.     At  the  time 
of  the  fire  alarm,  only  one  of  the  local  men  had 
had   supper.     They  all  worked   forgetting   that. 
Later,  in  the  middle  of  the  night  when  the  fire 
was  under  control,  Mrs.  Allen  sent  out  a  supply 
of   sandwiches   and   coffee   which    the   men   ate 
thankfully.     All  of  the  local  men  stayed  at  the 
fire  until  morning.     Most  of  the  stock  in  course 
of  manufacture   was  carried  out  of  the  building. 
One  man,  sentenced  to  this  institution  when  a 
mere  boy,  whose  record  here  is  clear  and  who,  as 
night   watchman,    is    trusted   out   all    night    and 
outside  of  the  wall  at  night,  fought  the  fire  val- 
iantly and  actually  went  down  in  the  smoke  and 
fumes  under  the  weight   of  his  work  with   the 
hose.     This  man  had  just  been  denied  a  pardon 
which  he  and  his  friends  had  unquestionably  ex- 
pected would  be  granted.     When  asked  why  he 
fought  the  fire,  he  said,  "I  did  it  for  the  Warden 
and  Mrs.  Allen.  He  is  a  good  loser,  but  I  wanted 
to  save  the  building.     He  is  too  good  a  guy  for 
many  in  this  bunch.     He  ought  not  to  be  here." 
"Did  you  think  of  your  having  just  been  denied 
a  pardon?"     "I  never  thought  of  that  pardon." 
Within  two  weeks  the  debris    of    the    burned 
buildings  was  cleaned  away  and  the  roof  rebuilt. 
The  attic  is  now  being  torn  out  of  the   whole 
building  so  as  to  make  impossible  another  such 
fire  as  has   occurred.     The    machinery    in    the 
burned  portion  will  soon  be  readjusted  and  work 
resumed.     Resident  workmen  are  taking  care  of 
all  of  this  and  with  as  much  expedition  as  any 
communitv  could  show. 


BATTLE  ROYAL 

[Written  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post] 

Note — A  number  of  second  grade  men  in  the  Illinois  State 
Penitentiary  at  Joliet  have  refused  to  sign  the  Honor  pledge 
in  the  consciousness  of  their  own  weaknesses. 

A  simple  task  to  dip  the  proflfered  pen ; 
One  careless  stroke,  all  effortless,  and  then 
The  fellowship  is  mine  of  Honor  men. 

But  nay;  a  quiet  moment  I  would  dwell 

Alone,  unseen,  the  base  desire  to  quell ; 

Each  troublous  fear  and  haunting  doubt  dispel ; 

To  pray  that  impulse  rash  may  not  command ; 
That  purpose  veiled  may  ne'er  be  left  unscanned ; 
To  know  myself,  let  weakness  show  its  hand  ! 

Nor  should  I  yield  one  virtue  to  exalt. 

But  grappling,  striving,  make  the  fierce  assault — 

The  battle  royal  with  the  secret  fault. 

May  knowledge  break,  that  I  may  wisely  dare; 

A  new  awakening  my  course  prepare, 

That  strength,  new  born,  may  subjugate  despair; 

That  simple  faith  in  self  may  daily  grow. 
Till,  in  the  well-springs  of  the  mind,  I  know 
Is  conquered  once  for  all  my  strongest  foe. 

And  though  the  devil's  shadow  haunts  my  door. 
That  glad,  rich  call — can  I  its  spell  ignore? 
An  honor  won  is   surety   for  more! 

Speak  out,  my  spirit,  through  the  toilsome  day, 
Or  in  the  stilly  night,  what  wilst  thou  say? 
Speak,  am  I  anned  and  armoured  for  the  fray? 

If  so,  reliant  shall  the  pen  I  hold, 

Full  conscious,  on  the  sacred  scroll  of  gold. 

By  right  of  conquest  I  have  been  enrolled ! 

W.  L.  T. 

The  people  are  becoming  insistent  that  those 
who  are  atoning  for  sins  committed  against  so- 
ciety shall  be  treated  with  decent  consideration 
and  taught,  not  that  they  must  expect  the  black- 
jack or  the  bludgeon,  but  that  if  they  will  observe 
the  fundamental  rules  of  honor  and  manhood 
within  their  enforced  environment,  their  oppor- 
tunities outside  will  multiply. 


July  1,   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


J51 


Hope  Hall  and  Released  Men 


When  one  has  met  accusation,  has  been  ar- 
rested, convicted  and  sentenced,  and  when  one 
has  actually  gone  to  a  penitentiary  and  served  his 
time,  he  realizes  at  last  that  the  greatest  thing 
that  confronts  him  is  the  work  of  re-establishing 
hinxself  in  the  world. 

One  who  for  the  first  time  has  been  caught  in 
the  meshes  of  the  law,  thinks  only  of  the  time 
he  may  be  required  to  serve,  but  he  learns  later 
that  the  sentence  imix>sed  upon  him  is  a  sentence 
for  a  far  longer  period  than  the  number  of  years 
tiie  judge  speaks. 


Mrs.  Booth's  work  in  coimcction  with  this  in- 
stitution, is  under  the  iinmc<liatc  sui>crvision  of 
Major  M.  A.  Mcsslcin.  SjHraking  of  the  neerl 
of  help  for  the  men  discharged  from  a  prison. 
he  says : 

"There  arc  many  ditticuiiics  in  the  path  of  a 
man  who  has  been  dischargetl  fixim  a  state's 
prison.  It  is  hard  to  find  work  unless  he  lies 
about  his  past  an<!  to  start  life  again  with  a  lie 
is  a  poor  beginnitig.  And  then  s«»mc  men  are 
weak  and  worn  and  often  nervous  and  unstrung, 
so  that  they  are  une<|ual  to  the  task  of  again 


ciiK  AGO  nort  n.M.i. 

If  it  becomes  knt)wn   that  a  man  is  an  "ex-  facing  life.     For  the  tir^l  lew  weeks  it  is  hard 

convict,"  the  sentence— the  period  during  which  to  fill  and  to  hold  a  iwsition.     .\gain  there  arc  the 

the  man  may  be  subject  to  the  condemnation  of  old    companionships    and    the    old    temptations. 

the  public— may  last  as  long  as  the  man  lives.  The   few  (h.llars  given  the  dischargetl   prisoner 

It  is  this  awTul  condition  which  the  dischargeil  by  the  state  .1..  not  last  long;  the  man  has  to  go 

prisoners  face  that  has  led  to  the  organizing  of ,  to  a  cheap  Io«Iging  |>Iace  while  he  is  looking  for 

societies  to  help  men  and  women  who.  having  work  and  for  a  time  after  he  has  begun  wt»rk. 

been  once  convicted,  are  again  to  face  the  world.  Such  places  are  where  there  arc  many  sakx)ns 

Mrs.   Maud   L5allington   Booth,  of  the  Volun-  which  arc  throngctl  with  the  kind  of  pcoi)le  he 

teers  of  America,  is  one  of  the  foremost  work-  should   avoid.      From   all   this   Hope   Hall   can 

ers  of  helping  men  and  women  when  discharge<l  .save  him." 

from  penal  institutions  in  different  parts  of  the  H<>i)e  Hall  is  at  6036  West  Kavenswood  Park. 

countrv.  Major  Messlein's  office  is  at   1201   Washington 


352 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


boulevard.  The  major  visits  this  prison  often. 
He  has  addressed  the  men  at  chapel  service  and 
is  continually  conferring  with  them,  answering 
their  questions  and  giving  them  encouragement 
and  advice.  About  forty  per  cent  of  the  men  here 
who  are  eligible  to  parole,  depend  upon  Major 
Messlein  for  their  release.  The  parole  papers 
are  signed  by  him  and  the  men  go  to  Hope  Hall 
as  their  headquarters  until  they  have  found 
settled  work.  "When  is  Hope  Hall  coming?" 
is  a  periodical  question  of  great  interest  and  im- 
portance to  the  men  here.  Major  Messlein  has 
the  full  confidence  of  the  administration.  He 
has  proved  that  his  word  is  good  and  that  his 
work  is  well  in  hand.  An  exceptionally  large 
percentage  of  the  men  he  takes  out  turn  out  well. 

In  response  to  inquiry.  Major  Messlein  gives 
the  following  particulars  about  Hope  Hall  and  his 
help  of  the  men : 

"There  are  five  Hope  Halls.  The  first  was 
founded  in  New  York  by  Mrs.  Maud  Ballington 
Booth.  Later,  .homes  were  opened  in  Illinois, 
Ohio  and  Louisiana.  More  lately  a  home  has 
been  opened  in  Texas. 

"We  are  naturally  more  interested  in  the  Chi- 
cago Home,"  said  the  Major,  "where  five  or  six 
hundred  men  annually  apply  for  assistance.  Hope 
Hall  in  Chicago  is  a  modern  fire-proof  build- 
ing.    It  was  recently  built  at  a  cost  of  $22,000." 

The  Major  then  showed  an  illustration  of  the 
Chicago  Home  which  is  here  reproduced.  The 
illustration  shows  a  spacious,  modern  home  build- 
ing set  well  back  on  a  lawn  which  is  adorned 
and  well  shaded  with  beautiful  trees.  There  is 
a  deep  porch  around  three  sides  of  the  building 
which  gives  it  the  tone  and  the  inviting  atmos- 
phere of  a  real  home. 

"Our  purpose,"  stated  the  Major,  "is  to  make 
the  men  realize  that  they  have  come  to  the  dwel- 
ling place  of  their  own  family — the  great  human 
family.  We  do  away  with  everything  that  would 
smack  of  business  or  that  would  make  the  men 
feel  that  they  are  in  the  grasp  of  rigid  and  un- 
feeling rules. 

"There  are  regulations,  of  course,  and  these  * 
are   explained   to   the   men   before   they   come. 
When  the  men  do  come  we  want  them  to  find  just 
what  they  expected  to  find. 

"We  have  tried  to  make  these  homes  as  much 
unlike  institutions  as  possible.  They  are  home- 
like, prettily  furnished,  light,  airy  and  comfort- 


able. Every  opportunity  to  regain  their  strength 
and  courage,  is  given  to  those  who  come  as  our 
guests. 

"These  homes  are  absolutely  free  so  that  the 
men  who  bring  money  from  prison  can  save  it 
until  they  go  out  to  their  permanent  positions. 
From  the  ten  dollars  which  a  discharged  prisoner 
receives  from  the  state,  one-half  is  deposited  with 
me.  This  is  returned  to  the  prisoner  when  he  se- 
cures work  and  leaves  Hope  Hall.  With  the  five 
dollars  he  pays  his  first  week's  board  at  his  new 
boarding  house. 

"We  have  no  industries.     The  idea  is  to  make 
the  homes  stepping  stones  to  the  future  life  in 
the  busy  world.     Hope  Hall  is  not  a  permanent 
home  in  which  a  person  can  settle  down  and  be      J 
supported ;  it  is  a  threshold  to  a  new  life. 

"From  March  1,  1913,  to  March  1,  1914,  two 
hundred  and  twenty-eight  paroled  and  two  hun- 
dred and  forty-nine  discharged  men,  were  cared 
for.  In  addition  to  this  and  during  the  same 
period  of  time,  many  families  were  assisted ; 
ck)thing  was  distributed,  employment  secured 
and  many  hundreds  of  meals  were  given  free 
besides  those  given  at  the  home. 

"No  special  religion  is  favored  at  Hope  Hall. 
Catholic,  Protestant  and  Jewish  alike,  crowd  its 
doors,  no  fine  distinctions  are  drawn  between 
foreign  and  American  born;  and  the  'old-timers' 
always  find  the  same  welcome  and  the  same  priv- 
ileges that  are  accorded  to  first  offenders. 

"Life  at  Hope  Hall  is  not  suppressed  in  any 
way  by  unnecessary  rules  or  red  tape.  The  men 
are  expected  to  register  just  before  supper  time. 
The  strictest  rule  is  the  one  which  forbids  the 
men  to  go  out  after  dark.  It  is  when  the  night 
comes  on  that  the  men  would  be  most  strongly 
tempted.  No  liquor  is  allowed  in  the  home  and 
the  men  are  forbidden  to  enter  places  where  it  is 
sold.  The  great  majority  of  the  men  recognize 
the  importance  of  observing  these  three  rules 
even  though  they  realize  that  the  rules  are  restric- 
tions on  their  liberty. 

"The  correspondence  department  is  an  im- 
portant adjunct  to  the  work.  Letters  and  re- 
ports come  from  all  parts  of  the  country  and 
even  from  foreign  lands.  All  this  serves  to 
keep  the  men  in  close  touch  with  the  home  after 
they  have  gone  and  taken  their  place  in  the  world. 
Our  'graduates'  many  times  remember  us  for 
years. 


July  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


j.'-j 


"The  men  are  not  re(|uired  to  work  at  Hope 
Hall,  though  naturally  while  there  they  lend  a 
hand.  The  cooking,  laundry  w<trk.  waiting  on 
table,  farming  and  the  care  of  the  horses  and 
poultry,  is  all  looked  after  by  the  men  who  are 
stopping  at  the  Home. 

"There  are  recreation  hours  when  the  men 
are  encouraged  to  amuse  themselves  in  the  open 
air  with  base  ball  and  other  sports. 

"Financial  supjx^rt  is  derived  from  several 
sources ;  profits  from  the  lecture  engagements 
of  Mrs.  Booth ;  the  Maintenance  League ;  volun- 
tary subscriptions ;  and  contributions  at  church 
meetings.  The  Maintenance  League  is  composed 
of  friends  interested  in  the  movement ;  the  mem- 
bership is  twelve  dollars  a  year." 

Besides  all  of  this  aid  to  discharged  prisoners 
there  is  in  Mrs.  Booth's  and  Major  Messlein's 
work,  a  provision  for  the  help  of  prisoners'  fam- 
ilies and  there  is  the  Volunteer  Prison  League 
which  is  an  association  of  the  men  within  the 
prisons. 

When  the  final  history  of  prison  benefit  work 
is  written,  the  work  that  Mrs.  Booth  has  done 
will  be  pointed  out  as  that  which  has  greatly 
helped  all  that  has  come  later.  She  and  Major 
Messlein  and  many  others  with  them,  have  cre- 
ated a  new  public  opinion  in  reference  to  prison- 
ers, which  is  now  beginning  to  bear  great  fruit. 

_         ©     ©     @ 
Severe  discipline  exacted  a  penalty  for  a  pris- 
oner for  sharing  what  he  had  with  another. 

©     ©     © 

The  fact  that  the  state  provides  only  ten  dollars 
to  a  discharged  prisoner  is  the  excuse  of  many, 
for  again  falling  into  evil  ways.  Think  of  it ! 
Ten  dollars  and  a  bad  reputation  to  start  in 
anew. 

@     ©     ® 

The  prisoner  who  withstands  temptation  when 
trusted  by  his  warden  is  making  progress  to- 
wards proving  himself  fit  for  society. 

©     ®     ® 

Nobody  appreciates  the  work  the  reformers 
are  doing  more  than  the  men  who  complete  their 
parole. 

©     ©     © 

Wlien  the  state  imprisons  the  father  of  chil- 
dren who  are  not  old  enough  to  provide  for 
themselves,  what  does  it  expect  these  youngsters 
to  do — starve  or  steal? 


JOLLYGRAPHS 
By  a  Prisoner 
Endless  Supply 
"My  cell  partner  is  a  regular  talking  machine." 
"Can't  you  stop  him?" 

"lm|X)ssible.  Every  tinic  he  finishes  he  digs 
out  another  'record.'  " 

One  on  You,  Captain 
•What  (lid  you  think  of  the  Warden's  Anni- 
versary dinner?" 

'The  greatest  yet;  but  there  was  one  jarring 
note." 

"And  what  was  that?" 

"The  captain  at  the  close  expressing  his  Iv^pc 

that  we  would  all  bo  here  to  cdcl)ratc  another." 

Lined  with  the  Long  Green 

"They  say  I'ingers  is  a  regular  book  worm." 

"You  bet;  his  madness  for  books  landed  him 

here." 

"Stole  only  rare  editions.  I  suppose?" 

"No.     Just  pocket  editions." 

Those  Somber  Clothes 

"Well,  tlic  boys  arc  oft  to  the  I'ann.  Wonder 
if  they  realize  the  responsibility  of  tli'Ir  nn.l.  r- 

taking?" 

"Judging  from  outward  appearances,  I  should 
say,  yes;  to  me  they  look  like  the  last  word  in 
successful  undertakers." 

Writing  Himself  Out 

"They  say  the  Editor  is  exi)ecling  a  i>arole. 
He  must  be  worried  these  days." 

"Not  exactly.  The  only  thing  that  really 
bothers  him  is  the  fear  of  contracting  'Writer'* 
Paralysis.'  " 

^     €^     « 

Common  humanity  should  have  a  part  in  the 
performance  of  prison  administration. 
^     «     « 

The  public,  seeing  the  merits  of  tlic  honor 
svstem  for  prisoners,  is  accepting  it  as  a  set- 
tled policv. 

•:::•    O    ^ 

I'lidcr  severe  discipline  the  rule  was  that 
where  a  few  officers  must  control  many  pris- 
oners it  was  necessary  to  o^ntrt)!  them  through 
intimidation  or  by   force. 

«     «     « 

I  iKler  severe  discipline  the  prisoner  soon 
learned  that  there  was  only  one  side  to  his  ledger 
account,  and  that  was  the  debit  side. 


354 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Prisoners:    Some   Observations   of  a   Business 

Man 

By  AdolpK  Le\visonn 

CKairman  Executive  Committee,  National  Commission  on  Prison  Labor, 

[Reprinted   from  The   Survey] 


It  should  be  our  aim  to  improve  conditions  in 
all  our  prisons.  Men  who  are  free  can  either 
singly  or  by  co-operation  with  others  protect 
their  rights  and  see  tliat  they  are  treated  fairly 
and  properly,  but  such  is  not  the  case  with  pris- 
oners, who  cannot  protect  themselves  or  secure 
fair  treatment  through  their  own  efforts.  It 
seems  therefore  to  be  the  duty  of  every  fair- 
minded  man  to  see  that  in  their  helplessness  they 
are  not  subjected  to  injustice  and  oppression. 

After  a  person  has  been  found  guilty  of  a 
punishable  offence,  the  first  thing  is  to  detenu! ne 
the  penalty  or  pass  sentence.  I  think  that  in  a 
great  many  cases  the  prison  sentence  should  be 
omitted  entirely,  especially  for  first  offences,  the 
judges  or  magistrates  to  have  the  right  in  their 
discretion  to  suspend  sentence  of  imprisonment 
altogether.  There  are  many  cases  of  which 
judges  say  they  would  prefer  not  to  impose  sen- 
tence, as  they  think  it  would  be  better  that  the 
offender  should  receive  a  warning  only.  By  giv- 
ing him  another  chance  they  feel  he  might  be- 
come a  good  citizen  and  not  repeat  the  offence, 
while  sending  him  to  prison  might  make  him  a 
great  deal  worse  or  even  result  in  his  becoming 
an  habitual  criminal. 

I  believe  it  is  only  about  half  a  century  ago 
that  people  were  put  in  prison  for  debt,  and  I 
think  in  some  places  in  Europe  that  is  still  done. 
This  added  greatly  to  the  amount  of  imprison- 
ment and  certainly  did  not  improve  the  prisoners ; 
on  the  contrary,  it  made  them  lazy,  indifferent 
and  in  many  other  ways  did  considerable  harm. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  although  imprisonment  for 
debt  has  been  abolished  in  this  country,  there  are 
no  more  failures  than  formerly;  in  fact,  I  think 
there  are  fewer. 

Two  offences  occur  to  me  in  respect  to  which  it 
might  be  better  not  to  imprison  first  offenders. 
In  cases  of  petty  larceny  I  think  the  law  could  be 


changed  so  that  those  who  are  guilty  of  this  crime 
would,  for  their  first  offence,  be  compelled  to 
make  restitution  of  the  amount  taken  and  then 
dismissed  with  a  reprimand.  That  is,  there 
should  be  no  imprisonment  for  such  offences, 
only  for  a  repetition  of  such  offence. 

Another  is  the  offence  of  false  representation. 
I  presume  a  great  many  people  have  been  im- 
prisoned for  this  offence.  While  this  is,  of 
course,  punishable,  it  is  quite  a  natural  and  com- 
mon thing  for  people  in  business,  especially  the 
smaller  business  men,  when  they  find  themselves 
in  financial  difficulties,  to  try  to  stretch  a  point. 

I  know  it  is  the  experience  of  many  banks,  in 
most  cases  where  they  have  suffered  losses 
through  failures,  in  looking  over  the  statements 
which  furnished  the  basis  of  credit,  to  find  that 
most  of  these  failures  are  what  might  be  called 
"crooked."  That  is,  where  statements  were  de- 
manded before  extending  credit,  the  statements 
are  found  to  be  false.  The  banks  do  not  usually 
prosecute  these  offenders,  as  there  is  not  much 
to  be  gained  by  doing  so,  but  try  rather  to  niake 
a  settlement  with  them. 

I  have  no  statistics,  but  I  suppose  throughout 
the  United  States  there  have  been  a  large  number 
of  people  imprisoned  for  making  false  represen- 
tations previous  to  failure,  and  there  are  a  great 
many  who  have  committed  the  same  offence  but 
have  not  been  prosecuted  at  all.  Perhaps  the  law 
in  regard  to  this  particular  offence  could  be  modi- 
fied so  that  punishment  could  be  effected  in  an- 
other way  and  the  ends  of  justice  nevertheless 
attained. 

I  would  like  to  see  the  length  of  sentence  usual- 
ly imposed  greatly  reduced,  say  on  an  average 
cut  in  half.  I  think  there  should  be  a  further 
reduction  of  time  for  good  behavior,  up  to  say 
50  per  cent  of  the  total  sentence,  such  commuta- 1 
tion  to  be  based  upon  different  degrees  of  good 
conduct.     In  my   opinion,   shorter   terms   would 


July  1.  1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


y: 


be  more  just  and  equally  efficient  in  prevenliu). 
crime,  and  besides  would  reduce  the  number  oi] 
prisoners  to  about  30  per  cent  of  the  number  nt»u 
incarcerated  and  make  the  problem  much  casinl 
to  handle.  With  fewer  prisoners  it  would  not  be 
necessary  to  have  more  than  one  prisoner  in  a 
cell,  the  prisons  would  not  have  to  be  so  large, 
it  would  be  easier  to  make  conditions  in  them 
more  sanitary  and  the  cost  to  the  community 
would  be  greatly  reduced. 

The  question  of  indeterminate  sentences  should 
also  be  thoroughly  inquired  into.  1  believe  that 
for  a  certain  period  the  discharged  prisoner 
should  be  under  supervision,  but  there  should  be 
some  limitation  to  such  supervision,  as  otherwise 
he  always  has  the  consciousness  of  something 
hanging  over  him,  and  that  naturally  interferes 
with  his  normal  life.  The  sooner  he  gets  back  to 
natural  living  and  feels  that  he  is  the  same  as 
other  citizens,  the  better,  and  this  is  hardly  pos- 
sible while  he  has  the  fear  of  some  one  standing 
over  and  watching  him. 

Next,  as  to  the  treatment  accorded  the  prisoner 
after  he  is  incarcerated. 

All  penal  institutions  should  be  made  perfectly 
sanitary,  and  I  hope  I  do  not  shock  anybody  in 
saying  that  they  should  also  be  fairly  comfort- 
able for  prisoners.  While  the  greatest  sinrplicity 
should  be  exercised,  everything  ought  to  be  done 
to  keep  prisoners  healthy  in  body  and  mind. 
They  should  be  given  regular  employment  and 
the  strictest  discipline  maintained,  with  the  idea 
of  making  the  punishment  of  the  prisoner  con- 
sist more  in  his  forcible  detention  than  in  hard- 
ships during  imprisonment.  The  average  person 
values  his  liberty  and  does  not  want  to  be  de- 
prived of  it  even  though  he  receives  humane 
treatment  during  his  incarceration. 

I  do  not  think  that  many  criminals  arc  deterred 
from  committing  crime  by  the  knowledge  that 
they  will  be  badly  treated  during  their  imprison- 
ment, nor  do  I  believe  that  an  increase  in  crime  i- 
likely  if  prisoners  are  accorded  fair  treatment. 
At  any  rate,  we  can  take  our  chances  as  to  that. 
Unless  we  carry  out  a  humane  policy  we  are  go- 
ing back  to  the  old  idea  of  torture  which  was 
practiced  in  the  Middle  Ages. 

In  Russia  the  treatment  accorded  prisoners  is 
very  harsh.  There  are  long  tenns  for  what  we 
consider  comparatively  slight  offences  and  pris- 


mers  suffer  great  hardships.     That  has  not  dc- 

reased  crime  in  Kus.sia ;  in  fact,  I  think  staiis- 

liics  will  show  that  there  are  more  offences  coin- 

Imitted  against  society  there  than  in  other  coun- 

|lries.  like  ours,  where  the  laws  are  milder. 

What  we  should  aim  to  ilo  is  to  try  to  im- 
'prove  the  prisoner  so  that  there  will  be  .sotne 
chance  of  his  becoming  a  better  man  and  a  useful 
citizen  when  he  is  liberated.  I  hoiK*  that  wc  may 
gradually  reach  a  state  where  the  numlK-r  of  ik-o- 
plc  in  prisons  will  be  greatly  diminished.  It 
seems  a  pity  that  we  are  compelled  to  keep  such 
an  army  of  men  and  women  in  prist^ns  in  order 
that  the  rest  of  the  people  may  l>c  able  to  live  in 
safety. 

I  think  that  strii>cs,  or  any  s{>ecial  pri.son  dress 
that  brands  the  prisoner,  should  be  done  away 
with.  It  might,  of  course,  be  well  to  have  the 
prisoners  dressed  so  that  they  can  be  distinguish- 
ed, but  not  in  a  way  to  make  them  feel  degra<led. 
We  have,  for  instance,  a  sjK'cial  dress  for  certani 
public  employes,  such  as  letter-carriers,  police- 
men, and  others,  but  as  far  as  prisoners  arc  con- 
cerned, my  idea  woukl  be  to  do  away  with  any- 
thing in  the  nature  of  branding  them  either  on 
their  person  or  in  their  dress. 

With  further  reference  to  physical  ci»nditions. 
1  think  the  appearance  of  all  forcible  rcstraitit, 
such  as  prison  bars  and  fortifications,  should  l>c 
done  away  with  and  that  prisoners  slwuld  not  be 
made  to  feel  that  they  are  caged  up  like  animals. 
In  other  words,  notwithstanding  their  f.ffcnces 
against  society,  convicts  should  continue  to  Ik- 
treated  like  human  beings  and  the  better  side  of 
their  natures  apiK-aled  to.  A  prison  should  ni>l 
necessarily  k)ok  different  from   .nv  r.tlur  h.ibita- 

tion. 

Humane  treat.nent  is  likely  to  result  in  fewer 
attempts  on  the  part  of  prisoners  to  cscaiw;  in 
fact,  it  is  my  belief  that  while  every  man  values 
his  liberty  an<l  would  like  to  regain  his  freedom 
when  he  is  deprived  of  it.  the  many  ingenious 
and  desiK-rate  attempts  to  cscajK-  arc  due  in  a 
large  measure  to  inhuman  treatment  which  makes 
the  prisoner  ready  to  take  almost  any  chance  to 
get  out.  It  seems  to  nie  that  the  elalK)rate  pre- 
parations and  .safeguards  for  preventing  escape 
are  due  to  an  entirely  wrong  concq)tion  of  the 
pn.pcr  method  of  treating  pris^^iers  and  often  in 


356 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


themselves  have  the  effect  of  making  the  pris- 
oner want  to  get  out  at  any  cost. 

Another  point  to  be  considered  is  the  brutal- 
izing effect  which  harsh  and  inhuman  treatment 
of  prisoners  has  on  keepers  and  wardens. '  From 
reports  in  the  papers  it  seems  that  for  the  slight- 
est offences  prisoners  are  punished,  especially 
those  let  out  to  contractors  as  it  enables  the  con- 
tractors to  get  more  work  out  of  them.  The 
wardens  and  keepers  have  practically  all  power 
and  the  prisoners  practically  no  redress  or  very 
little  if  any.  Quite  an  army  is  employed  in 
guarding  alid  looking  after  prisoners.  If  they 
have  to  treat  these  men,  who  are  at  their  mercy, 
in  the  right  way,  if  dark  cells  and  lashes  and  other 
cruel  punishments  were  abolished  and  humane 
treatment  accorded  the  prisoners  we  would  not 
be  brutalizing  this  great  army  of  men  who  have 
them  in  charge. 

Every  prisoner  should,  of  course,  have  a  rea- 
sonable number  of  hours  of  occupation  provided 
for  him,  so  arranged,  if  possible,  that  it  would 
not  come  in  competition  with  outside  labor.  I 
think  that  prison  labor  under  contract  is  very 
apt  to  be  abused.  First,  it  is  unfair  competition 
to  business  which  has  to  pay  regular  wages,  but 
the  particularly  bad  feature  of  it  is  that  contrac- 
tors are  apt  to  either  directly  or  indirectly  over- 
work prisoners  and  otherwise  misuse  them  for 
their  own  personal  advantage. 

It  would  be  well,  wherever  it  can  be  done, 
to  have  prisoners  employed  on  farms.  The  in- 
fluence of  direct  contact  with  nature  is  very  good, 
and  the  product  of  prison  labor  employed  on 
farms  would  not  disturb  other  business.  Even 
if  it  should  happen  to  reduce  the  cost  of  farm 
products  it  would  to  that  extent  help  towards  the 
cheaper  cost  of  living,  which  is  so  much  desired. 
At  any  rate,  part  of  the  products  thus  raised 
could  be  used  in  the  maintenance  of  the  prisoners 
themselves. 

When  the  prisoner  is  finally  discharged  he 
should  be  helped  in  getting  employment  and  not 
left  to  the  danger  of  relapsing  into  lawlessness 
through  idleness. 

Of  course,  the  question  of  the  segregation  of 
prisoners  into  classes  is  an  important  one.  Ob- 
viously, those  who  are  guilty  of  comparatively 
slight  offences  should  be  kept  apart  from  those 


who  are  guilty  of  more  serious  offences,  or  from 
those  who  are  apparently  incorrigible.  That, 
however,  is  a  matter  upon  which  every  one  agrees 
and  only  needs  careful  observation  and  judgment 
to  put  into  effect. 

With  reference  to  what  I  said  at  the  begin- 
ning, that  fair-minded  people  should  protect  the 
prisoner  in  his  helplessness,  I  think  it  would  be 
an  excellent  thing  if  committees  were  formed  in 
different  communities  to  keep  in  close  touch  with 
conditions  in  our  prisons  with  a  view  to  seeing 
that  fair  and  humane  treatment  is  accorded  to 
this  class  of  unfortunates  and  to  study  the  whole 
question  of  the  best  way  to  handle  the  problem. 
The  criminal  should  be  regarded  by  society  not 
in  the  spirit  of  enmity  but  rather  as  a  defective 
which  he  undoubtedly  is,  and  every  effort  should 
be  made  to  bring  him  back  into  a  normal  state. 

The  prisoner  should  be  paid  for  his  labor. 
Part  of  it  should  be  used  for  his  maintenance  and 
part  for  the  support  of  his  family.  When  he  is 
discharged,  employment  should  be  provided  and 
opportunity  given  him  to  lead  an  honest  life. 

®     #     ® 
Hath  it  Come  to  This? 
Pray  what  is  this  problem  so  vexing, 
That  the  Editor's  mind  is  perplexing? 
Greater  space  doth  he  need, 
So  he  hopes  to  succeed 
The  Garage  (right  next  door)  in  annexing. 

©     ®     # 
A  Light-some  Complaint 
No  matter  where  I  cast  my  eyes, 
The  newly  whitewashed  walls  arise ; 
And,  though  I  dread  reporters,  I'm 
Forced  in  the  limelight  all  the  time ! 

®     ®     ® 

A  Brassy  Statement 

Some  claim  we  have  a  brass  band  now 

To  gladden  things  on  Sunday  morn  : 
The  statement,  though,  I  disallow — 
Each  member  toots  a  silver  horn ! 

®     ®     ® 
An  important  feature  of  prison  administration 
is  to  handle  the  inmates  so  that  after  their  release 
they  won't  come  back. 

®     #     # 
There   are   men   who   should   be   quarantined 
from  society  for  life. 


July  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


35; 


Xke  Yellow  Streak 

By    Herbert   K.aurman 

[Reproduced  by  kind  permission  of  the  author] 

He's  as  dangerous  as  a  streak  of  light mu)r — 
and  as  treacherous.  He  flashes  his  true  self  with- 
out warning  and  always  hits  sometiiing  or  sonic- 
body  who  doesn't  expect  the  blow. 

He's  the  Man  with  the  Yellow  Streak— the 
man  who  can't  win.  He's  wrong — wrong  from 
eye-lash  to  toe-tip.  There's  a  flaw  in  his  grain — 
he  isn't  made  of  the  stuflF  to  stand  the  strain. 
He's  bound  to  give  way  under  pressure.  His 
meat  is  weak — his  blood  is  thin — his  soul  is  lack- 
ing. Pie's  inflicted  with  an  incurable  moral 
epilepsy.  He  falls  down  in  a  panic  every  time 
he's  called  on  to  stand  up  and  show  his  man- 
hood. 

He  can't  reach  a  very  high  place  and  stay  there. 
He's  cursed  with  the  dread  of  those  who  are 
afraid  of  great  heights.  It  clutches  him  when  he 
is  midway  up  the  ladder,  and,  instead  of  going  on 
and  upward,  he  hugs  to  the  rungs  and  hangs 
there  shivering  with  dread.  He  magnifies  his 
risks— he  multiplies  his  dangers— he  loses  all  his 
balance — his  caution  disappears,  and,  instead,  a 
foolhardy  irresponsibility  takes  its  place. 

He's  a  drowning  man,  sinking  in  a  sea  of  self- 
exaggerations.  He  will  lay  hold  of  anybody  to 
save  his  own  skin — he  will  sacrifice  friends,  fam- 
ily, employer — even  his  hope  of  the  future — in 
his  wild  frenzy  to  look  out  for  his  own  interests 

of  the  moment. 

He's  a  coward— a  mean,  selfish  craven.  He's 
a  girder  with  a  flaw— a  beam  with  a  knot.  Don't 
use  him  where  there  is  likely  to  be  a  strain— he's 
a  man  with  a  danger  spot.  No  matter  how  bril- 
liant or  trained  or  resourceful  he  may  be  when 
everything  is  right,  all  his  superior  qualifications 
are  nil  and  must  not  be  called  on  in  an  emergency. 
He's  diseased— he  has  a  taint— he  can  never  be 
counted  on  to  utilize  his  gifts  when  they  ought 

to  count  most. 

He  can't  help  himself  because  he  isn't  man 
enough  to  own  up  and  ask  for  assistance.  He 
won't  tell  you  what's  wrong  with  him.  He  wears 
the  velvet  of  false  pride  over  his  threadbare  patch 
and  vou  only  see  it  when  it's  too  late  and  his 
cloak  drops  and  shows  his  tattered  courage. 

Search  him  anx)ng  your  men  and  your  asso- 


ciates. Don't  wait  unlil  he  runs  amuck.  He 
won't  give  you  warning — he  loses  his  reason — 
he  doesn't  realize  what  is  hap()cning.  In  his  wild 
zeal  to  protect  himself  from  the  whiplash  of 
consequences,  he'll  lie— lie'll  cheat— he'll  throw 
the  blame  on  the  innocent.  It's  a  kindness  to 
l>i)lh  of  you  not  fo  tyivc  him  .t  rhaiiro  tn  Initt 
himself  and  you. 

You  can't  reform  him.  He's  (|uicksand — he'll 
merely  keep  involving  you. 

The  only  thing  under  the  sun  that  can  possibly 
bring  him  to  himself  is  to  leave  him  to  himself. 
A  great  enough  shock  may  awaken  the  man  in 
him — no  other  medicine  will  count. 

Dress  parade  isn't  the  test  of  a  soldier.  The 
l)est  tactician  isn't  the  best  field-officer.  Don't 
mistake  his  ability  under  normal  circumstances 
for  capability  in  emergencies.  Resourcefulness 
under  the  pressure  of  circumstance  has  sent  many 
a  recruit  climbing  over  the  heads  of  trained  but 
unseasoned  superiors. 

There  comes  an  hour  when  grit  suniiounts  all 
else.  Then  it  isn't  the  number  of  pounds  avoirdu- 
pois, or  the  size  of  the  bicep,  or  the  number  of 
convolutions  in  a  brain  that  count,  but  the  depth 
of  the  threads  in  a  man's  screws  of  courage. 
Then  (3pportunity  enters  full-winged  upon  iIk 
scene  and  the  right  man  is  bound  to  come  to  the 
front.  He'll  always  take  his  proinrr  post — and 
the  man  with  the  yellow  streak  is  sure  to  drop  to 
his  true  level  whenever  things  get  red  hot  and 
the  fur  begins  to  fly. — Capyrightcd  by  Herbert 
Kaufman. 

Wages  to  Prisoners 

[Reprinted  from  Indi«nipoli«,  Ind..  Newt) 

That  a  gradual  change  is  coming  over  the  effort 
at  apportioning  pimishment  to  make  it  better  fit 
the  crime  is  apparent  even  at  a  hasty  glance.  The 
whole  a)urse  of  the  indeterminate  sentence  has 
been  in  this  direction.  There  is  and  long  has  been 
an  attemi)t  to  adjust  the  punishment  in  even  ordi- 
nary cases  so  that  the  effects  will  fall  as  httle 
as  possible  on  the  innocent.  It  is.  we  all  know, 
the  innocent  that  suffer  for  all  wrong  domg  m 
this  world.  It  seems  impossible  to  prevent  this 
altogether,  perhaps  ivt  at  all  as  to  the  anguish, 
but  there  is  hoi>c  that  a  part  of  the  consequences 

shall  not  fall  thus. 

It  is  suggested  now  that  the  Chicago  Bndcwcll 


358 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


inmates  be  paid  for  their  services,  the  proceeds 
to  go  to  the  famihes  of  the  prisoners.  This  plan 
is  advanced  by  the  civil  service  commission  of 
the  city  as  one  of  the  new  methods  of  relieving 
the  rigors  while  holding  the  essential  substance. 
At  the  Detroit  house  of  correction  prisoners  are 
compelled  to  labor  regularly.  They  receive  a 
regular  compensation.  The  suggestion  is  not  en- 
tirely new.  But  its  success  in  Detroit  and  its  es- 
sential justice  may  bring  it  into  general  use  in 
time.  It  is  plainly  seen  that  one  of  the  great  re- 
sults is  the  relief  of  the  wives  and  children  of 
men  who  are  justly  sentenced.  With  them  so- 
ciety has  no  quarrel.  But  in  a  large  way  society 
has  to  support  them  when  the  breadwinner  is 
incarcerated  and  their  dependence  is  gone  and  so 
they  are  punished  and  society  itself  is  punished 
while  it  maintains  the  guilty  one  in  idleness  and 
allows  him  to  become  a  source  of  revenue  to  the 
sheriff. 

Our  whole  system  in  Indiana  is  wrong.  "W^ 
have  not  yet  arrived  at  the  plane  where  we  refuse 
to  make  money  out  of  prisoners,  and  where  we 
permit  what  some  day  we  shall  plainly  see  are 
abuses  because  at  the  bottom  the  system  is  inter- 
locked with  politics  as  spoils.  Here  is  a  word 
from  the  Chicago  News  on  the  subject : 

"Under  present  methods  private  contractors 
in  many  cities  and  states  fatten  on  profits  from 
the  labor  of  caged  men.  Would  it  not  be  better 
to  employ  prisoners  in  making  articles  useful  in 
their  own  and  other  institutions  while  giving  their 
wives  and  babies  some  share  in  the  profits  of 
their  labor?  The  Chicago  civil  service  commis- 
sion thinks  so  and  so  do  other  competent  investi- 
gators." 

What  Is  to  Become  of  the  Thirteen  Children? 

[Reprinted  from  Chicago  Tribune] 

Michael  Janess,  50  years  old,  has  thirteen  chil- 
dren. He  was  arraigned  before  Municipal  Judge 
Newcomer  for  failure  to  send  them  to  school. 
He  was  taken  into  court  on  the  complaint  of 
Charles  J.  Coyne,  who  is  connected  with  the 
board  of  education.  Mr.  Coyne  said  that  four  of 
Janess'  children  now  were  being  cared  for  at  the 
Parental  school.  Janess  declared  his  inability  to 
look  after  all  his  children  but  was  warned  that 
if  they  were  not  in  school  by  Tuesday  he  would 
be  jailed. 


Julian  Haw^thome's  Reckless  Prison  Charges. 

by  Hastings  H.  Hart 

Mr.  Julian  Hawthorne's  papers  on  prison  life 
are  exceedingly  interesting.  They  are  written  in 
the  fascinating  style  which  characterizes  all  of 
his  writings.  He  has  told  a  great  deal  of  truth 
in  these  papers.  His  general  indictment  of  the 
prison  system  of  the  United  States  government 
and  the  several  state  governments  and  especially 
the  county  jails  will  receive  the  indorsement  of 
those  who  are  familiar  with  the  subject  and  espe- 
cially those  who  have  labored  for  many  years  to 
do  away  with  abuses  in  prisons. 

Unfortunately  many  of  Mr.  Hawthorne's 
statements  with  reference  to  the  prisons  are  so 
sweeping  and  so  reckless  as  inevitably  to  raise  a 
doubt  as  to  his  detailed  statements  of  fact.  He 
is  a  writer  of  fiction  and  his  literary  instinct  leads 
him  to  expand  and  embellish  his  facts  in  order  to 
secure  a  literary  result.  His  mental  constitution 
makes  it  impossible  for  him  to  treat  facts  in  an 
unbiased  and  dispassionate  way,  even  though  he 
may  have  no  deliberate  intention  to  misrepresent. 

The  papers  are  full  of  universal  statements 
with  reference  to  prison  boards,  prison  wardens, 
parole  boards,  judges  and  officers  of  the  depart- 
ment of  justice.  Mr.  Hawthorne  gives  the  im- 
pression that  judges  of  the  criminal  courts  are 
usually  unjust,  that  juries  do  not  hesitate  to  con- 
vict innocent  men,  that  one  attorney-general  after 
another  has  deliberately  winked  at  cruelty  and 
perversions  of  justice,  that  parole  boards  heart- 
lessly cajole  and  deceive  prisoners,  that  prison 
wardens  are  almost  universally  harsh,  cruel,  dis- 
honest and  untruthful,  and  that  prison  officers 
generally  are  sneaking  and  corrupt  and  take  de- 
light in  torturing  and  abusing  their  prisoners. 

It  does  not  appear  from  Mr.  Hawthorne's 
statements  that  he  has  ever  visited  any  prisons 
except  the  Tombs  prison  in  New  York  and  the 
United  States  penitentiary  at  Atlanta.  He  men- 
tions four  sources  of  information,  his  own  per- 
sonal observation,  his  intercourse  with  officers  of 
justice  and  prison  officers,  the  printed  reports  of 
prisons  and  public  officers  and  his  personal  inter- 
course with  his  fellow  prisoners.  With  these 
limited  means  of  information  he  proceeds  to  in- 
dict, try  and  convict  at  the  bar  of  public  opinion 
officers  of  the  law  and  prison  officers  in  general 
and  particular. 


I 


July  1.  191^                                      THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  359 

Mr.  Hawthorne's  attitude  of  mind  toward  who  were  inhuman;  nor  that  there  arc  prison 
prison  wardens  is  indicated  by  the  following  quo-  guards  who  delight  in  the  petty  persecution  of 
tation  from  his  paper  of  February  15 :  "Another  prisoners  ;  nor  even  that  there  are  sometimes  mis- 
series  of  reports  showed  a  man  who,  beginning  as  carriages  of  justice,  l>ecause  judges  and  the  juries 
a  reactionary  of  an  extreme  type  *  *  *  finally  are  fallible.  All  of  these  things  have  been  oj)enly 
felt  the  pressure  of  the  wave  of  prison  reform  discussed  and  published  abroad  these  thirty 
*  *  *  adjusted  his  reports  and  addresses  so  as  to  years  past  by  writers,  students,  penologists  and 
make  himself  appear  as  a  leading  apostle  of  the  prison  wardens. 

new  ideas.     *     *     *    This  warden,  whose  meth-  One   wonders   whether   Mr.    Hawthorne  ever 

ods  I  know  well,  is  now  quoted  as  a  signal  cham-  hoard  of  Dr.  E.  C.  Wines'  book  on  "The  State 

pion  of  the  new  and  more  merciful  dispensation,  of  Prisons,"  published  in   1880;  or  George  W. 

though  only  two  or  three  years  ago,  according  to  Cable's  blasting  indictment  of  the  convict  lease 

his  own  personally  written  and  signed  reports,  he  system,  read  before  the  National  Conference  of 

was  for  keeping  prisoners  practically  incommuni-  Charities,  at  Louisville,  in  1883;  or  Oiaplain  .\. 

cado.     *    *     *    Shall  we  believe  that  this  man's  G.    Byers'   denunciation   of   the   jail   system,   in 

professions  of  a  change  of  heart  are  genuine  or  1867;  or  Dr.  Charles  R.  Henderson's  report  on 

feel  surprise  to  discover  that  at  the  very  moment  jail  administration  at  Chicago,  in  1911  ;  or  Gov. 

he  is  receiving  visitors  in  his  commodious  office  Donaghey's  pardon  of  300  prisoners  in  Arkansa^ 

upstairs  and  purring  out  to  them  his  fatherly  af-  last  year  as  a  protest  against  the  lease  system. 

fection  for  his  prisoners  and  denying  that  the  old,  One   wonders   whether  Mr.   Hawthorne  ever 

bad  methods  of  repression  any  longer  are  toler-  heard  of  prison  wardens  like  Col.  Gardner  Tufts. 

ated  there  are  miserable  wretches,  being  iiung  up  who  thirty  years  ago  put  his  prisoners  in  black 

by  the  wrists  in  dark  and  noisome  cells  under  his  suits,  sent  them  to  school  like  schoolboys  and  or- 

feet?"  ganized  a  baseball  team  which  played  successfully 

Apparently  the  very  fact  of  a  prison  warden's  against  the  neighboring  teams  of  Massachu.setts ; 

adopting  a  more  humane  and  reasonable  attitude  or  Warden  J.  W.  McClaughrey.  who  abolished 

toward  his  prisoners  is  an  evidence  of  hypocrisy,  flogging  in  the  Illinois  state  i)enitentiary  thirty 

Prison  officers  are  chosen  from  the  community  years  ago ;  or  of  Superintendent  John  L.  Whit- 

at  large  by  governors  or  prison  wardens  or  by  man  of  the  Chicago  House  of  Correction,  for- 

civil  service  examinations.    They  are  usually  men  merly  jailer  of  the  Cook  county  jail,  who  has  for 

of  good  repute.     The  writer  knows  personally  many  years  dealt  with  his  prisoners  man  to  man 

many  prison  wardens  and  prison  officers  who  are  in  the  spirit  of  good  will. 

conscientious  and  kindhearted  and  who  honestly  Did  Mr.  Hawthorne  ever  hear  of  Warden  Gil- 
desire  to  give  their  prisoners  a  fair  deal.  It  is  mour  of  Toronto,  who  sends  his  convicts  into  tlie 
preposterous  to  represent  that  these  men  are  uni-  tields  to  work  with  unarmed  guards  and  says  that 
versally  transformed  into  human  monsters  by  be-  90  per  cent  of  them  can  be  so  trusted?  Or  of 
ing  appointed  as  prison  officers.  Supt.  Whittaker,  who  after  many  years  of  cx- 

We  did  not  need  Mr.  Hawthorne  to  tell  us  perience  under  the  old  prison  system  is  now  keep- 
that  the  county  jails  of  the  United  States  are  ing  300  prisoners  in  o|>en  barracks  on  a  farm  at 
schools  of  crime  and  instruments  of  torture;  nor  Occoquan,  \'a..  and  has  requested  his  trustees  to 
that  the  "third  degree"  is  a  relic  of  the  dark  ages  allow  him  to  remove  the  barlnrd  wire  stockade 
and  is  a  violation  both  of  law  and  of  right ;  nor  which  surrounds  the  dormitory  buildings  because 
that  many  of  the  prisons  of  the  United  States  are  he  has  no  need  of  it  ?  Or  of  Supt.  I-conard  of  the 
unfit  places  for  the  confinement  of  prisoners,  Ohio  state  refonnatory  at  Mansfield,  who  goes 
breeders  of  tuberculosis  and  other  diseases  and  on  a  bond  with  his  prisoners  and  sends  them  out 
that   the  confinement  of   two   prisoners   in   one  to  work  on  honor? 

small  cell  is  a  crime  against  humanity;  nor  that  Did  Mr.  Hawthorne  ever  hear  of  ShcrifT  Tracy 

the  convict  lease  and  contract  system  is  a  wrong  of  Montpclier.  Vt.,  who  obtains  situations  for  his 

to  the  prisoner  and  to  the  outside  laborer  as  well ;  jail   prisoners   with   mechanics   and    farmers   at 

nor  that  there  have  been  some  prison  wardens  $1.75  per  day  and  sends  them  out  with  their  din- 


360                                                     THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  First  Year 

ner  buckets  on  honor,  dividing  the  wages  between  parole  law.  He  says :  "If  for  that  harmless  look- 
the  county  and  the  prisoner?  Did  he  ever  hear  of  ing  'may'  had  been  substituted  'shall'  or  'must' 
the  Massachusetts  state  prison  farm  at  Bridge-  the  secret  annals  of  Federal  prisons  since  then 
water,  where  prisoners  have  worked  in  the  open  would  have  been  spared  much  rascality,  torture, 
for  thirty  years?  Did  he  ever  hear  of  what  is  corruption,  cruelty  and  death."  *  *  *  "That 
being  done  in  California,  Oregon,  Washington  'may'  rendered  it  optional  with  the  board  to  grant 
and  New  Jersey  and  at  the  new  prison  farm  at  or  to  refuse  parole  in  any  given  case." 
Comstock,  N.  Y,,  in  putting  prisoners  upon  honor  Mr.  Hawthorne  misquotes  the  law.  The  law 
and  developing  manhood  by  treating  men  as  men?  says  (Section  1)  :  "Every  prisoner  *  *  *  whose 
During  the  last  few  years  there  has  been  a  pro-  record  of  conduct  shows  he  has  observed  the 
found  reaction  against  the  ancient  prison  meth-  rules  of  such  institution,  and  who  has  served  one- 
ods  which  Mr.  Hawthorne  criticises  and  in  favor  third  of  the  total  of  term  or  terms  for  which  he 
of  the  policy  of  putting  prisoners  on  honor,  work-  was  sentenced,  may  be  released  on  parole  as  here- 
ing  them  in  the  open,  giving  them  recreation,  re-  inafter  provided."  Mr.  Hawthorne  omits  the 
specting  their  individuality  and  opening  up  op-  words  "as  hereinafter  provided."  The  provision 
portunities  for  a  new  life.  The  movement  is  be-  referred  to  is  found  in  Section  3,  which  says :  "If 
ing  forwarded  by  many  prison  wardens.  it  shall  appear  to  said  board  of  parole  from  a  re- 
Two  years  ago  the  outbreaks  in  the  United  port  by  the  proper  officers  of  such  prison  or  upon 
States  penitentiary  at  Leavenworth  and  the  state  application  by  a  prisoner  for  release  on  parole, 
prison  at  Jackson,  Mich.,  created  a  reaction  that  there  is  a  reasonable  probability  that  such 
against  the  more  humane  methods  of  dealing  with  applicant  will  live  and  remain  at  liberty  without 
prisoners.  The  National  Prison  Association,  violating  the  laws,  and  if  in  the  opinion  of  the 
meeting  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  November  14,  1912,  ^^^rd  such  release  is  not  incompatible  with  the 
passed  the  following  resolutions,  which  were  welfare  of  society,  then  said  board  of  parole  may 
earnestly  supported  by  the  wardens  present.  j^   j^s   discretion  authorize  the  release  of  such 

Whereas,  insurrections  in  certain  state  prisons  applicant  on  parole  " 
have  been  reported  in  the  public  press  and  maga-  ^  jg  perfectly  plain  that  the  law  establishes  not 
zines  as  due  to  the  introduction  of  modern  prison  ^^^  condition,  but  three,  on  which  the  board  may 
methods ;  be  it  parole  a  prisoner :  ( 1 )  That  his  record  of  conduct 
Resolved,  That  the  American  Prison  Associa-  shows  he  has  "observed  the  rules  of  such  institu- 
tion hereby  expresses  its  firm  conviction  that  tjoi," .  (2)  that  "it  shall  appear  to  said  board  of 
these  unfortunate  occurrences  in  no  wise  resulted  parde  *  *  *  that  there  is  a  reasonable  probability 
from  the  application  of  modern  prison  methods ;  that  such  applicant  will  live  and  remain  at  liberty 
and  that  these  methods,  when  applied  by  officers  without  violating  the  laws";  (3)  that  "in  the 
of  ability,  capacity  and  discretion,  who  are  un-  opinion  of  the  board  such  release  is  not  incom- 
hampered  in  the  discharge  of  their  difficult  duties,  patible  with  the  welfare  of  society." 
have  universally  been  successful ;  be  it  further  The  law  further  provides  for  the  exercise  of 
Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  given  the  an  opinion.  The  prisoner  may  be  paroled  "if  in 
widest  publicity,  in  order  that  justice  may  be  the  opinion  of  the  board  such  release  is  not  in- 
done  to  the  cause  of  prison  reform.  compatible  with  the  welfare  of  society."  This 
The  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted.  condition  clearly  implies  that  there  may  in  some 
Mr.  Hawthorne  complains  bitterly  of  the  ad-  cases  be  good  reason  for  refusing  a  parole,  even 
ministration  of  the  parole  law.  He  says :  "If  a  though  the  prisoner  has  a  good  conduct  record 
man's  conduct  while  serving  his  sentence  had  and  is  likely  to  lead  a  law  abiding  life, 
been  orderly  and  obedient  to  rules  he  was  to  be  Good  conduct  in  prison  is  only  one  sign  of 
freed  after  serving  one-third  of  his  appointed  penitence  and  future  good  behavior.  Everyone 
time."  He  says  again :  "The  language  is  that  if  who  is  familiar  with  prisons  will  tell  you  that  the 
the  prisoner's  conduct  has  been  correct,  etc.,  he  worst  man  often  makes  the  best  prisoner.  A 
may  be  granted  parole."  Then  he  makes  the  young  fellow  convicted  for  the  first  time,  smart- 
charge  that  the  parole  board  has  taken  advantage  ing  under  a  sense  of  injustice  or  moved  by  a  spirit 
of  the  word  "may"  to  defeat  the  purpose  of  the  of  bravado,  or  simply  from  carelessness,  will  lose 


July  1.  1914                                       THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.                                                   361 

his  temper  or  break  the  rules  when  in  fact  he  is  cast  among  his  friends  and  admirers,  multitndc<; 
not  really  vicious  and  will  speedily  develop  right  of  whom,  believing  his  talcs,  invested  and  1 
purpose.  An  old  recidivist  who  has  been  in  prison  their  money.  The  writer  has  never  heard  that 
repeatedly  knows  the  ropes.  lie  understands  that  .Mr.  Hawthorne  ever  expressed  any  regret  cither 
it  is  useless  to  kick  against  the  pricks  and  falls  for  the  acts  of  which  he  was  convicted  or  for  the 
into  line  and  meets  every  requirement  of  the  loss  and  suffering  tt)  which  his  friends  were  sub- 
prison  rules;  yet  at  heart  he  is  a  criminal  and  jected.  On  the  contrary,  he  has  refused  to  ac- 
will  return  to  his  criminal  practices  as  soon  as  he  knowledge  any  wrongdoing  on  his  part  and  upon 
is  discharged.  his  own  statement  declared  to  the  parole  board 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  parole  board  to  seek  for  that  he  was  not  guilty  of  the  offense  of  which  he 

-igns  of  penitence  and  indications  of  right  pur-  was  charged. 

pose  and  they  are  debarred  by  their  oath  of  office  Whether  we  accept  Mr.  Hawthorne's  pica  of 

from  extending  the  privilege  of  parole  to  those  "Not  guilty"  or  accept  the  decision  of  the  jury, 

who  in  their  judgment  will  renew  their  former  the  judge  and  the  parole  board  that  he  was  guilty 

l)ractices.  The  claim  that  prisoners  having  a  good  we  could  imagine  Mr.  Hawthorne  following  the 

conduct  record  thereby  acquire  a  right  to  parole  illustrious   examples   of   Sir   Walter  Scott   and 

is  contrary  both  to  law  and  good  sense.  Mark  Twain  and  devoting  the  remainder  of  his 

Mr.  Hawthorne  complains  particularly  of  in-  life  if  necessary  to  the  reimbursement  of  those 

justice  in  that  he  himself  was  refused  a  parole  who  had  been  innocent  losers  through  their  con- 

and  he  appeals  to  the  bar  of  public  opinion  to  re-  fidcnce   in   him ;  but   we   have  never   seen   any 

verse  the  action   of  the  parole  board.     Let  us  intimation  that  he  regards  himself  as  being  under 

therefore  consider  his  case.    He  says :  "According  any  obligations  whatever  toward  those  unfortu- 

to  my  information,  which  includes  my  personal  nate  friends  who  became  losers  because  of  his 

experience,  the  question  is  put  to  the  applicant  glowing  representations. 

whether  or  not  he  admits  himself  guilty  of  the  Mr.  Hawthorne  justly  scorns  the  "snitcher," 
crime  for  which  he  was  undergoing  sentence.  My  ''the  squealer,"  who  goes  about  the  prison  collect- 
own  reply  w^as, 'Not  guilty,' and  though  the  presi-  ing  information  which  he  retails  to  the  prison 
dent  (of  the  parole  board)  was  very  courteous  officers  in  order  to  gain  advantage  for  himself  by 
to  me  and  gave  me  every  assurance  that  I  might  bringing  others  into  disrepute.  The  "snitcher" 
expect  favorable  action  on  my  application,  as  a  is  universally  despised,  whether  he  lies  or  tells 
matter  of  fact  and  of  record  the  recommendation  the  truth,  but  what  shall  be  said  of  the  man  who 
made  to  the  attorney-general  was  that  my  applica-  goes  about  collecting  from  prisoners  stories  to 
tion  be  denied,  and  denied  it  was."  (There  is  not  fliscredit  prison  wardens  and  prison  officers  whom 
necessarily  any  issue  of  fact  involved  in  this  \^q  has  never  seen  and  after  his  release  sells  them 
statement.  The  president  of  the  board  may  have  for  money  to  the  public  press?  It  was  impossible 
been  overruled  by  his  associates  or  his  view  may  for  his  informers  to  give  information  of  thcjr 
have  been  changed  by  argument.)  own  knowledge  about  other  prisons  unless  they 

Mr.  Hawthorne  was  accused  in  technical  terms  had   been   convicted   at   least   twice  of  offcn  ■ 

of  misuse  of  the  mails   for  purposes  of   fraud,  against  the  law. 

Under  this  charge  he  was  tried  before  a  United  The  writer  has  known  some  prisoners  wIk)  al- 
States  judge  of  high  standing  by  a  jury  of  his  ways  told  the  truth,  he  has  known  some  who 
peers.  He  was  defended  by  able  attorneys.  He  usually  told  the  truth  and  he  has  known  some 
was  convicted  by  the  jury  and  sentenced  by  the  who  were  artistic  and  incrirrigiblc  liars  and  who 
judge.  Misuse  of  the  mails  for  purposes  of  fraud  would  perjure  themselves  to  any  extent  for  ad- 
was  the  technical  charge,  but  in  non-technical  vantage  or  simply  for  amusement.  Any  one  who 
language  what  he  was  reported  to  have  done  was  is  acc|uainted  with  prisoners  will  testify  that 
to  trade  upon  the  honored  name  of  his  father,  their  testimony  must  be  accepted  with  caution  and 
Nathaniel  Hawthorne,  beloved  and  revered  by  nmst  be  properly  confjrmed  in  order  to  be  entitled 
thousands  of  his  countrymen,  to  use  his  heredit-  to  credence. 

of  mines  which  were  to  enrich  investors  by  fabu-  Yet.    taking  advantage  of   the   leniency   with 

lous  dividends  and  to  spread  this  literature  broad-  which  he  was  treated  at  Atlanta,  whereby,  ac- 


362 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


cording  to  his  own  account,  he  was  given  oppor- 
tunity for  free  conversation  with  many  of  his 
fellow  prisoners,  on  secret  and  unconfirmed  testi- 
mony he  proceeds  to  try  to  convict  officers  of 
justice,  prison  wardens  and  prison  officers  of 
hypocrisy,  injustice,  lying,  cruelty  and  dishonesty 
and  to  publish  them  to  the  world  as  such  without 
verification  and  without  any  opportunity  for  the 
accused  to  be  heard.  How  would  he  characterize 
such  actions  if  directed  toward  the  criminal? 

We  despise  injustice,  tyranny  and  cruelty 
toward  the  helpless  criminal  and  will  join  hands 
with  every  right  minded  man  to  stop  such  actions 
and  to  punish  the  perpetrators,  be  they  high  or 
low ;  but  public  opinion  will  not  convict  men  of 
such  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors  on  the  testi- 
mony of  doubtful  witnesses  secretly  collected  and 
sold  for  money  to  the  public  press. — Sun,  New 
York,  N.  Y. 

Maintenance  in  Canadian  Penitentiaries 

[Reprinted  from  Nelson,  B.  C,  News] 

Canada  maintains  seven  penitentiaries  for  the 
incarceration  of  her  convicted  criminals — sen- 
tenced for  two  years  or  longer.  The  report  there- 
on for  the  past  year  should  awaken  reflection. 

This  report  may  be  looked  at  from  the  stand- 
point of  the  country.  Last  year  the  cost  to  the 
country  of  the  maintenance  of  her  2,000  prisoners 
therein  was,  in  each  of  these  penitentiaries,  as 
follows : 

Kingston    $121,076.44 

St.  Vincent  de  Paul 138.796.08 

Dorchester 76,746.68 

Manitoba 64.743.23 

British  Columbia 102,080.38 

Alberta   • 75.193.40 

Saskatchewan 53,610.44 


$800  each  per  year,  a  hospital  overseer  at  $900 
per  year,  a  steward  at  $900  per  year,  an  engineer 
at  $1,000  per  year,  seven  trade  instructors  at 
$800  a  year  each,  a  chief  watchman  at  $900  a  year, 
another  watchman  at  $750  a  year,  and  twelve 
keepers  and  guards  in  addition  to  several  tempo- 
rary officers.  All  these  to  "oversee"  an  average  of 
about  eighty  prisoners. 

The  penitentiary  for  the  province  of  Saskatche- 
wan is  the  most  expensively  managed  per  capita 
of  all  the  penitentiaries  in  Canada.  The  cost  per 
prisoner  is  $700  per  annum.  This  is  made  up  as 
follows : 

Staff  per  prisoner $366.96 

Maintenance  of  convicts 85.61 

Discharge  expenses    9.72 

Working  expenses 96.57 

Industries ^1.79 

Lands,  buildings  and  equipment.  .  .  .  172.09 

Miscellaneous   8.86 


Total  $741.60 

Less  revenue 41.02 


Total    $632,246.65 

The  question  naturally  arises,  viewing  this 
matter  from  the  standpoint  of  the  public,  is  not 
this  a  large  sum  to  pay  annually  for  the  mainte- 
nance of  penitentiaries?  So  it  should  appear  to 
any  person  who  considers  the  matter.  For  every 
convict  confined  in  that  at  Kingston,  the  cost  of 
the  staff  oversight  is  $178.87.  In  that  at  Dor- 
chester, N.  B.,  the  cost  is  $210.61.  In  that  in 
Saskatchewan  the  cost  is  $366.96.  There  is  a 
warden  at  $2,200  per  year,  a  deputy  warden  at 
$1,500  per  year,  a  surgeon  at  $1,200  per  year,  an 
accountant  at  $1,200  per  year,  two  chaplains  at 


Net  cost $700.58 

Messrs.  Stewart  and  Hughes,  the  inspectors, 
have  this  to  say  regarding  this  expenditure : 
"The  fact  that  each  man  sentenced  to  hard 
labor  costs  the  country  one  dollar  per  day 
in  excess  of  his  earning  seems  to  require 
explanation.      We    respectfully    submit    the    . 
opinion  that  the  weakness  which  has  pro- 
duced, and  is  producing,  such  results  is  not 
due  to  the  inefficiency  of  the  officers  by  whom 
the  institutions  are  primarily  controlled,  but 
to  the  policy  by  which  those  officers  have 
been  restricted." 

They  are  disposed  to  place  the  blame  for  the 
high  cost  of  the  penitentiaries  to  the  country  upon 
the  non-employment  of  the  prisoners  or  their 
employment  on  non-productive  work.  They 
make  two  recommendations  regarding  this : 

( 1 )  That  the  penitentiaries  shall  be  adminis- 
tered by  the  minister  through  his  responsible  of- 
ficers free  from  local  or  other  external  interfer- 
ence. 

(2)  That  the  government  shall  utilize  the 
obligatory  labor  of  its  wards  in  supplying,  as  far 
as  possible,  its  own  needs  and  requirements. 

These  inspectors,  in  the  report  under  considera- 
tion, go  farther  than  this  and  reproduce  a  report 


July  1.  1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


363 


made  in  1909,  pointing  t)Ut  to  the  then  minister  of 
justice  how  prison  labor  could  be  utilized,  to  some 
advantage  at  least.  These  recommendations  are 
briefly  that  certain  government  supplies,  instead 
of  being  purchased  from  contractors,  should  be 
manufactured  in  the  prisons  of  the  country. 
These  include: 

(1)  Brooms,  mops,  scrubbing  brushes, 
iloor  mats  for  all  public  buildings. 

(2)  Letter  carriers'  uniforms  (including 
caps  and  boots'). 

(3)  Rural  mail  boxes. 

(4)  Uniforms  for  employes  of  the  gov- 
ernment railways,  fishery  protection  service 
and  railway  mail  service, 

(5)  Overcoats  for  the  militia. 

(6)  Boots  and  uniforms  for  the  Do- 
minion jx)lice  and  undress  uniforms  (stable 
suits)    for  the   Royal   Northwest   Mounted 

b        Police. 

So  much  for  the  penitentiary  system  of  Canada 
as  it  affects  the  public. 

It  may  then  be,  and  should  be,  viewed  as  it 
affects  the  prisoners.    The  question  here  is  this : 
should  incarceration  be  regarded  as  punitive  only 
or  as  also  remedial  in  its  character.     Ilumani- 
tarianism  is  more  and  more  asserting  itself ;  more 
and  more  being  insisted  upon  in  the  treatment 
accorded  to  convicted  criminals  ;  and  if  a  prisoner, 
while  he  is  serving  the  period  for  which  he  has 
been  incarcerated,  can  have  the  spark  of  goodness 
or  manliness  awakened  within  him,  can  be  in- 
fluenced so  that  he  will  become  a  reputable  citizen 
after  he  emerges  from  the  prison,  should  not  that 
be  attempted  and  consistently  pursued  ?    That  is 
the  question,  to  which  there  can  be  only  one  re- 
ply.   There  can  be  no  doubt  that  labor  which  a 
convict  knows  is  being  imposed  upon  him  simply 
as  labor,  the  penal  character  of  which  is  con- 
stantly in  evidence,  is  distinctly  hardening  in  its 
effect;  whereas  that  labor  which  is  congenial  to 
him,  is  remunerative,  and  which  would — as  he 
would  be  constantly  realizing — be  fitting  him  to 
occupy  a  reputable  position  after  he  had  served 
his  term  of  imprisonment,  would  have  a  highly 
humanizing  influence  upon  him.     And  to  this,  if 
he  were  aware  that  the  value  of  his  labor,  over 
and  above  the  cost  of  his  maintenance  in  prison, 
was  by  the  government  being  paid  to  those  de- 
pendent upon  him,  or  was  being  laid  aside  to  be 
paid   to  him   at   the   end  of  the   period  of   his 


incarceration  if  he  had  no  person  dependent  ujKm 
him,  and  if  he  were  aware  that  such  would  be 
the  case,  there  is  no  question  that  the  fact  of  be- 
ing engaged  in  congenial  work  from  which  he  was 
receiving  pecuniary  l)enefit  or  would  receive  such 
benefit  would  exercise  a  highly  remedial  influence 
ui)on  every  one  not  utterly  lost  to  all  that  is  goo<l. 
To  carry  this  out,  however,  would  imply  of  ii< 
sity  that  many  or  several  trades  would  l)C  earned 
select  that  for  which  he  would  be  best  adapted. 
on  in  each  ])rison.  the  prisoner  to  be  j>crmitte«l  to 
that  which  wouM  be  most  congenial  to  him,  that 
in  which  his  faculties  woidd  find  fittist  .nnd  freest 
scope. 

In  these  cou'^iderations  the  Daily  News  is  plac- 
ing before  its  readers  some  thoughts  which  have 
been  t^uggested  by  the  perusal  of  this  report  on 
the  penitentiaries  of  Canada,  the  adoption  (»f 
which  would  wipe  out  thereafter  the  large  annual 
deficit  which  the  countr>-  has  now  to  pay  in  the 
conduct  of  her  penal  institutions  as  they  arc  now 
being  con(lucte<l,  and  would  at  the  same  time  (Uj 
much  towards  exercising  a  most  wl)<^lesr»mc 
remedial  influence  upon  the  prisoners  themselves. 
fitting  them  to  be  reputable  citizens  after  the  ex- 
piration of  the  terms  for  which  they  have  been 
imprisoned.  To  all  oi  this  there  will  be  only  one 
objection — that  the  demand  for  labor  would  Ikt 
thereby  decreased  to  the  extent  to  which  prison 
labor  would  be  em])loyed. 

The  question  of  in  how  far  effect  should  l>c 
given  by  the  authorities  to  the  recommendations 
of  the  insiKJCtors  as  to  a  change  in  the  manner  of 
conducting  the  penal  institutions  of  Canada  is 
now  before  the  government  and  the  i>coplc  of 
Canada. 

"Constitutional   Immorality" 

IRci.rliUcd    from    Uui»»ille.    Ky.,   Courier  Joun-lJ 

Of  interest  in  connection  with  the  thcur)'  that 
Kentucky's  indeterminate  sentence  law.  which 
really  terminates  the  scntciKe  of  criminals  at  the 
cud  of  the  minimum  i)eri<Kl.  is  an  article  in  "In- 
ternational Clinics."  by  Dr.  Paul  K.  Bowers, 
physician  of  the  Indiana  State  Prison. 

According  to  Dr.  Bowers  some  persons  arc  so 
predisposed  to  crime  constitutionally  that  their 
moral  state  challenges  belief  in  the  free  will  of 

man. 

fhere  are,  of  course,  many  dabblers  m  uizarre 


364 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


social  theories  who  like  to  proclaim  the  doctrine 
that  there  are  persons  who  are  "un-moral"  in- 
stead of  immoral,  because  their  natures  are  un- 
touched by  the  popular  view  of  right  and  wrong. 
Dr.  Bowers  does  not  discuss  the  moral  dilettante- 
ism  of  the  theorizing  intellectuals,  but  devotes 
himself  to  the  professional  aspects  of  vice  and 
crime  as  reflected  by  "the  clinical  material  of 
psychiatric  nature  that  is  going  to  waste  in  our 
institutions  because  of  a  lack  of  scientific  curios- 
ity upon  the  part  of  well  qualified  investigators." 
The  idea  that  some  persons  are  immoral  because 
of  some  constitutional  defect  of  the  neural  or- 
ganism, is,  he  admits,  repugnant,  because  it  seems 
to  challenge  a  cherished  belief  in  man's  free  will, 
yet  there  are  many  persons  whose  degenerate 
organizations  predispose  them  to  immoral  and 
illegal  acts  from  which  they  cannot  refrain. 


man,  or  for  some  lesser  crime  of  violence,  he  is 
one  who  would,  upon  any  similar  provocation, 
shoot  to  kill.  To  turn  such  a  man  at  large  after 
a  short  period  of  confinement  in  prison  merely 
because  he  has  behaved  peaceably  when  under 
restraint,  puts  the  lives  of  his  neighbors  at  risk. 
And  experience  proves,  by  bloody  records,  that 
the  released  criminal  whose  constitutional  immo- 
rality takes  the  form  of  willingness  to  "fight  at 
the  drop  of  the  hat"  follows  his  bent,  unreformed 
by  a  temporary  residence  in  a  penitentiary. 

In  the  opinion  of  Dr.  Bowers  the  effect  of  in- 
determinate sentence  laws  so  generally  in  use 
is  to  separate  the  accidental  and  occasional  crimi- 
nals from  the  habitual  criminals. 

To  quote : 

"The  first  class  is  composed  of  those  persons 
who  have  strayed  from  the  paths  of  moral  and 
legal  rectitude  while  under  the  strain  of  some 


Dr.  Bowers  discusses  the  medical  aspects  of  unfortunate  circumstance  which  provokes  an  out- 
constitutional  immorality  which  may  arise  from  burst  of  passion.  .  .  .  These  persons  regain 
"the  harsh,  unrelenting  tyranny  of  ancestral  de-  their  former  standing  in  civil  life,  and  forget  their 
feet"  or  from  other  causes.  He  reaches  the  con-  crimes,  which  were  merely  solitary  and  incidental 
elusion  that  the  proper  scientific  classification  of  experiences  in  their  lives.  The  constitutionally 
prisoners  is  too  ideal  to  be  obtained  at  the  present  immoral    serve    sentence    after    sentence,     are 


time,  and  says : 

"Why  should  not  the  born  criminal  remain  in 
prison  so  long  as  he  is  dangerous  to  society  ?  We 
do  not  release  the  violent  and  dangerous  insane 
from  hospitals  merely  because  they  have  been 
detained  there  a  number  of  years ;  then  why 
should  we  release  the  instinctive  criminal  to  prac- 
tice his  criminal  acts  upon  the  public?  We 
quarantine  smallpox,  and  we  exile  the  leper ;  then 
why  should  we  not  isolate  the  incurable  moral 
defectives  who  disseminate  dangerous  moral  con- 
tagion ?" 

Of  course,  any  indeterminate  sentence  law,  or 
any  extension  of  clemency,  by  a  parole  board  or 
a  governor,  which  results  in  turning  loose  against 
the  peace  and  safety  of  the  community  persons 
who  are  predisposed  to  crime,  is  a  destructive 
social  factor.  But  which  are  the  habitual  crimi- 
nals?   There  is  no  better  example  of  the  consti- 


paroled  again  and  again  to  the  best  of  environ- 
ments, but  they  cannot  be  kept  out  of  prisons,  to- 
ward which  they  gravitate,  irresistibly  drawn  to 
them  by  inherent  defects  in  their  constitutions." 
There  is  a  popular  disposition  to  regard  as  ha- 
bitual criminal  a  "police  court  character"  who 
oscillates  between  begging  and  theft  while  suffer- 
ing poverty,  and  to  consider  as  having  strayed 
from  paths  of  rectitude  the  more  or  less  promi- 
nent citizen  who  kills  a  neighbor  because  of  some 
trumpery  difference  of  opinion  or  fancied  griev- 
ance. But  the  man-killer  is  not  a  law-abiding 
citizen,  in  habits  or  thought.  He  is  not,  in  a  mo- 
ment, transformed  into  an  irrational  and  irre- 
sponsible being.  He  does  not  become  again  a 
good  citizen  when  the  moment's  passion,  with  its 
deed  of  violence,  has  passed.  Upon  the  contrary, 
he  is,  usually,  one  whose  theory  of  his  rights  has 
always  included  the  high  privilege  of  making 
his  pocket  artillery  a  court  of  last  resort.    He  has 


tutionally  immoral  individual  than  the  man  w^iose  always  intended  never  to  be  imposed  upon  be- 

exaggerated  idea  of  his  right  to  deal  summarily  cause  of  a  lack  of  willingness  and  ability  to  handle 

with  those  who  oppose  him  permeates  his  being  arms.    As  a  rule,  he  has  long  been  familiar  with 

and  causes  the  blood  to  tingle  at  the  tip  of  his  trig-  weapons  not  designed  for  the  use  of  sportsmen, 

ger  finger.    Although  he  may  be  a  first  offender  but  manufactured  solely  as  man-killers.    The  in- 

when  he  is  brought  to  book  for  having  killed  a  dividual  who  is  unused  to  "toting"  and  to  shoot- 


July  1,  I'JH 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


365 


ing  a  pistol  is  rarely  either  prepared  or  inclined 
to  make  the  "bark"  of  the  automatic  "gun"  the 
last  word  in  an  argument.     Yet  because  he  has 
never  had  occasion  to  apply  his  theory  of  his 
rights,  the  more  or  less  prominent  citizen  who 
kills  his  man  in  sudden  affray  is  looked  upon  as 
the  victim  of  an  "incidental  experience,"  to  use 
Dr.    Rowers'   phrase.     The  man  on   the  border 
line  between  hunger  and  crime  is  the  habitual 
criminal,    in    popular    estimation.      The    more 
dangerous  of  the  two  kinds  of  habitual  criminals 
is  the  man  who  has  always  intended  to  use  a  pistol 
when  the  opportunity  should  present  itself.  Every- 
one who  carries  a  concealed  weapon  institutes  a 
practice  which   has   the  psychological   effect   of 
drawing  him  toward  a  mental  attitude  of  habitual 
criminality,  although  he  may  not  actually  com- 
mit a  murder.    The  respectable  person  with  a  re- 
volver in  his  hip  pocket  and  no  record  for  crime 
is  a  criminal  in  mental  make-up  in  the  degree  that 
he  regards  his  private  arsenal  as  a  means  of  de- 
fense against  others  than  thugs.    He  is  potentially 
a  criminal  in  experience  in  the  degree  that  he 
ix)ssesses  the  courage  to  shoot,  and  that  is  about 
the  cheapest  kind  of  courage.     When  he  does 
>hoot,   and   is   locked  up,   he  should   remain  in 
prison  for  a  long  time,  and  not  for  the  minimum 
period  of  a  short  and  long-term  sentence.     His 
permanent  isolation  is  impossible  unless  he  can 
be  convicted  of  first  degree  murder. 


Prisoners  Removed  from  Foul  Prisons 

[Reprinted   from   Milwaukee,   Wis.,   News] 

The  dispatch  from  Vera  Cruz  to  The  Daily 
Nezvs  announcing  that  the  fortress  of  San  Juan 
de  Uloa,  notorious  for  centuries  as  the  foulest 
prison  on  the  American  continent,  has  been  or- 
dered vacated  immediately  by  Rear  Admiral 
Fletcher,  calls  to  mind  'that  while  there  is  very 
much  need  for  the  changing  of  prison  conditions 
throughout  Mexico,  there  is  also  considerable  to 
be  done  in  this  direction  in  the  various  peniten- 
tiaries of  the  United  States. 

The  newspapers  were  recently  full  of  accounts 
of  the  horrors  of  the  federal  penitentiary  in  which 
Julian  Hawthorne  was  confined ;  and  even  allow- 
ing for  some  literary  exaggeration  on  the  part  of 
that  writer,  as  well  as  his  inability  accurately  to 
size  up  the  situation  from  the  standpoint  of  those 
more  inured  to  the  hardships  of  life  than   he 


could  possibly  be,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that 
many  changes  arc  necessary,  and  that  conditions 
are  by  no  means  what  tlicy  should  l>c. 

From  time  to  time  articles  reach  the  papers 
reflecting  seriously  on  the  management  and  con- 
ditions of  other  penitentiaries  in  the  United 
States.  While  there  is  a  steady  improvement  in 
the  manner  in  which  prisoners  are  treated,  there 
is  still  much  to  be  hoi>ed  for  in  the  solution  of 
such  problems. 

But  the  forced  vacation  of  the  atiominable  fort- 
ress at  Vera  Cruz  is  one  splendid  achievement  of 
the  Americans  in  Mexico,  within  the  few  weeks 
of  the  troubles  into  which  we  were  drawn  down 
there.  It  is  to  be  hoped  no  matter  what  conwrs 
so  far  as  the  United  States  is  concerned,  the 
Mexicans  can  be  made  to  realize  that  their  in- 
iumian  treatment  of  prisoners  cannot  l)c  tolerated. 

History  tells  of  a  number  of  foul  prisons  -in 
many  parts  of  the  world,  and  there  are  too  many 
today  which  are  horrible  beyond  imagination.  If 
the  work  of  the  Americans  at  Vera  Cruz  by  ex- 
ample will  only  achieve  some  improvement  in  the 
physical  conditions  of  some  of  the  terrible  prisons 
of  the  world,  or  better  the  treatment  of  prisoners, 
it  will  be  of  tremendous  value  to  civilization. 

Making  Amends  for  Wrong  Judgment 

[•Reprinted    from    The    Gospel    Me»»c»ferl 

That  judicial  decisions,  at  best,  are  imjKjrfcct. 
is  likely  conceded  by  all,  and  the  fact  becomes  the 
more  apparent  when  we  note  that  at  times  sen- 
tences are  pronounced  upon  supposed  offenders 
who  later  on  are  discovered  to  be  wholly  iniK»- 
cent  of  the  crimes  charged  against  them.  StrauRe 
to  say.  however,  no  State  of  our  Union  ever  nwde 
provision  for  the  reimbursement  of  priyniers 
wrongfully  sentenced,  until  Wisconsin,  in  a  re- 
cent enactment,  placed  herself  in  the  forefront 
of  humanitarian  endeavor,  so  far  as  makmg 
amends  to  falsely-condemned  prisoners  is  con- 
cerned. By  a  recent  enactment  the  Badger  state 
appoints  a  "Board  of  Investigation,"  which  care- 
fully looks  into  all  cases  of  wmngly -condemned 
prisoners.  As  soon  as  the  innocence  of  a  con- 
vict has  been  definitely  established,  he  is  com- 
pensated by  the  State,  in  proi>orti«>n  to  the  real 
loss  sustained.  The  officials  are  empowered  to 
collect  and  examine  all  evidence  bearing  on  the 


366 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


case,  and  to  render  their  decision  in  accordance 
with  the  facts  at  hand.  While  the  plan,  so  suc- 
cessfully put  in  operation  in  Wisconsin,  may  well 
be  followed  in  other  states,  the  need  of  its  very 
introduction  is  but  a  renewed  evidence  of  man's 
fallibility  and  lack  of  discernment.  Only  God's 
judgments  are  "true  and  righteous  altogether." 
It  must  be  confessed  by  even  the  best  of  us  that 
often,  in  our  daily  intercourse,  we  are  altogether 
too  ready  to  judge  and  condemn  others  upon 
very  insufficient  testimony.  If,  later  on,  their 
innocence  is  established,  we  are  often  very  slow 
to  make  amends  for  the  anguish  of  heart  and 
mind  which  they  have  sustained  because  of  our 
mistaken  judgment.  Full  atonement,  perhaps, 
can  never  be  made,  but  we  can,  at  least,  show  our 
willingness  to  make  restitution  as  far  as  possible. 


Indeterminate  Sentences 

[Reprinted    from    Menominee,   Mich.,   Herald-Leader] 

Warden  Russell,  of  Marquette,  brings  up  anew 
the  matter  of  indeterminate  sentences.  He  pres- 
ses upon  the  people  of  Michigan  the  point  the 
absurdity  of  turning  loose  upon  society  men  who 
are  sure  to  re-enter  criminal  careers.  The  pris- 
ons of  Michigan,  he  avers,  release  men  every 
week,  at  the  expiration  of  their  several  terms, 
who,  in  the  opinion  of  the  wardens,  are  unfit 
members  of  society  and  will  slump  into  evil  ways. 

Slowly  the  belief  is  growing  that  penology  is 
a  science  of  prevention  as  well  as  cure,  says  an 
exchange.  There  are  certain  persons  unfitted  to 
mix  in  civilized  society.  The  insane  are  shut  up  for 
life,  or  until  such  time  as  the  authorities  in  charge 
are  willing  to  trust  them  at  large.  And  the  time 
is  coming  slowly,  but  surely,  when  the  same  rule 
will  apply  to  habitual  criminals.  Probably  the 
reason  it  has  never  before  been  applied  to  pris- 
ons is  because  the  public  has  had  too  many  hor- 
rible instances  of  unfitness  among  prison  wardens 
to  grant  them  such  large  powers  over  their  charg- 
es. Lately,  however,  the  improvement  in  prison 
management  has  been  so  marked  that  the  people 
of  Michigan  will  be  less  averse  to  letting  the 
warden  and  the  state  boards  say  how  long  cer- 
tain classes  of  offenders  shall  be  kept  immured. 
Why  should  we  wonder  at  crime  under  existing 
conditions?  A  radical  reform,  in  the  practice  of 
our  criminal  courts  and  manner  of  dealing  with 
convicts  is  imperative. 


To  Aid  Prisoners'  Dependents 

[Reprinted   from   Wheeling,   W.   Va.,   Register] 

The  announcement  by  Warden  Brown  of  the 
state  prison  at  Moundsville,  of  the  establishment 
of  a  family  relief  fund  for  the  assistance  of  de- 
pendents of  convicts  during  the  period  of  their 
incarceration  in  the  penitentiary,  should  interest 
friends  of  the  prisoners  and  all  students  of  pen- 
ology. Many  pathetic  cases  of  distress  among 
families  which  have  been  deprived  of  their  bread- 
winners by  court  sentences  are  brought  to  the 
notice  of  the  warden  through  his  inspection  of 
the  mail  of  prisoners.  Wives,  mothers  and 
daughters  write  pitiable  letters  to  male  relatives 
who  have  fallen  into  evil  ways  and  landed  in 
state  prison.  As  the  warden  points  out,  a  family 
loses  social  caste  when  a  member  of  it  is  con- 
victed of  a  felony,  and  in  very  many  cases  the 
boys  seek  recreation  in  the  saloon,  while  the  girls 
often  drift  into  worse  places.  Thus  the  crime  of 
the  breadwinner  brings  punishment  not  only  upon 
himself,  but  upon  his  dependents,  who  should  not 
be  made  to  suffer  for  his  transgressions. 

The  problem  of  caring  for  families  of  convict- 
ed men  in  the  many  cases  in  which  they  are  left 
destitute,  and  in  the  innumerable  other  instances 
in  which  they  sorely  need  the  help  of  brothers  or 
a  father,  has  been  a  subject  of  consideration  by 
the  legislatures  of  many  states.  In  Minnesota  a 
law  has  been  passed  which  gives  each  convict  a 
portion  of  the  money  received  for  his  labor,  the 
remainder  going  to  the  state.  Under  this  system 
the  prisoner  is  enabled  to  assist  those  outside  the 
walls  of  the  penitentiary  who  are  dependent  upon 
him,  or  if  he  has  no  dependents  the  money  he 
earns  is  given  to  him  upon  the  expiration  of  his 
term. 

It  is  understood  that  Warden  Brown  favors  a 
law  like  that  of  Minnesota  for  West  Virginia. 
Under  the  existing  rules  the  only  chance  a  con- 
vict has  to  earn  any  money  is  by  overtime  work, 
or  by  doing  more  than  the  regulation  day's  task. 
That  convicts  do  not  lose  all  ambition  when  they 
enter  the  gray  walls  of  prison  is  proved  by  War- 
den Brown's  statement  that  $35,000  a  year  is 
paid  for  overtime  work  to  convicts  in  the  peni- 
tentiary at  Moundsville.  The  warden  is  so  fre- 
quently importuned  to  permit  convicts  to  collect 
money  for  the  assistance  of  persons  on  the  out- 
side that  he  has  decided  to  try  to  systematize  the 
extension  of  aid.     The  family  relief  fund  is  his 


July  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


3r.7 


plan.  Prisoners  who  desire  to  do  so  may  con- 
tribute toward  it,  as  well  as  charitably  disi>)sc(i 
j)ersons  who  may  not  be  directly  interested  in  any 
particular  case  needing  aid.  The  fund  will  be 
controlled  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  war- 
■  den,  and  every  appeal  will  be  thoroujjhly  inves- 
tigated before  assistance  is  given.  The  idea  is 
commendable,  and  it  should  receive  substantial 
support. 

Toronto  Jail 

[Reprinted    from    Toronto,    Canada,    Mail   and    Express] 

If  the  State  of  the  Toronto  jail  is  as  bad  as  the 
Inspector  of  Prisons  reports  it  to  be,  then  some 
of  those  officially  responsible  for  it  ought  to  be 
serving  time  among  the  prisoners  with  which  it 
is  congested.  The  description  given  by  the  in- 
spector reads  more  like  an  account  of  conditions 
in  some  penal  institution  that  disgraced  British 
civilization  before  the  great  philanthropist.  How- 
ard, did  his  noble  work.  To  find  so  barbarous  a 
state  of  aflfairs  in  our  day  we  should  have  thought 
it  necessary  to  go  to  countries  where  the  people 
do  not  rule.  The  prison  at  Vera  Cniz  seems  to  . 
have  been  a  chamber  of  horrors.  The  United 
States  forces  that  entered  the  city  after  the  bom- 
bardment released  some  prisoners  from  almost 
unendurable  confinement. 

But  the  twentieth  century  is  not  the  eighteenth 
century,  and  Canada  is  not  Mexico.  The  pic- 
b  ture  drawn  by  the  Inspector  of  Prisons  is  shock- 
ing almost  beyond  belief.  That  prisoners  should 
be  huddled  together  and  forced  to  sleep  on  the 
floor  in  winter,  in  a  building  of  great  fire  risk 
and  little  fire  protection ;  and  that  women  should 
be  stripped  in  the  presence  of  fellow-prisoners 

I  are  statements  that  nnist  astound  all  who  read 
them.  They  are  the  more  extraordinary  because 
on  no  point  is  public  opinion  here  more  keen  and 
imperative  than  in  respect  to  the  duty  of  those 
in  authority  to  deal  humanely  with  all  helpless 
persons  who  have  claims  upon  them  or  for  whom 
they  are  responsible. 

The  Ontario  Government  has  set  an  example 
in  showing  "pity  upon  all  prisoners  and  cap- 
tives" in  its  hand.  Why  has  the  city  council  al- 
lowed the  jail  to  get  into  the  condition  reiH)rted 
by  the  Inspector  of  Prisons?  Rather,  members 
of  the  city  council  should  be  required  to  show 
cause  why  they  themselves  are  not  in  jail   for 


allowing  matters  to  get  to  such  an  a!x)niinabU' 
pass  there. 

The  excuse  of  ignorance  would  ttuly  make  the 
matter  worse,  but  the  o>uncil  cannot  fall  liack 
even  on  that  ba<l  pica,  for  the  reason  that  its  at- 
tention has  again  and  again  been  called  to  the 
urgent  need  for  larger  and  better  accommoda- 
tions, and  for  greatly  increased  precautions 
against  fire.  Public  feeling  will  Ik*  nnisetl  by  this 
report,  and  will  comjK'l  speedy  remedial  action. 
It  would  be  further  satisfactory  if  the  blame  were 
laid  at  the  right  door  and  due  punishment  brought 
home  for  this  criminal  neglect. 

Trouble  Ahead  for  Prison  Labor  Contractors 

[Reprinted   from   D»yton.  O..   Ilcr»ldl 

Not  all  the  interesting  "old"  questions  have 
been  decided.  Here  is  a  surprisingly  curious 
case  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  KIkxIc  Island,  a 
case  in  which  the  issue  is  the  exact  status  of  a 
convicted  and  incarcerated  criminal  with  refer- 
ence to  his  labor. 

Any  state  may,  of  course,  punish  a  i)erson  for 
crime.  It  may  put  him  to  work  in  the  jjcniten- 
tiary.  But  sui)i)Ose  it  sells  his  lalK)r  to  a  con- 
tractor for  a  low  price  and  pockets  the  money— 
as  many  states  do.  Has  the  convict  the  right, 
after  his  release  and  recovery  of  civil  rights,  to 
sue  the  contractor  for  nx)re  pay? 

A  former  Rhode  Island  convkt  has  raised  this 
{|uestion.  Under  the  constitution  of  that  state. 
he  claims,  a  convict  is  merely  a  man  undergoing 
punishment,  but  not  a  slave.  Slavery  is  not  spe- 
cifically iK>rmitted  as  a  punishment  for  crime  in 
Rhode  Island ;  is  it  permitted  by  implication? 

The  national  committee  on  prison  lalwr  is  said 
to  be  backing  the  convict  in  his  interesting  law- 
suit. The  thev^ry  is  that  a  convict  should  be  i>aid 
decent  wages  and  that  his  family  or  other  de- 
pendents should  have  the  l>enefit  of  his  toil.  Of 
course,  if  the  convict  is  a  slave  he  has  no  rights 
that  anybody  is  Ijound  to  rcsi>cct.  If  he  is  not  a 
slave,  the  wages  of  his  toil  and  oMulitions  of  his 
employment  in  or  out  of  prison  rc<|uirc  proj»er 
regulation  in  the  interest  of  justice.  It  is  to  l)C 
hoped  that  the  Supreme  Court  of  Khotle  Island 
will  not  seek  or  find  some  technical  loophole 
through  which  to  escaiH.-.  but  will  tackle  the  issue 
in  its  vital  bearings  and  rejoice  in  the  opi)ortunity 
to  hanil  down  a  memorable  opinion. 


368 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Prisoners  True  to  Trust 

[Reprinted   from   Chicago    Examiner] 

To  test  the  honor  of  the  convicts  confined  in 
the  state  penitentiary  at  Rusk,  Texas,  the  practice 
of  leaving  all  the  cell  doors  unlocked  and  the 
prison  gates  wide  open  was  adopted  a  few  days 
ago.  All  of  the  inmates  are  free  to  go  and  come 
day  and  night,  as  they  please.  All  but  two  guards 
have  been  discharged,  and  they  will  be  dispensed 
with  if  the  new  system  works  well. 

The  convicts  are  employed  during  the  day  on 
the  state  farm,  a  mile  from  the  prison.  They 
work  without  being  guarded,  and  no  one  has 
attempted  to  escape  so  far. 

Colonizing  Habitual  Criminals 

[Reprinted  from  Chicago  Tribune] 

There  are  two  sides  to  the  growing  policy  of 
kindness  and  leniency  toward  criminals.  Unques- 
tionably many  individuals  whose  ofifenses  against 
society  were  merely  a  "false  step"  in  their  lives 
have  by  this  leniency  and  kindness  been  restored 
to  the  community  and  to  useful  citizenship.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  is  just  as  certain  that  many 
habitual  and  hopelessly  incorrigible  criminals 
have  taken  advantage  of  this  leniency  and  are 
now  at  large  plying  their  lawless  trade  when  they 
should  properly  be  behind  prison  walls. 

Allowances  in  the  case  of  a  first  offender  are 
decidedly  in  order.  There  is,  however,  no  ques- 
tion but  that  society  must  protect  itself  from  the 
criminal  who  is  beyond  restoring.  What  steps 
should  society  take  in  self-protection?  New 
York  City  is  now  wrestling  with  the  question. 
The  police  commissioner  of  that  city  advises  that 
henceforth  all  criminals  found  guilty  of  a  fourth 
offense  of  felony  rank  be  imprisoned  for  life. 
This  can  be  done  under  the  existing  law. 

There  will  be  many  who,  while  they  will  heart- 
ily approve  the  need  of  measures  to  protect  so- 
ciety from  the  habitual  criminal,  will  question  the 
wisdom  and  humanity  of  sending  such  an  offend- 
er to  the  penitentiary  to  stay  there  the  rest  of 
his  natural  life.  In  the  penitentiary  the  prisoner 
becomes  a  burden  upon  the  state,  and  the  chances 
for  his  reformation  are  nil.  A  better  way  of 
dealing  with  the  hopeless  criminal,  it  is  claimed, 
has  been  devised  by  France.  The  French  sys- 
tem is  to  colonize  such  offenders  on  some  remote 
island  where  society  will  be  rid  of  them,  but 
where  they  will  have  to  earn  their  own  living. 


This  being  compelled  to  do  honest  labor  for  his 
living  is  sure  to  benefit  the  moral  nature  of  the 
prisoner  to  some  extent  at  least,  it  is  believed. 
At  the  same  time  it  saves  the  state  considerable 
expense. 

This  method  of  colonizing  habitual  criminals 
is  approved  by  the  highest  authorities  on  the  sub- 
ject of  criminology.  There  seems  to  be  every- 
thing in  its  favor,  both  from  a  humane  and  utili- 
tarian standpoint,  they  declare. 

Condemnation  of  Prison  Contract  Labor 

[Reprinted  from  Christian  Science  Monitor] 

Twenty-five  governors  of  states  of  the  Amer- 
ican Union  have  given  their  unqualified  indorse- 
ment to  the  idea  of  utilizing  the  labor  of  convicts 
beyond  the  walls  of  prisons  and  in  the  open. 
Kentucky  has  just  fallen  into  line  as  the  latest  of 
six  states  to  employ  convict  labor  on  the  con- 
struction of  good  roads.  The  state  of  New  York 
will  probably  put  part  of  its  convicts  to  making 
brick  for  road  paving  and  part  of  them  to  road 
building.  Some  of  the  states  are  bound  up  in 
contracts  for  prison  labor ;  others  are  held  from 
abandoning  the  confinement  system  purely  by 
traditional  belief  in  the  necessity  of  imprison- 
ment; but  the  greater  number  are  inclining  to- 
ward the  more  enlightened  and  humane  method 
of  dealing  with  their  convicts. 

The  contract  system  has  long  been  doomed. 
On  all  sides  thinking  people  have  condemned  it 
as  barbaric.  Perhaps  it  is  of  greater  importance, 
from  a  practical  point  of  view,  that  it  has  been 
with  equal  emphasis  pronounced  uneconomic.  It 
has  led  almost  everywhere  to  the  "sweating"  of 
the  unfortunate  inmates  of  penal  institutions;  it 
has  in  many  instances  led,  like  the  unspeakable 
"convict  camp,"  to  the  creation  of  peonage.  Hard- 
ly less  inhuman,  however,  has  been  the  other  ex- 
treme of  treatment,  that  of  enforced  idleness,  soli- 
tariness, silence. 

There  is  no  morbid  sentimentality  in  the  de- 
mand, now  becoming  common  among  civilized 
people,  that  the  law  shall  be  corrective  rather 
than  punitive,  that  the  culprit  shall  be  uplifted 
rather  than  debased.  It  is  simply  an  expression 
of  the  higher  rationalism,  an  outcome  of  the 
Christianization  of  the  age.  And,  furthermore, 
as  we  have  already  indicated,  it  appeals  not  only 
to  the  conscience  but  to  the  practical  sense  of 


July  1,   1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


369 


humanity.  It  demands  that  the  convict  shall  be 
not  only  made  to  work  but  privileged  to  labor ; 
that  he  shall  toil  not  only  for  his  own  salvation 
but  for  the  good  of  the  public.  It  insists  that  he 
shall  be  taken  out  of  the  gloom  of  the  cell,  re- 
moved from  the  depressing  and  degrading  in- 
fluences of  prison  environment  and  given  an  op- 
pt)rtunity  to  share,  with  whatever  tasks  may  be 
imposed  upon  him,  the  freedom  of  the  open  and 
the  blessing  of  the  sunshine. 

Life  Term  Prisoners  Held  Innocent 

[Reprinted  from  Chicago  Daily  News] 

The  murder  of  Annie  Mullins  in  March.  1908, 
a  noted  Middlesex  county  case,  is  recalled  by  a 
movement  to  secure  the  pardon  of  James  Manter 
and  Peter  C.  Delorey,  convicted  of  the  crime. 
District  Attorney  Corcoran  announced  that  an  in- 
vestigation had  convinced  him  of  the  innocence 
of  the  young  men  and  that  he  would  ask  Gover- 
nor Walsh  to  give  them  their  liberty.  Alantcr 
is  serving  a  life  sentence  and  Delorey  a  twenty- 
year  term. 

The  body  of  the  young  woman,  who  was  em- 
ployed as  a  maid  by  Prof,  von  Jagerman  of  Har- 
vard, was  found  in  a  field  in  Arlington.  Her 
throat  had  been  cut.  It  was  not  until  a  year 
later  that  tlie  authorities  found  sufficient  evi- 
dence to  make  an  arrest.  Delorey  made  a  con- 
fession to  the  police,  implicating  Manter,  but 
later  declared  that  it  had  been  forced  from  him 
by  the  police. 

Learn  These  Eleven  Answers  by  Heart 

The  Tennessee  Christian  reports  that  recently 
a  number  of  prisoners  were  requested  to  make 
answers  to  the  subject,  "Things  I  wish  I  had 
known  before  I  was  twenty-one  years  old,"  and 
that  the  following  replies  were  among  those  re- 
ceived. 

1.  "How  to  take  care  of  my  money." 

2.  "That  a  harvest  depends  upon  the  seed 
sown — wheat  produces  wheat,  thistles  bring  forth 
thistles,  ragweeds  will  spoil  a  good  pasture,  and 
wild  oats  once  sown  will  surely  produce  all  kinds 
of  misery  and  unhappiness." 

3.  "That  you  can't  get  something  for  noth- 
ing." 

4.  "That  the  world  would  give  me  just  about 
what  I  deserved." 


-■^.  "That  by  the  sweat  of  n»y  brow  would 
I  cam  my  bread." 

C\  "That  honesty  is  the  best  |X)Iicy,  not  only 
in  dealing  with  my  neiglibors.  but  als.)  in  deal- 
ing with  myself  and  God." 

/ .  "That  cventhing  which  my  mother  want- 
ed me  to  do  was  right." 

8.  "That  father  wasn't  so  dd-fogy  after  all; 
if  I  had  done  as  he  wished  mc  to  da.  I  wouM  be 
very  much  better  otT  physically,  mentally  and 
morally." 

9.  "What  it  realls  na.iui  in  latiicr  and 
mother  to  raise  their  son." 

10.  "What  hardships  and  di-- ""-'inlnKnls 
would  be  entailed  l)v  mv  leaving  b.  gainst  mv 
parents'  wishes." 

11.  "The  greatness  of  the  opportunity  and 
joy  of  serving  a  fellow  man." 

Urges  More  Honor  Camps 

(Reprinted  from  Cbicaco  Daily  Newt] 

Trusting  men  never  has  been  excelled  as  a 
method  of  making  men  trustworthy.  I'ndcr  a 
new  state  law  Illinois  last  fall  l>egan  trusting 
convicts  in  road  camps.  The  result  was  entirely 
satisfactory.  This  year  it  will  trust  them  some 
n»)re.  These  unwalled  headcjuarters  of  the 
state's  prisoners  have  been  well  called  "lienor 
camps." 

\arious  states  have  tried  this  experiment  in 
human  nature.  In  most  of  them  the  attempts  to 
escape  have  been  few  and  the  standard  of  con- 
duct has  been  higli.  The  prisoners  as  a  whole 
appreciate  the  confidence  placed  in  them  and  do 
not  try  to  abuse  it.  Under  this  system  the  men 
arc  infinitely  better  oflf,  for  work  in  the  o\tcn 
builds  up  their  physical  conditi«»n,  whereas  laU>r 
within  confining  walls  ten<ls  to  break  them  down. 

The  road  building  plan  for  convicts  housed  in 
"honor  camps"  should  U-  extended  wherever  its 
extension  is  practicable. 

•    •    • 

W  hile  a  reporter  was  telephoning  his  stoiy 
from  Sing  Sing  early  yesterday  morning,  a  con- 
vict hammering  on  the  (loor  made  it  hard  for  the 
rei)orter  to  hear.  "Would  you  miml  stojjping  for 
a  few  minutes  r"  asked  the  reporter. 

"All  right,  boss."  said  the  convict,  "go  fr)  it.  I 
got  twenty  years  to  finish  this  job." — /•".  P.  A.  in 
Sciv  York  Tribune. 


370 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Judge  (sternly) — The  next  person  who  cheers 
will  be  expelled  from  the  court. 

Prisoner  (  enthusiastically  )  — Hooray ! 

— The  New  Way. 

®    ©    ® 

Old  Lady  (to  newsboy) — You  don't  chew  to- 
bacco, do  you,  little  boy? 

Newsboy — No,  mum ;  but  I  kin  give  you  a 
cigarette.  — The  Nezv  Way. 

®    ©    © 

"What  are  you  running  for,  sonny?" 

Boy — "I'm  tryin'  to  keep  two  fellers  from 
fightin'." 

"Who  are  the  fellows?" 

Boy— "Bill  Perkins  and  me !" 

— The  New  Way. 
®    ©    © 

The  Main  Point— "I  see,"  said  Wiggles,  "that 
Robby  Fancier  and  his  wife  have  got  a  divorce." 

"Really?"  said  Jiggles.  "What  a  sad  case. 
Who  gets  the  custody  of  the  poodle  ?" 

— The  New  Way. 
®     ®     ® 

A  colored  man  was  brought  before  a  police 
judge  charged  with  stealing  chickens.  He  pleaded 
guilty,  and  received  sentence,  when  the  judge 
asked  how  it  was  he  managed  to  lift  those  chick- 
ens right  under  the  window  of  the  owner's  house 
when  there  was  a  dog  in  the  yard. 

"Hit  wouldn't  be  no  use.  Judge,"  said  the  man, 
"to  try  to  'splain  dis  thing  to  you  all.  Ef  you 
was  to  try  it  you  like  as  not  would  get  yer  hide 
full  o'  shot  an'  get  no  chickens,  nuther.  Ef  you 
want  to  engage  in  any  rascality,  Judge,  yo'  better 
stick  to  de  bench,  whar  you'  am  familiar." — The 
Nezv  Way. 

®    ©    © 

The  witness,  a  sleek  two-hundred-pound  negro 
woman  in  a  gingham  frock  and  bandana  head- 
gear, was  on  the  stand  and  talking  volubly  and 
excitedly  despite  the  commands  to  "Be  quiet, 
woman !"  which  the  examining  counsel  thundered 
at  her.  At  last  the  lawyer  invoked  the  aid  of  the 
court  to  compel  the  dusky  Amazon  to  confine 
herself  to  legitimate  answers.  "Silence!"  said 
the  judge,  rapping  on  his  desk.  "Do  you  know 
where  you  are?"  "Yes,  jedge,"  she  replied,  "I'se 
in  de  cote  house."  "Do  you  know  what  a  court 
is?"  asked  his  honor.  "Cose  I  do  jedge.  De  cote 
is  de  place  where  dey  dispenses  wid  justice." — 
The  New  Way. 


The  young  lawyer  had  been  very  lengthy  in 
his  closing  speech  of  his  first  real  case,  and  notic- 
ing the  Judge  giving  evidences  of  his  weariness, 
he  said :  "Your  Honor,  I  shall  soon  be  through 
now.  I  trust  I  am  not  trespassing  too  far  on  the 
time  and  patience  of  the  Court." 

"Young  man,"  resix)nded  the  Judge  witii  a 
vawn,  "you  long  ago  ceased  to  trespass  on  my 
time  and  patience.  You  are  now  encroaching  on 
eternity.'' — Philadelphia  Public  Ledger. 

®     ©     © 

The  jurors  filed  into  the  jury-box,  and  after 
all  the  twelve  seats  were  filled  there  still  remained 
one  juror  standing  outside. 

"If  the  Court  please,"  said  the  Clerk,  "they 
have  made  a  mistake  and  sent  us  thirteen  jurors 
instead  of  twelve.  What  do  you  want  to  do  with 
this  extra  one?" 

"What  is  your  name?"  asked  the  judge  of  the 
extra  man. 

"Joseph  A.  Braines,"  he  replied. 

"Mr.  Clerk,"  said  the  judge,  "take  this  man 
back  to  the  jury  commissioners  and  tell  them  we 
don't  need  him  as  we  already  have  here  twelve 
men  without  Braines." — The  Green  Bag. 

%     %     ^ 

In  a  subway  crowd  not  long  ago,  a  New  York 
man  was  "touched"  for  his  watch.  The  watch 
was  not  intrinsically  valuable,  but  the  New  York 
man  wanted  it  back  for  sentimental  reasons,  and 
inserted  divers  advertisements  in  the  papers,  of- 
fering $50  for  the  return  of  the  watch  and  "no 
questions  asked." 

The  "dip"  who  had  "lifted"  the  watch  saw 
the  advertisements  and  concluded  to  take  the  $50. 
He  called  on  the  New  York  man,  handed  him 
the  timepiece  and  demanded  the  reward. 

The  owner  of  the  watch  was  only  too  happy  to 
give  it  to  him.  After  examining  the  watch,  he 
returned  it  to  his  pocket  and  handed  over  five 
ten-dollar  bills.  The  "dip"  pocketed  the  money 
and  departed.     There  was  little  said. 

A  few  minutes  later  the  New  York  man 
reached  for  his  watch. 

But  it  was  gone. — New  York  Tribune. 

®     ©     © 

Officer — "I  ketched  this  here  mutt  pinchin' 
bananas  off  a  fruit-stand." 

Magistrate — "Aha !  'personating  an  officer ! 
Two  years."  — Life. 


July  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


371 


$50   REWARD 


Escaped  from  Joliet  Honor  Farm 

May  25,  1914 

OLE  OLESON  No.  592 

Received  from  McHenry  County,  Illinois. 

Age,  49.       Height,  5  ft.  11/4  in.      Hair,  ch.  ni.  gray.      Eyes,  yel. 
green  slate.     Weight,  171. 

Scars:     Burn  scar  2  in.  diani.  back  of  left   hand   between  thumb 
and  first  finger.     Tip  of  first  finger  gone  left  hand. 

Bertillon:     19.9;  15.7;   12.9;  29.0;  50.3;   1.82.5;  9.9. 

Arrest  and  telegraph 

EDMUND  M.  ALLEN, 

Warden,  Illinois  State  Penitentiary,  Joliet,  111. 


372 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


$50   REWARD 


Escaped  from  Camp  Dunne 
May  28,  1914 

JOHN  BURKE  No.  5398 

Received  from  McLean  County,  111. 

Age,  42.  Height,  5  ft.  11  in.  Hair,  chestnut  sandy.  Eyes,  azure 
blue;     Weight,  173. 

Scars:  Middle  finger,  third  finger  and  little  finger,  left  hand  am- 
putated near  third  joint.  Many  tattoo  designs  on  both  arms,  chest  and 
right  leg. 

Bertillon:     20.3;  15.4;  12.0;  27.7;  50.2;  1.80.3;  9.4. 
Arrest  and  telegraph 

EDMUND  M.  ALLEN, 

Warden,  Illinois  State  Penitentiary,  Joliet,  111. 


July  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


373 


BUCKNER  6  O'BANNON 

903  West  Main  Street,  Louisville,  Ky. 


Independent 
Dealers  in 


LEAF  TOBACCO 


We  buy  our  leaf  tobacco  directly  from  the 
farmers  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  and 
make  a  specialty  of  supplying  manufac- 
turers and  state  institutions. 


White  Bear  Brand  Steel  Cut 
Coffee 

Superior  in  the  cup     Popular  in  prices 

Durkasco  and  White  Bear  Brand 
Pure  Fruit  Preserves 

Durand  &   Kasper  Co. 

iVholemle  Groctn  and  Manufactuttfi 
lmport«n  and  Roasitn  of  Coffee 

CHICAGO  ILLINOIS 


Bray's  Drug  Store 

The  HOME  of  BRAY'S  COUGH 

MIXTURE.    A  Remedy  that 

cures  where  others  fail. 


25  Cents  — Per  Bottle— 50  Cents 
104  Jefferson  Street,  Joliet,  Illinois 


What   Hiisiiioss  Aro 
Yoii    (i<)ini>    Into? 

Did  you  ever  consider  the  retail  groccr>' 

We  would  like  to  talk  to  you  alxjut  this  lim- 
you  are  at  liberty  U)  take  it  up  with  us. 

Central  Illinois  offers  good  opportuniti« 
amount  of  capital  required. 

Cnitip1>oll   Ifoltnii   \-  Co. 

H'lIOI.KSAl.K   <.I<«M  i:i(>> 
Hlooiiiiuiitou  II  llliuuia 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


1900  COLLINS  STREET,     JOLIET,  ILL 


1914 


Enclosed  find. 


for   One    Dollar,    in    payment 


of  subscription  for  One  Year. 

Name 


Street  and  No.. 


City. 


County 
State    _ 


] 


CUT    THIS    OUT    AND    MAIL    IN     YOUR     SUBSCRIPTION 


374 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


To  Obtain  the  Best  Results  in  the  Safest  Manner,  in  Using  High -Explosive 

USE 

Patented.     Trade  Mark  Registered 

The  World's  Greatest  High-Explosive 

A  Nitrated  Hydro-Carbon  Explosive 


Dynalite  is   used  at  the  quarry  of 

the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary  at 

Joliet,  Illinois,  where  it  has  given 

satisfaction  for  many  years. 


Adopted    by  The    Ohio    National    Guard, 
Battalion  of  Engineers. 

Used  by  the  Ohio  State  Penitentiary,  the 
Dayton  State  Hospital  and  similar  institu- 
tions wanting    and    knowing    the   BEST. 


MANUFACTURED  BY 


THE  AMERICAN  DYNALITE  COMPANY 

Amherst,  Ohio.     U.  S.  A. 


WERDEN  BUCK 

BUILDING 
MATERIAL 

511  and  513  WEBSTER  ST. 


BOTH  PHONES  215 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


THE  J.  C.  ADLER  CO. 

JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 
If  you  want  the  best  in 

HAMS,  BACON,  LARD 

Sugar  Cure        ^^   SAUSAGE    ".ckory  Smoke 

order  ours — we  make  them 

MARCO  GROCERS 


Louis  Stoughton  Drake 

Incorporated 


Fabricators  of  the  Celebrated 

LOONTIE 
CANE  and  REEDS 


Boston 


Massachusetts 


July  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


375 


Prison  Supply 
Company 

JOHN  W.  GIBBONS,  Agent 

Cailorg' 


For    Officers,     Inmates 
and  Discharge  Clothing 

Tools  of  Every  Description 

34  S.  Fifth  Ave.,  CHICAGO,  III. 


W.   Freeman  &   Co. 

Wholesale  Potatoes  and  Fruits 

Car  Lots  a  Specialty 

Chicago  Thont  618  N.W.  'Phone  859 

105  S.  JOLIET  STREET  JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


ChicatjO  Phone :  Office  1037. 


Residence  648. 


Daniel  Feely 

Wholesale  Dealer  In 

MEATS  AND 
PROVISIONS 


Room  4,  Clement  Building 
Ottawa  Street       :         :        :        JOLIET,  ILL. 


T.UpHen.   Yanl*  SIM  and  SISI 

Holman  Soap  Company 


Nlaimfai  turcr*  *»1 


ALL  KINDS  OF  SOAP 

Toilet  Preparations.  Perfumes,  loilet  Soap, 
Soap  Powder,  Scouring  I^owdcr.  Scouring  Soap, 
Metal     Polish.    Furniture    Polish.     Inks,    Etc. 


3104  to  3106  Fox  Street 


Chicago 


Enterprise   Plumbing 
Supply  Co. 

Plumbing  Supplies 
to  the  Trade  Only 


Randolph  1520 


Auto.  47-313 


26-28  W.  Kinzie  Street 


ChicaRo 


I.  B.  Williams 
CB^Son 


■MANUFACTURERS   OF- 


Oak  Tanned  Leather 
Belting 

Round  Leather 
Belting 

Cut    and    Side    Lace 
Leather 


14  N.  FRANKLIN  STREET 

TELEPHONE   MAIN    l»4» 
CHICAGO 


AGENTS  IN   ALL   PRINCIPAL  CITIES 


376 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


Fir; 


\Q^'' 


Hardware,  Plumbing, 
Heating,  Gas -Fitting 
and  Sheet  Metal  Work 


When  you  want  a  strictly  honest 
and  good  job  at  an  honest  figure 
for  best  workmanship  and  material 

CALL  ON  US. 

We  will  let  our  work  and  price 
give  you  an  idea  of  our  honesty 
and  the  quality  of  goods  we 
handle. 


POEHNER  &  DILLMAN 

417-419-421-423  Cass  St.  Joliet,  Ill- 

Chicago  Phone  119      North  Western  Phone  525 


When  opportunity  presents  itself, 
SPEAK  A  GOOD  WORD  FOR 

TheP.E.HOLMSTROM 
COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  GROCERS 
JOLIET,  ILLINOIS 


Our  Brands 

Boulevard  Brand 
Renroh  Brand 
Kan  Brand 

i45J^  your  grocer  for  above  brands  and 
get    quality    consistent    with    price 

HENRY  HORNER  &  CO. 

Importers  and  M2Lnufacturers  of  Groceries 
CHICAGO,  U.  S.  A. 


Joliet  Oil  Refining  i? 

REFINERS  OF  PETROLEUM 

High  Grade  Illuminating  and  Lubri- 
cating Oil,  Purity  Automobile  Oil 
All  Kinds  of  Grease  Linseed  Oil  Soap 

Located  on  Mills  Road  n,Tm,  JOLIET,  ILL. 


F.  C.  HOLMES  (®,  CO. 

(incorporated) 
WHOLESALE  DEALERS  IN 

Fresh,  Frozen  and  Smoked 
Fish  —  Oysters  in  Season 


Telephones 
Monroe  180 
Automatic  30-108 


735  West  Randolph  Street 
CHICAGO 


WEBB'S 

GAS  ROASTED 

COFFEE 


Puhl-Webb 
Company 

Importers  and 
Roasters 

Chicago     ::     Illinois 


July  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


37; 


Th 


BOSTON 
STORE 


Jollet's  Biggest 

Busiest  and  Best 

Store 


Come  in — We  will  treat  you  so 

well  you'll  never  want  to 

trade  anywhere  else 


Wilder  &  Company 

CUT  SOLE  LEATHER 
UPPER    LEATHER 

Art  and  Novelty 
Leathers 

DEPENDABLE    QUALITY 

226-228  W.  Lake  Street  CHICAGO 

Branches:  Boston — Cincinnati — Milwaukee — St.  Louis 


"\A7E  have  in  our  warehouses 
everything  in  the  steel  line 
and  are  able  to  ship  immediately 
any  order  received. 


Scully  Steel  ca  Iron  Co. 


Alexander  B.  Scully 
Pres. 


Charles  Heggie 
Vice-Pres. 


The  Weber  Dairy 

OF  JOLIET 
E«ubl»Ked  10  '64.  diM  uMd  ilic  >ak  ol 

two  cow».  now  we  u*r  the  milk  o(  400  cow» 
DAILY  PURE  MILK  OUR  TRADE  MARK 

AL.  J.   WKBRR.  ProprUl*r 

503  W.  Jefferson  St.,  Joliet,  lUinoU 


WARLEYS 

Boiler  Cleansing  Chemicals 
Lubricating  Oils  and  Greases 

are  used  by  those  who  want  abso- 
lutely the  best,  and  are  willing  to 
pay  a  fair  price. 

THOS.  C.  WARLEY  C®,  CO. 

202  8.  Clark  Street,  CHICAGO 

Sim  J .  Stevenson,  Manager 


Bush  &  Handwerk 


Wholesale  and  Retail 


HARDWARE  DEALERS 


Sptetmhht 

Factory  and   Quarry  Supplies 

Stoves  and  Ranges 

Plumbing     and     Gas    Fitting 

Steam  and  Furnace  Work 


115-117  JEFFERSON  STREET 
JOLLIET.  ILLINOIS 


378 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Wad  SAVor  th-Ho  wland 


Company 


Paint  and  Color  Makers 


Carpenter  and  Fulton  Streets 

Chicago 


o 

u 

O 

CQ 


(f) 


c/) 


< 


< 


> 

r 


o 

o 

5  Ro 


00 
O 

o 
o 


r 
r 


The  Harvester  Cigar 

A  dozen  sizes  from  five 
cents  up. 

As  mild  as  a  good  cigar 
can  be. 

It  Is  in  Universal  Favor 


The  Mark 
of  Quality 

This  mark  appears  on  each  barrel  of 

TEXACO  LUBRICANTS 

It  is  a  guarantee  of  economy  and  efficiency. 


Only  Texaco  lubricants  are  used  on  the  Panama 
Canal,  and    quality   alone    made  this   possible. 

The  Texas  Company 

HOUSTON  NEW  YORK 

Branch  Officea 

Philadelphia  Chicago  Tulsa 

Birmingham 


Boston 
Norfolk 


Pueblo 


New  Orleans 
El  Paso 


Dallas 


Rattan  &  Cane  Company 

IMPORTERS 
AND  MANUFACTURERS  OF 

Rattans,  Reeds, 
Canewebbing,  Willows 

66  West  Broadway,       New  York,  N.  Y. 


J"ly  !•  i^i"*  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


379 


ADELITF 

W        ^^^^^^  TRADE    MARK       REGISTERED  ^^         ^^^^^ 

PAINT  AND 
VARNISH    PRODUCTS 

SPREAD  FUR'rill'.S'r,  LOOK   lil'ST 
AND    WEAR    WELL    LONCiEST 

ADAMS  &   ELTING  CO. 

716-726  Washington  Blvd.,  CHICAGO  Telephone  Monroe  3(HMI 


COMPLIMENTS   OF 


SULZBERGER  h  SONS  COMPANY 


U.  S.  A. 


Majestic  Hams,  Bacon 
Lard,   Canned  Meats 

FAMOUS  EVERYWHERE  FOR  HIGH  QUALITY  AND  EXCELLENCE  OF  FLAVOR 


380 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


CHICAGO  BUTCHERS 
PACKING  COMPANY 

216-222  North  Peoria  St. 
CHICAGO  ::  ILL. 

The  ''I  WilV  Brand 
Hams,  Bacon  and  Lard 


SAUSAGES  of  all  kinds, 
which  are  known  for  their 
QUALITY  and  FLAVOR  and 
which  do  not  contain  any  ce- 
real, but  which  are  pure  meat. 


COMMISSION  A   SPECIALTY 


LYONS  BROTHERS 

LUMBER  and  FUEL  COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  and  RETAIL 

LUMBER  and  COAL 


Bolh  Telephones  No.  17 


Washineton  Street 
and  York  Avenue 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


ROBERT  T.  KELLY,  Pres.  P.  F.  McMANUS,  Vice-Pres. 

CHAS.  G.  PEARCE,  Cashier      WM.  REDMOND,  Ass't  Cash'r 


^i)e  foliet  i^ational 
Panfe 


^  on  Savings  S% 
JOLIET  ILLINOIS 


Victor  Petertyl 

Manufacturer 

Chair  Dowels 
Telephone  Pins 
and  Brackets 

Traverse  City  -:-  Mich. 


"NoneSuchToodProducts 

THE  BEST  THAT  SKILL  AND 
NATURE  CAN    PRODUCE 

GUARANTEED   TO   COMPLY 
WITH  ALL  PURE  FOOD  LAWS 

Manufactured  by 

McNeil  &  Higgins  Company 

Chicago,   Illinois 


MURPHY,  LINSKEY  & 
KASHER   COAL   CO. 

MINERS   AND    SHIPPERS    OF 

Original 
Wilmington  Coal 

FROM  BRAIDWOOD   MINE  ON 
CHICAGO  &  ALTON  RAILROAD 

Pontiac  Coal 

FROM  PONTIAC  MINE  ON  ILLINOIS 

CENTRAL,  WABASH  AND  CHICAGO 

AND  ALTON  RAILROADS 


Main  Office,  BRAIDWOOD,  ILL. 

Phones,  Chicago   1  4-M 

Interstate  641-L 


THE  JOLIET 


EDITEli   HY  PRISOSI-RS 


Published  Monthly  by  the  Board  of  CommitMionert  and  the  Warden 
of  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary,  Joliet,  HI.,  U.  S.  A. 


One  Dollar  the  Year 


Kntpml  •!•  Hooimd  rlaiu>  matter.  Januarjr  16.  Itll.  ■!  thv 
ruHtofltce  at  Juliet,  llllnol*.  under  Act  of  Marcb  i.  II7(. 


Ten  Cents  the  Copy 


Vol.  1 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS,  AunrsT  1,  imi 


No   H 


EDITORIAL 


First  Grade  Responsibilities 

We  publish  this  iiionth  a  number  of  letters 
which  show  that  in  two  matters  the  men  seri- 
ously consider  the  pledge  they  have  made.  They 
reel  honor  bound  not  to  desert  the  institution  and 
not  to  use  or  in  any  way  aid  in  smug'g^lini;-  in 
lif|Uor. 

This  'observance  is  good  but  the  pledge  call> 
tor  more. 

It  appears  that  some  of  the  men  are  violating 
the  i^ledge  in  the  small  things.  What  came  out 
in  the  discussion  of  the  farm  men  in  one  of  last 
month's  meetings  shows  how  lightly  tiie  pledgr 
is  held  in  minor  matters  by  some  men.  ( )nc 
man  said.  "I  do  not  think  we  should  have  thi> 
discussion  here.  Things  are  coming  out  which 
should  not  be  said  before  a  keeper." 

Can  the  first  grade  men  fail  to  see  where  this 
kind  of  thing  places  tlieir  first  grade?  Men 
complain  l)ecause  they  lose  some  of  the  i)rivilegcs 
that  have  been  given  to  them.  They  are  given 
early  detail  and  they  break  into  otiier  men's  lock- 
ers;  thev  arc  let  to  go  out  on  the  farm  and  they 
hunt  out  the  milk  in  the  stal)les ;  they  are  allowed 
to  transfer  money  to  one  another  on  the  books  of 
the  front  office  and  they  begin  betting  on  the  ball 
games.  Then  when  they  lo.se  the  early  detail, 
are  brought  in  from  the  farm,  are  no  longer  al- 
lowed  to   transfer  money,   they   wonder  why. 

The  criticism  made  is  that  only  a  few  do  the^c 
things  and  that  all  should  not  lose  the  privileges 
because  of  what  the  few  do.  Tlie  weakness  of 
the  men  as  a  grade,  is  that  the  grade  does  not 


keep  itself  clean.  The  majority  of  the  men 
"stand  for"  what  the  few  dr  and  con«ie«|uen!l> 
the  majority  are  dragged  down  with  the  few. 

It  is  not  the  business  of  the  admini'^tration  to 
keep  any  grade  clean :  it  is  the  buiiiness  of  the 
men  of  the  grade  to  keep  it  clean.  If  the  men 
of  the  first  grade  allow  things  to  pass  which  will 
work  a  withdrawal  of  a  privilege,  the  men  must 
e.xpect  that  all  of  the  men  will  lose  tliat  privilc^jc 
and  not  that   only   the   few  men  will  lose  it. 

If  this  first  grade  does  ixit  or  cannot  keep 
itself  clean,  keep  itself  so  that  the  administrati«»n 
will  know  that  every  man  in  that  grade  is  kevp- 
ing  true  in  every  particular,  it  must  follow  in- 
evitably that  there  will  Ik'  another  grade,  a 
higher  grade  in  which  the  men  of  the  grade  will 
keep  the  grade  clean  and  then  the  first  grade  will 
ill  reality  Ix-  the  second  grade.  There  mu.sl  be  a 
grade  in  which  every  man  will  live  up  to  ever)-- 
tbing  that  is  expected  of  him  an«l  in  which  when 
opportunities  are  once  won  they  can  '»«•  k«'P' 

»     ft 

A  Plain  Talk— Ground  Principles 

liider  the  op}H>rtunity  given  by  the  prc-cut 
administration  of  this  i)ris«)n.  the  residents  here. 
the  prisoners,  are  undertaking  to  do  something: 
for  themselves,  for  n>en  who  nuy  hereafter  fall 
into  |)rison.  and  incidentallv    '^■"^  -..iitv    in  pen- 

era  I. 

In  the  June  issue  we  a>ked  the  question:  "Is 
ii  right  f<»r  prisoners  to  help  in  the  capture  of 
some  of  their  numl>er  who  have  escai)C<l,  when 
the  escajK"   involves  the   vicjlation  of   an  honor 

|)ledge!'" 

About  fifty  men  have  responded  to  this  ques- 


382 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


tion.  The  replies  touch  so  many  of  the  vital 
points  of  an  honor  system  that  we  wish  to  make 
what  is  said  in  the  letters  and  what  we  shall 
say  here  a  conference  on  the  proposition  in 
which  so  many  of  us  are  so  vitally  interested. 
The  conference  can  be  the  "city  convention," 
in  which  the  welfare  of  the  men  of  this  in- 
stitution is  to  be  worked  out ;  the  forum  in  which 
we  meet  is  the  public  print. 

Some  time  ago  two  prisoners  escaped  from 
an  honor  camp  in  Smith  County,  Texas,  and 
forty-eight  other  prisoners  made  up  a  purse  of 
$35.00  which  they  offered  for  the  return  of  the 
two  men. 

This  circumstance,  which  prompted  the  ques- 
tion just  cited,  brings  squarely  before  the  honor 
men  of  prisons  the  question  of  the  responsibility 
of  the  men  and  the  question  of  the  honor  move- 
ment. 

In  this  public  print  conference  let  us  consider 
the  general  question  under  three  topics : 

1.  A  Plain  Talk — Ground  Principles. 

2.  A  Plain  Talk — Social  Responsibility. 

3.  A  Plain  Talk — Individual  Opportunity. 

Always  the  thought  of  the  men  here  goes  back 
to  the  fact  that  with  the  incoming  of  the  present 
administration  the  times  changed. 

Let  us  in  this  conference  at  least  be  reasona- 
ble, and  then  when  our  conference  is  ended, 
when  we  shall  have  finished  reading  this  edi- 
torial, and  we  go  back  to  the  task  of  working 
out  in  actual  experience  the  things  we  are  here 
talking  over,  let  us  be  as  patient  as  we  can. 

Patience  is  necessary;  and  also  fortitude  and 
friendship. 

Be  patient,  men,  and  see  what  is  working  out. 
Do  not  use  the  energy  and  mental  power,  with 
which  you  might  help  the  movement,  in  com- 
plaining about  what  has  not  yet  come. 

We  may  not  have  made  practical  all  that  we 
had  thought  would  have  been  made  practical  by 
this  time,  but  there  has  been  something  won 
that  is  not  likely  to  be  taken  away,  something 
that  will  remain  for  those  who  in  the  future  may 
fall  into  prison.  The  tyranny  which  at  times  made 
prisoners  subject  to  the  brutality  of  offensive 
officers,  is  now  about  impossible ;  "prisoners  have 
the  acknowledgment  that  they  are  still  an  ele- 
ment of  society  in  general ;  society  has  recognized 


that  the  prisoners'  problems  are  also  its  prob- 
lems ;  that  prisoners  have  rights  which  society 
must  and  is  willing  to  allow  and  which  society 
must  help  even  prisoners  to  work  out  and  to 
establish. 

K.  C.  Fisher  sees  that  while  before  this  new 
time  an  escape  "concerned  officials  mostly"  that 
now  an  escape  "vitally  involves  the  interests  and 
welfare  of  all  honor  men."    He  says : 

"Regarding  the  question :  'Is  it  right  for  pris- 
oners to  help  in  the  capture  of  some  of  their 
number  who  have  escaped  when  the  escape  in- 
volves the  violation  of  the  honor  pledge?'  I  say  j 
most  emphatically,  yes,  and  what  is  more,  let 
us  devise  means  to  make  such  violators  of  the 
honor  pledge  think  twice  in  the  future. 

"Before  this  new  time  an  escape,  etc.,  con- 
cerned officials  mostly,  but  now  it  also  vitally 
involves  the  interests  and  welfare  of  all  honor 
men.  Therefore,  the  reasons  for  interference 
as  far  as  we  are  concerned  become  obvious." 

John  Carey  feels  that  "with  the  thought  of 
better  times,"  we  are  "justified  in  helping  the  ad- 
ministration to  make  their  aim  a  success,"  and 
he  asks  that  we  shall  be  given  "the  courage  of 
our  inner  voice,"  so  that  we  shall  continue  "to 
be  on  the  square  with  the  Warden,"  in  order  that 
what  the  administration  is  working  for  and  what 
the  men  are  hoping  for  may  be  won.  We  quote 
from  his  letter: 

"What  recourse  had  we  years  ago  when  the 
silent  rule  was  enforced?  Now  we  have  the  op- 
portunity for  conversation  on  the  recreation 
grounds  and  upon  other  occasions  and  for  de- 
bate in  the  meetings  held  once  a  month  where 
we  can  talk  over  anything  we  think  is  wrong 
and  can  offer  a  remedy. 

"Band  concerts  have  now  driven  away  much 
of  the  sorrow  and  have  inspired  the  inmates  with 
the  thoughts  of  better  times.  Now,  if  we  are  not 
justified  in  helping  the  administration  to  make 
their  aim  a  success  in  acknowledgment  of  the 
privileges  we  have  received  and  to  help  in  the  re- 
turn of  any  one  who  has  abused  the  confidence 
placed  in  them,  I  must  say  that  we  are  an  un- 
grateful lot. 

"God  forbid  that  we  are  such  and  give  us  the 
courage  of  our  inner  voice,  for  it  repeats  to 
every  one  without  exception  to  be  on  the  square 
with  the  Warden.  I  trust  this  will  be  thought 
of  in  the  future." 


Mack  Wiley  says   that   "since   the   conditions 
have   changed,   it  would   be   perfectly   right    for 


o 


August  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


383 


an  honor  prisoner  to  help  capture  a  pledged  honor 
man,  if  he  should  escape."     Wiley  writes: 

"We  should  be  brave  enough  to  express  our- 
selves, regardless  of  what  others  may  think  or 
say. 

"If  conditions  were  the  same  as  they  were  ten 
years  ago,  I  should  say  that  a  man  was  with- 
out a  heart  if  he  captured  or  tried  to  capture 
an  escaping  fellow  prisoner.  In  those  days  no 
sane  man  who  understood  what  one  had  to  go 
through  could  justly  fnid  fault  with  one  who 
tried  to  gain  his  freedom.  There  were  no  such 
things  as  honor  or  honor  pledges.  Since  then 
the  conditions  have  changed  almost  beyond  be- 
lief, so  that  I  look  at  the  matter  in  this  different 
way. 

"Self  preservation  is  the  first  law  of  nature, 
and  while  I  should  not  blame  a  man  for  trying 
to  escape  persecution,  I  should  blame  him  for 
escaping  when  given  such  opportunities  as  have 
been  given  the  men  of  this  institution  during  the 
past  year.  I  think  that  now  it  would  be  per- 
fectly right  for  an  honor  prisoner  to  help  cap- 
ture a  pledged  honor  man,  if  he  should  escape. 

"If  I  do  something  that  hurts  only  myself,  I 
should  not  feel  so  bad  about  it,  but  when  the 
act  of  one  man  is  going  to  hurt  fifteen  hundred 
men,  retard  their  progress  and  lessen  their 
chances  to  better  their  condition  and  also  hurt 
the  greatest  benefactor  that  this  unfortunate 
population  has  ever  had,  I  repeat  that  it  is  right 
for  one  prisoner  to  help  capture  another  who 
escaped  under  such  conditions. 

"I  have  given  my  honest  opinion,  for  I  think 
the  man  who  makes  all  kinds  of  promises  to  the 
officials  and  then  violates  them  at  the  first  op- 
portunity, thereby  spoiling  the  hopes  and  aspira- 
tions for  the  future  of  many  men  who  have 
been  here  a  generation  and  who  have  never  had 
an  opportunity  to  prove  their  worth,  can  justly 
be  called  our  worst  enemy." 

Frank  Spera  has  himself  tried  running  away 
and  has  "come  to  the  conclusion  there  is  noth- 
ing in  it."  But  besides,  "now  things  have  change«l 
a  great  deal,"  and  "we  are  in  a  different  posi- 
tion because  we  have  given  the  Warden  our 
word  of  trust."  Spera  says: 

"In  my  estimation  the  Texas  trusty  system  is 
all  right,  although  I  have  not  been  a  rule  observer 
myself,  having  broken  my  parole  two  times. 

"The  second  time  I  was  gone  nearly  four 
years,  and  I  put  over  two  thousand  miles  between 
the  state  of  Illinois  and  where  I  was,  and  stjll 
they  got  me.  Now,  I  have  come  to  the  conclu- 
sion there  is  nothing  in  it  by  breaking  the  rule 
either  in  violation  of  parole  or  running  away 
from  a  trusty  position. 


"When   1    broke  parole   rule  it   was  under  a 
ditlerent    administration;   but    now    things    1 
changed  a  great  deal:  plenty  of  lime  for  th 
ing  before  signing  the  pledge,  and  he  who  tlu 
he  cannot  live  up  to  it  can  restrain  hiniiclf  from 
signing   it.      The   opj>orlunity   to   show   out   the 
good  that  was  in  us,  under  the  old  administra- 
tion we  had  not  been  asked  for.     Hut  now  we 
are  in  a  different  position,  because  we  have  given 
the  Warden  our  word  of  trust  in  order  to  1    • 
ter  ourselves,  and  afterward  to  break  our  vow, 
we  deserve  to  be  brought  back  to  order.     If  it 
is  escaping   from  some  place,  we  ought  to  be 
brought  back  where  we  belong,  and  if  it  is  the 
breaking   of   some  other   rule,   we  on  '  •    •  .   be 

brought  back  to  obey  it.     W  hcjevcr  ha     .ii  in 

that  temptation  should  be  brought  back,  even  at 
the  sacrifice  of  money  cost." 


We  are  getting  down  to  the  groun<l  principles 
of  the  honor  movement  when  the  men  begin  to 
talk  about  society's  right  to  protect  itself  from 
law  violators,  about  the  social  obligation  of  the 
men  to  one  another,  and  about  the  individual 
integrity  of  each  man  on  which  rests,  at  last,  all 
of  the  hope  of  prison  improvement  and  also  all 
the  possibility  of  the  progress  of  society  as  a 
whole. 

It  is  probable  that  some  men  take  cover  uuaer 
the  honor  pledge  to  carry  out  their  own  de>iigns, 
but  the  number  is  so  small  that  they  arc  not  an 
important  element  in  the  qnc-tion  of  prison  im- 
provement. 

J.  Myers  thinks  little  of  "a  man  who  signs 
an  honor  pledge  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a 
chance  to  escape" : 

"In  regard  to  the  question  at  hand,  is  it  right 
for  prisoners  to  help  in  the  capture  of  some  of 
their  number  who  have  escaped  when  the  c-icapc 
involves  the  violation  of  an  honor  pledge'  Yes, 
it  is  right,  for  they  are  protecting  the  War.lcn 
and  society  as  well  as  themselves,  for  a  man 
who  signs  an  honor  i>le<lgc  for  the  pur|K.sc  of 
obtaining  a  chance  to  escape  is  a  rat  at  heart." 

And  Harry  Peterson,  sharing  this  opinion, 
thinks  it  is  "perfectly  right"  for  honor  men  to 
help  in  the  "capture  of  any  member  of  an  honor 
squad  who  takes  the  pledge  as  a  means  to  l>e- 
tray  his  benefactor": 

"I  think  it  is  jHrrfectly  right  for  men  who 
have  signed  the  honor  pledge  to  assist,  if  they 
so  desire,  in  the  a|)prehension  and  capture  of 
any  nicmhcr  of  an  honor  squad  who  takes  this 


384 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


pledge  as  a  means  to  betray  his  benefactor.  I 
want  to  say  that  the  boys  of  Smith  County, 
Texas,  have  got  the  right  dope,  and  they  cannot 
be  commended  too  highly.  Let  us  hope  that  the 
feeling  which  prompted  these  Texas  boys  may  be 
catching." 

A.  Blut  believes  that  an  honor  man  "who 
would  jeopardize  the  chances  of  probably  hun- 
dreds of  men  for  selfish  gain  deserves  no  sym- 
pathy" : 

"I  wish  to  go  down  on  record  as  saying  that 
it  is  right  and  proper  for  every  honor  man  to 
prevent  any  escape  by  an  honor  man,  or,  if  such 
an  escape  has 'been  made,  to  do  everything  pos- 
sible to  aid  the  officials  to  capture  the  pledge 
breaker.  I  believe  a  man  who  would  jeopardize 
the  chances  of  probably  hundreds  of  men  for 
selfish  gain  deserves  no  sympathy  and  ought  to 
be  caught  and  severely  punished." 

W'm.  Du  Chane  gets  even  a  broader  view  and 
sees  that  the  capture  of  an  escaped  man  "will 
be  protecting  society"  and  "will  help  to  accom- 
plish the  cause  we  are  all  interested  in" : 

"From  my  point  of  view  as  an  honor  man,  I 
say,  Yes,  it  is  perfectly  right  to  capture  a  man 
who  has  escaped  in  violation  of  his  pledge. 
Doing  so  will  tend  to  show  that  the  honor  men 
are  loyal  to  their  Warden,  and  also  to  their 
own  pledge.  Besides,  they  will  be  protecting 
society,  for  the  sooner  escaped  men  are  appre- 
hended the  better  for  all  concerned,  and  it  will 
help  to  accomplish  the  cause  we  are  all  inter- 
ested in,  namely,  the  success  of  the  honor  sys- 
tem and  prison  reform.  To  bring  prisons  under 
humane  management  is  worth  working  for." 

James  Jackson  appreciates  that  honor  men 
"are  at  war  with  public  opinion  which  holds 
there  is  nothing  good  in  men  in  prison,"  and  sees 
that  "our  victory  is  to  be  that  we  should  show" 
that  a  convicted  man  is  not  "of  necessity  as 
black  as  he  is  painted."    Jackson  says : 

"I  think  the  honor  pledge  is  the  same  as  the 
pledge  in  any  other  order.  When  anyone  is 
made  to  understand  all  of  the  rules  and  regula- 
tions for  the  honor  work  and  signs  that  agree- 
ment and  then  violates  his  pledge  by  escaping, 
he  is  a  deserter  and  a  coward.  In  time  of  war, 
one  who  commits  such  a  crime  is  put  to  death. 
To  my  mind,  the  honor  men  are  at  war  with 
the  public  opinion  which  thinks  there  is  nothing 
good  in  men  in  prison.  Our  victory  is  to  be 
that  we  shall  show  that  a  man  who  has  been 
convicted  is  not  of  necessity  as  black  as  he  is 
painted. 


"Any  one  that  takes  the  honor  pledge  with 
full  knowledge  of  the  responsibilities  placed 
upon  him  and  who  then  escapes  or  tries  to  escape, 
should,  I  think,  be  put  down  more  by  the  other 
honor  members  than  by  anyone  else,  because  he 
has  done  them  more  harm  than  he  has  done  to 
anyone  else." 

More   of    the   real   ground   principles   of   the    j 
movement  are  sounded  by  Marten  Thorson.  "l 

He  says  that  "the  whole  scheme  depends 
strictly  upon  the  beneficiaries,"  and  not  on  the  \ 
"authorities  who  are  making  the  scheme  pos- 
sible." "The  remedy  is  in  the  hands  of  the 
more  loyal  inmates."  "Now  is  a  good  time  to 
begin  anew  and  to  build  up.  ...  let  the 
good  and  bad  among  us — for  there  are  both  I 
kinds — go  at  it  with  this  moral  in  viezv,  regard- 
less of  how  shabbily  we  have  been  treated  in  the 
past:'     TJiorsen's  full  letter  is  as  follows : 

"The  honor  system  involves  the  necessity  of 
absolute  loyalty  and  co-operation  on  the  part  of 
the  inmates.  There  can  never  be  an  absolute 
success  in  the  new  movement  unless  the  in- 
mates work  heartily  and  without  any  selfishness 
toward  seeing  that  the  w^eaker  ones  do  not  vio- 
late the  main  principles,  the  withholding  from 
any  traffic  in  liquor,  and,  most  important  of  all, 
an  utter  loyalty  to  the  pledge  not  to  escape. 

"If  the  honor  system  is  to  have  any  real  mean- 
ing, there  is  where  the  real  honor  man  comes 
in.  Mere  honor  accompanied  with  passive  sym- 
pathy won't  bring  lasting  results.  It  may,  on 
the  other  hand,  bring  absolute  ruin  to  the  whole 
scheme.  No  organization  ever  remained  intact 
where  the  supposed  beneficiaries  became  weak 
and  corrupt.  And  so  it  is  with  the  honor  sys- 
tem. The  majority  of  the  men  must  not  only 
make  good  themselves  individually,  but  they  must 
restrain  others  wherever  a  tendency  to  weakness 
or  disloyalty  is  shown.  In  other  words,  the  whole 
scheme  depends  strictly  on  the  beneficiaries  and 
not  on  the  constituted  authorities  who  are  making 
the  scheme  possible. 

"Now  then,  wherein  is  the  remedy?  The 
remedy  is  in  the  hands  of  the  more  loyal  in- 
mates. In  what  way?  In  the  way  that,  if  any 
violate  their  pledges,  then  an  honor  man  has 
no  alternative  but  to  show  his  honor  by  not  only 
preventing  any  from  going  wrong,  but  also  by 
helping  to  capture  any  and  all  who  violate  their 
pledge  and  escape. 

"Men  here  are  often  found  to  be  in  bitter  en- 
mity toward  someone  else  for  some  real  or  fan- 
cied grievance.  Their  grievances  take  all  forms 
of  complaint.     This  is  not  so  with  all,  yet  it  is 


August  1.  11114 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


so  with  a  great  many.  Sometimes  it  is  the 
treachery  of  someone's  pal  in  a  criminal  <lee.l: 
at  other  times  a  co-defendant  has  given  testimony 
in  court  which  resulted  in  a  person's  conviction 
or  further  incarceration,  not  to  mention  other 
forms  of  disloyalty  too  numerous  to  speak  of. 

"Now  is  a  good  time  to  begin  anew  and  tc 
build  up.  I  might  further  say,  let  the  good  and 
bad  among  us— for  there  are  both  kinds— go 
at  it  with  this  moral  in  view,  regardless  of  how 
shabbily  we  have  been  treated  in  the  i)ast." 


As  well  as  being  reasonable  antl  patient,  we 
must  also  be  honest;  strictly  honest  with  our- 
selves, lest  the  quiet  spiritual  voice  within  us 
accuse  us  and  we  shall  not  dare  to  face  the  real 
truth  of  things,  knowing  that  the  accusation  will 
be  found  to  be  true. 

Conscience  does  make  cowards  of  us  all  when 
once  we  have  so  yielded  to  prejudice,  to  con- 
demnation, to  resentment,  to  selfish  self-protec- 
tion, that  we  have  acted  against  conscience. 

Let  us  be  honest,  we  say,  as  well  as  reasonable 
and  i)atient. 

A  man's  own  life — the  quality  of  his  mind, 
the  character  of  his  thought,  the  way  he  acts — 
governs  what  the  man  has  in  this  world.  True, 
in  our  circumstance,  the  prison  administration 
has  the  power  to  give  or  to  take  away.  But  the 
men  of  the  administration  are  amenable  to  the 
laws,  the  ways  of  life,  the  same  as  are  the  men 
of  the  cells.  Goodness,  service,  trustworthiness, 
command  their  own :  miud  is  bound  to  respond 
to  mind.  Character  is  never  defeated  ;  it  may 
be  unseen  and  consequently  unrecognized,  but  it 
will  not  recede.  It  maintains  itself  in  the  silent 
reaches  of  the  man's  deeper  nature  and  in  due 
course  it  appears  again  in  some  other  particular 
experience  more  suited  to  the  other  person's 
customary  habit  and,  in  this  or  in  some  other 
and  later  experience  more  intimate  still,  it  will 
make  itself  known. 

It  is  idle,  men  of  this  prison  and  of  all  other 
prisons,  to  think  of  winning  the  betterment  which 
we  all  really  want — despite  the  particular  things 
which  we  are  striving  for  and  which  we  think 
is  that  betterment — in  any  other  way  than  by 
becoming  worthy  of  it. 

We  who  are  within  these  walls  are  under  no- 
different  law  of  attainment  than  are  the  people 
who   are   without    the   walls.      "The   inhabitants 


of  all  coiunumiiies  have  misfortunes,"  as  Mr. 
Louis  F.  I'ost  said  last  month  in  the  coiuimis 
of  this  magazine.  We  who  arc  here  must  solve 
our  problems  according  to  the  same  laws  of  life. 
according  to  which,  when  we  ourselves  arc  out- 
side, we  must  solve  such  of  our  prol>lciu>  a% 
have  not  been  solved  hcrr. 

W  e  would  ha\  e  tlie  men  oi  thi.s  priMjii  know 
that  every  day.  in  every  circumstance  ihcy  are 
dealing  with  life— with  their  own  inner  life, 
their  desires  and  jxissibilities— and  not  only  with 
the  Governor,  the  Warden  and  the  Hoard  of 
Parole. 

Society  asks  only  that  individuals  shall  lie 
socially  safe:  when  society  is  convinced  that  a 
man  is  safe,  society  is  glad  to  give  the  man  fr.-,-- 
flom. 

When  the  prison  administration  is  convincc«l 
that  a  man  is  socially  safe,  the  administration 
is  glad  to  give  the  man  freedom,  if  it  can. 
Meanwhile,  the  man  must  show  his  worth  where 
he  is.  He  must  see  that  his  problem  is  in  him- 
self; that  when  his  own  life  is  right,  the  things 
of   his  exi>erience   will  come  right. 

The  man  must,  as  we  have  said,  be  honest, 
spiritually  honest  with  himself. 

If  we  are  honest,  strictly  honest,  so  that  we 
no  longer  yield  to  prejudice,  to  condemnation,  to 
resentment  or  to  selfish  self-protection  and  so 
that  we  catch  the  linest  sense  of  the  clc.-'  * 
truth  there  is  in  us,  we  shall  freely  say  ;..... 
if  we  had  had  the  will  and  had  known  how  to 
respond  to  the  opj)ortunitics  that  have  bixn  and 
that  were  to  have  been  oflfcretl  by  the  admin- 
istration, we  should  now  be  enjoying  a  great 
deal  more  than  we  are  enjoying. 

But  no  one  is  to  be  blame<l  for  what  we  liave 
not  yet  won.  Perhaps  the  men  could  not  have 
grown  into  the  new  order  any  faster  than  they 
have  grown:  surely  the  adnnnistration  couhl  not 
grant  |)rivileges  that  would  have  lK*en  used  to 
break  down  the  discipline  and  order  of  the 
pface. 

It  may  be  that  that  which  wc  have  ha<l  lirst 
to  learn,  is  that  in  the  attempt  to  l>ctter  our  c«in- 
dition  in  this  prison  wc  are  grappling  with  life's 
own  issues.  If  we  have  now  learned  that,  wc 
sec  that  the  question  is  not  what  will  the  ad 


386 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


ministration  do   for  us,  but  what  we  are  able 
to  do  for  ourselves. 

We  come  directly  back  to  Mr.  Thorson's 
proposition  :  "The  whole  scheme  depends  strictly 
on  the  beneficiaries  and  not  on  the  constituted 
authorities  who  are  making  the  scheme  possible." 

Suppose  we  have  not  won  all  that  we  had 
hoped  to  win,  or  that  we  might  have  won.  What 
avails  it  to  rest  in  the  winning  and  only  to  coni- 
j)lain?  "Norv  is  a  good  time  to  begin  anew," 
says  Thorson,  and  to  build  up.  .  .  .  let  the 
good  and  bad  among  us — for  there  are  both 
kinds — go  at  it  with  this  moral  in  view." 

The  great  truth  of  life  which  each  person  must 
face  is  that  he  must  take  up  where  he  is  his 
work  of  improvement,  must  not  postpone,  but 
must  find  in  his  immediate  circumstance  that 
which  he  can  use  in  his  own  betterment. 

Every  element  of  thought  that  still  clings  in 
the  mind  that  leads  a  person  to  use  his  life  en- 
ergy and  his  time  to  complain,  to  condemn,  to 
find  fault,  to  accuse  others  or  to  seek  a  selfish 
self-protection,  is  so  much  handicap  under  which 
the  person  still  sufifers,  is  so  much  loss  of  vital 
power  which,  were  his  mind  clearer,  he  might 
use  to  take  him  on  his  way. 

The  men  of  this  penitentiary  should  become 
honest,  deeply  and  truly  honest,  and  reasonable 
and  patient. 

They  should  be  honest  enough  to  acknowledge 
that  opportunity  was  offered  to  them  by  the  new 
administration  and  that,  whatever  has  some- 
what failed  that  was  expected,  opportunity  is 
open  still. 

They  should  be  reasonable  enough  to  be  will- 
ing to  learn  the  way  in  which  they  can  have 
the  advantages  which  those  opportunities  make 
possible. 

And  they  should  be  patient  enough  themselves 
to  show  that  they  are  qualified  to  have  that  for 
which  they  ask. 

A  Plain  Talk — Social  Responsibility 

The  men  who^  day  after  day  and  year  after 
year  go  from  the  cell  house  to  the  dining  hall, 
from  the  dining  hall  to  their  work,  to  dinner 
and  then  to  supper,  and  from  supper  again  to 
the  cell  house,  move  in  a  very  small  circle  of 
experience. 


Once  it  was  worse  than  now. 

Until  the  changes  under  the  new  administra- 
tion began,  no  conversation  was  allowed  except 
in  the  cell.  After  going  into  the  cell,  a  man  could 
talk  with  his  cell  mate  in  a  low  tone  (the  "low 
tone"  was  always  printed  in  the  rule  books  in 
italics).  A  prisoner's  social  life  was  almost 
entirely   annihilated. 

Things  are  better  now.  But  still  the  men  who 
have  the  closest  routine  move  in  a  very  small 
circle.  The  men  get  accustomed  to  it.  With 
wonderful  facility  the  human  mind  adapts  it- 
self to  the  conditions  under  which  a  person  must 
live.  The  man  does  not  lose  his  sense  of  the 
outer  world  with  its  broad  range  of  opportuni- 
ties, but  the  keenness  of  the  attraction  of  these 
opportunities  deadens,  and  with  instincts  be- 
numbed, the  man  goes  his  regular  daily  routine 
in  fair  content. 

The  man  is  content  because,  being  cut  away 
from  complementing  environment  and  with  no 
chance  to  live,  he  is  in  corresponding  degree 
dead.  His  content  is  not  because  the  natural 
demands  of  his  nature  are  met  and  his  life  is 
therefore  fulfilled. 

But  he  lives  again  when  his  environment 
offers  some  application  of  the  affections,  the 
thoughts,  the  powers,  the  hopes.  When  visitors 
come,  when  he  becomes  a  semi-trusty  and  goes 
outside  of  the  walls  with  an  officer,  when,  trusted 
still  more,  he  goes  on  the  prison  farm,  where 
again  he  sees  the  line  of  the  natural  horizon 
and  when,  still  later  and  fully  trusted,  he  goes 
to  the  Honor  Farm  or  to  a  road  camp,  the  af- 
fections, the  thoughts,  the  powers,  the  hopes  come 
again  and  what  the  man's  life  was  when  he 
moved  only  from  cell  to  shop  and  from  shop 
to  cell,  he  knows.  He  knows  it  as  a  dark  and 
deadening  void  in  which  the  thread  of  existence 
was  maintained  and  which  now  he  only  tries  to 
forget. 

The  honor  movement  is  to  help  men  work 
their  way  again  to  the  broader,  fuller  and  more 
compensating  life. 

It  requires  some  patience,  the  exercise  of  a 
measure  of  self-restraint,  a  consideration  of  re- 
mote results,  and,  withal,  some  exceedingly  good 
and  hard  common  sense,  to  carry  a  man  through 
a  prison  term  with  which  he  will  earn  his  free- 


August  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


(lorn.  Seductive  must  be  the  thought  of  cutting 
away  the  whole  long,  tedious  period  of  the  pn>- 
oner's  sentence  with  a  quick  and  effective  escape. 

It  is  only  as  men  gain  a  sense  of  the  broader 
interests  involved  that  there  can  be  dependence 
in  a  general  loyalty  to  what  is  now  undertaken  in 
the  honor  movement. 

There  is  that  in  every  man  which  will  respond 
to  an  appeal  to  help  the  many  at  the  cost,  even 
of  the  sacrifice,  of  something  to  the  person  him- 
self. Prisoners  who  see  the  great  value  to 
others  of  their  own  faithful  serving  of  their 
sentences  are  held  to  fulfill  those  sentences.  In 
this  natural  social  bond  is  the  hope  of  all  that 
is  looked  forward  to  in  the  honor  plan. 

The  purpose  of  the  pledge  which  is  signed 
by  the  men  who  go  to  the  Honor  Farm  or  to  a 
road  camp  is  to  strengthen  in  each  the  social 
interest  in  one  another,  to  strengthen  the  bond 
which  unites  men  with  those  in  association  with 
them. 

Peter  Van  Vlissingen  points  out  that  "where 
a  number  of  prisoners  sign  a  common  pledge 

a  couimimity  of  wtcrcst  is  formed \ 

violation  of  an  honor  pledge  is  an  attack  upon 
the  community  created  by  the  men  who  signed 
the  pledge  and  which  contemplated  a  common 
welfare." 

The  obligation  involved  in  signing  an  honor 
pledge  with  other  men,  the  deep  significance  of 
uniting  with  those  who  thus  in  part  take  into 
their  keeping  the  welfare  of  an  important  and 
far-reaching  movement,  should  be  thought  of 
and  somewhat  appreciated  by  every  man  wlio 
would  go  out  with  an  honor  company. 

If  a  man  doubts  himself,  he  should  not  go 
until,  through  further  thought,  he  is  sure  he 
can  keep  true  to  what  he  promises.  "He  who 
thinks  he  cannot  live  up  to  it,"  says  Frank  Spera. 
"can  restrain  himself  from  signing  it."  "If  any 
of  you  feel  weak  and  think  you  can't  stand  ui 
under  any  temptation  that  may  come,  say  it 
now  and  don't  go  out."  says  Warden  Allen. 

These  are  words  of  deep  and  powerful  admo- 
nition, spoken  for  the  good  of  all  the  men  who 
are  now  prisoners  and  for  tlie  good  of  all  who 
may  chance  in  the  future  to  fall  into  prison. 
'The  prisoner  who  violates  his  pledge,"  says  \'an 


\  lis.>ingcn,  *'by  c>ca|iing  from  legal  authority 
is  guilty  of  an  act  of  selfishness  at  the  expense 
of  his  fellow  prisoners." 

The  man  who  is  not  sure  of  himself,  who 
thinks  he  might  fail  if  a  too  strong  temptation 
should  come,  will  gain  strength  by  wa  • 
I^ter,  he  may  become  jwrfcctly  secure,  i  lu- 
goodncss  of  life,  which  is  a  spiritual  presence, 
always  rewards  him  who,  in  the  service  of  gotxi. 
withholds  from  an  advantage  which  he  feels  he 
is  not  quite  secure  in,  an  advantage  which  he 
is  not  yet  fully  worthy  of.  The  full  reward 
will  come  for  the  apparent  personal  delay  and 
the  per.son  v.ill  find  that  in  the  end  there  has 
been  no  time  lost.  The  person  will  have  gained 
his  own  as  soon  as  he  could  have  gained  it  other- 
wise and  he  will  have  jeopardized  the  interests 
of  no  one  by  anything  which,  had  he  acted  pre- 
maturely, he  might  have  done. 

Peter  \'an  Vlissingen  says: 

"The  question  was  asked  in  the  June  issue: 
'Is  it  right  for  prisoners  to  help  in  the  capture 
of  some  of  their  number  wl-  '  •  *•  csca|)ed,  when 
the   escape   invf.U  «•  s   the   \  of   an   honor 

pledge  ?' 

"Where  a  number  of  prisoners  sign  a  com- 
mon pledge,  a  community  of  •  'is  formed. 
It  is  then  right  for  every  iiHin.-cr  to  guard 
the  objects  in  the  interest  of  which  the  com- 
munity was  organized.  A  violation  of  an  honor 
pledge  is  an  attack  upon  the  community  cre- 
ated by  the  men  who  signed  the  pledge  and 
which  contemplated  a  common  welfare.  Kvcry 
prisoner  becomes  his  brother's  keeper,  so  far  as 
his  circumstances  allow.  An  attack  upon  the 
conununity  must  be  followed  by  reprisals  in 
order  to  punish  the  ofTender  and  to  deter  others 
from  doing  likewise. 

"The  prisoner  who  violates  his  pledge  by 
escaping  from  legal  authority  is  g^iilty  of  an  act 
of  selfishness  at  the  expense  of  his  '    "  is- 

oncrs  and  he  becomes  an  outlaw  to  ... vs. 

Consequently  he  is  the  lawful  prey  for  all  of 
them  and  the  extent  of  the  reprisals  whtch  may 
be  measured  out  to  him  is  '"^ 

laws  of  the  •        '  v  and  im   i.mn.Mv   j^......;cn 

bv  the  pri.son      ils. 

'  "I  would  do  all  in  my  power  to  capture  an 
cscai>ed  prisoner  who  had  signed  a  •  with 

me  and  who  had  %  '  *  I  it.  I  sl...u...,  how- 
ever, c'^^'^-^'-r  it  wi  ..^  '  help  in  the  ciptrire 
„f  a   j  r   who  had   not   signet!   a 

unless  that  prisoner  had  injured  an  oihccr.  n 
citizen  or  a  fclllow  prisoner  in  making  his 
cscai>e." 


388 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Walter  Cain  believes  that  "notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  a  few  men  have  forgotten  their 
pledges  and  have  been  false  to  what  they  prom- 
ised, the  honor  system  is  good  and  is  tend- 
ing to  better  order,  better  behavior  and  better 
])risoners."  He  says  that  when  a  prisoner  breaks 
his  pledge,  he  not  only  gets  into  disgrace  him- 
self, but  he  influences  the  officials  to  lose  faith 
in  all  the  pledges  and  the  result  is  that  the  en- 
tire sixteen  hundred  prisoners  are  put  in  a  false 
light : 

"I  am  very  much  interested  in  the  honor  sys- 
tem and  I  think  the  prisoners  in  this  institution 
are  fortunate.  I  believe,  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  a  few  men  have  forgotten  their  pledges 
and  have  been  false  to  what  they  promised,  that 
the  honor  system  is  good  and  is  tending  toward 
better  order,  better  behavior  and  better  pris- 
oners. 

"I  wish  the  officials  w^ould  permit  the  prison- 
ers to  have  a  meeting  in  the  chapel  to  raise 
funds  to  help  capture  those  who  break  their 
pledge.  I  am  firmly  of  the  opinion  that  at  least 
three-fourths  of  the  prisoners  would  contribute 
to  the  fund.  My  opinion  has  been  formed  from 
the  number  of  expressions  I  have  heard  made 
by  other  prisoners. 

"I  say,  yes,  honor  men  should  help  to  cap- 
ture deserting  honor  men.  In  the  first  place, 
no  prisoner  should  sign  the  honor  pledge  unless 
he  intends  to  keep  it.  When  he  breaks  his 
pledge  he  not  only  gets  into  disfavor  himself, 
but  he  causes  the  officials  to  lose  faith  in  all  the 
pledges  and  the  result  is  that  the  entire  sixteen 
hundred  prisoners  are  put  in  a  false  light.  The 
prisoners  who  have  escaped  would  have  no  right 
to  complain  because  we  aid  in  their  capture. 
They  did  not  think  of  the  position  they  put  the 
rest  of  us  in  when  they  decided  to  break  their 
pledges  and  look  after  themselves  only.  I  sin- 
cerely believe  in  the  honor  principle  and  the 
honor  system  and  I  believe  that  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  few,  the  prisoners  are  all  of  the 
same  mind." 

A.  \\'.  Rhodes  observes: 

"You  request  an  opinion  of  all  inmates  on  the 
question  of  helping  to  capture  or  offering  a  re- 
ward for  the  capture  of  prisoners  who  violate 
their  pledges  by  escaping  from  road  camps  or 
farms.  I  for  one  think  that  when  a  prisoner 
is  put  on  his  honor  he  should  be  man  enough  to 
live  up  to  the  trust  and  confidence  that  the  War- 
den places  in  him.  If  he  escapes  or  tries  to 
escape,  I  am  in  favor  of  helping  to  capture 
him  or  offering  a  reward  for  his  capture,  and 
I    am    willing    at    any   time    to    subscribe    to    a 


fund  to  be  used  for  the  capture  of  men  that  are 
low  enough  to  violate  their  pledges." 

A  number  of  men,  as  others  have  also  stated, 
favor  the  proposition  to  have  a  prisoners'  fund 
which  shall  be  used  to  help  capture  a  prisoner 
who  has  signed  the  honor  pledge  and  who  has 
escaped.  A  number  of  men,  whose  signatures 
follow,  have  signed  a  resolution,  the  substance 
of  w'hich  is : 

"W^e,  the  undersigned  first  grade  men,  are 
in  favor  of  a  fund  to  be  raised  by  voluntary  sub- 
scription to  be  used,  as  the  Warden  sees  fit,  to 
defray  the  expense  of  capturing  any  inmate  who 
has  been  given  a  position  outside  of  the  prison 
walls,  and  who  in  order  to  secure  this  posi- 
tion of  trust  has  given  the  Warden  his  word 
that  he  will  not  leave  the  prison  in  an  unlawful 
way.  We  also  will  help  to  keep  this  fund  up 
to  any  amount  the  \\'arden  thinks  is  proper,  so 
that  it  may  serve  any  future  need" : 


"Edward  Westman 
'James  Moran 
"S.  Ay  res 
■J.  Hoffman 
'Michael  Ulenberg 
"Warren    Whethers 
"Joe  Evans 
'John  Lane 
'Frank  Morris 
"Arthur  C.  Clark 
"George  Keressi 
"Archie  Hutchins 
"Edward  Halpin 
"Ralph  Largio 
"H.  Reisinger 
"Ben  Davis 
'Thomas  Garrity 


John  Baiter 
George  Trainor 
John  Mason 
George  Taylor 
W.  K.  Howe 

A.  Franchey 
Harry  C.  Mallory 
Joseph  Smith 

H.  Saucier 
\Ym.  Duggan 

B.  F.  Klugger 
John  Frong 
Sam  Sirecuse 
Frank  Manes 

T.  H.  Reg.  No.  1138 
Reg.  No.  1637" 


Two  prisoners,  members  of  the  disciplinary 
battalion  under  the  honor  system  in  the  military 
prison  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  took  ad- 
vantage of  the  opportunities  offered  at  a  prison 
ball  game  and  slipped  through  the  crowd  of 
spectators  in  an  attempt  to  escape.  Other  men 
of  the  battalion  volunteered  their  services  to  find 
and  to  bring  back  the  men  and  a  score  of  them 
were  sent  out  to  search  the  surrounding  coun- 
try. After  several  hours  the  searching  party 
found  the  fugitives,  who  were  hiding  in  the 
woods.  All  of  the  twenty  men  returned  with 
their  captives. 

At  Auburn  prison,  New  York,  where  a  mutual 


August  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


389 


welfare  league  with  a  membership  of  fourteen 
hundred  men  has  been  organized,  the  social  in- 
terest of  the  members  has  had  two  striking  dem- 
onstrations. Once  when  the  whole  fourteen  hun- 
dred men  were  out  of  their  cells  marching,  the 
electric  lights  went  out  and  the  prison  was 
plungetl  into  darkness,  and  yet  not  one  man  at- 
tempted riot  or  escape.  "A  miracle,"  says  Mr. 
Osborne,  "in  the  eyes  of  the  oflicials,  but  only  the 
natural  result  of  the  trust  reposed  in  them."  At 
another  time  there  was  even  a  stronger  evidence 
of  the  awakening  of  social  interest  through  the 
prisoners'  honor  movement  and  of  the  power  of 
that  interest  to  keep  things  right.  At  a  meeting 
of  the  league  an  Italian  jumped  up  and  shouted: 
"The  man  who  did  this  is  here — I've  waited 
years  to  get  him,  and  now  he's  here — but  he  can 
go.  I  won't  touch  him — it  wouldn't  be  fair  to 
the  fourteen  hundred  other  men."  The  Italian 
was  scarred  from  ear  to  ear.  While  ill  in  the 
hospital  at  Sing  Sing  another  Italian  who  hated 
him  had  slashed  him  with  a  razor.  After  leav- 
ing the  hospital  the  man  had  been  transferrexl 
to  Auburn  and  was  made  the  prison  barber. 
Later  the  man  who  had  attacked  him  was  trans- 
ferred to  Auburn  also.  Naturally  the  foe  would 
come  into  the  barber  chair  of  the  man  whom  he 
had  attacked — but  the  revenge  which  had  been 
so  long  waited  for  could  not  be  because  of  "the 
fourteen  hundred  other  men." 

The  social  spirit,  such  as  is  shown  in  these 
three  incidents,  the  "struggle  for  the  life  of  oth- 
ers," as  Henry  Drummond  puts  it,  is  the 
strength  and  the  hope  of  what  prisoners  and 
prisoners'  friends  are  beginning  to  do. 

If  the  circle  of  the  life  of  the  prison  men  who 
now,  day  after  day  throughout  one  year  after 
another,  go  the  fruitless  round  of  cell  to  work- 
shop and  workshop  to  cell,  is  ever  enlarged  so 
as  to  give  those  men  an  outdoor  and  an  out- 
prison  life,  it  will  come  through  the  quickening 
of  the  social  interest  in  which  each  sees  that 
his  own  welfare  is  involved  in  the  welfare  of 
others,  and  that  the  welfare  of  others  is  in- 
volved also  in  his.  An  enlargement  of  the  indi- 
vidual life  so  that  the  individual  realizes  that 
his  own  interests  are  one  with  the  interests  of 
others,  is  that  which  is  of  greatest  value  that 
is  coming  as  the  fruitage  of  the  honor  plan. 


M.  A.  Walker  feels  that  "ihc  majority  of  per- 
sons on  the  outside  firmly  believe  there  is  n«. 
honor  in  a  prisoner."  He  thinks  that  the  pris- 
oners themselves,  must  convince  them  that 
there  is : 

"The  <iucstion  arising  from  the  incident  which 
proves  the  fidelity  of  'Real  Honor  Boys'  in 
Texas   has   given    me   much   entli  and    I 

can't    hel|)    resi>onding    to    your    tuiuiai    invita- 
tion.    Of   course   I   am  an   honor  ni.-m    nn.l    f 
mean  to  lie  one.     The  majority  of  ; 
the  outside  firmly  believe  there  is  no  honor  in  a 

prisoner.     Jn  order  to  c< ■         '         that  there 

is    I,    for   one,   would   «  .:_      .,    last   mile 

to  aid  in  the  capture  of  a  man  who  would  be 
so  hypocritical  or  so  without  moral  stanjiiu  as 
to  take  an  oath  of  reliability  s<j  that  he  might 
use  it  as  a  means  of  escaping  which  would 
finally  block  the  way  for  those  that  would  be 
true." 

C.  Cramer  says  that  the  man  who  breaks  his 
honor  pledge  "hurts  himself  with  the  Warden. 
with   the  other   inmates  and   he  also 

hurts  the  wave  of  prison  reform  which  is  now 
I)rogressing."     Cramer  writes: 

"A  prisoner  who,  with  hypocritcal  deceit  ful- 
ness, obtains  the  confidence  of  the  Warden  or 
any  other  oftker  by  signing  the  'Honor  Pledge' 
for  a  chance  for  a  trusty  {)osition  "■'  '' ■•"  'rics 
or    does    escai)c    should,    in    my  ,    if 

caught,  be  made  to  serve  his  maxinunn  sentence. 

"I,  for  one,  am  willing  to  donate  to  a  fund 
for  the  purpose  of  reward  for  t!"  "ture  of 
any  who  escape  after  signing  the  j 

"Such  a  man  not  only  hurts  himself  with  the 
Warden,  but  with  the  other  inn  ^  well,  and 

he  also  hurts  the  wave  of  pri>«-ii  niorm  which 
is  now  progressing." 

Emil  Ciuenlert  shows  a  conception  of  the  honor 
work  which  is  broad  and  promising.  "Every 
honor  man  shouKl  take  it  as  his  duty,  even  if 
he  himself  is  no  longer  a  prisoner,  to  give  an 
escaping  prisoner  up  or  to  aid  the  officers  even 
with  money  to  get  him  back  where  he  belong 

After  all,  an  honor  movement  which  nn m 
only  alleviation  of  the  prisoner's  con«lition  while 
imprisoned  and  a' liberation  of  the  men   from 
prison  as  soon  as  {wssiblc,  is  a  snull  and  very 
short-sighted  plan  of  betterment.     Such  a  pi-*" 
does  little  more  than  guard  each  jirisoncr's  - 
interest  and  is  not  far  removed  from  the  selfi*"!! 
ncss    from  which  all  the  troubles  of  the  men 


390                                                      THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST                       '                     First  Year 

and  the  troubles  of  society  with  the  men  have  In  doing  this  a  man  "will  lose  nothing  and 

come.  will  gain  everything  for  himself,  as  well  as,  for 

Emil  Guenlert  sees  something  more  than  this  the  other  boys.     The  Warden  will  have  respect 

selfish   self-interest  in  the  prison   honor  move-  for  him  and  will  give  him  lighter  work."    There 

ment.     He  sees  that  it  is  a  movement  to  help  is  a  way,  Guenlert  thinks,  in  which  every  man 

men,  not  only  while  the  men  are  in  prison,  but  can  gain  his  own  proper  good,  even  if  he  is  not 

to  help  them  all  their  lives.     He  wants  a  man  strong  enough  to  do  steadily  the  heaviest  work, 

to  remember  the  prisoners'  cause  even  after  the  Guenlert  sounds  a  note  of  real  human  interest 

man  himself  is  free.     "This,"  he  says,  "should  and  the  power  and  the  truth  of  his  appeal  will 

not  only  apply  to  the  men  while  here,  but  to  find    welcome    and    will    grow    in    many    men's 

them  everywhere."  hearts. 

In  this  is  the  hint  that  when  a  man  has  left  But  with  those  who  will  not  be  true  to  the 

the  prison  he  shall  continue  to  live  true  to  his  social  interest,  who  will  not  take  into  account 

honor  as  he  has  lived  true  to  his  honor  here;  the  welfare  of  others  as  well  as  their  own  wel- 

that  he  shall  square  the  things  of  his  daily  life  fare,  it  is  to  be  different.    The  "administration's 

with  the  best  there  is  in  him,  as,  while  in  prison,  good  work  of  last  year"  must  not  be  "spoiled 

he  squared  everything  he  did  with  his  thought  with  a   wrong  kind  of   sympathy."     Guenlert's 

of  loyalty  and  with  his  pledge  to  be  true  to  the  letter  is  as  follows: 

administration  and  to  the  other  men.  <,t                  .                         .    t          •<• 

In  answer  to  your  request,  1  say  if  any  man 

^  breaks  his  word  of  honor,  he  is  no  good  any- 

Guenlert  sees  the  time  when  "in  a  few  years  where.     No  matter  what  a  man  did  before  he 

honor  men  would  be  scattered  all  over  the  coun-  came  here,  if  he  always  keeps  his  word  as  well 

try,"  and  that  "it  would  then  be  hard  for  a  run-  ^,^  ,^^  ^?"'  he  is  a  man,  no  matter  what  he  once 

1      »  1  •  1  1       r          •     ,•  did.     No  man  is  worth  his   freedom  who  will 

away  to  stay  any  place     hidden  from  justice,  a  ,       ,    ,  •            i      i-          i.                     u     u  .  i 

/.                         .            .      .  break  his  word.     iLvery  honor  man  should  take 

deserter    from   his   natural   social   obligation   to  jt  as  his  duty,  even  if  he  himself  is  no  longer 

other  honor  men.  a  prisoner,  to  give  an  escaping  prisoner  up  or 

There  is  also  the  natural  fellowship  that  will  to  aid  the  officers,  even  with  money,  to  get  him 

come  to  the  men  who  have  carried  the  honor  ^^^k    where    he    belongs.      This    honor    system 

,.,^,1    „i -iiM        1                             u      .^      J  should  not  only  apply  to  the  men  while  here, 

work  along.     When  honor  men  are     scattered  ,    .  ,     .i             j     t^t'j                                u    x      a 

,  but  to  them  everywhere;  it  would  then  be  hard 

all  over  the  country     many  another  honor  man  for  a   runaway  to  stay  any  place.     He  would 

who  has  justly  earned  his  discharge  may  find  never   know   when   he   would   run   across   some 

in  those  who  have  established  themselves  in  the  honor  man,  because  in  a  few  years  honor  men 

world  a  helper  and  a  friend,  whose  power  and  ^^"^^  ^^  scattered  all  over  the  country. 

;»,fl.,^«„«  »^„       -J  4.U        4-      u         vr  11  •       J     •  "I  know  well  enough  how  hard  it  is  to  work 

intluence  may  aid  them  to  shun  pitfalls  and  sin-  ^.u          ^        r              ^                       •           u 

.  a                  J           .        r  ^^  ^'^^  ^^^*^  ^^  farm,  and  many  mornings  when 

ister  influences  and  to  gam  a  footing  in  the  world  ^  fellow  gets  up  with  sore  bones  he  will  have 

and  a  hold  upon  their  deeper  manhood.  the  temptation  to  go.     When  I  started  a  farm 

The  note  that  runs  all  through  Guenlert's  com-  for    myself,    I    was    sometimes    so    disgusted    I 

munication  is  the  call  to  be  true  to  this  social  ^^^^^  ^^op  everything  and  go  back  to  my  trade. 

;r,f^roof    f^„^  4-^  4.u^  I,  1        u-  u  The  man  who  gets   disgusted   on   the  road  or 

interest,  true  to  the  help  which  one  man  may  r                        i.     ^.u     -vxr    ^           a   4.  u  u- 

^                                      ^  farm  can  go  to  the  Warden  and  tell  him  so. 

ever   give   to   another.      Guenlert   knows    "how  !„  doing  this  he  will  lose  nothing  and  will  gain 

hard  it  is  to  work  on  the  road  or  farm."     He  everything  for  himself  as  well  as  for  the  other 

has  had  farm  work  of  his  own,  and  when  "many  boys.     The  Warden  will  have  respect  for  him 

mornings  a  fellow  gets  up  with  sore  bones  he  ^"^   ^^^^  ^^^^   ^^"^   lighter  work.     Naturally  a 

will  have  the  temptation  to  go."     "But,"   says  '^'^^t-''  ?^"  ''^*'°'  ^"^"7  ^^"^  ^T  ^^T  ^f'^ 
„,        -ri-,                                                    ■'is  asking  for  an  easy  job,  should  not  be  trusted 

Guenlert,  if  this  happens  to  you,  'go  to  the  War-  outside.     Those   are  the   kind  that  are  always 

den  and  tell  him  so."     Keep  true  to  the  confi-  knocking  about  too  much  work;  nothing  suits 

dence  of  the  Warden  and  of  the  other  men;  them.     I  say  again,  every  man  that  wears  the 

keep  inviolate  the  social  interest  which   is  the  h°"°^  button  should  help  in  every  way  to  pre- 

^^„,^^    ^„  J  .1  ^ i„ ^    tu  i          I-  •       .1  vent  escapes,  and  should  aid  in  any  way  he  can 

power,  and  the  only  power,  that  can  brine  the  .           ^             u                      \     u                 a       ^r, 

f"                                 J   r         >                          ^  to  capture  an  honor  man  who  has  escaped,  even 

better  things.  if  ^^  ^^^^  ^^  ^^  1  000  miles  for  him.    We  should 


August  1.  1914                                  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST                                                     „i 

not  let  the  administration's  good   work  of  the  man's  own  consciousness  is  the  leading  which 

last  year  be  spoiled  with  a  wrong  kuK    of  sym-  ...jn  ^„„,  v^    i  ■           .    i  •    i  •  t.               . 

pathy  for  a  good  for  nothing  who  will  go  back  V"  "^".,^^P  '"'"  "P  »«  »"5  highest  p..ss.b,hties. 

on  his  own  honor."  ''   "^  w"'   follow  this  deq)  inner  guidance  of 

conscience,  holding  always  to  that  which  is  actu- 

^  ally  true   for  himself  and  all  ethers.     A  man 

Jesse  Smith  joins  with  Emil  Guenlert  in  the  who  is  thus  spiritually  and  practically  in  tune 

perception  that  men  help  in  the  honor  movement  with   Nature  and  with  the  Infinite  cannot  lose 

in  being  true  to  the  social  interest  of  that  move-  place,  cannot  be  wrongly  positioned  or  <leprivcd 

ment,   rather  than   in   occupying  any  particular  of    opportunity,    cannot    want    in    ability   or    in 

position  of  trust.  I^ower.     He  is  one  with  the  tyi>c  ideal  of  the 

"If  a  man  thiuks  he  is  too  zvcak  to  stand  the  race  and  all  that  humanity  is,  within,  in  its  deep 

temptation,"  says  Smith,  "he  should  at  least  he  and  urgent  ideals,  and  in  its  actual  attainment. 

strong  enough  to  come  out  plainly  and  say  so.  will,  even  above  people's  intent,  give  him  place 

He  will  gain  more  by  that  than  by  giving  his  and  build  him  up. 

word    and    then    breaking   it."      Guenlert    says,  What  this  analysis  of  the  inner  spiritual  proc- 

"go  to  the  Warden  and  tell  him  so ess  and  order  of  the  outward  and  ordinar>'  things 

The  Warden  will  respect  the  man  who  will  do  discloses,  Warden  Alien  voiced  to  the  men  who 

this  and  will  give  him  lighter  work."  had  met  preparatory  to  going  to  Camp  Allen : 

The  great  need  of  the  prison  honor  movement  "Don't  do  anything  except  what  your  good  sense 

is   for  the  men  to  realize  that  the  power,  and  tells  you  to  do."     He  who  is  taic  to  his  own 

the  sole  power,  of  the  movement  is  in  the  social  best  sense  in  any  particular  situation,  is  living 

interest  which  the  movement  shows,  to  realize  up   to  all   that   God   is   asking  of   him  at   that 

that   the  power  of  the  movement  is  measured  time ;  his  clearest  and   purest  inner  thought  is 

exactly  by  the  social  interest.  God's  guidance  of  him.     By  obeying  this,  men 

When    a    man    is    sufficiently    free    from    the  are  sure  to  "make  good"  both  with  the  truth  of 

blight  which  selfishness  puts  upon  a  man's  con-  life  and  with  the  people  of  the  earth. 

sciousness,  the  man  will  see  that  his  own  true  ^ 

interest  is  one  with  the  social  interest  in  which  The    undercurrent    of    Jesse    Smith's    whole 

it  is  now  being  said  lies  the  whole  hope  of  the  thought  is  so  to  better  men  in  them.selvcs  and 

honor  work.    Man  ever  defeats  himself  by  hold-  so  worthily  to  win  the  confidence  and  support 

ing  to   selfishness.     The  selfishness   blinds  him  of  the  public  that  men  now  in  prison  may  gain 

to  his  own  true  and  larger  interests  and  takes  the   larger   social   life  which   sees   "the  line  of 

him  out  of  the  course  of  the  truth  of  life  which,  the  natural  horizon,"  and  which,  still  later  and 

in   the   processes   of    Nature,    ever   works   con-  ^vhen  the  man  is   fully  trusted,  will  bring  the 

structively  and  which   would  carry  him   on  to  freedom  in  which  "the  affections,  the  thoughts, 

the   realization   of   his   own   highest   ideals,   did  the  powers,  the  hopes"  begin  to  come  again, 

he  not  lose  this  natural  building  power  by  tak-  Jesse   Smith's   interest   is  the  social   interest. 

ing,    under   the   influence   of   the   selfishness,   a  He  wishes  to  have  "the  poor  life-time  fellows 

smaller   and    more   niggardly    part    in    Nature's  ^yho  wish  to  see  the  outside  world  once  more 

great  plan  than  that  which  in  his  soul  God  has  before  they  die,"  come  to  the  realization  of  the 

thought  out  and  has  ordained  for  him.  experience  they  arc  hoping   for.     He  does  not 

The  reason  that  a  man  comes  more  into  his  want   anything  done  that   will   "hurt  the  other 

own  when  he  is  united  spiritually  (which  means  men  who  are  waiting  for  their  time  to  go  out 

only  united  deep  in  his  thought  and  feeling)  and  and  who  will  keep  their  word  if  given  a  chance." 

practically  with  other  men  in  a  common  interest.  He  sees   that   the   social   interest,  the  pledge 

is  that  life  itself  thus  unifies  all  and  that  man  of  good    faith,  extends  not  only   to  the  o&- 

being  so  unified,  is,  therefore,  where  he  should  i)rison  men,  but  also  to  the  administration.   '  i ;.. 

be  in   the   inevitable  and   omnipotent   order   of  administration  is  telling  the  outside  world  that 

things.  we  are  not  quitters  and  that  we  have  no  yellow 

God  has  not  left  man  without  guidance.     In  streak.    Some  newspapers  claim  that  the  officers 


392                                                      THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  First  Year 

don't  know  what  they  are  talking  about.     Now  A  Plain  Talk— Individual  Opportunity 

it  is  up  to  us  to  make  our  friends'  or  our  ene-  Men   who  get   into   prison,   or  who  get  into 

mies'   word  good Although  we  trouble  anywhere,  and  who  find  that  that  kind  of 

have  been  convicted,  we  can  still  show  that  we  experience  is  repeated  in  their  lives,  should  rec- 

have  some  principle  and  respect."    Jesse  Smith's  ognize  that  there  is  something  in  their  mode  of 

letter  follows:  life,  their  habit  of  thought  that  brings  the  un- 

"I,  for  one,  say.  yes,  it  is  right  to  help  capture  Pheasant,  the  troublesome  things, 

an  honor  man  who  has  deserted.  The  letters  that  have  been  written  m  response 

"First,   for  the  simple  reason  that  if  a  man  to  the  questions  asked  in  the  June  issue  of  this 

thinks  he  is  too  weak  to  stand  the  temptation,  magazine  about  the  duty  of  honor  men  when 

he  should   at   least  be  strong  enough  to  come  ^^^  ,^^^^^  ^^^  ^^           ^^^  these  paragraphs  writ- 

out  planilv  and  say  so.     He  will  gam  more  by  .             .  ,        ...          ,              ^,  .        ,    , 

that  than  bv  giving  his  word  and  then  breaking  ten  in  consideration  of  those  letters,  this  whole 

it.      If   he   breaks   his   word,   he   will   not   only  "conference,"  in  fact,  between  the  men  and  the 

hurt  himself,  but  he  will  hurt  the  poor  life-time  editors   in  the   forum  of  this  magazine,  is   for 

fellows  who  wish  to  see  the  outside  world  once  the    purpose    of    learning    the    causes    of    our 

more  before  they  die;  and  he  will  also  hurt  the  ^^^^^^j^^    ^^^    ^^   1^^^^   to   do   away   with   those 
other  men  who  are  waiting  for  their  time  to  go 

out  and  who  will  keep  their  word  if  given   a  causes  so  that  the  troubles  may  cease, 

chance.  We  are  all  in  a  situation  where  it  is  of  the 

"Second,   how    do   we   expect   the   Governor,  utmost  importance  to  study  the  situation's  na- 

Commissioners  and  the  Warden  to  help  us  if  ture  and  genesis.     It  is  only  by  study  that  we 

we  don't  help  ourselves?  It  is  our  duty  to  meet  ,         ,     r                i        r         ^.u      •  }     c  ..  ^^ 

tj-.«.^  u^u  ,.o,  ^   ^  f      1       11                  4.          -I  can  hope  to  free  ourselves  from  the  risk  of  again 

tnem  halt  way  and  to  do  all  we  can  to  assist  ^ 

them.     Any  one  of  us  is  a  poor  excuse  for  a  t)eing  placed  as  we  are  placed  now. 

man   if   he   fails   to   do   it.     The  administration  @ 

is  telling  the  outside  world  that  we  are  not  quit-  t     .^u     i     *.         i     •     ^.t,^  •^A^,.r:A,,^^  .v   „c«^ii„ 

4.«,o   „    1   *!,  *.          u                   11          .      1      ii    .  In  the  last  analysis  the  individual  is  usually 

ters  and  that   we  have  no  yellow  streak;  that  ,,      r        ,        •        •        i.     •     •         tt    -i 

aTthough  we  have  committed  a  crime  for  which  accountable   for   the   situation  he  is   in.^    Until 

we  must  be  punished,  there  is  still  some  honor  the  very  last  analysis  is  reached,  there  is  a  so- 

in  us.     Some  of  the  newspapers  claim  that  the  cial  as  well  as  an  individual  responsibility, 

officers  don't  know  what  they  are  talking  about.  jt   seems   hard   to   fix   the    responsibility    for 

Now,  it  is  up  to  us  to  make  our   friends'   or  ,,  .              ,  ^,        ^    ,       , ,     ,         i       +1,  .„      tu« 

r„,r  ^,-.^«,;oc'  ;..^^.i A      \\n  •  u                     ■  things  and  thus  to  be  able  to  solve  them.     The 

our  enemies    word  good.     Which  are  we  going  *^ 

to  do,  be  good  fellows  and  stand  pat  with  our  persons  in  office,  and  who  thus  represent  society, 

friends,  or  show  our  enemies  that  we  are  quitters  and  others  whose  support  give  these  particular 

and  have  a  yellow  streak  and  that  there  is  no  persons  strength  in  the  position  they  take,  do 

honor  among  us?          ^^t  admit  that  a  particularly  designated  social 

1,  for  one,  say  I  shall  stand  by  my  friends  .,  .,.^           ^                 .1                j    „i  ^    :^a; 

to  the  last,  sink  or  swim.     Any  one  who  gives  '"esponsibility  rests   upon   them;   and  also   indi- 

his  word  of  honor  and  fails  to  help  capture  one  viduals  reject  or  neglect  to  accept  the  responsi- 

who  has  broken  his  word  is  just  as  bad  as  the  bility  which  is  personally  their  own.    Each  shifts 

one  who  breaks  his  word.    I  say,  for  God's  sake,  the  elements  of  the  problem  to  someone  else  so 

men,  stand  pat      Be  men  and  let  the  Warden  that  the  elements  which  would  be  a  basis  for  so- 

reap  the  benefit  of  his  good  will  and  works;  let  ,     .                      ,    .         ,     1    1          j            1          j 

him  reap  the  good  he  has  sown.     Although  we  ^"^^°"    ^'^   ^^   ^^'^   P"'^'^^   ^^>^°"'^   P^^^P^^   ^""^ 

have  been  convicted,  we  can  still  show  that  we  are  lost  in  the  maze  and  indefiniteness,  in  the 

have  some  principle  and  respect."  complexity  of  things  called  "conditions." 

®  "Conditions,"  so  it  is  said,  make  integrity  in 

The  way  is  clear  and  the  way  is  open   for  business  impracticable,  therefore  no  one  is  re- 

every  man  in  prison  to  help  himself  and  to  help  sponsible  for  that  lack  of  virtue;  "conditions" 

every  other  man.  cause  some  men  to  become  exceptionally  rich  and 

The  prison  honor  movement  is  a  social  move-  others  to  remain  pitiably  poor,  therefore  responsi- 

ment  and  the  hope  of  the  movement  is  in  the  bility  cannot  be  placed  with  the  employers  who 
faithfulness  of  each  individual  to  his  social  ob-      unproportionately    divide    the    earnings    of   the 

ligation,  in  the  willingness  of  each  to  respond  joint  industry  or  with  the  worker  who  riotously 

and  to  live  fully  up  to  his  social  opportunity.  wastes  what  portion  of  the  earnings  he  does  re- 


August  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


sts 


ceive;  "conditions"  frequently  make  it  neces- 
sary in  prisons  to  treat  men  inhumanely  and  to 
handle  them  in  gangs  under  inflexible  rules 
instead  of  there  being  a  provision  for  the  men 
lo  act  from  the  order  and  in  the  freedom  of 
their  own  thought,  therefore  responsibility  can- 
not be  placed  cither  on  the  officers  who  enforce 
this  form  of  prison  life  or  on  the  men  whose 
insubordination  and  unruly  action  make  it  neces- 
essary ;  "conditions"  caused  each  of  the  men  im- 
prisoned here  to  commit  the  act  which  started 
him  towards  this  place,  the  "extenuating  circum- 
stances," not  he  (not  persons  ever)  are  to  blame. 
The  man's  conviction  was  because  of  some 
wrong  in  the  prosecuting  attorney,  the  judge, 
the  witness,  the  jury  or  in  a  notoriety  the  press 
created — so  the  prisoner  says — but  none  of  these 
individuals  either,  will  "stand  for"  the  responsi- 
bility; so  the  responsibility  is  pushed  on,  on  to 
the  "conditions,"  which  are  impersonal  and  can- 
not reply.  "Conditions"  are  made  "the  goat" 
for  all  the  sins  of  men.  But  "conditions"  in 
their  own  way  "get  back" :  people  continue  to  be 
emmeshed  in  their  problems;  their  shifting  the 
responsibility  does  not  deliver  them. 

For  every  condition  in  which  a  person  finds 
himself,  there  is  the  social  as  well  as  also  the 
ultimate  individual  responsibility.  But  the  so- 
cial responsibility  is  only  the  responsibility  of 
other  individuals  in  their  social  relationship  to 
the  person.  Conditions,  the  mere  mechanical  con- 
ditions imposed  by  Nature,  hardly  enter  as  an 
appreciable  part  in  any  personal  or  social  prob- 
lem. The  conditions  which  grow  out  of  the  way 
people  think  and  act  are  a  very  great  part,  the 
major  part,  of  every  such  problem. 

The  conditions,  for  example,  in  which  the  per- 
son in  prison  finds  himself,  are  the  creation  of 
the  thought  of  people.  They  are  the  creation  of 
the  way  the  person  himself  has  thought  and  acted 
and  of  the  way  the  other  people  of  the  state 
have  thought  and  acted  in  relationship  to  acts 
such  as  his. 

The  problem  of  each  person  is  to  cflfect  a 
change  of  that  in  his  condition  which  is  wrong. 
Change  can  come  through  the  way  he  himself 
will  think  and  act  and  it  can  come  through 
the   way    others    will    think    and    act ;   and    the 


change,   the   solution   of   his   personal   question, 
can  come  in  no  other  way. 

Individuals  have  practically  no  control  over 
the  thought  attitudes  and  acts  of  others;  they 
do  have  control  over  their  own  thouglus  and 
acts.  But  the  i>eculiar  thing  with  some  people 
who  are  outside  of  prisons  as  well  as  of  people 
who  arc  inside  of  prisons,  is  that  they  si)end 
their  energies  in  complaint  against  what  others 
are  doing,  instead  of  in  correcting  tliat  which 
is  wrong  in  themselves. 

In  the  comi)laint  of  others  there  is  a  sort  of 
self-justification  for  one's  condition;  anyway, 
by  calling  attention  to  another's  faults,  r.nr  di- 
rects attention  away  from  one's  own. 

In  the  dining  hall  a  prisoner  can  sec  that  at 
a  particular  meal  he  does  not  have  enough  meat ; 
he  fails  to  note  that  at  many  meals  he  wastes 
broad.  He  sees  that  the  administration  docs  not 
give  him  an  early  morning  or  late  detail ;  he 
overlooks  the  advantage  he  took  of  such  detail 
when  he  did  have  it.  He  thinks  he  should  be 
trusted  to  go  to  the  Honor  Farm;  he  forgets 
that  he  was  not  exactly  square  in  his  work  on 
the  farm  here. 

These  are  only  typical  instaiuc-  There  may 
be  many  cases  where  the  administration  has  not 
yet  given  the  person  all  to  which  the  person  is 
justly  entitled.  But  let  each  prisoner  rcnicmlxT 
that  any  and  every  situation  which  he  is  in,  is 
set  up  by  the  attitude  and  acts  of  people,  is 
set  up  by  other  persons  and  also  by  hitnself. 

Within  himself  is  the  power  to  keep  his  own 
attitude  and  acts  right ;  what  he  can  do  will 
have  its  influence  oj>  what  others  will  do  in  ref- 
erence to  him ;  his  doing  right  will  in  turn  brirt: 
others  to  such  an  understanding  of  him  ilut 
they  will  do  right  toward  him.  This  must  be 
so.  "Goodness,  service,  trustworthiness,  com- 
mand their  own ;  mind  is  hound  to  respond  to 
mind.    Character  is  never  defeated." 

After  all,  the  only  obligation  that  rests  ujxni 
any  i)erson  is  to  be  scpiarc  and  uprij^ht 
in  himself.  That,  in  the  last  analysis,  is  his 
whole  responsibility  and  is  the  solution  of  every 
possible  jwrsonal  question. 

These  letters,  sent  in  by  men  who  have  signc<l 
the  honor  pledge,  in  answer  to  the  question  of 
what  such  a  [h-Tsoii  should  do  when  some  other 


394 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


person  violates  the  pledge  by  seeking  to  escape, 
are  an  effort  by  the  men  to  set  forth  just  what 
it  is  to  be  "square  and  upright"  in  face  of  such 
a  situation  as  the  question  proposes.  All  the 
men  who  have  written  think  that  it  is  right  to 
report  or  to  help  to  capture  an  escaped  honor 
man. .  They  see  that  the  only  way  to  hold  what 
the  honor  system  has  already  brought  to  them 
and  that  the  only  way  to  come  to  what  the  honor 
system  is  yet  to  yield,  is  to  be  faithful  to  their 
pledge,  to  be  true  to  the  trust  that  has  been 
placed  in  them. 

® 

Thomas  A.  McManus  sees  that  the  person 
"who  so  far  forgets  his  manhood"  as  to  break 
faith  with  the  administration  and  with  the  other 
men,  "is  no  longer  entitled  to  the  respect  of  his 
fellow  inmates."    He  says  : 

"Yes,  to  my  mind,  the  Texas  men  were  justi- 
fied in  helping  to  capture  the  escaped  honor  man. 
For  any  man  who  so  far  forgets  his  manhood  as 
to  give  his  word  and  then  break  it  when  the  first 
opportunity  offers  is  no  longer  entitled  to  the 
respect  of  his  fellow  inmates,  who  are  thereby 
themselves  placed  under  suspicion." 

McManus  makes  it  clear  that  the  loss  of  the 
man  who  runs  away  of  "the  respect  of  his  fel- 
low inmates,"  is  because  of  the  man's  own  failure 
to  do  ti'Iiat  is  just  and  right. 

A.  Poole  says : 

"No  true  honor  man  will  experience  any  diffi- 
culty in  replying  to  this  proposition.  The  obliga- 
tions which  an  honor  man  voluntarily  takes  upon 
himself  admit  of  no  compromise  whatever  with 
either  commission  or  omission  of  established 
law  or  prison  regulations.  The  word  'honor' 
carries  with  it  the  highest  and  most  sacred  sense 
of  knightood,  hence  it  should  be  the  duty  of 
every  honor  man  to  assist  by  all  square  and  hon- 
orable means  the  officials  in  returning  a  man  who 
by  his  act  has  committed  that  wrong  against  his 
fellows  which,  of  all  other  violations,  militates 
most  strongly  against  their  welfare." 

C.  Barlow  understands  that  trusties  "have  our 
interests  in  their  keeping  to  a  great  extent,"  that 
they  are  "our  representatives  in  a  good  cause." 
He  sees  that  each  trusty  has  a  social  responsi- 
bility to  every  other  man  and  that  every  honor 
man,  in  order  to  be  true  to  his  own  responsibil- 
ity, must  see  that  each  other  honor  man  keeps 
true  to  his  responsibility.     By  thus  making  in- 


dividual  integrity   the  basis   of   social   integrity 
and  strength,  the  wished  for  individual  and  so- 
cial betterment  will  come. 
C.  Barlow  says : 

"When  inmates  are  sent  out  as  trusties,  they 
have  our  interests  in  their  keeping  to  a  great 
extent  and  are  considered  as  our  representa- 
tives in  a  good  cause.  So,  knowing  this,  if  they 
deliberately  break  their  word  of  honor  and  jeop- 
ardize our  privileges  by  running  away,  I  think 
it  no  more  than  right  that  we  should  assist  in 
their  return  as  much  as  it  is  in  our  power  to 
do  so." 

When  the  question  of  social  conditions  is  re- 
solved into  the  question  of  the  individuals'  atti- 
tude of  mind,  the  problem  of  the  prison  better- 
ment movement  becomes  a  tangible  problem; 
it  is  made  clear  that  in  each  prisoner's  own 
thought  there  is  somewhat  of  the  power  to  make 
the  conditions  better. 

Raymond  Taylor  sees  this  and  says  that  men 
who  are  out  on  their  honor  should  at  all  times 
remember  "the  men  that  are  still  behind  the 
walls  whose  chances  of  a  better  life  are  in  their 
hands."     He  argues: 

"I  believe  that  where  a  number  of  prisoners 
are  working  outside  of  the  prison  on  their  honor 
and,  having  pledged  themselves  to  the  Warden 
not  to  escape,  they  should  at  all  times  remember 
their  obligation,  not  only  to  the  Warden  but 
also  to  the  men  that  are  still  behind  the  walls 
whose  chances  of  a  better  life  are  in  their  hands. 
Now,  if  I  were  one  of  a  number  of  men  who 
was  placed  in  such  a  position  and  had  a  chance 
to  capture  one  who  had  pledged  himself  and  had 
then  run  away,  I  certainly  would  do  so,  not  to 
better  my  own  position,  but  for  the  benefit  of 
those  who  are  still  behind  the  walls  looking  for 
a  chance  to  make  good.  But  on  the  other  hand, 
if  I  saw  a  prisoner  cutting  his  way  through 
the  wall  to  escape,  I  should  wish  him  luck  and 
a  good  getaway,  providing  he  had  not  signed 
the  honor  pledge." 

Edward  McVey  and  Bert  Hamilton  in  a  joint 
letter  say : 

"Reneging  on  any  proposition  looking  to 
prison  betterment  shows  lack  of  furtherance  of 
pledge  issues  and  almost  a  renunciation  of  all 
principles  contained  therein.  When  a  person 
has  voluntarily  accepted  the  obligations  con- 
tained in  this  uplift  movement,  he  should  be 
mindful  of  all  its  possible  promotions,  which 
are  far  reaching  in  that  they  will  concern  un- 
fortunates who  are  yet  unconcerned,  but  who 


August  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


.T.i: 


[  are  to  follow  us  here.  We  read  often  of  pessi- 
mistic utterances.  We  should  like  to  sec  opti- 
mistic views  expressed,  just  as  we  feel  ourselves. 
This     will  never  be  unless  we  co-operate. 

"Is  it  not  reasonable  that  we,  as  parties  of  this 
reformation  movement,  should  feel  that  not  the 
Warden,  but  we  ourselves  as  a  whole  arc  the 
worst  hurt  in  any  and  all  violations  of  what 
is  expected  of  us?  The  violations  are  a  direct 
slam  in  the  face  of  the  inmates.  As  the  refrac- 
tion of  rules  affect  the  administration,  they  also 
affect  us. 

"We  think  the  men  should  assume  no  obliga- 
tions that  they  won't  make  good." 


A  prisoner  who  does  not  wish  to  give  his  name, 
but  who  gives  his  number.  Register  No.  6933, 
sounds  the  note  to  which  every  honor  man  re- 
sponds. "Concealed  about  our  anatomy  is  there 
not  some  honor?"  he  asks.  "It  may  be  the  last 
thing  retained  ....  in  life.  There  are 
those  in  authority  who  believe  we  possess  it  and 
let  us  not  disappoint  them  in  that  belief."  Reg- 
iter  No.  6933  says  in  full : 

"The  editor  may  list  me,  not  against  or  silent, 
but  For — with  capital  F — the  capture  of  any  de- 
serting honor  man  (provided  he  leaves  after 
being  detailed  to  an  honor  camp  or  being  trusted 
outside  of  walls  here). 

"Many  of  us  in  our  past  lives,  or  through 
coming  here,  have  lost  friends,  prestige,  money, 
etc.,  but  concealed  about  our  anatomy  is  there 
not  left  some  honor?  It  may  be  in  some  almost 
the  last  thing  they  have  retained  in  life.  There 
are  those  in  authority  here  who  believe  we  pos- 
sess it,  and  let  us  not  disappoint  them  in  that 
belief. 

"The  man  who  signs  that  honor  pledge  and 
gives  his  word  of  honor  to  the  Warden  not  to 
leave  the  honor  camp,  has  everything  to  gain 
by  keeping  that  bond,  and  we  have  everytliing 
to  gain  by  seeing  that  he  does  keep  it.  It  estab- 
lishes his  credit  before  the  Governor,  the  ad- 
ministration and  the  public ;  it  means  that  he 
and  others  that  are  to  follow  will  be  trusted 
and  believed  in  and  their  lot  in  life  will  be  im- 
proved. Everything  is  to  be  gained  by  proving 
it.  We  gain  the  confidence  of  the  community  at 
large;  we  advance  the  conditions  of  our  fellow 
inmates  who  are  to  follow,  and  we  ourselves 
receive  the  sure  foothold  for  the  start  in  life 
again." 

Since  each  prisoner's  own  thought  and  action, 
properly  directed,  help  to  make  the  prison  move- 
ment a  success,  the  fidelity  of  each  in  support 
of  all  is  of  the  utmost  importance.     "The  rem- 


edy," as  Thorson  has  said,  "is  in  the  hands  of 
the  more  loyal  inmates."  Governor  Dunne  in 
his  address  to  the  pri.soncrs  at  Camp  Dunne  re- 
cently said:  "I  plead  with  you  as  a  camp  and 
as  indivi(hials  to  stand  firmly  together  to  nuke 
the  new  law  a  success.  Let  each  nun's  strci 
be  thrown  into  the  common  pool  for  the  cquui 
benefit  of  all.  Place  confidence  and  trust  in  one 
another  and  when  temptation  confronts  you,  go 
seek  the  companionship  of  your  fellows  and,  with 
due  consideration  for  them  and  for  the  future, 
fight  away  that  temptation." 

The  success  of  the  honor  plan  is  at  last  a  ques- 
tion of  the  success  of  the  individuals  who  take 
up  that  plan.  Where  every  man  succeeds,  the 
plan  itself  is  sure  to  succeed. 

EDITOR'S  COLUMN 

We  call  the  attention  of  the  innutes  of  this 
institution  to  the  article  on  "Food  Waste"  in 
the  department,  Reviews.  The  report  which  Mr. 
Golden  makes,  after  investigating  a  number 
of  institutions,  leads  to  the  conclusion  that  in 
Rhode  Island  "there  is  every  reason  to  believe 
that  considerable  saving  of  food  now  wasted 
could  be  made."  The  local  value  of  the  ques- 
tion of  food  waste  is  that  in  this,  as  in  all 
state  institutions,  the  dietary  is  limited  accord- 
ing to  the  amount  of  the  appropriation.  Out 
of  the  general  annual  appropriation  of  the  state 
for  the  maintainance  of  this  institution,  a  cer- 
tain sum  is  apportioned  for  the  food  supply. 
Mr.  D.  C.  Fleming,  general  purchasing  agent, 
says  it  is  the  policy  of  the  institution  to  keep 
the  food  expense  as  near  as  is  pt)ssible  to  fifteen 
or  sixteen  cents  per  day  per  nun.  Mr.  Goldcn's 
report  shows  that  in  Rholc  Island  "sixteen  cents 
per  iiunatc  is  ample"  and  that,  moreover,  "a 
much  more  varied  and  satisfactory  dietary  for 
the  inmates  than  has  heretofore  been  funiishetl 
could  be  provided."  Probably  there  arc  ways  in 
which  savings  can  be  made  in  our  kitchen  which 
have  not  yet  been  nude  practicable.  TIk  ad- 
ministration is  now  considering  the  nutter.  The 
men  who  want  better  food  can  help  to  provide 
a  way  to  have  it  by  nuking  as  little  waste  as 
jKJSsible  of  what  we  now  do  have.  If  sixteen 
cents  per  day  per  nun  is  the  standard  outlay  for 
food,  it  will  be  clear  to  even  the  most  unprc- 


396 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


tentious  mathematician  among  us  that  the  more 
food  that  goes  onto  the  floor  or  into  the  waste 
tubs  the  less  there  will  be  to  go  into  the  stomach. 
Mr.  C.  J.  Carlson,  steward,  says  that  at  each 
meal  the  men  waste,  for  instance,  a  great  amount 
of  bread.  Mr.  Carlson  wishes  to  save  this  waste 
and  says  that  if  no  other  way  can  be  found  it 
can  again  be  made  into  bread  pudding.  Nothing 
is  gained  by  mere  complaint ;  "knocking"  gets  not 
one  thing  that  we  say  we  should  have.  If  there 
is  to  be  a  better  quality  or  a  greater  variety  of 
food,  it  will  come  not  through  an  increase  of 
expense  but  through  reducing  the  supply  of  the 
kind  of  food  we  now  have  to  the  amount  that  is 
actually  used.  The  cost  of  that  which  now  goes 
to  waste  can  easily  go  for  something  different 
when  the  waste  is  stopped.  Let  the  men  show 
their  interest  in  having  the  waste  stopped  by 
doing  what  they  can  to  stop  it.  Each  man  who 
wastes  anything  helps  to  keep  the  dietary  below 
what  it  might  be  if  there  were  no  waste. 

A  word  of  caution  may  be  given  to  a  few  of 
the  men  who  attend  chapel.  No  one  has  been 
intentionally  disorderly  but  all  should  remember 
that  the  Sunday  chapel  meetings  are  a  service, 
not  merely  an  assembly  such  as  might  be  held 
on  a  week  day.  To  win  a  chapel  service  with- 
out the  attendance  of  guards  is  a  great  attain- 
ment and  the  men  should  not  forget  how  they 
won  it.  It  is  natural  and  good  for  the  men  to 
feel  like  a  "free  congregation,"  as  Father  Ed- 
wards expressed  it,  but  let  each  man  remember 
that  it  is  to  be  a  gentlemen's  congregation  as 
well.  Strict  order  and  quiet  in  chapel  will  help 
us  to  win  other  good  things ;  but  order  and  quiet 
are  good  in  themselves.  Let  us  observe  them 
for  their  own  sake. 

Those  who  send  us  communications  for  pub- 
lication should  make  their  writing  a  study.  As 
we  said  last  month,  first  satisfy  yourself  that 
you  have  something  of  value  to  write  about, 
something  of  your  own  experience  from  which 
you  can  show  some  truth.  When  you  have  writ- 
ten your  article,  keep  it  until  the  next  day,  then 
go  over  it  again.  See  if  you  have  kept  strictly 
to  your  one  theme.  See  how  many  sentences 
you  can  cut  out  and  still  have  the  article  just  as 
strong  and  mean  just  as  much.  Then  see  how 
many  words  you  can  spare  and  still  save  what 


you  meant  to  tell.  Keep  it  then  until  the  third 
day  and  go  over  it  again.  All  finally  good  manu- 
script is  prepared  somewhat  in  this  way.  Be 
studious  and  see  how  much  better  you  can  write 
a  second  communication  than  you  wrote  the  first 
one.  You  will  be  pleased  with  the  progress  you 
make,  if  you  study  your  work.  Also  be  careful 
not  to  have  any  condemnation  in  what  you  say. 
Condemnation  breeds  only  evil  and  burden.  Any- 
thing you  have  to  tell  can  be  told  without  con- 
demning anybody.  Try  to  tell  without  any  fault 
finding  what  you  have  to  tell.  Be  brief ;  be  kind. 
This  will  make  you  a  successful  writer. 

Mr.  William  Walsh,  Deputy  Warden,  desires 
to  state  that  men  who  wish  clerical  positions 
should  notify  The  Joliet  Prison  Post. 

Severe  discipline  caused  a  nervous  stress  be- 
tween prisoners  and  the  authorities,  both  sides 
constantly  expected  conflict. 

Silence  and  unbroken  routine  breaks  the  hearts 
and  spirits  of  men  and  sends  them  out  into  the 
world  without  courage  and  without  hope. 

NEWS  NARRATIVE 

FATHER  EDWARD'S  FAREWELL 

Father  Edward,  who  came  to  this  institution 
about  six  months  ago  to  fill  the  office  of  Catho- 
lic Chaplain,  has  been  chosen  to  go  to  the  prov- 
ince of  Houpe,  China,  as  professor  of  English 
to  instruct  the  missionaries  of  that  vicarate, 
which  is  under  the  care  of  the  Franciscans,  the 
Order  to  which  Father  Edward  belongs. 

Most  of  the  missionaries  of  this  vicarate  are 
Italians,  Belgians,  French  and  Germans.  The 
French,  Father  Edward  says,  are  the  ideal,  the 
most  zealous  missionaries.  Father  Edward's 
work  will  be  with  the  Belgians. 

Father  Edward's  closing  service  was  Sunday, 
June  28. 

After  the  sermon  Deputy  Wm.  Walsh  said: 

"I  am  here  in  behalf  of  the  Warden  to  ex- 
press the  good-will  of  the  administration  to  a 
man  who  has  performed  his  duties  here  in  an 
efficient  manner.  Father  Edward  has  done  much 
good  among  us,  and  all  feel  the  blow  of  the  an- 
nouncement that  he  is  to  go  from  us. 

"We  could  not  let  him  go  without  some  little 


August  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


M7 


remembrance  and  so  we  have  here  a  silver  watch, 

which  is  the  finest  watch  his  Order  allows  him 

to  have,  and  on  which  we  have  had  inscribed : 

"Father  Edward 

From  His  Friends  at  the  Illinois  State 

Penitentiary,  Jolict,  Illinois, 

June,  1914." 

"If  we  should  properly  express  our  feelings 
for  our  Chaplain,  we  should  give  him  a  watch 
of  the  finest  gold  and  set  with  the  most  pre- 
cious stones.  The  remembrance  will  help  him 
ever  to  think  of  us  here  while  he  is  far  from 
us,  traveling  in  the  wilds  of  China. 

"To  his  successor.  Rev.  Peter  Crumblcy,  I 
promise  the  most  hearty  support  of  the  prison 
administration  and  of  the  men." 

Deputy  Walsh  then  presented  the  watch  to 
Father  Edward,  who  responded  in  the  follow- 
ing words: 

"I  am  accustomed  to  go  away  from  my  places 
of  work  as  quietly  as  possible.  One  necessarily 
makes  some  friends  and  many  times  it  is  embar- 
rassing. It  is  painful  to  me  to  leave  here.  I 
have  tried  to  be  sincere.  I  have  been  a  priest 
for  seventeen  years,  and  never  in  my  experi- 
ence have  I  had  so  much  appreciation  and  had 
so  much  happiness  nor  such  success  as  I  have 
had  here.  I  have  not  been  subjected  to  one  act 
..f  discourtesy  from  either  officer  or  inmate,  and 
I  have  been  helped  by  all. 

"I  feel  almost  as  if  I  am  deserting  you  when 
I  have  been  treated  so  well  and  when  there  is 
so  much  good  to  be  worked  out  here.  But 
such  is  the  nature  and  need  of  the  work  which 
I  am  to  do  that  I  feel  that  later  you  will  say 
I  have  done  right. 

"I  cannot  say  for  how  long  I  shall  be  away.  I 
am  sentenced  for  one  year  to  life,  and  I  may  re- 
turn in  eleven  months  and  I  may  not  come  for 
two  or  three  years.  I  do  not  know  how  much 
pull  I  have  with  the  Board.". 

Father  Edward  then  graciously  acknowledge! 
the  gift  of  the  watch  and  said  that  the  officers 
had  also  given  him  a  valuable  traveling  trunk 
which,  before  he  returned,  he  hoped  to  carry 
around  the  world. 

"Such  an  opportunity  as  is  now  oflfercd  u, 
me,"  continued  Father  Edward,  "comes  very  sel- 
dom to  men  of  my  class.  I  hope  I  may  en- 
circle the  globe  and  that  I  shall  erne  back  better 


equippctl    for    whatever    work   will   be    for   me 
when  I  return. 

"I  nccdetl  no  testimonial,  no  token  of  your 
esteem  to  aid  me  to  keep  you  in  my  mind.  I 
am  not  going  to  lose  my  interest  in  you.  Since 
I  have  been  here,  I  feel  that  no  position  that 
can  be  given  to  me  will  be  a  promotion.  I  look 
upon  this  as  the  noblest  position  I  have  ever 
held. 

"When  I  was  first  notifie<l  of  my  appoint- 
ment to  this  place,  it  seemed  that  I  should  never 
be  able  to  come.  I  was  told  that  I  could  try  it 
for  a  month  or  two,  and  that  if  I  could  not  sUnd 
it,  I  should  be  relieved.  In  only  a  short  while 
I  told  my  superior  that  I  did  not  wish  to  be 
anywhere  else.  I  have  now  been  here  not  quite 
six  months  and  am  yet  only  in  the  experimental 
stage.  I  have  had  high  plans  and  I  hope  my 
successor  will  carry  them  out." 

Father  Edward  spoke  highly  of  his  relation- 
ship with  Rev.  .\.  J.  Patrick,  the  Protestant 
chaplain,  and  said:  "\Vc  have  religious  peace 
in  this  house."  He  then  spoke  of  his  successor, 
Father  Peter  Crumbley,  O.  F.  M.,  paying  him 
roinpliments  which  the  men  applauded. 

Captain  Kane  spoke  in  appreciation  of  Father 
I'idward's  work  and  also  made  a  few  renurks 
emphasizing  the  virtue  of  obedience  to  superior 
officers.     He  then  introduced  Father  Peter. 

Father  Peter  arose  and  stepped  to  the  front 
of  the  platform: 

"My  dear  friends.  When  I  received  wor<l 
to  report  to  a  prison  for  work.  I  lost  heart  com- 
pletely. I  at  first  thouglit  that  Father  Edward 
had  fallen  down  on  the  job  and  that  I  ha«l  been 
called  to  go  to  a  work  where  he  had  failetl 
and  where  I  felt  that  I  must  fail,  too,  if  he  had 
faileil. 

"I  did  not  regain  my  spirits  until  1  reached 
Chicago  last  night.  A  friend  there  told  me  what 
is  being  done  here.  I  left  Chicago  and  came, 
and  when  I'atlur  Edward  toUl  me  of  your  work 
I  was  delighted.  What  you  are  doing  is  ideal 
work  for  a  priest.  I  am  to  take  the  |x>sition 
that  has  been  Idled  by  a  man  who  has  foumi  a 
place  in  your  heart.  I  hope  I  shall  be  able  to 
show  you  my  appreciation." 

The  men  heartily  cheered  Father  Peter.  At 
once  all  had   fullest   faith  in  him.     All  believe 


398 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  First  Year 


that  Father  Edward  recommended  the  right  man  At  Camp  Dunne  the  Fourth  was  celebrated  in 

to  succeed  him.  good    old    fashioned    style   with   fireworks,    etc. 

The  musical  numbers  of  the  service  were  a  There  were  a  number  of  -set  pieces  and  the  dis- 

selection   from  "II  Trovatore,"  a  violin,  cornet  play  was  very  much  enjoyed  by  the  men  at  the 

and    piano    trio    by    James    Formby,    George  camp  and  by  a  number  of  visitors  who  were 

Thompson  and  Charles  Schrieber ;  vocal  solos  by  present  from  the  surrounding  country. 

Charles   Richards   and   J.   J.   Cooney,     Herbert  Each  Sunday  there  is  a  baseball  game.     The 

Webb  sang  a  solo   with   orchestral  accompani-  last   game    reported    between   the    Camp   team, 

nient,  "Back  to  the  One  I  Love,"  the  words  of  Munson's    Giants    and   the   visiting   team    from 

which   had   been    written   by   William    Hartley,  Ottawa,  the  All  Stars,  resulted  in  a  score  of  9 

with  music  by  another  resident.     John  Rudnick  to  8  in  favor  of  the  Munsons.     The  Munson's 

also  sang  a  solo  and  gave  some  of  his  inimitable  Giants'  battery  was  Walton  and  Allen,  pitchers, 

witticisms  on  local  matters.  and  Maybie,  catcher;  the  All  Stars  battery  was 

This  service  was  perhaps  of  better  spirit  than  Lanagan  and  Slatts,  pitchers,  and  Hart,  catcher, 

any  previous  chapel  meeting.     It  is  evident  that  The  games  are  a  feature  of  the  camp  life  and 

this  place  is  gradually  changing  from  a  place  of  are  creating  a  great  deal  of  interest, 

repression  to  a  place  of  encouragement  and  hope.  Recently  Mr.  Harris,  of  Deer  Park  township. 

Human  interests  here  are  being  recognized  and  paid  the  camp  an  evening's  visit  with  his  phono- 

the  place  is  becoming  normal  as  was  promised  at  graph    and    gave    an    entertainment    which    all 

the  incoming  of  the  present  administration.  greatly  enjoyed. 

^     ^     ^  The   Somonauk,   Illinois,   Revielle   makes   the 

AT  THE  CAMPS  following  report  of  the  Fourth  of  July  celebra- 

The  men  at  Camp  Allen  report  a  general  good  tion  at  the  Honor  Farm: 

time  at  recreation  periods.  "The  editor  spent  the  evening  of  the  Fourth 

The  Fourth  was  an  exceptional  day.     During  on  the  Honor  Farm  near  Lockport,  where  fifty 

the  forenoon  the  men  played  ball  and  at  noon  trusty   convicts   are   employed.     Warden  Allen, 

^,                            J       -.u   „   ^r.r.A   /4;««o,-       Affair  who  is  very  popular  with  the  men,  sent  out  a  fine 

they  were  served  with   a  good  dmner.     Alter  j'  f  f                            _    »         .  - ,    ^  -  u 

■'  „  ,  .  °  ,  •  iu  display  of  fireworks  and  the  enjoyment  that  they 
dinner  all  went  fishing.  In  the  evening  they  received  in  shooting  off  sky-rockets,  Roman  can- 
played  outdoor  games  until  dark.  dies,  flower  pots  and  other  pieces  in  their  own 

There  was  a  flag  raising,  accompanied  with  way  and  without  restraint  of  any  kind  is  beyond 

suitable  ceremonies.     Officer  T.  G.  Keegan  gave  description.    Several  of  the  men  had  been  behind 

the  address  of  the  day.    He  paid  high  tribute  to  the  gray  prison  walls  for  from  10  to  20  years, 

,_.             ,-ji             1      ^Ui.  some  having  long  ago  lost  hope  of  ever  having 

the  Stars  and  Stripes  and  said  that  under  that  ^j^^  opportunity  of  enjoying  a  single  evening  out 

banner  the  boys  were  to  make  good  in  the  work  \^  ti-^g  Qpg^  country, 

they  had  undertaken.     The  first  camp  had  been  "After  the  fireworks  were  disposed  of  several 

named  Camp  Hope;  the  second,  Camp  Dunne;  vocal  solos,  duets,  quartets  and  choruses  were 

the  third.  Camp  Allen.     Governor  Dunne  had  rendered  by  the  men. 

^,         ,.,..              lij  It  was  indeed  a  happy  event  and  it  did  ones 

proposed  the  road  work  in  his  inaugural  address  j^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^  appreciated  the  trust 

and    had    thus    made   the    road    work   possible,  imposed  in  them." 

Warden  Allen  had  made  the  trustworthiness  of  ^,     ^,  .     ,^                 ,  .         .   ,               ^  ^ 

,.  The  Elgin  News,  speaking  of  the  men  at  Camp 
the  men  s  word  a  reality. 

The  men   showed  their  endorsement  of   Mr.  ,^^,  '        .  *                       ,                      rr-,          , 

,               ,      ,       ,1          1.1            r  The  prisoners  are  a  happy  set.      Ihey  play 

Keegan  s    remarks   by   three   hearty   cheers    for  baseball,  hold  boat  races,  swimming  races  and 

Governor  Dunne,  Warden  Allen  and  Mr.  Kee-  compete  for  honors  in  other  lines  of  athletics. 

gan.  They  have  won  the  esteem  of  their  'boss'  and 

The  camp  was  visited  by  Dr.  Van  Voorhees,  are  permitted  to  roam  within  a  half  mile  of  the 

of  Beecher,  and  by  his  guests,  Mr.  Lee  and  his  ^^"^P  without  a  guard." 

daughter,  Miss  Nettie  Lee,  of  Cleveland.     The  Mr.   Carl  Munson,  who  is  in  charge  of  the 

young  lady  gave  the  men  two  choice  readings  camp,  is  a  former  Elgin  man.    On  a  recent  visit 

which  were  highly  appreciated.  to  Elgin  he  reported  that  Munson's  Giants,  the 


August  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


MO 


Camp  Dunne  ball  team,  had  "won  six  out  of  nine 
games  this  season" ;  and,  he  added,  "every  time 
they  win,  it  is  up  to  me  to  buy  the  ice  cream 
for  the  bunch." 

^     ©     ^ 

"AN  INNOVATION" 
The  Leavenworth  Neiv  Era  reports  a  debate 
between  two  prisoners  at  Leavenworth  and  two 
young   men    from   the   Kansas   City   University 
debating  team. 

Warden  Morgan,  in  introducing  the  speakers, 
characterized  the  debate  as  "unique."  The  speak- 
ers of  the  prison  conducted  themselves  as  nor- 
mally as  did  the  visitors  from  the  university — 
and  why  should  they  not?  Commenting  on  the 
debate,  the  New  Era  says: 

"It  was  an  innovation  worthy  of  commenda- 
tion. The  New  Era  sincerely  hopes  that,  ere 
long,  every  prison  in  this  country  will  give  men 
behind  lock  and  key  a  chance  to  "look  and  listen." 
Give  the  inmates  a  chance  to  prove  their  worth 
by  acts  and  deeds.  The  public  knows  little  or 
nothing  about  such  unfortunates,  as  a  class,  and 
this  "innovation"  should  be  adopted  in  all  penal 
institutions.  Give  men  a  chance  to  show  what 
they  want,  and  can  do,  and  the  balance  is  easy. 
Sitting  for  two  hours  in  that  stifling  heat  Sun- 
day, listening  to  speakers  upon  a  subject  which 
is  of  vital  importance  to  one  hundred  millions 
of  people,  proved  that  even  men  in  our  sad  plight 
still  retain  a  lively  interest  in  great  economic 
questions." 

The  Leavenworth  men  were  "proud"  of  the 
"exemplary  conduct"  of  their  representatives. 
Those  men  feel  that  it  has  now  been  shown  that 
men  who  even  are  locked  away  from  the  world 
are  interested  in  "good  debates,  scientific  lec- 
tures and  the  discussion  of  matters  in  general 
that  pertain  to  real  life."  And  they  feel  that 
unless  all  signs  fail  they  will  have  "other  inno- 
vations." "Good  conduct  .  .  .  means  more 
to  us  now  than  at  any  other  time,"  says  the  New 
Era  in  an  editorial  note. 

®     ©     0 
RECREATION  IN  PRISONS 

Perhaps  nothing  shows  more  clearly  the  great 
change  that  is  coming  into  prisons  and  into  the 
public's  thought  about  the  attitude  toward  pris- 
oners than  the  sports  that  are  now  beginning  to 
be  made  a  part  of  the  regular  prison  life. 


1  he  New  Era  reports  that  hereafter  all  kinds 
of  athletic  sports  and  games  are  to  be  i)cnnittcd 
at  the  Leavenworth  jHrnitcntiary  on  Sunday 
afternoons.  There  will  be  foot  races,  dancing 
contests,  quoits,  handball,  baseball,  etc.  The 
men  are  urged  to  organize  clubs,  or  "scores  of 
them,"  to  play  other  shop  teams ;  and  to  arrange 
for  debating  contests  for  those  who  would  pre- 
fer debate  to  the  athletics. 

Warden  Thomas  W.  Morgan  has  given  out 
the  official  notice  of  this  new  recreation  privilege, 
which  in  part  is  as  follows: 

"Beginning  with  Sunday  afternoon  Tulv  5, 
1914,   and   every   Sunday  afternoon   :  icr, 

weather  permitting,  the  freedom  of  the  yard  will 


J  OK  Wlim:  I.N  ACTION 

LeavciKvorth   Nrtv  Era. 

be  extended  to  all  ini  m.^uu: 

deprived  of  such  pri\i>».ij«.  ",»  .^..  on  of  i...  .>...- 
duct.  Such  exercises  and  si>orts  may  be  in- 
dulged in  as  are  approved  by  the  Deputy  War- 
den, who  will  be  on  the  ground,  and  music  will 
be  furnished  by  the  prison  band. 

"In  extenditig  this  privilege  I  sinccreK   trust 
that   every   beneticiary   thereof    will   so   >  t 

himself  as  to  fully  justify  the  confidence  placed 
in  him.  The  success  or  failure  of  lliis  effort  for 
your  amusement  and   i«  '* 

you.    Let  there  be  no  ui.^ 

conduct,   and   avoid    undue    b  f<Jr 

such  will  deprive  the  olTcndcr  of  the  privileges 
extended. 

"At  4:20  p.  m.  the  a-  will  be  l, 

when  every  man  will  fall  ...  ...^  pr-"'  •   • ic 

same  as  when  (luitting  work  on  wv  ..  s.    You 

will  then  march  to  the  dining  room  for  supjKr. 


400 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


"Now  is  the  time,"  says  the  New  Era,  "to  get 
busy  and  plan  everything  along  fair  and  equita- 
ble lines  of  endeavor  which  will  tend  to  help 
each  other.  Let  us  profit  by  the  time  spent  at 
l)lay.  Turn  the  'time-doing'  into  profit,  physi- 
cally and  mentally.  Let  us  turn  gloom  and  sad- 
ness into  sunshine  and  joy." 

The  Netv  Era  is  now  publishing  a  full  page 
of  sporting  news.  The  Leavenworth  prison 
teams  are  the  Eagles  and  the  All  Stars. 

The  New  Era  thus  comments  on  the  baseball 
game  of  July  4: 

"The  morning  of  the  glorious  Fourth,  'mid 
music  and  'thusiasm,  we  strolled  forth  to  our 
hall  park,  prepared  to  pluck  bare  the  bird  of  a 
nation;  prepared  to  emit  victory  paeans  by  the 
furlong,  as  our  All  Stars  celebrated  the  National 
birthday  via  the  taming  of  a  flock  of  aquila 
chrysaetus." 

The  illustration  of  "Joe  White  in  Action"  is, 
we  suppose,  typical  of  the  Leavenworth  baseball 
sportsman. 

The  Mirror,  at  Stillwater,  devotes  three  col- 
umns on  its  first  page  to  the  Fourth  of  July 
festivities,  reporting  a  ball  game  between  the 
Green  Sox  and  the  Power  House.  The  Reflector, 
Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  reports  by  innings  a  game 
between  the  Blues  and  the  Car  Works;  the  Bul- 
letin, at  Lansing,  Kans.,  gives  over  a  page  to 
baseball  reports ;  the  News,  Greendale,  Ky.,  gives 
two  pages  to  ball  game  reports  by  innings;  the 
Reformatory  Press,  Anamosa,  Iowa;  the  Um- 
pire, Eastern  Penitentiary,  Philadelphia;  the 
Ohio  Penitentiary  News,  Columbus,  and  other 
prison  papers  also  have  recreation  reports. 

The  New  Orleans  State  gives  a  very  flattering 
report  of  the  Fourth  of  July  celebration  in  Mis- 
sissippi : 

"The  greatest  holiday  ever  given  to  the  con- 
victs of  the  Mississippi  penitentiary  was  today 
at  the  various  farms.  All  forms  of  labor  were 
abandoned,  bountiful  dinners  served  to  the  pris- 
oners and  permission  given  to  participate  in  the 
numerous  amusements  furnished. 

"At  the  Parchman  Farm,  where  more  than 
1,200  prisoners  are  confined,  a  big  picnic  was 
given,  music  furnished  by  a  brass  band  and  a 
barbecued  dinner  served." 

It  appears  that  the  work  on  prison  farms  in 
Mississippi  has  been  productive  this  year  and 
that  the  trustees  wished  to  acknowledge  this  by 


allowing  the  men  to  have  a  good  celebration.  The 
State  says: 

"In  view  of  the  handsome  profit  made  by  the 
state  on  its  prison  farms  during  the  past  year  the 
trustees  felt  that  they  ought  to  give  the  con- 
victs an  exceptional  entertainment." 

Thus  it  goes  in  the  prison  communities.  More 
and  more  these  communities  are  establishing  a 
degree  of  normal  life  even  while  they  recognize 
that  the  state  requires  them  to  remain  with  a  cer- 
tain institution  and  every  night  to  be  counted. 

Prison  betterment  is  being  gradually  worked 
out  by  the  prisoners  themselves. 

The  Jackson,  Mich.,  Citizen  Press,  of  July  4, 
records : 

"Today  is  a  gala  day  for  the  inmates  of  the 
Michigan  state  prison.  No  work  will  be  done 
today.  At  9:30  a.  m.  the  prison  baseball  team 
and  the  Hanover  'Summits'  clashed  on  the  prison 
diamond.  Nine  hundred  twenty-five  prisoners 
were  on  hand  to  shout  for  their  team.  A  special 
dinner  will  be  served  at  noon  in  the  prison  din- 
ing hall.  Following  this  the  inmates  will  return 
to  their  cells  and  spend  the  remainder  of  the  day. 
During  the  course  of  the  ball  game  lemonade  was 
given  the  crowd." 

At  San  Quentin,  according  to  the  San  Fran- 
cisco Chronicle,  a  vaudeville  entertainment  was 
given  on  the  Fourth  of  July  in  the  afternoon 
for  the  prisoners  and  in  the  evening  for  the 
officers  and  invited  guests. 

The  Baltimore  Sun  reports  the  first  open  air 
field  day  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  where  a  mutual  wel- 
fare league  with  the  motto,  "Do  good,  make 
good,"  has  been  organized : 

"It  was  adhered  to  yesterday,  when  the  first 
open-air  field  day  ever  held  in  a  state  prison  in 
New  York  took  place  among  the  1,400  inmates. 
Outside  the  prison  nothing  was  known  of  the 
epoch-making  privilege  accorded  the  inmates  in- 
side. At  2  o'clock  the  inmates  were  marched  in 
the  yard  in  their  usual  companies  and  there,  as 
formidable  a  regiment  as  ever  assembled,  they 
stood  at  attention  until  a  bugle  sounded.  This 
was  a  signal  to  disband.  The  men  were  free  to 
loaf  and  play  for  three  hours." 

At  first  the  men  seemed  dazed,  the  Sun  says, 
but  later,  "laughter,  cheers  and  real  college  spirit 
pervaded  the  strange  outing."  Principal  Keeper 
John  Martin  took  off  his  coat  and  joined  the 
prisoners  in  their  sports.    Other  keepers  took  off 


AuRust  1,  r.tl4 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


401 


their  coats  and  played  baseball  and  took  i>art  in 
a  half  mile  run  for  keepers. 

At  the  close  of  the  exercises  it  was  announced 
that  the  South  wing  had  won  the  sixteen-inch 
silver  cup  and  banner.  Then  promptly  the  North 
wing  boys  assembled  and  gave  "a  cheer  that  was 
heard  all  over  the  city."  The  South  wing  re- 
plied with  a  rousing  cheer  for  the  gallant  losers. 

When  the  bugle  soundeil  retreat,  "mechanically 
p  the  fourteen  hundred  men  of  the  gray  brother- 
hood found  their  company  locations  and  fell  in 
rline.  The  sergeants-at-arms  turned  their  men 
over  to  the  guards.  Every  inmate  was  accounted 
for.  Not  a  single  breach  of  discipline  had  taken 
place." 

The  Indianapolis  Star  comments  editorially 
under  the  caption,  "Prisoners  Are  Human,"  on 
a  match  ball  game  between  the  men  of  the  Ohio 
penitentiary  and  the  Indianapolis  club  of  the 
American  Association : 

"Players  of  the  Indianapolis  club  of  the  Amer- 
ican Association  enjoyed  a  unique  experience  in 
their  game  with  a  team  of  negroes  msidc  the 
walls  of  the  Ohio  State  Penitentiary  at  Colum- 
bus— unique  because  it  was  the  first  time  in 
the  history  of  the  country  that  professionals 
from  an  organized  league  met  a  team  of  con- 
victs, and  unique,  too,  for  the  opportunities  it 
offered  to  men  who  have  their  liberty  for  ob- 
serving what  comfort  and  cheer  such  a  diversion 
gives  to  convicts." 

Concerning  the  unfamiliarity  of  the  men  with 
their  new  freedom  and  their  fears  because  of 
the  reputation  of  the  visiting  club  and  also  con- 
cerning Warden  Thomas'  view  of  recreation,  the 
Star  continues: 

"The  prison  players  were  visibly  disconcerted 
by  the  reputation  of  their  opponents  and  failed 
to  play  the  best  that  was  in  them,  but  it  was  a 
ball  game  for  all  that  and  the  orderliness,  the 
attention  and  the  cheering  of  the  1,500  inmates 
of  the  prison  who  crowded  the  bleachers  attested 
a  genuine  enjoyment  of  the  game.  Warden 
Thomas  of  the  Ohio  penitentiary  looks  upon 
baseball  as  a  profitable  relaxation  for  the  men 
in  his  charge;  it  lifts  the  men  from  their  prison 
selves  and  injects  a  touch  of  the  free  outside 
to  break  the  drear  monotony  of  their  existence." 

The  disclosure  that  men  who  have  been  con- 
victed in  a  court  are  still  "human,"  arc  as  hu- 
man as  they  ever  were,  helps  the  public  to  sec 
that  things  of  normal  human  interest,  like  play- 


ing basball  or  running  a  foot  race,  arc  quite 
natural  and  that  ihcy  arc  beneficial  to  the  pris- 
oner and  to  society  also,  since  most  prisoncr> 
must  inevitably  become  members  of  .society 
again. 

Judge  (;cnjniiir>  >i,n«.iiKiii  mat  uuiiiy  .i..i>.'. 
and  reputable  citizens  are  made  "crimiiuJ*  '  by 
the  passage  of  a  new  law;  that,  for  instance, 
"the  passage  of  the  pure  foo<l  law  made  fifty 
thousand  criminals  who  before  that  time  had 
l)een  looked  upon  as  good  citizens,"  will  ojhii 
the  eyes  of  some  jwrsons  as  to  the  use  tliat  has 
been  made  of  the  word  "criminal"  and  the  term 
"criminal  class."  The  public  does  not  seem  to 
recognize  that  the  violations  of  a  statute  which 
makes  a  man  a  "criminal"  under  the  law  doe* 
not  in  any  way  alter  that  person  in  character ; 
the  person's  home  interest,  his  solicitude  for  his 
wife  and  children,  his  own  hopes  and  purposes 
in  life  and  his  loyalty  to  the  count' v'-  good,  is 
not  changed  by  the  court's  conviit 

There  are  men,  of  course,  who  do  not  live  out 
these  higher  qualities,  but  those  who  do  have 
them,  have  them  still,  though  they  liave  fallen 
down  in  some  one  thing.  And  it  is  l>cing  learncil 
that  a  little  less  exaggeration,  a  little  more  plain 
honesty  and  humanity  in  dealing  with  men  of 
this  class  and,  for  that  matter,  with  all  other 
persons  also  who  have  gotten  into  priMjn,  is  far 
better  than  the  old  treatment  that  is  being  aban- 
doned.    The  Star  says: 

"There  was  a  time  when  such  conces  » 

prisoners  were  considered  all  wrong,  an.  ...v.c 
are  persons  even  totlay  who  cling  to  the  old 
belief  that  the  law's  wards  should  be  nude  to 
feel  their  punishment  by  ever\  "    • 

can  be  inflicted  ujumi  them. 
takes   the   view,  c<)rrectly   we 
diversion  helping  to  restore  self-respect  to  men  is 
to  be  encouraged,  so  long  as  it  does  not  im{>air 
disciiiline  in  prisons      The    '    •  '  '  •'  ■  •'  •-••••> 
routine  tlelnimanizes  men;  it 
ality  and  tends  to  destroy  rather  tlian  to  build  up 
any  latent  conscience  they  may  have. 

"The  point  in  success''-'       .:.  .-^i  :...«:*... 

tions   is  to  make  men   j  1 

that  can  be  done  only  by  lifting  them  out  of 
their  old  conceptions  of  life  and  of  scl'' 
ing  them  in   '      "  iii«l  the  di:  ■   ••      *'  • 

Assuredly   :.   : ^;   is  to  In    „ 

end  by  muring  them  up  and  taking  from  them 
every  vestige  of  the  outside  worM  "• 

can  be  made  to  ful  a  finer  huni.n.   w..; 
sharing  the  pleasures  of  liberty  with   fi< 


402 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


if  they  repay  in  as  dignified  way  as  such  a  body 
of  men  can  the  trust  imposed  in  them  by  the 
warden  who  lets  them  have  baseball  teams  and 
arranges  games  for  them,  or  permits  them  to 
organize  bands  and  lets  them  enjoy  the  music, 
then  are  not  they  on  the  road  to  betterment? 
Modern  penology  has  yet  to  be  shown  its  first 
disappointment  for  'coddling'  and  'pampering' 
convicts  in  this  way." 

CONTRIBUTIONS 

PHILOSOPHY   OF  THE  NEW   CHANCE 
By  John  Wray 

A  Prisoner 

The  foundation  of  the  honor  system  goes  down 
to  unfathomable  depths.  According  to  a  man's 
sanity,  is  the  strength  of  his  passion  for  order. 
Insanity  and  folly  are  descriptions  of  a  defective 
sense  of  order  or  of  a  feeble  passion  for  it.  Over 
against  nature  stands  the  man  and  deep  in  his 
heart  is  the  passion  for  liberty.  The  passion  for 
liberty  is  only  another  name  for  life  itself. 
Liberty  means  an  opportunity  to  live  one's  own 
life  in  one's  own  way.  Temptations  cut  the  in- 
tellect loose  from  the  heart  of  life.  There  is  an 
honored  Socratic  maxim  that  says  man  himself 
is  the  measure  of  all  things;  and  there  is  an 
Aristotelian  maxim  that  says  the  real  nature  of  a 
growing  thing  is  to  be  discovered  only  in  its 
matured  character. 

Following  these  intimations,  let  us  in  a  tenta- 
tive way  set  down  the  formula  of  a  scientific 
method  which  may  afford  us  a  key  to  the  secret 
of  the  motive  force  of  man's  evolution.  Find 
the  deepest  thing  in  the  most  representative  per- 
son and  you  will  have  found  the  deepest  thing 
in  the  problem.  It  is  possible  so  to  deepen  and 
integrate,  so  to  rationalize  and  to  purify  the  wills 
of  a  controlling  element  of  the  people  that  they 
shall  delight  in  and  heartily  maintain  a  common 
order. 

This  is  the  modern  and  democratic  way.  The 
faith  in  democracy  is  the  belief  that  the  deepest 
thing  in  the  individual  is,  after  all,  his  humanity. 
The  things  that  men  want  most  and  care  most 
for  are  those  things  that  are  most  himian  and 
freest  from  the  taint  of  privilege. 

Freedom  is  the  birthright  of  man.  We  cherish 
it,  we  regard  it  as  above  price ;  the  rising  tide  of 
democracy  is  a  manifestation  of  freedom's 
growth.     Then,  cheer  up,  boys,  for  as  long  as 


there  is  life  there  is  hope ;  and  the  administration 
is  giving  us  a  chance.  We  should  appreciate 
that  and  we  should  act  in  harmony  with  the  ad- 
ministration ;  the  more  we  harmonize  among  our- 
selves, the  more  the  Warden  can  help  us.  You 
may  put  me  down  for  one  who  is  in  accord  with 
all  of  the  prison  administration's  ideals,  as  one 
who  hopes  his  heart  is  on  the  right  side. 

©■     ©     © 
A  MAN  YET 


Browning 


After  all  you  say  well :  I  am 

A  man  yet :  I  need  never  humble  me. 

I  would  have  been — something,  I  know  not  what ; 

But  though  I  cannot  soar,  I  do  not  crawl. 

There  are  worse  portions  than  this  one  of  mine. 

I  had  immortal  feelings ;  such  shall  never 

Be  wholly  quenched :  no,  no ! 

I  had  a  noble  purpose,  and  the  strength 

To  compass  it ;  but  I  have  stopped  half-way, 

And  wrongly  given  the  first-fruits  of  my  toil 

To  objects  little  worthy  of  the  gift. 

Why  linger  round  them  still .  .  .  nor  strive  instead 

With  mighty  efifort  to  redeem  the  past 

And,  gathering  up  the  treasures  thus  cast  down, 

To  hold  a  steadfast  course  till  I  arrive 

At  their  fit  destination  and  my  own, 

©    ®    ® 

Georgia  Lawyer  (to  colored  prisoner) — "Well, 
Ras,  so  you  want  me  to  defend  you.  Have  you 
any  money  ?" 

Rastus — "No ;  but  I'se  got  a  mule  and  a  few 
chickens,  and  a  hog  or  two." 

Lawyer — "Those  will  do  very  nicely.  Now 
let's  see;  what  do  they  accuse  you  of  stealing?" 

Rastus — "Oh,  a  mule  and  a  few  chickens  and 
a  hog  or  two." — The  New  Way. 

^    ^    ^ 

Papa — "But  hasn't  your  fiance  got  a  job?" 

Daughter — "Not  yet,  but  he's  going  to  get  one 
at  $2.S,(X)0  a  year." 

Papa — "Indeed!  Glad  to  hear  of  it;  what  is 
he  doing?" 

Daughter — "Well,  he  read  in  the  paper  of  some 
man  who  is  paid  $50,000  a  year  by  the  Bankers' 
Association  not  to  forge  checks,  and  George  is 
going  to  do  it  for  half  that." — Philadelphia  Pub- 
lic Ledger. 


August  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


403 


REVIEWS 


A  Voice  From  Within  the  Walls 

The  Aurora,  111.,  Beacon  News  reports  a  mes- 
sage that  has  come  out  of  the  Arizona  peniten- 
tiary from  Louis  Victor  Eytinge,  a  man  serving 
a  life  sentence  in  that  prison. 

Eytinge's  word  is  that  prison  life  is  not  re- 
formatory. He  says  that  men  do  not  learn  the 
art  of  citizenship  while  imprisoned  and  so  be- 
come socially  worthy  and  suitable  for  release, 
but  that  forty  per  cent  of  the  discharged  men 
find  their  way  into  prison  again.  He  submits 
the  question  of  prison  methods  as  methods  of 
reform  to  the  business  proposition:  "How  long 
would  any  business  last  that  had  to  scrap  forty 
out  of  every  hundred  machines  it  built?" 

The  percentage  of  "scrap"  in  the  discbarge 
from  prisons  can  be  reduced.    Eytinge  says : 

"Take  the  prisons  out  of  politics  and  elevate 
the  character  of  the  under  employes  above  that 
of  ward  heelers  and  political  pensioners. 

"Give  us  work  that  is  helpful  to  our  bodies, 
minds  and  futures.  Don't  teach  us  broommak- 
ing  and  then  turn  us  out  to  compete  with  the 
blind  people  in  charitable  institutions.  Don't 
teach  us  to  make  socks  and  shirts  and  then  re- 
lease us  to  compete  with  women's  wages. 

"Train  our  minds.  Some  of  our  prisons  are 
without  schools.  Of  what  value  are  two  nights 
a  week  in  school? 

"Teach  us  to  have  self-control,  to  get  will- 
power and  moral  strength. 

"Give  us  health.  Most  of  our  prisons  are  hot 
beds  for  tuberculosis.  Over  65  per  cent  of 
prison  inmates  are  physical  defectives. 

"Give  us  the  parole  system.  Parole  us  when 
we  merit  it  and  if  we  fall  down  bring  us  back 
again.  This  will  keep  the  repeater  inside  and 
the  one  who  makes  good  outside. 

"Try  and  understand  us.  We're  human  be- 
ings—not a  bit  different  from  the  rest  of  the 
world  in  many  respects." 

Elbert  Hubbard's  visit  to  Arizona  penitentiary 
gave  him  a  chance  to  meet  Eytinge.  Mention- 
ing in  the  report  of  his  visit,  given  in  the  Chicago 
Examiner,  Warden  B.  Sims  and  J.  J.  Sanders, 
the  parole  clerk  "who  makes  it  his  business  to 
know  every  prisoner  and  to  use  his  influence 
constantly  and  in  every  possible  way  for  the 
betterment  of  the  boys  under  his  charge,"  Mr. 
Hubbard  says: 


"The  third  important  man  in  the  prison  is  a 
lifer.  Ills  name  is  Louis  V.  Eylingc.  Eytinge 
luis  taken  the  vow  of  chastity,  jMivrrv  and 
obedience,  and  prison  has  given  him  inity. 

"lie  is  a  very  good-looking  man,  intelligent, 
frank,  friendly.     He  w<  '      '     '  His 

cell  is  an  oflice  where  i..-  ..jckcd. 

lie  has  a  roll-top  desk,  and  on  the  walls  arc  pic- 
tures of  many  of  America's  literary  men,  orators, 
inventors,  business  men. 

"Eylingc  has  a  iding  cabinet  for  h?-  ■  "rre- 
spondence.     He  also  has  two  private  si  cs. 

"He  is  the  most  systematic,  niclhotlical  indi- 
vidual you  ever  saw  in  your  life.  *"  "  c  has 
the  biggest  private  correspondence,  i  ..^..cvc,  of 
any  man  in  America. 

"Louis  V.  Eytinge  startc<I  a  business  in  prison 
— a  mail  order  business. 

"This  business  was  to  m:x'"'^  •  '""•  ■"''  'ell 
Mexican  hair  goods  and  curi-  in 

the  prison.  He  has  a  force  of  men  that  he 
taught  to  do  this  work,  and  the  business  is  still 
carried  on. 

"Eytinge,  however,  discovered  that  in  selling 
his  products  he  had  something  else  in  stock 
which  was  valuable,  and  that  was  brains.     The 

man  is  a  wizard  of  ns      '      lud  he  is  ^ ' • 

selling    letters    and    ad...        mt-nts    to 
men. 

"Also,  he  has  a  school  of  advertising  literature 
and  is  teaching  convicts  how  to  write  good 
English." 

0  0 
Prison  Labor,  Road  Building  and  Character 
Building 
Attorney  General  Barker  of  Missouri,  accord- 
ing to  the  Macon  Republic,  stated  recently  at  a 
meeting  of  the  board  of  prison  inspectors  that 
he  will  ask  to  have  the  provision  for  prisoners 
to  work  on  roads  extended  so  that  any  county 
in  the  state  may  use  the  prisoners.  In  Mr.  Bar- 
ker's state  the  counties  pay  the  cost  of  trans- 
portation and  board  the  men ;  the  stale  guards 
the  men,  clothes  them,  etc. 

Attorney  General  Barker  contrasts  the  value 
of  road  work  with  the  prison  contract  labor 
system  and  favors  road  work  despite  tlie  seven- 
ty-five cents  jHT  day  per  man  which  the  prison 
labor  contractor  would  pay.     He  says; 

"While  the  contract  system  of  working  con- 
victs appears  to  be  the  only  available  way  of 
working  them  so  as  to  make  the  penitentiary 
self-sustaining,  yet  it  is  plain  that  the  i>ef)plc  of 
the  state  are  opi>ose<l  to  this  system,  and  I  nin 
in  favor  of  fin.ling  some  other  way  of  emp!-.. 
ing  them.     Working  them  on  the  public  high 


404 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


ways  appears  to  be  the  most  popular  move,  and 
so  far  as  I  am  concerned  I  will  vote  to  give 
every  county  as  many  convicts  as  it  wants  as 
long  as  the  supply  lasts,  regardless  of  the  fact 
that  the  contractors  pay  seventy-five  cents  a  day 
for  men  who,  if  employed  on  the  highways, 
would  bring  in  no  revenue  to  the  state,  but  to 
the  contrary  would  be  an  expense.  I  will  do 
what  I  can  to  have  the  system  of  working  con- 
victs on  the  highways  tried  out  to  the  fullest 
extent  in  this  state  during  the  summer." 

Superintendent  of  Prisons  Riley,  of  New 
York  state,  according  to  the  Binghamton  Herald, 
reports  that  at  least  250  miles  of  prison-built 
roads  will  be  constructed  in  his  state  this  year. 
Fifty  thousand  dollars  have  been  appropriated  to 
test  the  availability  of  prisoners  as  road  makers. 

The  Topango  Canon  road,  near  Los  Angeles, 
California,  "which  bears  the  distinction,"  says 
the  Los  Angeles  Examiner,  "of  being  the  first 
to  be  constructed  under  the  convict  system  in 
this  country,"  is  now  open  for  use.  The  an- 
nouncement of  the  road's  being  open  was  first 
made  by  the  Los  Angeles  Automobile  Club.  This 
road,  which  leads  through  "one  of  the  most  rug- 
gedly scenic  sections,"  means  new  and  delight- 
ful travel  for  the  automobilists  and  also  the 
opening  of  the  road  "is'  welcomed,"  says  the 
Examiner,  "by  the  trout-fisherman  who  likes 
to  ride  as  close  as  possible  to  the  stream  with 
his  automobile." 

"The  success  of  the  application  of  convict 
labor  on  the  Topango  road  has  caused  efforts 
to  be  made  to  extend  the  system,"  and  probably 
prisoners  will  be  emploj^ed  to  complete  the 
Mount  Hollywood  road,  where  work  has  been 
stopped  because  of  lack  of  funds. 

Mr.  J.  C.  Lehner,  the  American  gastronom, 
in  reporting  in  the  National  Food  and  Cookery 
Magazine  his  visit  to  the  Colorado  State  Peni- 
tentiary, says: 

"One  thousand  miles  of  roads  built  by  the  con- 
victs lure  thousands  of  automobiles  from  all 
states  of  the  Union  to  Colorado.  It  would  cover 
a  distance  from  Paris  to  Madrid." 

But  in  his  report  of  good  road  making  by 
prisoners,  Mr.  Lehner  sounds  a  new  note: 

"Thomas  J.  Tynan,  a  rare  example  of  splen- 
did United  States  citizenship,  is  the  professional 
warden.  He  has  solved  the  problem  of  teaching 
men  who  have  committed  errors  in  life  to  earn 


bread  and  butter  in  an  honest  way.  So  impress- 
ive was  every  detail,  so  instructive  the  surround- 
ings connected  with  his  gigantic  school  for  self- 
supporting,  that  one  could  hardly  say:  This  is 
a  prison  and  its  director  is  just  a  warden.'  " 

The  greater  freedom  that  is  coming  to  pris- 
oners is  in  the  service  of  making  men,  as  well 
as  being  in  the  service  of  making  roads.  Do 
the  automobilists  and  the  trout  fisherman  who 
have  the  advantage  and  pleasure  of  the  Topango 
road,  think  sometimes  while  on  their  exhilarating 
rides  or  while  angling  for  the  gamy  trout,  of 
the  men  who  made  the  mountain  road  they  en- 
joy, and  who  are  most  likely  glad  to  have  made 
it  for  those  who  are  in  a  position  to  enjoy  it — 
men  who  have  homes  and  families"  to  whom 
they  want  some  day  to  return,  and  who  have 
purposes  and  hopes  of  their  own? 

The  Detroit  Neivs-Trihune,  in  reporting  that 
"the  National  Committee  on  Prison  Labor,  as 
the  result  of  an  experiment  by  its  chairman, 
Thomas  Mott  Osborne,  in  Auburn  Prison,  New 
York,  will  accentuate  its  contention  for  convict 
road  camps  and  farms,"  quotes  Mr.  Osborne  as- 
saying : 

"Behind  the  prison  bars  we  should  relax  the 
iron  discipline — the  hideous,  degrading,  unsuc- 
cessful system  of  silence  and  punishment — and 
substitute  a  system  fair  to  all  men,  a  limited 
freedom  and  work  in  the  open  air." 

The  Nezvs-T  rib  line  observes  that  Mr.  Osborne 
may  not  be  far  wrong  in  his  statement  that 

"These  prisoners  are  men — real  men — your 
brethren  and  mine.  If  you  treat  them  like  beasts, 
it  will  be  hard  to  keep  them  from  degenerating 
into  beasts.  If  you  treat  them  like  men,  you 
can  help  them  to  rise." 

And  it  proceeds  to  comment  on  the  general 
proposition  to  do  something  for  prison  men : 

"If  the  honor  of  the  prisoner  can  be  developed 
in  Auburn  Prison,  under  the  horrible  conditions 
of  germ-reeking  cells  and  wretched  prison  shops, 
where,  after  a  week,  Mr.  Osborne  felt  physical 
weakness  creeping  over  him,  to  what  extent  can 
it  not  be  developed  under  the  stimulus  of  decent 
camps,  sunshine  and  fresh  air? 

"The  foolishness  of  the  old  prison  system  of 
repression  is  fast  giving  way  to  the  newer  meth- 
ods of  self-government." 

Turning  more  to  a  scientific  consideration  ot 
the  question,  Mr.  T.  J.  Ehrhart,  State  Highway 


August  1,  1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


Commissioner  of  Colorado,  where,  as  just  in- 
stanced, one  thousand  miles  of  good  roads  have 
been  built,  in  a  paper  which  he  sent  to  the  Fourth 
Annual  Road  Congress,  says  of  prison  road  work- 
in  Colorado: 


ing  equij)mtnt,  teams,  foo<l,  and  superintend' 
salaries,  connected  with  the  work." 

The  Good  Roads'  report  of  the  highway  com- 
missioner's paper  continues: 


"The  men  arc  carefully  srl<vtr<l  l>y  the  war- 
"The  work  done  compared  favorably  with  the     den  with  regard  to  their  j  '  .to  la- 

best  road  work  under  the  contract  system  at  a      bor  and  as  to  < '    • 
cost  of  from  fifty  to  scventy-t'ivc  per  cent  of  that     of    super intcniii...:      .;.... <.. 


•v«i\    v^A 


A  Splendid  View  of  the  Scenic  Roadway  Up  Cache  la  I'oudre  Canon.  Colorado.  Built  bv  Pr. 


system,  and  the  health  and  morals  of  the  men 
were  greatly  improved." 

The  first  prison  labor  road  law  in  Colorado 
was  passed  in  1899.  The  law  was  opposed  by 
the  wardens  of  both  penitentiary  and  reforma- 
tory. The  experiment  was  not  entirely  success- 
ful principally  because  of  the  untrained,  inex- 
perienced men  who  were  placed  in  charge. 

In  1905  the  Lewis  law  was  passed,  which  pro- 
vides, as  stated  in  Mr.  Khrhart's  pajK-r.  wbi.b 
is  reported  in  Good  Roads,  that 

"counties  may  apply  to  the  warden   for  convict 
road  labor,  agreeing  to  pay  all  expenses,  mclud- 


handling  men  of   this  cliaraclcr.      1' 

intcndents   must    also   be   exiK-rt    ro.i .-;>. 

The  gangs  number  from  2S  U>  7.^  men  and  arc 
fully  equipped  with  tents,  necessary  teams,  etc., 
at   the  counties'   expense.     Warm.  '  Ic 

gray   clothing   withfuit     •'• or  di  X 

marks  is   furnished  by  'tc.      I  "» 

arc  furnishe<l  with  an  abundance  of  Rooil,  sub- 
st.mtial  foo<l  at  an  average  cost  of  thirty-three 
cents  per  day  i>er  man. 

"Remember,  these  men  work  without  any 
guard  whatever;  arc  entirely  controlled  by  the 
rules  and  a  cai>;d)le  superintendent. 

"The  work  done  will  co- favora'-'-    -  -Ih 

the  best  up-to-<late  contrac.  at  a  >       .      i- 

live  cost,  variously   estimated  at   from  hfty  to 


406                                                       THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  First  Year 

seventy-five  per  cent.     Outside  the  estimate  of  of  the  "honor  system."     This  substitution  of  a 

monetary  gain  is  the  more,  in  my  opinion,  im-  man's  word  and  his  conscience  for  a  gun  was, 

portant  humane  consideration  in  the  treatment  at  the  first,  a  makeshift,  but  has  since  become 

of  the  man.     He  goes  out  into  the  open  with  a  necessity — a  saving  in  every  sense  of  the  word, 

heakhful  surroundings,  and  when  his  time  ex-  "The  prisoner  himself  benefits  most  of  all  by 

pires  he  goes  forth  in  splendid  physical  condi-  his  work  on  the  roads.     The  healthful,  outdoor 

.tion,  capable  of  taking  care  of  himself  at  any  labor,  the  better  food,  the  incentive  of  the  honor 

sort  of  labor.     It  is  the  endeavor  of  every  in-  system,  and,  above  all,  the  wage  increasing  in 

mate  to  so  conduct  himself  inside  the  peniten-  proportion  to  the  profits  of  the  state,  all  com- 

tiary  that  he  may  be  chosen  to  be  sent  out  on  the  bine  to  make  him  better  fitted  to  re-enter  society. 

roads.     The  health  of  these  men  while  engaged  The   investigation   proves   conclusively   that   the 

in  this  work  may  be  marked  100  per  cent.     The  building  of  good  roads  can  be  made  a  definite 

interest  and  pride  in  the  work  done  more  than  factor  in  the  upbuilding  of  men." 

equals  that  of  the  paid  laborer.     We  have  iife-  t^     j  l   -u-          •  •     n                i 

termers'  who  have  worked  on  state  roads   for  ^^^^  ^uildrng  ongmally  was  only  an  economic 

the  past  ten  years.     There  have  been  two  in-  proposition ;  now  it  is  coming  to  be  a  matter  of 

stances  at  least  where  men  under  life  sentence  social  justice  and  individual  growth;  a  matter 

have   journeyed   alone   from  their   camps   more  ^f  building,  not  only  roads,  but  of  building  both 

than  100  miles  by  stage  and  train  to  the  state  •    i-  •  i     ,        i         •  i     i. 

.^,,                   \    c        4.U     u       jr         J  individual  and  social  character, 
capitol  to  appear  before  the  board  of  pardons 

to  plead  their  cause."  ®     ® 

The  Farmers'  Mail  and  Breeze,  Topeka,  Kan-  Prisoners  and  Wages 

sas,  makes  a  further  contribution  to  the  scien-  The   New   Orleans  Star,   commenting  on  the 

tific  study  of  the  prison  labor  road  question  in  failure  to  secure  the  passage  of  the  parole  and 

its  report  of  the  work  of  the  Columbia  Univer-  indeterminate  sentence  law  recommended  by  the 

sity  graduate  highway  department :  Prison   Reform  Association   of   Louisiana,   says 

"Road  building  by  convicts  has  stood  the  test 

of  the  scientific  investigation  made  for  Colum-  "Whatever  differences  of  opinion  there  may 

bia   University,    through    its   graduate   highway  be  on  the  question  of  parole  and  the  indeter- 

department,  by  Sidney  Wilmot,  a  road  engineer,  ^jnate  sentence,  there  can  be  no  diflference  of 

The  findings  of  the  investigation  show  that  the  opinion    on    the   question    of    compensation    for 

work  performed  by  the  convicts  in  the  different  families  of  prisoners." 
states  ranges  in  value  from  $1.50  to  $5.70  a  day, 

with  a  profit  to  the  state  by  the  use  of  this  labor  The  recognition  that  prisoners  should  be  pa- 

of  from  50  cents  to  $4.03  a  day.     In  short  the  roled  as  soon  as  it  is  practicable  so  that  they 

contention  is  well  sustained  that  there  is  a  gen-  „,ay  begin  to  earn  support   for  their   families, 

eral  and  considerable  profit  at  present  going  to  i-i-       i         ijjj-i 

the  state  by  the  use  of  convict  labor  for  road  ^^'^^"^  ''  acknowledged  and  is  law  in  many  states, 

work  over  the  cost  by  other  methods  of  con-  is  close  up  to  the  thought  that  prisoners  should 

struction,  this  saving  being  quite  independent  of  earn    wages    while   yet   in   prison   so   that   their 

locality  and  types  of  construction,  although  in-  families  may  not  be  in  want  even  while  the  hus- 

fluenced  by  the  size  of  the  gang  used."  ^and  and  father  is  away  from  them. 

The  Farmer's  Mail  and  Breeze,  commenting  The  Waukeg^n,  Illinois,  Sun  makes  the  fol- 

further  upon  the  facts  set  forth  in  the  report,  lowing  comment  on  the  beginning  that  has  been 

indicates    the   material   value   of    the    character  made  in  the  Illinois  state  penitentiary  at  Joliet 

building  which  is  going  on  in  the  men  and  which  in  allowing  the  men  to  earn  money : 

makes    a    man's    honor    sovereign.      It    sees   an  <<x              ,                        r    ,                     •        • 

a             •       J       .       .,  •       ,                  .          r    ,  In  two  departments  of  the  state  penitentiary 

economic  advantage     in  the  promotion  of  the  ^^  j^^.^  ^^e  prisoners  have  been  allowed  a  share 

honor  system" ;  a  distinct  material  as  well  as  in  the  earnings.     This  is  a  noteworthy  plan  and 

a  moral  benefit  in  the  "substitution  of  a  man's  has  been  adopted  in  several  states.    It  makes  the 

word  and  his  conscience,  for  a  gun" :  prisoner  feel  less  like  a  machine  and  more  like 

a  human  being.     With  something  to  strive  for, 
"The  striking  thing  of  these  figures  is  that  the  his  mind  is  better  occupied  and  that  means  bet- 
expense  of  guarding  adds  to  the  cost  of  the  work  ter   discipline.     Then,   too,   the    families   of   the 
over  20  per  cent  more  than  that  of  feeding.    This  prisoners  can  receive  some  of  the  benefits  of  the 
throws  into  prominence  the  economic  advantage  labor.     One  of  the  worst  faults  of  our  system 


407 


August  1,  1914                                  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 

is   that   the   families   are   thrown   entirely   ui>on  petition    w.th    prison    products    being    brouirhl 

their  own  resources  the  minute  the  head  of  the  i          .       u     i       •     r        "^"'-'^    "^"»S    urougm 

house    is    arrested.      Warden    Allen    has    iniro-  ,               the  level  of  prison  labor,  but  possibly 

duced  many  innovations  since  becoming  manager  ""ions  will  not  object  to  having  prison  labor 

of  the  state's  big  institution  and  this  is  certainly  'wrought  up  to  the  level  of  free  labor. 

one  of  the  best."  ^     ^ 

Q    9 

In  at  least  one  prison  in  the  country,  the  state's  Men  Who  Are  Prisoners  Arc  to  be  Allowed  to 

prison    in    Minnesota,    where   binding    twine    is  Work 

manufactured,  the  work  of  the  prisoners  makes  i  lie   country   is   learning   very   rapidly   these 

the  prison  self-supporting.     The  industrial  idea  (lays  that  there  is  a  direct  social  loss  in  keeping 

which  is  creeping  into  penal  institutions  will  in  '"t'"  confined  and  deprived  of  the  opportunity 

time  bring  a  full  wage  to  the  working  prisoners  ^*"'  protluctivc  lalxir. 

which  will  enable  them  to  care  for  their  families  '^^  *^'c  public  gets  away  from  the  idea  tlut 

even  while  satisfying  the  demands  of  the  state,  conviction  in  a  court  consigns  men  to  a  "crim- 

Continuing  the  general  question  of  the  need  '"'^'  class,"  which  makes  them,  therefore,  danger- 

of  the  prisoners'  families'  support  and  of  the  in-  *^"^  forever  afterward,  it  is  realized  that  among 

evitableness  of  this  support  being  provided  for,  '"^"  ^^'^^  '^^^'^  ^*^"  convicted  of  a  particular  of- 

the  New  Orleans  Star  says :  ^^"^^  ^^^^^  ^^^  s<^'"c  of  real  social  value,  while 

there  are  many  others  not  inherently  and  irrevo- 

"When  a  man  comes  within  the  shadow  of  cahlv  bad— who  can  be  made  of  social  value  and 

the  law  for  some  crime,  great  or  small,  it  is  but  that  only  a  small  percentage  of  the  men  sent  to 

right  that  he  should  pay  the  penalty,  but  why  .    •                   in            r         >        ■  „        *     , 

if    ,  ,  u •     •             ^       r         I  u  1  1        r..i          '  prisons  are  wholly  unsafe  and  socia  y  valueless. 

should  his  innocent  wife  and  helpless  little  ones  '.,.                  •,,       .. 

be  left  to  charity,  while  he,  in  his  robust  health  ^^  '^  ^^'"^  recognized  that  it  is  better  to  have 
and  strength,  is  productive  of  just  so  much  the  men  who  have  been  committed  to  prison  em- 
revenue  for  his  state  as  would  support  himself  ployed  than  to  have  them  idle  and  that  it  is  b«t- 
and  them  ?  The  criminal  is  better  off  in  this  ter  still  to  have  them  employed  at  something  use- 
case  than  his  innocent  family.  He  is  provided  f^i.  jhe  Rock  Island,  111.,  Argus,  says  that  its 
with  food,  lodging,  clothes,  a  doctor  and  medi-  ^^^.^^  ^^^^^^.  ^,^^,  j.^^^  ^^^^^^^  ^^^  ,,^^i  ^^^^ 
cine  II  sick,  and  a  grave  at  death,  while  his  ,  '  .  .  '  ,  .  , 
family  is  left  to  burden  the  wife,  who  must  take  ^'^^  ^^'"^  experience  in  trying  to  keq>  at  break- 
upon  her  shoulders  the  double  duty  of  caretaker  '"&  stone  "all  prisoners  who  arc  eligible  for  this 
and  breadwinner,  to  do  both  indifferently,  as  she  sort  of  punishment."  Both  counties  find  that  "in 
must.  reality  there  is  no  stone  on  hand  to  be  broken," 

"Let  the  economists  who  strain  at  gnats  and  sq  that  the  prisoners  are  really  idle.    Continuing, 

swallow  camels  in  the  matter  of  state  funds  not  ^j^^  Arpus   savs" 
imagine   that  somehow,   somewhere,   the   money 

grudged  the  convict's  family  will  not  be  paid  out  "In    Knox   county    they   have   discovered,   at 

in  their  support.     The  overburdened  wife  and  Rock  Island  county  has,  that  it  takes  money  to 

mother  who  must  provide  subsistence  for  them  hire  guards   to   watch   the  men   wb'       '    •    are 

must  neglect  their  physical  and  moral  care,  and  breaking   rock,   that   only   a    few    pi:     :.-;s   arc 

some  time,  somewhere,  the  state  will  have  to  pay  available  at  any  time  for  this  kind  of  duty,  and 

back  with  interest  the  earnings  of  the  father  and  that  stone  crushers  can  do  the  work  that  the 

husband  that  it  withholds  from  them.     It  may  be  prisoners  do  so  much  more  cheaply  that  working 

in  hospital  or  asylum,  it  may  be  in  reformatory,  jail   innuites   in   this   mmp..  r  actually   is  an  ex- 

or,  again,  in  jail  or  prison,  but  it  will  most  likely  pensive  method  of  pu                than. 

be  paid  back."  Turning  then  to  the  question  of  how  to  nuke 

The  recognition  that  the  prisoner's  family  is  the  prisoner's  labor  really  of  value,  the  Argut 

necessarily  to  be  supported  in  some  way  must  observes  that 

lead  to  the  acknowledgment  that  the  most  eco-  -Apparently  the  onlv  wnv  to  make  working 

nomical  as  well  as  the  most  natural  way  is  to  i^is  class  of  offenders               tory  is  to  have  the 

let  the  husband  and  father  supply  that  support,  state  law  i)rohibiting  the  use  of  ball  and  chain 

There  is  no  reason  why  a  man's  earning  power,  repealed  and  of  worlcing  prisoners  in  f'^^\'^^ 

,             ,                              •,        •.     t      ij       ♦  I  and  roads.     Then  the  item   for  guard  hire  will 

so  far  as  the  prison  can  utilize  it,  should  not  be  ^^^^^  ^^^  ^^  fonni<lablc  and  the  pri.soners  can  be 

preserved.    Labor  unions  may  have  just  grounds  tai^^.„  ^q  the  stone  instead  of  b                         ht  to 

for  protesting  against  free  labor,  through  com-  them.     It  may  be  that  public  .^^..w...^;.i   ••  II  nnt 


408 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


uphold  the  repeal  of  the  provisions  referred  to, 
but  it  is  doubtful  if  an  offender  against  the  law 
would  be  worse  oft"  making  expiation  in  the 
streets  with  a  ball  and  chain  attached  to  him  than 
he  is  now  lying  in  the  Rock  Island  county  jail 
in  its  present  condition." 

While  the  Argus  sees  the  worth  of  having 
l)risoners  do  work  that  is  of  some  value,  still  it 
does  not  get  above  the  idea  that  even  the  pro- 
ductive work  is  to  be  done  by  men  "who  are 
eligible  to  this  kind  of  punishment."  It  thinks 
that  "public  sentiment''  will  not  uphold  "shack- 
ling men  for  work  in  the  street  but  it  says  noth- 
ing about  the  right  of  the  men  themselves  not 
to  be  thus  shackled,  nothing  of  the  obliga- 
tion of  the  county  to  open  an  opportunity 
for  an  employment  that  will  upbuild  the 
men.  It  can  only  see  that  its  county  allows 
conditions  to  be  so  bad  in  the  county  jail  that 
■'it  is  doubtful  if  an  offender  against  the  law 
would  be  worse  off  making  expiation  in  the 
streets  with  a  ball  and  chain  attached  to  him." 

Most  people  of  the  state  of  Illinois  wall  likely 
think  that  if  a  man  "now  lying  in  the  Rock  Island 
county  jail  in  its  present  condition"  is  no  better 
off  than  he  would  be  wearing  a  ball  and  chain  at 
street  working  that  Rock  Island  county  should 
pay  some  attention  to  the  condition  of  its  jail 
and  that  the  Argus  should  have  some  higher  rea- 
son for  liberating  the  county  prisoners  from 
breaking  rock  at  the  Rock  Island  jail  than  only 
that  "working  jail  inmates  in  this  manner  act- 
ually is  an  expensive  method  of  punishing  them." 

Alabama,  it  appears,  is  ahead  of  Rock  Island 
county  in  this  matter.  Commissioner  Weatherly 
has  been  trying  the  experiment  of  working  pris- 
oners without  ball  and  chain.  The  Birmingham 
Ledger  says : 

"Prisoners  in  the  future  may  work  the  city 
streets  without  the  shackles.  The  city  has  been 
experimenting  for  the  past  two  weeks  wath  un- 
shackled prisoners  and  only  two  made  their  es- 
cape." 

The  Howard  Association,  a  prisoners'  help 
organization,  has  petitioned  the  Hamilton  county, 
Tenn.,  road  commission  to  remove  the  shackles 
from  the  workhouse  prisoners  and  the  commis- 
sion has  decided  to  give  the  experiment  "a  fair 
trial,  selecting  from  their  prisoners  those  most 
likely  to  obser\'e  the  limited  parole."  The  men 
"are  to  be  assembled  in  one  working  gang  and 
given  the  absolute   freedom  of  their  limbs." 


Commenting  on  the  commission's  action,  the 
Chattanooga  Tinies^  says: 

"The  action  of  the  commission  is  sound.  There 
are  doubtless  prisoners  held  at  present  who  are 
desperate  enough  to  take  the  chances  of  being 
shot  if  their  legs  were  free  to  run  away ;  there  are 
many  others  who  are  ready  to  accept  the  con- 
cession of  going  without  shackles  in  good  faith. 
It  is  believed,  and  it  has  been  exemplified  else- 
where, that  the  honor  system  among  misdemean- 
ants works  a  most  salutary  reform.  Those  who 
enjoy  a  certain  amount  of  freedom  for  good  be- 
havior offer  an  example  to  their  fellows  which 
must  be  wholesome  in  at  least  some  cases  and  the 
good  thus  done  may  be  reasonably  expected  to  in- 
crease as  the  system  is  extended  and  improved." 

In  Clark  county,  Ohio,  the  progress  of  civiliza- 
tion seems  to  have  taken  even  a  stronger  hold. 
Springfield,  Clark  county,  has  for  some  time  used 
its  prisoners  for  out-door  work  on  the  streets. 
Now  it  is  proposed  that  the  county  prisoners  "be 
put  to  work  sweeping  the  streets  or  at  some  other 
useful  employment,"  on  some  such  plan  as  that 
on  which  the  city  prisoners  are  employed. 

The  Springfield  Sun  recognizes  that  every 
moderately  normal  and  healthy  man  is  a  social 
asset  and  that  if  a  man's  health  is  allowed  to 
deteriorate,  he  may  instead  become  a  social 
burden : 

"As  conditions  now  exist,  the  petty  offender 
who  is  sentenced  to  jail  for  a  short  period  of  time 
is  in  a  fair  way  of  becoming  a  charge  upon  the 
county.  There  is  not  enough  work  about  the 
prison  to  keep  him  in  fair  physical  shape  and  he 
is  forced  to  spend  his  time  in  idleness.  His 
nmscles  become  flabby  and  his  whole  physique 
weakened.  If  he  is  a  day  laborer  or  a  man  who 
depends  upon  bodily  strength  or  skill  for  a  liveli- 
hood a  term  in  jail  reduces  his  earning  capacity 
and  unfits  him  for  hard  work." 

But  the  Sun  also  sees  that  there  is  more  to  the 
men  and  more  to  the  question  of  the  community's 
handling  of  the  men  than  merely  to  see  how 
much  work  the  commission  can  get  out  of  them : 

"There  is  another  side  to  the  sending  of  men 
to  prison  for  petty  offenses  which  does  not  ap- 
pear upon  any  court  records.  The  families  of 
such  men  are  often  the  chief  sufferers  and  the 
period  during  which  their  bread  winner  is  con- 
fined is  frequently  one  of  actual  hardship  to 
them.  Thrown  upon  their  own  resources,  they 
are  unable  to  make  ends  meet  and  become  de- 
pendent either  upon  the  charity  of  their  friends 
and  relatives  or  upon  the  county." 


August  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


409 


The  Sun,  however,  in  order  to  give  the  im- 
prisoned men  an  opportunity  at  heaUhful,  profit- 
able work,  does  not  propose  the  degrading  prac- 
tice of  shackHng  the  men  with  ball  and  chain. 
It  proposes  a  plan  that  will  naturally  call  -ait 
the  best  in  each  man  and  under  which  the  men 
by  their  conduct  will  grade  thcinsclvo-; : 

"Putting  the  prisoners  to  work  upon  public 
improvements  does  not  necessarily  mean  that 
tliey  must  wear  a  ball  and  chain  or  l)e  under  an 
amied  and  uniformed  guard.  The  more  trust- 
worthy can  be  sent  alone  to  places  in  the  eyes 
of  the  public  to  work  at  regular  wages,  from 
which  the  cost  of  keeping  them  and  of  paying 
their  fines  can  be  deducted,  and  the  surplus  pai<l 
to  their  families.  The  more  vicious  can  be  worked 
under  guard  in  more  secluded  places,  as  in  mak- 
ing new  roadways  through  the  parks  and  doing 
heavy  work  in  the  country  districts  upon  the 
roads  and  bridges." 

The  Sun  concludes : 

"The  recommendation  of  the  board  of  visitors 
should  be  heeded.  Out-of-door  work  leaves  the 
prisoners  in  good  physical  shape.  It  adds  to  their 
earning  abilities  and  it  partially  provides  for 
their  families.  It  lessens  the  expense  upon  the 
county  as  it  gives  the  county  something  of  value 
instead  of  so  much  dead  loss  of  time  from  the 
persons  suffering  imprisonment  for  minor  of- 
fenses. The  scheme  has  worked  fairly  well  in 
the  city,  and  the  county  should  not  lag  behind." 

Prison    Reform,    Mollycoddling    and    Punish- 
ment 

Under  the  caption,  "Better  Prison  Work,"  the 
Indianapolis  News  says  that 

"in  many  penal  and  reformatory  institutions 
recreation  has  long  been  recognized  as  part  of 
the  process  of  reformation.  There  are  all  kinds 
of  what  might  be  called  diversions,  which  really 
are  a  part  of  the  process  of  building  up  a  healthv 
mind." 

The  Nezvs  commends  the  early  citizens  of  its 
state,  says  that 

"It  is  to  the  great  credit  of  the  men  who 
framed  the  constitution  .  .  .  that  they  de- 
clared that  in  Indiana  punishment  should  be  re- 
formatory. The  idea  has  extended,  and  now 
everywhere  accessories  aid  in  making  better  men 
and  women  of  those  whom  the  law  ailjudges 
must  for  a  time  be  deprived  of  their  liberty." 

The  Ne7i's  then  refers  to  an  autobiography  of 
Henry  M.  Stanley,  who  was  taken  a  prisoner  at 


the  battle  of  Shiloh  and  confined  in  Camp  PVuig- 
la^.     Mr.  Stanley  wrote  oi 

"the  horrible  mum.  .  {^^^ 

which  many   went   ...  ,..^    j,  'r  a 

fine  band  of  music  In.  ^  to  ih«  on 

guard  could  have  given  a  two-hour  concert  a  day 
to  the  prisoners  and  savc<l  nuny  a  poor  fellow's 
mind." 

But,  Mr.  Stanley  continues,  it  was 

"a  cruel  age  in  which  people  dirl  not  think  of  the 
simple  things  that  have  now  part  of  the 

regular  life  and  discipline  of  our  rcformatorv 

work."  ' 

The  News  comments,  "wc  do  not  forget  that 
I)unishnient  now  is  refonnatory ;"  still  it  feara 
that  "we  are  in  danger  of  going  so  far  as  to 
substitute  "mollycoddling"  for  reformatory  pun- 
ishment. It  points  out  what  it  thinks  is  a  lack 
of  proper  appreciation  of  the  indeterminate  sent- 
ence law  with  its  parole  privilege,  saying  that 
mollycoddling 

"comes  in  with  its  threat  at  each  meeting  of  the 
pardon  board,  where  friends  of  the  pri<.oncrs 
besicpe  the  board  to  interfere  with  the  course  of 
justice  and  pardon  prisoners." 

The  Nacs  thinks  that  with  ti»c  opportunity 
for  parole  "there  ought  really  never  to  be  a  case 
in  which  the  state  pardon  board  should  he  called 
on  to  interfere  with  a  sentence."  It  believes  that 
a  "great"  and  sufikicnt  "thing  has  .  .  .  been 
done  in  modem  administration  of  punishment  in 
the  establishment  of  the  indeterminate  sentence*' 
which  "enables  the  nmnagement  to  reduce  and 
grade  punishment  or  confinement  as  the  effects 
are  seen  to  have  done  their  work  and  rendered 
the  prisoner  fit  for  freedom."  And  it  thinks,  in 
view  of  this,  that  the  question  of  a  pardon 
"mijjht  safely  be  left  entirely  to  the  regular  board 
of  the  various  places  to  commend  liberty." 

The  Nncs  continues : 

"This  becomes  the  more  worthy  of  >n 

as  a  |>olicy  since  the  new     '  '  ■'  ;jt 

of   prisoners   has   Ixmii   <■  •  ..    of 

relief  in  all  sorts  of  on  in 

nujsic,  the  formation  of  clubs  for  games  of  va- 
rious kinds  and  everything,  it  might  I»e  said, 
within  reason  \o  relieve  and  invfni.t  the  mind 
of  the  prisoner  and  so  with  \'  me  work  to 

build  up  habits  of  industry,  nukmg  a  new  pcr- 
son. 


410 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


The  News  thinks  that  these  new  opportunities 
for  prisoners  are  sufficient  and  that  for  prisoners 
to  have  more,  as  for  instance  also  to  have  access 
to  pardon,  is  to  establish  mollycoddlism.  It  be- 
lieves that  the  present  reformative  punishment 
is  sufficient. 

From  the  News'  comment  it  is  to  be  noted 
that  the  reformative  quality  of  the  punishment 
is  not  anything  that  has  come  into  punishment 
itself.  Punishment  becomes  reformative  when 
the  purpose  in  administering  it  is  to  help  the 
person  rather  than  merely  to  make  him  suflFer. 

But  when  the  attitude  thus  changes,  something 
more  happens  than  merely  a  change  in  the  pur- 
pose of  inflicting  the  punishment.  The  punish- 
ment itself  is  lessened. 

When  "a  two-hour  concert  a  day  to  the  pris- 
oners" is  allowed,  which  was  denied  in  the  "cruel 
age  in  which  people  did  not  think  of  the  simple 
things  that  have  now  become  part  of  the  regular 
life  and  discipline  of  our  reformatory  work,"  it 
is  not  a  change  in  the  purpose  of  punishment. 
It  is  the  beginning  of  an  abandonment  of  punish- 
ment and  the  taking  up  of  something  which  is 
entirely  different. 

The  greatest  thing  which  has  come  in  the 
prison  betterment  movement  as  "the  idea  has  ex- 
panded," since  when  in  1851  it  was  "declared 
that  in  Indiana  punishment  should  be  reforma- 
tory," is  the  decrease  in  the  punishment  itself. 
If  punishment  were  practiced  now  to  the  same 
extent  and  in  the  same  form  to  which  and  in 
which  it  was  practiced  when  Henry  M.  Stanley 
was  confined  in  Camp  Douglas,  there  are  few 
who  would  say  that  "the  new  idea  of  treating 
prisoners"  was  much  in  advance  of  the  old  idea. 

The  progress  for  which  all  may  truly  be  thank- 
ful is  not  so  much  the  progress  made  in  a  change 
of  the  purpose  of  punishment  as  the  progress 
that  has  been  made  in  abandoning  punishment. 

The  Nezvs  says : 

"We  may  be  thankful  that  we  live  in  an  age 
when  these  things  are  so.  And  to  prevent  their 
abuse  and  keep  the  things  from  evil  which  may 
come  from  such  abuse  must  be  part  of  the  wis- 
dom of  administration  of  the  law  which  means 
to  protect  society  and  advance  it  to  a  better 
stage." 

With  the  new  purpose  of  administering  pun- 
ishment for  the  person's  own  benefit,  society  has 


come  to  an  attitude  where  it  is  able  to  see  that 
punishment  is  not  "as  servicable  as  it  was  once 
thought  to  be.  Consequently  there  is  now  less 
punishment  and  more  helpfulness,  less  restric- 
tion and  more  real  constructive  work. 


Food  Waste 

Mr.  Wm.  Golden,  of  Kings  Park  State  Hos- 
pital, Rhode  Island,  who  has  been  employed  as 
special  investigator  of  the  operation  of  the 
kitchens  and  dietaries  of  the  various  institutions 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Department  of  Cor- 
rection, has  made  his  report.  The  Brooklyn 
Eagle  says: 

"It  shows  that  there  has  been  considerable 
waste  of  food  in  the  workhouse  and  penitentiary 
and  that  the  dietaries  are  not  sufficiently  diversi- 
fied. The  report  further  states  that  the  budget- 
ary allowance  of  16  cents  per  inmate  is  ample 
and  that  a  much  more  varied  and  satisfactory 
dietary  for  the  inmates  than  has  heretofore  been 
furnished  could  be  provided.  There  is  every 
reason  to  believe  that  considerable  savings  of 
food  now  wasted  could  be  made." 

Mr.  Golden's  report  says: 

"At  the  workhouse  on  April  21  I  weighed 
return  food  from  the  dinner  and  supper.  The 
amount  of  weight  was  734  pounds.  This  in- 
cluded meat,  potatoes,  vegetables  and  bread. 
Also  there  remained  in  the  kettle  in  which  the 
soup  was  made  forty-two  gallons  that  was  not 
sent  to  the  mess  hall.    This  was  thrown  out. 

"At  the  penitentiary  on  April  22  I  weighed 
returned  food  from  the  mess  hall  for  breakfast, 
dinner  and  supper.  The  total  amount  of  weight 
for  the  three  meals  amounted  to  1,887  pounds. 
This  amount  averages  over  one  pound  of  weight 
for  each  individual,  and  is,  of  course,  excessive. 
In  any  well-regulated  institution  the  amount  of 
weight  should  not  exceed  more  than  one- fourth 
pound  per  day  per  person.  Therefore,  under  the 
present  practice,  $80  per  day  is  spent  in  excess 
in  these  two  institutions. 

"The  kinds  of  foods  now  used  are  the  most 
expensive,  namely,  meat,  bread  and  some  vege- 
tables. Practically  the  same  bill  of  fare  is  used 
day  by  day,  i.  e.,  bread,  syrup  and  coffee  for 
breakfast;  soup,  meat,  vegetables  and  bread  for 
dinner;  bread,  syrup  and  coffee  for  supper." 

The  report,  the  Eagle  states,  has  been  care- 
fully considered  and  many  of  Mr.  Golden's  rec- 
ommendations have  already  been  put  into  opera- 
tion. 


August  1,  1914  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


411 


No  More  Stripes  ination  of  political  and  personal  interests  from 

The   St.    Paul   Dispatch   reports   that   at   the  the  state's  dealings  with  its  prisoners  is  one  of 

Minnesota  state  prison  the  greatest  needs  of  the  prison  betterment  move- 

"All   the  men   in   the  third  grade  have  been 

advanced  to  the  second  grade,  and  now  not  a  w    0 

stripe  is  worn  in  the  new  prison  Normal  Life  at  Florence.  Arizona 

All  convicts  will  he  permitted  to  talk  to  their 

neighbors  at  meal  time  Sundays  and  holidays.  ^^^^^^^  Hubbard  reporU  in  the  Chicago  Ex- 

"Each  Tuesday  and  Friday  at  4:30  p.  m.  mo-  emitter,   that   he   recently   lectured   at    Phoenix, 

tion  picture  shows  will  be  given  in  the  prison  Ariz.,  and  was  asked  by  Governor  Hunt  if  he 

auditorium.     The  prisoners  are  given  a  half  day  ^ould  not  like  to  pay  a  visit  to  Florence,  the 

off  Saturday.'  ,^                      .        „..          r        ,      . 

•'  Cjovernor  saymg,     Some  friends  there  want  to 

®     ®  see  you." 

Woman  on  Parole  Board  Mr.  Hubbard  went  and  was  afterwards  to  be 

The   Baltimore  American  speaks   strongly   in  driven  seventy-five  miles  across  the  country  by  a 

favor  of  the  appointment  of  a  women  as  a  mem-  prison  chaufTeur  to  make  his  appointment  for  the 

her  of  the  newly  established  Maryland  Board  of  next  night. 

Parole:  Mr.  Hubbard  says: 

"The  intrinsic  purposes  of  the  newly  estah-  "I  had  heard  of  taking  convicts  in  an  auto. 

lished  Board  of  Parole  will  not  be  complete  un-  but  to  have  a  convict  take  me  was  «!'  " 

less  a  woman  is  named  as  one  of  its  members.  I  accepted  the  Governor's  invitation.    >»«.  i- 

This  appointment  has  been  urged  by  the  repre-  Florence  after  a  two  hours'  ride  through  .. 

sentative   women   of  the   state  who   know   how  irrigated  farming  country. 

vitally  the  interests  of  their  sex  are  concerned  "There  it  was — this  great  walloi  square  on 

in  the  board's  actions,  by  thinking  men  and  gen-  the  desert,  the  golden  Arizona  ^••-    '         '           • 

nine  reformers  and  by  public  opinion  generally,  upon  it.    The  desert  was  trcelc.v 

In   its  operations  the  board   will  be  constantly  beauty    save    the    peculiar,    awful,    compelling 

brought    in    contact    with    women   and   girls    in  beauty  that  the  desert  possesses." 

urgent  need  of  judicious  and  kindly  treatment  ^,^^^  ^^.^^^^^      .^^^  ,jj^  ^  ^^^^ 

to  save  them  from  the  life  of  crime  and  vice  in  ■        ,  /•    •      i      i-    » 

which   they   have   taken   the   first   step.      These  thing  different  from  prison  life  m  the  East. 

women    require    the    tact    and    sympathy    of    a  ..^^  ^^,^.  ^^.^^^^  ^,p  ^^^  ^^^  j^^.^^^j  ^^^^  pr^^ 

woman.                                                 r  .t       .  .    .  walls  I  noticed  a  well-used  baseball  diamond. 

"It  IS  the  right  of  the  women  of  the  state  to  ..j^^^^,^  .^  ^^^  ^,^„^y  I  ^^y,j  ^^  ^  vegetable 

be  permitted  a  representative  on  this  board  to  ,^^    ^^.j^^^.^  ^  j^^^,^  „^^„  ^^  ^ore  were  busy 

help  their  sex.     It  is  the  nature  of  the  work  it-  °^  ^^^^^^ 

self  which  demands  a  woman's  cooperation.     It  '    ..  ..j,j^^^   garden   helps    feed  our   family.'   said 

is  the  right  of  the  unfortunates  coming  under  its  .^j^  ^^j^j^  ^  ^^^^^  ^j  j^i^  ,^^nj_  .^^^l  ,1,^  mtn 

operations  to  have  one  of  their  own  sex  to  in-  '\^^  ^j^^re  are  convicts.     You  will  r  -  -  •'    • 


vestigate  their  cases  and  judge  their  necessities.  Jj^      ,^^^.^  shanties  where  ihcv  live.     \. 

Humanity,  decency,  justice  and  the  broader  spirit  ./^  ^          ^^^^^^  j^^  ^^^^  p,.^^.^.  '^n  ,j,j  iji^rty  that 

of   reformatory  penology  all  demand  this   pro-  j;^  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^  advantage. 

gressive  action.     If  real  interests  are  to  be  sacri-  .,  .^y^  ^^^^^j  j^^  pl^^y  baseball  inside  the  walls. 

ficed  to  special  and  political  considerations,  the  ^^^^  ^^_^^  ^j^^.  ^^^^^,^  ^^:^^  ,„,,      »^,.  .„,,.  .^.v  wr  -w^r 

whole  intent  of  the  board  will  be  nullified  in  one  ^,q,^^.^,j^.j  („  i,avc  our  1 

great   department   of   its   work.     The    feminine  ^^^  ^^^^^  ^^^^^^  j,^  ^^^^  institution  who  i 

criminal  is  one  of  the  greatest  problems  of  so-  j^jj^^^jf  properly  goes  to  the  ball  game  on  :?at 

ciety;  her  reformation  one  of  its  important  in-  ^,^jj.^y  • 

terests.    The  appointment  of  a  woman,  therefore,  "j  (ii„cd  with  the  prisoners  in  the  dining  room. 

on  the  parole  board  is  an  imperative  demand.'  ^^^^  ^j^j  ^^^j^^.  ^^  silence  is  not  enforced.     H 

The  action  of  the  Maryland  women  in  seek-  you  have  anything  to  say  to  your  • 

.        .         ,      n        I     f     CIV  it      The  i)lncc  was  quite  as  (.;..-.._.    

ing  to  have  a  woman  appointed  to  the  Board  of  say^«_  hotel  dining  r.Ji.     The  fcxxl  was  sim 

Parole  indicates  the  inroad  that  natural  human  ^^^^  'j^^^^  ^j^^^.^  ^^.^^  pj^„jy  of  it 

interest  is  making  in  the  field  where  special  and  "After  dinner  I  talked  to  the  assembled  citi- 

political   interests   Ijave  dominated.     The  elim-  zens." 


412 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Mr.  Hubbard  divides  the  men  in  prisons  in 
three  classes. 

"First,  there  are  mental  and  physical  defec- 
tives. 

"Next,  sufferers  from  intoxicants  and  drugs. 

"Third,  those  who  have  energy  plus,  and  who 
through  some  unkind  antic  of  fate  have  bumped 
into  difficulty.  They  have  quarreled  with  par- 
ents, with  sweethearts  or  employers,  and  they 
go  'Out  West,'  and  do  the  wrong  thing  and  are 
some  day  landed  behind  the  bars." 

And  then  in  general  the  lecturer  observes: 

"There  is  no  'criminal  class,'  or,  if  there  is, 
we  all  belong  to  it.  The  things  we  have  done  in 
imagination  would  certainly  put  us  behind  prison 
bars  if  they  had  ever  broken  through  thought 
into  action. 

"It  would  do  us  all  a  lot  of  good  if  we  could 
take  a  peep  at  a  penitentiary  like  that  one  at 
Florence." 

In  a  later  issue  of  the  Examiner  Mr.  Hubbard 
gives  a  further  description  of  his  visit: 

"The  penitentiary  at  Florence,  Ariz.,  has  a 
few  things  to  recommend  it  which  no  other 
prison  in  the  United  States  has.  If  you  are 
going  to  enjoy  a  term  in  prison,  I  recommend 
Florence. 

"In  most  prisons  prisoners  are  allowed  to 
write  one  letter  a  month,  and  no  more.  In 
Florence  there  is  no  such  limit,  thanks  to  the 
sensible  regulation  inaugurated  by  Warden  Sims, 
with  the  consent  of  Governor  Hunt.  When  a 
man  is  sent  to  prison  there  is  no  reason  why  his 
relatives,  friends  and  family  should  be  punished 
by  not  being  allowed  to  hear  from  him.  That  is 
where  the  wrong  individual  is  penalized. 

"It  is  a  great  privilege  to  write  letters,  and  it 
is  a  still  greater  privilege  to  receive  them.  Any 
one  who  has  ever  felt  the  abject  misery  of  look- 
ing for  a  letter  that  never  comes  will  under- 
stand me. 

"There  is  no  reason  under  the  blue  sky  why 
a  convict  should  not  be  allowed  to  send  out  as 
many  letters  as  he  cares  to  buy  postage  stamps 
for. 

"'Jhe  object  of  putting  a  man  in  prison  is  two- 
fold :  First,  to  protect  society,  and,  second,  to 
make  the  convict  a  better  man. 

"And  so  I  talked  to  the  boys  in  prison. 

"Afterward  there  was  a  lot  of  hand-shaking; 
then  a  little  batting  up  of  flies  on  the  diamond, 
and  I  climbed  into  a  machine  and  the  driver 
headed  for  the  desert. 

"As  we  slipped  past  the  last  shack  on  the 
street  my  chauffeur  waved  a  hand  and  said, 
"That  is  the  last  house  you  will  see  for  twenty- 
one  miles." 


"The  road  was  Nature's  own,  winding  in  and 
out  through  sagebrush,  past  the  giant  cactus, 
occasionally  going  down  through  a  gully  and 
seemingly  heading  for  a  great  mountain  peak, 
snow-covered,  a  hundred  miles  away. 

"And  so  the  hours  went  by. 

"Strapped  firmly  to  the  automobile,  on  either 
side,  was  a  keg  of  water,  ominous  reminder  of 
the  danger  of  the  desert. 

"The  distance  we  had  to  traverse  from  Flor- 
ence to  Tucson  was  seventy-five  miles.  It  was 
a  wonderful,  wild,  romantic,  unique  ride. 

"I  had  told  the  warden  that  I  would  keep  the 
chauffeur  over  night,  as  the  ride  back  was  some- 
what dangerous  on  account  of  the  guUeys. 

"And  so  I  registered  for  myself  and  my  con- 
vict friend.  We  were  given  adjoining  rooms. 
We  washed  up,  brushed  our  clothes  and  dined 
together.  Then  we  went  to  the  theater,  and  the 
management  gave  my  partner  a  box  seat. 

"I  had  to  catch  a  train  out  at  3  :30  in  the  morn- 
ing. I  did  not  expect  my  friend  would  get  up 
and  go  to  the  train  with  me,  but  he  was  up  be- 
fore Twas. 

"'Couldn't  you  sleep?'  I  asked. 

"'No,'  was  the  reply;  'these  rooms  are  too 
confining.' 

"And  then  he  explained,  'You  know,  at  home 
I  sleep  on  the  roof !' 

"And  it  was  so,  for  no  man  is  locked  in  a  cell 
at  Florence,  except  those  who  have  failed  to 
show  a  proper  degree  of  respect  for  the  liberties 
allowed. 

"We  got  into  the  auto  just  as  the  first  flush 
of  pink  came  into  the  east.  We  had  an  early 
breakfast  at  the  railroad  lunch  counter,  and  then 
I  bade  my  friend  good-by. 

"He  climbed  in  behind  the  wheel  and  headed 
for  his  prison  home,  seventy-five  miles  away." 


A  Prisoners'  Court  at  Sing  Sing 

For  some  time  there  have  been  complaints  at 
Sing  Sing  against  punishment  prescribed  by 
Warden  Clancy  for  infractions  of  the  rules. 

The  Chicago  News  reports  that  Warden 
Clancy,  recalling  these  criticisms,  called  a  pris- 
oners' court  to  decide  in  a  case  where  a  prisoner 
was  accused  of  stealing  six  pounds  of  cooked 
meat  from  the  mess  room : 

"When  the  accused  prisoner  said  he  had  been 
'framed',  the  court  ordered  him  to  put  on  his 
coat  with  the  meat  in  it,  after  it  had  been 
weighed. 

"  'Do  you  mean  to  tell  this  court  that  you  did 
not  know  you  had  six  and  a  half  pounds  of 
meat  under  your  coat?'  the  presiding  judge 
asked.  , 


August  1,  1914                                  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST                                                     413 

"'I  certainly  did  not."  answered  the  man  on  power,  than  any  consciousness  of  fellowship  and 

nmlual  uplift  such  as  is  to  be  looked  for  in  the 

The  court  retired  and  after  a    few  minutes'  prison  betterment  movement.     Mm   who  nuke 

deliberation     in    another    room,    returned    and  themselves  subject  to  the  law  will  Icam,  through 

"asked  the  Warden  to  inflict  the  severest  penalty  ^  long  drawn  out  experience  if  they  (icrsist  in 

as  the  man  had  stolen  meat,  thus  depriving  other  »ot  learning  it  otherwise,  that  nothing  can  win 

prisoners  of  food."  fortitude  and  forgiveness  for  them  until  in  their 

Upon   the   recommendation   of   the   "judges,"  own  hearts  they  themselves  have  won  fortitude 

Warden  Clancy  fined  the  thief  three  hundred  and  and   forgiveness  for  others.     Otherwise  Nature 

sixty  marks,  which  means  that  "he  must  serve  would  defeat  herself,  the  virtues  of  life  cannot 

four  months   in  addition  to  his  minimum  sen-  be  turned  to  the  account  of  a  scliishncss  which 

icnce."  in  its  own  interest  discards  those  virtues.     All 

One  of  the  things  most  commonly  heard   in  the   higher    instincts   of    humanity   an«l    all   the 

prison  is  a  criticism  of  the  treatment  a  prisoner  beneficences  of  God  are  against  it. 

received  after  his  arrest  and  at  his  trial.    There  Whatever  man  would  have,  that  also  man  must 

is  a  feeling  among  prisoners  that  society  is  un-  be.     Prisoners  themselves  must,  in  dealing  with 

duly  unjust  in  many  cases.  one  another,  come  to  some  of  the  compassion 

It  is  to  be  noticed  that  in  this  Sing  Sing  "case"  they  are  asking   for  in  society's  dealings  with 

where  power  to  pass  upon  one  who  had  com-  them        •• 


«     « 


mitted  an  offense  against  the  prison  community 

was    given    to    the    men    of    that    community 

the  prisoners  themselves  did  not  seem  to  be  any  How  Prisoners   Defeat  and   How  They   Help 

more  lenient  than  is  society  in  general.  Themselves 

In  Illinois,  the  theft  of  six  pounds  of  meat  Ligfit  on  how  men  who  have  gotten  into  prison 

which  was  to  be  eaten  and  was  not  sold  would  help  to  keep  up  the  public  opinion  that  holds 

be  petty  larceny  and  would  be  punishable  by  a  them  there  or  help  to  change  public  opinion  so 

small  fine  or  by  not  more  than  three  months  in  that  society  may  give  them  another  cliancc,  is 

jail.     In  the  face  of  this,  to  punish  a  man  for  given  in  recent  e<litorials. 

such  an  offense  by  imprisonment  in  a  penitenti-  Commenting  upon  the  escapes  from  the  Joliet 

ary  "four  months  in  addition  to  his  minimum  Honor    Farm,    the    Burlington,    Iowa,    Gazette, 

sentence"  will    look  even  to  the  "unjust"  general  under  the  heading,  "They  Are  Ingratcs,"  »ayi: 

public  as  exceptionally  severe.  ..^^^  ^^^^j^.^^  ^^^^^  j,^^  j^,j^j  ,Kmitcniiary  who 

No  state's  attorney  ever  went  further  ni  any  escaped    from  the  'honor'  camp  the  other  day 

case  than   to  ask  to   have  the  warden,   or   the  shouUl  be  hunted  down  rut!              returne<l  to 

judge,  "inflict  the  severest  penalty."     The  ten-  their  cells  and   kept  there   f.-i    mj.  ii  a  term  of 

1             1       X                     i-           \^-  \,    ■     tr^...A   o^  vears  as  will   impress   uihiu  them  the  value  of 
dency  also  to  exaggeration  which  is   found  so  >|-'*'*       „,,           '      .  i        r,  „.  .i—  ...^.»»  ^«« 
■^                        ^^                                   J  •      1  liberty.     1  hey  were  taken  from  the  prison  con- 
often  m  prosecuting  attorneys  is  repeated  in  the  ^^^^^  ^^jj,^  j^^  monotonous  grind  and  :           ful 

Sing  Sing  prisoners'  court,  which  affirms  that,  silence  and   put   to  work  out   in  the  ojtn   .ur. 

in  stealing  six  pounds  of  meat,  the  person  who  Many    privilc^jes   were   accor-l"'     m    fact,   they 

took  it  was  "thus  depriving  other  prisoners  of  were  under  but  iK-rfunctorv                    o.     Tlicy 

r      ,  »     n ,  •            1  .  •      1     .1    .  .u                     .1,  promised  thev  would  not               and  their  lime 

food.       Ihis  would  imply  that  there  is  no  such  |'«^""»^^        .»                                         .,      ,.  . 

*  -^                  ij      f    •  for  parole  was  but  a  lew  >\.                               >»• 

waste   in   prison   kitchens   as   is  told  of   in   the     j^^  ^^^jj^  ^^f  ^H  ,|,i^  .„„|  t|,c  :....  re 

official  report  of  Wm.  Golden  under  Reviews  in  jcopanlizing  the  chances  of  their  C'             •«  ihi* 

this  issue.     Prisoners  will  find  that  they  will  not  pair   of    ingratcs    sncaketi    away    in    the    night. 

win  much  leniency  from  society  until  they  be-  There  may  be  honor  among  thieves,  but  this  pair 

,        f  .           -Ill         1           I      t    4  liad  never  heard  ot  t* 

come  worthy  of  it,  until  they  have  learned  what  "** 

leniency  is  so  that  they  themselves  practice  it.  The   Gazette's  exprcssu.n   is  ihat  of   ihc  old 

The  prison  "case"  seems  to  evidence  more  the  time   viiulictive    feeling   which   society   has    fell 

feeling  of  the  sense  of  power  experienced  by  the  toward   the  social   offciuler.      It   i.s   the    fechng 

"judges"  and  a  vanity  in  the  exercise  of  that  which   grows   out   of   the   assumption    that   the 


i  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  First  Year 

lividual  alone  is  responsible  for  all  his  acts  in  society  which  responds  to  and  which  rewards 

d  which  takes  no  account  of  the  social  condi-  virtue. 

ns  in  which  the  person  lived  or  of  the  stress         The  Rockford,   111.,  Republic,  acknowledging 

his  material  needs  or  of  his  subjection  to  his  the  voluntary  return  of  a  man  who  had  escaped 

^n  undevelopment,   when   emotions,   impulses,  from  the  Joliet  penitentiary,  observes : 

idencies,  selfish  or  perverted  qualities  of  mind,  ^  ,  t-.i  -i-     ^,-r^       ,  <• 

.     ,    ,  .  1         ^1  r  1  •       -11  A  week  ago  Philip  O  Rourke  ran  away  from 

mmate  him  even  above  the  power  of  his  will.  ,,      ,  •  .  r  tt  ^ 

.......  .  the  honor  convict  farm.     He  was  gone  a  week. 

The  man  who  offends  this  social  sense  sub-  ^^^^  ^^  ^^^^  ^^^^  ^^  j^U^^  penitentiary  to  serve 

:ts  himself  without  mercy  to  its  power;  the  the  remaining  six  years  of  his  term.     He  pon- 

:empt  to  escape  is  followed  by  the  edict  that,  dered  over  the  matter  for  a  week.     If  he  re- 

on  capture,  the  man's  imprisonment  shall  be  mained  away  the  'boys'  would  be  in  bad.    Even 

olone-ed  though  he  made  good  his  escape,  the  prison  war- 

^  .       .  .  .  .....  den  and  guards  would  think  him  a  traitor. 

But  society  is  moving  away  from  this  primitive  .j^  ^ook  him  a  week  to  solve  his  problem.    On 

jw  of  the  responsibility  for  crime  and  of  the  Saturday  he  reached  his  conclusion  to  treat  the 

oper  treatment  of  men  who  have  committed  'boys'  on  the  square.    Going  to  a  phone,  he  called 

ime  and  is  learning  that  all  kinds  of  individual  William  Walsh,  deputy  warden  at  JoHet : 

mt  as  well  as  also  all  social  offence  is  born,         "^'^  '\  ?^??i-  Sltl  ^f  F^  Tr  J'^^ 

^    .  .,.,..,,,,  .      ,  .  rneet  you  at  East  Thirty-fifth  street  and  Cottage 

t  always  of  the  individuals  determined  inten-  Qrove  avenue ' 

•n,  but  often  of  conditions  so  complicated  that         "When    the    deputy    arrived    O'Rourke    was 

ither  the  individual  nor  society  can  alone  be  there.    He  went  back  to  stay  in  prison  until  Sep- 

Id  responsible.  tember  10,   1920,  all  because  he  wanted  to  be 

The  new  understanding  to  which  the  world  is  '^"^'^  ^^^^  *^^  ^^y^'" 

wakening  is  that  people  individually  are  some-  Then  in  consideration  of  the  moral  influence 

lat  defective  and  that  also  the  collective  social  and  value  of  such  an  act  as  this  of  O'Rourke, 

nsciousness  is  itself  not  yet  equal  to  all  the  the  Republic  pays  this  homage  to  character: 

oblems  that  arise.  ,,r  ^        ^i  i.     j    ^u  i.  u 

rr      L  ^^  every  nature  there  are  chords  that  can  be 

ihe  Burlington  Hawkeye  gets   more  of  this  touched.    Examples  of  honor  among  those  whom 

Ddern  and  truer  idea  of  individual  and  social  society   has    ostracized   show   clearly   that   even 

oblems.    It  sees  that  men  who  would  run  away  criminals  are  human,  and  respond  oftentimes  to 

om  prisons  when  near  to  the  expiration  of  their  appeals  of  honor  and  truth. 

,^^ i     u^    4-t,  t-  r    -i-i.-  ^1  "It  is  the  recognition  of  these  possibilities  that 

rms  and  when  there  are  such  facilities  as  there  ,  ,  -^ii  ^u        ■    •     ^    ^ 

has  made  society  look  upon  the  criminal  class  in 

e  of  late  years  for  their  capture  are  weak  men;  other  light  than  once  prevailed.     The  example 

e  more  weak  than  wicked:  of  O'Rourke  helps  to  multiply  hopeful  illustra- 

,  <•     1        ,  tions  for  those  who  believe  that  no  one  is  so 

i  wo  poor  fools,  who  were  'honor  men'  at  depraved,  so  bad,  as  to  be  without  some  saving 

e   Starved   Rock  park,   where  state  prisoners  goodness." 
e  building  the  roads,  slipped  away  one  night.  '  ^     ^ 

here  were  no  guards,  and  they  will  be  caught 

oner  or  later.     They  were  almost  at  the  end  Prison   Resolutions   on   Loss   of   Empress  of 
■   their  terms,   and  they  were  making  a   fine  Ireland 

cord,  and  then  the  poor  fools  spoiled  it  all  by         Following  an  address  by  Captain  William  J. 

mnmg  away.     They  are  not  to  be  blamed  so  ^^  •  .     j     .      r    A.      /-  i-r 

uch  as  they  are  to  be  pitied.     For  by  and  by  ^^y'    superintendent    of    the    California    pnson 

ey  will  regain  their  liberty  and  they  will  make  commission,  in  which  the  speaker  described  the 

new  start  in  the  world,  and  then  they  will  disastrous  wreck  of  the  Empress  of  Ireland,  the 

jain    fall    when    temptation    approaches    them,  prisoners    of    the    Folsom    prison    unanimously 
he  prisons  are  full  of  men  who  are  not  really  ^^^  ^^e  following  resolution  of  sympathy: 

id,  but  who  may  mean  well,  and  are  simply  ^  j    f      j 

eak.     Perhaps  it  is  better  for  them  and   for  "Resolved,  that  we,  the  prisoners  in  Folsom 

;hers  that  they  are  deprived  of  their  liberty."  prison,  having  heard  with  great  sorrow  the  ac- 

But    one   man   who   escaped    voluntarily    re-  ^^^"^  o^  ^^^  ^^^"^  shipwreck,  do  herewith  ex- 

,         J   -u-      •  .  11     f  1.  press  sympathy  for  the  hundreds  of  friends  and 

irned,  and  this  circumstance  calls  for  an  edi-  ^^j^^j^/^  ^^  ^^^  ^-^^^  -^  this,  their  sad  hour 

irial  expression  which  shows  that  there  is  that  of  affliction  and  grief,  and  earnestly  commend 


August  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


415 


them  to  the  comforting  heart  of  our  Heavenly 
Father." 

By  such  incidents  as  this  the  public  is  grad- 
ually being  shown  that  in  prisoners  are  the  same 
human  interests  and  sympathies,  the  same  com- 
passion and  feeling,  the  same  fraternal  bonds 
that  are  found  in  people  anywhere.  The  pris- 
oners themselves  are  breaking  down  the  barrier 
that  in  the  public  mind  has  separated  them  from 
the  world's  interests  and  plans.  When,  in  time, 
the  dissolution  of  the  mental  barrier  is  com- 
pleted, it  may  be  followed  later  with  the  removal 
of  the  physical  barrier,  the  prison  yard  wall, 
which  will  show  that  union  of  human  interests 
has  become  actual. 

Does  Society  Take  Too  Much? 

The  Louisville  Courier  Journal  reports  edi- 
torially the  case  of  a  man  pardoned  from  the 
Ohio  penitentiary,  who  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  years  entered  the  penitentiary  in  1870 : 

"This  prisoner  never  had  seen  an  automobile, 
a  bicycle,  a  motorcycle,  an  electric  car,  an  arc 
light,  a  picture  shov/  or  a  skyscraper.  He  had 
never  heard  a  phonograph.  He  had  never  been 
in  an  elevator  or  a  street  car.  He  had  never 
talked  over  a  telephone.  He  could  not  imagine 
about  wireless  telegraphy  and  he  knew  nothing 
about  aeroplanes  except  that  he  had  once  seen 
a  picture  of  a  flying  machine  in  a  book." 

The  man,  now  sixty-six  years  of  age,  asked 
to  have  someone  sent  with  him  "until  he  got 
used  to  things." 

The  Courier  Journal's  tragic  closing  com- 
ment is  that 

"The  old  prisoner  will  find  it  a  most  difficuU 
task  to  adjust  himself  to  present-day  conditions." 

The  man  was  serving  a  life  sentence.  He  is 
now  out  "in  the  world  to  begin  life  over  again." 

When  what  society  requires  of  a  man  for  some 
misdeed  of  his  is  looked  at  from  its  close,  who 
will  say  that  society  was  just  with  the  boy  of 
twenty-three  ? 

"Utterly  Fallacious" 

The  Rapid  City,  South  Dakota,  Journal,  in  dis- 
cussing possible  solutions  of  the  problem  of 
unemployment  which  has  been  under  considera- 
tion by  the  United   States   Commission   in   In- 


dustrial Relations,  characterizes  as  "utterly  fal- 
lacious" the  proposition  to  prohibit  the  sale  of 
prison  made  goods.  "Insurance  against  unem- 
ployment and  various  relief  measures,"  the  Jour- 
nal says,  "have  more  promise  in  them." 

Vera  Cruz  and  Prison  Progress 

The  New  York  World  comments  on  the  tak 
ing  of  Vera  Cruz  by  the  armed  United  State- 
forces  with  a  .sacrifice  of  valuable  lives,  and  says 
that  whatever  doubt  there  may  be  of  the  worth 
of  the  attack, 

"one  thing  is  certain.  The  American  occupation 
broke  down  the  doors  of  an  ancient  prison  in 
which  human  beings  had  been  tortured,  from 
which  hope  had  fled  and  which  st(X)d  in  the 
twentieth  century  a  cruel  exponent  of  the  meth- 
ods of  the  dark  ages,  unrcbuked  and  unchal- 
lenged. When  in  a  foreign  land  our  fighting 
men,  who  are  not  sentimentalists,  open  dungeons 
and  break  shackles  in  the  name  of  humanity  and 
progress,  it  is  high  time  for  the  representatives 
of  a  civilized  state  to  pay  some  attention  to  the 
same  problems  at  home.  The  convict  is  under- 
going punishment ;  he  is  deprived  of  liberty  and 
friends;  he  loses  social  and  political  rights;  but 
he  is  still  a  human  being  and  should  be  trcatcil 
as  such." 

The  World,  in  connection  with  this  observa- 
tion, makes  a  report  from  its  own  state  which 
shows  that  the  people  have  begim  "to  pay  some 
attention  to  the  same  problem  at  home." 

Auburn  and  Sing  Sing,  "two  of  the  most  cele- 
brated prisons  of  the  world,"  each  afforded  the 
spectacle  of  a  "convict  playing  baseball."  "nm- 
ning  a  foot  race."  and  as  a  "member  of  a  brass 
band."    The  World  continues: 

"At  Auburn  they  had  a  field  day  in  the  peni- 
tentiary yards.  The  inmates  of  one  wing  of  the 
prison  were  pitted  against  those  of  the  other 
Keepers  were  within  sight  at  all  tinies  but  at 
the  close  of  the  sports  every  one  of  the  1.40U 
who  particiivited  was  accounted  for  and  returned 
a  better  man  to  his  cell.  . 

"At  Sing  Sing  twenty-seven  musicians  trained 
within  the  walls  marched  outside,  with  only  one 
cuard,  and  escorted  a  Grand  Army  post  to  the 
prison  chapel,  where  the  convict  performers  had 
the  place  of  honor  on  the  program.  At  the  con- 
clusion of  the  exercises  tlie  band  led  all  the  con- 
victs in  procession  around  the  picketed  grounds. 

The  Quincy,  Illinois,  Whig,  commenting  upon 


416 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


the  fact  that  "a.  band  composed  of  convicts  from 
Sing  Sing  led  the  town  parade,"  says: 

"The  incident  caused  Httle  comment,  but  it  is 
highly  significant  of  the  changing  attitude  of 
states  toward  their  penal  wards.  Ten  years 
ago  such  a  thing  would  not  have  been  thought 
of.  Even  the  suggestion  that  men  serving  sen- 
tences in  prison  should  be  given  a  few  hours  of 
liberty  for  any  purpose  would  have  been  deemed 
absurd." 

Calling  attention  also  to  the  Auburn  penitenti- 
ary where  "on  the  same  day  .  .  .  1,400  con- 
victs engaged  in  field  sports  and  for  the  time 
being  were  actually  free  men,"  the  Whig  con- 
tinues : 

"Prison  reform  is  becoming  real  and  its  bene- 
ficial effects  are  noted  everywhere.  Of  course, 
there  are  always  dangerous  and  rebellious  pris- 
oners who  cannot  be  trusted.  But  there  are 
many  more  who  not  only  can  be  trusted,  but 
who  show  the  wholesome  effects  of  this  trust. 
It  makes  for  a  new  character  of  manhood  among 
prisoners  to  treat  them  as  human  beings  instead 
of  as  incorrigibles  lost  to  all  sense  of  honor. 
There  is  promise  of  real  reform  among  prisoners 
who  are  treated  with  humane  consideration  and 
who  are  encouraged  to  assert  their  better  qual- 
ities. Even  temporary  freedom  is  a  boon,  and 
when  the  convicts  learn  that  their  trustworthi- 
ness is  the  test  of  their  manhood  very  few  abuse 
the  privileges  granted  to  them.  Good  treatment 
and  kindness,  and  trust  in  an  awakened  sense  of 
personal  honor,  will  do  more  to  make  men  of 
prison  inmates  than  all  the  devices  of  punish- 
ment known." 


Prison  Cruelty  Must  Abate 

Some  time  ago  Warden  J.  D.  Botkin,  of  the 
Kansas  state  penitentiary,  in  answering  to  court 
proceedings,     said    that    the    gag    and    strait- 
jacket  had  been  used  by  the  officials  under  for- 
mer Warden  Codding  and  up  to  January  16  of 
this  year,  when  Warden  Botkin  had  ordered  the 
use  of  these  instruments  of  torture  discontinued. 
Governor    Stubbs,   according   to   the   Wichita 
Beacon,  at  once  replied,  offering  $100  for  proof 
that    the    gag    or    strait  jacket    had    been    used 
while   Warden   Codding   was   in   charge   of   the 
prison  under  Governor  Stubbs.    Warden  Botkin 
and  W.  L.  Brown,  chairman  of  the  board  of  cor- 
rections, have  now  sent  to  W.  R.  Stubbs,  for- 
merly   governor,    a    set    of    seven    affidavits    of 
officers  of  the  Kansas  penitentiary  which  state 


that  the  gag  and  straitjacket  had  been  used 
as  punishment  for  unruly  prisoners  in  the  war- 
denship  of  J.  K.  Codding  and  while  Mr.  Stubbs 
was  governor.  The  affidavits  are  to  be  used  as 
proof  of  Warden  Botkin's  assertions. 
The  Cimarron  Jacksonian  says: 

"Now  is  the  time  for  a  showdown.  There  is 
a  widespread  demand  that  a  full  and  searching 
nonpartisan  investigation  be  made  of  these 
charges,  in  which  this  paper  is  glad  to  join.  It 
is  a  very  serious  matter  and  should  not  be  al- 
lowed to  rest  in  doubt." 

Modern  Prison  Methods 

At  the  National  Conference  on  Charities  and 
Corrections  held  at  Memphis,  Mr.  W.  H.  Whit- 
taker,  Superintendent  of  the  District  of  Columbia 
Farm  at  Occoquan,  Va.,  said: 

"Modern  penology  in  order  to  aid  social  prog- 
ress must  sentence  its  unkempt,  immoral  and 
diseased  citizens  to  an  indefinite  term  of  sun- 
shine, fresh  air  and  honest  work,  with  such  sys- 
tem as  will  make  them  an  asset,  rather  than  a 
liability,  when  returned  to  society." 

The  New  York  Journal  reports  that 

"Mr.  Whittaker  scored  the  average  jail  as  a 
'disgrace  to  civilization  and  a  place  for  the 
breeding  of  disease  and  crime.'  He  urged  that 
courts  could  accomplish  more  in  a  great  number 
of  cases  by  a  friendly  word  of  encouragement 
to  the  minor  offender  than  by  sentencing  him  to 

prison. 

"Mr.  Whittaker  declared  that  95  per  cent  oi 
those  in  penal  institutions  and  reformatories 
have  not  been  correctly  formed  in  mental  and 
physical  make-up." 

More  Road  Work  for  Prisoners 

The  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  Register  reports: 

"Arrangements  have  been  completed  for  the 
transfer  of  thirty  convicts  from  the  state  peni- 
tentiary at  Moundsville  to  St.  Mary's,  Pleasants 
county,  and  twenty  to  Berkeley  county  in  a  few 
days,  where  they  will  be  worked  on  the  public 
roads." 

The  Register  says: 

"A  majority  of  the  convicts  are  anxious  to  be 
put  to  work  on  the  roads.  A  feature  of  the  road 
work  which  appeals  to  them  aside  from  the 
greater  freedom  of  being  in  the  open  instead 
of   behind   the   walls   is   the  special   good   time 


August  1.  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


417 


allowance  of  five  days  to  each  month  they  arc 
employed  at  road  work." 

Illinois  and  some  other  states  give  ten  days 
good  time  for  each  thirty  days'  work. 

THE  TATTLER 
By  Herbert  Kaufman 

[Reproduced  by  kind  permission  of  the  author] 

The  main  difference  between  a  tattler  and  a 
rattler  is  that  the  snake  gives  the  other  fellow  a 
show  and  the  sneak  won't.  In  other  respects 
they're  pretty  much  alike  save  for  the  small  mat- 
ter of  an  (e). 

The  man  who  won't  stand  in  the  open  and 
make  his  accusations  where  they  can  be  defended 
proves  that  he  not  only  lacks  courage  but  also  the 
courage  of  his  convictions.  He's  a  coward — his 
work  is  always  signed— his  mark  is  "the  stab  in 
the  back." 

Sincerity  never  bred  a  talebearer.  Real  nien 
play  the  game  of  life  with  unmarked  cards— the 
tattler,  like  every  other  cur,  discloses  his  breed 
by  the  manner  in  which  he  carries  his  tale. 

He  sometimes  deceives  himself  with  the 
thought  that  he  is  doing  good,  but  it  is  not  in  his 
nature  to  be  disinterested ;  the  personal  element 
constantly  enters  into  his  motives— his  tongue  is 
poisoned  with  the  venom  of  envy— he's  jaundiced 
—his  spleen  is  full  of  jealousy— he  can't  digest 
the  thought  of  anybody  else's  success  or  superior- 
ity. 

Unable  to  climb  as  high  as  he  aspires,  he  at- 
tempts to  pull  down  the  ladders  of  ability  upon 
which  better  men  are  mounting.  But  the  assassm 
of  reputations  must  in  the  end  bear  the  punish- 
ment which  the  world  has  always  inflicted  ui)on 
slimy,  crawling  things— its  utter  disgust.  Justice, 
although  blindfolded,  slips  the  bandage  from  her 
eyes,  when  her  sensitive  hand  feels  the  cheating 
finger  trying  to  weigh  down  the  scales— the  aver- 
age run  of  humanity  will  not  convict  upon  one- 
sided evidence. 

Ever  since  little  Bobbie  was  caught  emptying 
the  jam  pot  and  smearing  the  cat's  nose  in  the 
jar,  folks  have  realized  how  deceptive  appear- 
ances can  be  nmde. 

The  mud-thrower  stains  himself  with  the  mire 
which  is  his  weapon ;  he  smirches  his  own  hands 
whenever  he  delves  into  slander. 

Spies  have  never  been  popular.     They   who 


fight  ill  the  dark  do  not  shine  in  the  light.    The 
scavenger  belongs  to  the  lowest  caste  of  soc:  ' 
gossip-mongers,  like  other  collectors  of  the  un- 
pleasant, are  dc  trop  in  decent  circles. 

Even  a  thief  is  one  step  higher  than  an  in- 
former, anil  refuses  to  lower  himself  to  the  in- 
famy of  betrayal. 

The  more  wc  learn  of  life,  the  more  we  con- 
sider that  a  tale-bearer  is  not  to  be  trusted — the 
instinct  which  leads  him  to  divulge  one  cc 
will,  if  the  chance  permit,  ini])cl  him  to  make  use 
of  any  information  which  comes  within  his 
knowledge. 

He  stamps  himself  as  dangerous.  .\i»  hi&  r 
tation  spreads,  his  op|>ortunities  contract;  ;• 
lions  of  importance  cannot  be  given  into  his  care , 
and,  so,  though  he  may  be  gifted  sufficietuly  to 
perform  duties  of  consequence,  the  certainty  that 
he  will  divulge  crucial  secrets  shuts  him  out  from 
openings  which  he  might  otherwise  secure. 

Even  when  he  is  paid  his  Judas  piece,  he  does 
not  hold  what  he  gains ;  that  which  is  gotten 
through  any  other  channel  but  ability  is  sure  to 
be  lost  through  lack  of  ability. 

Men  must  have  the  friendship  and  ccHoperation 
of  their  fellows  to  achieve  beyond  the  ordinar)-. 
and  the  tattler  soon  becomes  a  pariah— every 
man's  hand  is  reaching  out  to  keep  him  down. 

Our  repugnance  is  so  great  against  \< 

of  traitor  that  it  begins  to  manifest  itseli  lu  nulij- 
hood — even  the  kindergarten  prattlers  ostracize 
the  school-room   \q\\-\:\\o  --Cntxrinhtrci   ^v   11  fr-' 
bcrt  Kaufman. 

To  Save  the  Younger  Men  from  Crime 

(From  Cedar   Rapids,   Iowa.   • 
Prison  authorities  have  made  th  <i 

the  average  age  of  prisonc*-'^^  •-  ■  ;d, 

that  criminals,  generally     ,  -..  ,cx 

than  they  were  a  few  years  ago.  This  is  both 
encouraging  and  discouraging.  It  proves  tlwt  as 
men  mature  and  develop  nowadays  the  tendency- 
is  to  "be  straight"— resiHttable  meni»>ers  of  so- 
ciety. But  it  also  shows  that  (ill 
is  lacking  in  the  d<  "  i  ui  >uu;n.  .-.me- 
whcre  there  is  a  I  <k  Parents  are  tot. 
lax,  e<lucative  priiuii-.^  arc  u-  A-  rr^trirtivc 
measures  arc  !"•'  <nfnrrrd  or  v  » 

wrong.  ^ 

The  predominating  idea  is  that  crimes  only 


418                                                      THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST                                            First  Year 

prevention  lies  in  the  proper  bringing  up  of  chil-  turers  and  noted  penologists  will  speak  to  clubs 

dren.     This  being  the  case,  what  is  there  to  ex-  throughout  all  Michigan,  driving  home  the  prin- 

plain  that  the  children  themselves  now  appear  to  ciples  of  the  new  penology,  and  in  time  awaken- 

be  the  criminals,  while  the  older  men  are  up-  ing  the  public's  conscience  and  enlisting  its  ef- 

right?     Ten  years  ago  the  average  age  of  the  forts   in  getting  at  the   fundamental  causes  of 

prisoners   in    the   penal    institution   at   Jackson,  crime. 

Mich.,  was  twenty-eight.  Now  it  is  twenty-three.  This  is  a  big  task.     Some  will  call  it  a  dream. 

Possibly  prison  records  are  no  criterion.    There  but  it  is  not  a  dream.     It  will  be  realized  some 

may  be  just  as  many  crooks  of  middle  age  and  day  in  the  not  far  distant  future.     Meanwhile  it 

older  as  there  were  in  years  gone  by,  but  their  needs  a  big  man,  a  strong  man  to  stand  sponsor 

craftiness  may  be  such  that  they  escape  the  cell,  for  it  and  no  one  could  be  better  fitted  for  that 

But  at  any  rate,  the  difference  in  the  average  position  than  Warden  Simpson, 

ages  of  prisoners  furnishes  material  for  a  con-  ^     ^ 


siderable  amount  of  study  on  the  part  of  workers 
for  social  betterment. 


A  Woman's  Kindliness  and  Prisoners 

(From  Christian  Science  Monitor) 

When  a  woman  was  chosen  bv  the  mayor  of 

Jackson  Prison's  Improvement  ^^^^  York  city  to  administer  the  department  of 

(From   Lansing,   Mich.,   Journal)  corrections  there  was  a  shrugging  of  shoulders 

Jackson  prison  has  been  transformed  in  the  and  raising  of  eyebrows  by  persons  of  both  sexes 

space  of  a  few  short  years  from  a  hell  hole  where  who  doubt  woman's  capacity  to  share  burdens  of 

men  beat  out  their  lives  in  black  rages  against  civic   housekeeping   with   man.      Not    even    the 

themselves,  their  keepers  and  society  at  large,  fact  that  the  appointee  had  won  a  national  repu- 

to  a  reformatory  where  they  are  taught  to  search  tation  in  dealing  with  a  specially  difficult  class 

themselves  for  the  best  that  is  in  them.  of  lawbreakers  counted  with  these  skeptics.    She 

One  man  has  wrought  this  change.     Modest,  was  a  woman.     No  woman  could  meet  critical 

unassuming,  but  iron-willed  Nathan  F.  Sim.pson,  emergencies  in  prison  or  reformatory  discipline, 

warden  of  the  prison,  is  the  man.  Ergo,  to  endue  her  with  responsibility  which  she 

When  he  took  control  of  Jackson  prison   it  could  not  meet  was  a  mistake.    So  the  argument 

was  a  byword   for  all  that  was  bad.     It  was  once  ran.    But  it  is  changing  now,  in  the  light  of 

honeycombed  with  graft ;  the  inmates  slaved  for  facts.    For  not  only  is  the  department  she  heads 

the  enrichment  of  private  contractors ;  there  was  being  run  more  economically  from  the  taxpay- 

no  thought  of  uplifting  the  fallen  and  setting  er's  standpoint,  it  also  is  both  more  strictly  and 

their  feet  on  the  right  road  again.  more  humanely  carried  on  as  a  punitive  and  cor- 

For  the  past  two  years  many  stories  of  the  rective  agency,  the  rigor  of  the  new  executive 

changes  which  have  been  made  under  the  direc-  falling   mainly   on   subordinates   hitherto    ineflfi- 

tion  of  Warden  Simpson  have  come  out  of  Jack-  cient  or  dishonest,  and  the  humanity  being  shown 

son.     They  have  told  principally  of  the  efforts  to  the  inmates  of  the  institutions  over  which  she 

which  have  been  made  to  educate  the  ignorant  has  authority. 

among  the  prisoners,  to  give  them  all  a  new  out-  In  the  more  recent  tests  of  her  courage  and 

look  upon  life  and  to  strengthen  them  for  the  resource,  handling  mutinous  folk.  Commissioner 

time  when  they  will  face  the  world  again.  Davis  has  come  through  triumphantly  because 

But  Warden  Simpson  is  going  farther  back  able  to  combine  decision,  vigor  of  action  and 

than  the  limits  prescribed  by  work  with  men  who  kindliness  of  heart.     As  indifferent  as  the  most 

have  already  sinned.     He  is  going  to  take  up  bold   and   aggressive   man   to    personal    conse- 

the  work  of  crime  prevention.  quences  which  might   follow  her  insistence  on 

The  new  departure  plans  the  organization  of  restoration  of  law  and  order,  she  has  coupled 

bodies  of  clean,  reliable  men  in  each  community  with  that  a   facility  in  appealing  to  the  better 

in  the  state.     These  bodies  are  to  study  crime  selves  of  the  prisoners,  in  inducing  in  them  a 

prevention  and  plan  methods  of  casting  an  en-  willingness  to  play  fair  and  in  leading  them  to 

vironment  about  the  wayward  youth  which  will  abate  their  violence,  which  is  not  alv/ays  notable 

turn  his  activities  into  the  proper  channels.    Lee-  in  men  penologists.     The  insurrection  seems  to 


August  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


41» 


owe  its  defeat  not  to  the  invasion  of  armed  forces 
from  without,  which  Commissioner  Davis  said 
she  would  use  if  necessary,  but  rather  to  the 
presence  of  a  woman  with  an  understanding 
heart.  Empliasis  has  been  put  upon  the  good, 
and  an  appeal  made  to  it ;  and  the  results,  in  the 
eyes  of  politicians  and  might-makes-right  prison 
administrators  seem  little  short  of  amazing. 

Judge  Latshaw  Helps  Prisoners 

(From  Lawrence  Gazette) 
Down  at  Kansas  City  they  had  a  judge  with 
some  practical  sense.    He  could  see  no  reason  for 
keeping  prisoners  locked  up  in  cells  where  they 
had  nothing  to  do,  and   where  only  devilment 
could  be  hatched.     He  said:     "These  men  need 
work.     I  will  give  them  work."     And  he  did. 
He  put  them  to  building  rock  roads  and  during 
the   year   they   have   built   several    miles   of   it. 
Which  was  a  most  excellent  thing.     But  there 
was  another  result  still  better.     Every  prisoner 
who  worked  on  the  road  kept  on  at  work  after 
he  was  released.     He  had  sweated  the  whisky 
and  the  coke  and  the  cussedness  out  of  himself 
while  building  the  rock  roads,  and  the  labor  had 
started  him  on  the  road  to  manhood  again.     In- 
stead of  encouraging  crime  and  idleness,  Judge 
Latshaw  has  given  the  men  a  chance  to  become 
men  again,  and  the  result  showed  that  the  men 
were  quick  to  take  advantage  of  the  opportunity 
offered  them. 

Throughout  the  country  are  prisons  and  jails 
filled  with  men  who  might  be  redeemed  if  given 
a  chance.  The  plan  put  into  practical  operation 
by  Judge  Latshaw  gives  the  men  the  opportunity 
they  long  for,  and  the  fact  that  so  many  of  them 
are  ^aved  from  a  life  of  vice  by  it  is  a  splendid 
return  for  the  experiment.  Some  years  ago  when 
Hon.  Albert  Henley  was  in  the  state  senate  he 
tried  to  induce  the  legislature  to  pass  a  law  that 
embodied  the  theories  of  Judge  Latshaw.  Sen- 
ator Henley  wanted  the  prisoners  at  the  state 
penitentiary  to  be  put  to  work  building  roads. 

®    0    ® 

I  desire  to  see  the  man  or  woman  who  has  paid 
the  penalty  and  who  wishes  to  reform  given  a 
helping  hand— surely  every  one  of  us  who  knows 
his  own  heart  knows  that  he,  too.  may  stumble 
and  should  be  anxious  to  help  his  brother  or  sis- 
ter who  has  stumbled.— r/i^orfor^  Roosevelt. 


BOOKS 


"Cutting  It  Out"  is  the  title  of  a  new  book  of 
sixty  pages  by  Samuel  Blythc,  the  writer  of 
"Who's  Who— and  Why?"  in  the  Saturday 
livening  Post. 

Mr.  Blythc  tells  in  a  way  that  shows  his  story 
is  true  to  cxj)criencc  how  he  "cut  it  out"  and 
went  "on  the  water  wagon."     The  book  is  not 
a  preachment ;  it  is  no  temperance  tract.     It  is 
the  story  of  a  change  of  mind.     Noticing  that 
his  friends  of  forty  to  forty-five  years  of  age 
were   dying    frequently   and   that   as   the   years 
passed  he  was  going  to  funerals  more  often,  Mr. 
Blythe  "decided  to  beat  the  liquor  to  it."     He 
decided  that  when  he  did  die,  he  would  die  a 
natural  death.    The  story  is  told  with  a  wit  that 
wins  the  reader  and  the  good  sense  of  every  page 
will  help  many  a  man  to  straighten  up.     Mr. 
Blythe  tells  how  he  "did  it"  and  he  says,  "I  ani 
riding  jauntily  on  the  wagon,  without  a  chance 
of  falling  off."    The  book  is  good  for  any  per- 
son with  any  controlling  habit  and  it  is  good 
for  any  person  without  "a  habit"  who  likes  to 
read  a  well  told  story.     Price,  35  cents.  Forbes 
&  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

«     •    • 

"Have  you  anything  to  say  before  sentence  is 
pronounced  against  you  ?"  asked  the  judge. 

"The  only  thing  I'm  kicking  about,"  answered 
the  convicted  burglar,  "is  bcin*  identified  by  a 
man  that  kep'  his  head  under  the  bedclothes  the 
whole  time.    That's  yNVong."— Puck. 

"If  you  don't  mind,  sir."  said  the  new  convict. 
addressing  the  wnrdc-n.  "I  should  like  to  be  put  at 
mv  own  trade." 

'That  might  be  a  good  idea,"  said  the  warden: 
"what  may  your  trade  be?" 

"I'm  an  aviator,"  said  the  new  arrival.-ilouv 

ton  (Texas)  Post. 

0 

Prisoner— "There  goes  my  hat;  shall  I   run 

after  it-*" 

Policeman  Casey-" Phwat?  Run  away,  would 

you?    Just  you  stay  here  and  I'll  run  after  your 

hat."— r/»r  New  Way. 


420 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


It  is  pleasaiiter  to  know  what  a  man  is  than 
to  suspect  him. — Julian  Hawthorne. 

Severe  discipHne  fostered  animosity  and  con- 
tention  between   prisoners. 

Redeeming  the  criminal  is  safeguarding  society. 
Sending  him  to  prison  is  only  of  temporary  value. 

Vengeance  does  not  become  respectable  by 
being  called  punishment. 

Severe  discipline  is  gradually  being  supplanted 
l)y  humane  methods  of  detention  and  correction. 

Never  since  Wisconsin  was  admitted  to  the 
Union  has  capital  punishment  been  administered 
there. 

Nobody  can  tell  in  advance  when  a  man,  who 
is  unfit  today  to  be  a  free  citizen,  will  become  fit 
to  be  one. 


Truth  is  great  and  will  prevail  if  left  to  her- 
self. She  is  the  proper  and  sufficient  antagonist 
to  error  and  has  nothing  to  fear  from  the  conflict. 
— Thomas  Jefferson. 

We  feel  that  no  political  economy  can  be  so 
useful  and  beneficial  as  that  which  involves  the 
care  and  conservation  of  human  character,  and 
the  restoration  of  men  to  the  work  of  mankind. — 
Good  Words,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

The  first  lesson  of  life  is  to  burn  our  own 
smoke;  that  is,  not  to  inflict  on  outsiders  our 
personal  sorrows  and  petty  morbidness,  not  to 
keep  thinking  of  ourselves  as  exceptional  cases. — 
James  Russell  Lowell. 

Abraham  Lincoln's  was  the  power  that  com- 
manded admiration  and  the  humanity  that  in- 
vited love.  Mild  but  inflexible,  just  but  merci- 
ful, great  but  simple,  he  possessed  a  heart  that 
commanded  men  and  attracted  babes. — The  Bet- 
ter Citisen,  Rahway,  N.  J. 


Road  work  in  prison  camps  will  return  pris- 
oners to  the  world  with  respect  for  law,  order 


and  good  government. 


Capital  punishment  should  be  abolished,  at 
least  as  long  as  judges  are  agreed  that  perjury 
is  the  prevailing  crime. 

The  darkest  shadows  of  life  are  those  which  a 
man  himself  makes  when  he  stands  in  his  own 
light. — Lord  Avebury. 

There  is  nothing  in  the  world  that  needs  so 
little  decoration  as  the  genuine  article. — The  Bet- 
ter Citizeyi,  Rahway,  N.  J. 

m 

He  does  much  who  does  what  he  has  to  do 
well.  He  does  well  who  serves  the  common  good 
rather  than  his  own  will. — Thomas  A    Kempis. 

m 

Prisoners  must  be  clothed,  so  that  their  sense 
of  self-respect  will  not  be  entirely  violated  by  con- 
templation of  their  rags. 


Judge  (sternly) — Didn't  I  tell  you  the  last  time 
you  were  here  that  I  never  wanted  you  to  come 
before  me  again? 

Prisoner — Yes,  sir ;  but  I  couldn't  make  the 
officer  believe  it. — The  Mirror,  Stillwater,  Minn. 


If  criminals  were  forever  immured  behind 
prison  walls  they  would  cease  to  be  a  menace  to 
society,  but  as  they  are  to  return  to  the  world 
to  mingle  with  other  men  after  the  expiration  of 
their  sentences,  they  finally  come  to  exert  an  in- 
fluence for  right  or  wrong,  and  in  this  lies  much 
of  the  importance  of  reforming  them  while  in 
prison. 

The  construction  of  a  highway  built  by  pris- 
oners from  Colorado  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  will 
be  undertaken  jointly  by  the  states  of  Colorado, 
New  Mexico  and  Texas.  The  road  when  com- 
pleted will  be  the  longest  continuous  boulevard 
in  the  world. 

The  first  duty  of  a  state  is  to  do  what  it  may 
for  the  welfare  of  its  law  abiding  citizens. 


August   1.   l'.»14 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


491 


BUCKNER  &  O'BANNON 

903  West  Main  Street,  Louisville,  Ky. 


Independent 
Dealers  in 


LEAF  TOBACCO 


We  buy  our  leaf  tobacco  directly  from  tin- 
farmers  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  and 
make  a  specialty  of  supplying  manufac- 
turers and  state  institutions. 


White  Bear  Brand  Steel  Cut 
Coffee 

Superior  in  the  cup      Popular  in  pm  r* 

Durkasco  and  White  Bear  Brand 
Pure  Fruit  Preserves 

Durand  &   Kasper  Co. 

Wholttalt  Groctn  ami  Mo'  rri 

tmpoHtrt  anJ  Hoatt<n  of  Lopre 

(HICAGO  ILLINOIS 


Bray's  Drug'  Store 

The  HOME  of  BRAY'S  COUGH 

MIXTURE.    A  Remedy  that 

cures  where  others  fail. 


25   Cents    -Per  Bottle      50  Cents 
104  Jefferson  Street,  Joliet,  Illinois 


The  Bett  For  All  Occationt 

CAMPBELL  HOLTON   &   CO. 

VMiOLKSAl.K  UROCLKS 
BLOOMINGTON.         .         .         -         ILLINOIS 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 

1900  COLLINS  STREET,     JOLIET,   ILL. 


Enclosed  find. 


1914 


for   One    Dollar,    in    payment 


of  subscription  for  One  Year. 

Name 


Street  and  No. 
City 


County 
State 


CUT    THIS    OUT    AND    MAIL    IN     YOUR     SUBSCRIPTION 


422 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


To  Obtain  the  Best  Results  in  the  Safest  Manner,  in  Using  High -Explosive 

USE 

Patented.     Trade  Mark  Registered 

The  World's  Greatest  High-Explosive 

A  Nitrated  Hydro-Carbon  Explosive 


Dynalite  is   used  at  the  quarry  of 

the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary  at 

Joliet,  Illinois,  where  it  has  given 

satisfaction  for  many  years. 


Adopted    by  The    Ohio    National    Guard, 
Battalion  of  Engineera. 

Used  by  the  Ohio  State  Penitentiary,  the 
Dayton  State  Hospital  and  similar  institu- 
tions wanting    and    knowing    the   BEST. 


MANUFACTURED  BY 


THE  AMERICAN  DYNALITE  COMPANY 

Amherst,  Ohio.     U.  S.  A. 


WERDEN  BUCK 

BUILDING 
MATERIAL 

511  and  513  WEBSTER  ST 


BOTH  PHONES  213 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


THE  J.  C.  ADLER  CO. 

JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 
If  you  want  the  best  in 

HAMS,  BACON,  LARD 

Sugar  Cure        ^^   SAUSAGE    Hickory  Smoke 

order  ours — we  make  them 

MARCO  GROCERS 


Louis  Stoughton  Drake 

Incorporated 


Fabricators  of  the  Celebrated 

LOONTIE 
CANE  and  REEDS 


Boston 


Massachusetts 


August   1,   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


Prison  Supply 
Company 

JOHN  W.  GIBBONS,  Agent 

Wooltm  anb 

For    Officers,     Inmates 
and  Discharge  Clothing 

Tools  of  Every  Description 

34  S.  Fifth  Ave.,  CHICAGO,  ILL. 


w. 

Freeman 

& 

Co. 

Whol 

esale  Potatoes 

and  Fruits 

Car  Lois  a  Specialty 

Chicago  "Phone  6 1 8              N. 

W.  "Phone  859 

105  S.  JOLIET  STREET 

JOLIET. 

ILLINOIS 

Chicago  Phone:  Office  1037. 


Residence  64S. 


Daniel  Feely 

Wholesale  Dealer  In 

MEATS  AND 
PROVISIONS 


Room  4,  Clement  Building 
Ottawa  Street  :  JOLIET,  ILL. 


i«Ui>tton«  Y«>a*  siso  A«»a  iisi 

Holman  Soap  Company 


M«rtuf  acluf  •#•  ol 


ALL  KINDS  OF  SOAP 

Toilet  Preparations.  Perfume*.  Toilet  Soap. 
Soap  Powder,  Scouring  Powder.  Scouring  Soap. 
Metal    Polish.    Furniture    Polish.     Inks.    Etc. 


3104  to  3106  Fox  Street 


Chicago 


Enterprise   Plumbinj; 
Supply  Co. 

Plumbing  Supplies 
to  the  Irade  Only 

UanJulph  1529  Auto.  47-313 


26-28  W.  Kinzie  Street 


Chicago 


I.  B.  Williams 
CB^Son 


•MANUFACTURERS   OF- 


Oak  Tanned  Leather 
Belting 

Round  Leather 
Belting 

Cut   and   Side   Lace 
Leather 


14  N.  FRANKLIN  STREET 

TELKPHONK   MKlTi    I—* 

CHICAGO 


AGENTS  IN   ALL   PRINCIPAL   CITIES 


424 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Hardware,  Plumbing, 
Heating,  Gas -Fitting 
and  Sheet  Metal  Work 


When  you  want  a  strictly  honest 
and  good  job  at  an  honest  figure 
for  best  workmanship  and  material 

CALL  ON  US. 

We  will  let  our  work  and  price 
give  you  an  idea  of  our  honesty 
and  the  quality  of  goods  we 
handle. 


POEHNER  &  DILLMAN 

417-419-421-423  Cass  St.  Joliet,  111. 

Chicago  Phone  119       North  Western  Phone  525 


When  opportunity  presents  itself, 
SPEAK  A  GOOD  WORD  FOR 

TheP.E.HOLMSTROM 
COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  GROCERS 
JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


Our  Brands 

Boulevard  Brand 
Renroh  Brand 
Kan  Brand 

Ask  your  grocer  for  above  brands  and 
get    quality    consistent    with    price 

HENRY  HORNER  &  CO. 

Importers  and  MaLnufacturers  of  Groceries 
CHICAGO,  U.  S.  A. 


Joliet  Oil  Refining  Co. 

REFINERS  OF  PETROLEUM 

High  Grade  Illuminating  and  Lubri- 
cating Oil,  Purity  Automobile  Oil 
All  Kinds  of  Grease  Linseed  Oil  Soap 

located  on  MUls  Road  Pb±";,3,  JOLIET,  III. 


F.  C.  HOLMES  (®,  CO. 

(incorporated) 
WHOLESALE  DEALERS  IN 

Fresh,  Frozen  and  Smoked 
Fish  —  Oysters  in  Season 


Telephones 
Monroe  180 
Automatic  30-108 


736  West  Randolph  Street 
CHICAGO 


WEBB'S 

GAS  ROASTED 

COFFEE 


Puhl-Webb 
Company 

Importers  and 
Roasters 

Chicago     ::     Illinois 


AuRUSt    1.    1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


4S3 


The 


BOSTON 
STORE 


Joliet's  Biggest 

Busiest  and  Best 

Store 


Come  in — We  will  treat  you  so 

well  you'll  never  want  to 

trade  anywhere  else 


Wilder  &  Company 

CUT  SOLE  LEATHER 
UPPER    LEATHER 

Art  and  Novelty 
Leathers 

DEPENDABLE    Q^TALITY 

226-228  W.  Lake  Street  CHICAGO 

Branches:  Boston— Cincinnati— Milwaukee— St.  Louis 


"\A7E  have  in  our  warehouses 
everything  in  the  steel  line 
and  are  able  to  ship  immediately 
any  order  received. 


Scully  Steel  CS,  Iron  Co. 


Charles  Heggie 
Pres. 


Geo.  Mason  Jr. 
Vice-Pres. 


The  Weber  Dairy 

OF  JOLIET 

rrillTJlhlf  w  '64.  Ikra  WM^  Ihe  »A  •! 
Iwocowt.aow  w«iiwiha  milk  ol400oow» 

DAILY  PURE  MILK  OUR  TRADE  MARK 

AL.   J.   WF.BKR.  ProptUler 

503  W.  Jeffer»on  St.,  Joliet,  Illinois 


WARLEY'S 

Boiler  Cleansing  Chemicals 
Lubricating  Oils  and  Greases 

are  used  by  those  who  want  abso- 
lutely the  best,  and  arc  willing  to 
pay  a  fair  price. 

THOS.  C.  WARLEY  C«i,  CO. 

202  8.  Clark  Street. 


CHICAGO 


.Sim  /    StfKnton,   Sfanager 


Bush  &  Handwerk 

H'hoUuilf  anJ  Retail 

HARDWARE  DEALERS 


Factory  and   Quarry  Supplies 

Stoves  and  Range* 

Plumbing     and     Gas    Filling 

Steam  and  Furnace  Work 


115-117  JEFFERSON  STREET 
JOLLIET.  ILLINOIS 


426 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Wad  SAVor  th-HoAvland 
Company 


Paint  and  Color  Makers 


Carpenter  and  Fulton  Streets 

Chicago 


o 
u 

O 

OQ 


< 


u 
u 


Q 

o 
u 

O 


The  Harvester  Cigar 

A  dozen  sizes  from  five 
cents  up. 

Mild   as  a  good   cigar 
can  be. 

In  Universal  Favor 


The  Mark 
of  Quality 

This  mark  appears  on  each  barrel  of 

TEXACO  LUBRICANTS 

It  is  a  guarantee  of  economy  and  efficiency. 


Only  Texaco  lubricants  are  used  on  the  Panama 
Canal,  and    quality    alone    made   this    possible. 

The  Texas  Company 

HOUSTON  NEW  YORK 

Branch  Offices 

Chicago  Tulsa 

New  Orleans         Dallas 
El  Paso 


Boston  Philadelphia 

Norfolk  Birmingham 

Pueblo 


Rattan  &  Cane  Company 

IMPORTERS 
AND  MANUFACTURERS  OF 

Rattans^  Reeds, 
Canewebbing,  Willows 

66  West  Broadway,       New  York,  N.  Y. 


i 


^-vui^uai    1,    i-ji'i 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


427 


CHICAGO  BUTCHERS 
PACKING  COMPANY 


216-222  North  Peoria  St. 
CHICAGO  ILL. 


The  ''I  war'  Brand 
Hams,  Bacon  and  Lard 


SAUSAGES  of  all  kinds, 
which  are  known  for  their 
QUALITY  and  FLAVOR  and 
which  do  not  contain  any  ce- 
real, but  which  are  pure  meat. 


COMMISSION  A   SPECIALTY 


LYONS  BROTHERS 

LUMBER  and  FUEL  COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  and  RETAIL 

LUMBER  and  COAL 


Both  Telephones  No.  17 


Washinjrton  Street 
and  Yoric  Avenue 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


ROBERT  T.  KELLY,  Pres.  P.  F.  McMANUS,  Vice-Pres. 

CHAS.  G.  PEARCE.  Cashier      WM.  REDMOND,  As«'t  C«8h'r 


^f)e  f  oliet  iSational 
Panfe 

3%  on  Savings  3% 
JOLIET  ILLINOIS 


Victor  Petertyl 

Manufacturer 

Chair  Dowels 
Telephone  Pins 
and  Brackets 

Traverse  City  -:-  Mich. 


"NoneSuchToodProducts 

THE  BEST  THAT  SKILL  AND 
NATURE  CAN    PRODUCE 

nUARANTEED  TO  COMPLY 
WITH  ALL  PURE  FfX)D  LAWS 

Manufaclurad  by 

McNeil  &  Higgins  Company 

Chicago,    lllinoia 


URPHY,  LINSKEY  & 
KASHER    COAL   CO. 

MINERS   AND    SHIPPERS    OP 

Original 
Wilmington  Coal 

FROM   BRAIDWOOD    MINE   ON 
CHICAGO  4  ALTON  RAILROAD 

Pontiac  Coal 

FROM  PONTIAC  MINE  ON  ILLINOIS 

CENTRAL,  WABASH  AND  CHICAGO 

AND  ALTON  RAILROADS 


Main   OHice,   BRAIDWOOD,    ILL. 

Phones,   Chicago    14-M 

Interstate    04  1 -L 


428  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  First  Year 


&D  ELITE 

^^^^^^^■^^^  TRADE    MARK       REGISTERED  ^^^^^^ 

PAINT  AND 
VARNISH   PRODUCTS 

SPREAD  FURTHEST,  LOOK  BEST 
AND    WEAR   WELL    LONGEST 

ADAMS  &   ELTING  CO- 

7J16-726  Washington  Blvd.,  CHICAGO  Telephone  Monroe  3000 


COMPLIMENTS  OF 


SULZBERGER  &  SONS  COMPANY 


U.  S.  A. 


Majestic  Hams,  Bacon 
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THE  JOLIBT 
PRISON  POST 

^^#  EDITED  BY  FKISUyERS 

Published  Monthly  by  the  Board  of  Committianert   and  the  Warden 
of  the  lllinoit  State  Penitentiary.  Joliet .  III.,  U.  S.  A. 


One  Dollar  the  Year 


At  Jollet.  IlllniiU.  iindrr  A'  ' 


'\m.  Ten  Cents  the  Copy 


VOL.    1 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS,  SKITEMDIik  1.  lull 


No.  • 


EDITORIAL 


THE  THOUGHT  OF  THE  MONTH 

It  is  to  the  interest  of  the  community  that 
old  offenses  should  be  forgotten.  There  are 
few  men  no  matter  how  valuable  their  services 
ultimately  to  society,  who  might  not  have  been 
ruined  if  at  the  turning  point  of  their  lives  they 
had  been  visited  by  the  publication  of  youthful 
wrongs  done  by  them.  Hence,  he  who  mali- 
ciously exposes  the  past  life  of  an  intended  vic- 
tim with  the  purpose  of  crushing  him  by 
bringing  to  public  notice  some  act  of  shame 
long  past,  and  it  may  be  long  repented  of  and 
atoned,  may  deserve  a  severer  punishment 
than  one  who  invents  a  false  charge  easily  dis- 
proved.— Washinyton  State  Supreme  Court. 


"Higher  Justice"  and  Governor  Dunne's  An- 
nouncement 
In  Governor  Edward  F.  Dunne's  Camp  Dunne 
speech  delivered  last  May  to  the  prisoners  of 
that  camp  who  are  making  good  roads  for  the 
people  of  Illinois,  the  dovernor  said : 

"The  State  has  deprived  you  of  your  lihtTly 
but  not  of  your  manhood.  Your  presence  in  thi» 
camp  to-day,  on  your  honor  as  men.  proves  that 
the  administration  has  faith  in  your  manhood." 

As  men  and  women  learn  that  nothing  arti- 
ficial and  arbitrary,  nothing  contrary  to  the  na- 
ture of  human  life,  serves  in  bettering  the  con- 
ditions of  human  beings,  a  great  many  methods 


now  used  that  arc  thought  to  be  of  service  in 
ameliorating  conditions  will  be  abandoned. 

Environment  has  a  great  deal  to  do  with  one'<i 
felicity  and  one's  welfare,  but  a  change  in  cnvi- 
ronnicnt  alone  will  not  make  an  improvident  |>cr- 
son  pros|K'rous  or  an  unhappy  person  joyful 
Somewhat  of  a  |)erson's  improvidence  or  un- 
happiness  is  always  within  himself. 

(iiven  a  number  of  people  with  practicallv  the 
same  environment,  as  farmers  of  a  certain  re- 
gion, merchants  in  a  particular  locality,  fann'  ' 
in  a  single  neighliorhood,  or  individuals  of  uiu 
family  and  there  will  still  l)c  <litTcrences  in  ma- 
terial welfare  and  in  thi-  rn:tii-  in. I  Mt-^siii.'  fh-i! 
is  gotten   from  life. 

One  reason  that  progress  in  the  amelioration 
of  conditions  is  not  more  rapid,  is  that  too  much 
attention  is  paid  to  conditions  in  proportion  to 
the  attention  that  is  paid  to  the  habits  and  qual 
ity  of  the  person's  thought. 

.Another  reason  is  tliat  when  attention  is  paid 
to  the  person's  attitude,  habit  of  tlu'; 
and  quality  of  mind,  the  |)crM»n  is  dealt  »wli 
according  to  the  l>eliefs  an«I  ixilicies  of  the 
thought  and  i<lcals  of  •  '  and  not  accord 
ing  to  the  law  of  the  |h:-..ii!»  own  mind,  the 
nature  of  his  «Avn  life. 

People    who   have   not   yet    seen   that   human 
progress  comes  only  as  |>crsons  leani  and 
mil-  to  their  own  deciier  nature,  little  dream  of 
the  extent  to  which  they  themselves  subject  t 
whom  they  would  help,  to  their  own  < 
and  of  the  degree  to  which  they  thus  actuall> 
hinder  the  |)crson's  progress. 

A  |>crson's  miinl  must  l)c  well  cic. 


:.in^c'i  "I  '  "n- 


430 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


ceits  before  he  will  be  able  to  see  that  any  per- 
son's guidance  is  in  that  person  himself  and  not 
in  another.  The  office  of  a  helper  is  not  to  pre- 
scribe rules  of  action  but  to  aid  a  person  to  find 


in  the  experience  of  the  world,  being  found  to 
be  a  failure.  More  and  more  has  progress  shown 
that  inevitably  man  must  come  to  be  governed 
by  justice  and  good-will  which  must  be  within 


"The  state  assumes  the  right  to  use  the  strength 
and  time  of  its  prisoners  to  its  own  benefit.  In 
the  past  the  state  has  placed  too  much  emphasis 
upon  this  right,  and  too  little  upon  the  rights  of 
its  prisoners.  This  condition  society  is  attempting 
to  change.  The  state  no  longer  seeks  to  enslave 
its  prisoners  by  placing  upon  them  burdens  which 
they  are  either  unable  or  unfit  to  carry.  Prison- 
ers in  this  state  are  no  longer  subjected  to  hard- 
ships for  the  mere. sake  of  causing  them  pain  or 
fatigue,  nor  are  they  any  longer  exploited  to  the 
financial  gain  of  contractors  of  prison  labor. 

"We  are  beginning  to  see  the  prisoner's  side  of 
the  situation.  We  have  already  learned  that  his 
rights  are  as  important  as  those  of  the  state. 

"We  who  represent  the  government  are  asking 
you  who  represent  the  men  in  the  prisons  to  help 
us  better  the  conditions.  We  go  to  the  man  be- 
hind the  bars  and  ask  him  for  his  opinions  and  for 
his  co-operation.  We  appeal  to  you  today  to  do 
your  best." — Governor  Edivard  F.  Dunne,  in 
speech  at  Camp  Dunne,  Illinois,  to  prisoners  from 
Illinois  State  Penitentiary,  zvho  are  working  on 
roads  without  guards. 


That  which  is 
now    taking    place 
in  prisons,  is  that 
which  in  earlier 
times  took  place  in 
peoples  as  a  whole. 
The  lower  types 
of  the  humanity  of 
today    are    typical 
of  what  once  soci- 
ety was  in  general. 
As  civilization  has 
grown  through  the 
ages,    down   the 
ages   along  with 
that    growth    have 
come  types  of  the 
world's    earlier 
character,    "walled 
in,"   as    Mr.    Clar- 
ence  Darrow   said 
in  a  recent  address 
here,    to    separate 
that  class  of  per- 
sons from  those  who  would  be  free  from  such 
a  type  of  mind,   from   such  a  quality  of   life. 
True,  those  that  the  walls  have  caught  have  not 
always  been  the  worst  of  the  race,  and  some  of 
them  who  were  the  worst  have  not  been  caught 
at  all. 

®  .  Inevitably    in    the    process    of    the    world's 

Governor  Dunne,  in  his  Camp  Dunne  speech,  growth,  what  once  was  born  in  the  souls  of  the 
meets  the  fundamental  life  issue  which  every  better  element  of  society,  is  now  being  born  in 
person  must  meet  who  ever  seriously  undertakes  the  souls  of  the  lower  human  types,  in  the  souls 
to  associate  himself  with  the  world's  progress,  of  the  men  and  women  whom,  in  behalf  of  its 
Sovereignty  in  the  hands  of  a  few,  arbitrarily  own  welfare,  society  has  seen  fit  to  outlaw,  the 
handed  down  to  subjects,  is,  with  every  century,      men  and  women  in  the  "walled  cities"  where  it 


To 


"one  far  off  di- 
vine event 

which  all  crea- 
tion moves." 


and  to  follow  the  guidance  that  the  person's  own  himself,  governed  by  his  own  fairness,  his  own 
truer  nature  gives  and  which  the  person  may  reason,  his  own  truth.  Such  a  social  life,  a 
know  when  he  himself  is  free  enough  from  con-  pure  democracy  where  every  man  will  be  as  true 
ceits  to  heed  and  to  obey  that  guidance.  to   every   other  man   as  he   is  to   himself,   has 

Prisons  are  tilled  with  people  who  have  not  always  been  the  dream  of  the  purest  souls  of 
lived  true  to  what  of  the  deeper  inner  guidance  earth;  it  is  the 
they  did  have,  and 
it  is  because  they 
still  persist  in  fall- 
ing to  the  lower 
level  of  obeying 
their  selfish  or  sin- 
ister impulses  that 
discipline  in  pris- 
ons is  so  neces- 
sary. It  hardly 
needs  to  be  said 
that  under  any  just 
administration  the 
severity  of  disci- 
pline in  a  prison 
will  always  be  in 
proportion  to  the 
waywardness  o  f 
the  prisoners,  in 
proportion  to  the 
prisoners'  indulg- 
ence of  their  sel- 
fish and  sinister  in- 
clinations. Under 
a  just  administra- 
tion, such  as  is  be- 
ing worked  out 
here,    a    prisoner 


who  can  live  true  to  the  truth  of  his  own  life, 
who  can  keep  square  with  the  administration  in 
accordance  with  the  requirements  of  his  situ- 
ation, need  never  in  his  own  experience  know 
anything  of  the  most  severe  physical  hardships 
of  prison  life. 


II 


September  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


431 


is  presumed  the  lowest  ul  the  world's  human- 
ity is  confined. 

Governor  Dunne,  we  say,  meets  the  funda- 
mental life  issue  which  every  i^erson  must  meet 
who  ever  seriously  undertakes  to  as.sociate  him- 
self with  the  world's  progjress. 

Governor 
Dunne  steps 
clearly  beyond 
the  conventional 
patronizing 
method  of  social 
service,  where 
one  presumes  to 
carry  out  only 
one's  own  beliefs 
and  policies  o  f 
thought  in  one's 
help  of  another, 
and  he  recognizes 
that  progress  is 
to  come  from  al- 
lowing the  per- 
son to  live  his 
own  nature  and 
from  helping  the 
person  to  con- 
form to  what  his 
own  better  na- 
ture requires. 

Governor 
Dunne  says : 

"Th«  State 
assumes  the 
right  to  use  the 
strength  and  time 
of  its  prisoners 
to  its  own  benefit. 
In  the  past  the 
State  has  placed 
too  much  empha- 
sis   u  p  o  n    t  h  i  s 

right,  and  too  little  upon  the  rights  of  its  pris- 
oners. This  condition  society  is  attempting  to 
change.  The  State  no  longer  seeks  to  eii>lavc 
its  prisoners  by  placing  u[xm  them  burdens 
which  they  are  either  unable  or  unfit  to  carry. 
Prisoners  in  this  State  are  no  longer  subjected 
to  hardships  for  the  mere  sake  of  causing  them 
pain  or  fatigue,  nor  are  they  any  longer  ex- 
ploited to  the  financial  gain  of  contractors  of 
prison  labor.  We  are  beginning  to  see  the  pris- 
oner's side  of  the  situation.     Wc  have  already 


UO.\UKAm.h   1.1 
(jovcnior 


Icarncil  that  his  rights  arc  as  ini|x>rUnt  as  iho!.c 
of  the  State." 

W  hen  Governor  Dunne  »ays  that  "the  State 
has  placed  too  much  cm|>ha^i^"  upon  its  own 
rights  and  "too  Uttic  ufKin  the  right*  of  its  pris- 
oners," he  docs  not  mean  that  now  i  rs  are 
to  be  allowed  to  indulge  and  to  live  unrc^irained 

''"••'•'    '-''■  »i    and 
;'Ul**» 
means     that 
t  h  L-      prisoners 
u.si     leant    and 
must      confine 
thrnisclvcs         t  O 
sn      their 
nt   situation. 
IS     truly     their 
sdiis  as  well  as 
at    society    abo 
ust     leani    and 
'■'W      those 
And    he 
that     be- 
sides this  the  in- 
ividual     must 
ind     give 
lo  society's 
^    and    also, 
ririlv       that 
A   not 
any   longer   place 
<>o    much    em- 
iiasis"    Ujion    lU 

Ihc  State  is 
ining  to  see 
ui.ii  the  individ- 
ual did  not  lo»e 
every  natural  hu- 
man riglit  when 
he  was  convicted 
of  a  particular 
offense.  It  IS  be- 
ginning to  sec,  too,  that  when  a  person's  natural 
rights  and  interests  in  which  the  person  can  be 
true  are  fostered,  the  risk  is  lessened  of  the  per- 
son's doing  again  the  one  thing  <"  vvhi.h  he  is 

wrong. 

ihis  principle  of  life,  this  plan  of  social 
service,  is  finding  its  way  into  the  aflfairs  of  this 
prison.  A  larger  life  is  o|x-ning  to  prisoners ;  that 
which  is  right  for  them  is  being  allowed 


)WAKU  1-.   D  U.N.N  h. 
uf    niinoit. 


432 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


It  is  an  acknowledgment  of  a  prisoner's  rights, 
even  though  he  is  paying  a  penalty  for  a  viola- 
tion of  the  social  good,  to  allow  him  still  to  guard 
his  own  welfare  and  interests.  It  is,  even  while 
under  the  rules  he  should  be  locked  up,  an 
acknowledgment  of  his  right  to  health  to  allow 
him  to  be  more  in  the  open  air  when  it  is  found 
that  regular  confinement  in  the  cell  is  undermin- 
ing him ;  it  is,  even  though  confined,  an  acknowl- 
edgment of  his  right  to  his  natural  human  rela- 
tionships  to  allow  him  to  receive  and  to  write 
letters  and  to  have  visits,  and  it  is  a  further 
acknowledgment  of  this  right,  when  the  letter 
writing-  and  the  visits  are  allowed  each  week  in- 
stead  of  being  allowed  only  one-quarter  as  often ; 
it  is,  even  while  "the  State  assumes  the  right  to 
use  the  strength  and  time  of  its  prisoners  to  its 
own  benefit,"  an  acknowledgment  of  his  right 
still  to  protect  and  to  provide  for  his  family  to 
grant  him  a  wage,  even  though  still  small  in 
amount,  with  which  he  can  help  to  supply  his 
family's  needs ;  it  is,  even  while  the  State  holds 
him  in  custody,  an  acknowledgment  of  his  right 
to  freedom  and  to  citizenship  to  allow  him  to  go 
to  the  Joliet  Honor  Farm  or  to  a  road  camp  to 
earn  extra  good  time  and  to  prove  his  fitness  for 
freedom. 

From  these  beginnings  in  allowing  prisoners 
their  natural  human  rights,  a  larger  grant  of 
these  rights  will  gradually  and  necessarily  come 
as  the  prisoners  themselves,  by  their  own  way  of 
life,  justify  the  grant  and  thus  make  it  possible. 
When  individual  and  social  rights  are  fully  recog- 
nized and  lived  both  by  individuals  and  by  so- 
ciety, the  problem  of  social  oflfense  by  individuals 
will  be  found  to  be  far  less  complicated  than  it  is 
now. 

The  great  modern  hope  of  prisoners 
is  grounded  in  the  fundamental  proposi- 
tion that  their  rights  as  human  beings  are  to  be 
recognized  and  that  they  are  to  be  given  the  op- 
l)ortunity  to  show  justification  for  their  being 
allowed  to  exercise  and  to  enjoy  those  rights. 

Instinctively  the  prisoner  who  wants  to  make 
good  feels  that  lie  can  come  to  the  fulfillment 
of  his  hopes  if  he  is  to  have  open  way  for  the 
exercise  of  his  powers.  The  great  virtue  of 
the  honor  system  is  that  it  opens  opportunity 
for  the  best  that  is  in  a  man.    Under  it,  he  who 


is   of   worth   can   find   a   way  in   which  he   can 
make  that  worth  known. 

"Higher  Justice"  and  Court  Rulings 

The  question  of  prison  betterment  is  a  larger 
question  than  merely  that  of  improvement  of 
conditions  within  the  prison  walls.  It  is  a  ques- 
tion also  of  the  influences  which  work  to  send 
men  and  women  to  prison. 

There  is  an  awakening  of  the  public  conscience 
to  what  the  Chicago  Examiner  calls  a  "higher 
justice"  of  which  a  recent  action  of  the  grand 
jury  and  a  recent  ruling  of  Judge  Sabath's  court 
are  a  practical  application. 

It  has  taken  the  world  some  time  to  come  to 
the  thought  announced  by  Governor  Dunne  that 
"the  State  no  longer  seeks  to  enslave  its  pris- 
oners" and  to  where  the  prisoners  of  the  State 
"are  no  longer  subjected  to  hardship  for  the  mere 
sake  of  causing  them  pain  or  fatigue."  This 
principle  of  social  solicitude  for  individual  wel- 
fare is  now  more  or  less  recognized  by  a  large 
number  of  the  states  of  the  Union.  The  recogni- 
tion of  the  principle  will  grow ;  the  spirit  of  the 
idea  seems  to  be  a  part  of  the  new  consciousness 
of  the  time. 

Speaking  of  the  two  cases  in  question,  the 
Examiner  says : 

"Two  women  in  Chicago,  accused  of  crimes, 
were  judged  according  to  'the  newer  justice' 
yesterday,  and  both  escaped  punishment.  In 
two  different  instances  it  was  demonstrated  that 
'the  quality  of  mercy  is  not  strained'  and  that 
Justice  no  longer  wears  a  bandage  cwver  her 
eyes." 

Miss  Hazel  Pollock,  a  young  woman  working 
in  various  homes  as  a  domestic  and  also  during 
a  number  of  years  seeking  to  win  a  musical  edu- 
cation, was  charged  with  "many  thefts  in  homes 
where  she  had  worked."  The  evidence  was  "in- 
controvertible," but  while  the  grand  jury  was 
hearing  the  evidence,  Assistant  State's  Attor- 
ney Michael  F.  Sullivan  presented  a  letter  from 
Miss  Mary  R.  Campbell,  of  the  Psychopathic 
Laboratory  of  the  Municipal  Court  which  pleaded 
for  the  life  rights  of  the  girl  and  which,  in  spite 
of  the  evidence  that  she  had  actually  taken  things 
that  did  not  belong  to  her,  caused  the  grand  jury 
to  decide  that  an  indictment  was  not  justifiable 
and  a  "no  bill"  was  returned. 


September  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


433 


Miss  Campbell's  letter  states : 

"The  fact  that  Miss  Pollock  has  always  been 
morally  pure  is  much  in  her  favor.  She  worked 
under  a  great  nervous  strain  for  years  in  order 
to  give  herself  a  musical  training.  She  is 
now  on  the  verge  of  a  serious  mental  c(jllapsc. 
rhe  consequence  is  that  unless  she  now  gels  the 
most  expert  kind  of  sanitarium  care  she  is  go- 
ing to  become  permanently  unbalanced  mentally. 
The  girl's  condition  is  one  bordering  on  hystcrio- 
epilepsy.  She  is  the  victim  of  an  unfortunate 
breakdown  and  mental  collapse  and  if  properly 
cared  for  may  fully  recover  in  time.  Several 
women  of  the  city  have  offered  to  assume  this 
burden." 

Miss  Pollock  yf2L5  taken  from  the  county  jail 
to  be  cared  for  by  interested  friends  and  after- 
wards was  taken  to  a  sanitarium  where  she  will 
remain  a  week.  Miss  Campbell  will  undertake  to 
raise  a  fund  to  send  Miss  Pollock  to  an  institute 
where  she  can  have  good  professional  care. 

Speaking  of  the  new  way  in  which  the  offi- 
cers of  the  law  have  treated  this  case,  the  Exam- 
iner says: 

"Probably  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of 
Cook  county,  an  inquisitorial  body  exercised  a 
judicial  prerogative  and  ignored  the  facts." 


The  second  case  was  "strikingly  similar  in  its 
broad  outlines"  to  the  case  of  Miss  Pollock. 

Mrs.  Frances  Falls  was  charged  with  having 
passed  fraudulent  checks  amounting  to  $150.00. 
Four  Chicago  business  men  offered  to  reimburse 
the  persons  who  had  lost  the  money  and  the  com- 
plainants then  waived  prosecution.  The  scene 
was  in  Judge  Sabath's  court  and  was  dramatic. 
Mr.  H.  H.  Graham,  of  Rock  Island,  Illinois, 
championed  Mrs.  Fall's  cause  with  such  earnest- 
ness that  the  mother's  larger  rights  were  recog- 
nized and  her  freedom  secured.  In  answer  to  the 
question  of  why  she  had  passed  the  checks,  Mrs. 
Falls  said  simply,  "I  did  it  to  support  my  baby." 

In  explaining  his  interest  in  the  case,  Mr.  Gra- 
ham said : 

"Mrs.  Falls'  case  has  come  to  our  attention 
through  newspaper  articles.  I  have  had  an  in- 
vestigation made  and  I  believe  that  she  is  worthy 
of  aid.  If  the  gentlemen  who  have  cashed 
checks  for  her  will  come  to  my  office.  I'll  pay 
them  the  amounts  due  them.  And  I'll  also  sec 
that  Mrs.  Falls'  baby  is  taken  care  of." 


Besides  his  own  appeal,  Mr.  Ciraham  prc!»cntcd 
a  letter  which  was  addressed  to  the  court  and 
which  was  signetl  by  Xcl  Palfrey,  vicc-prcsidcni 
and  general  manager  uf  the  Graham  Brothers 
distillery,  by  the  K.  D.  W'inship  Oil  Company 
and  by  Sheriff  Dent  Dobyns. 

ihe  letter  in  jwrt  is  as  follows : 

■■\\'e  desire  to  state  that  the 
make  good  the  checks   •^h     '  n 

ing  in   the  aggregate  to  •  .  re- 

spectfully request  that  you  will  act  with  every 
leniency  you  can  in  this  matter,  as  it  looks  to  us 
as  if  it  were  a  worthy  case  and  not  one  of  mal- 
ice." 

juilge  Sabath,  in  addressing  the  woinan,  said: 

"You  are  a  ft>rtunate  w 

down  from  heaven  and  sa  ■•>  , — 

tentiary.    Be  a  woman  al  -t  in  your 

actions.     These  gentlemen   have  come  in   here 

and  have  done  what  they  can  f'  and  now 

1  want  to  see  you  do  the  right  t  If  1  ever 

hear  of  your  passing  bogxis  again  or 
otherwise  violating  the  law.  I  will  punish  you 
to  the  full  extent  of  my  power." 

Certainly  none  of  the  i^rties  to  this  hununc- 
legal  action  meant  that  their  acts  were  to  be  con- 
strued as  a  disregard  of  the  integrity  of  the 
state  or  as  offering  an  excuse  so  as  to  nuke 
place  for  crime.  The  circumstance  docs  not 
show  a  weakness  in  the  administration  of  gov- 
ernment; it  shows  the  strength  and  the  practi- 
cability of  the  humanitarian  interest  which  peo- 
ple have  in  one  another.  It  is  a  giving  way  of 
the  old  judicial  severity  and  the  beginning  of  a 
provision  for  social  order,  material  welfare  ..  ! 
individual  happiness,  which  will  be  stronger  ..  ' 
which  will  be  more  true  to  the  needs  of  llic 
finer  and  more  valuable  qualities  of  human  life 
than  the  "justice"  which  knows  only  rigi<l  dis- 
cipline and  punishment. 

The  new  judicial  attitude  is  an  expression  of 
the   new    social   consciousness    which    rccogn-.. 
that  a  person  should  be  helped  in  her  frailties. 
not  punishal  for  them. 

In  each  of  the  cases  there  is  an  acknowledg- 
ment that  a  part  of  the  rcs|)onsibility  for  what 
each  woman  di«l  is  in  the  social  conditions  in 
which  each  liveil,  that  even  if  each  be  held  re- 
sponsible for  her  act,  society  itself  is  responsible 
for  the  social  situation  which  to  each  made  her 
act  seem  necessary. 


434 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


The  representatives  of  organized  society  have 
pardoned  frailty  and  have  condoned  offense, 
but  they  have  not  made  provision  for  offense. 
They  have  only  shown  that,  despite  the  frailty 
and  the  offense,  the  natural  human  rights  of  the 
women  can  be  recognized,  the  right  of  Hazel 
Pollock  to  nurture  the  deep-seated  longing  of  her 
heart  for  a  musical  education,  and  the  right  of 
Mrs.  Falls  to  fulfill  the  demands  of  her  deep 
mother  love  for  her 
child. 


Another  case  of 
"higher  justice" 
was  that  of  Joseph 
Pruesk  in  Judge 
Torrison's  court. 

Pruesk  had  been 
charged  with  fail- 
ure to  support  his 
wife  and  children. 

Underanew 
rule  of  the  Court 
of  Domestic  Rela- 
tions, an  investiga- 
tion was  ordered 
by  Dr.  William  J. 
Hickson  of  the  psy- 
chopathic labora- 
tory. 

It  was  found 
that  Joseph  Pruesk 
is  a  dwarf,  that  his 
wife  and  her  four 
children    are    also 

dwarfs.  Pruesk's  defense,  or  explanation,  was 
that  wherever  he  worked,  the  other  men  made 
sport  of  him,  which  he  could  not  endure  and 
that  therefore  he  could  not  hold  his  job. 

The  Chicago  Nezvs  says : 

''He  is  44  years  old,  yet  physicians  declare  his 
mental  development  is  only  that  of  a  ten-year- 
old  child.  When  people  ridicule  Joseph,  when 
his  fellow  workers  jeer  at  him  and  sneer  at  him, 
he  is  just  as  keenly  sensitive  as  any  little  boy. 
With  their  cruel  words  ringing  in  his  ears,  he 
runs  for  shelter  and  will  not  return  to  work 
because  his  feelings  have  been  injured." 

Judge  Torrison  continued  the  case  two  weeks 


to  give  Pruesk  a  chance  to  see  what  he  could  do. 
"The  case  interested  me  immediately,"  Judge 
Torrison  said.  Dr.  Hickson  explained  that  the 
"entire  Pruesk  family  is  composed  of  cretins, 
persons  lacking  the  thyroid  gland,  and  therefore 
incapable  of  normal  physical  and  mental  growth." 
Judge  Torrison  asked,  "Can  they  be  cured?" 
Dr.  Hickson  replied,  "We  probably  can  cure  the 
children."     Whereupon  the  Judge  ordered  that 

the  children  should 
be  given  into  the 
care  of  a  charitable 
organization  and 
that  a  nurse  should 
call  at  regular  in- 
tervals to  provide 
medicine  for  them. 
Miss  Isabelle  Car- 
ruthers,  a  nurse 
connected  with  the 
Court  of  Domestic 
Relations,  says : 


"Our  parole  law  has  been  in  force  something  like 
six  years  and  during  that  time  violations  have 
averaged  only  twenty  per  cent,  which  is  remark- 
ably good  under  all  the  circumstances.  I  said 
that  there  was  a  remarkably  good  feeling  in  this 
state  towards  paroled  prisoners.  Last  week  a 
paroled  prisoner  came  to  my  office  and  told  me 
that  a  man  who  was  to  sign  his  parole  papers  and 
give  him  a  job  had  been  taken  sick  and  been  com- 
pelled to  leave  the  state  for  his  health  and  that  he 
had  been  unable  to  secure  employment.  I  put  an 
announcement  in  the  dailies  of  Topeka  saying 
that  I  had  a  paroled  man  and  desired  a  job  for 
him  in  order  that  he  might  have  a  chance  to  be- 
come a  good  citizen.  I  had  six  offers  to  take 
him  the  next  day  and  located  him  in  Topeka 
with  a  responsible  man  who  will  give  him 
employment  the  year  round  at  $1.50  per  day." — 
Governor  George  H.  Hodges'  Executive  Clerk,  Mr. 
S.  T.  Seaton.  in  a  personal  letter  to  The  Joliet 
Prison  Post. 


''Pruesk  lacks 
the  thyroid  gland. 
If  he  had  been 
treated  with  thy- 
roid extract  from 
glands  of  cattle 
when  a  child,  he 
would  have  had  a 
good  chance  to  de- 
velop into  a  normal 
being.  He  has  been 
in  this  country 
twenty-six  years, 
yet  he  can  speak  no 
English  save  'yes' 
and  'no.'  But  he  is 
keenly    conscious    of    ridicule." 

"Modern  science,  wonderful  new  develop- 
ments in  medicine  and  in  the  medico-psychic 
treatment  of  the  causes  of  crime,"  says  the 
Examiner,  "have  held  out  the  rescuing  hand  to 
the  Pruesk  children.  'By  order  of  court,'  the 
Pruesk  children  are  to  grow  to  the  full  stature 
of  norrhal  manhood." 

Joseph  Pruesk  promised  to  have  the  medicine 
which  was  to  be  prescribed  faithfully  adminis- 
tered to  his  children.     Through  his  interpreter 


September  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


he  said,   "I   wish 
myself." 


it   wasn't  too   late  to   take   it 


^ 


Three  other  cases  are  brought  to  attention 
where  it  appears  that  the  "higher  justice"  would 
far  more  fully  serve  both  the  individual  and 
the  social  good  than  the  justice  which  considers 
but  the  one  act  un- 
der condemnation 
and  which  punishes 
without  regard  to 
the  conditions  un- 
der which  the  act 
was  committed  and 
without  considera- 
tion of  any  of  the 
person's  other  na- 
tural human  inter- 
ests and  virtues. 

Some  months 
ago  Miss  Helen 
Young  of  Califor- 
nia was  in  Chicago 
with  her  invalid 
sister,  seeking  to 
have  her  sister's 
health  restored.  It 
appeared  that  Miss 
Young  had  passed 
some  worthless 
checks  to  get 
money  with  which 
to  bring  her  sister 
to  Chicago.  When 
arrested  in  Chi- 
cago, the  court 
"stayed  the  hands 
of  the  law  for  two 
months"  while 
Miss  Young  con- 
tinued her  unsuccessful  battle  for  her  sister's  life. 

When  Miss  Young  returned  to  Los  Angeles, 
she  pleaded  guilty  to  the  charge  of  passing  bad 
checks  and  was  granted  a  year's  probation ;  later 
she  obtained  permission  to  return  to  Chicago  if 
she  should  find  it  necessary  to  leave  Los  Ange- 
les. 

Miss  Young  said : 

"I  am  going  to  start  my  life  anew  and  niy 
plans  for  my  future  do  not  include  compromis- 
ing my  self-respect  even  for  a  home. 


■  1  am  unafraid  of  work.  In  fact,  now  tliat  I 
have  not  the  fear  and  responsibility  which  hung 
over  me  while  I  had  my  dying  sister  to  care 
for,  I  am  not  afrai.'  -f  nnything  in  the  world. 
Hut  I  want  work. 

"I  compromised  with  honesty  l»eff»re— but  my 
(lying  sister  was  my  tempution.  I-or  myself  in 
the  future — no  compromise.  Moncsty  and  hard 
work— that's  my  motto." 

.•\nd  in  reference 
to  propositions  for 
marriage  which  the 
publicity  of  her 
ca»e  '  St  to 
her,  M.^-.  Voung 
tlcclarcd : 

"To  marry  a 
stranger  for  a 
home  isn't  an  hon- 
est nurriage,  and 
in  my  new  life 
ther--  '^  'i-'^  '•••  to  be 
a  step. 

in»  matter  what  the 
alternative." 


Ttie  second  case 
IS  that  of  Miss 
ICdythe  E.  Perry 
I^Harr  who  was  in 
court  because  she 
had  married  two 
husbands. 

"The  pretty   de- 

•'■  I'lant."  says  the 

*.hicago  Examinrr, 

was   so  overcome 

with   emotion   that 

she  was  unable  to 

take     the     witness 

•  :id.    Not  a  word 

was  offeretl  in  her 

!.  'V-^e." 

When   tlic  case  was  <>vir  a  bailuT  Mid  to  the 
young  woman,  "You'll  have  to  go  hack  to  jail." 
She    slowly    arose    an<l    ^^  >•>    '•'<'    twiv    tu-    fhr 
bailifT. 

"I  married  two  men,"  she  ^aid  "One  de- 
serted me,  and  then  told  me  a  lie-  told  me  that 
he  had  divorce<l  me.  I  am  not  a  criminal.  I 
thought  I  was  divorced  or  I'd  never  have  been 
married  to  I^Barr." 

But  she  was  led  on  to  the  cell  an<l  a  lew 
minutes  later,  the  steel  door  of  her  cell  closed 


HO.NoKAUi.h    uKOKOh    Jl.    ilOUOtS. 
Governor    of    KaiiM*. 


436 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


with  a  sharp  click  and  she  fell  on  her  cot  in  a 
half  faint." 

The  third  case  is  that  of  Peter  R.  Brown,  a 
young  machinist,  who  pleaded  guilty  to  bigamy 
in  Judge  Brentano's  court,  Chicago,  and  was 
sentenced  to  from  one  to  five  years  in  this  peni- 
tentiary. 

The  young  man  said  that,  for  what  would 
appear  to  indicate  sufficient  cause,  he  left  his 
first  wife  and  Went  to  Chicago.  He  was  told 
later,  he  says,  that  his  wife  had  obtained  a 
divorce.  It  was  then  that  he  married  the  sec- 
ond woman.  Later  he  found  that  his  first  wife 
had  not  been  divorced. 


Miss  Helen  Young  is  proving  that  the  clem- 
ency granted  her  is  not  misplaced.  She  is  ris- 
ing from  her  one  "dishonest  step"  where  she 
"compromised  with  honesty"  and,  "unafraid  of 
work,"  is  beginning  to  live  in  her  other  life  inter- 
ests, in  the  virtue  that  is  in  her. 

There  is  nothing,  so  far  as  the  newspapers 
report,  in  the  case  of  Mrs.  Edythe  E.  Perry- 
LeBarr,  "the  pretty  defendant"  in  the  double 
marriage  case,  to  indicate  that  she  acted  with 
any  criminal  intent.  So  far  as  her  character 
and  life  purpose  are  concerned,  she  declares,  "I 
am  not  a  criminal."  She  thought  she  was  di- 
vorced or  she  never  would  have  married  LeBarr, 
she  said. 

Peter  Brown,  the  young  machinist,  thought  his 
wife  had  obtained  a  divorce. 

If  both  Mrs.  LeBarr  and  Peter  Brown  had 
been  more  cautious  and  more  thorough,  pro- 
vided they  were  free  from  criminal  intent  as  they 
say,  they  would  have  investigated  the  reports 
that  came  to  them.  The  reports  would  then 
have  been  verified  or  they  would  have  been 
shown  to  be  unfounded. 

If  the  second  marriages  were  only  because  of 
a  lack  of  thoroughness  and  were  not  criminal 
in  thought,  would  not  society  have  been  served 
better  had  the  two  young  people  found  the 
mercy  and  the  helpfulness  of  the  "higher  jus- 
tice" instead  of  their  being  committed  to  prison 
because  of  the  technical  violation  of  the  law  in 
a  single  act? 

So  lightly  have  we  considered  the  rights  of 
the  individual's  life  and  so  partially  have  we 
guarded  the  social  integrity  that  in  numerous 


instances    our   "justice"    has    defeated    its    own 
ends. 

Were  the  "higher  justice"  always  to  rule,  that 
justice  which  takes  account  of  the  full  rights 
of  the  individual  and  of  both  the  rights  and 
the  obligations  of  society,  our  laws,  while  still 
protecting  society,  would  no  longer  wrong  any 
man  or  woman. 

"Higher  Justice,"   Imprisonment  and  Libera- 
tion 

In  the  first  of  these  editorials  on  "higher  jus- 
tice" is  quoted  Governor  Dunne's  statement  that 
"We  are  beginning  to  see  the  prisoner's  side  of 
the  situation.  We  have  already  learned  that  his 
rights  are  as  important  as  those  of  the  State." 

As  Governor  Dunne  says,  it  is  being  learned 
that  the  prisoner's  rights  are  important  to  him 
and  it  is  being  learned  that  the  prisoner's  rights 
are  important  also  to  the  State. 

The  nature  of  things,  which  life  itself  imposes, 
is  always  supreme  over  what  the  creature  mind 
wills  and  chooses.  At  last,  the  mortal's  rejec- 
tion of  what  he  dislikes  and  his  acceptance  of 
what  pleases  him,  gives  way  to  what  is  true :  what 
is  true  rules,  even  though  it  does  take  time  for 
tMt  which  is  false  to  wear  itself  out. 

It  was  inevitable  that  society  should  come  to 
see  that  the  individual  is  entitled  always  to  his 
rights.  Hitherto  the  state,  in  assuming  "to  use  the 
strength  and  time  of  its  prisoners  to  its  own 
benefit,"  took  the  ground  that  the  individual  lost 
all  of  his  rights  when  he  committed  any  offence 
against  society. 

The  person  was  arrested  and  publicly  ac- 
cused of  the  offense,  which  was  always  referred 
to  as  his  "crime" ;  he  was  tried  with  all  the 
power  of  the  state  against  him ;  the  prosecut- 
ing attorney's  office  convicted  him  if  it  were 
able  to  convict  him,  the  public  expecting  this 
of  the  prosecuting  attorney ;  if  convicted,  the 
man  was  sent  to  jail  or,  if  possible,  was  sent 
to  prison;  to  be  sent  to  prison  meant  to  be  as 
completely  cut  away  from  the  outside  world 
as  was  possible ;  the  man  might  not  see  his 
friends  oftener  than  once  a  month ;  he  might 
not  attend  or  help  to  attend  to  any  of  his 
business  matters,  except  to  close  up  those  mat- 
ters— that  is,  to  dissolve  his  business  connec- 
tions and  let  his  business  interests  die;  his 
crops  might  go  to  waste  in  the  field,  his  mer- 


September  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


chandisc  niiglit  be  sold  out  in  practical  bank- 
ruptcy from  his  shelves,  his  factory  might  be  left 
to  deteriorate  and  pass  ultimately  from  his  hands  : 
meanwhile  he  has  kept  up  his  meaningless  grind 
within  the  prison  walls;  some  of  his  frien«ls  and, 
if  in  prison  for  a  long  enough  time,  some  of  his 
family  have  died  ;  he  comes  out  at  the  end  of  his 
term  more  or  less  penniless  and  more  or  less 
friendless  and  the  newspaiK-rs  announce  that  So- 
and-So,  "convict" — they  always  put  in  the  "cott- 
vict,"  whatever  else  they  forget — has  been  dis- 
charged from  prison  :  and  the  newspapers  and  the 
•■public"  see  that  the  name  "convict"  follows  the 
man  all  the  way  through  his  life  to  his  grave. 

When  the  prison  course  is  fully  run,  society 
finds  the  man  back  ujx^n  its  hands  with  his 
health  somewhat  impaired ;  his  faculties  weak- 
ened ;  himself  out  of  touch  with  the  later  ways 
and  methods  of  the  world ;  a  part  or  all  of  his 
money  gone ;  probably  with  a  resentment  for 
society  which  he  did  not  have  before;  with 
certainly  a  great  dcai  better  knozcledi/e  of  how 
all  kinds  of  crimes  arc  committed:  with  his 
friends  estranged  and  his  family  in  many  cases 
broken  up;  with  opportunity  in  great  measure 
and,  in  many  cases,  almost  completely  closed 
to  him — finds  the  man  back  upon  its  hands 
with  less  social  value  than  he  had  when  it  first 
[committed  him.  . 

\N'hile,  even  then,  society  continues  to  neu- 
tralize the  man's  value  to  himself  and  his  social 
value,  by  crying  continually  in  his  and  in  every 
one's  else  ears,  "convict,"'  "convict,"  "unclean," 
"unclean." 

Incidentally,  while  imprisoning  the  man,  so- 
ciety has  deprived  the  wife  and  children  of  the 
service  of  the  husband  and  father,  deprived  the 
man  of  a  husband's  and  father's  right  to  provide 
for  his  family  and  while  determinedly  denying 
to  the  husband  and  father  the  right  to  provide 
for  his  family,  it  has  refused  also  itself  to  provide 
for  that  family. 

The  facts  known  at  this  institution,  siiow 
that  many  a  wife  who.  left  ])enniless  and  de- 
prived of  the  support  of  a  committed  hus- 
band, has  turned  to  a  life  of  evil  as  a  means  oi 
supporting  herself;  that  many  children  whose 
father  has  been  committed,  have  grown  wayward 
and  have  swelled  the  roll  of  society's  delinquents. 

In  society's  determination  to  deny  the  in- 
dividual all  of  his  rights  because  he  vir.latcd 


Sitmc  otu  of  society's  rights,  stxicly  has  been 
continuously  loatling  upon  itself  an  accumulat- 
ing burden  until  "the  increase  of  crime,"  mul- 
tiplied, as  just  ill  •  I.  by  the  unnatural  .    ;: 
d:ti«»ns  which  s«H.ii,  ^  treatment  of  social  ot 
fenders  sets  up  has,  together  with  a  •..!.••'-•■     •' 
other   things,  brought   s«Hicty   to  » 
after  all,   its   treatment  of  the  indi 
fender  has  been  exactly  right. 

It  was  inevitable  that  society  should  . 
to  see  that  the  individiial  is  always  entitled  to  hit 
rights  but.  l>esides  this,  s(K-iety  has  seen  that,  in 
denying  the  individual  his  rights,  it  has  muUiplifd 
Ml  (jeometrical  ratio  the  violation  of  its  ou» 
rights,  has  seen  that,  in  denying  the  tndifiduiil 
the  rights  that  should  not  have  been  denied  him, 
it  has  denied  itself  rights  H'hieh  would  and  could 
not  have  otherivise  been  denied. 

The  great  realization  that  is  creeping  into  the 
public  conscience  is  that  the  individual  cannot  l>e 
denied  any  of  his  rights  without  society  also  be- 
ing denied  some  of  its  rights. 

Restraining  a  man  so  that  he  sliall  not  any 
longer  offend  against  s<K-icty,  serves  <^i- 
ciety  and  the  man's  treatment  while  under 
restraint,  may  be  made  such  that  restrain- 
ing him  will  also  serve  him.  Hut  while  restrain- 
ing a  man  where  he  is  wrong,  to  also  deprive  him 
of  what  are  still  his  rights,  dcx-s  not  serve  so« 
and  does  not  ser^•c  him.  It  wrongs  him  and  ii 
wroi'gs  society  also. 

The    incoming    of    the    "higher    justice 
only  that  the  wt»rld  is  coming  more  nearly  to 
justice.     Great  injustice  ha<;  heen  called  "jus- 
tice" in  ages  past. 

A  despatch  from  Kansas  City.  Kansas,  to 
the  Wichita  Eagle.  June  6,  says  that  "Fifly 
county  prisoners  are  on  their  way  to  the  Kan- 
sas wheat  fields  to  assist  in  the  harvest,  as  the 
result  of  an  order  made  by  Judge  R.  S.  I-at- 
shaw.  of  the  criminal  court  here  t«K|ay." 

The    men    chosen    were    "nuxlel    prisons 
They    were   sent    to   the   h-irvrst    fields        \i 
dressing   the   men.   Ju<lge    I  v    said:   "You 

are  being  given  the  l>est  cliance  to  make  g«io«l 
Kansas  needs  men  and  you  need  liberty  "   Here  i» 
a   distinct   and   most   practical   example  of   the 
identity  of  the  individual  intere«it  with  the  »o»i.iI 
interest.      "Kansas    needs    men    and    you    need 

liberty." 

When  the  social  attitude  toward  the  indi- 
\  idiial  was  that   >>f  iimn^hiiu'  him   for  his  of- 


438 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


fense  instead  of  only  restraining  him  from  who  worked  on  the  road  kept  on  at  work  after 
continuing  to  commit  that  ofifense  and  of  cul-  lie  was  released.  He  had  sweated  the  whiskey 
,  .  ,,  ,  ,  u  u  4.  1  -ou  and  the  coke  and  the  cussedness  out  of  hmi- 
turmg  hmi  so  that  he  should  not  longer  wish  ^^^^  while  building  the  rock  roads,  and  the  la- 
to  commit  It,  It  would  have  been  impossible  i^^j.  |^^j  started  him  on  the  road  to  manhood 
to  have  connected  the  social  good  with  the  again.  Instead  of  encouraging  crime  and  idle- 
individual's  good,  as  Judge  Latshaw  has  now  ness  Judge  Latshaw  has  given  the  men  a 
done.     While  committed  blindly  to  the  policy  -^^^"ce    to    become    men    again    and    the    result 

,  showed  that  the  men  were  quick  to  take  ad- 

of  punishment,  society  s  eyes  were  shut  to  an  ^^ntage  of  the  opportunity  offered  them, 
appreciation  of  its  own  rights  and  proper  wel-  "Throughout  the  country  are  prisons  and  jails 


fare,  as  they  were 
shut  to  the  indi- 
vidual's rights  and 
to  his  proper  wel- 
fare. Society  must 
then  have  closed  its 
eyes  to  its  own  in- 
terests ;  else  it 
could  not  have  al- 
lowed itself  to 
wreak  its  venge- 
ance. Such  is  the 
price  we  have  paid 
— and  in  some 
measure  are  still 
paying — for  indul- 
gence in  this  and  in 
other  similar  low 
and  untrue  quali- 
ities  of  mind.  But 
the  world  is  now 
passing  to  a  "high- 
er justice,"  into  the 
justice  which  truth 
makes ;  is  passing 
out  of  the  "justice" 
which  was  to  satis- 
fy    condemnation. 


"I  am  in  thorough  accord  with  the  modern  idea 
of  dealing  with  criminals.  I  believe  that  the  pri- 
mary purpose  of  maintaining  penal  institutions 
should  be  to  reform,  as  far  as  possible,  those 
capable  of  reformation,  and  that  when  a  man  who 
has  gone  astray  has  been  brought  to  a  realization 
of  the  enormity  of  his  wrongdoing,  has  thorough- 
ly determined  to  foresake  a  life  of  crime  and  enter 
upon  a  path  of  law  observance,  he  should  be  given 
an  opportunity  to  make  an  honest  living  outside 
the  prison  walls.  The  idea  that  prisons  are  in- 
tended as  places  of  punishment  for  wrongdoers 
finds  no  lodgement  with  me.  I  also  believe  that 
the  rules  of  prisons  should  be  such  as  to  bring 
out  the  very  best  there  is  in  men  committed  to 
those  institutions ;  that  a  spirit  of  humanity 
should  pervade  them,  and  that  the  man  who  is 
unfortunate  enough  to  be  sent  there  should  be 
impressed  with  the  idea  that  it  is  better  to  be 
good  than  to  be  bad,  and  that  the  man  who  is  dis- 
posed to  obsei;ve  the  law  will  have  his  reward." — 
Governor  Lee  Cruce,  in  a  personal  letter  to  The 
JoLiET  Prison  Post. 


filled  with  men  who 
might  be  redeemed 
if  given  a  chance. 
The  plan  put  into 
practical  operation 
by  Judge  Latshaw 
gives  the  men  the 
opportunity  t  he  y 
long  for,  and  the 
fact  that  so  many 
of  them  are  saved 
from  a  life  of  vice 
by  it,  is  a  splendid 
return  for  the  ex- 
periment. Some 
years  ago  when 
Hon.  Albert  Hen- 
ley was  in  the  state 
senate,  he  tried  to 
induce  the  legisla- 
ture to  pass  a  law 
that  embodied  the 
theories  of  Judge 
Latshaw.  Senator 
Henley  wanted  the 
prisoners  at  the 
state  penitentiary 
to  be  put  to  work 
building  roads." 

Kansas  has  pro- 
gressed some  since 
the  days  of  Hon. 
Albert     Henley 


jealousy,  hatred,  and  vengeance.    The  Lawrence,      "some  years  back."  Last  January  W.  F.  Richards 
Kansas,  Gazette,  commenting  on  Judge  Latshaw's      was  received  at  the  Kansas  State  Penitentiary  un- 


policy  of  recognizing  that  social  rights  and  values 
are  fostered  by  allowing  individuals  their  rights 
says: 

"Down  at  Kansas  City  they  had  a  judge  with 
some  practical  sense.  He  could  see  no  reason 
for  keeping  prisoners  locked  up  in  cells  where 
they  had  nothing  to  do,  and  where  only  devil- 
ment could  be  hatched.  He  said:  'These  men 
need  work.  I  will  give  them  work.'  And  he 
did.  He  put  them  to  building  rock  roads  and 
during  the  year  they  have  built  several  miles  of  it. 
Which  was  a  most  excellent  thing.  But  there 
was  another  result  still  better.    Every  prisoner 


der  a  sentence  of  one  to  five  years,  he  having  sold 
mortgaged  property.  For  several  years  crops  had 
been  light  and  Richards  was  reduced  in  sup- 
plies and  had  also  become  heavily  in  debt. 
After  he  was  imprisoned  his  family  became  de- 
pendent upon  the  county  authorities  for  food. 
As  the  harvest  of  this  year  approached,  it  be- 
gan to  appear  that  the  wheat  Richard  had 
planted  last  fall  would  yield  an  abundant  crop. 
The  first  good  crop  Richards  had  had  in  three 
years.  These  facts  were  presented  to  Governor 
Hodges,    and    Richards    was    permitted    to    go 


September  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


439 


home  to  harvest  his  wheat. 

The  JopHn,  Missouri,  Globe  says: 
"Governor  Hodges  today  granted  a  parole  for 
sixty  days  to  W.  F.  Richards,  a  pri.'^oner  at 
the  state  penitentiary,  so  Richards  might  go 
to  his  home  in  Sahne  county  and  harvest  liis 
wlicat  crop.  Richards  will  relurn  to  the  prison 
after  the  job  has  been  completed. 

"Richards  entered  the  prison  last  January 
under  a  sentence  of  from  one  to  five  years  for 
selling  mortgagcil 
property.  He  was 
heavily  in  debt,  and 
according  to  re- 
ports to  the  Gov- 
ernor, his  family 
has  been  dependent 
u  p  o  n  neighbors 
since  his  imprison- 
ment. 

"Friends  of  the 

Richards  family  re- 

rently  informed  the 

Governor  the  wheat 

w  h  i  c  h     Richards 

planted     last     fall 

promised    to    yield 

an  abundant  crop. 

The    Governor 

thereupon    decided 

the   family  needed 

Richards  worse  for 

the  next  sixty  days 

than    the    state    of 

Kansas  did." 

In  replying  to 
our  inquiry  sent  to 
Governor  Hodges, 
Mr.  S.  T.  Seaton, 
executive  clerk, 
has  sent  the  fol- 
lowing word : 

"The  facts  are  these :  W.  F.  Richards  and 
H.  J.  Taylor,  of  Saline  County,  were  convicted 
of  selling  mortgaged  property  and  sent  to  the 
penitentiary  for  from  one  to  five  years.  They 
were  both  men  with  families,  each  having  a 
wife  and  three  small  children.  They  had  not 
served  their  minimum,  but  some  of  the  best 
people  of  Saline  County  urged  the  Governor 
very  strenuously  to  grant  them  i)aroles.  In 
view  of  the  fact  that  Richards  had  a  crop  ma- 
turing which  would  probably  go  to  waste  on 
account  of  the  inability  of  his  wife  to  care  for 
it  and  that  Tavlor's  wife  was  dcpeiulcnt  <mi 
the  aid  of  friends,  the  Governor  granted  them 
a  sixty-dav  parole  and  has  since  extended  it 
until  the  first  day  of  September.     '1  his  prob- 


llONOUAUI-E 
Governoi"  of 


ably  means  that  their  paroles  will  be  extended 
indefinitely,  as   Governor    1  -   has  rarely 

returned  a  man  to  prison  who  na>  been  released 
on  a  short-time  parole. 

"Governor  Hodges  has  paroled  530  men  from 
the  Kansas  State  I'cnitentiary  in  the  past  18 
months.      These  paroles  are  in  •*•     * 
ommended   bv   the    Hoard  of  *  i 

myself,  although  a  very  large  number  are  taken 
up  first  with  the  l'ar«jle  Clerk,  and  on  I 
ommendation  appnjve*!  by  the  Governor.  . 

out  of  five  of  tb<   ( 

m  e  n    arc    making 

gfMMl  and  the  lav. 

in  very  great  fa.  -i 

among>l    our    ik<« 

pie. 

"( Hir  |)arulc  Liw 
law   has   been   in 
force   something 
like  six  years  and 
during    that     time 
violations      h  a  v  e 
averaged    '"'' 
twenty    per   » • 
which    is    remark- 
ably gootl  under  all 
the   circumstat' 
I    said    that    ti.^::. 
was  a   remarkably 
gCKxl  feeling  in  this 
state    towards    jxa- 
r  o  Ic  d      prisoners. 
Last    week    a    ja- 
roled    prisoner 
came  to  my  office 
and  toM  me  that  a 
man    who    was    to 
sign      his      i>arolc 
pa|K"rs     and     give 
liim     a     j<  '      'I 
l>een  taken  >  I 

hail  been  cc»mi>clle<l 
to   leave   the   stale 


LEE  CRUCE. 
Oklahomi. 


for  hi< 


I 


that  ho  had  been  unable  to  secure  ei  , 
1  put  an  announcement  in  the  dailies  of  Toix-ka 
saying  that  I  had  a  paroled  man  and  desired  a 
job  for  him  in  order  that  he  might  have  a  chance 
to  become  a  good  citizen.  I  had  six  offers  to  take 
him  the  next  dav  and  located  him  in  TojKka  with 
a  resiwnsible  man  who  will  give  him  employment 
the  year  round  at  $1  .'^^  por  day. 

"the  granting  of  tem|M.rary  jviroles  is  not  a 
general  ix.licv  in  this  State.  Hut  we  must  some- 
times grant  a  short  time  parole  m  case  we  are  a 
little  doubtful  about  the  man  and  desire  to  keep  it 
especially  before  his  eyes  for  a  short  lime  that  his 
hl.erty  may  be  very  brief.  dei>endmg  upon  how 
well  lie  act's  while  he  is  out.      . 

•It  is  altogether  probable  that  our  parole  i.w 


440 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


will  be  amended  by  the  next  legislature,  creating 
a  parole  department  charged  especially  with  the 
duty  not  only  of  determining  who  should  be 
paroled,  but  with  getting  employment  for  paroled 
men  and  keeping  them  employed  when  they  lose 
the  jobs  in  which  they  have  been  placed,  and  also 
to  provide  means  for  keeping  better  watch  on 
them  than  we  have  hitherto  been  able  to  keep." 

Kansas  seems  to  be  getting  away  from  the  mis- 
taken idea  of  punishment  as  the  sole  means  of 
correcting  offenses.  It  is  seeing  that  the  acknowl- 
edgment of  rights  and  the  opening  of  opportuni- 
ties is  the  way  to  lessen  and  perhaps  ultimately  to 
end  the  "crime"  Avhich  continuously  is  such  a 
menacing  social  problem. 

The  "higher  justice,"  the  foundation  princi- 
ples of  which  are  stated  by  Governor  Dunne  of 
Illinois,  which  is  practiced  in  some  of  the  Chi- 
cago courts  and  which  Kansas  is  coming  to  ac- 
cept as  its  policy,  is  also  being  recognized  and 
practiced  in  Iowa.  J.  A.  Sanders,  w^arden  of  the 
Iowa  State  Penitentiary,  has  allowed  some  of  his 
men  to  go  out  of  the  prison  to  work  for  farmers 
who  needed  help  so  that  the  prisoners,  on  their 
part,  might  earn  some  money  to  send  home  to 
their  families.  In  a  recent  ofificial  report  W'arden 
Sanders  says : 

"A  penal  institution  may  be  corrective  and  up- 
lifting, or  it  may  be  punitive  and  degrading.  The 
jail  or  the  penitentiary,  as  it  has  been  conducted 
in  the  past,  has  been  a  place  where  expert  crim- 
inals were  made.  On  their  reformation  much 
depends  upon  the  opportunity,  as  it  has  to  heal 
the  diseased  tissues  of  a  warped  mentality. 

"A  great  many  of  our  inmates  come  from  the 
ranks  of  labor.  Most  of  these  men  have  not  had 
a  fair  chance  outside.  We  are  trying  to  give 
worthy  prisoners  a  chance  to  make  a  little  money 
so  that  they  might  help  support  their  families 
at  home." 

In  the  state  of  Washington  there  is  also  a  man, 
the  superintendent  of  the  reformatory  at  Mon- 
roe, who  has  been  somewhat  let  into  the  wisdom 
and  truth  of  things,  who  sees  that  anything  less 
•    than  "higher  justice"  is  no  justice  at  all. 

In  the  Washington  State  Reformatory  is  a 
prisoner  who  is  to  be  known  as  "No.  1390."  No. 
1390  is  serving  a  term  of  from  one  to  fifteen 
years  for  assault.  Before  his  trouble  he  had  be- 
gun to  prove  up  on  a  tree  claim.  The  time  came 
after  he  was  in  prison  when  he  must  again  be  on 
the  land  or  lose  what  interest  he  had  gained  and 


what  profit  might  accrue  in  the  future.  Super- 
intendent Donald  B.  Olson  of  the  reformatory, 
the  man  who  sees  that  opportunity  to  live  an  indi- 
vidual right  opens  also  a  way  for  the  fulfillment 
of  social  right,  recommended  to  the  Board  of 
Managers  that  No.  1390  be  granted  a  leave  of 
absence  and  that  he  be  "allowed  to  depart  for  his 
valuable  tree  claim  Monday."  The  leave  was 
granted.  The  Index,  the  Washington  State 
Reformatory  publication,  says  that  but  for  this 
No.  1390 

"would  have  lost  his  claim.  He  will  be  gone  for 
more  than  fifteen  days,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
he  is  in  honor  bound  to  return  and  serve  out  his 
sentence." 

No.  1390  came  back. 

In  reporting  his  return  The  Index  says : 

'"No.  1390,  who  was  permitted  to  go  to  his  tim- 
ber claim  to  do  necessary  assessment  work,  has 
returned  to  the  institution.  He  came  back  early 
last  week,  well  within  the  time  limit  set  by  the 
Board  of  Managers.  He  says  it  is  rather  lone- 
some to  be  back  among  the  shut-ins,  but  he  takes 
considerable  comfort  in  the  thought  that  his  ac- 
tion will  make  a  big  difference  to  other  deserv- 
ing inmates  who  may  ask  for  favors  in  the  future. 

"It  is  gratifying  to  the  rest  of  us  to  know  he 
has  done  as  he  said  he  would  do.  In  contrast  to 
other  men  who  have  not  shown  the  same  sense 
of  loyalty  to  their  brother  inmates,  his  action 
stands  out  as  an  example  of  true  brotherhood. 
We  are  glad  to  know  he  has  kept  the  faith  and 
trust  reposed  in  him,  as  we  knew  he  would.  His 
'making  good'  helps  to  lessen  the  burden  that 
some  would  place  upon  us  because  we  have 
'stubbed  our  toes'  and  have  been  caught." 

There  is  a  deep  human  pathos  in  The  Index's 
words  of  appreciation  of  No.  1390's  return.  All 
goes  to  show  how  truly  the  "higher  justice"  can 
come  only  as  the  men  who  have  become  subject 
to  the  lazv,  justify  it.  In  a  personal  letter  to  the 
editor  of  The  Joliet  Prison  Post,  the  editor  of 
The  Index  says: 

"In  regard  to  No.  1390  you  have  no  doubt  seen 
the  issue  of  The  Index  which  treats  of  his  return. 

"The  grant  of  leave  of  absence  has  the  appro- 
bation of  nearly  every  daily  newspaper  which 
comes  to  The  Index  exchange  table.  It  looks  as 
though  his  coming  back  has  strengthened  the 
position  of  those  who  believe  absolutely  in  the 
Honor  System.  No.  1390  wishes  it  said  for  him 
that  he  considers  he  did  only  what  any  man  with 
'a  principle'  would  do  under  the  circumstances. 
He  thinks  he  owed  it  to  all  prisoners — here  and 
elsewhere — to  come  back  on  time.    He  is  the  kind 


September  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


441 


of  a  fellow  whom  v(ni  wfjuld  expect  to  act  as 
he  did." 

But  the  most  distinguished  instance  of  the 
"higher  justice"  that  has  yet  come  to  our  notice 
is  in  the  case  of  \V.  I).  Jones,  a  resident  of  one  of 
our  newest  states. 

About  four  years  ago  Jones  was  sentenced  to 
the  state  jfrison  in  Oklahoma  for  a  term  of  ten 
years  on  a  charge  of  assault  to  kill. 
■  He  served  three  years  and  on  Jan.  1,  1913,  he 
escaped  and  hastened  across  the  line  into  Arkan- 
sas. Later  he  went  to  Little  Rock  and  last  Sum- 
mer he  there  married  a  widow.  The  woman  did 
not  at  that  time  know  that  Jones  was  an  escaped 
prisoner  and  "that  makes  no  difference  with  her 
now"  says  a  newspai)er  rejiort,  "as  .she  declares 
he  has  made  her  an  ideal  husband  and  is  now  her 

ttnly  support  as  well  as  that  of  her  two  children." 
The  Oklahoma  authorities  located  Jones  and  he 
was  arrested  and  taken  back  to  the  state  prison 
at  McAlester.  A  dispatch  to  the  Chicago  Jour- 
ncU  says : 

"His  wife  and  babies  present  a  rather  pitiable 
appearance  in  their  new  sorrow.  Since  the  mar- 
riage last  summer  they  had  been  living  hai)i)ily  in 
a  little  cottage  out  on  West  Seventh  street.  Jones 
has  made  a  record  as  a  sober,  industrious  work- 
man, and  his  broken  hearted  wife  declares  he 
'-pent  everything  he  made  on  his  family. 

"It  is  said  that  the  person  who  was  assaulted 
by  Jones  has  recovered  entirely.  Jones  does  not 
drink  or  even  use  tobacco,  according  to  the  state- 
ment of  his  wife.  She  says  she  will  lay  the  case 
before  Governor  Cruce  if  she  can  reach  him  in 
any  way." 

People  who  had  come  to  know  Jones  in  iiis 
new  situation  and  relationship  bclicfc  in  him  and 
they  made  a  "strong  appeal"  to  Governor  Cruce 
of  Oklahoma  to  extend  clemency  to  Jones. 

Jones'  new  friends  saw  that  he  was  a  good  man, 
even  though  he  had  done  one  wrong  thing;  they 
saw  that  he  had  a  right  to  live  in  the  worth — the 
worth  to  himself  and  the  worth  to  the  newly 
wedded  wife  and  her  children — in  which  he  was 
living ;  they  saw^  that  merely  to  satisfy  "the  ven- 
geance of  the  law,"  that  to  send  the  man  again 
to  prisor..  would  not  serve  him  or  serve  the  slate, 
but  that  it  would,  on  the  other  han«l,  wrong  the 
wife  and  children  and  wrong  the  state;  they  saw- 
that  to  deny  Jones  the  right  to  live  with,  to  love 
and  to  support  his  wife  and  her  chihlren.  would 
<Ieny  the  wife's  and  the  children's  right  to  that 


supiKjrt  and  they  saw  that  it  would  als«»  <f.iiv  the 
state's  right  to  be  free  from  the  oil  .   /, 

support  persons  ivho  could  be  otherwise  sup- 
ported. 

Jones'  friends  made  their  appeal  to  Governor 
Cruce.    An  earlier  ncwspa|>er  rejuirt  says: 

"That  a  strong  apinal  will  be  made  to  (Wjver- 
nor  Cruce  to  extend  clemency  is  very  pri.l»al)Ie 
and  the  chances  are  that  it  will  have  considerable 
weight." 

And  Cmernor  truce  granted  th,  u} ycal.  He 
carried  the  pra^ticahility  of  the  '  higher  justice" 
to  more  e.\ halted  hcinhts  than  an\  Stat.'  Ii.ij  ^.•t 
reached ! 

A  personal  letter  from  tiovcnior  Cnicc  to  this 
magazine  discloses  the  justification  of  his  right- 
eous act  and  gives  his  own  views  of  the  worth 
and  the  naturalness  of  justice,  which  now.  since 
it  is  coming  fully  to  light,  is  being  callc<l  the 
"higher  justice." 

Governor  Cruce  says : 

"\\  hen  this  case  was  presented  to  me  I  issuc^l 
to  the  applicant  a  parole  for  the  reason  that  I  was 
convinced  from  the  facts  shown  that  he.  after 
his  escai>e  from  the  prison,  had  led  an  honest. 
upright  life,  had  observed  the  laws  (»f  the  land, 
had  become  an  industrious,  hartl-working  iruli- 
vidual,  had  married  a  widow  with  children,  and 
was  making  for  them  an  honest  living.  SuHicient 
evidence  was  jiroduced  to  <  vcly  show  to 

me  that  he  had  thoroughly  rc;..i..v.|  and  was  not 
only  capable  of  making  a  good  citizi-tj  but  was 
actually  doing  so.  I  accordingly  grantetl  him  the 
parole  and  in  doing  so  feel  that  I  have  done  my 
duty. 

'I  am  in  thorough  accord  with  the  modern  itiea 
of  dealing  with  criminals.  I  iK'lieve  that  the  pri- 
mary ])uriHJse  of  maintaining  |)enal  institutions 
should  be  to  reform,  as  far  as  |M'v.il.l.  tli.ivr 
capable  of  reformation,  and  that  mIu 
has  gone  astray  has  lieen  brought  to  a  realization 
of  the  enormity  of  his   y  ■ 

oughly  determine(l  to  fors ;-  . 

to  enter  ufmn  a  path  of  law  observance,  he 
be  given  an  opfKirtunity  to  make  an  honest  liv- 
ing outside  the  prison  walls.  Tl  '  ''  * 
prisons  are  intended  a-  '>li'«>.  of  pu:..  - 
wrong  d(K'rs  finds  no  nt  with  me.  I  also 
believe  that  the  rules  of  prisons  should  l>c  such 
as  to  bring  out  the  '  '  n  com- 
mitted   to    those    1..       ,  ""it    of 

humanity  should  pervade  them,  and  that  the  man 
who  is  unfortunate  enough  to  l>e  sent  there 
should  be  impresse«l  with  the  idea  that  it  is  bet- 
ter to  be  good  than  to  be  bad,  an<l  that  the  man 
who  is  <lis|Mised  to  observe  the  law  will  have  his 
reward." 


442 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


The  people  in  prison  and  out  of  prison  who 
have  reahzed  that  there  has  been  something 
wrong  in  society's  attitude  toward  the  individual 
and  in  society's  treatment  of  the  individual,  will 
find  great  encouragement  and  satisfaction  in  the 
progress  which  "higher  justice"  is  making. 

The  men  and  women  in  prison  will  also  wish 
that  the  new  justice  would  find  its  way  to  them. 
Most  of  these  persons  see  where  they  think  some 
of  their  rights  have  been  ignored  and  many  be- 
lieve that,  if  given  another  chance,  they  will 
make  good. 

That  quality,  which  is  still  in  all  of  us,  which 
makes  us  who  are  in  prison  consider  our  own 
interests  more  intimately  than  we  consider  the 
interests  of  others,  brings  our  attention  unduly  to 
the  question  of  what  the  changing  social  attitude 
toward  the  individual  is  to  mean  to  us  personally. 

Every  man  should  consider  his  own  welfare 
equally  with  the  welfare  of  other  persons,  but  he 
should  not  consider  his  welfare  to  the  neglect  of 
that  of  others. 

We  need  the  awakening  which  will  enable  us 
to  see  that  the  interest  of  all  persons  is  one  inter- 
est, that  will  give  us  the  power  to  live  in  another 
person's  interest  equally  as  much  as  in  our  own. 

When  we  have  come  to  this  common  fellow- 
ship, to  this  real  brotherhood,  we  shall  rejoice 
that  the  better  things  are  beginning  to  work  out 
even  in  a  few  courts  in  Chicago,  in  Kansas  and 
in  Oklahoma,  although  our  own  day  has  not  yet 
come. 

Men  and  zvomen  who  have  become  subjects  of 
the  law  and  zvho  wish  to  have  the  "higher  jus- 
tice" deliver  them,  can  aid  the  incoming  of  the 
higher  justice  by  themselves  becoming  worthy 
of  it. 

To  Try  Out  the  Illinois  Men 

Last  month  a  number  of  letters  were  pub- 
lished in  which  the  writers  declared  their 
view  of  an  honor  man's  obligation  under  the 
pledge  he  has  signed  and  of  the  relationship 
of  the  honor  men  to  one  another. 

Some  time  ago  two  honor  men  escaped  from 
the  Honor  Farm  and  were  soon  caught  and 
brought  back  to  the  prison. 

For  a  time  after  this  occurrance,  the  ques- 
tion of  what  position  the  two  men  should 
hold  was  a  live  question. 


It  is  presumed  that  the  men  here  are  men 
who  as  a  mass  have  not  trained  themselves 
very  far  in  or  adapted  themselves  very  suc- 
cessfully to  social  order.  The  administration 
has  used  various  means  to  try  out  the  men's 
social  ability,  to  see  what  qualifications  the 
men  have;  and  to  have  the  men  themselves 
sec  what  qualification  and  ability  they  have 
and  what  they  still  lack. 

It  is  easy  for  any  man  to  tell  what  he  wants ; 
it  is  quite  a  different  thing  for  him  to  show 
and  to  make  others  see  that  what  he  wants 
is  as  just  to  others  as  he  thinks  it  is  to  him- 
self. At  their  last  monthly  meeting  the  ques- 
tion was  put  to  the  men  for  an  expression 
from  them  as  to  what  punishment  should  be 
meted  out  to  the  two  ofifenders,  in  view  of  their 
having,  to  the  limit  of  their  opportunity,  com- 
promised the  honor  movement. 

The  men  saw  that  the  question  was  up  to 
them  of  what  the  mass  should  do  in  view  of 
what  the  two  individuals  had  done.  They  saw 
that  while  the  individual  has  his  responsibility, 
social  life  means  that  also  all,  in  a  measure,  are 
responsible  for  each  one's  acts. 

There  will  be  progress  in  prison  betterment 
as  there  is  a' recognition  and  an  acceptance  of 
a  "community  interest,"  a  recognition  and  ac- 
ceptance of  social  duties  and  obligations. 

The  men  at  the  meetings  saw  that  in  the 
community  interest  of  prison  life  they  have 
some  obligation  as  to  how  men  are  to  be 
treated  who  violate  that  interest,  but  they 
came  to  see  also  that  they  have  an  obligation 
that  runs  farther  back  than  this,  that  is  more 
primary  than  dealing  with  the  men  after  the 
ofifence  has  been  committed. 

The  obligation  of  the  men  is  not  only  to  see 
that  those  who  violate  the  community  interest 
are  properly  dealt  with,  but  to  see  that  the 
violations  themselves  end. 

Here  we  are  getting  to  something  funda- 
mental, to  something  that  is  ground  for  stable 
and  real  progress.  When  men  begin  to  take 
account  of  causes,  it  may  be  known  that  a 
solution  of  problems  is  to  come.  But  to  lo- 
cate, to  clearly  define  and  to  deal  with  causeSi 
is  not  so  easy  as  at  times  it  seems. 

Many  a  man  can  tell  what  to  do  in  a  given 
case,   in   this   instance  how  to  prevent  viola- 


September  1.  1914                                 THE  JOLIET  PRISON   POST  441 

tions  of  the  prison    pledges,    hut    experience  tell  how  this,  tcxj,  can  be  done.     But  here  is  a 

shows  that  what  the  man  proposes  docs  not  case   where  again   men   are  to*.  al)Stract.  too 

work;  it  has  been  tried  and  the  results  were  visionary;    they    overstep    the    elements,    the 

not  and  will  not  be  again  what  others  thought  particulars  in  the  problem. 

and    what    the    man    thinks    they    would    be.  The  ways  proposed  don't  work. 

Other  persons  will  tell  their  way,  but  the  mass 

does   not   agree   with   the   plan   and   therefore  ^ 

that  way,  even  though,  perhaps,  it  might  be  We   are   venturing  on   a   limited   degree  of 

good,  cannot  be  tried.  self-government  in  this  prison,  in  the  monthly 

These    failures   to   oflfer   some   way    that    is  meetings  which  are  being  carried  on.     It  was 

really  new  and  promising,  these  objections  to  in   one  of  these  meetings  that   the   idea   was 

the  proposals  that,  to  a  few,  seem  plausible,  presented  that  the  men  as  a  mass  should  take 

are  some  of  the  elements  of  the  problem  which  up  the  duty  of  so  classifying  themselves  that 

we   are   confronted   with,   are   the   particulars  no  one  will  get  into  a  class  where  he  does  not 

with  which  we  have  to  deal  in  finding  the  solu-  belong.    But  that  the  idea  has  been  Ixirn,  does 

tion  of  the  problem.  not  mean  that  we  already  know  how  to  carry 

We  must  watch  ourselves  to  see  that  we  are  it  out.     The  details,  the  elements,  in  the  pro- 

not    so  given   to  generalization,   that   we   are  posal,  we  have  not  yet  met.     How  the  men 

not  so  abstract  and   visionary  that  we  over-  are  to  safeguard  themselves  the  men  have  yet 

look  the  elements  of  a  problem  in  our  state-  to  learn. 

ment  of  what  will  solve  the  problem.  The  principle  of  limited  sclf-yvcrnnKiu  i> 

growing    in    prisons.      Nearly    half    a    dozen 
prisons   have   already   inaugurate<l    it       ^<.mi- 

To  fail  to  bring  the  problem  to  the  ques-  have  progressed  further  than  others 

tion  of  the  small  things,  to  the  particulars,  is  Probably  the  prison  in  which  limited  self- 

to  fail  to  meet  the  problem   where  alone  its  government  has  been  most  fully  attempted  is 

solution  is  to  be  found.  Auburn  prison,  New  York. 

It  avails  nothing  to  say  that  "if"  our  idea  .'\uburn  prison  has  met  the  particular  qucs- 

were  tried,  that  "if"  the  many  would  agree  to  tion    which   has  presented   itself  to  the  men 

some  one  or  another  proposal,  the  violations  here,  and  the  men  there  have  undertaken  to 

would  end.  ^^^^  ^^''t'l  it-     I^"t  even  if  .Auburn  is  succcss- 

The  fact  which  confronts  us  is  that  men  zvill  fuJ  >"  the  way  in  which  it  handles  this  mat- 

uot  try  the  idea;  that  the  mass  won't  agree  to  the  ter,  that  does  not  say  that  we  here  can  im- 

proposal  mediately  successfully  undertake  to  do  what 

The  proposal  does  not  even  effect  a  start,  the  .Xuburn  men  are  doing. 

does  not  even  win  its  own  acceptance.     How.  T'/'O'  ''^''^  Prepared  themselves  and  «r  hate 

then,  can  we  expect  it  to  give  the  solution  we  ftot  yet  gone  through  the  necessary  preparation. 

^gel^>  In  time  we  shall  come  to  it;  let  us  get  down 

It  avails  nothing  to  say  that  "if"  the  others  to  "brass  tacks"  and  learn  how  to  come  to  it. 

would  agree,  what   is  proposed   would   work.  Auburn  prison  has  a  self-governing  organi- 

They  do  not  agree  and  that  is  the  weakness  of  zation  qi  about  1,400  men.     In  a  future  issue 

7vhat  is  offered.  ^vc  shall  have  an  article  in  report  of  what  is 

Through  having  the  question  put  up  to  the  being  done  in  limited  self-government  in  the 
men  of  what  should  be  done  with  violators  of  different  prisons  in  which  the  Auburn  way  and 
a  trust,  the  men  have  been  brought  to  see  the  Auburn  progress  will  be  told. 
that  those  who  are  to  accept  the  opportuni-  The  Auburn  men.  being  united  in  an  organ- 
ties  of  the  honor  system  must  find  a  way  in  ized  bo<ly,  are  in  position  to  make  rccommen- 
which  honor  men  as  a  company  mav  protect  dations  as  to  the  eligibility  of  men  seckmg 
themselves  against  those  who  will  not  be  true  trusty  positions  and  to  stand  sponsor  for 
to  honor  those    whom    the    organization    believes    are 

Doubtless  many  would  venture  off-hand  to  worthy    of   being   trusted    and    recommended. 


444 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Having  brought  itself  up  to  this  possibility, 
it  has  now  done  something  that  is  new  in  the 
history  of  penal  institutions.  "Here  is  a  new 
stunt  in  prison  affairs,"  says  the  Fort  Madi- 
son, Iowa,  Democrat. 

The  inmates  of  Auburn  prison  have  recom- 
mended that  sixteen  long  term  men  be  put 
upon  their  honor  and  let  go  out  to  work  on 
the  roads.  The  recommendation  was  acted 
upon.    The  Dentocrat  says  of  these  men : 

"Several  there  had  never  seen  an  automo- 
bile in  action,  and  they  rode  in  one  for  the 
first  time  when  they  were  transported  in  it 
to  the  road  camp.  It  is  said  they  were  as 
happy  as  school  boys." 

The  Democrat  continues : 

"The  prisoners  in  Auburn  penitentiary  have 
an  organization  known  as  the  Mutual  Wel- 
fare League,  and  that  organization  selected 
sixteen  long  term  men  and  recommended 
them  to  the  superintendent  for  honor  work. 
In  approval  of  the  action  of  the  Welfare 
League  all  of  the  inmates,  1,400  of  them, 
added  their  recommendation  and  agreed  to 
stand  as  sponsor  for  the  good  conduct  of  the 
men  while  out  on  trusty  duty." 

The  belief  is  that  this  choice  of  the  sixteen 
men  having  sprung  up  from  within  the  ranks 
of  the  men  themselves,  is  a  safe  choice.  In  the 
first  place  the  men  know  one  another  better 
than  the  officials  can  possibly  ever  hope  to 
know  the  men  and,  besides,  it  is  believed  that 
the  "public  opinion"  of  the  prison  community 
will  be  a  strong  influence  to  hold  the  pledged 
men  to  their  word.  "After  all,"  says  the 
Democrat,  that  is  the  best,  for  stronger  than 
all  laws  and  rules  of  prisons,  public  opinion 
used  as  a  lash  will  get  results  where  others 
fail." 


The  East  and  the  West 

The  lands  across  the  sea  are  in  the  hour  of 
their  fate.  They  are  resolved  on  measureless 
destruction  or  complete  success. 

They  call  it  war,  but  it  is  more  than  this ; 
it  is  the  greatest  plague  that  can  afflict  man- 
kind. For  it  destroys  alike  the  youth  and  the 
father  of  the  youth ;  it  comes  to  the  door  of  the 
home,  the  sanctuary  of  virtue,  and  leaves  it 
desolate.      It   annihilates   religion;   it   perverts 


the  natural   taste  of  equity  and  justice;  it  is 
the  harvest  of  the  devil. 

Yet  men  are  fighting  for  their  country ;  and 
love  of  country  is  one  of  the  loftiest  virtues. 
And  he  who  loves  his  home  most  unselfishly 
is  he  who  loves  his  country  best.  Deep,  deep, 
in  the  interests  and  affections,  the  roots  of 
patriotism  feed.  Personal  consequences  stand 
not  in  the  way.  The  call  is  for  mutual  suf- 
fering as  well  as  for  mutual  success.  So  war 
must  ever  call  forth  the  exertion  of  noble  qual- 
ities, of  high  virtues.  Midst  the  sound  of 
bursting  shell,  in  the  maneuvres  of  majestic 
airship  and  dipping  aeroplane,  is  displayed  the 
spiritual  grandeur  of  man,  defying  the  angel 
of  death  whose  beating  wings  are  heard  on  ev- 
ery side.  And  the  cry  for  war,  for  blood,  will 
never  yield  but  to  the  principles  of  universal 
love  and  justice. 

There  is  another  picture. 

It  is  the  broad  sweep  of  another  land.  The 
two  seas  lave  its  shores.  There  are  valleys 
and  fragrant  forests;  rolling  plains  that  un- 
fold to  touch  the  rim  of  the  sky-line;  there 
are  rivers,  vast  and  tortuous,  and  mountains 
with  their  cloaks  of  eternal  snow.  No  victor- 
ies of  the  battlefield  are  being  sounded  afar, 
but  the  victories  of  nature  are  everywhere  to 
be  seen.  For  here  are  the  fruits  of  the  earth 
in  abundance  and  the  golden  grain  of  harvest- 
tide.  And  here  is  peace,  the  fairest  form  of 
happiness.  Here  is  the  development  of  the 
moral  and  the  social  life.  Blows  are  being 
struck — mighty  blows ;  but  they  are  being 
struck  for  power,  for  institutions,  for  the  ever- 
lasting right. 

And  everywhere  there  is  labor,  without 
which  there  is  no  ease,  no  rest.  There  is  the 
sound  of  the  tractor  and  the  plow  and  the 
breath  of  the  roaring  furnace.  It  is  work,  the 
grandest  cure  for  all  the  miseries  that  ever 
beset  mankind.  And  so  men  are  carving  their 
way  to  that  measure  of  power  which  will  fit 
them  for  their  destiny. 

In  the  West  is  being  made  the  conquest 
which  dependeth  not  upon  the  sword ;  over- 
seas, in  the  land  of  the  Teuton,  the  Serb  and 
the  Slav,  is  the  conquest  of  war.  In  both  the 
East  and  the  West  is  history  being  made — a 
poem  written  by  Time  upon  the  memory  of 
man ! 


September  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


Ui 


Where  Is  This  Boy? 

A  mother  in  Texas  is  trying  to  find  her  son, 
whom  evidently  she  thinks  is  in  jirison  some- 
where. She  sends  the  following-  letter  in  the 
care  of  W'arden  Allen : 

Marshall,  Texas,  .\ne:nst  1.V  1''14. 
Dear  Son: 

Yonr  mother  is  still  waiting  and  looking  for 
you.  Will  you  please,  for  my  sake,  drop  me 
just  a  line  to  let  mc  know  tiiat  you  are  still 
alive? 

I  am  not  well  in  health  hut  I  am  not  con- 
fined to  my  bed. 

Your  mother, 
(Signed)     Manervie  Rosford. 
R.  R.  No.  5,  Box "50. 

There  is  something  inexpressibly  sad  about 
this  letter.  A  note  at  its  head,  written  in  a 
slow  and  painful  hand,  reads  as  follows:  "Mr. 
Warden,  please  have  this  letter  read  to  all  the 
prisoners." 

Will  other  prison  papers  help  this  mother 
to  find  her  son  ?  A  copy  of  our  magazine  with 
her  letter  marked  will  be  sent  to  the  mother. 

We  wish  to  say  for  the  sake  of  the  mother's 
relief  that,  even  if  her  son  is  in  prison,  prisons 
are  nothing  like  what  they  once  were.  A  hu- 
manitarian thought  has  gotten  into  people  and 
most  prisons  now  seek  to  help  the  inmates 
rather  than  only  to  punish  them.  Even  if  she 
does  not  find  her  boy  right  away,  it  is  likely 
that  he  is  being  helped  to  be  a  better  boy  by 
somebody,  somewhere. 

Warden  Allen's  Embarrassment 

It  is  embarrassing  to  the  chief  ofticer  of 
such  an  institution  as  this  to  be  held  account- 
able for  that  which  he  is  not  directly  respon- 
sible and  for  which,  under  the  civil  service  law 
which  covers  this  institution,  he  cannot  make 
himself  responsible. 

The  subordinate  offices  of  this  institution 
are  filled  by  the  Civil  Service  Commissi. m. 
The  Warden  has  arbitrary  power  to  remove 
an  employe  at  any  time  during  the  first  ninety 
days  of  his  appointment,  but  after  that  period 
an  employe  can  be  removed  only  upon  absolute 
proof  of  his  unfitness,  demonstrated  in  a  spe- 
cific act  or  in  specific  acts. 

It  is  hard  to  establish  prooi  vi  inefiiciency, 


even  though  the  employe  be  ever  so  inefficient. 
.\nd  even  if  inefficiency  is  proved,  the  Warden 
is  still  powerless  to  gather  ab<»ut  him  the 
proper  support.  1 1  is  only  recourse  is  again 
to  try  out  a  man  chosen  by  the  Civil  Service 
Commission.  The  Commission  may  or  mav 
not  send  a  suitable  man.  as  they  <lo  not  ha\c 
a  personal  knowledge  .if  rlu-  I  in. I  ..f  m.-n 
needed  here. 

The  situation  is  that  the  Warden  is  made 
the  "goat"'  for  everything  which  goes  am 
through  the  inefficiency  of  the  sulxirdinatc 
ofl^ccrs,  ami  under  the  civil  service  law  he  is 
powerless  to  help  himself.  The  press  fails  to 
make  this  allowance  for  the  superior  officer 
when  (juestions  come  up  of  where  the  subordi- 
nate officers  have  been  less  efficient  than  they 
might  have  been. 

Kmbarrassment  in  another  way,  and  of  even 
greater  import,  fretjucntly  comes  to  Warden 
Allen. 

The  press  is  continually  giving  him  credit 
for  all  the  progressive  steps  which  arc  lieing 
taken  in  the  management  of  the  prison 

The  supreme  commander  of  the  prison  is 
Governor  ICdward  F.  Dunne,  and  the  pro- 
gressive policies  which  are  being  worked  out 
here  arc,  in  the  main,  originally  from  his 
thought  and  not  from  the  Warden's  alone. 
Credit  should  primarily  be  given  tt>  the  Gov- 
ernor and  not  wholly  to  the  Warden  as  has 
been  the  practice. 

Former  Inmate  Who  Has  Made  Great  Strides 

The  Better  Citicrn,  pul)li>hed  at  Kahway, 
New  Jersey,  Reformatory,  has  this  to  say  of 
a  "former  inmate"  who  "dropprd  in  for  a  call 
one  day  last  week": 

"He  had  been  out  of  the  Reformatory  about 
three  years,  having  servc<l  his  parole  and 
earned  his  release.  W^hen  he  went  on  parole 
he  secured  a  position  on  a  large  poultry  farm, 
and  owing  t«»  the  interest  he  t«Hik  in  the  work, 
lti>«  e?n|'l"^<T  t.M.k  him  into  pnrtncr»«hip." 

The  only  thing  wc  do  not  like  alx»ul  this 
item  is  that  the  Htttrr  Citizen  begins  the  item 
in  this  way:  "1795,  who  is  another  of  our 
prospenms  young  men,  dropped  in  for  a  call." 
etc. 

W  hy  do  so  manv  of  the  prison  papers  con- 


446 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


tinue  to  designate  a  man  by  a  number  instead 
of  designating  him  by  his  name? 

We  shall  not  properly  enlist  the  public's  inter- 
est in  the  prison  betterment  zvork  until  ive  make 
the  zvork  a  cause  in  the  service  of  men. 

It  is  weakness  that  holds  us  still  to  using 
numbers  to  indicate  human  beings. 

When  our  own  cause  is  strong  enough  in 
ourselves  we  shall  declare  ourselves,  and  it 
shall  be  known  that  human  beings  are  rising 
to  their  estate,  that  a  body  of  hitherto  con- 
demned and  misunderstood  men  are  rising  to 
worth  and  to  might. 

Until  a  man  zvill  recognize  himself  society 
will  not  properly  recognize  him.  Tlie  man 
himself  must  rise,  else  in  no  way  can  he  be 
lifted  up. 

Society  gave  the  man  the  number.  When, 
from  that  to  which  the  man  subjected  him- 
self so  as  to  receive  the  number,  he  comes  to 
his  proper  integrity,  he  will  cast  the  num- 
ber oflf. 

"1795"  did  not  go  to  the  man  to  whom  he 
has  now  found  himself  worthy  to  be  partner, 
as  a  number;  he  went  as  a  human  being. 

Leave  the  figures  to  the  arithmetics ;  let  us 
be  openly  John  any  Mary.  Let  us  not  hide 
behind  an  enumeration;  let  us  justify  our- 
selves by  raising  the  men  and  women  of  our 
lot  to  a  worthy  rank.  When  we  have  done 
our  work,  no  man  can  point  in  shame  to  our 
names. 

But  to  return  to  the  subject  of  this  com- 
ment. The  Better  Citizen  says  that  "1795" 
(whatever  may  be  his  name)  and  the  man 
with  whom  he  went  into  partsership,  "sell 
all  their  eggs  to  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad 
for  its  dining-room  service,  and  receive  ten 
cents  a  dozen  more  than  market  price  for  hen 
fruit." 

The  partners  have  about  4,000  hens,  mostly 
White  Leghorns. 

This  successful  young  man  is  himself;  he 
is  not  a  numerically  catalogued  commodity  in 
an  institution. 

Quit  yourselves  like  men ;  be  strong. 

A  Reporter  Within  the  Walls 

The  Seattle  Sun  sent  Mr.  David  Erwin  to 
the  Washington   State  Reformatory  at  Mon- 


roe, to  make  a  special  report  of  that  insti- 
tution. 

The  Index,  the  Reformatory  paper,  reports 
that  Superintendent  Olson  said  to  Mr.  Erwin, 
"Go  at  it;  ask  as  many  questions  as  you  like; 
see  and  talk  to  whom  you  like,  officer  or  in- 
mate. Go  through  the  books;  learn  all  you 
can,  and  tell  the  truth." 

The  Index  thinks  that  it  is  seldom  that  such 
freedom  of  investigation  is  given  to  a  cor- 
respondent, and  adds:  "Publicity  is  what  we 
need  and  deserve;  the  more  light  shed  on  us 
the  better  we  will  be  satisfied."  Mr.  Erwin 
went  to  Monroe  for  the  "inside  man's  story" 
and  got  it.  "The  men  realized  they  could  talk 
without  fear  of  further  subtle  punishment." 
The  Index  continues : 

"Mr.  Erwin  says  he  found  us  to  be  like  any 
other  human  beings,  and  so  we  are:  We  are 
truthful  and  untruthful;  honest  and  dishonest; 
ambitious  and  lazy;  wise  and  foolish;  tricky 
and  straightforward ;  secretive  and  open- 
minded  ;  good  and  bad.  Those  who  are  good 
cifk  only  to  have  the  chance  to  prove  to  the 
world  their  worthiness.  Those  who  are  bad 
are  willing  to  suffer  alone  for  their  badness, 
in  most  cases.  Inherently  even  the  bad  ones 
among  us  want  to  be  good.  Those  who  are 
striving  to  do  the  'right'  thing  want  to  help 
not  only  themselves  but  all  human  kind.  Hav- 
ing fallen  they  are  in  a  position  to  know  what 
it  means  to  fall  and  be  kicked.  Having  re- 
ceived a  helping  hand  they  know  what  it 
means  to  love  and  appreciate;  and  given  the 
chance  to  demonstrate  their  intentions  they 
will  carry  out  their  pledged  word  to  the  letter. 
Mr.  Erwin,  when  he  came  among  us,  frankly 
admitted  he  expected  to  see  a  species  of  ani- 
mal not  found  outside  of  captivity.  He  went 
away  convinced  the  opposite  was  true." 


EDITOR'S  COLUMN 

Everything  in  this  magazine  is  written  to 
help  each  individual  solve  his  individual  prob- 
lem and  help  him  also  to  solve  the  social  prob- 
lem in  so  far  as  the  solution  of  the  social 
problem  is  in  him.  Men  in  this  institution, 
who  are  not  satisfied  with  their  situation,  must 
realize  that  their  problem  is  not  only  an  indi- 
vidual problem.  Individualism,  without  being 
softened  and  broadened,  without  being  cor- 
rected by  a  well  defined  and  wholesome  social 


September  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


447 


interest,  degenerates  into  the  selfishness  which, 
from  its  nature,  makes  a  person  a  misfit  in  the 
world.  The  "community  interest"  spoken  of 
last  month  in  the  corresj)ondtnce  relative  to 
honor  men  and  escapes,  is  as  much  a  part  of 
each  personal  life  as  is  the  individual  interest 
which  at  times  seems  to  be  so  close  to  us  and 
so  important.  What  is  written  for  and  pub- 
lished in  this  magazine,  is  meant  to  help  each 
person  solve  his  whole  problem.  We  suggest 
that  those  who  are  seeking  to  solve  their  prob- 
lems, or  who  are  seeking  to  help  to  solve  the 
prison  problem  in  general,  shall  not  read  once 
only  what  this  magazine  says  but  that,  after 
a  few  days,  they  shall  read  it  again  and  shall 
think  about  it.  See  if  what  is  said  here,  is 
sanctioned  by  your  own  thought,  by  your 
inner  life.  Then,  if  it  is  so  sanctioned,  live  it ; 
let  us  live  it  wholly.  Without  living  what  is 
square  and  right,  there  is  no  honor  system  and 
no  benefits  to  ourselves  or  to  others  from  a 
trust  in  our  honor,  can  come. 

We  suggest  that  more  and  more  the  men 
make  the  monthly  meetings  a  means  for  grow- 
ing into  a  more  wholesome,  a  more  effective 
social  life.  Let  us  be  less  concerned  at  the 
meetings  about  getting  in  a  "knock"  against 
some  one  else  or  about  getting  some  special 
thing  for  ourselves  and  more  solicitous  of  a 
broader  understanding  of  our  relationship  with 
the  other  men  of  our  community  and  with  the 
officers  of  the  administration  who,  under  the 
scheme  of  organization  for  this  institution,  are 
our  government.  As  we  begin  to  show  that 
we  are  interested  in  and  intend  to  "make 
good"  in  some  of  these  larger  interests,  the 
way  will  open  for  us  to  have  greater  individual 
freedom  and  benefits.  Proving  the  practic- 
ability of  a  greater  liberty,  will  secure  that 
liberty. 

Men  who  live  in  the  penitentiary  of  any 
state  and  who  have  united  with  the  prison  bet- 
terment cause,  will  never  think  of  their  place 
of  residence  by  its  official  and  legal  name ;  to  these 
men,  while  they  are  confined,  the  place  is  an 
opportunity  for  helping  to  do  what  needs 
to  be  done  for  the  thousands  of  prisoners  in 
the  country  at  large.  These  men  will  be  at 
work   now.     A   patriot   does   not   waste   time 


waiting  for  better  conditions;  he  »>egins  his 
work  in  the  conditions  where  he  is  placed. 

It  will  l)c  noticed  that  wc  begin  this  month  to 
publish  a  few  editorials  clipf)cd  from  our  prison 
exchanges.  This  feature  in  a  prison  publication 
is  significant.  Prisoners  are  beginning  to  re- 
alize that  if  they  arc  ever  to  come  to  the  l)ettcr 
social  positions  to  which  they  wish  to  come, 
that  they  must  lift  themselves  to  that  position. 
Pri.son  journals  are  taking  up  the  cause.  Often 
there  are  in  the  prison  exchanges  pointed  ed- 
itorial comments  which  would  be  helpful  to 
all  who  seek  to  help  solve  the  prison  .n,!  other 
social  questions.    Anyway,  these  iv  1  com- 

ments are  the  prisoners'  own  expression ;  they 
are  a  voice  sent  out  to  all  the  world  from  the 
community  behind  the  walls.  We  wish  to 
give,  and  we  feel  that  it  is  valuable  to  give, 
as  wide  a  hearing  to  these  editorial  utter- 
ances as  is  possible.  There  is  a  growing  fra- 
ternity in  prison  journalism  and  in  the  honor 
men  of  the  prisons.  The  Joliet  Pri.son  Post 
wishes  to  acknowledge  all  of  this,  wishes  to 
help  unify  the  forces  of  the  prison  betterment 
movement. 

We  wish  the  men  at  the  Honor  Farm  and 
at  the  road  camps  to  know  that  we  do  not 
forget  them,  that  we  are  not  unmindful  of 
them.  We  know  that  the  farm  men  and  the 
camp  men  are  the  vanguard  of  the  social  prog- 
ress which  the  prison  communities  arc  mak- 
ing. What  every  man  within  the  walls  hopes 
to  win,  the  fanu  and  camp  men  have  already 
somewhat  won.  We  want  news  items  every  month 
from  these  outposts  of  our  growing  prison  civ- 
ilization and  we  want  a  personal  communica- 
tion occasionally  from  a  man  at  the  farm  or  at 
a  camp,  who  feels  that  from  his  own  experience 
he  can  say  something  of  value  on  the  question 
that  prisoners  are  considering.  Let  the  farm 
and  the  camp  men  realize  that  they  are  still 
of  us  and  that  we  who  are  yet  here  look  out 
to  them  and  up  to  them  as  the  builders  of  our 
hope. 

The  "press  in  prison"  is  certainly  getting 
on  :  The  Pioneer,  published  at  the  Illinois  Slate 
Reformatory,  Pontiac,  on  August  10th  issued 
an  "Extra"  giving  the  latest  war  news.  We 
arc  soon  to  publish  an  illustrated  article  which 


448 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


will  show  something  of  what  the  young  men 
at  Pontiac  are  doing  under  the  modern  plan 
of  Superintendent  William  C.  Graves.  Pub- 
lishing a  war  extra  is  one  of  the  smallest  of 
the  Pontiac  enterprises. 

Let  us  not  use  the  word  "criminal"  any 
more.  It  seems  too  heartless.  Let  us  say 
"prisoner."  Men  are  made  prisoners  by  so- 
ciety and  that,  at  least,  connects  us  somewhat 
with  society.  To  brand  a  person  a  "criminal" 
pushes  him  away  from  society  and  makes  him 
an  outcast. 

The  Leavenworth  Neiv  Era  now  has  a  new 
editor-in-chief,  Mr.  Wilson,  who  writes  a  very 
happy  introductory  word.  We  note  the  indi- 
vidual touches  of  the  new  editor  and  expect 
to  see  a  very  creditable  publication  come  from 
his  pen. 

The  New  Outlook  is  a  very  neatly  gotten 
up  weekly  quarto,  now  nearly  a  year  old.    But 
why  does  not  the  New  Outlook  give  more  ed- 
itorial    support    to    Ohio    prison    betterment 
.movement? 

The  "Little  Zeke"  series  of  illustrations  by 
"Tam."  beginning  in  this  issue  are  pro- 
duced by  a  local  artist.  All  that  appears  in 
this  magazine  is  from  home  talent  unless  oth- 
erwise credited. 

It  takes  the  spirit  of  a  man's  expectations 
to  sustain  the  man's  will,  while  he  makes  the 
expectations  his  real  accomplishments. 

Prisoners  are  still  men.  If  we  do  not  re- 
member this  ourselves,  it  is  likely  that  the 
public  will  forget  it  also. 

The  opportunity  is  still  open  for  a  dentist 
in  this  community.     Report  to  this  office. 


EDITORIALS  FROM 
PRISON  JOURNALS 


One-Sided  Affair 


Organized  society,  as  such,  should  make  a 
study  of  the  one-sided  question  of  the  prosecu- 
tion of  criminal  cases.  The  average  culprit 
brought  to  trial  is  penniless  and  friendless, 
mentally  unbalanced  for  the  time  at  least,  be- 


cause of  his  unhappy  predicament.  The  state, 
city  and  county  have  police  officers,  sheriffs, 
and  prosecutors,  whose  salaries  vary  as  their 
records  of  convictions  entitle  them  to  the  in- 
heritance of  office.  The  accused,  whether  in- 
nocent or  guilty,  stands  but  little  show  against 
the  array  of  such  officers.  Even  under  the 
most  favorable  condition,  the  poor  fellow  at 
the  bar  rarely  has  an  opportunity  to  secure 
witnesses  even  though  his  attorney  happens 
to  be  an  able  advocate. 

Society  should  .  .  .  insist  on  giving  every 
man  a  "square  deal,"  regardless  of  conse- 
quences, and  insist  upon  the  selection  of  an 
able  Public  Defender  for  every  court.     .   .   , 

The  Public  Defender  is  sure  to  become  a 
part  of  our  public  policy  when  the  people  at 
large  understand  its  value. — The  New  Era, 
United  States  Penitentiary^  Fort  Leavemvorth, 
Kansas. 


Discipline  by  the  Prisoners 

There  are  a  number  of  men  about  this  insti- 
tution who  are  trusted  by  the  officials  and 
allowed  the  freedom  of  the  yard.  Most  of 
these  men  are  appreciative  of  the  privileges 
granted  them.  But,  among  any  bunch  of  men 
you  will  find  some  who  do  not  appreciate  a 
privilege ;  who  are  careless,  or  do  not  care. 

These  few  are  the  ones  who  spoil  the  privi- 
leges of  the  whole  body.  They  break  the 
rules  and  cause  the  officials  to  mistrust  all, 
and  to  protect  themselves  the  officials  must 
take  away  the  privileges  of  all. 

In  this  way  the  innocent  suffer  with  the 
guilty. 

There  is  a  remedy  for  every  evil,  and  we 
have  no  doubt  that  the  management  of  every 
prison  is  willing  to  listen  to  suggestions  which 
will  help  them  to  get  rid  of  this  evil. 

There  is  one  plan  which  has  been  tried  out 
is  several  institutions  of  this  kind  throughout 
the  country  and  is  proving  a  success. 

That  is,  to  get  the  prisoners  aid  in  keeping 
down  the  vmruly  ones. 

A  prison  body  of  men  are  just  like  a  body 
of  men  on  the  outside.  There  is  a  moral  ele- 
ment and  an  immoral  element  among  them. 
If  the  moral  element  has  the  ascendency,  or 
is  in  the  majority,  their  trustworthiness  will 
counteract  the  vices  and  unruliness  of  the 
immoral  element  and  vice  versa. 

For  instance,  take  the  count-outs  and  trus- 
ties of  this  prison.  If  the  moral  element  is 
lacking  in  these  men,  they  will  soon  destroy 
their  own  privileges  and  those  which  are 
granted  in  a  lesser  degree  to  the  whole  prison 
body.  Now,  to  give  the  moral  element  a 
chance  to  work,  it  should  be  recognized  by 
the  officials.     There  should  be  a  certain  num- 


September   1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


440 


her  of  nicn,  picked  out  by  the  inmates  them- 
selves, to  guard  the  privileges  <>f  everyone, 
and  they  as  guardians  should  watch  and  warn 
rule-breakers  and  turn  their  names  in  to  the 
officials,  if  warning  them  is  not  enough. 

In  this  way  the  integrity  of  tiiose  who  are 
trustworthy  will  be  guarded  and  the  innocent 
will  not  have  to  suffer  with  the  guilty. — The 
Penitentiary  Bulletin,  Kansas  State  Penitentiary, 
Lansimj,  Kansas. 

Does  Imprisonment  Achieve  Its  Purpose? 

Criminal  justice  must  work  towards  one  of 
two  ends.  The  elimination  of  the  criminal  or 
his  reformation ;  it  must  either  be  destructive 
or  constructive.  In  days  of  old  it  was  frankly 
destructive.  The  man  convicted  of  a  felony, 
be  the  offense  serious  or  trivial,  was  at  one 
time  almost  without  exception  hanged.  Pun- 
ishment then  was  swift,  certain,  complete  and 
merciful  because  the  criminal  was  sj)ared  the 
lingering  agony  of  slow  punishment.  Today 
the  avowed  purpose  is  to  reform  the  criminal, 
but,  especially  in  this  state — in  this  state  as 
in  no  other  Christian  state — is  in  its  effects 
destructive  and  in  very  many  cases,  because 
almost  endless,  cruel.  This  cruelty  is  not  to 
be  found  in  the  prisons  but  in  the  length  of 
the  sentences  imposed. 

Long  sentences  make  life  hopeless.  .  .  .  The 
man  is  so  handicapped  by  age,  loss  of  initia- 
tive, the  alienation  of  friends  and  relatives 
and  the  physical  deterioration  always  insep- 
arable from  prolonged  imprisonment,  that  un- 
less he  is  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
strength  of  character,  there  is  little  chance 
of  his  making  good. 

We  do  not  criticise  the  courts  for  imposing 
such  sentences.  It  may  be  that  in  the  light 
of  such  facts  as  were  presented  to  them,  they 
were  justified  in  every  instance,  but,  the  fact 
remains  they  are  destructive  and  cruel — justly 
cruel  possibly  but  cruel  nevertheless. 

The  question,  however,  is  not  whether  they 
were  just,  merciful,  or  cruel,  but  whether  they 
accomplish  their  purpose.  Do  they  decrease 
and  prevent  crime?  May  it  not  be  that  such 
sentences  account,  to  some  extent  at  least,  for 
the  fact  that  approximately  one-half  of  the 
men  in  the  New  York  state  prisons  are  recidi- 
vists, and  are  serving  a  second,  third,  fourth, 
or,  in  some  cases,  ninth  term?  A  man  who. 
having  spent  ten  or  fifteen  or  more  years  in 
the  enervating  atmosphere  of  a  prison,  when 
set  adrift,  an  alien  to  society,  without  a  single 
home  or  wholesome  social  tie,  is  very  hkely 
to  lack  both  the  incentive  and  the  strength  to 
fight  against  the  temptation  to  follow  the  hne 
of  least  resistance  and  violate  those  laws 
which  he  feels  have  robbed  him  of  the  best 


there  is  in  life. — Star  of  Uoff,  Sitiy  Sing  Prison, 
Nnv  York. 

#    0 
Parole  the  Life  Termer 

This  coming  winter  efforts  will  be  made  to 
secure  amendments  to  the  present  parole  law 
under  which  it  is  hoped  to  secure  a  more  lib- 
eral administration  of  its  provisions,  and  at 
the  same  time  measures  will  be  used  t«»  have 
the  life  termers  made  beneticiaries  under  its 
requirements. 

\\  hercver  this  cla>s  .-i  nun  has  been 
paroled,  they  have  invariably  made  100  per 
cent.  g<xxl.  'rhcy  are  the  best-behaved  men  in 
prisons,  the  least  troublesome,  the  most  ap- 
preciative, and  the  least  inclined  to  abuse  the 
privileges  usually  allowed   U*  all  life  termers 

In   Wisconsin,   where  "lifers"  are  admitted 
to  parole,  the  results  are  unusual.     Of  all  i"  ■ 
life  termers  who  have  been  discharge*!  un^it.! 
the   parole   law   in   that   state   since    1^7.   not 
one  has  defaulted. 

nf  the  thirty-four  apphcaiujus  <jf  hicr.s  i  * 
sidcred  by  the  board  in  the  last  six  year.-. 
fourteen  have  been  granted.  Of  this  number 
eleven  are  reporting  regularly,  two  died,  and 
one  returned  to  prison  voluntarily,  saymg, 
"that  the  ()rison  w.is  .i  better  h<>nu-  than  the 
world." 

Where  the  convicted  has  friends  and  money 
it  is  rarely  that  they  serve  more  than  fifteen 
years  of  their  "life"  \crn\—Thc  L'mfirr.  P.asl- 
em   Penitentiary.   Philadelphia.  Penn 


NEWS  NARRATIVE 


LOCAL 


THE      NEW      SUPERINTENDENT      OF 
MATRONS  AND  THE  NEW  METH 
ODS   AT  THE  WOMEN'S 
PRISON 

The  lives  of  women  at  the  women's  prison 
are  brightened  by  the  new  h«)pe  that  has  come 
in  them  of  improvement  while  in  the  inslilu 
tion  antl  of  prospects  of  being  able  to  do  well 
when  they  arc  released 

The  new  matron,  Miss  Grace  Fuller,  who 
took  charge  of  the  women's  prison  August  10, 
proposes  to  make  the  life  of  the  women  here 
more  normal  than  it  has  been  and  to  help  the 
women  to  fit  themselves  for  "»elf-supporting 
work  when  they  shall  leave. 

Miss   I'liller  came  to   Toliet  from  the  State 


450 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Normal  College  at  Ypsilanti,  Michigan,  where 
she  held  the  office  of  Dean  of  Women  and  Su- 
pervisor of  Household  Arts.  She  had  l)ccn 
connected  with  the  Normal  College  for  nine 
years,  having  gone  there  directly  from  Pratt 
Institute,  Brooklyn,  a  technical  school,  from 
which  she  graduated  in  1905. 

•When  interviewed.  Miss  Fuller  said : 

"I  have  always  thought  that  poor  food  has 
a  great  deal  to  do  with  bad  conduct.  I  have 
plans  to  educate  the  women  in  cooking  so  that 
as  a  first  benefit  they  may  have  better  food 
themselves. 

"I  have  great  faith  in  the  educational  value 
of  manual  work  of  all  kinds,  and  especially 
for  women  in  work  connected  with  the  house- 
hold. 

"I  shall  at  first  make  a  class  of  eight  women 
who  are  to  leave  here  next  year  and  shall 
teach  them  housekeeping.  I  shall  teach  them 
how  to  prepare  a  meal  that  will  be  nutritious, 
inexpensive,  attractive,  and  suited  to  the 
bodily  needs  of  the  persons  for  whom  the 
meal  is  prepared. 

"Later  on,  as  we  can,  we  are  to  have  classes 
in  sewing  to  teach  the  women  who  need  that 
instruction.  They  will  be  taught  to  make  sim- 
ple garments,  and  later  there  will  be  lessons 
in  practical  millinery.  The  women  will  also 
be  taught  to  do  first-class  laundry  work.  This 
instruction  is  of  great  practical  value  and  it 
can  be  made  very  interesting. 

"I  shall  try  to  make  each  of  the  women  self- 
supporting  when  she  leaves  the  place.  I  in- 
tend to  see  the  persons  for  whom  the  women 
are  to  work  and  to  help  each  to  become  well 
located  in  clean,  wholesome  surroundings.  I 
want  all  the  women  who  leave  here  to  feel 
that  our  interest  in  them  continues  even  after 
they  have  gone. 

"I  shall  have  the  advice  of  prominent  stu- 
dents in  sociology  both  in  Chicago  and  in 
New  York,  which  will  be  very  helpful  to  me 
and  also  to  the  women  who  are  under  my 
charge. 

"We  have  taken  two-thirds  of  the  space  of 
the  cane  seat  factory  for  our  new  kitchen. 
Each  woman  who  takes  up  the  work  will  have 
her  own  kitchen  cabinet  and  gas  stove.  The 
food  prepared    will    be    used    in   the  dining- 


room. 


"The  women  will  be  changed  about  in  their 
work  so  that  they  will  learn  all  branches  of 
domestic  science ;  also  those  who  prefer  it, 
will  be  taught  so  as  to  qualify  them  for  work 
in  factories. 

"The  primary  purpose  is  to  make  our  work 
educational ;  the  commercial  interest  will  be 
a  secondary  consideration. 

"If  a  woman  while  here  can  take  one,  two 
or  three  years  in  domestic  science  training 
under  a  competent  supervisor,  I  can  see  no 
reason  why  she  cannot  be  exceptionally  well 
fitted  for  a  position  in  any  home  or,  if  she 
prefers  a  business  vocation,  I  can  see  no  rea- 
son why  her  instruction  here  will  not  fit  her 
for  good  work  in  a  laundry,  restaurant,  hotel, 
millinery  shop,  dressmaking  establishment  or 
some  such  institution. 

"We  intend  to  open  every  opportunity  to 
the  women  and  to  help  them  make  as  much 
of  themselves  as  is  possibU. 

"I  am  pleased  with  the  work  and  oppor- 
tunity that  are  before  me  and  I  take  up  my 
work  here  with  a  glad  heart." 

®     @     © 

FATHER  PETER'S  IMPRESSIONS 

Father  Peter  Crumbley,  who  came  to  this 
institution  about  two  months  ago  from  Mem- 
phis, Tenn.,  as  successor  to  Father  Edward, 
finds  his  work  here  about  what  he  had  hoped 
to  find  it  after  having  learned  in  Chicago  of 
what  was  being  done  here  for  prison  better- 
ment. 

Father  Peter's  work  in  Memphis  was  in 
principle  of  similar  character  to  the  work  he 
finds  open  to  him  here.  He  was  priest  of  St. 
Mary's  Catholic  church  and  was  chaplain  of 
St.  Peter's  orphanage  and  of  the  Home  of  the 
Good  Shepard  and  was  well  known  as  a  so- 
cial worker  who  devoted  a  great  deal  of  his 
time  to  the  uplift  of  the  wayward  boys  and 
girls  of  Memphis.  He  organized  the  Boys' 
Club  of  St.  Mary's  parish. 

Speaking  of  his  experience  here  Father  Peter 
said : 

"I  find  the  men  entirely  dififerent  from  what 
I  expected.  From  my  understanding  of 
prisons  I  had  thought  the  men  would  be  de- 
spondent, morose,  unhappy,  dejected  and 
brooding   and,   at   the   best,   not   bouyant  and 


September  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


461 


companionable.  Rut  I  have  found  them  so 
different  from  this. 

"There  is  in  the  men  a  certain  childhke  con- 
fidence in  one  whom  they  feel  is  a  real  friend 
to  them;  they  have  exceptional  api)rcciation 
for  even  the  smallest  things  that  are  done  for 
them.  This  seems  to  be  not  because  of  a 
weakness,  but  because  they  have  so  little  in 
here  that  even  small  things  mean  a  great  deal 
to  them. 

"The  men  that  I  have  met  are  not  weak ; 
that  is,  they  have  not  given  up  their  purpose, 
have  not  surrendered  to  the  conditions  and 
limitations  in  which  they  ha"e  been  placed 
and  given  up  hope. 

"They  are  childlike  in  that  they  are  cheer- 
ful and  happy  and  respond  readily  to  kindness, 
but  they  are  manlike  in  bearing  up  under  the 
burdens  they  carry.  I  find  that  most  of  the 
men  with  whom  I  have  talked  are  sincere  at 
heart.  They  meet  you  half  way,  and  more 
than  half  way. 

"These  men  have  gone  through  a  severe 
trial.  The  accusation  made  against  them,  their 
conviction  and  imprisonment  here,  has  alien- 
ated from  them  many  whom,  until  this  trouble 
came,  they  had  thought  were  their  true  and 
staunch  friends.  This  loss  of  friends  in  whom 
one  has  put  the  fullest  confidence,  makes  one 
sometimes  lose  faith  in  man  and  almost  lose 
faith  in  God. 

"I  find  that  the  men  here  do  not  want  a 
soft,  pitying  sympathy.  They  reject  that,  but 
they  accept  kindness.  They  do  not  want  peo- 
ple to  come  and  weep  over  them ;  they  have  a 
natural  pride  in  standing  in  their  own 
strength ;  they  accept  a  cordial  support  and 
respond  heartily  to  having  faith  reposed  in 
them.  They  seem  to  feel  that  they  are  them- 
selves responsible  for  the  conditions  that  have 
been  brought  upon  them  and  they  are  willing 
to  stand  the  consequences  of  their  acts  and  to 
work  their  own  way  out." 

Father  Peter  was  asked  how  the  Honor  Sys- 
tem appeared  to  him ;  what  relationship  he 
sees  between  the  Honor  System  and  Christi- 
anity? 

"In  principle  and  in  spirit,  '  said  Father 
Peter,  "the  honor  system  is  the  practicaliza- 
tion  of  Christianity.  Honor  is  another  name 
for  character,  and  the  honor  system  is  meant, 


in  its  highest  phases,  to  bring  a  man  back  to 
the  gui<lancc  of  the  truth  that  is  in  him.  This, 
of  course,  is  the  kind  of  practical  life  that 
Christianity  shows. 

"Hut  just  how  much  ui  ihis  js  to  be  worked 
out  in  here  I  cannot  yet  say.  Men  who  arc 
here  arc  n(.t  in  a  nonnal  situation.  The  prin- 
cipal thought  with  them  must  be  to  fulfill  their 
time  and  to  get  out.  I  cannot  say  what  per- 
centage of  the  men  who  take  up  the  honor 
work  have  their  whole  life  method  in  view. 
Naturally,  many  of  them  think  of  the  honor 
system  only  as  a  means  of  getting  along  well 
in  here  and  as  a  way  in  which  they  po.ssibly 
can  shorten  the  term  of  their  sentences. 

"The  lunior  system  came  into  my  practice 
a  good  deal  in  .Nfemphis.  I  imjiressed  my 
boys  as  deeply  as  I  could  with  the  importance 
of  keeping  their  word  with  mc  and  I  think 
this  was  an  influence  in  keeping  them  uprij:ht. 

"The  honor  system  is  true,  and  if  we  could 
apply  it  to  society  in  general  nothing  could 
be  better.  I  know  that  there  are  men  in  here 
who  want  to  get  out  on  the  farm  just  to  show 
the  Warden  that  they  can  be  trusted.  They 
reject  the  imi)lication  that  they  are  unworthy 
and  not  to  be  tru>ted  just  because  they  did 
one  wrong  and  fatal  thing.  Their  acts  weigh 
heavily  upon  them  and  they  wish  again  to 
accredit  themselves  in  the  eyes  of  society. 

"Many  of  the  life  men  are  on  the  farm  It 
means  a  great  deal  for  such  a  man  to  keep 
his  pledge.  Where  there  is  slight  hope  of  a 
termination  of  his  sentence,  small  hope  of  a 
pardon,  and  a  chance  comes  when  he  feels 
sure  he  can  make  his  escape  and  be  free,  and 
then  docs  not  go  just  because  he  has  given 
his  word,  there  is  the  excrci«»e  of  extraordinary 
strength,  of  heroic  virtue. 

"The  conditions  are  abnormal  here  But 
the  honor  system  can  do  great  things.  The 
op|)ortunities  here  offer  an  ideal  work  for  a 
priest." 

•    •    0 

THE    PRISON     HONOR    BAND 

The  home  of  the  new  band  occupies  liic  en 
tire  north  half  of  the  f^oor  of  the  large  build 
ing  formerly  used  for  a  shirt  factory.     It  is  a 
spacious  room,  with  lofty  ceiling,  and  is  finely 
vt-ntil.Ttcd       Here,    in   a   real   musical   almos- 


452 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


phere,  the  boys  meet  for  practice  every  morn- 
ing and  afternoon,  except  Sunday.  They  do 
not  return  to  their  cells  during  the  noon  hour, 
Mr.  Saville,  the  bandmaster,  having  volun- 
teered to  remain  at  the  headquarters  so  that 
the  band  members  may  enjoy  the  privilege  of 
spending  the  hour  amidst  pleasant  surround- 
ings. 

The  band  will  compare  favorably  with  many 
municipal  bands  of  the  large  cities.  If  it  lacks 
in  perfect  technique  and  finish,  it  is  largely 
due  to  the  fact  that  the  full  complement  of 
the  band  has  not  yet  been  attained.  The  band 
has  made  excellent  progress  since  last  May. 
It  is  the  plan  to  increase  the  membership  as 
fast  as  satisfactory  men  can  be  found  and 
trained. 

Among  the  pieces  which  have  been  ren- 
dered may  be  mentioned  Hall's  and  Sousa's 
standard  marches,  the  Sextet  from  Lucia,  and 
La  Polama.  On  the  second  Sunday  in  Au- 
gust the  Overture  to  the  Poet  and  Peasant 
was  given  in  a  most  creditable  manner. 

J.  F.  Saville,  bandmaster,  left  on  August 
17,  for  a  two  weeks'  vacation.  He  has  been 
one  of  the  busiest  men  in  the  institution,  espe- 
cially on  Sundays,  when  he  gives  four  per- 
formances before  he  is  ofif  duty  at  one 
o'clock. 

©     ©     © 

ON  THE   DIAMOND 

The  national  game  is  well  represented  by 
the  different  nines  in  the  I.  S.  P.  Estelle's 
Wrappers,  of  the  Furniture  Department,  have 
been  almost  invincible  during  the  season. 

Wednesday,  August  5,  they  crossed  bats 
with  the  yard  nine,  known  as  the  Sun 
Dodgers,  the  W'rappers  winning  the  game 
2  to  0. 

Many  sensational  plays  were  made  by  both 
sides.  The  feature  of  the  game  was  the  base- 
running  of  Covington,  the  boy  who  "slides  on 
his  chin,"  scoring  both  runs  for  the  Wrappers, 
unassisted. 

Schultz,  one  of  Heinze's  "57  varieties,"  who 
played  first  base  for  the  Sun  Dodgers,  is  a 
better  singer  than  a  ball  player.  Through  his 
freak  plays  he  was  given  credit  for  losing  the 
game.  Packy.  the  slab  artist  for  the  Wrap- 
pers,  who  claims  an  occasional   spit  ba,ll   in 


his  repertoire,  was  given  good  support  and 
managed  to  strike  out  the  heavy  hitters  of 
the  Sun  Dodgers. 

Murphy,  the  Sun  Dodgers'  pitcher,  was  also 
in  the  lime  light,  he  allowing  only  three  scat- 
tered hits.  His  double-break  ball  should  be 
seen  by  the  scouts  of  the  major  league. 

The  Mill  Chair  No.  5,  a  branch  of  the  Furni- 
ture Department,  having  only  three  or  four 
players,  came  to  the  conclusion  that  with  the 
assistance  of  the  stars  in  the  yard  nine,  they 
could  put  up  a  stronger  brand  of  ball  and,  on 
Monday,  August  10,  they  combined  forces  to 
play  the  leaders,  Estelle's  Wrappers. 

When  the  whistle  blew  for  supper  the 
Wrappers  had  met  their  Waterloo,  the  com- 
bined forces  winning  by  a  score  of  2  to  1. 

Xewbar,  who  shovels  the  black  diamonds 
for  the  State  in  the  boiler  room,  and  Cleve- 
land, the  biscuit  shooter  for  the  Combined 
Forces,  pitched  a  good  game  and  received  ex- 
cellent support.  Packy,  whose  arm  was  not 
in  good  condition,  covered  the  third  bag  and 
surprised  the  spectators  by  striking  out.  He 
generally  looms  up  strong  in  the  hit  and  run 
column. 

Covington,  who  does  a  100  in  9  flat,  was 
sent  to  run  for  several  of  his  team  mates  after 
they  had  reached  first  on  scratch  hits.  Evi- 
dently he  had  slippery  elm  on  his  heels  and 
the  game  terminated  when  he  was  put  out  the 
third  time  at  the  second  bag  by  what  is  known 
as  the  "hidden  ball  ruse."  Outside  of  Tray- 
ser's  triple  over  the  fish  pond  to  the  right  gar- 
den, there  was  very  little  chance  for  the  field- 
ers to  make  any  sensational  catches. 

Tuesday,  the  11th,  the  Chain  Damagers 
from  Shop  No.  2  played  the  Sun  Dodgers,  but 
suffered  defeat,  9  to  5.  Murphy's  double- 
break  ball  was  very  effective.  Badsing,  a  life 
termer,  one  whom  Gulliver  must  have  over- 
looked in  his  travels,  played  in  the  right  gar- 
den for  the  Damagers.  He  received  tre- 
mendous applause  on  catching  a  fly  ball  after 
having  hurdled  two  or  three  wagons  and  a 
couple  of  quarry  cars.  Jimmie  Hines,  an  old- 
time  ball  player,  and  familiar  with  most  of  the 
plays,  is  generally  picked  to  umpire  the  games. 
Rice  and  Kelly,  two  promising  young  play- 
ers, have  become  famous  for  their  one-hand 
catches.     They   are   in   great   demand   by   all 


September   1.   I'.ll4 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


433 


teams.    Kelly  can  pitch  six  days  in  every  week 
and  twice  on  Sunday,  if  permitted. 

The  other  day  there  was  an  interestinj^ 
game  between  the  iVtuer  Ht)use  and  the  Ma- 
cliine  Shop.  The  yanu-  opened  with  the 
Power  House  at  bat. 

The  battery  for  the  Machine  Shoj)  were 
Stanley  and  Sammy.  Of  Cdurse.  the  I'.iwer 
FTouse  men  started  to  break  all  the  wind«»w 
panes  in  the  neigfhborhood  of  the  ball  jjjnmnds. 
This  made  Stanley  somewhat  reticent  in  i)itch- 
ing  the  new^  league  ball.  Every  now  and  then 
we  were  compelled  to  jog  up  his  memory,  in 
order  to  enjoy  seeing  a  few  more  windows  di- 
vided into  smaller  parts. 

The  Power  House,  at  the  end  nf  their  fust 
inning,  had  six  scores.  But  it  seemed  certain 
that  the  Knights  of  Vulcan  and  the  lathe  were 
equally  as  good  and  were  slugging  as  hard  as 
the  stokers.  It  finally  made  the  score  7  to  6 
in  favor  of  the  machinists. 

The  second  inning  brought  a  surjjrise,  and 
the  Stokers  were  baffled  by  one  of  Stanley's 
new  twist  balls  (we'll  call  it  that  for  lack  of 
a  better  name). 

The  game  then  progressed  peacefully  until 
the  fourth  inning  was  reached,  when  the 
Stokers  happened  to  start  a  rally  and,  being 
then  quite  awake,  the  score  reached  10  to  7. 
The  game  wound  up  with  a  triple  play  made 
by  the  Machinists. 

©     ©     © 

RESIDENT  OPTICIAN 

A  full  modern  equipment  for  testing  the  eyes 
has  been  purchased  by  the  administration  and 
prisoners  can  now  buy  eye  glasses  at  the  cost 
to  the  State.  Prisoner  Paul  Covitz,  who  is  an 
experienced  optician,  is  in  charge  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  prison  physician,  and  he  will  at- 
tend to  all  who  need  glasses.  The  men  are  to 
go  to  the  hospital  with  the  regular  sick  line 
where  they  will  see  Covitz,  who  will  attend  to 
their  wants. 


©     ^     ^ 

THE  HONOR  FARM 


I    The  discipline  at  the  Honor  Farm  has  re- 
cently been  excellent  and  the  very  best  of  fel- 


just  passed,  and  while  the  boys,  with  few  ex- 
ceptions, have  had  no  previous  farm  experi- 
ence, they  went  at  the  harvest  like  veteran* 
and  a  better  or  more  wiliinf^  IxMy  «»f  men 
can  not  Inr  foun«l. 

There  has  been  atldetl  a  new  Titan  oil 
tractor.  30-fiO  horsepower,  and  a  Racine 
thresher  with  a  capacity,  under  favorable  con- 
<liti(>ns,  «>f  2.500  l)u>hels  per  <lay.  No  oulHiilc 
help  was  obtaineil.  the  tractor  engine  and 
.separator  being  operated  by  the  men  them- 
selves. It  t«x>k  i»\c  week  t«»  <lo  the  threshing, 
the  first  day  or  so  being  taken  up  in  (getting 
the  machinery  to  run  smoothly.  Ihc  total 
quantity  (»f  oats  threshed  was  *>.000  bushels 
of  giHxl  (piality.  Corn  is  getting  on  very 
well  but  rain  is  es.sential  f«»r  a  gootl  yield. 
Sweet  corn  is  ready  and  deliveries  to  the  din- 
ing r«Mim  can  now  be  made. 

I'arly  potatoes  are  very  gixnl ;  what  wc  have 
dug  .show  the  yield  to  be  al)Out  100  bushels 
to  the  acre.  F-ate  potatoes  are  much  in  need 
of  rain.  The  cabbage  and  other  ve^ctahles 
also  need  rain.  It  has  been  an  exceptionally 
bad  year  for  insects,  some  of  which  are  new 
to  this  locality  and  which  have  caused  con- 
siderable  damage. 

«     «     « 

CAMP  DUNNE 

I'ather  I'cter  Crumbley.  Catholic  chaplain 
of  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary,  visited  the 
camp  on  the  afternoon  of  Sunday.  .Xug^st 
16th.  He  made  an  address  to  the  boys  and 
said  Mass  at  six  o'clock 

Mr  Wickersham.  of  the  lllnois  State  Pen- 
itentiary, visited  the  camp  a  few  days  ago. 
bringing  with  him  the  papers  which  gave  free- 
dom and  restored  citizenship  to  three  of  the 

boys. 

In  honor  of  his  recent  birthday.  Mr.  Mun- 
son  gave  out  ice  cream  and  doughnuts  to  the 
boys      The  treat  was  greatly  appreciated  by 

all. 

On  .August  2  the  Camp  Dunne  team  played 
the  K.  of  C.  team  from  Ottawa,  the  home  team 
winning  by  several  scores 

On  Aug.  9,  after  a  hard  fought  gann.  m 
which  the  l.i>^ers  battled  hard  to  the  eti«I.  the 
Camp   Dunne  team  went  down  to  defeat  for 


454 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


the  second  time  at  the  hands  of  the  Zephyr 
Flowers,  of  Ottawa.     The  score: 

R.  H.E. 

Zephyr  Flowers.  .03241001  0-11   11  4 

Camp  Dunne 0  12  0  2  2  0  1  2-10  14  4 

On  August  16  the  Camp  Dunne  team  crossed 
bats  with  the  Deer  Park  team.  Camp  Dunne 
had  the  visitors  at  their  mercy  until  the  eighth 
inning,  when  Deer  Park  ran  up  the  score  to 

9.     The  score : 

R.  H.  E. 

Deer  Park 0  2  0  0  1114  1—10    9  6 

Camp  Dunne  ....12320221  0-13  11  2 
The  road  grader  has  just  completed  a  two- 
mile  stretch  of  road  east  of  the  camp,  con- 
verting a  former  cow  trail  into  a  modern  high- 
way. 

After  nearly  seven  weeks  of  drought,  the 
camp  was  visited  by  two  refreshing  rains  dur- 
ing the  second  week  in  August.  This  has 
made  the  ground  too  wet  to  work  the  teams, 
so  all  hands  were  put  to  work  on  the  rock 
cut  through  Dimmick's  Hill,  which  is  about 
one-fourth  of  a  mile  long  and  composed  of 
sand,   rock,   shale,   red   clay   and   gumbo. 

About  a  half  mile  from  the  camp  is  a  very 
enjoyable  spot  on  the  banks  of  the  Illinois 
River,  where  the  boys  go  to  swim. 

Many  visitors  are  attracted  to  Camp  Dunne 
from  Starved  Rock.  A  daily  average  of  twelve 
visit  the  camp,  Council  Cave  and  Fishburn 
Canyon.  The  cave  is  especially  interesting, 
being  100  feet  long,  80  feet  wide  and  30  feet 
high.  The  road  that  cuts  through  Dimmick's 
Hill  runs  directly  over  the  cave.  The  canyon 
is  one  of  the  beauty  spots  of  the  state.  A  small 
stream  runs  through  it  and  a  great  variety 
of  trees  and  wild  flowers  are  to  be  seen. 

The  prisoners  who  have  been  stationed  at 
Camp  Dunne  near  Ottawa.  Illinois,  finished  the 
work  assigned  to  them  Saturday,  August  22. 
All  the  improvements  originally  contemplated 
have  not  been  completed,  but  the  county 
money  has  given  out  and  in  consequence  the 
business  men  of  Ottawa  have  decided  to  enlist 
the  aid  of  farmers  to  put  on  the  finishing 
touches.  On  Monday,  August  24,  Camp  Dunne 
was  moved  to  Mokena,  Will  County,  Illinois, 
fifteen  miles  east  of  the  prison  on  the  Rock 
Island  railroad.  Four  miles  of  hard  road  is  to 
be  made;  two  miles  of  stone  road  at  Mokena 


and  two  miles  in  the  township  of  Frankfort. 
The  Frankfort  road  is  a  part  of  the  Lincoln 
Highway.  It  is  expected  that  all  of  the  work 
win  be  finished  by  January  1,  1915.  At  that 
time  Warden  Allen  intends  to  move  the  men 
to  the  Joliet  Honor  Farm  for  the  winter. 


CAMP  ALLEN 

About  the  best  news  that  could  come  from 
any  road  camp  comes  rom  Camp  Allen,  estab- 
lished at  Beecher. 

The  men  are  being  paid  for  overtime  work 
at  twenty  cents  an  hour.  The  local  officials 
desire  to  have  a  great  deal  done  and  in  order 
to  have  the  work  move  along  as  fast  as  pos- 
sible, they  have  arranged  to  have  the  men 
put  in  extra  time  on  the  conditions  named. 

So  far  the  men  have  not  earned  great 
amounts,  but  what  they  do  earn  is  net  profit, 
since  their  board,  lodging  and  clothing  are 
provided.  The  most  significant  thing,  how- 
ever, is  that  they  are  being  paid  wages. 

All  the  officials  send  in  particularly  good  re- 
ports of  the  men  at  Camp  Allen.  So  far  these 
men  have  conducted  themselves  so  as  to  ful- 
fill every  requirement  of  the  camp. 

A  certain  famous  author  who  recently  vis- 
ited the  camp,  whose  stories  for  a  number  of 
vears  have  dealt  with  western  life  and  with 
prison  topics,  but  whose  name  we  do  not  feel 
at  liberty  to  mention,  says  that  Camp  Allen 
is  the  best  prison  camp  he  has  seen.  He  makes 
the  statement  on  the  ground  of  the  camp's 
situation,  equipment,  the  efficiency  of  the 
work  and  the  general  conduct  of  the  men. 

Camp  Allen  is  the  latest  road  camp  from 
this  institution  and  it  is  setting  a  new  stand- 
ard in  camp  aflfairs. 


OTHER  PRISON 
COMMUNITIES 


HOW  ONE  PRISON  PAPER  GREW 

Here  is  an  inside  story  of  how  the  press 
has  gotten  into  prison.  It  is  the  story  of  the 
evolution  of  The  Umpire,  published  at  the 
Eastern  State  Penitentiary  at  Philadelphia. 
The  Umpire  tells  the  story: 


September  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


455 


"Originally  it  was  typewritten,  and  con- 
tained nothing  more  than  the  result  of  our 
baseball  games.  A  little  later  a  r>x4  'dodger' 
was  struck  off  when  no  one  was  looking,  and 
surreptitiously  passed  around  among  a  chosen 
few.  It  reached  the  officials  finally,  who  gave 
permission  to  issue  such  a  publication  during 
the  baseball  season.  Last  September,  this 
privilege  was  extended  to  cover  the  whole 
year,  providing  we  found  enough  stuff  to  put 
in  it.  Needless  to  say,  we  found  it,  with  such 
good  results,  that  the  Umpire  is  now  clas.sed 
among  the  most  important  of  prison  publica- 
tions." 

®     @     © 
MAKING  FACES 

The  men  of  the  Kansas  State  Penitentiary 
must  be  on  very  intimate  and  friendly  terms 
with  their  officers. 

Some  weeks  ago  the  State  boys  paid  a  visit 
to  the  Federal  boys  at  Leavenworth  and  in  a 
match  game  of  ball,  "brought  home  the 
bacon."  Now  the  Leavenworth  fellows  want 
a    try    against    the    Lansing   orators,    and    so 


Lansing,  addresses  the   Warden  and   Deputy 
Warden  thus: 

"Dear  Sirs:— Those  boys  at  the  T*  ^  iviv,.,, 
arc  making  faces  at  us  afj^in. 
remember  what  they  sai<!  about  our  ball  team 
several  weeks  ago?  Well,  they  arc  n«»w  say- 
ing the  same  things  al>out  our  orator^  'V\u\ 
say  we  don't  know  how  to  debate. 

"Now,  gentlemen,  y(»u  know  that  old  K.  S. 
P.  Academy  df>e*^n't  take  a  l)ack        ■   •   - 
body,  in  anything;  so  just  sa\'  th- 
tlenien,  and  the  boys  of  K.  S.  P.  will  prepare 
to  bring  home  another  scalp." 


PARAGRAPHS 


The  Monroe,  W.ishington,  Reformatory  is 
very  pnnid  of  its  band,  which  v  '■  u  improv- 
ing, with  a  promise  of  maki  ^  "me  high 
class  musicians." 


Night  work  in  the  twine  plant  at  the  Lan- 
sing, Kansas,  state  prison  closed  July  30ih. 
The  event  was  celebrated  with  a  movie  show 


"Cuba,"    who    speaks    for   the    State    boys   at     and  a  big  supper  and  ice  cream. 


a 


♦  ♦ 


Cije  Hesisou 

By  Hugh   Manyte 


A   Prisoner 


Alone  by  the  grated  window  I  mused  in  the  after-glow; 
The  life  I  had  lived  unfolded— I  dwelt  in  the  long-ago: 
Saw  only  the  blight  and  sorrow,  roamed  only  the  land  of  tears. 
And  never  a  golden  moment  came  out  of  the  buried  years. 

Like  unto  a  cloud,  it  faded,  yet  sadder  it  left  me  then : 
I  had  traversed  the  vale  of  shadows  in  my  search  for  the  souls  of  men; 
Had  bowed  at  the  crumbled  ruins  of  my  hopes  and  fears  that  day. 
As  I  gazed  at  the  dying  colors  on  the  rim  of  the  far-away. 

Then,  clutching  the  narrow  window,  fell  the  vine— it  had  lost  its  hold; 
Perhaps  it  had  fought,  and  yielded  to  the  strength  of  the  breezes  bold. 
E'en  then,  as  the  stem  bent  inwards,  I  knew  that  its  trcndrils  fine 
Were  groping  amongst  the  shadows  for  a  something  they  might  entwme! 

O,  blessed  the  simple  lesson— the  lesson  the  vine  doth  bring : 
Should  loosened  become  our  anchor  we  may  cast  it  again— to  cling. 
The  ghost  of  the  Past  brings  nothing  to  me  of  its  grim  decay 
For  the  hope  that  the  vine  has  given  must  conquer  the  new  today! 


456 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


A  Broad  Vie\\^  of  the  Question  of  Penology 


A  Protlem  Wkick  Is  to  Be  Worked  Out  Tkrougk  a  Ckange  of  Social 

Attitude  Towards  tne  Individual 


O.  H.  L.  Wernicke  Outlines  tKe  Work  of  tke  Joint  Penology  Commission  of  Mickigan 


One  of  the  most  important  of  recent  utter- 
ances on  the  question  of  penology  and  the  pos- 
sible social  service  of  penological  methods,  is 
made  in  the  address  of  Mr.  O.  H.  L.  Wernicke, 
delivered  before  the  Joint  Penology  Commis- 
sion of  Michigan,  of  which  Mr.  Wernicke  is 
president. 

The  address  sets  forth  certain  fundamental 
principles  which  must  be  recognized  in  any 
lasting  reform  movement.  Mr.  Wernicke  sees 
that  progress  is  possible  only  through  a  grow- 
ing conformity  to  what  is  true  in  human 
nature ;  that  the  restoration  of  men  to  a  proper 
social  status  is  to  come,  not  through  any  dis- 
cipline that  means  only  a  conformity  to  rules, 
but  through  a  social  culture  which  will  school 
and  qualify  men  for  freedom,  for  the  freedom 
which  must  be  given  them  when  they  are 
released  and  which  they  must  know  how  to 
live  if  they  are  to  hold  themselves  secure 
against  rearrest. 

"The  whole  problem,"  says  Mr.  Wernicke, 
"of  reforming  a  man  or  a  woman  almost  invar- 
iably and  in  accordance  with  nature's  law, 
involves  the  question  of  sex  and  other  social 
relations;  therefore,  no  scheme  of  reform 
which  ignores  this  truth  will  ever  be  success- 
ful in  the  highest  degree." 

Mr.  Wernicke  sees  that,  while  it  is  true  that 
men  and  women  must  be  taught  freedom,  dis- 
cipline is  not  to  be  abandoned.  He  says: 
"We  cannot  yet  dispense  with  cages  or  cells, 
but  we  may  surely  reduce  their  number." 

Discipline  is  to  be  outgrown,  not  abandoned. 
Persons  must,  from  their  thought,  live  the  or- 
der that  a  proper  discipline  would  specify; 
otherwise  their  being  allowed  freedom  would 
not  be  justified. 

Mr.  Wernicke  sees  a  new  attitude  for  soci- 
ety toward  the  individual.  He  says,  "There 
is  yet  room  for  progressive  legislation  and  the 


exercise  of  more  intelligence  by  our  courts 
in  the  trial  and  commitment  of  persons 
charged  with  crime.  Our  indeterminate  sen- 
tence law  contains  some  good  features  but  it 
does  not  go  far  enough." 

He  says  the  state  should  help  the  man  who 
comes  out  of  prison  to  establish  a  home,  and 
declares  the  new  social  policy  in  these  words: 
"Since  modern  penological  thought,  as  well  as 
public  opinion,  are  on  the  side  of  reform, 
rather  than  punishment,  the  practices  of  our 
courts  and  institutions  should  be  brought  into 
practical  harmony  with  this  sentiment." 

Mr.  Wernicke's  full  address  is  as  follows : 

"This  Commission  was  created  by  the  last 
Legislature  for  certain  definite  and  much- 
needed  purposes.  It  is  our  duty  to  prove  that 
its  creation  was  both  wise  and  timely ;  to  do 
anything  less  would  lay  the  Commission's 
plans  open  to  criticism. 

"We  need  a  reasonable  increase  in  our  ap- 
propriation to  make  our  own  work  what  it 
should  be,  but  even  without  such  additional 
funds  we  can  do  much  for  the  good  of  penol- 
ogy in  Michigan.  Other  states,  as  well  as 
our  own  people,  are  beginning  to  realize  the 
value  and  take  note  of  the  relative  prison  situ- 
ation in  this  state  highly  creditable  to  our- 
selves. 

"The  worst  feature  of  all  prison  methods  is 
the  fact  that  the  ex-convict  is  a  marked  man 
and  handicapped  by  society  in  his  efforts  to 
make  a  living  for  himself;  he  is  too  often 
driven  back  into  the  ranks  of  crime  by  the 
discouraging  discrimination  of  society. 

"All  the  prison  discipline — all  the  effort  and 
cost  of  convictions  and  maintenance  of  prison- 
ers while  serving  their  sentences  go  for  naught 
— are  a  useless  waste  until  it  is  made  reason- 
ably possible,  instead  of  practically  impossi- 
ble,   for   the    paroled    or    discharged    prisoner 


I 


September  1,  11)14 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


45T 


after  he  has  paid  his  full  debt  to  society,  to 
engage  on  equal  terms  in  the  business  of  gain- 
ing an  honest  livelihood. 

"In  a  very  large  number  of  cases  reiorm 
would  be  more  certain  and  sooner  accom- 
plished were  it  possible  under  proper  guidance 
to  maintain  or  re-establish  the  prisoner  on  a 
basis  of  proper  family  relations  and  surround- 
ings. 

Whole  Problem  of  Reform 

"Human  nature  craves  and  will  have  social 
intercourse.  Those  who  f«>r  any  reason  are 
kept  out  of  good  society  must  and  do  fall  into 
bad  company. 

"The  whole  problem  of  reforming  a  man  or 
woman  almost  invariably  and  in  accordance 
with  nature's  law,  involves  the  question  of  sex 
and  other  social  relations ;  therefore,  no 
scheme  of  reform  which  ignores  this  truth  will 
ever  be  successful  in  the  highest  degree. 

"Since  modern  penological  thought,  as  well 
as  public  opinion,  are  on  the  side  of  reform 
rather  than  punishment,  the  practices  of  our 
courts  and  institutions  should  be  brt»ught  into 
practical    harmony   with    this   sentiment. 

"We  cannot  yet  dispense  with  cages  or 
cells;  but  we  surely  may  reduce  their  number. 
In  most  institutions  the  greatest  need  of  the 
hour  is  more  intelligent  classification  and 
segregation  of  their  inmates,  for  which  our 
existing  laws  and  facilities  are  totally  inade- 
quate. 

"I  would  so  order  the  whole  penological 
scheme  that  no  man  need  be  kept  under  lock 
and  key,  unless  by  his  own  acts  no  other 
treatment  is  possible. 

"I  would  have  grades  all  the  way  from  soli- 
tary confinement  to  complete  liberty,  through 
which  a  prisoner  might  progress  by  his  own 
efforts  and  conduct— each  promotion  to  carry 
with  it  more  privilege  and  greater  responsi- 
bility. 

"And  I  would  take  particular  pains  to  segre- 
gate minor  offenders  from  the  more  vicious— 
the  healthy  from  the  diseased— the  clean  from 
the  pervert,  and  so  on,  affording  to  each  the 
particular  treatment  and  instruction  best  cal- 
culated for  his  speedy  reform  and  restoration 
to  complete  liberty. 

"I  would  make  it  possible  to  provide  occu- 


pation or  suitable  employment  fur  the  dis- 
charged or  paroled  men  when  in  need  of  such 
help. 


Would  Reclaim   Swamp 

"It  is  a  paradox  t<«  imjirison  any  person  for 
years  at  great  expense  to  the  state,  only  to 
turn  him  loose  under  circumstances  which  arc 
almost  certain  to  drive  him  back  into  criminal 
ways.  In  such  cases,  while  the  initial  crime 
was  his  own  fault,  the  subsequent  offense  is 
too  often  the  fault  of  society  or  the  state. 

"This  idea  is  by  no  means  chimerical — 
neither  is  it  new.  I  direct  your  thoughtful 
attention  to  the  report  by  Lyman  Beecher 
Stowe  in  the  World's  Work  of  April.  1914 — of 
the  penal  colony  at  Iwahig.  Philippine  Islands. 
"There  are  in  Michigan  untold  thousands  of 
acres  of  swamp  lands  now  a  detriment  to  the 
state,  every  acre  of  which  may  be  brought 
under  the  highest  state  of  profitable  cultiva- 
tion and  to  the  support  of  additional  thrifty 
industries  to  the  greatest  benefit  of  society,  by 
common-sense  methods  applied  to  our  crimi- 
nal and  other  social  incompetents. 

"This  great  army  of  deficients  which  u»  now 
sapping  the  vitals  of  our  resources  should  be 
turned  from  a  dragging  liability  into  a  rich 
asset. 

"This  continually  growing  army,  under 
proper  laws  and  wise  direction,  may  be  made 
self-sustaining  and  even  profitable  to  the  slate, 
while  at  the  same  time  eliminating  or  reducing 
the  causes  for  their  physical  and  moral  defi- 
ciencies. 

"Our  present  methods  tend  to  increase. 
rather  than  decrease,  the  causes  which  lead  to 
immorality,  disease  and  crime. 

"In  making  these  statements  I  am  fully 
aware  that  many  experienced  and  well-mean- 
ing persons  in  and  out  of  res|><insible  P'  ^, 
will  take  issue  with  my  views.  I  wcn-Mue 
more  light  on  the  situation— my  greatest  de- 
sire is  to  help,  not  hinder— wherever  progress 
an<l  betterment  are  • ---iMe. 

"The    state    is   pi  d   of   and   burdened 

with  vast  areas  of  lands  now  almost  worthless. 
Some  of  it  is  tillable,  much  of  it  may  be  re- 
claimed, and  most  of  it  is  ideal  for  refor- 
estation. 


458 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  First  Year 

Homes  for  Released  Prisoners  of  judges,  any  more  than  a  doctor  can  foretell 

at  what  moment  a  patient  will  have  recovered 

"The  intelligent  conservation  of  these  lands,  j^g^|^j^_ 

the  incidental  protection  of  game  and  preven-  "^qq  often  the  procuring  causes  of  crime  are 

tion  of  fires  may  be  accomplished  under  con-  tj.^(,g^l3le  ^o  deficiencies,  disease  or  other  cir- 

structive    legislation    co-ordinating    the    land  ^^^j^stances,  and  in  such  cases  reform  may  be 

office  and  game  warden  and  possibly  the  Mich-  ^^Q^^pig^e  when  the  cause  is  removed ;  and  it 

igan   Agricultural   College   and  University   of  ^^^^^^  ^^  ^h^  desire  of  society  to  bring  this 

Michigan  with  this  Commission.  about  in  the  best  manner  and  without  need- 

"Other  state  institutions  for  the  care  of  the  ^^^^  delay, 

insane,  the  poor,  incorrigible  boys  and  girls—  «j^^  ^^^^^  cases,  the  longest  sentence  may 

all  could  and  should  be  linked  up  in  this  prop-  ^^j^    ^^    reform    the    subject— in    which    case 

osition.    This  idea  can  be  worked  out  in  such  ^^^^^j.  ^^^^  ^^^  restraint  should  not  be  discon- 

a  way  as  to  relieve  many  of  our  overcrowded  ^.^^^^^  ^^  .^  ^^^  ^^^^ 
institutions  of  half  their  population. 

"The  idea  is  reformative  and  invigorating.  Advisory  Boards  for  Courts 
It  would  provide  wholesome  and  profitable  oc-  „j^  seems  to  me  that  our  courts  as  now  or- 
cupations  and  finally  homes  for  paroled  and  g^^^^^ed  should  be  supplemented  by  an  ad- 
liberated  inmates.  ^  visory  board,  consisting  of  competent  men  or 
"Any  such  ideal  will  require  faith,  patience,  ^^Qj^g^,  to  determine  what  particular  treat- 
and  the  right  man.  No  cut-and-dried  legislative  ^^^^  ^^  treatments  will  in  each  case  best  serve 
enactment  could  anticipate  these  require-  ^^^  ^^^^^  ^^  ^^^  person  convicted  of  crime— 
ments.  The  preliminary  legislation  to  be  ^^^  ^^^^  ^.^^  ^^  ^^^^  ^^  j^  conjunction  with 
sought  need  go  no  farther  than  the  grantmg  ^^^  pardoning  power  or  other  central  author- 
of  authority  whereby  all  divisions  of  the  state  ^ribe  further  treatment  until  satisfied 
may  legally  co-operate  to  these  ends  under  ^^^^  ^^^  ^^.^^^  ^.^^^  ^^  ^^^  ^^^^  accomplished 
the  direction  of  this  commission.  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^^  ^                      ^^  ^           ^^         .^^^^ 

"Before  concluding,  permit  me  to  urge  upon  ^^^^  ^^  ^.^  ^^  ^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^^^^^ 
the  members  of  all  committees  the  prepara-  ^^^^^^  ^                          .^          ^               ^^^^^^ 
tion  of  the  best  possible  reports  that  they  are  ^^^  ^^^^er  of  inmates  of  our  correctional  and 
capable  of  making,  and  place  them  m  my  hands  ^^^^^                institutions.     I  have  heard  that 
on  or  before  June  1st  next.     I  desire  this  to  Massachusetts  has  some  such  laws  now,  and 
be  done  and  that  each  report  be  accompanied  .^  ^^^^^  desirable  that  our  Committee  on  Leg- 
by  information,  advice  and  suggestions,  to  the  -gj^^j^j^  gl^^^^ld  investigate  the  present  status 
end  that  your  officers  may  be  early  prepared  to  ^^  ^j^-^  proposition  in  all  the  states, 
undertake  plans  for  a  really  constructive  pro-  "From  the  ranks  of  Michigan  Agricultural 
gram,  so  far  as  permissible  under  present  laws  College   and    University   of   Michigan    gradu- 
and    conditions,    including   also    such    further     ^^^g^  guards  and  keepers  of  our  institutions, 
legislation   as   in   the   majority   opinion,   after     ^nd   elsewhere,   the   material   for   an    efficient 
due  deliberation,  may  be  found  desirable.  corps   of  rangers   and   officers   may   be   disci- 

Room  for  Progressive  Legislation  Pl^^^^  ^"d  trained  to  carry  on  this  work  in  a 

thorough  manner  to  the  advantage  ot  all  con- 

"There  is  yet  room  for  progressive  legisla-  cerned. 
tion  and  the  exercise  of  more  intelligence  by  ^j  j^^pg  ^.j-j^t  you  will  adopt  this  report  with 
our  courts  in  the  trial  and  commitment  of  per-  instructions  to  the  secretary  that  it  may  be 
sons  charged  with  crime.  Our  indeterminate  made  public.  I  should  also  like  you  to  con- 
sentence  law  contains  some  good  features  but  sider  the  adoption  of  a  general  rule  that  the 
it  does  not  go  far  enough.  proceedings  and  all  records  of  this  Commis- 

"The  proper  time  to  remove  support  or  re-  sion  be  open  to  public  inspection  at  all  proper 

straint  is  when  reform  has  been  effected.  This  times,  unless  where  secrecy  may  be  especially 

cannot  be  determined  in  advance  by  the  wisest  imposed  for  obvious  reasons  of  public  weal. 


September  1,  l'J14 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


450 


CONTRIBUTIONS 


GIVE  THEM  CHEER 
By  George  Fee 

A  Prisoner. 

Did  it  ever  come  liome  to  you  with  abso- 
lute conviction,  as  you  have  tried  to  make 
your  life  count  a  little  for  human  goodness 
and  uplift,  that  the  very  best  possible  gift 
you  can  ever  make  to  your  fellow  mortals  is 
a  spirit  of  incurable,  unbounded,  persistent 
hopefulness? 

In  the  first  place  it  will  keep  your  own  soul 
healthy  and  your  own  thinking  sound  and 
clear. 

Discouragement  and  pessimism  are  like 
deadly  mists  that  gather  about  undraincd 
places ;  you  cannot  live  in  health  in  the  midst 
of  them  and  you  can  see  neither  earth  nor 
heaven  in  true  perspective.  There  should  be 
none  of  this.  Think  of  the  man  beside  you ; 
there  is  nothing  you  can  do  for  him  that  will 
count  for  so  much  as  to  put  the  light  in  his 
eyes,  the  spring  in  his  step,  the  ring  in  his 
voice,  and  the  iron  in  his  backbone,  that  come 
alone  from  draughts  of  fresh  hope  and  courage. 

Men  are  halting  in  good  ways ;  they  are 
giving  uj)  splendid  undertakings ;  they  are 
dying  with  glorious  tasks  unfinished  and  all 
through  lack  of  hope.  Give  them  cheer;  it  is 
the  best  thing  which  can  be  given  to  them. 

©     ^     © 

DUNNE  FIELD 
By  a  Prisoner. 

Just  north  of  our  prison  is  located  Dunne 
Field,  the  new,  unfinished  recreation  park. 
We  are  handicapped  at  present  in  playing 
baseball  and  other  games  within  the  walls, 
by  the  buildings,  sheds,  wagons  and  other  ob- 
structions. Still,  we  are  thankful  for  the  limite<I 
space  at  our  disposal ;  but  we  are  patiently 
awaiting  the  time  when  conditions  will  be  such 
that  the  outside  park  can  be  formally  ded- 
icated. 

While  the  new  baseball  diamond  will  take 
up  a  large  area  in  the  park,  there  will  still  be 
ample  room  for  a  quarter-mile  running  track. 
Several  pairs  of  standards  can  be  made  and 


the  diflcrcnt  departments  can  compete  in  pole 
vaulting  and  jumpinjf.  A  score  or  more  of 
games  with  the  horseshoes  can  be  played  at 
the  same  time.  We  arc  positive  that  our 
friend  "Mac,"  the  globe-trotting  blacksmith 
from  Killarncy,  will  supply  us  with  old  horse- 
shoes and  stakes.  Undoubtedly  there  arc  men 
here  who  have  played  basket  ball.  Two  posts, 
two  baskets  and  one  ball  will  be  about  all 
that  is  needed  with  the  exception  of  the  teams 
to  play.  Those  of  us  who  do  not  play  base- 
ball, finding  the  sphere  a  little  small  to  handle 
and  the  bats  a  trifle  narrow  in  batting,  will 
experience  but  little  trouble  in  mastering  the 
game  of  basket  ball. 

If  our  anticipations  are  realized  by  the  open- 
ing of  the  park  we  can  very  readiy,  at  the  close 
of  the  baseball  season,  erect  two  goals  and 
play  the  great  game  of  football.  A  half  hour's 
running  and  jumping  during  the  cool,  frosty 
days  of  Fall  will  greatly  add  to  health  and 
pleasure. 

REVIEWS 


SING  SING  PRISON  AND  THE  MODERN 
PRISON  MOVEMENT 


Remarkable   Transformation   in    Best    Known 

Prison   in   the   Country — The    Men 

Ready  for  the  Change 


Any  person  who  looks  upon  the  growing 
rela.xation  in  prison  administration  as  the  ex- 
pression  of  a  sentimentalism  or  as  merely  an 
accidental  feature  of  R«»fMl  will  toward  men 
who  hithert«>  have  been  subject  to  great  depri- 
vations and  hardships,  miscalculates  entirely 
the  meaning  and  the  power  of  the  new  move- 
ment. 

The  movement  is  not  peculiar  to  pris<ins; 
it  is  social  and  it  affects  all  phases  of  society. 

That  Sing  Sing  pristm  of  New  York,  built 
in  1825-8,  the  most  severe,  most  famous,  and 
the  most  conservative  of  all  the  prisons  of 
the  country,  has  come  into  line  with  all  the 
modern  liberties  which  prisons  are  granting 
and  that  the  men  o(  that  prison  have  respcmdcd 
as  naturally  and  in  as  orderly  a  way  as  have 
the  men  of  any  of  the  other  prisons,  discloses 


460 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


that  something  that  has  been  growing  in  peo- 
ple has  found  its  way  into  Sing  Sing. 

The  Warden  comes  in  but  the  men  have 
become  ready  and  able  properly  to  accept  the 
new  opportunities  he  offers. 

There  is  a  new  temper  in  the  people — in  all 
of  the  people — as  President  Wilson  has  said. 
What  is  being  felt  in  all  society  and  what  is 
taking  place  in  the  prisons  of  Colorado,  Kan- 
sas, Arizona  and  Illinois,  must  also  come  in 
Sing  Sing.    And  it  has  come. 

Commenting  on  the  change  which  had  taken 
place  in  Sing  Sing  when  Thomas  J.  McCor- 
mick  had  been  in  charge  for  less  than  a  month, 
the  New  York  Sun  says: 

"When  he  took  charge  he  found  that  the 
convicts  were  forced  to  remain  in  their  cells 
after  they  finished  work  at  noon  on  Saturday 
practically  until  Monday  morning.  He  plans 
to  relieve  this  and  has  organized  what  he  terms 
a  Recreation  League.  The  convicts  will  play 
such  games  as  baseball,  handball,  basketball, 
and  possibly  football  in  the  big  open  lot  within 
the  prison  walls." 

Former  A\'arden  Clancy  had  an  idea  of 
bringing  in  some  form  of  recreation,  and  had 
asked  for  an  appropriation  to  transform  the 
unused  north  end  of  the  State  reservation  into 
an  athletic  field.  Warden  McCormick  found 
a  way  to  work  with  what  he  had.  He  made 
a  playground  out  of  a  fair  size  lawn  at  the 
south  end,  which  runs  down  from  the  chapel 
between  the  kitchen  and  bathhouse  and  the 
river. 

On  the  day  that  the  games  opened.  The 
New  York  Press  said  that  on  this  ground. 

"which  at  this  time  last  year  echoed  with  the 
defiances  of  rebellious  convicts,  a  baseball 
game  will  be  played  today  between  two  prison 
nines.  Never  before  has  a  ball  been  tossed  in 
the  jail,  and  for  the  first  time  the  convicts  will 
get  an  opportunity  for  outdoor  exercise. 

"The  game  marks  the  beginning  of  the  new 
self-government  policy  of  Warden  William  J. 
McCormick,  who  took  office  a  few  weeks  ago. 
If  the  game  passes  oflf  without  disorder  it  will 
mark  the  opening  of  a  Sing  Sing  league — 
complete  attendance  at  every  game  and  no 
box  office." 

"All  the  week,"  the  Press  continues,  "the 
prisoners  have  been  excited  over  the  games." 

Sing  Sing  made  a  long  first  step  from  the 
customary  way  in  which  prisons  have   been 


handled.  Each  Saturday  afternoon  the  prison- 
ers are  permitted  to  engage  in  outdoor  sports, 
to  shout  and  to  smoke  and  to  enjoy  themselves 
generally.  And  besides  this,  thirty  expert 
men,  two  each  from  the  nineteen  companies, 
were  over  the  other  prisoners,  with  power  to 
give  orders  and  to  see  that  the  orders  are 
obeyed. 

The  New  York  Sun  gives  a  comprehensive 
report  of  the  first  field  day,  a  most  significant 
day  in  the  history  of  Sing  Sing.  The  Sun  says : 

"One  thousand  five  hundred  convicts  were 
literally  turned  loose  within  the  walls  of  Sing 
Sing  prison  this  afternoon  for  the  first  athletic 
meet  in  the  history  of  the  grim  old  institution. 
For  three  hours  men  whom  the  world  by  all 
its  standards  calls  desperate  had  every  rule 
abrogated  except  those  which  govern  the  ordi- 
nary citizen  in  his  association  with  his  fel- 
lows. Every  keeper  was  in  the  background, 
a  spectator  only.  All  discipline  was  relaxed 
while  they  played  baseball,  medicine  ball, 
handball  and  lawn  tennis,  ran,  walked,  jumped, 
talked,  smoked,  sang,  shouted,  rolled  on  real 
grass,  lay  in  the  shade,  communed  with  their 
fellows  as  free  as  the  air  and  sunshine  which 
sent  the  color  to  their  faces  and  forced  the 
blood  coursing  afresh  through  their  veins." 

Every  man  in  the  institution  was  there  ex- 
cept eighteen  men  in  the  cells  of  the  con- 
demned, and  about  forty  who  are  bedridden 
in  the  hospital.    The  Sun  continues : 

"There  were  135  'lifers' — men  accused  of 
every  crime  on  the  calendar  except  treason, 
men  who  have  heard  sentence  pronounced 
upon  them  time  after  time  by  judges,  men 
against  whom  just  one  year  ago  guns  were 
turned  to  prevent  a  riot  of  bloodshed  and  mur- 
der in  that  very  prison,  who  were  called  incor- 
rigible two  years  ago.  All  were  outside  with 
a  new  leaf  opened  for  them,  not  to  be  turned 
down  until  they  shall  blacken  it  themselves." 

That  the  men  were  ripe  for  the  new  oppor- 
tunities oflfered  to  them  is  shown  by  the  ex- 
periences of  the  day: 

"Judged  from  every  viewpoint,  this  first 
'outing'  at  Sing  Sing  was  an  unqualified  suc- 
cess, and  it  will  be  repeated  every  Saturday 
afternoon  until  the  snow  flies  next  winter.  The 
men  themselves  gave  their  testimony  with  a 
cheerful  roar  of  thanks  at  4  o'clock  when  they 
rushed  to  fall  into  line.  Acting  Principal 
Keeper  Martin  Deeley  and  William  K.  Wat- 
son, confidential  secretary  to  W^arden  Thomas 
J.  McCormick,  who  had  to  attend  a  meeting 


September  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


4r>i 


( 


of  wardens  up  at  Auburn,  Ijoth  said  that  they 
had  never  seen  a  better  behaved  crowd  of 
men. 

"There  wasn't  the  least  sign  of  disorder  or 
unruliness,  but  the  presence  of  the  keepers, 
who  lounged  way  back  in  the  shade,  had 
nothing  to  do  with  that. 

"  'I'd  hate  to  be  the  man  who  wt)uld  try  to 
start  anything,'  said  duc  inmate  who  missed 
the  electric  chair  by  one  degree ;  'the  men 
won't  stand  for  anything  that  would  stop  a 
game  like  this.  'IMie  'screws'  [by  which  he 
designated  the  officers]  can  all  go  away  from 
here;  we  don't  need  'em.'  " 

Warden  McCormick  came  to  the  prison  with 
the  idea 

"to  do  away  with  the  ancient  custom  of  lock- 
ing the  men  up  in  the  worst  prison  cells  in  any 
state  when  they  are  not  working  in  the  shops 
so  as  to  curtail  a  little  the  dark,  lonely,  brood- 
ing hours,  when  all  the  mischief  of  a  prison 
is  hatched  and  nourished." 

He  knew  that  the  one  thing  to  give  the  men 
was  athletics,  as  exercise  that  would  send  the 
men  to  their  cells  in  good  spirits  but  also 
physically  tired.  Baseball  was  to  be  a  leader 
with  other  things  for  those  who  cannot  play 
ball  or  who  do  not  care  to  watch  the  national 
game.  To  carry  out  these  ideas,  Warden  Mc- 
Cormick worked  out  the  plan  of  the  baseball 
and  athletic  meet,  and  then 

"Realizing  that  the  participants  might  want 
to  say  something  about  it,  he  appointed  a  com- 
mittee of  sixty-eight  men  from  the  prison,  who 
elected  their  own  chairman  and  secretary, 
talked  it  over  with  them  and  then  bought  a 
box  of  baseballs,  a  dozen  or  so  gloves,  pro- 
tectors, masks,  bats,  medicine  balls,  handballs, 
tennis  racquets  and  other  accoutrements." 

It  is  felt  that  a  new  era  in  .'^ing  .^ing  has 
really  been  launched : 

"Out  of  today's  meet  there  is  to  grow  a 
baseball  league  which  will  have  its  .schedule 
going  in  about  two  weeks.  There  will  be  five 
or  six  clubs  in  the  league  and  they  will  rep- 
resent either  industries  or  companies,  just  as 
things  best  shape  themselves.  The  big  day 
of  the  season  will  be  an  athletic  carnival  on 
Labor  Day.  Some  of  the  warden's  friends  at 
Vonkers  the  other  night  subscribed  $150  to 
buy  prizes,  which  will  be  awarded." 

Besides  the  relief  which  the  recreation  will 
afford,  the  athletics  are  to  be  used  to  reward 
the  men  who  faithfully  and  properly  do  their 


work  in  the  shops.  The  work  day  closes  at 
4:30.  Hereafter  any  man  who  finishes  his 
work  before  closing  time  may  go  to  the  ath- 
letic groiin<ls  and  stay  there  and  do  what  he 
likes  until  the  shops  turn  in. 

When  the  Warden  told  the  conwnittrc  that 
this  was  to  be,  the  chairman  •'     '  "    •  he 

"would  be  willing  to  bet  In-  >  -  ■numnatmn 
against  a  sentence  <»f  ninety-nine  years  that 
there  will  not  be  any  more  trouble  in  the 
whole  institution."  The  committee  passed  the 
word  to  the  men  and  the  prison  court,  from 
the  following  morning,  had  an"  average  of  three 
cases  a  day  for  infraction  of  the  rules,  instead 
of  eighteen  to  twenty-three  which  had  been 
the  rule. 

r»ut  with  all  the  prcjiaration  and  lijc  mior- 
mation  which  had  been  given  out.  the  men 
could  not  realize  that  such  a  change  had  come. 
The  Sun's  representative  was  "gripped  a  little" 
when  he  saw  how  unable  the  men  were  to 
realize  their  new  freedom: 

"When  the  men  left  the  mess  hall  this  after- 
ntton,  out  of  the  entire  1,500  not  more  than 
100  of  them  really  believed  all  those  things 
they  had  heard  about  the  aftern<H»n.  It  was 
incredible.  Men  some  of  whom  have  l)een 
there  more  than  twenty  years  announced  that 
everybody  had  gone  crazy  and  they  had  to  be 
shown.     They   marched  out  of  the   hall  an<l 

instead  of  going  back  to  the  old  rc-1'     ' 

to   the   left   arounil   the   building,   ni 

the  edge  of  the  green  and  there  their  kee|>er!» 

kft  them.    Those  were  the  orders. 

"  'Cio  on.  now.'  was  the  last  command.  It 
gripped  the  ob.servcr  a  little  to  watch  that 
march  across  the  green  by  those  men.  They 
just   couldn't    break    ranks — habit    hchi    them. 

Thcv   shurtled  over  the  new   <'•  - nd.   which 

volunteers    made   yesterday,    k  i  r   to   the 

south  wall,  haltcil  irresolutely  ami  ventured 
to  look  around.     They  had  been  toM  l)  '' 

the  rules  were  to  fall  in  a  crash  and  the) 
atraid  of  st>mething.  they  did  n«U  know  what. 
The  line  swayed  aroun<l  and  turned  to  watch 
other  comj)anies  coining  across  One  man 
stepped  hesitatingly  out  of  line,  which  would 
have  meant  five  days  on  the  end  of  his  sen- 
tence ten  minutes  bef«»re.  and  hxiked  around. 
Another  man  joined  in  an<l  hnally  a  tall  negro 
threw  himself  face  forward  on  the  real  turf, 
digging  his  hands  in  it  and  Iauj;hin^;. 

"It  has  been  a  long  time  since  that  negro 
rolled  on  the  grass;  it  will  be  twelve  years 
perhaps  before  he  goes  thr.m^jh  the  old  gate. 
Another  man,  a  lifer,  flopped  down  near  him 
and  the  whole  line  plumped  down.     They  were 


462                                                        THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  First  Year 

laughing  and  asking  each  other,  'What  do  you  very  promptly  called  'monkeys'  out  of  his 
know  about  this?'  They  spoke  in  the  prison  opponents,  fanning  them  out  until  the  side- 
monotone  at  first,  but  soon  voices  cleared  and  lines  after  a  little  practice  gave  them  a  very 
rose.  All  the  other  companies  were  following  fair  imitation  of  a  regular  hoarse  hoot.  You 
suit.  One  young  fellow  gave  another  a  shove  can't  expect  much  at  first  in  the  way  of  cheer- 
and  not  a  word  was  said  as  the  victim  rolled  ing  or  rooting  from  men  whose  voices  have 
over.  been  used  behind  closed  hands.  It  started 
"Over  the  heads  of  the  crowd  came  red  today  a  little  hoarse  or  squeaky  at  first,  but 
boxes  containing  new  baseballs.  They  were  after  a  while  it  grew  stronger  until  it  reached 
caught  by  excited  men.  The  white  balls  ap-  a  very  respectable  volume.  It  will  be  all  right 
peared  and  one  man  tossed  a  ball  to  another,  a  month  from  now." 

Nothing  happened.  Two  or  three  men  stepped  -t-,         i          i            r       ^       ,                 ,     • 

out  and   began   to   walk   around   and   nobody  ^^^  o^^^e^  players  for  the  day  were  knitters 

stopped  them.    One  very  brave  man  waved  his  and  painters,  with  a  score  of  6  to  3,  and  the 

hand  over  to  a  friend  fifty  feet  away  with  a  tailors  and  woodworkers,  score  8  to  6.    Officer 

cheerful   greeting  and   was   not   called   down,  q,^^^^  ^^3  ^^^          -^^ 
He  started  to  walk  and  the  two  met.     Ihree 

or  four  ran  out  on  the  diamond."  "just  then  the  bugle  from  the  chapel  win- 
But  the  plav  was  on  •  ^*-*^  sounded  'retreat'  and  in   an  instant  the 

turmoil    ceased.      The    scene    changed.     One 

'"Get  to  it!'  said  Keeper  Deeley,  pointing  minute  later  the  companies  had  formed   and 

at   the   diamond.     'Bat   some   out!'   and    that  started  for  the  cell  block,  each  man  straight, 

broke  all  the  ice  there  was  left.     Inside  of  five  silent  and  machine-like. 

minutes  there  were  practice  games  going  on  "Only  all  the  discipline  in  the  world  could 
the   diamond,   pitchers   were   warming  up   on  not  dim  the  light  of  their  shining  eyes." 
the  side  lines,  handball  games  were  in  prog- 
ress against  the  south  wall,  a  hundred  or  so  The   New   York   Herald   comments   on    the 
were  playing  catch  on  the  gravel  walks,  and  game  as  follows : 

how  those  balls  ever  got  through  the  crowd  <.  a  n  .i  •  j  j  i  i 
without  taking  noses  and  eyes  along  with  ^^^  u  ^°^"P^"^^^  ^"^  ^?",^^.^  ^^[.^  ^7^f" 
them  is  nothing  short  of  a  miracle.  "I\^"^,  ^^/  "^^"  intermmgled  just  like  folks 
"A  long  line  of  men  were  passing  the  med-  ^"^.  *^^^^^  .°^^^  J^^  S^"^^^-  ^^^^in  D  Ely, 
icin.e  ball  under  the  tutelage  of  a  giant  negro,  assistant  principal  keeper,  was  master  of  cere- 
once  a  trainer.  'Now  ovah  yoh  haid,'  'Now  ^o^^es,  and  he  tossed  the  ball  mto  the  field 
undah  the  body,'  he  commanded,  and  his  pant-  ^"^  the  games  were  on  Smoking  was  per- 
ing,  sweating  pupils  obeyed  him  until  their  T^^f  ^^^  ^^°'^  "^^^  ^^^  cigars  were  so  bijsy 
eyes  popped  out  ^  ^^  ^  ^^  forgot  to  smoke  up.  Of  course,  this 
"That  was  not  all.  One  old  timer  plucked  being  a  place  where  everybody  was  on  his 
up  courage  enough  to  bring  forth  a  pipe,  fill  good  behavior,  there  was  no  swearing.  Don  t 
it  and  light  it.  It  went;  pipes  and  the  'mak-  ^^^  the  idea,  however  from  this  that  there  was 
ings'  appeared.  Lucky  men  shared  with  less  ^'Vjt''^  °^  sporting  fervor. 
fortunate  brothers.  Groups  lay  on  the  grass  ,  The  games  were  exciting  the  day  was  just 
and  talked,  laughed  and  demanded  loudly  that  ^^'^  ^"^^  °^  °"^  ^?,^?°^^'  V'^  'T^?"  ^^'^  ^'^^f^^' 
the  game  begin.  The  elders  took  the  eastern  ^f  .^^^^^  *°,  ^f^.^  P\^^t^'  ^"^  Oh,  you  bur- 
end  of  the  ground,  where  they  at  last  gravi-  g/^r  and  such  things  it  was  just  like  a  game  m 
tated  to  one  another  and  talked  and  smoked.  *''^  ^°^°  Ground. 

Of  course  they  talked  about  the  afternoon  first  The  "New  York  Press  acknowledges  the 
and  what  they  thought  of  it,  but  later,  after  change  in  the  following  words : 
that  was  exhausted,  they  talked  politics,  Mex- 
ico and  the  pending  campaign.  It  may  be  said  "When  the  new  warden  of  Sing  Sing  Prison 
without  fear  of  successful  contradiction  that  introduced  the  national  game  and  other  sports 
a  District  Attorney  does  not  start  with  an  even  in  the  most  notorious  jail  in  the  United  States 
chance  in  such  discussion.  he  took  one  of  the  most  significant  steps  in 
Candidates  for  the  team  from  the  jobbing  prison  reform  that  our  country  has  known, 
shop  and  from  the  office  men  played  the  first  Since  the  gray  stone  pile  on  the  east  bank  of 
four-inning  game.  Really,  the  jobbing  men  the  Hudson  River  was  built  in  1825  there 
had  It  all  over  the  office  men,  as  the  score  of  never  were  in  it  before  so  many  care-free 
11  to  1  shows,  but  the  jobbers  had  a  pitcher  hearts  as  between  noon  and  supper  time  on 
who  once  played  professional  ball.  There  Saturday,  July  18,  while  the  prisoners  were 
were  two  professional  players  in  the  game  treated  as  human  creatures  to  whom  gratitude 
today.      This   pitcher   made    what    the    crowd  was  not  an  unknown  quality." 


September  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


M3 


The  New  York  World,  under  the  title,  "The 
Convicts'  Day  Off,"  notes  the  material  and 
also  the  humanitarian  value  of  the  new  order 
of  things  and  commends  the  change  highly: 

"Warden  McGormick's  i)lan  of  giving  Sing 
Sing  prisoners  a  'day  off'  every  week  has 
worked  so  well  that  it  will  probably  be  made 
a  permanent  feature  of  prison  reform.  On 
Sunday  from  7  a.  m.  to  4:30  in  the  afternoon, 
the  prisoners  arc  granted  the  freedom  of  the 
prison  yard,  with  liberty  to  loaf  or  read  or 
play  tennis  or  indulge  in  any  rational  recrea- 
tion. And  instead  of  eating  in  their  cells  they 
sit  down  together  to  a  hot  dinner  in  the  mess 
hall.  An  immediate  result  of  the  rela.xation 
of  discipline  for  the  day  has  been  a  2>Z  per  cent 
improvement  in  their  shop  work. 

"That  means  a  ZZ  per  cent  imi)rovement  in 
their  health  and  vitality  as  well,  and  a  propor- 
tionate increase  in  their  interest  in  life.  Noth- 
ing tones  up  the  ordinary  man  so  well  as  the 
leisure  that  comes  as  the  reward  of  work,  and 
the  incentive  should  have  the  same  effect  with 
men  in  prison.  Perhaps  it  will  incidentally 
reduce  the  addiction  to  drugs,  the  alarming 
growth  of  which  has  raised  a  new  problem  of 
penology. 

"But  without  attempting  to  measure  the 
m.aterial  benefits  to  prisoners  of  a  day  of  real 
leisure,  the  plan  has  much  to  commend  it  on 
the  score  of  humanity  and  enlightened  prison 
administration.  The  purpose  of  prison  con- 
finement is  not  merely  to  punish  but  to  re- 
claim, and  an  excellent  way  to  that  end  is  to 
counteract  discontent  and  despair  in  the 
prisoner  by  just  such  means  of  healthful  recre- 
ation as  the  Sing  Sing  convicts  now  have." 


THE      PUBLIC      DEFENDER— A      NEW 

OFFICE     IN     ADMINISTRATIVE 

JUSTICE 


i 


Los    Angeles,    California,    Proves    the    Prac- 
ticability of  the   State's   Defending  the 
Individual  as  Well  As  Defending 
Society 

The  Chicago  Legal  Aid  Society  as  early 
as  1912  perceived  the  value  of  the  state's  tak- 
ing full  charge  of  cases  at  law,  charge  of  both 
the  prosecution  and  the  defense.  In  the  so- 
ciety's bulletin,  Illinois  Law  Rr:ir:r  Octol)er. 
1912,  appears  this  comment: 

"We  may  hope  that  in  time  a  direct  appeal 
to  the  public  official  shall  start  the  machinery 
of  justice  in  motion,  providing  automatically 
for  redress  and   defense   without  the  present 


preliminary  requirement  of  payment  for  pro- 
fessional services  most  needed  by  those  least 
able  to  afTord  them." 

In  less  than  a  year  that  which  the  Legal 
Aid  Society  ha<l  hoped  for  began  lo  take  form. 

The  county  of  Los  Angeles.  California, 
under  a  "freeholder's  charter."  which  took  ef- 
fect in  June,  1913,  provided  for  what  was  to 
be  called  a  "public  defender." 

The  board  of  supervisors  appoints  the  pub- 
lic defender  and  fixes  his  salary.  He  is  with 
the  classified  civil  service  and  cannot  engage 
in  any  private  law  practice.  The  charter  speci- 
fies the  duties  of  the  public  defender  as  fol- 
lows : 

"Upon  request  by  the  defendant,  or  upon 
order  of  the  court,  the  public  defender  shall 
defend,  without  expense  to  them,  all  \ 

who  are  not  financially  able  to  < '   •    ...ui. 

scl  and  who  are  charged,  in  the  su,  c«»urt. 

with   the  commission   of  any  contempt,  mis- 
demeanor, felony  or  other  offense.     He  shall 
also  upon  request,  give  counsel  and  ad'      '  • 
such  persons,  in  and  about  any  charge  ; 
them  upon  which  he  is  conducting  the  «b 
and  he  shall  prosecute  all  a|)|)eals  to  a  higher 
court  or  courts,  of  any  person  who  has  been 
convicted  upon  any  such  charge  where,  in  his 
opinion,  such  appeal  will  or  might  rcasonaldy 
be  expected  to  result  in  a  reversal  or  modifica- 
tion of  the  judgment  of  conviction.     He  shall 
alro   upon   request,   ]  nte  actions   f«»r  the 

collection  of  wages  .....  ■  :  other  dem.t'i''>-  ..f 

persons  who  are  not  financially  able  to  i 
counsel,  in  cases  in  which  the  sum  involved 
does   not  exceed  $100.  and   in   which,   in   the 
judgment   of  the   public   defender,   the     '-••■ 
urged  are  vali»l  and  enforcible  in  the 
He  shall  also,  upon  request,  defend  such  per- 
sons   in    all    civil    litigation  in  which,  in  his 
judgment,   they   are   being  persecuted   or   un- 
justly  harassed.     The  costs   in   all  actions   in 
which  the  public  defender  shall  appear  under 
this  section,  whether  for  plaintiffs  or  defend- 
arts,  shall  be  paid  from  the 
at  the  times  and  in  the  mam...    ........ v. 

law,  or  by  the  rules  of  court,  and  under  a  s\ - 
tem  of  demand,    audit    and    payment,    which 
shall  be  prescribed    by    the    l>oanl    of 
visors.     It  shall  be  tl>'    ■'"•y  of  the  pub., 
fender  in  all  such  lit  to  procure,  if  p"s 

sible,   in  addition    to    general    judgments    in 

favor  of  the  p  "       i  he  shall  -     * 

therein,    judgn.-  .;  >ts    and    . 

fees,  where  permissible,  a^jainst  the  opponents 
of  such  persons,  and  collect  and  pay  the  same 
into  the  county  treasury." 


464 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


R.  S.  Gray,  in  discussing  the  inauguration 
of  the  public  defender  in  Los  Angeles  county, 
in  the  Journal  of  the  American  Institute  of 
Criminal  Laiv  and  Criminology,  for  January  of 
this  year,  says: 

"In  both  civil  and  criminal  proceedings  the 
one,  single,  sole,  admissible  purpose  of  the 
trial  is  to  get  at  the  truth.  It  would  seem  that 
a  'public  defender,"  such  as  is  provided  for  by 
the  charter  of  the  county  of  Los  Angeles, 
would  be  more  apt  to  bring  about  cooperation 
ill  the  efforts  to  get  at  the  truth  than  a  fight 
between  a  public  prosecutor  and  a  more  or 
less  competent  but  not  'public  defender.' 

"The  more  patent  and  pressing  individual 
iniquities  of  our  system  of  private  retainer  of 
counsel  and  trial  lawyer  that  go  without  any 
chance  for  justice  may  be  largely  eliminated 
by  such  'public  defender,'  and  the  work  which 
will  be  so  done  should  receive  very  close 
study." 

Commenting  upon  the  practice  that  has 
grown  up  in  the  courts  of  the  prosecuting  at- 
torneys' seeking  the  conviction  of  every  per- 
son accused,  Mr.  Gray  says  the  judicial  func- 
tion of  our  governmental  agency 

"so  far  has  been  merely  a  halting  and  partial 
substitute  for  war,  and  wherever  it  tends  to 
increase  and  embitter  strife  it  is  probably 
fundamentally  wrong  in  spirit  or  method 
rather   than    merely    lacking   efficiency." 

"We  have,"  he  says,  "by  method  and  prac- 
tice, maintained  and  developed  the  very  type 
of  waste  and  injustice  from  which  the  human 
race  has  been  seeking  to  escape  by  judicial 
procedure.  In  fact,  both  the  bar  and  their 
clients  have  become  atavistic  and  have  made 
our  courts  battlefields  for  the  powerful  and 
slaughterhouses  for  the  weak." 

The  moral  eflFect  of  this  kind  of  procedure 
upon  the  lawyers  themselves  and  ultimately 
upon  the  bench,  and  the  questionable  char- 
acter of  the  work  that  will  be  done,  is  pointed 
out : 

"We  lawyers  have  gloried  in  what  we  have 
done,  and  we  are  just  beginning  to  reap  the 
harvest  of  contumely,  the  seeds  of  which  we 
have  planted  with  the  aid  of  our  clients.  We 
have  become  money  changers  in  the  temple 
instead  of  the  ministers  of  justice.  We  have 
sold  ourselves,  often  to  the  highest  bidders, 
and  have  gone  to  war  as  hired  mercenaries 
instead  of  actually  being  what  we  pretend, 
officers  of  the  court,  and  the  court — the  bench 


— recruited  from  the  bar,  can  hardly  be  ex- 
pected to  rise  much  higher  than  such  fallen 
and  falling  angels  of  justice. 

"We  certainly  cannot  evade  the  fact  which 
cries  aloud  to  heaven  that  the  fundamental 
characteristic  of  our  procedure,  both  civil  and 
criminal,  is  that  of  a  deadly  battle  in  which 
victory  is  sought  without  much  regard  being 
paid  to  either  law  or  fact  except  as  weapons 
to  be  used  to  crush  an  adversary  or  to  be 
dodged  when  swung  against  our  clients,  our 
clients  who  look  to  us  in  court  to  earn  the  real 
retainer  (perchance  paid  to  us  as  counsellors 
at  law)  to  find  the  loopholes  in  the  law  rather 
than  to  build  up  and  strengthen  the  law." 

Mr.  Gray  penetrates  to  the  inner  influences 
of  the  court  methods  on  the  life  tissues  of  the 
court  itself,  disclosing  that  the  vitals  of  jus- 
tice are  eaten  away  and  that  the  issue  of  the 
court  procedure  is  often  a  greater  "catastrophe" 
than  the  original  wrong,  the  court  itself  be- 
coming, in  an  abandonment  of  the  rules  of 
justice  and  truth,  a  fighting  ring  where  "with 
a  strange  perversity"  the  welfare  of  the  per- 
son on  trial  and  of  society  itself  is  given  over 
"to  passion,  prejudice,  craft,  subtlety  and  war- 
ring self-interests." 

"Certainly  in  both  classes  of  trials  (civil 
and  criminal),  the  first  and  absolutely  neces- 
sary steps  towards  justice  is  to  find  the  truth 
concerned,  and  in  the  efifort  to  get  at  the  truth 
everything  which  savors  of  combat  is  liable 
to  cloud  the  truth  and  at  least  should  not  be 
favored.  With  a  strange  perversity  we  have 
(ignoring  this  fundamental  principle)  given 
over  the  real  and  vital  control  of  all  procedure 
to  passion,  prejudice,  craft,  subtlety,  and  war- 
ring self-interests.  No  scientific  quest  calls 
for  more  dispassionate  and  unselfish  means 
than  the  quest  of  truth  with  respect  to  Avrongs 
between  fellowmen.  Nevertheless,  hugging 
self-deception  to  our  hearts,  we  have  per- 
sistently made  the  court  a  prizefight  ring 
where  litigants  do,  and  often  must  (with  such 
hired  retainers  as  they  can  command,  and 
some  without  any  real  aid,  and  none  or  but 
very  few  fairly  matched),  butcher  their  way 
through,  with  deceit  and  evasion,  and  every 
conceivable  kind  of  injustice,  to  a  'judgment' 
that  is  often  a  greater  catastrophe,  in  criminal 
law  at  least,  than  the  original  wrong,  while 
at  least  a  very  heavy  portion  of  the  cost  is 
borne,  in  both  cases,  by  those  who  have  no 
direct  relations  to  the  controversy  or  the  lit- 
igants." 

The  failure  of  the  present  court  method  as 
a  means  of  genuine  justice,  either  between  a 


September  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


weak  and  friendless  person  and  the  powerful 
state,  or  between  two  strong  .mtagonists,  is 
thus  declared : 

"There  is  ample  ground  for  the  belief  that 
the  g-reatest  cause  of  all  today  in  the  miscar- 
riage of  justice  is  the  privilege  on  the  part  of 
the  powerful  to  retain  whom  they  please  for 
trial  lawyers,  and  the  inability  on  the  part  of 
the  weak  and  the  poor,  and  especially  the 
friendless,  to  get  anything  like  adequate  legal 
representation  in  court  in  the  trial  of  cases, 
but  the  matter  is  almost  as  bad  when  two 
giants  come  into  court  with  their  retainers 
and  legal  advisers  and  counsel  and  assistants. 
and  engage  in  a  private  battle  that  absorbs  the 
entire  time  of  the  court  and  the  legal  ma- 
chinery for  weeks  and  for  months,  if  not  years, 
and  often  to  a  large  extent  in  mere  legal 
skirmishing  for  position  or  for  some  purely 
technical  advantage,  when  both  sides  are 
afraid  of  the  truth  and  are  equally  struggling 
to  becloud  the  issues  and  tangle  the  proceed- 
ings. 

"It  has  been  freely  charged  that  great  lead- 
ers at  the  bar  desire  to  see  certain  men  put  on 
the  bench.  *  *  *  Certainly,  as  matters 
now  stand,  the  poor  man  has  little  show  in 
court  even  though  the  judges  wish  to  do  what 
is  right." 

"The  system  suggested,"  continues  Mr. 
Gray,  "would  quickly  tend  to  reduce  the  num- 
ber of  such  cases  and  the  number  of  trial  law- 
yers necessary.  No  ca.ses  would  go  into 
court,  or  but  very  few,  except  those  which 
require  the  aid  in  truth  and  in  reality  of  a 
tribunal  so  constructed  as  to  get  at  and  ascer- 
tain what  was  fair  and  right  either  as  to  the 
facts  or  law  or  both.  Most  cases  would  be 
ended  by  a  swift  and  simple  trial  and  new 
trials  and  appeals  would  be  rare." 

Not  the  method  alone  is  wrong ;  the  concep- 
tion of  the  function  of  the  court  is  wrong,  is 
too  narrow : 

"Our  method  of  requiring  or  permitting  liti- 
gants to  hire  legal  prizefighters  to  try  cases 
has  inevitably  made  it  imp<issiblc,  uitit  human 
nature  as  it  is  under  existimj  circumstances.  i<^x 
cither  bench  or  bar  to  do  much,  if  any  better 
than  they  have  done.  Codes  of  ethics  and 
tinkering  with  details  of  practice  will  n«)t 
rescue  the  realm  of  jurisprudence  from  the 
prostitution  into  which  it  has  been  plunged. 

"It  has  been  said,  and  even  by  attorneys 
highly  respected,  that  'the  courts  are  wholly 
responsible.'  Courts  are  no  more  responsible 
for  the  condition  concerned  than  the  attorneys. 


and  courts  and  attorneys  combined  are  no 
more  responsible  for  that  condition  than 
clients.  And  courts  and  att."^"-  <  -  and  clients 
combined   arc   no   more    re  le    for   that 

condition  than  the  people  at  large." 

Our  conception  of  the  function  of  the  court 
has  been  that  of  an  agency  for  the  protection 
of  society  against  the  individual  member  of 
that  society ;  whereas,  the  court  should  l>e  for 
the  f)rotection  of  society  and  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  individual  also. 

The  O.  /•:.  /..  Critic,  of  Washington.  D.  C, 
says: 

"The  state  exists  to  protect  its  citizens,  not 

to  set  traps  for  them.  If  it  employs  its  re- 
sources to  prove  them  gnilty.  it  shouhl 
equally  do  the  same  to  prove  them  inntxrent. 
It  should   furnish  every  accused  person   who 

caimot  afford  it  himself,    with    just  "mI 

legal   talent   for  hi^   <|ifi-n-.i-   :\-    it   m  m 

his  prosecution." 

Mr.  Walter  J.  Wood  is  the  person  first  to 
hcdd  the  office  of  public  defender  in  Los  An- 
geles county.  When  the  office  was  first  estab- 
lished. Mr.  Wood  made  the  following  state- 
ment : 

'From  time  immemorial  the  Ciovernnient 
has  provided  an  attcjrney  to  prosecute 
against  persons  accused  of  crime,  and  a  j-  •[,- 
or  jury  to  make  decisions;  but  no  proper  pro- 
vision has  been  made  for  an  attorney  to  pre- 
sent the  side  »>f  the  accu>ed.  It  is  true  that 
the  courts  appoint  members  of  the  bar  to  de- 
fend the  poor.  witlKJUt  c«)mpensation  or  for  a 
nominal  fee.  but  such  ajjpointments  generally 
fall  to  youthful  and  ine.\periencc<l  lawyers,  or 
in  many  cases  to  attorneys  who  chamc  to  be 
in  the  court  riM>m  at  the  moment  of  arraign- 
ment. It  is  not  fair  to  the  attorneys  to  be 
called  upon  to  work  without  com|'  ''on. 
and  it  is  not  fair  to  the  accused  to  m- 
pclled  to  stand  trial  under  such  circum- 
stances. A  person  accused  of  crime  should 
have  just  as  able  and  industrious  an  ail- 
to  represent  him  as  the  (jovernmcnt  pr. 

for  the  purpose  «)f  prosecuting  him.' 

N(»w.  after  several  months  of  actual  trial. 
the  office  of  public  defender  has  shown  that  it 
has  served  in  just  the  way  Mr.  Gray  said  it 
would  serve,  and  it  has  fo.stered  real  justice 
as  Mr.  Wood  said  it  would  do. 

The  Outlook,  commenting  on  a  rei>ort  that 
h.is  been  ma<lc  of  tht  work  of  the  public  de- 
fender, says: 


466 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


"One  of  the  most  interesting  things  of  this 
report  is  that  it  indicates  the  harmonious  co- 
operation of  the  district  attorney  and  the 
public  defender.  A  theoretical  objection  to  a 
public  defender  was  that  the  prosecuting  at- 
torney of  the  State  and  the  defending  attorney 
of  the  State  would  come  into  a  conflict.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  they  are  working  together  in 
Los  Angeles  county." 

Mr.  Wood  says: 

"We  are  doing  what  the  district  attorney 
tried  to  do  in  many  cases,  but  what,  on  ac- 
count of  conditions  which  could  not  be  over- 
come, he  was  unable  to  do.  We  are  daily  ad- 
vising the  accused  of  their  rights.  We  are 
informing  them  of  the  law  covering  the  crime 
of  which  they  may  be  charged.  We  are  listen- 
ing to  their  side  of  the  story  and  are  bringing 
out  whatever  points  there  may  be  in  favor  of 
the  defendants,  at  the  same  time  doing  noth- 
ing to  hamper  or  delay  the  administration  of 
justice.  Many  of  our  clients  come  by  recom- 
mendation from  the  office  of  the  district  at- 
torney, others  from  the  officials  at  the  county 
jail,  and  others  at  the  request  of  the  judges." 

The  County  District  Attorney,  Mr.  J.  D. 
Fredericks,  says,  so  The  Outlook  reports,  that 
when  the  idea  was  first  proposed,  it  did  not 
appeal  to  him.  He  feared  conflicting  authority 
and  an  increase  of  the  county  expense.  But 
now  Mr.  Fredericks  believes-  that  "there  is  a 
place   in   our  criminal  jurisprudence   for  such 


an 


offi 


ce 


"As  to  the  question  of  expense,  Judge  Wil- 
lis of  the  Superior  Court,  says  that  the  office 
under  Mr.  Wood's  administration  'has  been 
a  great  saving  to  the  county  in  the  matter  of 
expense.'  By  encouraging  pleas  of  guilty  in 
proper  cases,  by  always  being  present  in  court 
and  ready  to  aid  in  dispatching  the  court's 
business,  and  by  securing  dismissal  of  cases 
through  conferences  with  the  district  attor- 
ney, the  public  defender  has  been  able  to  save 
very  considerably  in  the  expense  of  both  time 
and  money  of  the  court." 

Efforts  are  being  made  in  the  state  of  Wash- 
ington to  have  a  law  passed  to  provide  for  a 
public  defender,  and  in  New  York  State,  Mr. 
Mayer  G.  Goldman,  a  prominent  member  of 
the  New  York  bar,  is  advocating  the  appoint- 
ment of  public  defenders  for  the  different 
cities  at  a  sufficient  salary,  to  be  paid  by  the 
state,  each  public  defender  to  be  "a  sworn 
public  servant,  and  to  have  in  the  courts  a 
standing  as  definite  as  that  of  the  public  prose- 


cutor, and  at  the  service  of  all  persons  charged 
with  crime  who  are  financially  unable  to  re- 
tain for  their  defense  competent  counsel." 
The  Outlook  suggests : 

"This  is  a  subject  that  might  be  well  dis- 
cussed at  the  coming  New  York  Constitu- 
tional Convention  even  if  no  constitutional 
action  is  required  to  establish  pubic  defend- 
ers as  county  officers." 

A  prisoner  at  the  Atlanta,  Georgia,  peni- 
tentiary, gives  in  Good  Words,  the  paper  pub- 
lished at  that  institution,  the  prisoner's  view 
of  the  value  and  service  of  the  public  defender: 

"Obviously  this  provision  would  be  of  in- 
calculable benefit  to  the  unfortunates  of  legal 
pursuit  who  are  too  poor  to  engage  counsel 
of  the  ability  and  importance  to  cope  with  the 
prestige,  power  and  treasure  at  the  back  of 
the  prosecutor.  The  public  defender,  having 
an  equal  standing  in  court  with  the  prose- 
cutor, having  at  his  command  the  same  re- 
sources for  the  discovery  of  evidence  and  the 
array  of  witnesses,  would  automatically  coun- 
teract the  unfair  advantage  of  the  state  in  that 
subtle  influence  upon  the  jury  in  advance  of 
evidence  which  is  now  so  marked  an  asset  of 
governmental  prosecutions.  With  a  public 
defender  of  earnest  purpose,  ample  qualifica- 
tions and  honorable  pride  of  office,  the  possi- 
bilities of  improper  convictions  could  be 
greatly  minimized  if  not  altogether  removed. 
The  attitude  of  the  judges  could  not  be  other 
than  helpfully  affected  by  so  nearly  a  disin- 
terested defense  as  that  by  a  responsible  state 
officer  not  the  especially  employed  attorney 
of  the  accused. 

"The  plan  not  only  makes  for  a  nearer  ap- 
proach to  just  dealing  in  criminal  procedure, 
but  it  is  oracular  of  the  spirit  of  the  age  which 
is  beginning  to  write  into  the  consciousness 
of  sane  humanity  the  fact  that  man,  however 
mean  his  condition  materially  or  intellectually, 
is  something  of  vaster  importance  than  a  mere 
pawn  in  the  game  of  life,  to  be  sacrificed  or 
protected  as  suits  the  advantage  of  compet- 
ing players.  Possibly  the  creation  of  a  pub- 
lic defender  will  tend  in  time  to  reawakening 
the  public  conscience.  It  is  not  gracious  in 
the  sight  of  gods  or  of  men  that  a  zeal  for 
prosecution,  clamor  for  conviction  in  disregard 
of  all  the  consequences  of  conviction.  Crim- 
inal courts  should  be  unprofaned  by  the  virus 
of  selfish  ambition.  But  if  ambitions  must 
contend,  let  the  state  at  least  see  that  the  de- 
fendant has  a  fair  chance  in  the  game." 

The  O.  E.  L.  Critic,  in  contemplation  of  the 
perfection  of  the  plan  of  jurisprudence  which 
will  provide  for  a  public  defender  with  equal 


I 


I 


September  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


467 


power   and    standing   of   a    public    pmscculor, 
says  : 

"We  would  go  a  step  further  than  this.  W'c 
would  say  that  in  every  case  the  state  should 
bear  all  the  expenses  of  the  trial.  No  matter 
whether  the  defendant  be  rich  or  poor,  the  de- 
fense, as  well  as  the  prosecution,  should  be 
conducted  by  and  at  the  cost  of  the  state. 
Rich  and  poor  alike  should  stand  on  the  same 
footing;  neither  wealth  nor  power  nor  in- 
fluence should  give  their  possessor  an  ad- 
\antage  over  him  who  has  them  not." 

@     ®     ® 

GOVERNOR  DUNNE  AND  WARDEN 
ALLEN   UNITED 

(Reprint  from  the  Joliet  Herald,  August  18,  1914.) 

"Bosh,  mere  wish  wash  of  a  delirious  jour- 
nalist." 

So  Warden  Edmund  M.  Allen  characterized 
the  stories  recently  published  of  the  alleged 
split  between  him  and  Governor  Dunne  over 
his  alleged  political  affiliations  with  Roger  C. 
Sullivan,  Democratic  candidate  for  the  nom- 
ination of  United  States  senator. 

Warden  Allen  this  morning  gave  out  an  in- 
terview to  a  Herald  reporter  regarding  the  sit- 
uation as  it  now  exists  throughout  the  state 
on  the  Dunne-Hearst-Lewis  vs.  Sullivan  fight. 

He  said : 

"Governor  Dunne  and  I  have  always  worked 
in  harmony.  His  wish  has  always  been  law  at 
this  institution  and  will  always  continue  to 
be  as  long  as  I  am  warden.  I  am  not  now  con- 
sidering resigning  nor  have  I  ever  considered 
it. 

"Does  that  'his  wish  is  law'  phrase  apply 
to  the  present  senatorial  fight  also.  Warden?" 
was  asked. 

"Don't  cloud  the  issue.  Governor  Dunne 
has  never  said  one  word  to  me  of  politics.  He 
has  never  told  me  where  to  stafid  on  the  Sulli- 
van-Stringer candidacy.  Until  he  does,  I  won't 
answer  your  question." 

"But,  Warden,"  the  interrogator  persisted, 
"isn't  it  true  that  you  are  supporting  Sulli- 
van?" 

"I  am  not  supporting  Sullivan.  He  is  my 
friend,  however.  I  have  never  taken  an  active 
hand  in  politics  since  I  became  warden  of  this 
institution  and  I  am  not  going  to  change  that 
rule  now." 


The  interview,  while  cvajiivc,  was  character- 
ized by  the  Warden's  usual  straightforward  re- 
plies. Prison  attaches  and  subordinates  of 
Warden  Alien  bear  out  their  chief  in  his  state- 
ments. 

Deputy  Warden  Walsh,  a  personal  ap- 
pointee of  Governor  Dunne  and  a  lifclonji 
friend  of  the  Governor's  family,  backed  every- 
thing said  by  Warden  Allen. 

Deputy  Walsh  said: 

"We  are  too  busy  here  for  politics.  I  am 
the  closest  man  to  the  Warden  that  is  at  this 
institution.  He  has  never  said  much  about  the 
Stringer-Sullivan  controversy  and  what  little 
he  did  say  was  non-committal.  When  Sulli- 
van visited  Joliet  we  attended  the  reception. 
Were  Stringer  to  come  tomorrow  we  would  do 
the  same.  Is  there  anything  compromising 
about  that?  We're  all  Democrats,  arc  wc 
not  ?•• 


A  POEM  TO 
REMEMBER 


HELLO! 

When  you  meet  a  man  in  woe, 
Walk  stralRht  up  and  say  "lie' 
Say  "Hello!"  and   "How  d'ye   ■: 
"How's  the  world  been  using  you.*** 
Slap  the  fellow  on  his  back. 
Bring  your  hand  down  with  a  whack; 
Waltz  .straight  up  and  don't  go  slow. 
Shake  his  hand  and  say  "Hello!" 

Is  he  clothed  in  rags?    Oh.  ho! 
Walk  straight  up  and  say  "Hello!" 
Rags  arc  but  a  cotton  roll 
Just  for  wrapping  up  a  soul; 
And  a  soul  is  worth  a  true 
Hale  and  hearty  "How  d'ye  do?" 
Don't  wait  for  the  crowd  to  go; 
Walk  straight  up  and  say  "Hello!" 

When  big  vessels  meet,  they  say. 
They  salute  and  saH  away; 
Just  the  same  a^  yon  and  me. 
Lonely  si  ^  «ca. 

Each  one _  "  jog 

For  a  port  beyond  the  fog; 
Let  your  speaking-trumpet  blow. 
Lift  your  horn  and  cry.  "Hello!" 

Say  "Hello!"  and    'How  d'ye  do?" 
Other  folks  are  as  good  as  you. 
When  you  leave  your  house  of  clay. 
Wandering  m  the  far-away: 
When  you  tr  "     "       trange 

Country  far  i    .  .,    , 

Then  the  souls  you've  cheered  will  know 
Who  vou  be.  and  say  "Hello!" 

—Sam  Walter  Fo«». 


4G8 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Little   Zeke     v  isits   Xke   Honor   F 


arm 


\\\W^ 


'Golly,  Jest  Lookee  Yondah" 


"Yum,  Yum,  Yum' 


September  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


469 


i.^ 


.,1  r,f* 


>   A' 


'^^/"""'    >'•:> 


/«<'^5' 


'Oh!  Lud!  Ah  Bets  Dat  Am  Scrumtious 


'Golly!  It  Am  Green!" 


470 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


BUCKNER  6  O'BANNON 

903  West  Main  Street,  Louisville,  Ky. 


Independent 
Dealers  in 


ieaTtobacco 


We  buy  our  leaf  tobacco  directly  from  the 
farmers  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  and 
make  a  specialty  of  supplying  manufac- 
turers and  state  institutions. 


Bray's  Drug  Store 

The  HOME  of  BRAY'S  COUGH 

MIXTURE.    A  Remedy  that 

cures  where  others  fail. 


25  Cents  — Per  Bottle— 50  Cents 

104  Jefferson  Street,  Joliet,  Illinois 


White  Bear  Brand  Steel  Cut 
Coffee 

Superior  in  the  cup — Popular  in  prices 

Durkasco  and  White  Bear  Brand 
Pure  Fruit  Preserves 

Durand  &  Kasper  Co. 

IVholesale  Grocers  and  Manufacturers 

Importers  and  Roasters  of  Coffee 

CHICAGO  ILLINOIS 


EVERY- 
BODY 
THINKS 
WELL  OF 
HAPPY 
HOUR 
AND 
CAMEL 
PURE 
FOODS 


CAMPBELL  HOLTON  &  CO. 

Wholesale  Grocers 
BLOOMINGTON,  ILLINOIS 


COMPLIMENTS   OF 


SULZBERGER  &  SONS  COMPANY 


U.  S.  A. 


Majestic  Hams,  Bacon 
Lard,  Canned  Meats 

FAMOUS  EVERYWHERE  FOR  HIGH  QUALITY  AND  EXCELLENCE  OF  FUVOR 


September  1.  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


471 


To  Obtain  the  Best  Results  in  the  Safest  Manner,  in  Using  High-Explosive 


USE 


Patented.     Trade  Mark  Registerc : 

The  World's  Greatest  High-Explosive 

A  Nitrated  Hydro-Carbon  Explosive 


Dynalite  is   used  at  the  quarry  of 

the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary  at 

Joliet,  Illinois,  where  it  has  given 

satisfaction  for  many  years. 


Adopttd    by  The    Ohio    Salionml    GuarW, 
Battalion  of  Enginttrt. 

Utmd  bythm  Ohio  Slat*  rmnitanHmry,  thm 
Dayton  Slat*  Hotpital and  timilar  inttilu- 
lioni  wanting    and     knowing     Ihr    BEST. 


MANUFACTURED  BY 


THE  AMERICAN  DYNALITE  COMPANY 

Amherst,  Ohio.     U.  S.  A. 


WERDEN  BUCK 

BUILDING 
MATERIAL 

511  and  513  WEBSTER  ST. 


BOTH  PHONES  215 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


Louis  Stoughton  Drake 

Incorpxorated 


THE  J.  C.  ADLER  CO. 

JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 
If  you  want  the  best  in 

HAMS,  BACON.  LARD 

s-e-C""     or  SAUSAGE  ""''°''^-"°'' 

order  ours — we  make  them 

MARCO  GROCERS 


Fabricators  of  the  Celebrated 

LOONTIE 
CANE  and  REEDS 


Boston 


Massachusetts 


472 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Prison  Supply 
Company 

JOHN  W.  GIBBONS,  Agent 

bailors;' 
i;rimmmgs^ 


For    Officers,     Inmates 
and  Discharge  Clothing 

Tools  of  Every  Description 

34  S.  Fifth  Ave.,  CHICAGO,  ILL 


W.  Freeman  &   Co 


Wholesale  Potatoes  and  Fruits 


Car  Lots  a  Specialty 


Chicago  Vhone  618  N.  W.  'Phone  859 


105  S.  JOLIET  STREET 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


Chicago  Phone:  Office  1037. 


Residence  548. 


Daniel  Feely 

Wholesale  Dealer  In 

MEATS  AND 
PROVISIONS 

Room  4,  Clement  Building 
Ottawa  Street       :        :        :        JOLIET,  ILL. 


Telephone  Yards  5150  and  5151 

Holman  Soap  Company 


Manufacturers  of 


ALL  KINDS  OF  SOAP 

Toilet  Preparations,  Perfumes,  Toilet  Soap, 
Soap  Powder,  Scouring  Powder,  Scouring  Soap, 
Metal    Polish,    Furniture    Polish,    Inks,    Etc. 


3104  to  3106  Fox  Street 


Chicago 


. 


Enterprise  Plumbing 
Supply  Co. 

Plumbing  Supplies 
to  the  Trade  Only 


Randolph  1520 


Auto.  47-313 


26-28  W.  Kinzie  Street 


Chicago 


I.  B.  WilUams 
Ca,Son 


-MANUFACTURERS  OF- 


Oak  Tanned  Leather 
Belting 

Round  Leather 
Belting 

Cut   and   Side   Lace 
Leather 


14  N.  FRANKLIN  STREET 

TELEPHONE  MAIN   1666 

CHICAGO 

AGENTS  IN  ALL  PRINCIPAL  CITIES 


September  1.  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


473 


Hardware,  Plumbing, 
Heating,  Gas- Fitting 
and  Sheet  Metal  Work 


When  you  want  a  strictly  honest 
and  good  job  at  an  honest  figure 
for  best  workmanship  and  material 

CALL  ON  US. 

We  will  let  our  work  and  price 
give  you  an  idea  of  our  honesty 
and  the  quality  of  goods  we 
handle. 


POEHNER  &  DILLMAN 

417-419-421-423  Cass  St.  Joliet,    III. 

Chicago  Phone  119       North  Western  Phone  525 


When  opportunity  presents  itself, 
SPEAK  A  GOOD  WORD  FOR 

TheP.E.HOLMSTROM 
COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  GROCERS 
JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


Our  Brands 

Boulevard  Brand 
Renroh  Brand 
Kan  Brand 

Ask  your  grocer  for  above  brands  and 
get    quality    consistent     with     price 

HENRY  HORNER  &  CO 

Importers  and  Manufacturers  of  Groceries 
CHICAGO,  U.  S.  A. 


Joliet  Oil  Refining  Co. 

REFINERS  OF  PETROLEUM 

High   Grade   Illuminating   and   Lubri- 
cating Oil,  Purity  Automobile  Oil 

All  Kinds  of  Grease  Linse«d   Oil   Soap 

located  on  Mills  Road  .v^",,,,  JOLIET,  ILL. 


F.  C.  HOLMES  CS,  CO. 

IINCORPOIIAIKP) 

WHOLESALE  DEALERS  IN 

Fresh,  Frozen  and  Smoked 
Fish  —  Oysters  in  Season 


TelephonM 
Monroe  ISO 
Automatic  SO-108 


736  West  Randolph  Street 
CHICAGO 


WEBB'S 

GAS   HOASTFD 

COFFKK 


Piihl-M  ehh 
Company 

Iiii|M>rf<*rN  iiimI 
Hniislrrs 

Cliirjij^o     ::      Illinois 


474 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


The 


BOSTON 
STORE 


Jollet's  Biggest 

Busiest  and  Best 

Store 


Come  in — We  will  treat  you  so 

well  you'll  never  want  to 

trade  anywhere  else 


"NoneSuch'ToodProducts 

THE  BEST  THAT  SKILL  AND 
NATURE  CAN   PRODUCE 

GUARANTEED  TO  COMPLY 
WITH  ALL  PURE  FOOD  LAWS 

Manufactured  by 

McNeil  &  Higgins  Company 

Chicago,   Illinois 


^^E  have  in  our  warehouses 
everything  in  the  steel  line 
and  are  able  to  ship  immediately 
any  order  received. 


Scully  Steel  CS,  Iron  Co, 


Charles  Heggie 
Pres. 


Geo.  Mason  Jr. 
Vice-Pres. 


The  Weber  Dairy 

OF  JOLIET 

Established  in  '84,  then  used  the  milk  of 
two  cows,  now  we  use  the  milk  of  400  cows 

DAILY  PURE  MILK  OUR  TRADE  MARK 

AL.  J.  WEBER,  Proprietor 

503  W.  Jefferson  St.,  Joliet,  Illinois 


WARLEY'S 

Boiler  Cleansing  Chemicals 
Lubricating  Oils  and  Greases 

are  used  by  those  who  want  abso- 
lutely the  best,  and  are  willing  to 
pay  a  fair  price. 

THOS.  C.  WARLEY  CS,  CO. 

202  S.  Clark  Street,  CHICAGO 

Sim  J.  Stevenson,  Manager 


Bush  &  Handwerk 

Wholesale  and  Retail 

HARDWARE  DEALERS 


Specialties 

Factory  and  Quarry  Supplies 

Stoves  and  Ranges 

Plumbing     and     Gas    Fitting 

Steam  and  Furnace  Work 


115-117  JEFFERSON  STREET 
JOLLIET,  ILLINOIS 


September  1,  1914 


tHE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


475 


CHICAGO  BUTCHERS 
PACKING  COMPANY 

216-222  North  Peoria  St. 
CHICAGO  ILL. 

The  ''I  WilV  Brand 
Hams,  Bacon  and  Lard 


SAUSAGES  of  all  kinds, 
which  are  known  for  their 
QUALITY  and  FLAVOR  and 
which  do  not  contain  any  ce- 
real, but  which  are  pure  meat. 


COMMISSION  A   SPECIALTY 


LYONS  BROTHERS 

LUMBER  and  FUEL  COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  and  RETAIL 

LUMBER  and  COAL 


Both  Telephone.  No.  17 


Wuhinston  Street 
and  York  Avenue 


JOLIET,  ILLINOIS 


L 


ROBERT  T.  KELLY.  Pres.  P.  F.  McMANDS,  Vice-Prei. 

CHAS.  G.  PEARCE,  Cwhier      WM.  REDMOND.  Aw't  C*«h'r 


Z^t  f  oliet  i^ational 
Panfe 

3%  on  Savings  3% 
JOLIET  ILLINOIS 


B 


OILER  COMPOUNDS! 
LUBRICATING  OILS' 
GREASES! 


Oldest  and  Largest  INDEPENDENT 
OIL    COMPANY    in    the    Wctt 


On  competitive  tests  every- 
where our  "Famous  Vege- 
table Boiler  Comjxjund " 
ALWAYS  wins  out  against 
all  comers. 


Northrop  Lubricating 
Oil  Compan)^ 

308  N.  Commercial  Ave.      St.  Louis.  Mo. 


URPHY,  LINSKEY  & 
KASHER    COAL   CO. 

MINERS   APTD    SHIPPERS   OP 

Original 
Wilmington  Coal 

FROM  BRAIDWOOD   MINE  Olt 
CHICAGO  A  ALTON  RAILROAD 

Pontiac  Coal 

FROM  PONTIAC  MINE  ON  ILUNOIS 

CENTRAL,  WABASH  AND  CHICAGO 

AND  ALTON  RAILROADS 


Main  Office,   BRAIDWOOD,   ILL. 

Phones,   Chicago    1  4-M 

IntersUte   e41-L 


476 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


&D  ELITE 

^^^^^^^^^^  TRADE    MARK       REGISTERED  ^^^^^^ 

PAINT  AND 
VARNISH    PRODUCTS 

SPREAD  FURTHEST,  LOOK  BEST 
AND    WEAR   WELL    LONGEST 

ADAMS  &   ELTING  CO- 

716-726  Washington  Blvd.,  CHICAGO  Telephone  Monroe  3000 


O 

u 

CO 

O         J 

PQ      O 

< 


The  Harvester  Cigar 


A  dozen  sizes  from  five 
cents  up. 

Mild   as  a  good   cigar 
can  be. 

In  Universal  Favor 


Victor  Petertyl 

Manufacturer 

Chair  Dowels 
Telephone  Pins 
and  Brackets 

Traverse  City  -:-  Mich. 


Rattan  &  Cane  Company 

IMPORTERS 
AND  MANUFACTURERS  OF 

Rattans,  Reeds, 
Canewebbing,  Willows 

66  West  Broadway,       New  York,  N.  Y. 


THE  JOLIET 
PRISONPOST 

^^  EDITED  BY  PRLSOX/iRS 

of  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary,  Joliet .  IIL.V.  S.  A. 


One  Dollar  the  Year 


Vol.  1 


■•■.>t..ni.e .t  Jnnct.  n.tno...  ....g,, VrV:„ 'M.n'h  ,".«.•:  TcH   CcHts  tHc   Copy 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS,  OrrORER   1.  IPH 


No.  10 


EDITORIAL 


THE  THOUGHT  OF  THE  MONTH 
I  believe  tliat  there  are  more  criminals  by  acci- 
dent than  by  intention.  I-'or  the  criminals  of 
intention — the  professional  cold-blooded  crim- 
inals— the  criminals  at  heart,  I  have  little  sym- 
l)athy  and  less  pity.  But  for  the  criminals  of 
accident — men  who  are  made  criminals  by  cir- 
cumstances and  conditions,  more  than  by  their 
"un  heart  and  their  own  head— T  for  one  would 
substitute  in  our  jmnitive  sy.stem.  pity  instead 
«»f  punishment. — .1/.  .-/.  Gl\nn,  Governor  of  Nnc 
York. 

Let  the  Year  1914  End  It 

When   we  reflect  that  men  and   women  are 
sent  to  penitentiaries  to  serve  long  sentences 
of  from  one  year  to  life,  it   would   seem  that 
l)enitentiaries  should  at  least  be  self  support- 
ing.    How  is  it  possible  that  the  labor  of  fif- 
teen hundred  men  does  not  provide  sufficient 
lunds   for  their   own   sustenance   and    mainte- 
nance and  that  of  the  guards  and  officers  neccs- 
-ary   to  manage   the   institution?      When   one 
takes  into  consideration  the  fact  that  in  j)ri>on 
men   are   fed   at   an    expense   of   sixteen    cents 
per  day  per  man,  clothed  very  inexpensively, 
boused  on  the  intensive  plan,  denied  access  to 
liquor  and  the  right  to  strike,  it  would  seem 
that  from  the  coiumercial  standpf)int,  success 
was  assured  even  though  many  of  the  prisc.n- 
ers  are  unskilled  workmen  and  manv  are  unfit 


I"  i>erft)rm  hard  iab<jr  and  .some  arc  ImjIIi  un- 
skilled   and    physically    defective.        It    would 
seem    that    an    average    fifteen    hun«lred    men 
would  support  an  institution  of  the  size  of  this 
prison   and   leave  a   profit   in   the  treasury   in 
view  of  what  has  been  said,  and  in  view  of 
the   fact  that   prisoners  can  be  compelled   to 
work  and  the  fact  that  they  never  have  a  leave 
of  absence  excepting  on  Sundays  and  holiday.s. 
So  long  as  commercialism  is  intermingled  with 
punishment    and    reformation,    it    would   .seem 
that     prisons     should     be     self-sup|)orting.     but 
the   fact    remains  that   this  prison   has   nevci 
been  self-supporting  and  that  the  commercial 
features  might  as  well  be  wiped  out  except  fi»r 
their  one  redeeming  quality,  which  is  that  the 
industries  furnish  occupation  for  the  inmates. 
There  are  many  reasons  why  thi<  prison  can- 
not  be   made  .seIf-supiK)rting.      I'r.  ntracl 
labor  has  very  properly  been  alxdishcd  because 
«)f  its  brutalizing  influences  and  because  of  the 
objections  ma  «.  by  labor  organizations  to  the 
injustice  of  t'l**   competition   of  prison   labor 
with  free  lab-    .     At  first  glance  it  would  seem 
that  the  total  number  of  jirisoners  in  the  pris- 
ons   of    this    state    as    against    the    working 
clas.ses,   is  so  insignificant    that    the    result    of 
prison    labor    must    be    an    almost    negligible 
(|uantity    anu    viewed    from    this    stand|>oint 
alone,    the   objections   of   labor   organizations 
seem  hypercritical,  but  other  features  enter  in. 
One  is  that     cry  few  occupations  lend  them- 
selves  readily   to   prison    industries  and    that 
consequently  t  le  competition  of  prison   labor 
conflicts  priv   ^  Hy  with   limited   lines  of  en- 


iIr',T\<ir   aiH 


'   fi. .m   this  sf.itulpoint.  f'l'- 


478 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


proportion  of  prisoners  engaged  in  these  re- 
stricted trades  as  compared  with  the  total  num- 
ber of  employes  engaged  in  these  same  trades, 
results  in  a  formidable  proportion.  There  is 
another  feature  which  is  of  still  greater  im- 
portance and  that  is  that  prison-made  goods 
are  usually  put  on  the  market  at  low  prices 
and  the  result  of  this  is  that  a  very  small 
quantity  of  prison-made  goods  invariably  af- 
fects the  price  of  large  quantities  of  the  lines 
of  articles  produced  by  free  labor.  Econo- 
mists might  well  argue  from  this  fact  that  the 
reduction  in  the  prices  of  the  large  quantities 
of  articles  which  have  been  manufactured  by 
free  labor  and  which  have  to  compete  with 
prison-made  articles,  results  in  cheaper  commo- 
dities and  in  that  way  works  for  the  general 
good,  but  the  answer  to  this  is  that  labor  or- 
ganizations are  not  interested  in  remote  con- 
siderations. 

Among  the  reasons  why  this  prison  has 
never  been  self-supporting,  it  may  be  legiti- 
mately urged  that  the  State  cannot  purchase 
raw  material  as  advantageously  as  the  manu- 
facturing concerns,  and  that  the  State  cannot 
discriminate  as  carefully  in  the  employment 
of  its  officers,  foremen  and  superintendents  as 
private  concerns  discriminate  in  their  em- 
ployes. There  is  still  another  reason  which 
preponderates  every  other  reason,  namely,  that 
men  in  prison  are  neither  mentally  nor  physi- 
cally equal  in  effectiveness  to  free  men.  Prob- 
ably the  men  in  prison  communities  would  not 
come  up  to  the  average  in  effectiveness  with 
the  average  free  working  man  if  all  were  free, 
but  it  cannot  be  gainsaid  that  the  prison  life  it- 
self, the  atmosphere,  the  lack  of  interest  and 
the  sort  of  lives  prisoners  live,  has  a  strong 
tendency  towards  decreasing  their  industrial 
effectiveness. 

Prisoners  in  this  prison  are  necessarily  d ce- 
dent by  reason  of  the  fact  that  they  spend  one- 
half  of  Ihcir  time  in  crowded  cells  where  the 
ventilation  is  insufficient.  It  is  the  common  ex- 
perience at  this  prison  that  the  inmates  feel 
better  in  the  afternoons  than  they  do  in  the  morn- 
ings. This  is  because  there  is  insufficient  o.vvgen 
provided  during  the  h  ^■■j  ho  -j  wJien  the  men 
are  in  their  cells.       _, i 


It    seen. 
been  done  u 


■'_!L"^dting    has 
'  -»nci     ion  that  if  the 


State    can    keep    its   prisoners   otherwise   em-    J 
ployed  it  should  abandon  all  commercial  enter- 
prises.    This  is  an  obligation  due  to  free  labor,     , 
to  the  treasury  of  the  state,  and  to  the  prisoners    * 
who    are    taught    the    very    trades    where    re- 
muneration has  been  affected  by  the  competi- 
tion with  prison  labor.     In  other  words,  a  man 
who  comes  to  this  prison  and  becomes  a  broom    I 
maker,   can,   when   he   leaves   the   prison   and 
works  at  his  trade,  work  only  in  competition 
with  the  prisoners  then  in  prisons. 

The  saner  plan  of  housing  prisoners  in  camps 
and  working  them  on  the  roads  of  the  state, 
coupled  with  the  later  plans  of  working  large 
numbers  of  them  on  the  state  farm,  has  made 
it  possible  for  the  state  of  Illinois,  at  least  as  \ 
far  as  the  Joliet  prison  is  concerned,  to  put  an 
end  to  its  mistakes  by  abandoning  all  of  its 
industries  and  substituting  road  building,  truck 
gardening,  farming,  the  care  of  poultry,  etc. 
It  is  within  the  power  of  the  next  legislature, 
which  convenes  within  a  few  months,  to  ordain 
that  commercialism  at  the  Joliet  prison  shall 
pass  with  the  year  1914. 

There  Is  No  Middle  Ground 

There  are  two  ways  to  run  a  prison.  One 
way  is  for  the  warden  to  run  the  institution 
with  an  iron  haird  and  to  ask  and  to  give  no 
favors.  This  is  the  old-fashioned  way  of  which 
prisoners  are  very  sick  and  which  they  are 
glad  to  get  away  from.  Under  the  old-fash- 
ioned way  it  might  be  perfectly  right  for  pris- 
oners to  do  as  little  as  possible,  waste  the  stock 
and  the  supplies  and  to  get  by  with  every  im- 
aginable miserable  stunt. 

The  other  way  is  for  the  administration  to 
treat  the  prisoners  like  men  and  to  try  to 
lighten  their  burdens  and  to  make  life  as  nearly 
normal  as  is  possible  in  an  institution  of  this 
kind.  No  prison  can  be  successfully  handled 
along  this  latter  line  without  the  co-operation 
of  the  prisoners. 

This  does  not  mean  that  the  administration 
is  asking  for  favors.  It  simply  means  that  the 
administration  announces  that  it  will  allow 
the  men  the  pleasanter  life  only  as  long  as  the 
prisoners  show  their  appreciation  of  their  op- 
portunities and  do  their  share  towards  making 
it  possible  to  continue  the  more  pleasant 
method. 


October  1.  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


47V 


Where  prisoners  are  against  the  administra- 
tion, it  is  probably  right  for  them  to  be  con- 
sistent and  that  means  to  be  against  the  ad- 
ministration every  hour  of  the  day  and  night, 
but  there  is  only  one  way  of  being  with  the  ad- 
ministration and  that  is  to  be  with  it  at  all 
times  and  in  every  possible  way.  It  means  a 
fair  day's  work ;  an  honest  use  of  the  state's 
materials ;  economy  with  regard  to  the  waste 
of  food,  clothing  and  raw  materials.  It  means 
the  observance  at  all  times  of  all  the  rules  and 
regulations  and  it  further  means  the  discour- 
agement of  all  remarks  and  acts  against  the 
administration.  There  is  no  middle  ground 
and  he  who  maintains  that  there  is,  is  a  hypo- 
crite, pure  and  simple. 

Freedom  of  the  Press 

It  is  impossible  in  the  nature  of  things  that 
any  prison  press  shall  be  independent  of  the 
prison  administration.  The  prison  administra- 
tion, which  represents  the  state,  is  and  must  be 
sovereign.  Freedom  of  the  prison  press  does 
not  mean  that  the  prisoners  who  write  for  the 
prison  pai)ers  are  either  to  be  independent  of  or 
to  antagonize  the  administration.  I'Veedom  is 
to  come  from  being  in  accord  with  the  adminis- 
tration, not  from  opposing  it. 

Possibly  no  prison  publication  enjoys  more 
editorial  freedom  than  that  accorded  The  Jolif.t 
Prison  Post.  Certainly  no  more  freedom  than 
this  magazine  enjoys  is  needed. 

The  JoLiET  Prison  Post  is  published  by  the 
Board  of  Commissioners  and  the  Warden  of  the 
Illinois  State  Penitentiary;  it  is  "edited  by 
prisoners." 

All  that  is  needed  for  the  freedom  of  the  press 
in  any  prison,  is  for  the  prisoners  who  are  editing 
the  publication  to  be  in  harmony  with  the  prison 
administration  in  its  policy  and  plan  of  prison 
betterment. 

The  managing  editor  of  this  magazine  counsels 
frequently  with  the  Warden  and  with  other  offi- 
cers of  the  administration  and  all  contribute  what 
they  can  toward  making  the  magazine  what 
it  should  be.  But  there  is  no  censorship ;  no  arbi- 
trary death  note  sounded  upon  any  article  that 
is  prepared.  Questions  are  talked  over;  what 
is  to  be  attained  and  the  way  best  to  attain  it. 
are  considered  and  what  is  bo^f  for  the  common 


cause    in    which    the    adininistratiun    and    Uic 
prisoners  arc  intcrcstetl,  is  agree<l  to. 

The  prison  betterment  movement  is  not  a  mn\  r 
ment  by  prisoners  against  society;  i/  is  a  m 

mctit  in  rvhich  men  and  'ivomen  who  hax'f  bfc 

prisomrs,  are  to  find  the  tt-oy  in  tf/nr/i  the\  can 
reunite  with  society. 

These  prisoners  arc  to  bcf^in  to  finti  the  way 
of  re-uniting  with  society  through  learning  how 
to  harmonize  with  tlu-  administration  which  rep- 
resents society. 

By  harmonizing  with  tiie  purposes  and  plans 
of  the  prison  administration,  as  the  eilitorial  «taff 
of  The  Joliet  Prison  Post  have  done,  the  in- 
mates of  any  prison  will  show  that  they  liclieve 
in  law  and  order,  that  they  subscrilK*  •«•  '»  and 
that  they  will  conform  to  it. 

When  prisoners  make  it  known  that  they  l>c- 
lieve  in  law  and  order  and  that  they  will  live  trxic 
to  the  social  needs  of  the  time,  they  will  have 
begun  to  make  their  way  toward  freetlom.  They 
will  have  begun  to  l)c  eligible  to  freedom  and.  in 
time,  the  eligibility  will  bring  the  freetlom. 

«    4» 

Honesty  Week  Every  Day  of  the  Ycir 

In  lulv  it  was  proposed  in  Chicago  that  the 
first  week  in  August  should  '>,•  ,,],<or\e<\  as 
"Honesty  Week." 

Every  man  that  had  borrowed  an  uni 
brella.  or  that  owed  a  friend  a  quarter,  or  that 
was  wearing  another  man's  overcoat;  every 
woman  that  was  still  keeping  her  neighbor's 
scissors,  that  was  keeping  a  hat  pin  which  had 
been  borrowed  in  an  emergency,  was  to  re- 
turn to  the  owner  that  which  was  not  his  or 
her  own. 

Some  pel -11-  u\  Chicago  thought  the  move 
great ;  others  thought  it  foolish.  One  woman 
said :  "The  idea  is  simply  to<J  silly  to  he  given 
serious  consideration  by  sensible  p«  Hns 

is  an  age  of  sensational  and  senseless  iads  and 
Honesty  Week*  is  the  most  absurd  of  them 
.ill.     I    believe  in   honesty  every   day   in   the 

year. 

Another  woman,  a  member  of  the  Wom-.  s 
Athletic  Club.  endorse<l  the  move  enthu 
tically :  "I  think  the  i.lea  is  fine.  I  know  that 
I  probably  have  some  umbrellas  that  don't  be- 
long to  me  and  I  shall  return  them  during 
Honesty  Week.'  " 


4S0 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Mr.  (ieorge  Plamouden,  of  Wheaton,  Illi- 
nois, member  of  clubs  and  business  organiza- 
tions, takes  a  very  practical  view  of  the  pro- 
posal. "When  'Honesty  Week'  comes,"  he 
said,  "I  am  going  to  look  through  my  pipe 
rack,  my  umbrella  stand  and  see  what  I've  got 
that  belongs  to  Smith  or  Brown  up  the  road." 

In  Boston  where  "Honesty  Week"  took  the 
title,  "Take  It  Back  Week,"  it  was  looked 
upon  as  something  to  encourage  public  in- 
tegrity. Secretary  Burnstead,  in  urging  this 
week,  said : 

"This  is  merely  a  means  of  teaching  per- 
sons to  remember  they  have  certain  obliga- 
tions to  others.  The  man  who  rushes  into 
your  office  and  borrows  a  pen  knife  is  likely 
not  to  return  it  until  somebody  goes  after  it." 


But  the  spirit  which  has  prompted  "Hon- 
esty Week"  is  taking  a  greater  hold  of  the  peo- 
ple than  only  to  move  them  to  take  back  once 
a  year  the  umbrellas,  the  hat  pins,  the  jack 
knives,  the  overcoats  or  the  furs  they  have 
borrowed. 

There  is  growing  in  business  a  new  sense  of 
integrity,  a  requirement  which  each  puts  upon 
himself  to  be  upright  and  clean  in  all  of  his 
transactions.  The  Chicago  Tribune  makes  the 
following  comment  on  the  new  business  spirit : 

"One  of  the  oldest  rules  of  the  common  law 
is,  'Let  the  buyer  beware.'  This  rule  meant 
that  consumers  were  supposed  to  purchase  ar- 
ticles at  their  own  risk ;  that  it  was  their  busi- 
ness to  test,  inspect,  examine  the  things  they 
bought,  and  that  the  sellers  were  not  to  be  held 
to  high  standards  of  ethics  and  veracity.  An 
amusing  and  familiar  illustration  of  this  is 
found  in  the  dictum  of  a  British  judge  that 
'razors  were  made  to  sell,  not  to  shave.'  If  a 
man  bought  a  razor  that  failed  to  shave  the 
fault  and  loss  were  his  under  the  law,  which 
assumed  and  justified  a  very  low  state  of  busi- 
ness morals. 

"Today,  whether  or  not  the  law  has  marched 
with  the  times,  business  morals  are  higher. 
'Let  the  seller  beware'  is  becoming  the  rule  of 
trade  and  commerce.  The  buyers  are  no 
longer  laughed  at  when  they  purchase  razors 
that  fail  to  shave.  Such  a  transaction  is 
frowned  upon  by  the  business  community  as 
reprehensible  and  fraudulent.  The  sellers  un- 
derstand that  they  are  in  a  position  to  test  and 
examine  the  articles  they  turn  out,  and  they 
are  assuming  this  burden  more  and  more.  They 


realize  that  they  can  obviate  injustice  and  de- 
ception at  relatively  small  expense,  and  that 
honesty  is  the  best  policy  in  this  as  in  other 
directions. 

"This  remarkable  change  in  business  ethics, 
it  is  asserted,  is  creating  a  greater  and  greater 
demand  for  chemists,  analysts,  engineers,  test- 
ers, and  like  experts.  Here  is  a  case  where  an 
improvement  in  morals  directly  makes  for  pros- 
perity and  increased  employment.  But  it  does 
more  than  this.  In  the  day  of  Lord  Bacon  it 
was  lightly  supposed  that  a  certain  amount  of 
trickiness  and  shiftiness  was  inseparable  from 
trade  and  business.  We  are  happily  getting 
away  from  this  demoralizing  notion.  Trade 
and  commerce  are  forms  of  social  service. 
These  forms  of  service  should  be  characterized 
by  the  strictest  honor  and  the  highest  integrity. 
That  they  are  so  characterized  in  our  day  to  an 
unprecedented  degree  is  the  strongest  proof  of 
the  progress  of  society  toward  justice  and 
righteousness." 


It  seems  like  a  great  step  from  the  high 
class  of  persons  we  have  just  been  considering 
and  the  trivial  offenses  that  these  people  in- 
tend to  obviate,  to  turn  now  to  prisoners  in 
this  penitentiary  and  to  acts  of  real  crime. 

But  of  such  degrees  of  personal  quality  and 
of  such  range  in  human  actions,  is  the  world 
made  up.  Small  or  great,  the  questions  of  life 
are  all  a  part  of  the  one  great  social  problem. 

And  the  spirit  of  the  times  which  is  moving 
the  innocent  umbrella  borrower  to  take  the 
umbrella  back,  is  with  the  men  in  prison  as 
well  as  being  with  the  other  men  and  women 
in  the  higher  walks  of  life.  Life,  the  moving 
impulse  toward  virtue,  is  no  respecter  of  per- 
sons. What  the  new  thought  and  purpose  in 
men  and  women  is  doing  through  "Honesty 
Week"  and  through  a  higher  moral  standard 
in  business,  to  promote  public  integrity,  the 
honor  system  in  prisons  is  doing  to  promote 
that  same  integrity  in  prisoners  and  in  the  in- 
terest of  the  same  public  good. 

Honesty  pays.  That  is  the  thing  that  every- 
body, including  the  prisoner,  must  learn.  It 
is  that  that  the  honor  system  now  being  in- 
troduced into  prisons  is  seeking  to  teach. 


We  have  taken  three  cases  at  random  of 
men  now  in  this  penitentiary  to  test  the  ques- 
tion  if  honesty  or  if  crime  pays  best.     Here 


(  )ctoher  1.   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


4SI 


are    the    actual    figures    in    a    case    of   a    pick 
pocket,  a  burglar,  a  forger: 

The   pickpocket :      First   conviction  ;   sentence, 
one  to  ten  years;  will  have  to  serve  twenty- 
three  months ;  secured  one  pocket  book  con- 
taining $28.00,  a  watch  and  a  sewing  outfit ; 
earning  capacity  as  a  clerk,  $75.00  per  niontii. 
The  burglar:  Three  convictions;  first  time  se- 
cured, $150.00;  served  two  years;  second  time, 
secured   $26.00;   served   three  years  and   two 
months;  third  time  secured  $500.00,  sentence 
one   to   twenty   years;   is   here   now   and   has 
served  three  years  and  will  have  to  serve  eleven 
years  and  three  months;  earning  capacity  as 
a  brick  layer,  $5.00  per  day.     The  forger :  Two 
convictions;  first  time  secured  $24.00;  served 
eleven  months  in  California ;  second  time  se- 
cured $12.00;  sentence  one  to  fourteen  years; 
will    have    to    serve    eight    years    and    three 
months ;  earning  capacity  as  insurance   man, 
about  $200.00  per  month. 

With  very  few  exceptions,  the  men  here  who 
have  had  the  experience  all  say  that  the  game 
does  not  pay.  There  are  a  few  who  still  think 
it  can  be  made  to  pay. 

The  better  class  of  men  in  prison  want  to 
get  away  from  the  practice  of  dishonesty  and 
with  these  men  the  honor  system  is  a  most 
welcome  innovation.  Lend  A  Hand,  the  paper 
published  at  the  Oregon  penitentiary,  under 
the  heading,  "Nothing  In  It,"  has  this  to  say 
on  the  question  of  crime : 

"The  trade  or  profession  of  crime  as  fol- 
lowed by  the  ordinary  man  or  woman  is  the 
poorest  paid  occupation  on  the  top  of  the  earth. 
It  is  only  the  extraordinarily  brainy  man  with 
power  to  make  and  unmake  laws  that  follows 
a  criminal  career  with  success,  and,  as  a  rule, 
men  cnrlowed  with  such  talent  are  not  crim- 
inally bent.  .Xs  for  the  small  fish— really,  now. 
how  much  of  a  salary,  annually,  did  you  ever 
draw  down?  Did  it  average  ten  cents  a  day, 
this  crime  thing?  Remember,  it  takes  a  smart 
man  to  be  a  successful  criminal  and  the  very 
fact  of  your  sojourn  here  is  proof  plenty  that 
you  do  not  belong  to  that  class." 

The  new  thought  of  the  time  is  teaching  in 
all  ways  that  negligence,  dishonesty  or  crime 
does  not  pay.  There  is  a  moral  uplift  which 
is  raising  all  men  to  better  things.  Let  us  be 
thankful  for  this,  in  behalf  of  the  prisoners  as 
well  as  in  behalf  of  the  lucky  person  who  gets 
his  umbrella  back. 


A  Lawyer's  Advice 

it  is  so  generally  supi)osc(J  that  a  lawyer  wants 
only  "to  gqt  the  money,"  that  when  a  bwycr  ap 
])ears  as  a  real  humanitarian  and  offers  wh<>li 
some  counsel  instead  of  slipulat-- ■■      frr.  it  i^  .i 
fact   worthy  of   interest  and   n>.u 

A  certain  young  man  in  this  institution  wrote 
for  help  to  a  lawyer  in  Peoria  whom  he  had 
known. 

Instead  of  replying  and  asking  the  nun  how 
much  money  he  could  rai-^e,  the  lawyer  sent  the 
following  word  of  counsel: 

"Yours   of   the   24ih    inst.,    received.     I    am 
.sorry  to  leani  that  you  arc  in  prison  and  al  : 
tionally  sorry,  that  you  broke  your  parole  alter 
lieing  liberated  from  there. 

"1  am  also  sorry  to  learn  that  you  lost  your 
arm.  You  did  not  tell  me  for  what  you  were  sent 
to  prison. 

"If  you  will  realize  fully,  so       "  uic 

fact,  that  you  cannut  get  goo<l  :  :  life 

by  disobeying  law  or  breaking  your  won!,  tliat 
knowledge  will  be  worth  more  to  you  than  your 
arm.  Society  is  more  |)OwerfuI  than  any  in- 
dividual and  the  final  result  is  that  bw  breaker* 
get  punishment;  and  then  only  those  who  do  r,\ 
iictly  what  they  say  they  will  do  will  be  tru^id 
"I  have  always  assisted  the  needy  ;     "    " 

ing,  as  far  as  I  could,  and  iK-li- ' 

([uence  many  have  changed  th 
from  a  down  grade  to  an  up  grade  coiirsc  of  con- 
duct.    It  is  easy  to  go  down  but  it  is  not  ver)' 
comfortable  to  strike  the  l>ottoni.     You  '   •    ''mI 
you   will   not   Ik*   paroled   again    for  t\s<  c 

months.  You  can  put  in  a  part  of  your  time  dur- 
ing that  period  in  mapping  out  your  futur  c 
of  conduct  and  you  may  count  on  any  a  c 
that  I  feci  I  can  give  you.  If  I  were  I 
should  rather  have  one  arm.  and  a  fixed  deter- 
mination to  be  strictly  honest  and  industt 
than  to  have  l)Oth  ann<  what  your  ici 
ter  in«licates  your  past                       ''"^  Ix^" 

"The  inclination  to  li.  .  '  are  <lown, 

and  those  who  are  disabled,  is  pretty  general  and. 
as  I  believe,  is  wonderfully  K 

the  <linuultv  of  knowing  win.  ...  -. i    .  ■  '" 

write  well. 'as  shown  by  your  letter,  whuh  mdi- 
cates  that  you  have  a  fairly  gtxxl  e<lucaHon  and. 
as  I   remember  vou  when  you  %  '   for  me 

digging  on  the  site  of  Fort  Crrv.  ''^d 

goo<l   physical  health.     You  cm   n,  It 

useful  ill  the  world  with  your  one  ami,  and  my 
best  wish  for  you  is  that  you  will  try  to  do  so 
when  you  are  given  a  chance. 

"You  can  alwav^  count  on  me  for  sym|«thy. 
although  I  met  you  but  once  and  I  may  l»c  able 
to  assist  you  when  the  time  comes." 


482 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


We  learned  of  this  letter  and  asked  both  the 
man  who  received  it  and  the  man  who  sent  it, 
for  permission  to  pubHsh  it. 

Here  is  advice  from  an  attorney  for  every 
man  in  this  institution.  Jt  comes  free  and  with- 
out  price. 

Parole  for  Life  Term  Men 

The  appeal  for  a  parole  law  for  life  term 
men  has  a  strong  support  in  what  has  already 
been  done  in  other  states  and  by  the  Federal 
government. 

In  January,  1913,  a  Federal  law  was  passed 
extending  the  benefit  of  a  parole  law  to  prisoners 
who  have  been  sentenced  for  life  terms.  Such 
a  law  had  been  recommended  in  two  annual  mes- 
sages by  the  attorney-general  and  the  bill  passed 
had  the  support  of  the  Federal  Boards  of  Parole 
and  of  individuals  interested  in  prison  reforma- 
tion. 

Different  states  have  a  provision  for  parole 
for  life  term  men  conditioned  on  a  number  of 
years  having  been  served.  Minnesota  grants 
parole  to  life  men  when  thirty-five  years,  less 
good  time,  have  been  served;  Nebraska,  Ohio 
and  Utah  grant  a  parole  in  twenty-five  years; 
Louisiana,  Oregon  and  Virginia,  in  fifteen  years ; 
Texas  in  ten  years ;  California  in  eight  years  and 
Kentucky  in  five  years.  In  Iowa  all  commit- 
ments to  the  state  prison  are  for  from  one  year 
lo  life  and,  therefore,  in  Iowa  all  prisoners  are 
eligible  to  parole.  In  Montana,  life  term  men  may 
be  paroled  when  they  have  served  thirteen  years 
and  three  months,  and  in  Nevada,  when  they 
have  served  seven  years.  Wisconsin  also  has 
a  parole  law  for  life  term  men. 

Attorney-General  Wickersham,  in  an  argument 
before  the  American  Prison  Association,  in  1911, 
said  in  behalf  of  this  proposed  I'ederal  parole 
law: 

"I  concur  in  the  recommendations  made  by  the 
boards  of  parole  in  their  report  that  the  law 
should  be  modified  so  as  to  include  within  its 
provisions  prisoners  undergoing  life  sentences. 
I  believe  it  is  more  to  the  interest  of  society 
that  such  prisoners  should  be  liberated  on  parole 
•  .  .  than  that  they  should  be  discharged  abso- 
lutely by  executive  pardon." 


Mr.  Wickersham  also  argues  for  a  Federal  in- 
determinate sentence  law  as  a  necessary  accom- 
paniment to  a  system  of  parole,  saying  that  the 
system  has  produced  excellent  results  in  the  dif- 
ferent states  and  that  it  is  regarded  as  the  most 
successful  method  of  dealing  with  social  of- 
fenders. 


Opportunity     and     Responsibility     of     First 
Grade  Men 

In  the  August  issue  of  this  magazine,  we  spoke 
of  the  fact  that  the  men  of  the  first  grade  have 
not  shown  that  they  are  able  to  keep  their  grade 
clean.  The  grade  has  no  way  to  insure  that 
every  man  in  the  grade  can  be  depended  upon 
always  to  live  up  to  what  he  has  pledged. 

As  it  is  proved  that  membership  in  the  first 
grade  is  no  guarantee  that  the  administration 
can  depend  upon  the  men  of  the  grade  for  v/hat 
is  expected  of  first  grade  men,  the  grade  loses 
social  power:  the  strength  that  should  come 
from  association,  is  lacking;  the  grade  as  a  social 
body  is  not  able  to  effect  what  it  should  effect. 

The  men  here  will  sometime  see  that  there  is 
no  real  victory  for  them,  no  winning  of  the 
position  they  hope  to  win,  without  their  proving 
their  willingness  and  also  their  ability  to  conform 
to  all  the  rules  of  the  administration. 

While  here,  there  is  no  surer  way  of  doing 
this  than  for  the  men  who  really  wish  to  "make 
good,"  so  to  live  individually  and  so  to  associate, 
as  to  conform  to  and  to  help  to  fulfill  the  social 
needs  of  this  community. 

The  men  must  not  postpone.  They  must  be- 
gin to  live  now  what  they  say  they  will  live  when 
they  are  set  free,  otherwise  they  are  not  proving 
themselves. 

If  the  men  of  this  community  who  are  willing 
to  live  square  and  right  were  to  show  that  while 
they  are  willing,  they  are  also  able  to  live  square 
and  right,  they  would  prove  to  the  administration 
and  to  the  public  that  in  time  the  State  can  just- 
ly grant  them  their  freedom. 

There  are  certain  elements  of  mind  that  always 
make  for  evil;  there  are  certain  policies  that 
always  make  for  good. 

Men  who  wish  to  establish  themselves  in  the 
integrity  and  value  of  life,  can  begin  to  do  so 
by  avoiding  the  one  and  by  accepting  the  other. 


October  1.  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


483 


An  element  of  niintl  which  always  makes 
for  evil,  is  that  which  leads  a  iK.Tson  into  secre- 
tiveness;  a  policy  which  always  makes  for  gotxl 
is  publicity. 

Any  attempt  at  a  new  classification  which  does 
not  recognize  and  build  on  these  two  facts  will 
fail.  Do  what  we  will,  if  in  our  purposes  and 
plans  we  do  not  avoid  secretivencss  and  if  we 
do  not  promote  publicity,  we  shall  only  have  a 
grade  in  which  stealth  will  soon  hold  >way  and 
in  which  all  the  evils  of  social  life  as  we  know 
life  here,  will  be  allowed  to  grow. 


Naturally,  in  order  to  have  a  classification  that 
will  show  the  administration  and  the  public  at 
large  that  every  man  in  the  classification  is 
becoming  socially  safe  and  socially  valuable,  the 
classification  can  be  composed  only  of  men  who 
earnestly  wish  to  make  something  of  themselves. 
A  man  who  is  willing  to  compromise  his  own 
character,  when,  without  such  a  sacrifice  the  way 
is  opened  to  efTect  his  practical  ends,  is  not  a 
suitable  man  for  such  a  classification  as  is  sug- 
gested. 

But  no  organization  is  being  proposed.  Too 
many  ofTer  improvements  and  then  attempt  to 
carr}'  out  those  improvements  before  projx'r 
preparation  has  been  made. 

Nothing  will  be  gained  from  a  rush  to  .set  up 
something  perfect.  The  men  in  here  will  not 
be  able  to  live  socially  what  they  lia\e  not  yet 
learned  to  live  individually.  I'ntil  a  man  will 
Vwc  square  and  right  in  himself  and  for  reasons 
that  are  in  himself,  he  cannot  be  depended  upon 
to  live  square  and  right  in  his  relationship  with 
others.  The  public  cannot  depend  upon  him 
and  he  cannot  depend  upon  himself  so  to  live. 

The  first  thing  is  to  be  willing  to  live  right. 

Many  who  think  they  arc  willing  to  live  true 
will  find,  when  put  to  the  test,  that  they  are  not 
willing.  They  will  find  that  they  were  being 
led.  possibly  without  their  own  knowledge  even, 
to  go  into  the  new  classification  because  of  the 
advantages  that  were  thought  to  accrue  and  not 
because  there  had  come  in  them  the  conviction 
that  they  should  live  true  for  their  own  sake, 
that  they  should  live  true  for  the  upbuilding  and 
strengthening  of   their  own   character. 


i-niil  (juenteri.  in  a  coniMmnication  in  this 
issue,  snvs  ■ 

"It  secujs  to  me  a  wise  thing  to  endeavor  to 

keep  a  grade  clean.    The  r      '  '    '     bad  mu'^l 

be  separated,  for  it  is  coi  .-ded  that 

the  intluence  of  bad  is  stronger  than  the  innucnce 
of  good.  What  a  delightful  thing  it  would  be 
to  have  a  new  grade  comi>osed  of  men  who  have 
nev«'r  been  punished ;  what  an  ap|K-al  it  would 
have  to  the  new  men  whose  intentions  are  gtxxl." 

Ill  Guentert  is  a  re.sjxjnse  to  the  declaration 
made  in  this  mazarine  in  Aupu^t.  that: 

"If   the   tirst   grade   does   not   or 
Itself  clean,  keep  itself  so  that  the  a  ;..;.>... 

will  know  that  every  man  in  that  gi  kcc|>- 

ing  tnie  in  every  particular,  it  must  follow  in- 
evitably that  there  will  be  another  grade,  a 
higher  grade  in  which  the  men  of  the  grade  will 
keep  the  grade  clean  and  then  the  fir»-t  grade  will 
in  reality  be  a  second  grade." 

A  man  can  leant  how  willing  he  is  to  live  true 
by  watching  his  tiaily  acts  and  taking  note  of  jusi 
how  he  decides  what  he  shall  or  shall  not  do. 
Mis  deep  thought  process  will  tell  him  how  true 
or  how  untrue  he  is. 

.\lways  conscience  is  with  us,  and  with  a  little 
attention,  we  can  readily  tell  if  we  live  true  to 
the  truth  which  conscience  speaks  or  if,  in  selfish 
self-interest,  we  choose  rather  to  do  what  is  of 
more    immediate    personal    advantage. 

A  classification  which  will  Ik-  a  giiarantee  that 
the  administration  can  dejx-nd  ui)on  ever)'  nun 
in  the  classification,  must  l»e  made  up  of  men 
who  want  to  live  what  is  right,  and  who  will  be 
constant  so  that  they  shall  be  able  to  live  what 
is  right. 

W  hen  a  man  has  come  l<>  this  and  has  prove<l 
it  to  himself  individually,  he  will  be  rea<ly  to 
live  it  with  othcr.s  socially;  he  will  Ik-  ready  to 
become  one  of  a  classification  which  will  have 
the  social  jKDwer  to  maintain  something  in  the 
service  and  to  the  advantage  of  its  memlK-rs 

There  are  many  men  here  who.  with  (luentcrt. 
believe  in  standing  with  the  a«lministration  "from 
the  ground  up."  who  wish  to  have  a  classifica- 
tion in  which  no  man  will  seek  to  have  any  of 
his  acts  kept  secret,  a  classification  in  which  pub- 
licity shall  be  the  social  policy  When  prisoner* 
will  live  thus  openly  and  above  l>oard.  the  prison 
a<lministration  and  the  public  will  l>cgin  to  have 
confidence  in  them. 


484 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Prisoners  have  within  themselves  the  power 
to  win  all  that  they  have  hoped  to  win.  What 
prisoners,  or  what  any  persons,  win  that  is  not 
first  won  in  their  own  character,  is  not  truly 
theirs:  and  it  may  any  day  be  lost.  The  men 
who  wish  to  qualify  for  a  new  classification 
should   make   themselves   known. 


Putting  Prisoners  to  Work 

The  Columbus,  Ohio,  Journal,  under  the  above 
heading,  raises  a  question  which  leads  the  thought 
directly  to  a  matter  of  vital  individual  and  social 
importance. 

Judge  Latshaw's  statement  to  the  men  he  re- 
leased on  parole  to  go  into  the  Kansas  w^heat 
fields,  quoted  in  this  magazine  in  September, 
"Kansas  needs  men  and  you  need  liberty,"  has 
been  the  subject  of  considerable  comment  and 
has   been   generally   approved. 

The  logic  of  his  position  appeals  to  the  humane 
and  to  the  economic  sense  of  American  citizen- 
ship. 

The  best  cure  for  the  habit  of  idleness  and  for 
misdemeanors  that  come  from  idleness  and  for 
other  misdemeanors  as  well,  is  work. 

How  many  men  might  be  quickened  to  a  sense 
of  self-reliance  and  aspiration,  if  sentenced  to 
go  to  work  instead  of  being  sentenced  to  go  to 
prison ! 

This  is  a  practicable  plan  as  is  already  shown 
in  this  state,  where,  for  certain  offenses,  men  are 
released  on  probation  by  the  judges  of  the  muni- 
cipal court. 

The  principle  can  be  extended. 

The  Columbus  Journal  comments  on  the  gen- 
eral question : 

"Strange,  isn't  it,  that  in  these  jobless  times 
we  have  to  take  men  out  of  prison  to  do  the 
work?  If  this  is  the  only  way  to  harvest  the 
crops,  there  should  be  a  concerted  movement 
among  all  prison-keepers  to  furnish  the  men. 
It  will  do  the  country  good,  and  also  the  men. 
An  honest  day's  work  under  the  blue  skies  will 
do  a  prisoner  more  good  than  any  prison  wall 
can  do.  A  warden  of  a  penitentiary  would  not 
run  much  risk  if  he  sent,  say,  50  men  to  Kansas 
to  help  the  harvest.  It  would  be  a  good  moral 
uplift,  and  they  would  all  come  back." 

What  self-respect  might  not  be  kept,  what  self- 
respect  might  not  be  created,  if  as  many  men 


as  possible  were  to  be  saved  from  going  to  jail 
or  to  the  house  of  correction,  or  later,  possibly, 
when  the  system  is  further  along,  from  going  to 
prison  ? 

Men  could  be  sentenced  to  i<.'ork  for  a  term 
equal  to  that  for  which  they  are  now  sentenced 
to  serve. 

The  honor  men  who  have  gone  to  the  prison 
farms  and  to  the  road  camps,  the  country  over, 
are  proving  that  a  sentence  to  work  would  be 
lived  up  to.  Honor  men  could  be  picked  by  the 
bench,  as  they  are  now  picked  by  the  warden. 
Those  who  would  give  no  promise  of  being  honor 
men,  could  be  sentenced  to  serve  time  in  prison. 

When  it  is  seen  that  most  men  need  uplift  and 
social  support,  far  more  than  they  need  punish- 
ment, fewer  men  will  be  sent  to  prison.  The 
prisoner  who  is  sentenced  to  work  will  not  be  a 
burden  on  the  community  as  is  the  person  who 
is  sentenced  to  serve.  A  change  of  sentence 
from  confinement  to  industry  will  be  of  immense 
benefit  to  the  individual  and  to  society. 


Reform    Institutions   as   Sociological   Labora- 
tories 

For  some  time  the  press  and  leaders  of  public 
thought  have  been  calling  attention  to  the  fact 
that  many  crimes  result  from  mental  and  moral 
defects  and  not  so  much  as  has  been  supposed 
from  studied  determination,  intention  and  choice. 

In  view  of  this,  the  sociological  laboratories 
for  the  examination  of  prisoners  to  determine 
their  mental  and  moral  responsibility,  have  met 
with  favor  ,and  a  beginning  of  concrete  work 
has  been  made. 

A  psychopathic  laboratory  in  connection  with 
the  municipal  court  has  been  established  in 
Chicago,  with  Dr.  William  Hickson  as  director. 
There  is  also  in  Chicago  a  pathological  labora- 
tory in  connection  with  the  juvenile  court  under 
the  direction  of  Dr.  William  Healy. 

Following  Chicago's  initiative,  Boston  has  in- 
stalled a  laboratory  in  connection  wdth  its  muni- 
cipal court,  wdth  Dr.  Victor  Anderson  as  direc- 
tor. The  American  Institute  of  Criminal  Law 
and  Criminology,  through  a  commission  of  which 
the  Honorable  Harry  Olsen,  chief  justice  of  the 
municipal  court  of  Chicago,  was  chairman,  has 
sent  out  reports  to  municipalities  and  counties 


October  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


4S& 


suggesting  that  laboratories  be  established  for 
the  service  of  their  criminal  courts.  A  year  ago 
Mr.  Louis  Gibbs,  of  New  York,  introduced  into 
the  legislature  of  that  state  a  bill  to  provide  for 
the  establishment  of  a  laboratory  in  connection 
with  the  courts  of  every  first-class  city  in  the 
state.  The  move  received  wide  and  favorable 
comment,  and  it  is  exi)ected  that  ultimately  ii 
will  succeed.  The  Committee  on  i'rison  Re- 
form of  the  National  Civic  Federation,  New 
York,  has  recommended  that  Sing  Sing  prison 
be  renovated  and  be  used  as  a  temporary  recep- 
tion prison  and  a  psychopathic  laboratory  for 
the  study   of  persons  sent  there. 

Laboratory  work  is  recommended  by  Dr.  J.  P. 
Lichtenberger,  of  the  University  of  Pemisyl- 
vania.  Governor  George  H.  Hodges,  of  Kansas, 
and  Warden  J.  D.  Botkin,  of  the  Kansas  State 
Penitentiary,  have  begun  laboratory  work  at 
the  Kansas  prison. 


The  laboratory  idea  began  with  the  purpose 
to  separate  the  mentally  and  morally  deficient 
among  those  who  find  their  way  into  the  courts, 
from  those  who  are  actually  vicious  and  of 
criminal  intent. 

Dr.  Hickson's  tests  of  the  offenders  brought 
before  the  Boys'  Court,  Chicago,  show  that 
nearly  all  the  boys  were  mentally  deficient.  Two 
hundred  and  fifty-five  boys  were  examined.  Of 
these  7.34  per  cent,  are  characterized  as  bordering 
on  a  sub-normal  state  of  mentality ;  84.49  i>er 
cent,  were  morons,  or  persons  of  arrested  mental 
development.  The  actual  average  age  of  these 
boys  was  18.71  years;  their  mental  age,  as  estab- 
lished by  the  tests,  averaged  10.98  years. 

Other  tests  and  expert  opinions  from  long 
experience  and  close  observation  indicate  that  the 
conditions  in  Chicago  are  a  fair  represeiUation 
of  the  conditions  of  those  who  find  their  way 
into  the  courts  of  any  city. 

Commenting  ujwn  these  ascertained  facts,  the 
Chicago  Daily  News  says : 

"These  results  bear  out  what  prominent  judges 
have  long  suspected,  that  a  large  number  of  per- 
sons who  break  the  laws  are  subnormal  of  mind. 
Should  such  irresponsibles — persons  of  child 
minds  in  adult  bodies — be  treated  precisely  as 
are  the  oflfenders  of  normal  mentality  ?  Evident- 
ly it  is  not  justice  to  punish  persons  who  are 


nicntally  irrcv!"-'  ■Mc  for  their  I.  What 

ihey  need  is  ;  ,    treatment  u.  ; rablc  en- 

vironment, so  that  their  intellectual  jiowcrs  can 
be  strengthened  if  fKissible,  and  their  restoration 
to    society    as    useful    niemU-rs    '  m 

whenever   this    niav    Im*   ..ip;,!.).- 
njent." 


..^Ii- 


1  lie  work  of  Governor  i  lu<Ij{C!i  and  Wanlcn 
P.otkin  at  the  Kansas  State  I'cnitentbry,  is  with 
persons  of  more  advanced  age  than  that  in  ccmi- 
nection  with  the  Boys'  t  uuri  at  Chicago  and  in 
the  work  in  Kansas  ilw-  1 .1«.r-,f,.f  v  j^j^.^  i^^j, 
broatlened. 

In  that  prison,  recently,  out  of  thirty-eight 
prisoners  who  aske<l  to  be  [Kiroled  only  six  were 
found  to  be  mentally  normal  for  their  ages; 
four  were  slightly  below  normal,  and  twenty- 
eight  men  and  women  between  the  ages  of 
twenty-three  and  fifty-eight  were  found  by  the 
tests  to  compare  in  mental  attainments  with 
normal  children  of  from  seven  to  twelve  year* 
of  age.  These  tests  were  made  to  ascertain  what 
were  the  applicants'  probable  chances  of  nuking 
good,  in  the  event  that  the  paroles  were  grantetl. 
The  purjMDse  of  this  investigation  was  therefore 
different  from  that  in  Chicago  where  tests  are 
made  to  ascertain  if  the  persons  under  con.sidera- 
tion  are  mentally  and  morally  res|K)nsible  for  the 
offenses  which  they  have  committc<I. 

The  Kansas  examination  determined  that  alxjut 
two-thirds  of  those  who  had  asketl  for  parole 
were  defectives.  Governor  Hodges  says  of  these 
defectives  : 

"These  men  and  women  can  Iw  easily  M  into 
trouble  again.  They  have  little  sense  of  right 
and  wrong.  They  assume  tov  ••"'  •••••■  ■■ 'vi 
befriends  them  an  attitu<le  of  .  e 

and  accept  the  instnictions  of  this  person  with- 
out question.  I-et  them  out  of  the  prisoti  and 
they  are  up  against  an  une(]nal  fijjht  with  the 
world  and  the  human  iackals  sri/r  tlicin  lo  do 
their  dirty   work  " 

o 

L'nder  the  caption,  "An  I  niouched  Work,"  the 
Milwaukee  Journal  says: 

"Kansas  is  ix:rformi»'g  a  pioneer  service  in 
inaugurating  the  system  which  asks  what  a 
prisoner's  mental  status  is  and  how.  if  defective, 
it  may  be  improve<l.  (^thcr  states  will  watch 
the  results  with  interest." 


486 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Speaking  especially  of  the  more  defective  per- 
sons committed  to  prisons.  Governor  Hodges 
says: 

"They  do  not  reform,  and  they  seldom  improve 
their  condition  so  that  they  have  a  better  chance 
to  make  good  than  before  they  were  sent  here. 
^J'he  prison  is  not  the  place  for  them, 
they  need  de\elopment  and  contact  with  other 
men  and  women  to  improve  their  mental  and 
moral  condition." 

A  study  of  prisoners'  deficiencies  is  valuable 
to  the  extent  that  it  discloses  the  way  in  which 
a  person's  failings  can  be  overcome. 

The  period  of  imprisonment  can  be  made,  not 
only  a  period  in  which  a  prisoner's  defects  are 
studied,  but  also  a  period  in  which  his  virtues 
will  be  tried. 


The  new  policy  of  prisons,  the  classification  of 
l)risoners  and  the  attempts  at  making  life  in 
prison  as  nearly  normal  as  it  can  be  made  in 
such  institutions,  is  a  policy  of  trying  virtues  and 
building  good  in  men  and  women. 

In  many  cases  the  prisoners  are  for  pastime 
permitted  to  play  games  in  their  cells,  are  having 
daily  periods  of  recreation  where  they  are  per- 
mitted to  indulge  in  all  sorts  of  sports,  including 
match  ball  games.  They  have  their  own  brass 
bands  with  band  music  at  their  meals ;  occasion- 
ally life  is  brightened  by  a  vaudeville  perform- 
ance rendered  by  outside  talent;  debates  among 
themselves  are  permitted ;  holidays  are  properly 
celebrated.  In  some  prisons  the  inmates  sleep  in 
doimitories  instead  of  in  cells.  Many  prisoners 
are  permitted  to  work  on  farms  or  on  roads 
far  away  from  the  prison,  where  in  the  evening 
the  men  sit  around  their  door  step  and  smoke, 
visit,  tell  stories,  sing  songs  and  listen  to  the 
music  of  the  phonograph,  and  among  them  are 
many  long  term  and  lifetime  men.  In  a  few 
instances  nominal  wages  are  paid  and  in  some 
extreme  cases  men  have  been  permitted  to  go 
home  to  visit  those  who  were  seriously  ill,  and 
to  attend  funerals.  There  are  recent  cases  on 
record  where  prisoners  were  permitted  to  go 
home  and  gather  their  harvests  in  order  that  their 
dependents  might  thereby  be  supported.  In  most 
of  the  prisons  striped  prison  uniforms  have  been 
discarded  for  uniforms,  which,  while  distinctive, 
do  not  cry  out  loud  of  degradation. 


in  some  of  the  penitentiaries  the  inmates  hold 
meetings  regularly  at  which  they  discuss  ques- 
tions and  make  recommendations,  and  in  a  few 
of  the  prisons  organizations  of  the  men  have 
been  permitted  to  discipline  some  of  their  mem- 
bers for  violations  of  prison  rules.  Most  of  the 
prisons  have  good  libraries  and  permit  the  in- 
mates to  receive  magazines  and  daily  papers. 
Nearly  all  of  them  have  intramural  schools  ot 
their  own,  and  in  some  prisons  university  corre- 
spondence courses  are  allowed.  The  prison  press 
is  becoming  more  general  and  with  the  advance 
of  prison  reform  measures  greater  latitude  is 
being  allowed  the   editors. 

These  various  opportunities  are  becoming  more 
and  more  possible  in  nearly  all  prisons.  The 
constructive  power  and  value  of  the  tendencies 
toward  normal  conditions  in  prisons  is  becoming 
known. 


No  policies,  no  rules  or  regulations  can  be 
serviceable  in  promoting  normal  life  for  people 
who  are  in  prisons,  which  are  not  of  value  to  per- 
sons who  are  outside  of  prisons. 

The  problem  in  prisons  is  this :  So  to  adapt 
a  system  of  greater  freedom  to  a  system  of  in- 
telligent discipline  that  that  zvhich  is  good  in 
prisoners  may  have  free  and  open  way  to  grow 
and  to  perfect  itself  and  that  that  which  is  evil 
in  them  may  be  restrained  as  fully  as  possible. 

Individuals  have  frequently  been  held  respon- 
sible for  acts  for  which  they  were  not  alone 
responsible.  Nature,  which  has  limited  the  per- 
son's development  and  left  him  a  moron  or  a 
cretin,  is  also  responsible. 

In  undertaking  through  the  courts  and  in 
prisons  to  care  for  the  social  good,  man's  oflfences 
only  have  been  dealt  with;  and  where  there  is 
an  ofifense  the  man's  virtues  and  possibilities 
have  been  ignored.  The  old  method  of  prisons 
was  punishment.  The  new  method  is  to  awaken 
the  man's  honor.  The  whole  principle  of  punish- 
ment is  that  the  wrong  in  man  shall  be  repressed ; 
the  whole  principle  of  the  honor  system  is  that 
the  good  in  man  shall  be  encouraged. 

The  cause  of  crime  does  not  lie  wholly  in  man's 
defects ;  it  is  also  in  the  man's  zuant  of  a  knowl- 
edge of  how  practically  to  live  the  good  that  is 
in  him. 


October   1.   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


4K7 


In   the   prisDii   prublcm,  society   is  confronteil 
wilh  a  deplorable  situation.     Law  breakers  are 
committed    for   terms   of   years.      At  the   expir- 
ation of  their  terms,  they  are  frecjuently  released 
without  any  consideration  of  their  ability  to  take 
care  of  themselves  anil  to  refrain  from  crime  in 
the  future.     The  released  prisoner  goes  (nil   l<> 
meet  the  public  and  finds  a  thougiit  in  the  public 
mind  about  his  having  been  in  prison,  which  to 
the  public. seems  to  be  a  stain  upon  the  man.    Also 
society  has  put  upon  the  man  the  name  of  "con- 
vict,"   which,    when    the    man    is    discharged,    it 
continues  to  use  to  indicate  that  he  is  something 
unwholesome,    something   to   be   shunned.      The 
press  and   other  agencies   keej)  the   opprobrium 
alive  and  business  men  close  their  places  against 
him.     Recognized  and  helped  in  i)rison  because 
of  the  purpose  there  is  in  him,  he  finds  uj)on  his 
release,  no  honor  system  outside  to  welcome  him  ; 
"no  better  chance"   after  he  leaves  the  prison, 
says   Governor   Hodges,   "than   before   he   went 
there."    He  goes  out  with  the  mark  of  the  prison 
in  the  kind  of  clothing  that  is  given  to  him ;  he 
has  money  to  sustain  him   only  about  a   week. 
Not  the  general  public  only,  but  the  police  are 
suspicious  of  him ;  he  is  suspected  of  any  crime 
which  is  committed  in  a  vicinity  in  which  he  may 
be  found.     Backing  up  the  police  in  the  oUlest 
alibi  of  incompetent  officers,  the  newspai)ers  re- 
peatedly declare  that  the  "annual  crop  of  holdups 
and  burglaries  are  due  to  the  discharging  of  the 
output  of  the  penitentiaries    of    half    a    dozen 
states  into  this  community." 

"The  result  of  all  this  is,"  says  the  Milwaukee 
JouDwl.  that  "our  prisons  are  filled  with  're- 
peaters,' men  and  women  who  have  served  term 
upon  term  all  over  the  country.  When  they  are 
released,  the  warden  confidently  expects  to  have 
them  back  in  a  short  time  or  to  hear  of  their 
being  sentenced  to  some  other  prison.  The  record 
of  a  person  who  has  deliberately  committed  a 
crime  of  violence  ends:  'He  has  served  a  num- 
ber of  terms  in  prison.'  " 

The  Journal  then  makes  the  following  com- 
ment : 

"The  cause  of  this  deplorable  situation  is  our 
failure  to  find  out  the  reason  for  crime.  That 
a  man  may  be  a  criminal  because  he  is  subnormal 
has  not  concerned  us  very  much.  We  have  con- 
tented ourselves  with  putting  him  in  jail,  releas- 
ing him,  and  putting  him  back  in  prison  for  some 


other  offense.  'V\\c  stupidity  and  cruelly  of  this 
inetliod  is  jusl  iK-ginning  to  dawn  on  us." 

riie  hoiK*  of  the  present  day  for  a  solution  of 
the  prison  problem,  is  in  society's  acknowledg- 
ment of  its  "failure  to  find  out  the  reason  for 
crime"  and  in  its  recognition  of  the  ">tupi<lity 
and  cruelty"  of  the  present  n)etho<i  of  court  pro- 
ce<lure  ami  administration. 

i  'r    I  .ichlenberger  .^ys : 

"\\  iih  the  scientific  metho<|  applied  to  crime, 
as  it  has  been  ajiplied  to  medicine,  biology,  a«- 
ironomy,  minerak^g),  and  so  on,  the  case  of  the 
criminal  Ix-gins  to  look  hoiKrful.  NN'c  find  out 
what  sort  of  a  man  the  criminal  is  and  treat  him 
accordingly,  with  the  hojic  of  curing  him." 

Robert  H.  (iault,  associate  professor  of 
psycholog)',  Northwesteni  University,  and  editor 
I  if  the  Journal  of  the  AmerUan  InstUute  of 
i  rimituil  Late  and  Criminology,  in  s|)caktng  of 
laboratory  work  in  connection  with  the  criminal 
court,  says: 

"Few  delinquent   youths  can  hold  a   job   for 
more  than  a  limited  number  of  days  or  w< 
Those  who  hold  on  longer     •  "  "         i 

nid  are  the  firs*  to  Ix*  laid  (>:; :...  r 

adopts  a  policy  of  retrenchment.    The  ri  f 

this  world  test,  as  an  index  of  mental  qu 
cannot  be  expresse<l   in  quantitative  tcnn>      It 
is  a  valid  test  for  all  that." 

Professor  (iauh  uses  the  term  "world  test" 
as  a  name  for  trying  a  jK'rson  out  to  sec  what  he 
is  actually  able  to  do.  Professor  (Iault  stales 
that  the  managers  of  the  New  York  reforma- 
tories, in  a  study  of  one  hundred  successive  ca»c> 
I  failure  on  jwrole,  find  that  the  young  men 
fail  to  meet  the  contlitions  of  jwrole  because  they 
do  not  hold  their  jobs.  Dr.  Hick.M>n.  who  nukes 
the  reformator>'  rei)ort,  refers  to  simibr  reports 
received  from  stnial  workers.  "Commercial  es- 
tablishments are.  with  good  sense."  ttjrt  Pro- 
fessor Tiault,  "casting  about  for  reliable  means 
by  which  morons  may  be  sifted  out  from  the 
group  of  applicants  for  situations  in  their 
houses.  •  He  then  says,  "Wc  allow  unemployed 
youths  iK'tween  the  ages  of  fourteen  to  sixteen 
to  remain  out  of  school  and  lead  liven  of  idleness 
in  the  street.  It  is  altogether  probable  that  much 
of  what  apjK'ars  as  moronity  at  the  ch-  '  ti- 
ical  age  of  twenty  is  traceable  to  inexcu 
I  iai  neglect." 


() 


488 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


The  youthful  morons  of  today  will  be  the  crim- 
inal inmates  of  a  penitentiary  tomorrow.  The 
prisoners  of  today  were  the  morons  of  yester- 
day. 

It  will  be  a  great  advance  from  what  prisons 
have  been  to  make  them  laboratories  for  the  study 
of  delinquency  and  this  would  naturally  be  fol- 
lowed by  prison  administrative  methods  best  cal- 
culated to  bring  about  reformation. 

The  value  of  penal  institutions  in  the  future  is 
to  be  in  making  them  social  centers  for  labora- 
tory study ;  for  the  study  of  man's  lower  nature, 
of  his  defects,  and  also  for  the  study  of  his  higher 
nature,  his  potential  virtue  and  truth,  his  possible 
constructive  thought  and  power. 


Reformatories  have,  therefore,  been  mainly 
places  of  restraint  and  punishment  instead  of 
being  also  places  of  encouragement,  character 
building  and  constructive  life. 

It  is  natural  enough  that  "the  worst  delin- 
quents come  from  the  industrial  schools  and  re- 
formatories." Reformatories  hitherto  have  in 
no  way  replaced  the  evil  tendencies  in  the  boys, 
with  good  tendencies.  Being  subject,  in  the  first 
place,  to  the  lower  or  perverse  instincts,  the  boys 
are  thrown  together  in  a  mass  under  conditions 
which  make  it  most  natural  for  them  to  continue 
to  live  out  these  instincts.  Wrong  impulses  and 
]iurposes  grow  in  each  because  each  learns  from 
all  the  others  all  tlie  evil  that  all  know. 


A  Change  in  the  Reformatory  Product 

Dr.  Charles  Goring,  the  English  criminologist, 
author  of  "The  English  Convict,"  is  quoted  as 
saying  that  "the  worst  delinquents  come  from 
the  industrial  schools  and  reformatories." 

With  this  verdict  of  Dr.  Goring's  long  experi- 
ence in  mind,  it  is  well  to  take  particular  note 
of  the  new  policy  of  management  that  has  been 
introduced  in  the  Illinois  State  Reformatory  by 
\\'.  C.  Graves,  superintendent. 

In  the  special  article  in  this  issue  of  The 
JoLiET  Prison  Post,  the  policy  which  Superin- 
tendent Graves  has  introduced  is  explained  and 
tlie  results  of  the  policy  thus  far  is  told. 

Superintendent  Graves  is  demonstrating  what 
the  Illinois  honor  system  will  do  in  any  one  of 
the  state  reformatory  institutions  where  it  will 
be  tried.  Mr.  O.  J.  Milliken,  who  now  has 
charge  of  the  John  ^\^orthy  School  and  v;ho  is 
making  preparation  to  take  all  of  the  boys  to 
the  country  on  a  farm,  is  also  introducing  into 
his  work  the  principles  of  the  honor  system. 

In  simple  terms  the  honor  system  is  only  this : 
the  administration  deals  with  the  boys  (or  with 
the  men,  if  the  institution  be  a  prison  such  as 
this)  on  the  basis  of  the  good  that  is  in  them; 
they  are  no  longer  dealt  with  only  on  the  ground 
of  the  wrong  that  is  in  them. 

Hitherto,  reformatories  have  sought  to  repress 
the  wrong  in  their  inmates  and  have  left  the 
good  to  take  care  of  itself  on  the  supposition, 
generally  accepted  everywhere,  that  the  good 
needs  no  supervision. 


Under  the  honor  system,  good  is  made  effect- 
ive instead  of  evil  being  effective. 

Superintendent  Graves  states  his  new  policy 
in  these  words : 

"We  are  freeing  the  boys'  higher  purposes 
by  a  system  of  treatment  which  makes  them  feel 
that  it  is  worth  while  to  make  something  of 
themselves ;  by  a  system  of  treatment  which 
makes  them  realize  that  society  has  an  interest 
in  their  welfare." 

The  change  which  the  honor  system  is  work- 
ing in  reformatory  and  penal  institutions,  is 
fundamental.  The  policy  of  administration  is 
coming  to  be  a  policy  of  construction  instead  of 
a  policy  of  repression. 

People  are  being  taught  how  to  live  a  con- 
structive life  and  to  understand  the  value  of 
living  such  a  life.  As  either  boys  or  men,  girls 
or  women,  learn  this,  punishment  will  not  be 
necessary.  Punishment  is  necessary  only  when 
the  mental  equality  is  so  low  that  the  person  is 
not  able  to  respond  to  a  higher  purpose,  to  an 
ideal.  In  any  case  where  the  person  is  mentally 
and  morally  able  to  see  the  value  of  the  higher 
things,  restraint,  which  brings  the  person  to 
realize  that  evil  ways  cut  him  oft"  from  the  better 
things,  is  all  that  is  necessary. 

Superintendent  Graves  makes  it  clear  to  his 
boys  that  if  they  do  not  master  the  evil  impulses, 
that  if  they  harbor  them  and  act  from  them, 
they  cannot  be  allowed  to  enjoy  the  privileges 
which  his  new  constructive  policy  is  bringing 
forth. 


October  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


4I»9 


This  has  been  surticiciu  to  piu  tlic  rcformalory 
boys  on  an  entirely  dillcrcnt  foundation  from 
that  from  which  they  were  Hving  before. 

Actual  experience  is  showing  that  Superinten- 
dent Graves'  understanding  of  the  laws  of  life 
and  human  development  is  correct.  His  boys 
are  happier;  they  are  doing  more  actual  work- 
in  less  hours;  they  take  a  greater  iiUerest  in 
learning  the  trades ;  they  are  more  orderly  ;  they 
arc  making  a  slight  beginning  in  the  practice  of 
limited   self-go\crnment. 

The  honor  system  is  showing  that  the  iniiaic 
good  in  men  and  women,  and  in  boys  and  girls, 
.should  be  made  the  basis  of  dealing  with  them 
and  that  in  so  far  as  the  wrong  that  is  in  iIkmi 
is  to  be  dealt  with,  it  should  be  dealt  with  in 
view  of  what  is  possible  from  the  good.  If  a 
]>erson  is  shown  the  practicability  and  the  \alue 
of  the  good,  the  good  will  lie  lived  from  the 
l)erson's  own  choice. 

Evil  will  be  found  to  yield  only  obstruction 
or  destruction  ;  constructive  life  comes  only  from 
what  is  true  and  right. 

It  is  easier  to  repress  and  j)unish  than  to  coun- 
sel and  guide,  which  probably  somewhat  account^• 
for  the  v/ay  in  which  reformatories  have  been 
handled. 

But  Superintendent  Graves  has  a  new  light. 
His  nature  asks  that  the  young  men  under  his 
charge  shall  be  made  better.  He  is  taking  up 
his  work  in  the  proj)er  spirit  and  results  show- 
that  he  is  working  in  the  right  way. 

Hoodlum  "Fresh  Fish" 

The  late  arrivals  at  the  prison  are  usually 
the  mischief  makers.  They  do  not  know  the 
hardships  of  the  old-fashioned  discipline.  They 
take  everything  for  granted  and  think  they  are 
entitled  to  all  kind  of  privileges  and  if  spoken 
to  by  an  experienced  pri.soner  when  they 
violate  the  rules,  they  resent  the  interference. 
The  most  offensive  of  the  late  arrivals  are  the 
hoodlums  from  Chicago.  Their  pretentions  are 
usually  in  proportion  to  the  degradation  of 
their  lives  before  they  were  proUKtted  to  and 
found  refuge  in  this  prison.  Those  amongst 
them  who  can  read  might  be  slightly  benefited 
if  they  were  compelled  to  read  every  day  the 
language  of  their  mittimus  which  serves  as  the 


W  ardeii  >  .uuiiuiit^  lui  uicjr  Uclcuiion.  1  hey 
would  tjnd  there  is  nuthiiiK  alH>ut  privileges 
or  recreation  in  their  conuniinicni  \>n\>crs.  \Vc 
earnestly  hoinr  for  the  day  when  the  h«""""tMs 
will  Ix-  kept  by  themscKes  and  ircaUnI  a.  -^ 

to  their  conduct.  One  is  frc<|uently  forccti  to  the 
conclusion  that  it  is  as  wrung  to  Icl  some  men  li\c 
as  it  is  to  inflict  the  death  {Krnally. 

The  Man  Under  the  Brute 

The   Danville,   III.,   Commercial 
the  caption  of  this  editorial,  writes  of  the  |^ 
bilities  of  men  who  have  been  found  to  be  vi- 
tors  of  the  law 

The  Commit  mil  ,\cxcs  cites  the  case  of  Jonas 
Szikely.  a  Hungarian,  who  is  serving  a  life  sen- 
tence for  nuirder  in  the  New  Jersey  slate  prison 

The  man  when  brought  to  pri.son  was  little 
more  than  a  giant  bnite  with  a  ^  -     •    ■ 

ding  countenance  and  uncouth  hauus.  \\  mic 
eating  he  grabl>ed  his  foo<l,  spilling  it  over  his 
clothes.  He  .seemed  to  be  about  as  low  an  order 
as  the  human  family  knows. 

Several  months  ago  it  was  found  that  this  nun 
at  some  time  in  his  life,  received  a  blow  r.n  his 
head  and  that  a  piece  of  lK»ne  was  \  k  ot> 

his  brain.  An  oi)eration  was  perft>nne<l  which 
relieved  the  pressure  The  result  is  a  change  in 
the  character  and  manners  of  Szikely  that  luis  as- 
tonished ever>lKxly  who  has  known  him.  His 
face  has  changed  its  features.  His  expression 
is  now  not  that  of  a  brute;  his  countetuncc  is 
bright,  kindly,  human  and  he  seems  to  have  one 
of  the  gentlest  disiwsitions  in  the  prison.  The 
(juestion  of  the  propriety  of  giving  the  nun  a  par- 
don has  consequently  arisen  and  a  committee  has 
taken  the  matter  in  charge. 

There  was,  it  now  apiK-ars,  ui  Srikcly  .i  hmh 
under  the  bnitc. 


The  Commr'   '"f   W"'  •-■^^ 


h  of  a 

...1   ....1 


"The  <iuestion  at  once  ari>e>,  li 

nan  is  there  mulcr  every  br* 

'cneniv  of  siK-iety'  with  wb< 

It  seems  a  jnty,  if  there  is  in  every  case  sonv 

such  concealed  iH*r»on,  that  he  is  not  as  e:i  :!\ 

brought  to  the  front  as  in  this  in":'  " 

the  vast  majority  of  cases  we  do  n< 

the  'j)re.s.sure'  that  hoMs  the  real  man  from  mani 

fcstation,  is  exerte<l." 


I'.IO 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


The  Commercial  News  thinks  it  may  not  be 
practicable  to  bring  out  into  expression  right 
away  in  every  person  the  real  man  who  is  made 
in  the  image  and  likeness  of  his  Creator,  but  since 
real  manhood  is  there  under  the  brute,  the  faith 
is  expressed  that  the  time  will  come  when  the 
way  of  dissolving  the  evil  in  man  and  of  bring- 
ing his  full  good  to  the  surface,  will  be  known : 

"We  may  know  more  about  such  problems  as 
the  ages  advance.  In  the  meantime  it  is  safe 
to  assume  that  the  man  is  there,  no  matter  what 
the  brute  appearance,  and  that  he  is  our  brother. 
The  thought  of  late  years  is  not  to  punish  the 
brute,  but  to  pull  the  real  man  out  of  the  bad 
hole  he  is  in." 


The  practical  fact  of  life  is  that  no  man,  be  he 
however  uncouth,  untamed  or  brutal,  lives  upon 
the  brute  that  is  in  him.     It  is  the  man  that  is 
under  the  brute  that  sustains  us  all  and  without 
this  inner  reality  of  life  none  of  us  could  endure. 
Men  are  com.mitted  to  prisons  by  society  which 
wishes  to  restrain  such  men  and  which  is  willing 
that  the  men  shall  become  better.     All  the  time 
these  men  are  incarcerated,  it  is  the  virtue  that 
is  in  them  that  keeps  them  up:  their  interest  in 
their  family  and  friends,  their  friends'  and  their 
family's  interest  in  the  support  of  them,  their 
hope  of  what  they  wish  yet  to  accomplish,  their 
belief  in  their  own  right  to  life.     The  brute  in 
man   has   never  sustained   him  an   hour.     The 
brute  is  no  part  of  any  man's  real  life.     The 
brute  is  only  the  z^'ant  of  the  true  man.     If  a 
person  awakens  to  his  real  life,  to  the  life  that 
God  has  given  him,  as  distinct  from  the  brutish 
life  that  his  selfishness  and  his  meanness  prompt, 
he,  of  his  own  choice,  will  disregard  the  brute 
life  which  comes  only  from  an  ignorance  of  the 
real  and  true  order  of  things.     No  person  who 
has  become  able  to  see  the  true  way  and  who 
has  become  able  also  to  desire  the  true  way,  con- 
tinues purposely  in  the   ways  that  are  wrong. 
Both  his  moral  instincts  and  his  material  advan- 
tage are  against  it. 

The  question  of  crime  is  not  a  question  of 
one's  mental  ability ;  it  is  a  question  of  one's 
mental  quality  and  moral  power,  of  one's  having 
sufficient  character  to  discern  and  to  be  able  to 
live  what  is  true. 


(Jur  sociological  laboratories,  which  are  being 
set  up  in  connection  with  our  courts,  will  go 
far  awry  in  accounting  for  crime  in  the  defect- 
ives that  come  under  their  consideration  if  they 
take  account  only  of  the  arrested  mental  develop- 
ment and  overlook  the  moral  defect  that  comes 
from  the  man's  or  the  woman's  want  of  the  real 
truth  of  his  or  of  her  life. 

What  is  wanted  to  correct  the  social  life  of 
the  world,  is  not  only  charts  and  measures  and 
mental  tests,  but  also  sympathy,  fellowship  and 
real  love  guided  by  a  discernment  of  what  there 
is  in  the  person  that  is  real  and  true  and  to  which 
the  person  can  be  made  to  respond.  Any  person 
who  has  erred,  needs  above  all  things  to  be  helped 
to  live  that  which  his  own  better  nature  prom- 
ises and  is  calling  for.  It  is  not  only  that  a 
person's  defects  must  be  studied  and  eliminated ; 
his  values  also  must  be  studied  and  promoted. 
When  a  man  knows  the  good  that  is  in  him  and 
is  able  to  live  it,  he  will  of  himself  abandon  the 
evil. 

From  the  beginning  the  world  has  almost 
exclusively  kept  to  the  practice  of  dealing  with 
social  offenders  on  the  basis  of  the  wrong  that 
is  in  them.  The  attempt  has  been  made  through 
punishment  to  make  evil  so  undesirable  that  men 
and  women  will  abandon  it.  The  truth  has  been 
overlooked  that  men  and  women  can  abandon 
evil  only  as  the  good  and  the  truth  of  life  come 
into  them,  thus  giving  them  the  power  to  aban- 
don it.  Progress  in  the  world,  growth  in  civili- 
zation, is  not  through  processes  of  volition;  it  is 
through  growth  of  character.  It  is  right  to  re- 
press evil,  but  also  the  good  in  man  must  be 
built  up  in  order  that  the  abandonment  of  evil 
may  be  complete  and  final. 

Our  judicial  system  has  dealt  with  men  and 
women  wholly  on  the  ground  of  their  social 
offenses  and  who  knows  what  violations,  in  ages 
past,  have  been  done  the  character  that  many 
persons  arrested  and  put  through  the  courts 
would  have  gladly  lived  ? 

Society  is  beginning  to  take  into  account  the 
possibilities  of  the  good  in  the  person  who  is 
arrested. 

Dr.  Wm.  Healy,  of  the  pathological  labora- 
tory of  the  juvenile  court  of  Chicago,  has  noted 
that  persons  who  are  defective  in  some  one  thing 


October  1,  1914  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


491 


are  sometimes  efficient  and  valuable  in  something  it  is  reasonable  to  infer  that  those  oflSciaU  tre  Df 
else  and  that  when  that  which  is  valuable  is  lived,  the  opinion  that  it  is  desirable  to  increase  the  life 
that  which  is  undesirable  and  criminal  is  likely  interest  of  prisoners  by  giving  them  diver- 
no  longer  to  appear.     Dr.  Healy  says:  sions  which  from  their  vcr>'  nature  arc  bound 

,<  V  -c       ,    ,         c  ^  £    .-  ,  .  '"  prove  of  great  interest.     Wc  refer  to  several 

"A  significant  class  of  defectives  are  the  mental  •     .  i.  ,  •  ,       , 

defectives,  but  even  among  them  are  found  great  '"^^^"^"  w»^"«  '»'<^  prisoners  of  refonnatoncs 

differences    in    capabilities.      When    we    see    a  *'"*'   P*^"^'   institutions  have  been  pennilted   to 

feeble-minded  burglar   with  great   manual  dex-  V^^Y  matched  games  of  Ixill  with  nines  from  the 

terity,  who  has  had  a  long  criminal  record,  be-  <nitside  and  the  granting  of  games  with  the  pris- 

come  an  honest  laborer  with  country  life,  we  are  oiiers  at  other  prisons.     As  these  further  privi- 

a  little  less  sure  about  many  dicta."  i  •         »   •  .  i      i  ^ 

^  leges  do  not  in  any  way  increase  the  ticncfit* 

The  "higher  justice"  spoken  of  in  these  col-  Tom  the  physical  exercise  it  must  be  that  the 

umns  in  September,  is  merely  the  introduction  of  '»''"  of  the  officials  is  to  influence  the  mental 

goodness;  the  individual  and  social  worth  of  the  condition  of  the  prisoners  by  first  giving  them 

person  accused,  is  taken  into  account.     In  the  •">  interest  in  the  contests  and  secondly  by  crrat- 

past  the  courts  have  been  too  neglectful  of  the  "ig  «i  feeling  of  loyalty  toward  the  institution  in 

person's  larger  life  interest,  too  unmindful  of  which  they  are  confined. 
individual  and  social  rights  and  values.  When  so  radical  a  change  in  prison  adminis- 

Dr.  Healy  continues:  tration  is  sanctioned  by  the  Dcf>artmcnl  of  Jus- 

,,.-.         ...  ,  ,  .  ,  tice  of  the  United  States,  it  seems  that  we  b     • 

Nowadays  it  is  not  the  anarchists  who  are  ,   ,  ...        .       i       •        r   i 

questioning  the  legal  values  in  dealing  with  of-  I»''^^^<^''  ^'^^  P^"°^'  ^^■»^^'"  ^^'  '^'^^'''  «^  '^'^  P^'^"" 

fenders,  but  it  is  some  of  the  most  experienced  betterment  movement  shall  longer  laugh  in  dr 

jurists  who  watch  the  alarming  number  of  of-  rision  thereat,    llelow  we  give  a  list  of  the  garnet 

fenders  repeatedly  sent  back  to  prison.     It  is  a  ^^^^^  ^^^^^  come  to  our  notice. 
remarkable   fact  that   one   may   look  almost   in  .^  ^^j^^^  ^^^^  ^^^  Connecticut  State  Reforma- 

vain  for  jurists  who  study  the  data  of  success  .  r-i     i  •      i       i  -..^  *^  „u«  « 

r  •,  r  ^i;^A  «.„f "  tory  at  Cheshire  has  been  permitted  to  play  a 

or  failure  of  measures  carried  out.  '     -^  ....  ,  v       1 1 

game  with  the  Newhallville  team  of  New  Haven. 

As  the  method  of  criminal  jurisprudence  be-  ^„other  game  on  the  same  diamond  was  played 

comes  constructive  as  well  as  being  repressive  ^^.j^,^  ^j^^.   Waterbury,  Connecticut,  jwlicc  team, 

and  punitive,  there  will  be  a  great  change  in  the  ^^^^j  ^^^^^  ^.^jj,  jj„o,i^er  with  the  Rejwrtcrs  bascUill 

social  value  of  the  criminal  courts.     In  helping  ^^..^^^  ^^   Waterbury,  Connecticut.     The   fourth 

to  build  the  good  in  men,  as  well  as  serving  to  ^^^^^  ^^^  permitted  with  a  picked  nine  of  ball 

repress  the   evil,   they  will  aid  in  permanently  ,,i.iyers  from  Cheshire.    All  of  these  games  were 

doing  away  with  the  evil  and  recidivists,  the  men  ^  ^^^.^^^  ^^  ^^^  refomiatory  field. 
and  women  who  are  returned  to  prison  time  and  '^^  ^^^  ^^^.^^  I>cnitentiary  at  Columbus  a  match 

again,    will   become    less   and    less.     When   the  ^^^^^  ^^  ^^^^  ^^,^^  permitted  between  the   I-cd- 

building  of  the  good  in  man  is  given  its  proper  ^^^^^  ^^  ^j^^  jjcnitentiary  and   the   Indianapolis 

consideration,  crime  and  other  evils  will  begin  |  jj^j^^j^.^s. 

to  disappear.  I  j,^.  ^^11  players  of  the  United  States  Pcni- 

^     ^  tentiary  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  recently  played  a 

matched  game  of  ball  with  the  Atlanta  College 
Inter-Prison  Ball  Games  I'hannacy  nine.  At  that  prison  on  seven  con- 
Athletics  is  coming  to  be  an  important  part  of  secutive  Sundays  the  inmates  have  enjojxil  the 
the  bettemient  work  in  reformatory  and  penal  privilege  of  recreation  and  exercise  in  the  yard 
institutions.  At  many  prisons  it  has  been  found  without  a  single  rcjiort  or  even  the  slightest  vio- 
that  athletics  help  to  make  the  men  normal,  that  lation  of  the  rules.  .  ,  ,, 
they  gain  in  health,  and  that  they  become  more  The  Minnesota  State  Refonna.orv  baseball 
orderly.  In  a  very  limited  number  of  prisons  team  has  playe<l  several  match  game s  with  a 
and  reformatories  the  officials  have  seen  fit  to  visiting  team  from  St.  CloudMinneso.a.  Tlie 
go  even   further  and   from  what  has  happened  Minnesota  State  Penitentiary  has  plavr-l  a  game 


492 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


with  the  Simonets,  a  baseball  nine  from  Still- 
water, and  on  Labor  Day  the  penitentiary  boys 
played  a  nine  from  Hinkley,  Minn. 

The  state  penitentiary  at  Lansing,  Kansas,  has 
done  something  more  than  the  other  institutions 
which  have  only  played  outside  teams  on  the 
home  grounds.  The  Lansing  penitentiary  has 
sent  its  team  on  three  different  occasions  to  play 
baseball  at  the  United  States  Penitentiary  at 
Leavenworth,  and  on  these  occasions  the  prison 
band  was  permitted  to  accompany  the  ball  team. 
In  this  band  were  seven  life  termers  and  eight 
men  having  more  than  ten  years'  time  to  serve 
under  their  sentences. 

Our  observations  of  the  attitude  of  the  press 
of  the  United  States  towards  these  innovations 
warrants  us  in  making  the  statement  that  they 
have   almost  unanimous   endorsement. 


extra,"  a  quarto,  in  which  the  games  are  writ- 
ten up  with  a  facile  and  understanding  pen. 
The  Chronicle's  sporting  editor,  and  its  editor- 
in-chief,  are  of  the  right  sort.  The  Chron- 
icle recently  made  a  request  for  suggestions 
for  an  appropriate  motto.  Many  responses 
came  and  the  following  sentiment  submitted 
by  an  inmate  of  the  reformatory  was  adopted : 
"Devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  reforma- 
tory, 'with  malice  towards  none  and  charity 
for  all.'  " 


NEWS  NARRATIVE 


LOCAL 


EDITOR'S  COLUMN 

We  invite  communications  from  the  men, 
but  we  wish  to  ask  each  to  write  in  a  single 
communication  on  one  idea  only.  If  you  have 
more  than  one  thought  you  wish  to  develop, 
write  on  each  thought  separately  and  at  dif- 
ferent times.  In  this  way  you  will  be  able  to 
make  what  you  have  to  say  more  clear  to  other 
men.  A  mingling  of  ideas  makes  the  commu- 
nication confusing  to  the  reader.  If  you  wish 
to  write  about  going  to  the  farm  or  to  a  road 
camp,  write  on  that  subject  only.  Do  not  mix 
what  you  have  to  say  about  the  farm  or  camps 
with  something  about  bringing  up  children  or 
about  the  prosecution  methods  of  the  state's 
attorney  or  the  unjust  attitude  which  you 
think  you  see  in  the  city  police.  If  the  men 
will  send  in  their  thoughts,  but  about  only 
one  thing  at  a  time,  they  will  be  able  to  help 
the  prison  betterment  movement  greatly. 

We  are  particularly  attracted  to  the  Septem- 
ber issue  of  the  Chronicle,  published  at  the 
Connecticut  reformatory.  The  Chronicle  is  of 
neat  appearance.  It  is  well  edited  and  we  find 
it  has  the  moral  strength  to  say  what  needs  to 
be  said  while,  at  the  same  time,  it  shows  a  com- 
mendable kindness  for  the  men  whom  it  must 
criticise.     The  September  issue  is  "a  base  ball 


CHRISTMAS  SHIP  TO  EUROPE 

The  Chicago  Herald  is  making  preparation  to 
send  a  Christmas  ship  to  Europe  which  shall 
carry  to  the  children  of  that  devastated  land 
toys  from  the  children  of  this  prosperous  and 
happy  country. 

Some  men  in  this  institution  saw  the  an- 
nouncement and  finally  the  following  telegram 
was  sent  to  the  Herald: 

"The  honor  men  at  the  Joliet  prison  will  do 
their  share  toward  loading  down  your  ship. 
While  we  have  no  money  to  spend  for  supplies, 
we  can  manufacture  toys  and  novelties  during 
our  spare  time.  The  kiddies  of  Europe  will 
hear  from  Warden  Allen's  men  through  the  op- 
portunity you  have  made.  Yours  very  truly. 
Committee  of  the  Prisoners.'' 

Mr.  James  Keely,  editor  of  the  Herald,  im- 
mediately sent  the  following  reply  to  Warden 
Allen : 

"Your  men  offered  to  aid  Christmas  ship. 
Most  splendid  exemplification  of  the  brother- 
hood of  man.  It  brightened  our  day.  It  must 
have  brightened  the  day  for  the  men  to  offer  it. 
War-saddened  Europe  will  be  comforted  for 
many  days  and  wherever  men  read  of  your 
men's  spontaneous  generosity  they  will  be  made 
better  for  it.  Please  thank  them  for  the  children 
of  Europe." 

The  Sunday  Herald,  September  13,  made  the 
following  comment  on  the  offer  the  men  here 
have  made : 

"  'The  kiddies  of  Europe  will  hear  from  War- 
den Allen's  men.' 


October   1.   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


49^ 


"This   was   the   message    from   Jolici   pcimoii 
tiary  to  the  Herald  yesterday. 

"In  it  is  condensed  the  whole  philosophy  of 
the  brotherhood  of  man. 

"  'Tlie  kiddies  of  Europe  will  hear  from  War- 
den Allen's  men.' 

"The  message  contains  no  reference  to  the 
fact  that  'Warden  Allen's  men'  are  locked  up 
in  a  great  prison  because  they  have  done  wicked 
things. 

"Prison  walls  vanish  before  such  a  message, 
just  as  they  did  when  the  Warden  put  his  men 
on  their  honor  not  to  run  away  and  let  them 
go  out  into  the  sunshine  to  work  as   free  men. 

"It  is  this  group  of  men — 'honor  men' — in 
the  great,  gray,  grim  institution  that  has  asked 
to  put  its  gifts  of  love  on  the  decks  of  the  Christ- 
mas ship,  that  suffering  little  children,  shivering 
in  the  bullet-raining  clouds  of  Euro])e's  war, 
may  find  comfort  in  the  sunshine  of  love  and 
friendship  sent  across  the  sea. 

"  'The  kiddies  of  Europe  will  hear  from  War- 
den Allen's  men.' 

"The  message  that  will  go  to  the  kiddies  of 
Europe  will  be  in  the  form  of  toys  and  novel- 
ties shaped  in  otherwise  dreary  hours  by  pa- 
tient hands  that  will  work  clumsily,  painfully, 
but  happily,  because  they  will  be  in  the  service 
of  hurhankind. 

"A  shaft  of  sunlight  will  fill  war-shadowed 
hearts  with  comfort  and  cheer  at  the  Christmas 
time,  when  only  gray  skies  were  expected. 

'Stone  walls  do  not  a  prison  make, 
Nor  iron  bars  a  cage.' 

"Thus  wrote  Richard  Lovelace  nearly  300 
years  ago. 

"The  stone  walls  of  Joliet  have  not  impris- 
oned the  generosity,  humanity  and  common  fel- 
lowship of  the  men  held  there. 

"  'They've  olTcred  to  use  their  own  time  to 
make  the  little  presents  for  the  Christmas  ship.' 
said  Mr.  Allen.  'I'm  going  to  give  them  a  little 
extra  time  for  it.  They're  as  happy  over  it  as 
the  children  will  be  to  get  the  toys.'  " 

The  men  here  will  soon  begin  to  make  the 
gifts  which  they  are  to  add  to  the  heart  treasure 
which  the  Herald  Christmas  ship  is  to  take 
across  the  sea.  Next  Christmas  will  be  one  of 
the  happiest  that  this  community  has  known. 
Who  can  say  how  much  good  will  come  from 
the  Christmas  gifts,  come  to  the  children  to 
whom  they  are  given,  to  the  men  who  create 
and  send  them  and  to  the  people  of  the  country 
who  see  these  gifts  from  the  prison  men  to  the 
stricken  of  sorrowful  Europe? 


AN  IMPORTANT  SUNDAY  SERViLli 

Jui>t  as  our  September  issue  had  gone  to 
press,  a  chapel  service  was  held  the  last  Sun- 
day in  August  which  was  of  particular  worth. 

Three  ministers  were  i  '  :  Rev.  Charles 

M.  Brown,  pastor  First  i  icsi'ytcrian  Oiurch, 
of  Joliet,  Illinois;  Rev.  Charles  H.  Johnson, 
pastor  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  River 
Forest,  Illinois;  and  Rev.  Everett  K.  Hudson, 
pastor  First  Methodist  Church,  of  Mason, 
Illinois, 

Kcv.  Mr.  Brown  offered  the  opening  prayer; 
Rev.  Mr.  Hudson  delivered  the  sermon.  A 
number  of  ladies  were  among  the  visitors. 

Our  own  men  did  particularly  well.  A  spe- 
cial chorus  by  the  choir,  "Far  Away  in  the 
South";  a  solo,  "Everybo<ly  Loves  My  Girl," 
by  Samuel  Goldstein;  a  solo,  "I  Never  Heard 
of  Anybody's  Dying  from  Kissing.  Hid  You?" 
by  Lawrence  Wade,  completed  the  pr- ■•"•v 

Wade  is  a  negro  and  one  of  the  most  ,  ...  mg 
of  tlr.s  community's  entertainers.  He  has  a  jovial, 
rollicking  manner;  a  waggish  way.  He  is  a 
natural  comedian  whose  repertoire  in  ex- 
pression is  mostly  in  facial  grimaces.  He 
does  not  make  a  clear  appeal  to  the  higher 
senses  and  neither  does  he  offend  them.  He 
just  pleases  everybody.  He  is  original,  inimi- 
table and  versatile  in  his  way. 

Dres.sed  in  his  full  white  uniform,  his  dark 
features,  shining  eyes  and  upright  figure,  with 
his  marked  and  expressive  walk  onto  the  stage, 
tell  the  auditors  at  once  that  something  " "^ 
ticularly  amusing  is  to  come. 

When  W^dc  closed  his  solo,  he  was  recalled. 
He  came  and  gave  a  new  song.  He  was  re- 
called again.  This  time  he  repeated.  Still  he 
was  cheered. 

Hie  public  will  understand  the  propriety  of 
some  entertainment  such  as  this  and  of  some 
songs  of  sentiment,  as  a  part  of  the  Sunday 

service. 

It  interests  the  imn  .md  gives  them  a  little 
,,f  the  lighter  side  i.f  life.  In  no  way  does  it 
put  aside  the  sacredncss  of  the  service.  When 
the  bible  reading  and  the  sermon  comes,  the 
men  give  attention  and  many  men— despite 
their  errors— love  the  truth  that  is  sung  and 
spoken.  Very  many  loved  the  words  that 
were  spoken  on  this  particular  day.     Possibly 


494 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


no  speaker  in  the  past  year  has  reached  the 
hearts  of  more  men  than  did  Rev.  Mr.  Hud- 
son in  his  wholesome,  honest  sermon.  He 
had  a  sympathy  for  the  men  and  that  sym- 
pathy, illumined  with  the  light  which  comes 
from  a  real  spiritual  awakening,  made  his 
words  and  his  own  life  a  power,  even  as  he 

spoke. 

Rev.  Mr.  Hudson's  first  words  were:  "I  con- 
sider it  a  great  favor,  fellows,  to  be  here." 
That  was  a  true  note,  a  cordial  word  and  the 
men  began  to  yield  right  there.  "I  am  stand- 
ing here  and  I  am  looking  down  into  your 
faces.     Men,  we  are  brothers." 

Then  came  a  touch  of  the  story  of  the  young 
man  who  went  away  with  his  portion  to  fol- 
low his  own  will. 

"If  the  man  had  only  listened  to  the  words 
of  his  mother  or  his  friends."  But  somehow 
each  man  knew  that  it  was  of  him  that  Rev. 
Mr.  Hudson  was  speaking;  and  the  men 
wanted  it  so. 

Then  came  the  secret. 

"I  have  been  preaching  only  three  years.  I 
know  what  it  is  to  be  down  and  out.  I  have 
seen  men  standing  around ;  I  have  done  it  my- 
self. I  was  so  low  down  underneath  all  that 
I  could  not  reach  up  to  the  bottom." 

But  all  this  is  known  of  Rev.  Mr.  Hudson, 
only  from  his  telling  it  and  from  his  real  and 
deep  human  interest  in  other  men ;  an  interest 
such  as  can  come  only  from  experience;  from 
spiritual  awakening  and  from  an  inner  percep- 
tion of  the  unity  of  mankind.  A  man  of  fine 
form,  kindly  features  and  frank  countenance; 
the  word  "fellows"  continually  coming  up  all 
through  the  address. 

No  mere  story  teller  to  play  upon  one's  sym- 
pathy; a  real  living  story  from  his  own  life  of 
the  power  of  a  mother's  love — his  own  mother's 
love  for  him — and  of  earnest  and  loving  prayer 
to  save  a  boy  from  physical  disaster;  an  ac- 
tual conversion  later  on — delayed,  but  still  his 
heart  promise,  made  in  the  moment  of  life 
peril,  made  good.  "I  wired  my  old  mother  the 
night  of  the  conversion."  What  words  were 
these  when  so  told ! 

"I  came  here,"  said  Rev.  Mr.  Hudson,  in 
closing  his  address,  "to  see  a  man  whom  I 
know  and  to  take  back  a  word  to  his  waiting 
wife.     I  am  glad  I  came." 


The  men  had  listened  to  a  true  human  appeal    I 
for  a  recognition  and  an  obedience  to  the  eter-     l 
nal,   indwelling   Christ;   a   passionate,   human 
solicitation. 

Usually  the  men  here  cheer  at  the  close  of  a 
favored  sermon,  as  they  cheer  the  favored 
numbers  of  the  entertainment.  When  the 
cheering  began,  a  hush  was  breathed  from  the 
lips  of  the  thousand  and  a  half  of  men.  The 
cheer  ceased.  Nothing  that  the  men  could 
have  done  here  could  be  a  higher  tribute  to 
the  sacredness  with  which  the  sermon  was  re- 
ceived. 

Rev.  Mr.  Hudson  said  after  the  service  that 
he  had  once  come  near  to  the  possibility  of 
being  chaplain  here. 

As  the  lines  marched  out  of  the  chapel,  a 
young  man  waited  to  see  and  talk  with  Rev. 
Mr.  Hudson.     Finally,  the  young  man  went. 

The  minister  looked  after  him  as  he  made 
his  way  down  the  aisle.  "I  know  that  boy; 
he  used  to  work  for  me,  but  I  did  not  know 
that  he  was  here."  And  his  look  lingered  as 
the  man  he  knew  passed  on  out  of  the  chapel 
door,  down  the  stairs  and  along  the  outer  walk 
— the  walk  for  the  prisoners — and  back  to  his 
stone  and  iron  cell. 


ITEMS  FROM  CAMP  DUNNE 

The  men  at  Camp  Dunne,  which  was  recently 
moved  from  Ottawa,  111.,  to  Mokena,  111.,  are 
well  pleased  wdth  the  new  site.  They  are  now 
encamped  in  an  old  apple  orchard,  the  property 
of  a  gentleman  whose  residence  is  within  a 
stone's  throw  of  the  camp.  The  owner  has  done 
everything  in  his  power  to  make  it  both  com- 
fortable and  pleasant  for  the  men,  lending  the 
lumber  to  floor  the  tents,  and  showing  them  many 
favors  which  have  been  greatly  appreciated. 

During  the  first  week  in  September  about 
one-fourth  of  a  mile  of  rock  was  laid.  Taking 
into  consideration  the  prevalent  bad  weather 
and  also  the  long  hauls  which  are  required,  the 
work  accomplished  up  to  date  is  remarkable. 
On  September  second,  nine  more  men  ar- 
rived from  the  prison,  bringing  the  total  now 
employed  here  up  to  forty-two. 

Fishing  is  about  the  only  recreation,  as  base 
ball  has  been  suspended  for  a  time. 

A  week  before  the  removal  of  the  camp  from 


October  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


495 


Ottawa  to  Mokena,  an  evening  launch  trip  was 
afforded  the  men  through  the  kindness  of  Cap- 
tain Seth  E.  Ballard,  a  resident  of  the  locality, 
and  Mr.  Carl  Munson.  the  superintendent  of  the 
camp,  the  trip  is  thus  described  by  a  member  of 
the  camp: 

"At  5  P.  M..  Captain  Seth  E.  Ballard  called 
for  us  at  the  wharf.  On  our  way  down  stream 
we  passed  the  following  places  of  interest : 
Wild  Cat  Canyon.  Devil's  Pulpit,  Bee  Hive 
Rock.  Kitchen  Canyon,  Gypsy  Island,  Illinois 
Island  and  Lover's  Leap.  The  first  landing 
was  Starved  Rock,  to  the  top  of  which  Cap- 
tain Ballard  guided  us.  From  the  summit 
beautiful  pastoral  scenes  unfolded  to  the  eye. 
Looking  to  the  northwest  we  could  see  Ot- 
tawa in  the  distance.  To  the  southwest,  Utica, 
LaSalle  and  Peru  presented  an  interesting 
panorama. 

"Our  next  visit  was  to  French  Canyon.  After 
following  a  winding  trail  for  some  minutes,  we 
found  ourselves  at  the  swimming  pool,  where 
all  enjoyed  a  cool  drink  of  artesian  water. 
Owing  to  lack  of  time  we  omitted  taking  a 
plunge.  Our  next  point  of  interest  was  the 
dancing  pavilion,  after  which  we  embarked 
for  the  return  trip  to  camp. 

"The  quartette  sang  several  selections  while 
the  boat  was  laboring  up  stream.  Later  re- 
freshments were  served  on  board  by  our  su- 
perintendent, Mr.  Munson,  after  which  there 
was  more  singing  until  the  landing  was  made 
at  9:15  P.  M." 

On  August  24,  after  an  early  breakfast,  all 
hands  were  kept  busy  dismantling  the  old 
camp  at  Ottawa  preparatory  to  pitching  camp 
on  the  new  site  at  Mokena.  The  men  were 
taken  to  Ottawa  station  on  motor  trucks ;  good 
wishes  and  waving  of  hats  greeted  them  on 
every  side.  They  boarded  the  11:48  A.  M. 
train  and  arrived  at  Mokena  at  12:45  P.  M., 
Warden  Allen  being  at  the  station  to  meet 
them.  The  site  of  the  camp  was  reached  at 
2:00  P.  M.  and  work  was  at  once  begun  to  get 
things  in  order.  The  new  tents  are  9x9  feet 
and  are  m  much  greater  favor  with  the  boys 
than  was  the  large  tent  previously  used. 

On  August  26  the  washing  and  bathing  tent 

was  put  in  readiness. 

Three  extra  teams  arrived,  bringing  the  total 

number  of  working  teams  now  to  seven. 
The  road  grader  was  started  at  1 :00  P.  M., 

preparatory  to  getting  the  road  in  shape  for 

crushed  stone,  which  must  be  hauled  by  the 

seven  teams. 


ON  THE  DIAMOND 

On  September  9  the  Chair  Damagcrs  again 
played  the  Sun  Dodgers,  but  suflfcrc<l  defeat,  the 
score  being  3  to  1.  Conroy.  the  yard  nine's  crack 
one-arm  pitcher,  allowing  but  two  scratch  hits, 
would  have  been  a  shut  out  if  Chester  had  put 
some  glue  on  his  glove  before  going  out  in  right 
field  for  the  .^un  Dodgers.  Manager  Leonard 
wished  to  give  him  a  try  out.  Maxie,  the  smiling 
pitcher  of  the  Chair  Damagers,  cracke<l  a  nice 
two-base  hit  to  left  field.  Rice,  a  heavy  hitter, 
followed  with  a  pop-u|)  fly,  which  Chester 
dropped,  Maxie  scoring  the  first  and  only  run. 
ca:using  Chester  to  be  removed  from  right  field, 
P.rakeman  Scarret  filling  his  place. 

On  September  12,  the  Sun  Dodgers  again  de- 
feated the  Oiair  Damagers,  the  score  being  6  to 
2.  Conroy  again  used  his  underhand  ball,  which 
cur\'es  like  a  snake,  leaving  the  Damagers  push- 
ing wind  until  the  fifth  inning.  Rice  hit  the  ball 
full  on  the  nose  for  a  three  bagger  and  he  was 
followed  by  Newbar,  who  also  got  aroused  and 
hit  a  nice  two  bagger.  The  Sun  Dodgers,  seeing 
that  they  had  the  Damagers  at  their  mercy,  toyed 
with  them  for  a  while,  exhibiting  a  few  acrobatic 
stunts.  Then  Conroy,  seeing  that  he  had  let 
things  go  far  enough,  struck  out  the  next  two 
men  up,  thus  ending  the  game. 

J.  Green's  Invincibles,  Chair  Shop  No.  3,  once 
again  have  proved  they  are  masters  of  the  nine  of 
Chair  Shops  No.  4  and  No.  5.  The  managerial 
ability  of  Green  loomed  large  as  a  contributing 
factor  to  the  glorious  victory. 

Ilubanks  pops  up  an  easy  one  to  Van  Baur; 
Barrow  poles  a  hot  one  to  Covington,  out  at  first. 
Now  comes  Rice,  who  is  not  only  a  sure  hitter, 
but  a  heavy  one.  The  first  ball  up  he  swings  at, 
like  that  home-run  clouter,  \'ic  Sans;  the  pill 
Hies  through  the  air  with  the  swiftness  of  a  can- 
non ball,  looking  like  a  sure  base  hit,  but  Hizcr 
makes  a  leap  into  the  air  and  stops  it  with  his 
left;  for  a  moment  the  fans  were  speechless,  but 
when  they  recovered  their  breath,  a  shout  that 
could  be  heard  over  the  walls  rent  the  air.  No 
hits,  no  errors. 

Boisdorf  steps  to  the  plate  with  a  Rlint  in  his 
eye.  which  meant:  I'll  do  or  die.  His  fate  was 
soon  decided  when  he  butted  a  grounder  to  Kelly, 
who  threw  him  out  at  first.  Packey  then  steps 
to  the  pan  with  determination  written  all  over 


496 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  First  Year 

his  feature"^      \t  the  first  ball  pitched,  he  made  a  Van  is  given  a  pass,  steals  second,  and  is  sent 

swing  that  cut  the  air  with  a  hissing  sound  that  home  on  Hizer's  two  balls  to  left  center.    Hizer 

could  be  heard  up  to  the  administration  building;  steals  third.     Covington  is  sent  to  first  after  be- 

the  next  ball  being  wide,  he  allowed  it  to  pass,  but  ing  hit.     McCullough  stands  with  his  bat  on  his 

,  •   ,          u      1           A  (r.^  f„r«  Kocpc      Tn7-  shoulder,  reminding  one  of  a  soldier  w^ho  believes 

the  third  one  he  slammed  for  two  bases.     Joz  ...,'.,      „  •    ,     ,     „      ,    u        .  .u    c    . 

,       ,      ,        .    .  1  „x4.^^  ^f  fv,^  that  if  he  fails  all  is  lost.    He  slashes  at  the  first 

wick,  conceded  to  be  the  heaviest  batter  of  the  ,    ,  r  m    .     .       u     vu 

,    ,      r       t    11  .        4-4.1      ^lofo  ;,-,  two  with  a  vengeance,  but  fails  to  touch  either 

bunch,  a  lowed  the  first  ball  to  cut  the  plate  in  ,       4,          •        i  •      .u       «;      ^ 

'^^        '                              .             ,     ,           .         1.  one ;  the  coacher  then  gives  him  the  office  for  a 

order  to  let  Packey  reach  second  ;  the  next  one  he  u  ^  %      i      wu                  -a^ 

uiucj  iw  .VL            J            ,^  ,      ,  ,    ,       ,     •,  hit  and  run  play,  but  Cleveland  throws  a  wide 

laced  just  a  little  above  Hubank  s  head;  it  was  ^^^  ^^^  Underwood  tags  Kieser  out  at  two  feet 

traveling  at  such  speed  that  when  Hubanks  pu  ^^^^  ^^^     ^^^^^  ^^^.^           ^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^^_ 

up  his  hand  to  stop  it,  he  was  almost  bowled  ^^^^^^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^.^^  .^^^^^^^  ^^^  p^^^.^^^^  ^^_ 

over.     Jozwick  goes  to  second ;  Harris  bats  an  ^^.^^^  ^.^  ^^  ^  ^^^^^^  ^^  ^^^^^  ^  ^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^ 

easy  fly  to  Curley,  who  races  to  second  with  the  ^^  ^^^  .^  ^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^     ^^^  ^.^^  ^  ^^ 

ball  to  double  Jozwick,  but  he  is  too  late.    Van  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^  ^^^^^  gj^^p  ^^  ^  ^^^  ^^^jj^^  ^^^^ 

Buer,  cool  and  unexcited,  faces  the  pitcher ;  he  gon^^thing  must  be  done  to  save  the  game.  Rice 
lets  a  couple  pass  and  then  catches  one  and  sends  ^^^^^  ^^  ^j^^  p^^  ^^^  ^^^^^^  ^  ^^  ^^  ^-^^^^  ^^1^ 
it  whizzing  through  the  air,  sending  Jozwick  Boisdorf,  coming  in  on  a  run,  made  a  slight  mis- 
home ;  Van  steals  to  third  by  sliding  around  judgment  and  got  too  far,  but  stopping  suddenly, 
Kelly,  but  is  left  there  as  Hizer  butts  a  hot  one,  ^^^^^  ^  j^^p  j^^  ^^e  air  and  squeezed  the  ball ;  it 
which  careens  off  Kelly's  glove  to  Hubanks,  who  ^^,^^  ^  marvelous  catch  and  was  loudly  applauded, 
makes  a  swift  throw  to  first.  Three  hits,  2  runs,  j^elly,  another  sure  hitter,  being  unable  to  do  any- 
1  error.  thing  with  Murphy's  twisters,  fanned.  Someone 
Kelly  steps  to  bat  smiling  and  confident.  The  ^^Hgj  attention  to  the  fact  that  they  were  batting 
first  one  is  to  his  liking  and  he  nails  it  for  two  ^^^^  ^f  o^der,  and  a  cry  went  up  that  shook  the 
bags.  Underwood,  an  in  and  outer,  knocks  an  heavens.  Bogie,  who  should  have  gone  to  bat 
easy  grounder  to  Covington  and  is  out  at  first,  first,  strode  to  the  plate  and  was  fanned.  No 
Cleveland  bunts  a  slow  one  to  Murphy,  sending  ^[^^   ^lo  errors 

in  Kelly.     Cleveland  reaches  second  on  a  pass  ^^^  i^^^  h^^lf  ^f  ^^g  fif^^  was  somewhat  un- 

ball ;  he  is  advanced  to  third  on  a  hot  grounder  interesting,  as  supper  time  was  fast  approaching, 

batted  by  Curley  to  Covington ;  the  latter  threw  The  boys  of  Chair  Shop  No.  5  put  up  a  good 

Curley  out  at  first.    Bogie  also  bunts  a  slow  one  fio-ht   but  were  outclassed. 
to  Murphy ;  Covington,  becoming  excited,  races 

out  in  front  of  Murphy,  and,  grabbing  for  the  ^^e  end  of  the  baseball  season  draws  near, 

ball,  just  touches  it  hard  enough  to  put  it  out  of  ^he  pep  and  ginger  which  has  been  exhibited 

line  to  Murphy ;  Cleveland  scores  and  Bogie  is  by  the  players,  to  say  nothing  of  the  loud-lunged 

safe  at  first.     Archie  bats  a  slow  one  to  Joz-  enthusiasm,  abundantly  proves  that  the  introduc- 

wick.     One  hit,  2  runs,   1   error.  tion  of  the  national  pastime  into  this  institution 

Cleveland  fans  Covington,  Murphy    and    Mc  was  a  move  in  the  right  direction. 

Cullough.     Murphy,  not  to  be  outdone   at  the  The  beneficial  results  to  the  men  are  plainly 

fanning  game,  strikes  out  Hubanks  and  Barrow,  evidenced  in  their  eyes  and  in  the  erect  carriage 

Rice  steals  second  and  goes  to  third  on  a  wild  of  their  bodies.    However,  it  is  not  the  business 

pitch.    One  hit,  1  error.  of  a  baseball  reporter  to  write  on  the  moral  and 

Boisdorf  hits  to  Cleveland,  out  at  first,  Packey  hygienic  phases  of  the  game ;  it  is  his  duty  to 

and  Jozwick  fan.    No  hits,  no  errors.  call  attention  to  the  brilliant  plays  and  to  the 

Underwood  hits  seven  or  eight  fouls,  then  bats  bone-head  ones  too,  particularly  to  the  latter,  as 

a  slow  one  to  \"an  and  is  out  at  first.    Cleveland  they  seem  more  expensive  than  the  brilliant  plays 

does  likewise,  with  same  result.    Curley  pops  up  are  valuable. 

one  easy  foul,  which  Packey  gathers  in.    No  hits,  The  game  between  Leonard's  Yardsters  and 

no  errors.  Cleveland's  Fivesters,  was  well  worth  making  a 

Harris  lines  a  hot  one  to  Hubanks,  out  at  first,  long  trip  to  see ;  possibly  it  would  not  have  been 


October  1,   1U14 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


4y; 


witnessed  by  so  many  had  the  spectators  any 
choice  in  the  matter.  This  remark  is  not  in- 
tended to  convey  the  impression  that  tlie  game 
lacked  any  of  those  hair-raising,  heart-stopping 
plays  commonly  seen  here;  it  simply  has  refer- 
ence to  the  trip. 

It  was  expected  that  much  interest  would  be 
aroused  over  Cleveland's  marvelous  left-handed 
catch ;  but  this  spectacular  play  was  never  pulled 
oft".  As  a  result,  the  game  was  lost  by  the  Five- 
sters  after  a  grand  rally.  Manager  Leonard  of 
the  yard  gang  is  certainly  the  equal  of  any  man- 
ager of  the  big  leagues.  Leonard  seems  to  pos- 
sess a  sixth  sense  when  it  comes  to  judging  a 
player's  ability  to  do  his  best  work  at  the  psycho- 
logical moment.  Even  before  a  player  has  made  a 
weak  play,  Leonard  will  often  call  him  from  the 
field  and  substitute  another  man  in  his  place  who 
will  play  the  strongest  kind  of  a  game,  even 
though  he  may  be  known  as  a  weak  player.  This 
unusual  gift  possessed  by  Leonard  is  something 
he  can't  explain  himself;  he  simply  makes  a 
change  and  the  line-up  is  strengthened.  This 
game  was,  after  all,  a  slugger,  pure  and  simple, 
and,  of  course,  the  heaviest  sluggers  won. 

OTHER  PRISON  COMMUNITIES 

OHIO  STATE  PENITENTIARY  AT  THE 
STATE  FAIR 

The  Ohio  penitentiary  Ne7vs  printed  a  state 
fair  edition  and  distributed  it  at  the  Ohio  state 
fair.  The  News  informed  the  state  fair  visitors 
that  the  edition  was  "written,  edited,  set  in  type 
and  printed  by  inmates,"  and  that  it  was  issued 
as  a  complimentary  number  in  honor  of  the  Ohio 
state  fair  to  give  the  men  and  women  attending 
the  fair  "an  intelligent  glimpse  of  what  is  really 
being  done  by  the  state's  prisoners." 

Besides  this  the  penitentiary  made  an  exhibit 
of  a  dozen  of  its  principal  products  and  also  of  a 
mass  of  other  interesting  details  of  minor  im- 
portance. 

The  people  of  the  state  were  given  an  oppor- 
tunity to  see  what  the  state  prison  is  producing 
in  material  goods.  The  penitentiary  exhibit  was 
housed  in  a  booth  constructed  throughout  of  the 
best  grade  of  timber  and  with  concrete  flooring, 
all  of  which  was  prepared  by  the  prisoners.  "The 
booth,"  says  the  Nexvs,  "is  a  work  of  art,  beauti- 


fully decorated  in  purple  and  white  pleated 
cloths." 

The  scheme  of  arranging  and  decorating  the 
booth  was  the  work  of  Joseph  Wilson,  a  nun  who 
is  serving  a  life  term  in  the  jHrnitentiary.  "Mr. 
Wilson  is  in  charge  of  the  Ixx^th  and  has  ex- 
plained the  intricacies  of  the  penitentiary,  the 
honor  system,  the  shops  and  the  prcnlucts,  to 
more  than  ten  thousand  visitors,"  says  the  Nnvs. 

The  state  of  Washington  is  also  sending  prod- 
ucts of  its  state  insfitntimi';  to  \\<,  «;f.ntc  f.TJr  for 

exhibition. 

r\      :•'.      :''. 

*■*  *■*  ••* 

PROGRESS  AT  SING  SING 

"One  improvement  follows  another,"  says  the 
Star  of  Hope,  the  Sing  Sing  publication. 

When  in  July  Warden  McCormick  first  granted 
the  new  privileges  to  the  men,  he  arranged  for 
one  man  from  each  gallery  in  the  cell  Ijousc  and 
one  from  the  dormitory  to  assist  the  guards  in 
conducting  the  inmates  to  and  from  the  cell 
house,  the  dormitory  and  to  and  from  dinner. 
In  August,  one-half  of  the  guards  were  excused 
on  Sunday  and  the  prison  yard  was  opened  to 
the  prisoners  all  day. 

The  Star  of  Hope  says : 

".^fter  breakfast  we  were  at  liberty  in  tlic  yanl 
free  to  amuse  ourselves  as  we  pleased. 

"At  noon  the  bugle  call  was  given  and  wc 
lined  up  and  went  into  the  mess-hall  for  a  sub- 
stantial dinner.  Then  we  returned  to  the  yard 
and  remained  there  domg  what  we  wished  to 
until  four  o'clock,  when  we  again  fornic«l  in  line 
and  went  in  orderly  manner  to  our  quarters, 
there  to  partake  of  our  usual  supi>er  of  bread 
and  tea. 

"The  entire  day  was  without  an  incident  to 
mar  its  pleasure  or  cast  doubt  uijon  the  feasibility 
of  the  plan.  It  \yorked  and  it  worked  to  per- 
fection. 

"From  a  day  s|)ent  in  a  stuffy,  damp,  cavc-hkc 
cell  so  small  that  one  can  scarcely  tuni  around 
in  it,  to  a  day  spent  in  the  great  outdoors  with 
the  sky  above  for  a  roof,  is  a  long  step,  but  that 
step  has  been  taken  at  Sing  Sing." 

The  Ciianls,  of  the  New  York  Nationals,  re- 
cently sent  six  first-class  baseballs  to  the  Sing 
Sing  players. 

These  were  accompanied  by  a  note  saying  that 
the  balls  were  sent  at  the  personal  request  of  ^Tr. 
llemi)stead,  president  of  the  Giants.  The  gift 
was  properly  acknowledged  by  the  Sing  Sing 
players. 


498 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Pontiac  Reformatory  a  School  With  Constructive 

Methods 


Under    the   Honor  System,    Industry  and  Recreation  are    Made 

Character  Building 


to    S 


erve 


In 


General  Superintendent  William  C.  Graves   Introduces  the  Modern  Way  of  Administering 

Reformatory  Institutions 


The  Illinois  State  Reformatory  at  Pontiac  is 
one  of  the  state  institutions  to  respond  to  the  new 
spirit  of  the  times  and  to  be  transformed  from 
a  jilace  of  punishment  only  to  a  place  of  oppor- 
tunity and  hope. 

The  whole  country,  within  the  last  few  years, 
seems  to  have  had  a  new  awakening  in  the  way 
in  which  the  human  race  can  carry  itself  for- 
ward to  better  things.  This  new  awakening  has 
taken  a  firm  hold  in  the  penal  institutions  of 
many  of  the  states  and  in  consequence  the  policy 
of  these  institutions  has  changed. 

It  is  now  being  seen  that  the  earlier  prison 
methods  of  combating  the  wrong  tendencies  in 
man  are  not  sufficient;  that  there  must  be  an 
acknowledgment  and  a  stimulation  of  the  good 
that  is  in  man.  There  must  not  be  punishment 
only ;  there  must  be  opportunity  and  constructive 
life. 

Superintendent  Graves  voices  the  soul  of  the 
new  policy  in  dealing  with  the  Pontiac  boys,  in 
these  words,  spoken  in  an  address  to  the  boys 
at  chapel  service : 

"You  know  the  fellow  that  can  lay  aside  a  bad 
temper,  cure  an  ugly  dispositi9n  and  ill  feelings, 
and  let  the  manly  part  of  his  nature  come  to  the 
front,  is  the  fellow  that  makes  something  of 
himself." 

Superintendent  Graves  then  puts  the  question 
of  what  the  boys  are  to  make  of  their  lives, 
wholly  up  to  them  in  the  following  words :  "The 
rcsponsiblity  is  on  you  and  it  is  up  to  you  to 
make  good." 

The  whole  idea  of  the  new  prison  method  is 
to  give  each  person  a  chance  to  make  as  much 
of  himself  as  he  is  willing  and  is  able  to  make 
of  himself.  Society  had  become  willing  to  clear 
the  way  for  the  individual  and  to  give  him  all 


possible  chance.  Hitherto  in  dealing  with  an 
inmate  of  a  penal  institution  the  purpose  has 
been  mainly  to  repress  evil ;  now  the  purpose  is 
also  to  open  a  way  for  the  growth  of  good.  When 
the  way  for  growth  is  opened,  it  may  be  truly 
said  that  the  responsibility  is  on  the  individual 
and  that  it  is  up  to  him  to  make  good. 

Superintendent  Graves  has  clearly  seen  this 
truth  and  he  is  working  it  out  in  the  Pontiac 
reformatory  affairs.     He  says : 

"Numerous  changes  have  been  made  in  this 
institution. 

"As  a  general  proposition,  we  have  placed 
every  boy  on  his  honor.  Human  nature  is  such 
that  there  is  in  man  both  the  purpose  to  do  right 
and  the  tendency  to  do  wrong.  A  man  goes 
wrong  simply  when  he  submits  to  the  baser  ele- 
ments in  him.  He  must  learn  to  control  the 
baser  nature  and  to  be  master  of  the  situation. 
I  am  continually  instructing  the  officers  to  teach 
and  am  myself  teaching  the  boys  the  power  of 
self  control. 

"But  this,  or  no  other  institution,  can  reform 
a  man  if  he  himself  does  not  have  the  inclination 
to  reform.  Building  character  is  not  a  matter 
of  enforced  ideals.  Character  is  built  only  as 
impulses  to  live  what  is  true  and  right  are 
quickened  in  the  person  himself. 

"This  knowledge  enables  us  to  see  that  open- 
ing opportunity  for  constructive  life  in  the  in- 
dividual members  of  society,  is  something  more 
than  an  indift'erent  interest  in  the  individual 
which  merely  would  say,  'the  world  is  open  to 
you ;  go  and  do  the  best  you  can.'  A  man's 
opportunity  is  closed  not  only  by  adverse  con- 
ditions in  his  environment  but  also  by  the  work- 
ing of  the  inner  sinister  forces  of  his  own  mind. 


October  1.  I'JH 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


499 


William   C.   Graves.   General   Superintendent.   Illinois   State    Reformatory, 

Pontiac,  Illinois. 


500                                                       THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  First  Year 

"Every  boy  needs  opportunity  to  live  the  best  "There  is  no  limit  now  to  membership  in  the 

that  is  in  him  and  this,  primarily,  is  a  matter  Y.  M.  C.  A.     Any  boy  Avith  three  good  months 

of  his  being  able  to  overcome  whatever  tendency  can  become  a  member.    Heretofore,  a  boy  could 

there  is  in  him  to  live  his  worst,  or  to  live  what-  become  a  member  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  only  with 

ever  is  not  his  best.  It  is  a  subjective,  a  psycholog-  the  consent  of  the  superintendent  or  the  captain, 

ical  problem.  The  objective  problem  of  opportun-  "All   standard   publications   come   in   without 

ity  is  a  secondary  matter,  although  important  in  being  censored.    Any  weekly  paper  or  magazine 

its  own  place.  that  is  good  enough  to  enter  the  home  of  an 

"VVe  are  freeing  the  boys'  higher  purposes  by  officer  is  good  enough  for  an  inmate  to  read.    We 

a  system  of  treatment  which  makes  them  feel  now  have  two  books  a  week  from  the  library 

that  it   is   worth  while  to   make   something   of  instead  of  one. 

themselves,    by   a    system    of    treatment    which  "There  are  occasional  meetings  of  teachers  and 

makes  them  realize  that  society  has  an  interest  instructors,  presided  over  by  the  superintendent, 

in  their  welfare."  to  discuss  ways  and  means  for  bettering  the  boy's 

One  of  the  young  men  who  is  witnessing  the'  condition  and  oppoi^tunity. 

change  of  policy  now  being  introduced  by  Super-  "Married  inmates — and  there  are  many  here — 

intendent  Graves  and  who  was  an  inmate  of  the  may  write  five  letters  a  month;  one  each  week 

reformatory  under  the  former  method,  makes  the  to  the  wife  and  one  to  the  parents.     There  are 

following  statement :  no  longer  any  elevated  chairs  for  guards  in  work 

"It  is  now  the  absolute  right  of  every  inmate  shop  or  chapel.    Tooth  paste  and  brush  are  pro- 

to  be  brought  into  the  presence  of  the  superin-  vided  for  each  boy." 

tendent,  instead  of  its  being  left  to  the  discretion  The  interest  taken  by  the  boys  in  their  athletics 

of  the  officers.     Also  while  the  superintendent  is  shov/n  by  the  athletic  reports  given  each  week 

used  to  exercise  his  judgment  as  to  whether  or  in  the  Pioneer,  the  reformatory  newspaper.   The 

not  a  boy  should  go  before  the  Board  of  Man-  ball  games  are  reported  by  innings  and  many  a 

agers  in  a  month,  six  months,  twelve  months,  or  fine  touch  of  baseball  acumen  and  genius  is  dis- 

ever,  now  this  superintendent  must  see  that  any  played  in  telling  of  the  particular  features  of  the 

boy  is  presented  to  the  board  who  makes  proper  games, 

application.  The  Quincy,  Illinois,  Journal  makes  the  fol- 

"Not  one  minute  was  ever  allowed  for  recrea-  lowing  comment  on  Superintendent  Graves'  work 

tion.     Now,  we  have  an  hour  each  day,  includ-  with  the  Pontiac  boys : 

ing   Sunday,   for   every   boy   here   and   a  half-  .^^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^^  reformatory  was  established 

holiday   on    Saturday.      The   power-house   boys  ^yere  the  inmates  permitted  any   recreation   on 

who  used  to  work  twelve  hours  a  day  and  who  Sundays  until  Judge  Graves  took  charge.     The 

were  in  their  cells  for  the  other  twelve  hours,  inmates  were  locked  in  their  cells  during  the  en- 

now  have  a  recreation  period  of  three-fourths  of  tire  afternoon,  after  attending  religious  services, 

,          .     ^,               .           J  ^1         r       ..1        r  to  remain  there  until  Monday  morning, 

an  hour  in  the  morning  and  three-fourths  of  an  utt  j      i.i.          i.                •               4.  j    ^.u    u 

^  Under  the  system  now  inaugurated,  the  bovs 

hour  again  in  the  afternoon.     All  the  boys  are  j^ttend   chapel   from    10:30  o'clock  until    11:30. 

out  together  Saturday  afternoons  and   for  one  After  dinner,  and  at  one  o'clock,  inmates  who 

hour  Sunday  afternoons.   There  are  also  athletic  are  desirous  of  doing  so,  and  whose  records  are 

contests  during  the  noon  hour  between  picked  sufficiently  clean  to  warrant  them  the  privilege, 

r.  11     u  i     r     i-  u  11             11  1  u„       u  are  permitted  to  attend  Y.  M.  C.  A.  exercises 

teams.    Balls,  bats,  foot  balls,  parallel  bars,  box-  ,^       ,  ,       ,     ,         ,,          ,         r 

'      .       .     ,        ,    ,,  conducted  by  the  boys  themselves,  from  one  to 

ing  gloves   and   paraphernaha    for   basket   ball,  ^^^^    ^,^^^^^^   ^.^^^^^^   ^^^   presence    of   guards. 

volley  ball,  medicine  ball,  are  provided.    We  now  -p^gse  meetings  are  arranged  by  the  boys  in  con- 
also  have  a  building  equipped  for  a  gymnasium  nection  with  the  chaplain  and  the  librarian,  and 
and  play  house  which  we  use  in  rough  weather,  very  seldom  have  any  rules  of  the  institution  been 
"We  have  a  fine  band  which  furnishes  music  violated  as  a  result  of  this  confidence  in^  them. 

,     .                 ^-       c  4.     J         £*                    J  J  "After  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  exercises,  every  inmate 

during  recreation  Saturday  afternoons  and  dur-      .,,•,-.,•  1  i.  i.    ..u    u  11     ,^a 

f             .          r.      ,         r                      ,     ,  in  the  institution  marches  out  to  the  ball  ground, 

ing  the  one  hour  Sunday  afternoons  and  also  following  the  institution  band,  which  provides  a 

each  day  during  the  dinner  hour.  concert  for  their  entertainment  during  the  after- 


, 


October  1,   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


50 1 


noon.      While  the  band  concert  is  going  on   a 
game  of  baseball  is  played  by  teams  of  inmates." 

Commenting  upon  giving  the  boys  the  recrea- 
tion periods  and  the  other  advantages  which 
they  are  now  enjoying,  Superintendent  Graves, 
speaking  from  his  several  months'  experience, 
says: 

■'I  contend  that  the  inauguration  of  a  recrea- 
tion hour  for  Sunday  afternoons  assists  in  main- 
taining the  health  of  the  inmates,  uplifts  them 
morally,  makes  gentlemen  of  Ihem  and  teaches 
them  the  value  of  self  control. 


and  a  more  orderly  bunch  of  bays  cannot  well 
be  found  anywhere. 

Early  in  Superintendent  Graves'  administra- 
tion, he  told  the  boys  that  there  were  many 
things  in  store  for  them  but  that  he  could  not 
feed  them  the  new  privileges  faster  than  they 
could  digest  them.  lie  told  them  that  he  ex- 
pected soon  to  arrange  so  that  good  conduct  and 
honest  and  efficient  work  in  the  various  depart- 
ments would  be  considered  in  calculating  a  re- 
duction of  time. 

"I    propose,"    said    the    Superintendent,    "that 


Art  Craft  and  Sheet  Metal  Shop,  Pontiac  Reformatory 


"I  find  that  since  the  inauguration  of  this  sys- 
tem, the  boys  no  longer  pace  back  and  forth  in 
their  cells  at  night,  and  that,  when  the  hour  for 
going  to  bed  comes,  they  lie  down  in  peaceful 
slumber." 

All  boys  whose  conduct  is  good  have  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  athletic  sports.  Those  who  do  not 
properly  control  themselves  are  denied  the  Satur- 
day afternoon  and  the  Sunday  recreation.  So 
far,  less  than  three  per  cent  have  been  denied  the 
recreation  privileges.  Since  this  new  plan  of 
administration  was  adopted,  there  has  been 
hardly  a  violation  of  the  rules  of  the  institution 


there  shall  be  an  efficiency  marking,  which  will 
enable  you  to  show  that  you  are  not  considering 
making  good  time  only,  but  that  you  mean  to 
work  faithfully  and  strive  earnestly  to  learn  your 
trade  and  to  be  proficient  in  your  work  and 
study,  whether  you  are  in  the  yard  gang,  the 
machine  or  chair  shop,  the  school  or  any  de- 
partment of  the  institution.  It  is  up  to  you  to 
see  that  nothing  is  done  to  prevent  the  success 
of  any  of  the  many  good  plans  that  have  already 
been  put  into  eflfect,  and  that  are  to  be  put  into 
effect  in  the  future." 


mZ 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Superintendeht  Graves  told  the  boys  that  he 
adopted  the  sa«ie  principles  for  himself  that  he 
asked  them  td  adopt  and  said  that  they  must  all 
together  woi^K  out  the  new  and  better  conditions 
which  all  are  hoping  for. 

"If  I  make  a  mistake,"  said  the  Superintendent, 
"it  will  be  a  mistake  of  the  head  and  not  of  the 
heart  and  when  I  do  make  a  mistake,  1  expect 
to  be  manly  and  gentlemanly  enough  to  correct 
my  mistake;  you  boys  likewise  should  cultivate 
an  adherence  to  this  principle.  If  you  have  been 
troublesome  in  any  way  to  the  officer  in  charge, 


boys  had  been  on  Sunday  enjoying  your  recrea- 
tion and  that  I  had  put  you  on  your  honor  and 
that  you  had  not  betrayed  the  trust." 

Superintendent  Graves  is  very  hopeful  of  what 
the  new  method  of  handling  the  boys  will  do 
both  for  their  conduct  while  in  the  institution 
and  in  helping  to  grow  in  them  the  qualities  of 
good  citizenship  for  after  life. 

With  several  months'  actual  trial  of  the  poli- 
cies he  has  adopted,  he  is  more  fully  confirmed 
than  ever  in  his  belief  that  they  are  correct  poli- 
cies.    He  gives  his  conclusion  as  to  the  efficacy 


Fiber  and  Reed  Building  and  Base  Ball  Diamond,  Pontiac  Reformatory. 


or  to  the  court  which  hoars  the  complaints  against 
you,  go  to  the  officer  and  apologize,  as  any  man 
of  honor  should." 

These  principles,  laid  down  at  the  beginning, 
have  been  well  lived  up  to  during  the  succeeding 
months ;  so  well  that  Superintendent  Graves'  re- 
port in  his  addresses  at  other  institutions  of  what 
his  boys  are  doing,  has  opened  the  way  for  other 
mstitutions  to  grant  to  their  boys  recreation 
pnvileges  also.  The  Superintendent  in  report- 
mg  to  the  boys  his  visits  to  the  other  institutions 
said  : 

"I  explained  how  gentlemanly  and  manly  you 


of  the  plan  he  is  pursuing,    in    the    following 
words : 

"The  one  feature  of  recreation  has  done  won- 
ders with  the  boys  of  the  institution.  It  seems 
almost  impossible  that  the  state  of  Illinois  should 
have  allowed  these  boys  to  be  housed  here  year 
after  year  without  giving  them  any  way  for 
natural  exercise.  It  is  hard  to  realize  that  such 
is  the  actual  fact.  We  now  give  the  boys  recrea- 
tion one  hour  each  working  day  with  a  half 
holiday  on  Saturdays  and  also  a  period  for  play 
on  .Sunday  afternoons. 


October  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


bOli 


"The  result  is  that  grievous  immoral  otYenscs 
have  been  reduced  fifty  per  cent.  There  is  also 
a  remarkable  improvement  in  the  boys'  health. 
Our  records  will  show  that  our  sick  calls  have 
been  reduced  amazingly. 

"In  the  last  few  months  we  have  put  the  entire 
institution  under  a  military  system  with  the  offi- 
cers chosen  from  among  the  boys  themsehes. 
They  manage  their  own  drilling  and  have  com- 
plete control  of  their  organization.  In  this  and 
in  the  part  they  take  in  managing  the  Y.  M.  C 
A.  meetings,  the  boys  are  being  schooled  in  the 
ways  of  self-government. 

"Although  one  hour  a  day  out  of  the  regular 
time  for  work  is  spent  in  recreation,  more  work 
is  being  done  in  our  factories  and  in  all  depart- 
ments than  ever  before.  Also  the  boys  are  more 
apt  in  learning  their  trades  than  they  had  been 
previously. 

"The  percentage  of  the  boys  who,  under  this 
system,  have  made  and  are  making  good,  is  and 
will  be  most  remarkable. 

"Instead  of  a  boy's  now  going  out  of  the  insti- 
tution crestfallen  and  sore  at  the  officers  here 
and  at  the  institution  itself,  they  go  out  with  a 
new  hope,  with  no  ill  feeling  and  with  the  idea 
that  they  have   really  been  benefited   by  being 

here." 

The  net  result  of  introducing  the  honor  system 
into  the  Pontiac  reformatory,  as  shown  by  a 
careful  examination  of  each  boy's  record  since 
the  new  system  has  been  put  into  effect,  is  that 
ninety  per  cent,  of  the  boys  of  the  institution  are 
now  on  the  honor  role,  which  means  that  ninety 
per  cent,  of  the  inmates  are  responding  to  the 
new  method  of  treatment. 

The  honor  role  of  the  reformatory  is  pub- 
lished each  month  in  the  Pioneer.  The  role  in- 
cludes those  who  have  lost  no  time  during  the 
preceding  month,  who  have  shown  themselves 
to  be  dilligent  and  efficient  in  their  work,  earnest 
in  their  studies,  and  faithful  in  the  attempt  to 
learn  a  trade. 

The  great  demonstration  being  made  at  the 
Pontiac  reformatory,  is  that  human  welfare  can 
be  worked  out  far  more  rapidly  and  more  satis- 
factorily by  opening  opportunity  for  the  good 
in  man,  than  by  stopping  with  a  policy  that  only 
represses  the  evil.  The  way  of  the  transgressor 
must  be  made  hard   but  also   the   way  of   the 


faithful  must  be  ma«le  corresijondingly  easy, 
kight  and  tnith  must  be  taught  and  practiced. 
^  i>ung  men  must  be  licl|>cd  to  experience  that 
which  is  just  and  honorable,  so  that  they  may 
come  to  know  its  worth  and  to  desire  it. 


LETTERS  OF  INTEREST 


GOOD    NEWS    FROM    THE    JOLIET 
HONOR    FARM 

The  following  letter  from  Mr.  Bert  H.  Fallz, 
superintendent  of  the  Joliet  Honor  Farm,  indi- 
cates a  satisfactory  measure  of  success  at  the 
farm.  The  conduct  of  the  honor  prisoners  en- 
courages the  hope  that  the  next  legislature  will 
amend  the  present  laws  so  as  to  make  long-time 
men  eligible  for  work  on  the  roads  of  Illinois. 
The  letter  is  but  one  more  evidence  that  the  ad- 
ministration and  the  prisoners  at  Joliet  can  prove 
their  claim  that  our  first  year  with  the  honor 
camps  has  been  the  most  successful  first  year 
experienced  by  any  of  the  prisons  in  the  country 
where  the  honor  system  of  working  prisoners 
outside  the  walls  has  been  tried. 

The  letter  follows: 

Lockport.  111.,  September  15,  1914. 
lulitor  The  Joliet  Prison  Post: 

We  are  now  in  a  period  between  Summer  and 
I'all  and  are  making  preparations  for  next  year. 
The  corn  is  beginning  to  mature  and  if  conditions 
remain  favorable  we  will  have  a  bumper  crop. 
We  have  four  hundred  acres  in  com.  The  stand 
is  good,  the  ears  are  well  filled  and  it  would  \)c 
hard  to  find  a  better  cultivated  or  a  cleaner  field. 
We  have  baled  twenty  tons  of  straw  which  has 
been  delivered  to  the  prison  stable.  We  have 
harvested  twenty  acres  of  sweet  corn  of  which 
fifteen  tons  have  been  delivered  to  the  prison 
kitchen.  I'or  the  jwst  few  weeks  we  have  l)een 
hauling  and  spreading  manure. 

The  new  tractor  engine  and  plows  have  been 
at  the  fall  plowing  for  the  past  few  weeks  and 
have  so  far  turned  under  three  hundred  acres. 
Much  faster  headway  could  have  been  made  if 
the  fields  were  advantageously  laid  out,  so  as  to 
give  longer  stretches  for  the  tractor  and  plows, 
as  considerable  time  is  consumed  in  tuniing  about 
an  outfit  of  this  kind.  This  will  be  rectified  next 
year  when  the  farm  is  properly  plotted. 


j()4 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


We  shall  soon  start  digging  late  potatoes. 

A  new  sanitary  bath  house  with  shower  baths 
for  the  men  has  been  erected  and  soon  will  be  in 
operation. 

We  are  now  making  arrangements  for  putting 
in  a  mile  and  a  half  switch  track  on  the  farm. 
The  necessary  equipment  will  be  purchased  and 
the  work  will  all  be  done  by  the  prisoners. 

Recently  eleven  new  recruits  have  arrived  to 
take  the  place  of  the  men  whose  time  has  expired. 
They  have  been  placed  at  work  with  the  boys 
who  have  already  proven  their  efficiency  and  by 
following  their  example  the  new  arrivals  wjll 
soon  become  full  fledged  farmers.  The  new 
men  have  taken  hold  with  the  right  spirit.  A 
feeling  of  good  fellowship  prevails  throughout 
the  entire  company,  and  it  is  manifestly  the  aim 
of  every  one  of  the  53  men  to  do  right.  The 
discipline  could  not  be  better. 

Very  respectfully, 

Bert  H.  Faltz, 
Superintendent. 


A  FORMER  PRISONER  WHO  LIVED  TO 
BE  HONORED 

A  letter  which  is  full  of  human  interest  was 
recently  received  by  Assistant  Deputy  Warden 
Michael  J.  Kane  from  Mr.  Arthur  C.  McClaugh- 
ry,  who  is  the  son  of  Major  Robert  W.  Mc- 
Claughry  a  former  warden  of  this  prison  and 
also  a  former  superintendent  at  the  reformatory 
at  Pontiac  and  who  recently  was  warden  at  the 
I'ederal  prison  at  Leavenworth.  This  letter  was 
prompted  by  the  death  of  Sidney  W.  Wetmore,  a 
former  prisoner  here,  who  after  his  release  was 
appointed  an  officer  at  this  institution. 

Major  McClaughry  was  warden  at  this  prison 
from  1874  to  1888  and  again  from  1896  to  1899. 
Mr.  Wetmore  was  serving  a  term  here  at  the 
time  ^L-ljor  McClaughry  became  warden  in  1874. 
When  Mr.  Arthur  C.  McClaughry  first  knew 
Wetmore  the  latter  was  a  prisoner  working  in  the 
office  of  the  chief  clerk,  which  office  corresponded 
to  the  present  office  of  general  accountant. 

The  letter  shows  how  humanly  interested  Wet- 
more was  in  others,  his  loyalty  to  his  benefactor, 
Major  McClaughry,  and  the  different  positions 
of  responsibility  which  he  held  after  he  was  dis- 
charged from  the  prison,  and  shows  that  it  is  not 
impossible   for  a  man   who  has  been   convicted 


to  make  good,  even  where  it  is  known  that  he 
has  been  a  prisoner. 

The  letter  follows: 

September  12,  1914. 
Dear  Captain  Kane : 

I  am  just  in  receipt. of  the  enclosed  postal 
card  from  my  father,  announcing  the  death  of 
Sidney  W.  W^etmore  at  the  State  Reformatory  in 
Anamosa,   Iowa,  last  Wednesday  morning. 

The  old  guards  and  officers  around  the  prison 
will  remember  "Sid  Wetmore,"  as  we  all  called 
him. 

When  our  family  arrived  in  Joliet  in  the  Sum- 
mer of  1874,  Sid  Wetmore  was  a  prisoner  in 
Callus  Muller's  office.  He  was  a  telegraph  oper- 
ator and  kept  the  "check  rolls,"  etc.  I  was  a  lad 
of  six,  and  in  the  evenings  I  used  to  slip  away 
from  mother  and  go  down  to  the  office  and  sit  on 
his  knee  while  he  told  me  thrilling  and  weird  tales 
of  Indian  fighting  and  hunting  bears  and  all  the 
things  that  make  a  kid  happy. 

I  was  too  young  to  appreciate  how  serious  the 
future  must  have  looked  to  him  then,  but  I  was 
old  enough  to  know  that  he  was  anxious  and 
worried  about  something.  His  term  was  about  to 
expire  and  he  had  no  job  in  view.  He  was  seri- 
ously handicapped  by  having  only  one  arm ;  he 
was  not  a  bookkeeper  nor  an  office  man,  nor  did 
he  know  anything  at  that  time  about  photog- 
raphy ;  telegraph  operators  were  chiefly  employed 
as  railroad  ticket  agents  and  had  to  handle  large 
sums  of  money,  and  he  knew  his  record  would 
be  against  his  getting  a  position  of  that  kind ; 
so  he  was  "up  against  it"  pretty  hard,  and  no 
wonder  he  was  worried.  Up  to  that  time,  no 
prisoner  had  ever  been  retained  in  the  employ  of 
the  prison  at  Joliet,  after  his  discharge,  if  my 
memory  serves  me  rightly,  and  "Sid"  had  no 
thought  of  such  a  thing. 

Probably  you  can  imagine  his  delight  when, 
the  day  before  his  term  was  up,  father  asked 
him  to  remain  and  serve  as  telegraph  operator 
and  assistant  clerk.  I  have  seen  few  men  whose 
faces  shone  with  delight  as  his  did.  I  remember 
the  day  he  first  wore  the  citizen's  suit,  and  how 
happy  he  was  as  the  officers,  guards,  contractors 
and  prisoners  dropped  in  and  shook  his  hand 
and  congratulated  him  on  his  "good  luck." 

He  showed  his  appreciation  and  gratitude 
through  all  these  forty  years  by  his  devotion  to 
father  and  his  aflfection  for  our  family.     When 


11 


October  1.  1914  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


50.'i 


wc  moved  to  Huntingdon,  Pa.,  in  1888,  he  soon  The  performance  was  scheduled  to  run  about 

followed ;  when  we  came  back  to  Chicago  in  1891  two  hours,  but  the  boys  encored  everything  and 

he  came  with  us ;  when  father  went  to  Pontiac  broke  up  the  play  so  often  that  it  ran  over  three. 

I   think  he  was  there  for  a  time,  but  anyhow,  Mr.   Lcland,  the  purchasing    agent    and    chief 

when  we  went  back  to  Joliet  in  1897  he  joined  steward  of  the  prison,  had  provided  a  hot  turkey 

us  there  again.    I  do  not  think  he  went  to  Leav-  dinner   for  the   men,   with   all   the  "trimmin's" 

enworth :  he  remained  with  Warden  Murphy  for  that  go  with  it,  and  was  ready  to  serve  it  when 

a  time  and   resigned  to  travel  over  the  United  the  show  was  supjKJsed  to  let  out,  consecjuently 

States  with  a  lecturer  and  to  show  his  stereopti-  he  was  running  around  like  a  crazy  man  because 

con  views  of  the  Joliet  prison.     Finally  he  went  dimicr  was  ready  and  would  si)oil  if  it  were  not 

to    the    reformatory    at    Anamosa,    where    my  eaten  at  once.     leather  got  up  and  announced  to 

brother  Charles  is  Wartlen,  and  held  a  position  the  boys  that  a  hot  turkey  dinner  was  awaiting 

in  that  institution   until  his  death.  them,  but  if  they  did  not  stop  calling  for  encores 

Wetmore  was  enthusiastic  and  untiring  in  his  and  let  the  show  go  to  a  finish,  the  com|»any 

efforts  to  secure  amusement  and  entertainment  would  have  to  cut  out  part  of  the  play  or  else 

for  the  prisoners  way  back  in  the  early  80's.     I  the  boys  would  have  to  eat  a  cold  dinner.     In- 

think  it  was  he  that  first  suggested  giving  the  stantly,  one  of  the  men  with  a  fog-horn  voice 

boys  a  theatrical  performance  in  the  chapel  on  yelled,  "We'd  rather  have  cold  turkey,  anyhow!" 

Christmas  day,  and  father  adopted  his  suggestion  and  the  boys  cheered  and  roared  their  approval. 

and  commissioned  him  to  arrange  for  it.     Then  The  show  went  on,  the  boys  demanded  encore 

he  and  old  Captain  Miller,  the  chief  engineer  of  after  encore,  and  they  got  everything  they  de- 

the  prison,  put  their  heads  togetiier  and  designed  manded.     Mr.  Leland  hustled  the  grub  back  to 

and  built  a  stage  in  the  chapel;  he  looked  after  the  kitchen  and  kept  it  warm,  and  they  got  their 

the  decorations,  designed  programs  and  looked  hot  turkey  dinner  with  all  the  "trimmin's"  after 

after  numberless  details,  and  at  the  same  time  all. 

corresponded  with  theatrical  agencies  throughout  I£verybody   knew    that   "Sid"   \\  etmorc     wa> 

the  country  to  secure  a  good  "troupe"  of  some  largely  responsible  for  that  great  treat  and  he 

kind  for  that  day.    The  State  could  not  afford  to  was  the  hero  of  the  hour.     It  was  the  beginning 

pay  for  a  company  to  come  to  the  prison  for  that  of  the  holiday  entertainments  in  your  prison,  and 

one  performance,  so  "Sid"  arranged  for  the  com-  it  was  a  beginning  of  a  change  in  prison  methods 

pany  to  secure  the  Joliet  theater  for  Christmas  and  discipline  which  was  the  forerunner  of  the 

nio-ht,  and   this   enabled   it   to  accept   what   the  broad  humanitarian  methods  that  are  in  vogue 

prison  could  jtay  for  a  special  performance  in  in   your  institution   today.     The  Governor  and 

the  chapel  on  Christmas  morning.  Commissioners  and  a  lot  of  people  outside  were 

The  first  performance  was  the  side-splitting  afraid  that  it  would  be  a  dangerous  thing  to  do, 
Irish  farce-comedy,  "Muldoon's  Picnic."  The  that  the  prisoners  would  take  advantage  of  it 
Ijoys  nearly  tore  the  roof  off  the  old  chapel  build-  and  raise  "rough  house"  or  break  out  into  a  riot 
ing  with  their  shouts  of  laughter  and  applause,  of  some  kind,  but  Wetmore  argued  to  my  father 
and  moreover  they  broke  up  the  performance  re-  that  there  would  be  no  risk,  that  the  men  would 
peatedly.  The  actors  and  actresses  were  so  ten-  not  take  advantage  of  the  treat  but  that  they 
der-hearted  and  emotional  that  the  sight  of  the  would  appreciate  it  and  probably  show  their  ap- 
big  audience  of  men,  all  in  striped  clothes,  so  preciation  by  better  conduct  for  months  to  come, 
unnerved  them  that  most  of  them  broke  down  .\nd  he  was  right— absolutely  right;  there  was  a 
behind  the  scenes  and  between  acts  and  cried  like  marked  improvement  in  the  conduct  and  disci- 
children  ;  but  when  they  were  performing  on  the  i)line ;  the  men  saw  that  something  had  been  done 
stage  the  yells  of  laughter  from  the  men  so  up-  for  them ;  it  was  something  tangible ;  it  was  a 
set  their  self-control  that  they  had  to  stop  and  performance  and  not  a  promise;  they  had  re- 
laugh  with  their  audience.  And  so  they  passed,  ceived  a  great  treat  that  meant  much  to  them, 
from  dressing  rooms  to  footlights  and  from  and  it  was  up  to  them  to  make  good  on  their 
crying  to  laughter.  Several  of  the  actresses  were  part  by  showing  their  appreciation  and  the  best 
livsterical  bv  the  time  the  show  ended.  way  they  could  do  that  was  by  obeying  the  rules 


506 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


more  cheerfully  and  willingly.  They  did  make 
good,  too.  The  experiment  was  a  great  success. 
The  sullen  attitude  and  suspicious  watchfulness 
of  both  the  prisoners  and  the  guards  began  to 
relax  from  that  time  on.  I  don't  mean  to  say 
that  Wetmore  saw  all  that  would  result  from 
that  experiment — no  one  could  see  that  far  ahead- 
but  he  knew  from  his  own  experience  as  a  pris- 
oner that  that  kind  of  a  show  would  be  a  great 
treat  for  the  men,  and  he  felt  intuitively  that  the 
men  would  show  their  appreciation  in  every  way 
that  they  could,  so  as  to  get  more  treats  of  the 
same  kind. 

Ordinarily  it  is  not  a  good  thing  for  a  prison  to 
employ  a  former  prisoner  in  an  official  capacity ; 
it  is  a  delicate  position  for  a  man  to  fill;  he  is 
apt  to  be  suspected  by  both  officers  and  prisoners 
as  being  on  one  side  or  the  other;  but  "Sid"  Wet- 
more  proved  equal  to  the  task  and  gained  the  good 
will  and  confidence  and  respect  of  officers  and 
prisoners  and  of  the  citizens  of  Joliet. 

He  was  honest  and  straightforward  in  all  his 
dealings,  he  earned  and  deserved  the  confidence 
placed  in  him,  he  performed  every  trust  faith- 
fully and  efficiently.  He  was  tender-hearted  as 
a  woman,  and  generous  to  a  fault.  His  example 
was  an  inspiration  to  many  a  man  who  was  serv- 
ing a  prison  sentence.  There  was  no  sham  or 
hypocrisy  about  him;  he  did  not  pretend  to  be 
better  than  he  was,  and  I  think  that  he  was  a 
better  man  than  he  pretended  to  be.  The  world 
—especially  the  prison  world— is  better  for  his 
having  lived. 

Yours  sincerely, 
Arthur  C.  McClaughry, 
305  Manhattan  Building, 

Chicago. 
To  Captain  Michael  J.  Kane, 
Illinois  State  Prison, 
Joliet,  Illinois. 


BOOKS 


Songs  of  the  Underworld,"  by  Clem  Yore; 
Illustrated  by  O.  Irwin  Myers  and  H.  Alyn 
iWeston :  Charles  C.  Thompson  Co..  Chicago. 
These  poems  are  artistically  bound  in  paper 
cover,  sixty-two  pages.     Price  not  given. 

In  the  foreword  the  author  says:    'T  wrote 
these  verses  in  the  hope  that  I  might  prevent 


some  person  from  making  the  journey  to  the 
Slough  of  Sighs,  where  souls  are  lost  and 
minds  are  cast  away — and  to  give  hope  to 
some  who,  marooned,  view  with  tearful  eyes 
our  ships  sail  past  their  isle  of  woe."  From 
"The  Underworld": 

This  is  a  yarn  of  the  Underworld, 
The  woeful,  weary.  Underworld — 
Shrivelled  and  shrunken,  sinful,  core. 
Drivelled  and  drunken;  cancerous  sore. 
The  entrance  place  to  the  pits  of  hell — 
Where  hopeless,  hapless  harpies  dwell, 
The  Underworld. 

"The  Man  About  Town" : 

In  the  gray  dawn  of  a  bleak,  wet  day, 
A  man  about  town  in  a  casket  lay. 

When 

In  came  a  maid,  with   downcast  eye. 
Stifled   moans   and  anguished   cry, 
Glanced  at  the  biow  so  broad  and  fair, 
She  seemed  to  prove  the  man  did  care. 
Her  eyes  were  dimmed  as  she  went  away, 
"He  caused  her  sin,"  she  heard  them  say. 

The  author  does  not  see  that  conventional 
ideas  quite  compass  the  facts  of  life.  He  ques- 
tions if,  after  all,  there  should  be  as  much  con- 
demnation as  there  is : 

Is  it  well  to  curse  them  living, 
When    their    only    crime    is    giving 
Way  to  the  imps  that  lurk  within? 
Their  every  act  is  not  a  sin. 
They  all  are  weak,  who  makes  them  so? 
Does  prince  or  prelate  really  know? 

Two  poems  are,  "Two  Natures  Struggling 
Within  Me,"  and  "The  Beast  That  Follows 
Me." 

"Down  at  the  Corner"  tells  the  story  of  the 
waste  of  child  life: 

Down  at  the  corner,  the  poisonous  corner 

Where  children  love  to  go; 
This  is  the  spot,  the  red  hot  spot 

Where  Satan's  tapers  glow; 
This  is  the  place,  the  luring  place. 

Primer  of  vice  and  woe. 

Other  poems  are  "The  Women  Who  Walk," 
"The  Harlot's  Farewell,"  "The  Friend  of  the 
Underdog,"  "The  Locket  of  Ashes." 

All  of  the  poems  have  a  rich  human  quality 
and  they  show  that  under  sombre  cover  the 
underworld  has  the  beating  human  heart,  the 
hope  for  peace,  for  something  from  this  life. 

The  entrance  place  of  the  pits  of  hell — 
Where  hopeless,  hapless,  harpies  dwell. 
The  Underworld. 


« 


October  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


5o: 


CONTRIBUTIONS 


SOME  OBSERVATIONS 
By  James  Leonard 


A  Prisoner 


The  present  honor  system  is  a  splendid 
thing.  The  time  is  bound  to  come  when  Illi- 
nois will  stand  in  the  front  line  with  other 
progressive  states;  she  is  already  forging 
rapidly  ahead.  The  life  term  men  are  hoping 
for  the  enactment  of  a  law  which  will  allow 
them  to  work  on  the  roads;  also  for  the  enact- 
ment of  a  parole  law  for  life  men. 

To  attain  the  good  things  which  have  been 
promised  us  or  which  we  desire,  we  must  sup- 
port the  hands  of  the  Warden.  He  has  an- 
nounced that  he  will  meet  us  half  way.  Wo  all 
know  that  he  is  striving  earnestly  to  do  what 
he  can. 

Only  a  few  men  at  the  camps  and  the  honor 
farm  have  broken  their  pledge.  That  these 
acts  have  injured  the  cause,  none  will  question. 
My  advice  to  those  men  who  are  privileged  to 
work  out  in  the  open,  and  who  at  the  same 
time  lack  full  faith  in  themselves,  is  to  declare 
themselves  then  and  there.  •  Let  them  throw 
down  the  pick  or  shovel  and  ask  the  keeper  to 
bring  them  back.  The  Warden  will  give  them 
credit  for  such  action.  They  will  not  return 
as  weaklings,  either. 

The  other  day  a  fellow  told  me  of  an  un- 
pleasant argument  that  he  had  with  his  wife 
in  the  visiting  room.  To  my  mind,  there  seems 
to  be  no  excuse  for  relating  an  incident  of  this 
kind.  The  men  should  keep  their  troubles  to 
themselves.  Very  often,  it  is  the  wife,  sister 
or  mother  who  carry  the  greater  burden,  who  en- 
dure the  greater  sorrow.  \'isiting  day  should 
be  the  brightest  day  in  the  life  of  the  man  be- 
hind the  walls.  Men  with  homes  and  children 
should  not  expect  to  be  cheeretl  up  on  these 
occasions.  They  should  send  forth  cheer;  that 
at  least  is  their  duty  and  should  be  their  de- 
light. 

What  changes  have  occurred  during  the  last 
two  years !  We  can  recall  with  a  shudder  the 
deaf  and  dumb  system  that  was  then  in  vogue. 
The  memory  of  those  days  can  not  be  easily  ob- 
literated. 


A   VOICE   FROM   THE   RANKS 
By  Emil  Gucntert 

A  Pri«onfr 

In  the  .August  issue  of  The  Joliet  Prison 
Post  you  published  a  letter  from  me  and  I  thank 
you  for  the  explanation  you  give.  I  was  afraid 
at  first  that  all  would  not  understand  it,  but 
you  make  it  plain.  I  shall  now  work  with  even 
more  zeal  to  get  the  boys  on  the  right  side. 

I  am  in  a  position  where  I  can  do  a  great 
deal  of  good,  because  I  am  brought  in  contact 
with  nearly  every  one  in  my  department.  Of 
the  large  number  of  men  with  whom  I  am 
directly  associated  very  few  have  violated  the 
rules.  During  the  present  administration  we 
have  had  but  one  fight. 

I  will  mention  a  personal  cx{x;ricnce.  A  fel- 
low reached  for  a  hammer  and  wanted  to  hit 
me  because  he  failed  to  receive  the  material  he 
wanted.  I  exi)lained  that  the  material  was  not 
in  stock.  When  I  saw  that  my  explanation  failed 
to  satisfy  him  I  walked  away  and  made  a  point 
of  staying  away  during  the  remainder  of  the 
day. 

The  next  morning  I  went  and  spoke  to  the 
fellow.  I  asked  him  what  he  would  have  gained 
had  he  fought  me  yesterday.  I  told  him  he 
would  have  been  put  into  the  solitary  and,  later, 
would  have  worn  the  zebra  suit.  I  told  him  that 
be  would  have  done  more  than  this;  he  would 
have  broken  his  word  of  honor  and  he  would 
have  hurt  every  man  in  the  institution.  This 
was  all  said  in  a  laughing,  joking  sort  of  way. 
Later,  he  held  out  his  hand  and  thanked  mc. 
"I  see  it  all  now,"  s.nid  ho,  "hut  T  rould  not  sec 
it  yesterday," 

Since  that  day  no  one  has  experienced  the 
slightest  trouble  with  him. 

Some  of  the  men  are  complaining  that  cer- 
tain privileges  are  denied  them ;  that  all  njcn 
are  being  held  responsible  for  what  a  few  do. 
These  are  matters  that  should  be  brought  up 
at  the  honor  meetings.  The  shop  is  no  place 
for  the  discussion  of  these  things.  Yet.  there 
seems  to  be  a  number  of  men  who  lack  the  nerve 
to  speak  openly  and  in  public;  in  the  shops  these 
same  men  are  orators. 

To  return  to  the  subject  of  privileges,  how 
can  the  innocent  man  be  protected  and  the  full 
burden  of  punishment  be  shifted  upon  the  shoul- 
ders of  the  guilty,  where  it  belongs? 


508 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  we  must 
look  into  existing  conditions  which  are  indirectly 
responsible  for  this  state  of  affairs.  Should  a 
new  man  be  allowed  to  sign  the  honor  pledge 
at  once?  I  think  not.  There  should  be  a  pro- 
bationary period  of  at  least  three  months.  The 
new  man  seldom  looks  at  the  honor  system 
seriously.  He  does  not  realize  what  it  means 
to  the  men,  some  of  whom  have  spent  years 
under  the  hard  and  rigid  rule  of  former  admin- 
istrations. It  is  not  our  prerogative  to  repri- 
mand the  new  men;  if  we  should  attempt  to 
interfere  we  would,  in  the  average  case,  be  drawn 
into  a  quarrel. 

It  seems  to  me  a  wise  thing  to  endeavor  to 
keep  a  grade  clean.  The  good  and  the  evil  must 
be  separated,  for  it  is  generally  conceded  that 
the  influence  of  evil  is  stronger  than  the  in- 
fluence of  good.  What  a  delightful  thing  it 
would  be  to  have  a  new  grade  composed  of  men 
who  have  never  been  punished ;  what  an  appeal 
it  would  have  to  the  new  man  whose  intentions 
are  good. 

Coming  to  the  fountain  head  of  all  the  trouble 
that  may  be  experienced  in  this  institution,  the 
blame  most  often  can  be  laid  to  the  parents  of 
the  men— to  the  very  door  of  home  itself.  As 
boys,  these  men  roamed  idly  around  the  streets 
until  their  fifteenth  or  sixteenth  year,  often  stay- 
ing out  until  after  midnight.  They  were,  in 
most  instances,  seldom  reprimanded  by  their 
parents.  If  some  mischief  was  reported  to  the 
father  or  mother  an  attitude,  either  indifferent 
or  defiant,  was  assumed  towards  the  complain- 
ant. Their  boy  was  a  good  boy,  much  better 
than  their  neighbor's  boy.  In  this  way  the  down- 
ward progress  began. 

We  can,  of  course,  also  trace  the  source  of 
trouble  to  lack  of  education,  but  lack  of  parental 
rule  is  the  indirect  cause.  The  ignorance  in  this 
place  is  appalling.  I  have  met  American  born 
men  here  who  can  be  made  to  believe  that  Colo- 
rado is  a  kingdom.  This  class  of  men— for- 
tunately a  small  class— usually  know  where 
Pontiac  and  other  reform  institutions  are. 

Let  it  not  be  inferred  that  it  is  my  desire  to 
teach  anything  to  my  superiors.  I  have  simply 
made  a  few  suggestions  which,  if  put  into  prac- 
tice, will,  in  my  humble  opinion,  prove  advan- 
tageous to  the  men  of  this  community. 


ENCOURAGEMENT 
By  W.  R. 

A  Prisoner 

I  want  to  sound  a  word  of  encouragement  to 
my  fellow  inmates.  The  Warden  has  demon- 
strated that  he  has  faith  in  us.  The  farm  and 
the  road  camps  testify  to  this  fact.  The  guards 
are  no  longer  seen  at  the  chapel  services. 
There  are  many  more  changes  and  it  makes  my 
heart  rejoice  to  see  them. 

I  regret  to  say  that  this  is  not  my  first  term 
in  this  institution.  I  am  glad  to  say  that  I 
have  never  before  received  such  good  treat- 
ment. Let  us  all  endeavor  to  have  faith  in 
ourselves.  Let  us  all  do  something  for  our- 
selves by  helping  the  administration,  thereby 
proving  our  worth  to  the  world  which  is  watch- 
ing us. 


BEYOND   THE   BARRIERS 
By  H.  M. 

,  A  Prisoner 

Here  within  the  walls  misfortunes  and  anxie- 
ties lose  half  their  power  if  met  and  resisted 
with  true  fortitude.  For  where  fortitude  dwells, 
must  also  be  loyalty,  forbearance,  friendship. 

Duty  is  the  first  thing  that  must  be  faced; 
and  man  cannot  choose  his  duties.  Duty,  after 
all,  is  what  goes  most  against  the  grain,  because 
one  is  seldom  praised  for  that  which  it  is  im- 
perative for  one  to  do. 

And  there  is  always  a  hope  that  springs  from 
duty. 

Hope  is  the  best  possession.  The  most  com- 
pletely wretched  are  those  without  hope.  Sel- 
dom are  such  men  found  in  prison. 

In  reformatory  and  penitentiary,  hope  is  the 
silver  lining  to  the  present  cloud.  Hope  is  al- 
ways liberal.  Human  life  has  not  a  surer  friend. 
She  is  an  antidote  to  the  miseries  of  mankind, 
and  though  she  may  not  always  give  that  which 
she  has  promised,  there  can  be  no  progress,  no 
endeavor,  except  for  those  who  gather  beneath 
the  spread  of  her  golden  wings. 

And  hope  deals  with  the  future. 

In  this  place  men  are  confined  to  very  narrow 
limits.  The  sunrise  and  the  sunset  are  but  pic- 
tures of  memory.  The  sky-line  is  never  seen. 
Kven  the  ridge  of  the  hills  is  hidden  from  sight. 


I 


II 


October   1.   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


500 


^'ct,  in  spirit,  the  men  are  far  away.  Their 
hopes  concern  the  future ;  their  dreams  are  often 
visions  of  the  far  beyond. 

Meanwhile,  as  prisoners  ^o  about  their  duty; 
as  hope  springs  from  the  faithful  performance 
of  duty ;  as  the  future,  through  hope,  glows 
warm  of  friends,  of  home  and  love,  that  never- 
resting  something  called  Time,  the  measurer 
of  all  things,  rolls  on  swiftly,  silently.  And  as 
it  rolls  on,  the  men  here  will  ever  look  beyond 
the  barriers ;  this  narrow  domain  will  not  en- 
chain them ;  they  will  traverse  again  and  again 
those  paths  that  wind  to  the  things  of  the  heart's 
desire. 

©     ^     ^ 

A  WARNING 
By  Peter  Van  Vlissingen 

A  Pri-oiier 

Most  men  have  mistaken  ideas  with  regard 
to  the  proposition  of  punishing  some  men  for 
the  acts  of  others,  in  that  they  think  it  is  always 
unjust.  There  is  no  such  thing  as  abstract 
justice.  That  would  mean  perfection,  and  the 
human  race  has  not  yet  achieved  perfection  in 
anything. 

When  I  was  a  boy  I  attended  a  country  school 
where  the  boys  thought  it  great  sport  to  i)lay  all 
kinds  of  tricks  on  the  management  and  they 
would  stick  together  and  prevent  the  faculty 
or  teachers  from  finding  the  culprits.  This  was 
brought  to  an  end  by  punishing  all  of  the  pupils. 
After  that  there  was  peace  except  for  the 
grumbling  by  those  who  thought  it  was  wrong 
to  punish  all  for  the  acts  of  a  few.  I  do  not 
say  that  was  abstract  justice,  but  I  insist  that 
the  end  justified  the  means. 

When  some  of  the  soldiers  of  a  regiment  of 
the  United  States  army  "shot  up"  the  town  of 
Brownsville,  Texas,  Theodore  Roosevelt,  then 
President,  did  all  in  his  i)Ower  to  find  out  who 
were  guilty,  but  the  understanding  among  the 
men  was  so  thorough  that  he  was  defeated.  He 
then  decided  that  a  regiment  that  would  back 
up  a  few  of  its  members  in  so  serious  a  breach 
of  discipline  was  unfit  for  the  service  of  Uncle 
Sam  and  he  disbanded  the  entire  regiment,  re- 
gardless of  the  fact  that  many  men  who  had 
records  of  long  and  honorable  service  and  who 
probably  were  without  guilty  knowledge  before 


and  after  the  fact,  were  discharged  with  the  rest 
and  that  they,  in  consequence,  lost  their  pros- 
pects of  retirement  under  part  pay  or  i>cnsion, 
which  ever  of  the  two  it  may  have  been.  This 
was  not  abstract  justice  and  yet  I  contend  it 
was  the  correct  thing  to  do. 

Ihere  are  men  in  this  prison  who  will  com- 
plain loudly  if  their  privileges  are  interfered 
with  for  an  infraction  of  the  rules  unless  they 
are  actually  caught  with  the  goods  and  make 
a  voluntary  confession.  Everything  short  of 
this  they  insist  is  injustice.  If  these  fallacies 
were  recognized  by  the  olVicials  the  prison  would 
require  about  three  ofticers  to  every  inmate  so 
that  they  could  take  turns  in  relieving  one  an- 
other while  watching  their  man.  This  proposi- 
tion is  too  absurd  for  serious  consitlcratiou. 
Every  honestly  inclined  warden  should  be  very 
reluctant  to  mete  out  punishment  to  men  who 
have  nut  been  absolutely  convicted,  yet  no  war- 
den should  hesitate  to  maintain  discipline  at  all 
cost,  though  in  the  matter  of  meting  out  pun- 
ishment it  sometimes  becomes  necessary  to  take 
long  chances  or  close  the  eyes  entirely. 

A  number  of  years  ago  in  this  prison  a  war- 
den was  greatly  annoyed  by  shouting  in  the  cell 
houses  which  was  resorted  to  upon  every  occa- 
sion when  there  was  any  unusual  ground  for 
displeasure.  I  distinctly  remember  one  occasion 
when  the  quarry  lines  were  brought  in  early 
because  the  weather  was  threatening.  This 
caused  dissatisfaction,  as  the  men  naturally 
hated  to  go  to  their  cells.  Their  di.sapproval 
was  expressed  in  cat  calls  anti  hoots  which  were 
destined  for  and  did  reach  the  warden's  office. 
The  individuals  who  created  the  disturbance 
were  all  cowards,  because  as  the  officers  went 
by  to  learn  who  maile  the  remonstrances  they 
kept  still  and  this  permitte«l  suspicion  to  fall 
upon  those  who  took  no  part  in  the  disturbance. 
Would  any  one  say  that  under  such  circum- 
stances a  warden  would  have  been  wrong  in 
taking  some  of  the  privileges  away  from  all  of 
the  men  in  the  quarry  for  a  long  j)criod  of  lime? 
I  believe  that  if  such  an  occasion  occurred  in 
this  prison  at  this  time  and  if  it  were  impossible 
to  locate  the  culprits  by  reason  of  their  cowardly 
acts  that  the  warden  would  suspend  recreation 
in  the  quarry  for  a  period  of  sixty  days  after 
•  •I'll  •lemonstration. 


510 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


LEST  WE  FORGET 
By  Lloyd  Baldwin 

A  Prisoner 

The  sun  drops  low  in  the  West  and  the  night 
approaches.  The  prisoners  feel  a  peace  steal- 
ing over  them ;  that  passiveness  of  mind,  heart 
and  body  in  which  they  commune  with  those 
they  love,  fight  with  those  they  hate,  in  which 
they  live  again  the  events  of  their  lives;  that 
state  in  which  dreams  predominate. 

Picture  in  the  distant  center  of  the  canvas 
the  prison,  built  of  heavy  stone,  barrea  of  win- 
dow. To  the  right,  to  the  left  and  in  the  fore- 
ground, picture  its  inmates  with  their  battles 
of  passion  and  love;  the  disappointments,  fear, 
anguish  and  resultant  struggles. 

See  in  a  distant  home  a  son  embracing  his 
mother,  love  tears  in  the  eyes  of  each ;  yonder, 
orange-blossoms  and  bridal  veil  crushed  by  the 
iron  hand  of  fate;  children  caressing  again 
the  lost  one ;  the  father  with  his  labor  of  love, 
the  mother  with  fondest  joy;  even  the  gambler 
with  his  cards,  the  scientist  with  his  tools. 

Blend  these  into  one  vast  picture — vast  be- 
yond the  hand  of  the  greatest  artist — so  that 
it  can  only  exist  in  your  mind  as  a  dream. 

©     ®     @ 

BEGINNING  AT  THE  ROOT 

By  Harry  Pattison 

A  Prisoner 

From  personal  experience,  I  have  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  criminal  tendencies  which 
are  responsible  for  the  filling  of  this  and  other 
institutions  can  be  traced  largely  to  early  en- 
vironment. The  men  were  neglected  during  the 
impressionable  age  of  boyhood;  they  have  like- 
wise, in  numerous  instances,  been  the  object  of 
inhuman  treatment  from  indififerent  parents. 
Throughout  the  period  of  adf)lescence  there  was 
that  chord  of  harshness  which  had  a  tendency 
to  incite  rebellion  and  to  dull  the  intellectual 
and  physical  growth  of  the  individual. 

Such  a  condition  in  society  should  not  be 
offered  as  an  excuse  for  crime,  and  convicted 
men  should  not  look  for  the  sympathy  of  so- 
ciety because  they  themselves  have  been  the  un- 
fortunate victims  of  such  conditions. 

But   the   condition   illustrates   the   power    for 


evil  that  springs  from  brutal  methods,  undue 
severity  and  negligence  on  the  part  of  parents 
or  guardians. 

May  the  day  soon  dawn  when  every  home  in 
the  land,  no  matter  how  poor,  no  matter  how 
cheerless  or  barren  of  life's  necessities,  will  ob- 
serve those  sacred  rights  which  are  the  natural 
heritage  of  every  child. 

From  that  day  will  begin  the  depopulation  of 
reformatories  and  penitentiaries ;  from  that  day 
will  dawn  the  new  era  of  right  living  and  clean 
thinking. 

©     ©     ^ 

COMPENSATION    FOR    PRISONERS 

By  Hugh  Manyte 

A  Prisoner 

In  the  partial  adoption  of  the  compensation 
system  for  prisoners  at  this  prison,  it  occurs 
to  me  that  the  administration  has  gone  a  long 
way  towards  teaching  prisoners  habits  of  indus- 
try. From  observation,  I  have  come  to  the  be- 
lief that  energy  has  been  aroused  amongst  those 
men  who  have  been  granted  the  wage  earning 
privilege,  even  though  the  amount  earned  does 
not  average  five  dollars  per  month  per  man. 

The  compensation  system  in  this  institution  is 
only  an  experiment.  Let  us  hope  that  there 
will  be  legislation  along  these  lines,  so  that  in 
time  every  inmate  required  to  work  will  re- 
ceive a  remuneration  sufficient  to  encourage  him 
to  work  and  save,  so  that  upon  his  release  he 
will  have  at  his  disposal  a  sum  which  would  af- 
ford an  opening  for  an  honest  start  in  life. 


WAKE  UP 
By  E.  Westman 

A  Prisoner 

Any  man  who  has  brains  enough  to  be  a 
successful  criminal,  has  certainly  the  makeup  in 
him  of  a  successful  man  of  business. 

The  criminal,  it  must  be  taken  into  consider- 
ation, has  the  finest  brains  in  the  world  work- 
ing against  him.  So  he  is  on  his  guard,  but 
ever  dreaming,  dreaming  about  that  "big  haul" 
that  he  is  going  to  make  some  day. 

When  we  come  to  look  into  statistics,  about 
one-half  of  the  natural  life  of  this  type  of  man 
is  spent  within  prison  walls.     And  within  the 


October  1.  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


511 


walls  he  is  still  dreaming  of  and  scheming  for 
that  "big  haul." 

Are  you  built  on  similar  lines? 

If  so,  wake  up  before  it  is  too  late.  If  you 
are  numbered  in  that  category  of  brainy  peo- 
ple, you  should  be  able  to  reason  things  out 
for  yourself;  to  solve  your  own  salvation.  Get 
into  the  business  or  industrial  world  where  you 
belong.  It  may  come  a  little  hard  at  first,  but 
it's  the  safe  way. 

If,  in  your  opinion,  you  are  classified  witii 
those  who  lack  a  natural  cleverness,  stop  in 
your  mad  gallop  and  think  it  over.  You  would 
make  a  bum  criminal,  anyhow. 

If  you  have  brains,  reason  it  out  before  it  is 
yet  too  late;  if  you  are  like  myself,  not  particu- 
lately  brilliant,  wake  up,  just  the  same. 

@     ©     ® 

REVELATIONS  OF  THE  PAST 
By  Frank  Matson 

A  Prisoner 

Say,  boys,  did  the  thought  ever  strike  you  of 

the  changes  a  few  years  can  bring? 
Last  year,  up  at  old  Saratoga,  I  was  happy  and 

rich  as  a  king. 
I  was  raking  in  pools  at  the  races  and  tipping 

with  five  spot  and  ten, 
And  sipping  mint  julep  at  twilight — but  today, 

1  am  here  in  the  pen. 

What  led  me  to  do  it?    What  always  leads  men 

to  destruction  and  crime? 
'Tis   the   prodigal   son    tale   repeated,    tho'   he's 

altered  somewhat  in  his  time. 
Of  his  substance  he  spends  quite  as  freely  as  the 

biblical  fellow  of  old ; 
Persuaded,  when  wealth  has  departed,  that  the 

husks  will  transform  into  gold. 

Champagne  and  a  box  at  the  opera ;  the  high 
steps  while  fortune  was  flush; 

The  passionate  kisses  of  women  whose  cheeks 
cannot  burn  with  a  blush. 

The  same  olden  story  of  pleasure,  its  last  chap- 
ter which  closes   in  tears ; 

The  froth  that  foams  forth  for  a  moment ;  the 
dregs  which  are  tasted  for  years. 


Oft,  oft  un  my  couch  I  will  ponder  o'er  my  life 

and  its  weak,  shallow  ways ; 
Again  I  will  live  through  the  hours  that  wove  all 

of  youth's  golden  days. 
.\nd  I  smile  should  the  phantom  scenes  linger, 

though   I   see  them  through  hot,  flowing 

tears ; 
Though   I  tread  in  Remorse's  dominion  when   I 

leap  o'er  the  chasm  of  years. 

EXEMPLAR 
By  George  Fee 

A  Pri»oner 

Tho'  in  my  journey  long 

Through  shadows  dark  I  grope. 

Upon  my  lips — a  song ; 
Within  my  heart — a  hope. 

Though  I  may  stumble  oft, 

'Tis  but  to  rise  again ; 
With  weary  eyes  aloft, 

Unheeding  of  the  pain. 

For  o'er  the  briar  and  stone 

That  in  my  pathway  lie, 
One  journeyed,  too,  alone ; 

One  suffered  more  than  I. 

^     ^     tf 

"OUT  ON  THE  HILL" 
By  Hugh  Manytc 

A  Priioner 

When  low  at  last  had  run  the  sand. 

When  whispers  came  in  painful  breath. 
No  mother  held  the  wasted  hand 

Or  closed  the  tired  eyes  in  death; 
No  last  hot  kiss,  no  burning  tears 

Rebuked  the  evil  of  the  years. 

No  last  and  longing  look  was  paid 
While  in  the  casket  rude  he  lay; 

No  fragrant  wreath  was  gently  laid 
To  speak  the  love  of  yesterday ; 

And  in  the  morn's  forbidding  chill 

They  sought  the  grave  "out  on  the  hill." 

"Out  on  the  hill."  the  ancient  name 

That  through  the  restless  years  has  clung, 

Where,  wrapped  within  their  shroud  of  shame, 
The  friendless  sleep — unmourned.  unsung; 

But  who  may  hear  the  trumpet's  blow 

Is  not  for  man,  but  God  to  know. 


512 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


THE  RECALL 
By  Hugh  Manyte 

A  Pri>oiicr 

jCoTE — '1  here  arc  several  instances  on  record  where  escaped 
honor  prisoners  have  been  prompted  by  conscience  to  return 
to  prison  and  where  of  their  own  volition  they  did  so.  Such  an 
instance   as   this   is  of    recent  occurrence   at   this   institution. 

Deep,  deep  witliin  the  night's  protecting  shade 

He  creeps  with  steahhy  tread, 
Well  knowing  that  the  sacred  trust  betrayed 
A  stain  repulsive  on  his  life  has  made, 

And  honor  forfeited. 
On,  on  he  flees  no  open  road  to  choose; 
On,  on,  while  Fear  relentlessly  pursues. 

And  Failure  mocks  ahead. 

And  though  the  night  strikes  .terror  in  his  soul, 

He  dreads  the  flush  of  morn; 
He  sees  his  watching  enemies  patrol 
The  wide,  wide  world,  its  every  gate  control — 

Its  every  outpost  warn; 
He  shrinks  at  beck'ning  shadows  hov'ring  near, 
As  from  the  gloom  his  former  comrades  peer, 

Their  eyes  aflame  with  scorn. 

With  open  shame  his  fevered  glances  rest 

Upon  the  fair  white  bar 
That  doth  to  strength  and  manliness  attest — 
The  emblem,  pinned  in  faith  upon  his  breast. 

That  shineth  like  a  star; 
Whose  princely  legend  he  until  the  end 
Had  vowed  to  keep,  had  vowed  to  e'er  defend 

From  infamy's  foul  scar. 

He  halts;  and  yet  the  dreaded  torch's  glow 

Flares  not  against  the  night; 
No  speeding  bullet  lays  the  body  low; 
No  shout  exultant  from  pursuing  foe 

Has  stayed  the  madd'ning  flight ; 
Yet,  lo,  he  turns,  his  footsteps  to  retrace. 
As  purpose,  new  born,   floods  the  weary   face, 

And  points  it  to  the  light. 

To  that  new  light  he  lifts  his  tired  eyes, 

Nor  yieldeth  to  look  down: 
And  speeding  on,  in  fancy  he  descrys 
The  prison  towers,  like  a  menace  rise, 

And  o'er  him  darkly  frown: 
Lo,  as  the  sounding  of  the  soul's  deep  call 
Impels  him  on,  the  fairest  gem  of  all 

Is  set  in  Honor^'s  crown ! 


REVIEWS 


"THE  THIRD  DEGREE" 

In  many  cities  the  police  have  administered  the 
"third  degree"  to  exact  confessions  from  men 
who  are  suspected  and  accused  of  crime. 

It  has  been  generally  conceded  that  this  prac- 
tice is  brutal  and  it  is  known  that  the  confessions 
thus  obtained  are  always  unreliable.  Innocent 
men,  at  times,  confess  to  crimes  to  save  them- 
selves from  further  beating  and  from  other  forms 
of  coercion. 

The  Georgia  senate  has  passed  a  bill  making  it 
unlawful  for  the  police  or  other  persons  to  sub- 
ject prisoners  to  any  of  that  kind  of  treatment. 

The  Pueblo,  Colo.,  Star-Journal,  commenting 
on  Georgia's  action,  says: 

"The  third  degree  is  a  relic  of  barbarism  and 
ought  to  be  banished  from  the  police  adminis- 
trations in  every  state  in  the  union.  The  third 
degree  is  used  on  the  theory  that  every  prisoner 
is  guilty  and  that  a  confession  must  be  forced 
from  him  regardless  of  the  methods  employed  to 
secure  it, 

"Under  the  third  degree  inhuman  treatment 
of  prisoners  is  the  prevailing  practice.  When  a 
suspect  reaches  the  limit  of  his  endurance  a  con- 
fession is  naturally  forthcoming  in  order  to  stop 
the  torture.  The  result  is  that  many  persons  are 
compelled  to  confess  to  crimes  of  which  they  are 
innocent.  Even  if  a  prisoner  is  guilty,  the  use  of 
barbarous  methods  is  inexcusable. 

"Those  responsible  for  the  detection  of  crime 
and  the  punishment  of  criminals  ought  to  find 
other  methods  for  securing  evidence  than  brutally 
forcing  it  from  stubborn  prisoners.  Public  opin- 
ion strongly  condemns  the  third  degree  and  its 
only  defenders  are  the  police  officials  who  cling 
to  ancient  ideas.  The  third  degree  should  be  dis- 
carded everywhere  and  those  who  persist  in  em- 
ploying it  should  be  punished  by  the  severest  of 
penalties." 

Judge  John  B.  Winslow,  chief  justice  of  the 
supreme  court  of  Wisconsin,  expresses  his  dis- 
approval of  the  practice  of  enforcing  confessions 
and  says  that  in  place  of  such  confessions  the  ac- 
cused person  should  be  put  upon  the  stand  and 
questioned  freely. 

He  thinks  this  will  more  surely  bring  out  the 
real  truth.    Judge  Winslow  says : 

"Extorted    confessions    are   notoriously    unre- 


October  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


513 


liable  and  I  would  not  compel  a  defendant  to  an- 
swer by  force  or  undue  i)ressure.  but  I  would 
put  him  where  he  may  be  questioned.  If  he  pre- 
fers not  to  answer,  the  court  should  be  at  liberty 
to  draw  all  natural  inferences  from  his  silence." 

The  "third  degree"  will  be  championed  by  po- 
licemen so  long  as  ignorant  men  remain  on  the 
force.  The  recommendation  attributed  to  Judge 
W'inslow  involves  an  amendment  to  the  Ignited 
States  Constitution. 


PRISON    LABOR    CONTRACTS 
EXPIRING 

The  general  tendency  in  the  states  of  the 
Union  is  to  abandon  the  contract  labor  system 
when  present  contracts  expire ;  but  in  the  pass- 
ing from  contract  to  some  other  form  of  prison 
labor,  some  states  are  experiencing  great  diffi- 
culty. 

Stark  county,  Ohio,  is  facing  the  requirement 
of  providing  employment  for  its  prisoners,  al- 
though one  contract  with  the  Worcester  Wire 
Novelty  Company  does  not  expire  for  two  years. 
Prosecutor  H.  C.  Pontius  is  leading  the  con- 
sideration of  the  question. 

A  statute  passed  in  1908  provides  that  the 
prisoners  of  the  state  shall  be  employed  to  pro- 
duce supplies  for  state  institutions  or  for  politi- 
cal divisions  thereof. 

The  county  workhouse  grounds  are  not  of 
sufficient  acreage  for  farming  purposes ;  the  gar- 
dening done  already  employs  all  the  men  that 
can  be  used. 

"There  must  be  some  definite  plan  arranged," 
says  the  Alliance,  Ohio,  Leader,  "in  order  to 
take  care  of  these  prisoners  when  the  indoor  in- 
dustry is  forced  to  end." 

At  present  the  workhouse  is  self-supporting. 

A  lime-stone  quarry  and  also  a  brick  manu- 
facturing plant  have  been  suggested.  The  ex- 
pense of  installing  these  is  considered  a  serious 
question  with  the  county.  County  Commissioner 
Cyrus  Stoner  says: 

"Something  must  be  provided.  The  work- 
house will  be  a  burden  on  the  county  unless 
something  of  the  sort  is  done.  We  made  no 
levy  for  that  institution  this  year  because  it  i.s 
self-supporting  under  the  present  arrangement." 

A  "serious  problem"  also  confronts  the  State 
Board   of    Control   of    Nebraska,    where   prison 


contract  labor  is  coming  to  an  end  and  where 
the  legislature  has  not  provided  money  for  the 
installation  of  .state  factories. 

Nebraska  has  about  three  hundred  and  fifty 
prisoners.  A  contract  with  a  broom  manufac- 
turer provides  for  employment  for  from  one 
hundred  twenty-five  to  one  hundred  fifty  men. 
It  is  arranged  that  the  contractor  shall  continue 
to  employ  about  one  himdred  men  and  that  the 
number  shall  be  gradually  reduced  until  only 
fifty  are  employed  when  the  contract  shall  cease. 
.\  binder  twine  plant  has  been  considered  but 
for  this  an  appropriation  of  $3,500  is  neces- 
sary. 

The  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  State  Journal  reports 
the  statement  of  the  Board  of  Control,  composed 
of  Judge  Holcomb,  Judge  Kennedy  and  Menry 
Ciank"^,  in  which  the  board  .says: 

"The  board  is  endeavoring,  although  it  is 
handicapped  in  many  ways,  to  find  emploNnicnt 
for  the  largest  possible  number  until  all  arc 
g^ven  employment,  but  the  conditions  now  are 
such  as  to  render  it  impossible  to  do  this  and  it 
will  take  some  little  time  to  work  out  the  prob- 
lem of  finding  suitable  employment  on  the  state's 
own  account  for  all  prisoners  confined  in  the 
penitentiary." 

The  Indiana  State  Reformatorv'  has  a  con- 
tract with  the  Indiana  Manufacturing  Company 
to  act  as  selling  agent  for  its  supplies  of  hollow- 
ware,  etc.  This  contract  expires  November  1, 
1915. 

The  agreement  with  the  company  provides  lor 
the  employment  of  three  hundred  inmates  but 
a  less  number  have  been  working.  The  labor 
iniions  have  fough'  Mi.-  agreement,  seeking  to 
have  it  annulled. 

Superintendent  Payson,  of  the  reformatory, 
says: 

"W  ith  the  expiration  of  the  at"^-  <  ""-nt  we  will 
have  to  find  other  means  of  ci.  cnt  for  a 

large  number  of  our  boys  and  young  men  who 
now  are  working  in  the  foundry  under  a 

contract  with  the  company.     I  long  have  

cated  establishing  a  place  where  prisoners  could 
be  taught  scientific  farming,  and  we  hope  to 
bring  the  matter  to  a  -   •  '    r.rc  the 

meeting  of  the  nex*  '  Inni- 

ary.  1915." 

.\  special  committee  appointed  by  the  Mis- 
souri legislature  has  recommended  that  the  sys- 
tem of  contract  lal)or  Ixr  abandoned  in  that  state. 


)14 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


The    Missouri    Republic    says    of    the    contract 
system : 

"The  system  is  approved  only  by  those  who 
look  to  the  financial  side  of  the  problem  of  prison 
management.  Students  of  penology  are  one  and 
all  against  it.  The  states  are  giving  it  up  and 
making  conspicuous  successes  of  other  systems, 
under  which  prison  authorities  have  full  control 
of  the  prison  and  all  its  inmates.  The  most 
active  supporters  of  the  system  are  men  who  get 
rich  by  hiring  men  in  prisons  for  less  than  they 
are  worth  anil  sell  prison-made  goods  in  compe- 
tition with  the  products  of  better  paid  free  labor. 

"The  whole  contest  over  the  contract-labor 
question  is  a  contest  of  dollars  against  men  and 
the  taxpayer  who  favors  the  contract  system  is 
on  the  dollar  side. 

"But  he  is  not  wise  here,  even  from  the  dol- 
lar viewpoint,  so  far  as  his  interests  are  con- 
cerned. Running  a  prison  in  a  way  which  in- 
creases the  number  of  confirmed  criminals  is 
not  good  economy  for  taxpayers.  Moreover,  the 
contract  system  is  not  the  only  system  under 
which  a  prison  can  be  made  to  pay  its  way.  The 
manufacture  of  goods  in  prisons  by  the  state  for 
the  use  of  the  state  and  public  institutions  of  all 
kinds  is  one  way  of  making  a  prison  self-sustain- 
ing. Prisons  can  also  pay  their  way  by  the  use 
of  the  men  in  road  work  and  by  selling  prison 
products  directly  to  the  state.  But  whatever  the 
system  may  be,  it  is  possible,  where  the  state 
controls,  to  give  emphasis  to  those  reforming 
and  humanizing  influences  which  replace  despair 
with  hope  and  at  least  set  the  prisoners  on  the 
way  to  better  things." 

The  Louisville  Courier-Journal  declares 
against   contract  labor  in   the   following  words : 

"Kentucky  has  made  some  advance  in  recent 
years,  but  the  contract  labor  system  remains  to 
be  eliminated.  This  will  be  done  in  course  of 
time.  In  other  respects  prison  conditions  in  the 
state  are  better  than  ever  before,  but  the  admin- 
istration of  the  prisons  never  can  be  what  it 
ought  to  be  so  long  as  the  demoralizing  effects 
and  influence  of  contract  labor  must  be  reckoned 
with  by  those  who  are  charged  with  prison  man- 
agement." 

Wisconsin  State  Reformatory  has  a  contract 
for  the  manufacture  of  overalls  which  is  soon 
to  expire.  The  State  Board  of  Control  and 
Superintendent  C.  W.  Bowron  propose  a  new 
class  of  work. 

"The  new  plan,"  says  the  De  Fere  Democrat, 
"is  to  have  the  prisoners  make  the  clothing  worn 
by  the  inmates  of  the  insane  asylums  of  the 
state.     A  study  of  what  is  needed  in  clothing 


for  the  insane  patients,  the  cost  of  manufactur- 
ing the  articles  and  other  expense  matters  in 
that  connection  is  being  made  by  the  officials." 
The  Bridewell,  Chicago,  recently  closed  the 
contract  system.  The  Chicago  News  makes  this 
report : 

"Contract  labor  gave  its  last  gasp  today  at  the 
house  of  correction.  When  the  whistle  blows 
tomorrow  night  the  last  100  prisoners  to  be  hired 
out  to  manufacturers  will  lay  down  their  tools 
and  with  that  act  will  go  the  spirit  of  sub- 
servience and  the  feeling  of  dejection  that, 
Superintendent  John  L.  Whitman  says,  is  char- 
acteristic of  all  men  when  they  feel  that  they  are 
being  exploited  for  the  profit  of  others.  For  a 
new  spirit  reigns  at  the  Bridewell;  a  spirit  of 
co-operation  and  readiness  to  work  that  has 
worked  a  great  change  in  the  attitude  of  the 
men  since  the  city  council  finally  decided  that 
contract  labor  had  to  go. 

"Hereafter  the  prisoners  will  work  for  the 
city  alone.  No  manufacturer  will  be  able  to  sell 
the  product  of  their  labor.  Their  goods  will  be 
used  on  the  public  streets  for  the  public  good. 
Sweepers  will  handle  the  brooms,  brushes  and 
scrapers;  men  in  white  uniforms  will  push  the 
galvanized  iron  carts  that  are  to  contain  refuse. 

"Street  signs  manufactured  by  the  hands  of 
men  in  the  Bridewell  will  be  used  on  the  streets ; 
printing  material  and  books  wall  see  service  in  the 
city  hall,  and  on  every  hand  the  municipal  gov- 
ernment will  make  use  of  the  work  of  the  men 
who  are  in  prison  because  they  abused  their 
libert^^" 

There  is  a  new  spirit  at  the  Bridewell.  Com- 
pared with  what  used  to  be,  the  men  w^ork 
rapidly  and  cheerfully. 

Superintendent  Whitman  says: 

"I  never  saw  anything  like  the  change  that  this 
new  system  has  brought  in  the  men.  See  those 
fellows  over  there  working  on  brooms?  They 
are  going  at  it  as  if  they  had  done  it  all  their 
lives  and  were  getting  a  commission  on  each 
broom.  They  know  for  whom  they  are  work- 
ing now.  Those  brooms  will  help  clean  up  the 
city  hall  and  other  buildings  owned  by  the  city, 
and  not  one  of  them  will  go  out  of  here  to  com- 
pete with  free  labor  in  the  market. 

"This  morning  we  received  an  order  for  forty 
dozen  brooms  from  the  city's  business  agent, 
and  tonight  they  will  go  out  of  here.  Every 
broom  will  be  a  new  one,  made  today  by  our 
own  labor. 

"Take  a  look  at  these  men  and  compare  them 
with  the  fellows  who  are  working  in  the  leather 
goods  factory  just  below  us.  There  is  a  world 
of    difiference.     Downstairs    the   men    are   still 


October  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


515 


under  the  contract  system,  the  last  group  to  be 
employed.  Tomorrow  the  shop  shuts  down  and 
they  will  work  on  the  city's  goods.  Today  they 
are  doing  their  work  perfunctorily,  and  that  is 
the  way  they  have  done  it  here  for  the  forty 
years  that  the  contract  labor  system  has  been 
in  use.  After  tomorrow  there  will  be  a  big 
change." 

Dr.  Frank  Moore,  of  the  New  Jersey  Re- 
formatory, says: 

"The  contract  labor  system  is  always  a  crim- 
inal-making as  well  as  a  commercial  factory. 
We  found  this  system  in  the  New  Jersey  reform- 
atory four  years  ago.  It  had  made  the  inmates 
desperate.  The  sullen,  furtive,  dogged  expres- 
sion was  on  their  faces,  their  conduct  was  des- 
perate and  their  souls  were  hopeless.  Since  its 
discontinuance  an  entire  change  has  come  in 
their  character.  The  rebellious  spirit  has  en- 
tirely disappeared.  The  serious  offense  against 
discipline  has  become  a  thing  of  the  past.  An 
atmosphere  of  hope  and  cheer  has  come  and  an 
era  of  good  feeling  has  dawned." 

®     @     ® 

PRISONERS'  APPRECIATION 

A  few  days  before  Mr.  M.  L.  Brown,  who  had 
been  at  the  head  of  the  West  Virginia  State 
Penitentiary,  left  that  oflfice  to  give  place  to  Sen- 
ator Mont  White,  his  successor  appointed  by 
Governor  Hatfield,  the  prisoners  gave  testimony 
of  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held.  The  Clarks- 
burg Telegram  says : 

"An  affecting  scene  was  enacted  in  the  state 
penitentiary  here  when  the  convicts  were  in- 
formed that  M.  L.  Brown  would  no  longer  be 
at  the  head  of  that  institution.  Scores  of  the 
prisoners  wept.  The  prisoners  declare  the  War- 
den has  exercised  a  sort  of  patemal  relation  to- 
ward them.  He  has  made  prison  life  endurable, 
they  say,  and  has  sent  money  to  the  families  of 
many  of  them  out  of  his  own  pocket." 

Another  instance  of  appreciation  of  a  good  offi- 
cer was  at  the  U.  S.  Penitentiary  at  Atlanta,  Ga., 
when  recently  Deputy  Warden  Wilbcr  Hawk 
closed  his  work  there.  An  Atlanta  ncwspajx-r 
describes  the  incident  as  follows : 

"There  is  no  doubt  that  Deputy  Warden  Hawk 
has  made  a  record  that,  if  not  unique  in  prison 
history,  has  no  parallel  of  which  we  know,  for  he 
leaves  with  the  affections  of  the  men  he  ruled 
with  a  firm  but  kindly  authority.  Not  only  has 
the  federal  prison  lost  a  beneficent  force,  but  the 
retirement  of  Mr.  Hawk  from  the  field  deprives 


prison  reform  of  one  of  its  most  intelligent  aids. 
His  resignation  led  to  a  demonstration  probably 
never  before  witnessed  on  the  occasion  of  the  re- 
tirement of  a  prison  official.  The  news  got  around 
on  l>i(!ay  morning  before  any  authorized  state- 
ment had  been  made,  and  the  effect  on  the  men 
was  remarkable.  That  it  fell  as  a  blow  was  evi- 
dent. There  was  no  opportunity  for  anything 
like  an  expression  of  sentiment  or  emotion  until 
the  evening  meal  hour,  though  a  good  many  of 
the  men  found  the  chance  to  speak  to  the  deputy 
at  his  ofTice.  Everyone  had  the  desire  to  do  some- 
thing as  an  indication  of  his  jK^rsonal  regret,  but 
some  of  the  leading  spirits  suggestetl  that  an  ap- 
l)ropriate  act  would  be  for  each  prisoner  to  give 
a  military  salute  as  he  filed  by  the  deputy,  where 
he  stood,  in  his  accustomed  i>ost  at  the  exit  door. 
The  first  men  going  out  did  this;  but  it  was  not 
enough  for  some,  and,  imj)ulsively,  hands  were 
thrust  out  for  a  handclasp.  'Hie  emotion  of  the 
deputy  changed  from  surprise  to  deep  feeling ;  he 
was  visibly  affected.  The  men  still  seated,  nearly 
KOO  of  them,  seeing  this,  broke  through  their  en- 
forced reserve  and  sent  up  a  sudden  cheer  that 
was  heard  beyond  the  prison  walls. 

"Three  times  they  cheered,  and  then  after  a 
moment's  lull,  another  rousing  cheer  told  the 
deputy,  more  eloquently  than  words  could  do,  in 
what  affectionate  and  respectful  estimation  the 
men  held  him.  The  hand  shaking  at  the  door 
continued  until  the  last  man  filed  by,  and  tears 
fell  from  eyes  that  probably  had  not  felt  the 
tt»uch  of  such  softening  drops  for  many  a  year. 
The  deputy  himself  could  not  restrain  a  sym- 
pathetic response,  and  his  own  eyes  were  suffused 
in  spite  of  his  efforts  at  composure.  When  the 
men  had  gone  to  their  cells,  the  cheering  broke 
out,  some  of  them  being  able  to  sec  the  deputy 
as  he  passed  into  the  main  corridor." 

A  man  who  has  been  long  in  the  prison  said: 

"I  have  been  under  seventeen  deputies  in  my 
life,  but  this  is  the  first  time  I  have  ever  Inren 
under  a  real  man,  and  I  feel  like  I  am  losing  my 
best  friend." 

Also,  $200  was  raised  among  the  prisoners  and 
$100  by  the  officers  with  which  to  buy  a  remem- 
brance for  Mr.  Hawk. 

At  Sing  Sing  the  prisoners  have  expressed 
their  high  appreciation  of  the  efforts  of  their 
principal  keei^-r,  Mr.  Martin  Terry,  who  has 
done  much  to  make  the  new  play  spells  at  Sing 
Sing  as  pleasant  as  possible.  A  testimonial  en- 
grossed in  colors  and  signed  by  the  men  under 
Mr.  Terry's  charge  was  presented  to  him.  The 
engrossment  is  the  work  of  one  of  the  prisoners. 


516 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


CONDEMNED    JAILS    AND    IMPROVE- 
MENT 

There  is  a  growing  criticism  of  the  condition 
of  jails  in  many  parts  of  the  country  and  out  of 
this  criticism  there  is  arising  a  public  interest  in 
giving  better  care  to  the  men  and  women  who 
must  be  locked  up.  It  is  being  learned  that  the 
way  in  which  persons  have  been  housed  and 
treated  in  the  jails  and  prisons  of  the  country, 
does  not  contribute  to  public  good.  The  condi- 
tions in  jails  and  prisons  foster  crime  instead  of 
curing  it.  It  is  being  realized  that,  in  the  in- 
terest of  public  welfare,  some  change  must  come 
and  the  change  is  gradually  coming. 

Mr.  W.  H.  Whittaker,  superintendent  of  the 
District  of  Columbia  Workhouse,  says: 

"The  average  jails  are  a  disgrace  to  civiliza- 
tion and  cesspools  for  the  breeding  of  disease 
and  crime." 

The  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Nezvs,  commenting  on 
ilie  condition  of  the  Birmingham,  Ala.,  jail, 
which  has  recently  been  in  question,  says : 

"It  is  surprising  that  Birmingham,  which  goes 
in  for  progress  along  all  lines  would  stand  for 
the  present  jail  conditions  in  Jefferson  county. 
The  present  building  is  declared  to  be  insanitary, 
very  poorly  located  and  frequently  overcrowded. 

The  state  jail  inspector  can  do  two  things,  if 
the  county  does  not  pay  attention  to  his  de- 
mands. He  can  order  the  removal  of  prisoners 
to  other  counties  or  to  state  institutions  or  he 
can  ask  the  governor  to  pardon  prisoners  and  in 
that  manner  reduce  the  number  in  the  county 
jail. 

Dr.  W.  H.  Oates,  State  Prison  Inspector  for 
.\labama,  asserts  that  something  must  be  done  at 
once  to  improve  the  jail  conditions  at  Birming- 
ham : 

"As  state  jail  inspector  I  have  certain  power 
— to  require  the  correction  of  insanitary  human 
prisons — and  as  to  the  Jefferson  county  jail  I 
have  reached  the  end  of  my  rope,  and  I  will  act. 
I  desire  to  see  this  county  equipped  with  a  jail 
which  is  sanitary,  which  is  hygienic  and  which 
will  afford  the  unfortunates  incarcerated  therein 
some  fresh  air  and  some  of  God's  own  sunlight. 
As  it  is  they  are  denied  this  under  conditions 
that  do  not  appeal  to  me  in  the  slightest. 

"This  situation  that  I  have  commented  on  be- 
fore is  not  the  fault  of  the  sheriff,  but  must  be 
corrected.  I  will  confer  with  the  members  of 
the  board  of  revenue  today.     I  do  not  know  at 


this  time  what  1  will  ask  them  to  do.     I  believe 
the  best  thing  is  to  build  a  new  jail." 

The  attention  of  U.  S.  Marshall  Sims  has  been 
called  to  the  condition  of  the  jail  in  Greenville 
County,  South  Carolina.  The  Columbia,  South 
Carolina  State  makes  this  report: 

"Marshal  Sims  said  that  he  regarded  the 
prison  as  insanitary  and  inhumane.  The  mar- 
shal went  on  to  say  that  the  local  prison  was  one 
of  the  worst  in  all  this  section  of  the  country. 
He  said  that  unless  something  was  done  soon  the 
government  would  remove  all  prisoners  that 
the  county  is  now  keeping  under  federal  sen- 
tences. The  county  jail  here  is  very  old  and  small. 
There  are  practically  no  sanitary  conveniences, 
according  to  the  modern  idea  of  sanitation.  Pris- 
oners are  often  crowded  in  the  cells  almost  like 
cattle." 

The  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  Pioneer  Press  says: 

"St.  Paul's  police  stations,  particularly  those 
portions  where  prisoners  are  housed,  are  in- 
sanitary, poorly  ventilated  and  overcrowded.  All 
the  stations,  with  the  exception  of  the  central 
station,  were  condemned  by  the  state  board  about 
two  years  ago,  but  their  use  was  not  forbidden 
owing  to  an  understanding  that  the  city  planned 
to  build  new  stations.  The  new  ones  have  never 
been  built  and  little  or  no  improvement  has  been 
made  in  the  condemned  structures." 

Commissioner  Henry  McCall,  who  has  been 
giving  attention  to  St.  Paul's  police  stations,  says 
that  the  stations  are  too  small,  that  they  are  in- 
sanitary and  poorly  ventilated.  Enforcement  of 
the  condemnation  order  is  to  be  withheld  to  give 
the  city  opportunity  to  improve  the  conditions. 

The  Brooklyn  Eagle  makes  this  statement  con- 
cerning the  Brooklyn  city  prison : 

"The  cells  are  all  dark.  None  of  them  are 
built  toward  the  outside,  walls  of  the  building, 
but  they  are  all  built  toward  the  center,  with  the 
doors  of  the  outer  tiers  facing  the  windows  and 
the  doors  of  the  inner  tiers  facing  each  other. 
The  cells  are  all  equally  dark,  or  at  least  it  seemed 
as  if  there  were  little  choice  between  them  in  this 
respect.  The  prisoners,  after  their  hour  of  morn- 
ing exercise  in  the  prison  yard,  were  for  the  most 
part,  reclining  on  their  beds,  which  fold  up 
against  the  wall  when  not  in  use.  But  the  cells 
were  very  dark,  there  was  no  electric  light  in 
them,  and  the  few  prisoners  who  were  attempting 
to  read,  were  crouched  up  against  the  heavy  iron 
bars,  in  order  to  get  the  little  light  there  was." 

^Ir.  M.  W.  Woods,  superintendent  of  the  As- 


October  1.   1914                                           THE  JOLIET  PRISON   POST.                                                                  517 

sociated  Charities  of   Wichita,  speaking  of  the  "I  plead  for  the  farm  as  a  citizen,  who  wants 

Wichita  jail  and  of  the  condition  of  jails  in  gen-  service  as  well  as  economy,  as  a  practical  social 

eral,  says:  worker  desiring  constructive  social  effort,  and  as 

a  Qjristian  who  believes  that  the  least  wc  can 

"Our  jail  develops  and  fosters  petty  crime.    In  do  is  to  give  a  square  deal  even  to  the  man  who 

conversation  with  many  petty  criminals,  I  have  is  a  blot  and  a  stain  and  a  burden  to  society.     I 

not  found  one  that  looks  upon  a  jail  sentence  as  believe  that  the  very  least  Wichita  can  do  for  thi^ 

anything  more  than  a  joke.    The  capacity  of  our  problem,  is  to  get  busy  on  the  job." 

jail  is  only  for  twenty- four    persons    and    this  The  Barton,  Fla.,  Record,  reports  a  new  jail 

morning  there  are  thirty-three  persons  crowded  of  modern  construction  for  Polk  County: 
into  it. 

"At  one  time  I  saw  the  jail  with  the  capacity  "Work  on  the  new  jail  Iniilding  is  well  up  on 

of  twenty- four  crowded  with  one  hundred  and  the  second  story  and  is  progressing  rapidly  and 

forty-six  persons,  and  I  have  known  for  weeks  when  completed  will  be  a  credit  to  Polk  county 

at  a  time  that  jail  to  hold  an  average  of  sixty,  Not  a  credit  because  it  will  always  have  one  or 

the   vicious,   brutal   prisoner    taking     from    the  more  inmates,  but  a  credit  because  it  is  a  $50,000 

timid  and  the  weak  all  the  accommodations.  structure  of  modern  constniction  in  which  pris- 

"I  do  not  believe  that  there  is  a  fair-minded  oners  can  be  safely  kept  and  given  humane  treat- 
man  but  who  will  agree  that  it  is  absolutely  vi-  mcnt." 


cious  for  men  to  be  herded  together  in  an  insani- 
tary, foul  smelling  hole  in  absolute  idleness  and 

at  a  cost  to  the  city  for  meals  alone  an  average  SOCIAL  INTEREST  IN  THE  INDI- 

of  $220.25   a  month,  giving  nothing  in   return  VIDUAL 
for  this  expense,  other  than  the  return  for  which 

society  must  pay  the  large  price  in  the  new  petty  As  the  social  value  of  helping  men  to  grow 

crimes  hatched  during  those  long  hours  of  idle-  out  of  the  tendency  to  commit  wrongs,  becomes 

ness  and  in  the  low  moral  tone  of  the  individual  ,^^^^g  ^^^^^^  ^y^^  attitude  of  society  toward  th. 

who  is  thus  confined."  ,      ,                 v»    t     «•           u               ^. 

person  who  has  committed  offense  changes,     r 

Mr.  Woods  proposes  in  place  of  the  ever  over-  jg  i^^^j^g  learned  that  society  will  be  heljHrd  mon 

crowded  unhealthy  jail,  a  municipal  form  to  be  ^y  aiding  the  man  who  has  done  wrong  than  b\ 

put  into  shape  and  worked  by  the  prisoners.  Two  merely  punishing  him. 

paid   foremen  of  constniction  and  two  guards,  jj^^  ^^^-^^^  interest  will  be  to  see  how  man> 

are  the  only  persons  needed  besides  the  prisoners  persons  can  be  kept  out  of  prison  rather  than 

themselves.     Mr.  Woods  says :  ^^  5^^  1,^^^  ,„3ny  ^^^  i^^  s^nt  to  prison.     "The 

"This  alone  would  return  to  the  city  a  real  as-  criminal   should   be  studied,"  says  the  Chicago 

set  in  material  improvements  instead  of  the  ab-  Tribune,   "not   after  sentence   has   been   passed 

solute  waste  as  it  is  today,  when  a  man  is  al-  ^j^^,^  j^j,,^  3„j1  j^^  j^as  been  confined  in  an  institu- 

lowed  to  sit  out  his  fine  at  one  dollar  a  day  m  ^^  ^^^^  ^.^^  ^^  .^  ^^.^^j      ^^^  ^^^^,^  ^^ 

vicious  idleness  in  an  insanitary  crowded  hole.  '         ,       .      , .    .           •       ,  • 

"I  honestly  believe  from  a  study  of  this  prop-  ^wh  study  should  detemnne  his  sentence. 

osition  for  several  years  that  it  would  decrease  The    Tribune    then    declares    that    Chicago    is 

the  cost  of  caring  for  city  prisoners,  as  with  ten  doing  this  now.  and  then  proceeds: 
acres  under  intense  cultivation  the  larger  part  of 

the  expense  of  feeding  would  be  met.     It  now  "Our  conception  of  the  criminal  is  changing 

costs  to  feed  our  prisoners  in  a  very  unsatis-  When  a  man,  and  -            lly  a  young  man,  a  firM 

factory  way,  $220.25  a  month,  and  it  is  plain  to  offender,  is  brouf^iu   .v  i..re  the  '■•     where  hi^ 

be  seen  that  the  saving  here  would  offset  perhaps  future,  his  entire  life  hangs  in              •  .  we  hcsi 

a  little  heavier  expense  some  other  place.  tate.     Instead  of  accepting  the  evidence  of  guilt 

"I  do  not  believe  that  the  taxpayers  want  to  without    question    and    meting   out    punishment 

put  it  on  this  low  basis,  but  on  the  broad  humani-  accordingly,  we  have  learned  to  look  for 

tarian  basis  of  a  .square  deal  for  the  man  who  We  are  beginning  to  proceed   ufwn   the   :    _ 

has  not  had  a  chance  and  who  perhaps  is  a  prod-  that  no  man  would  willingly  thrust  a  knife  into 

uct  of  our  social  system,  or  the  man  who  un-  his  own  back— and  that  is  what  committing  a 

wittingly  went  wrong,  or  who  is  the  victim  of  his  crime  and  being  sent  to  jail  or  the  gallows  for 

own  weakness  and  evil  habits,  as  well  as  for  the  it   means.      Wc   inquire,  therefore,   why   did   he 

quiet  law  abiding  citizen  who  is  a  victim  of  the  do  it?     Was  he  misled  by  improper  surround 

depredation  of  the  man  who  goes  wrong.  ings?    Was  it  want  and  i>overty  that  forced  him 


.j8                                                      THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  First  Year 

to  criminal  ways?     Or  was  it,  perhaps,  natural  and   discharged   convicts   and   to   help   wayward 

disadvantages?     Is  his  brain  defective?     Is  he  youths." 

suffering  from  injury  or  disease  which   makes  ^^    ^    Whittaker,  superintendent  of  the  Dis- 

him  irresponsible,  and  consequently  a  subject  tor  r^,       i-     iir    lu               -^u      i           i 

the  hospital,  the  sanitarium,  or  insane  asylum  tnct  of  Columbia  Workhouse,  with  a  large  farm 

instead  of  for  the  reformatory,  the  prison,  or  at  Occoquan,  Virginia,  declares : 

the  gallows?                                              ^  "Modem  penology,  in  order  to  aid  social  pro- 

"In  this  new  attitude  toward  the  criminal  we  gress,  must  sentence  its  unkempt,  immoral  and 

are  not  alone.    Most  of  the  advanced  nations  of  diseased  citizens  to  an  indefinite  term  of  sun- 

the  world  have  adopted  it.    The  old  theory  that  shine,  fresh  air  and  honest  work,  with  such  sys- 

the  criminal  is  a  special  type,  is  of  a  race  apart,  ^^^  ^s  will  make  them  an  asset,  rather  than  a 

has  given  away  before  scientific  research.     En-  liability,  when  returned  to  society." 

vironment— bad  environment— poverty,  and  dis-  .         ,     .   i^ru-.^  i                a   ^u  ,. 

ease  are  coming  to  be  accepted  pretty  widely  Superintendent   Whittaker  urged   that   courts 

as  the  chief  sources  of  crime.     Thus  often  too  could   accomplish   more   beneficial    results   in    a 

great  emphasis  on  environment  has  been  assailed  great  per  cent  of  cases  by  a  friendly  word  of 

from  many  quarters.     Among  those  disapprov  ^^couragement  to   the  minor  offender  than  by 

ing  of   such   overstraining  of   the   environment  *' 

theory   and   neglecting   heredity   and    other    in-  sentencing  him  to  prison. 

fluences  entirely,  is  the  noted  Italian  student  of  "Many  of  the  cases  that  come  to  the  police 

the    subject,    Baron    Raffaele    Carofalo,    whose  ^^^   criminal    courts    for    minor    offenses,"   he 

monumental  work  on  'Criminology'  has  just  been  .    j     «         •  i  •  •         „u ^    rsf 

published  in  English.  ^^s^^ed,   "reqmre   only   supervision,   change   o 

"Nevertheless,    this    view    is    gaining    ground  surroundings    and    a   new   home.      Institutional 

and,  even  according  to  Baron  Carofalo,  has  al-  treatment  should  be  the  last  remedy." 
ready  done  much  good,   for  it  has  acted  as  a 

check  on  the  tendency  to  impose  haphazard  sen-  .    <©     ■©     ® 
tences  on  criminals — the  sort  of  sentences  which 

are  characterized  as  a  'leap  in  the  dark'   and  ALABAMA  IN  LINE  FOR  IMPROVE- 

harm  both  the  criminal  and  society."  MENT 

Michigan,   in   a   very   practical   and   effective  ^^    ^    q^^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^-^^^  inspector  of  Ala- 
way,  has  taken  up  the  matter  of  keeping  persons  ^^^^^^  ^^^^^^^     ^^^^^.^^^  ^^^  p^^^^^^  p^^^l  3^^. 

out  of  prison.     Warden   Simpson  of  the  state  ,,               ,        .                     •     i     r       u 

'                                      ^  tem  as     an  anachronism — a  survival  of  a  bar- 

pnson  says:  .            „ 

banc  past. 

"Seven  times  during  the  last  few  months  this  "In    its   theory,"    he    said,    "it    is   beautifully 

prison  has  received  boys  scarcely  out  of  their  adapted  to  the  end  sought,  but  in  its  practical 

teens   who   had   been    found   guiltv   of   murder.  ■,    ■   •  j.    ^-          j.    ■       u     i  ,4^  i      A^^*^^„,^^\.rc.    r.( 

■II r^ ^^^„        I      1  u      1    1    u     •'                      •  administration,    it   is    absolutely    destructive   ot 

We  propose    a    hard-headed    business    proposi-  ">^"""'^'-^°>-      .                              ■'             . 

ticn,  the  object  of  which  shall  be  to  save  young  that  desired  result."     Periods  of  imprisonment, 

men    from   going   wrong   and   protect   life   and  Mr.   Gates  declared,   should  be  devoted  to  the 

property."  "physical   regeneration,  intellectual  development 

The  plan  which  the  Michigan  State  Prison  is  and  moral  instruction"  of  the  prisoner, 

beginning  to  carry  out  in  order  to  effect  this  pur-  "Under  the  present  system,"  he  continued,  "a 

pose  is  thus  stated  in  the  Chicago  Post:  convict  is  worked  to  produce  revenue.     For  the 

time  being  he  is  an  animal,  a  beast  of  burden, 

vnnnV'L!n%    r'    ""^"^    ^v'^'''^    of    keeping  a  slave ;  his  moral  and  intellectual  facultics  be- 

>oung  men  out  of  prison,  aiding  paroled  convicts  .                     .      ,             ,           j  j-    i. 

to  keep  the  promises  they  made  to  prison  author-  '"&  unexercised,  atrophy  and  die. 

ities  and  preventing  discharged  prisoners   from  Mr.   Gates  told  of   reforms  accompHshed   in 

coming  back,  the  management  of  the  state  prison  Alabama,  the  remodeling  of  prisons  with  espe- 

yesterday   announced    the   establishment    of    an  cial  provisions  that  they  are  made  sanitary  and 

extension  work  department.  ,     ,              ,.  ,  .        j    «•      u     • 

"Lectures  by  men  officially  connected  with  the  '^  constructed  that  sunlight  and  fresh  air  may 

Michigan   penitentiaries,   and   other  penologists,  ^^  freely  admitted. 

will   be   delivered   before   various   organizations  ai  u                 j       ..u               4.u  ^^     o4-of..o    ^^^ 

and  at  special  meetings  throughout  Michigan.    It  Alabama    and    other    southern    states    are 

also  has  been  planned  to  organize  associated  de-  adopting  the   new   attitude  toward   prisoners 

partments  in  different  districts  to  assist  paroled  which  is  proving  so  beneficial  in  the  North. 


October  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


510 


EDITORIALS  FROM 
PRISON  JOURNALS 


These    editorials    arc    abridged    when    it    is    practicable    to    do 
50  and  still   to   preserve   unimpaired   the  principal   thought. 


To  Mr.  General  Public 

It  is  not  often  that  we  of  the  jjreat  brotherhood 
of  shut-in  men  and  women,  have  the  op])ortunity 
to  confer  directly  with  the  great  c^eneral  i)ublic. 
Through  the  courtesy  of  Warden  Preston  E. 
Thomas,  we  are  presenting  to  you,  Mr.  General 
Public,  ten  thousand  copies  of  our  prison  paper, 
every  line  of  which  has  been  written,  edited  and 
printed  by  ourselves.  W^e  want  you  to  take  this 
paper  home  with  you — it  is  our  message  from 
itnthin  the  walls  to  yon — read  it  carefully  and 
ask  yourself  if  our  efforts  to  fit  ourselves  for 
a  place  in  society's  ranks  are  worthy  of  your 
support  ? 

In  other  columns  you  will  read  of  the  great 
shops,  the  whir  of  machinery  and  the  trip  of 
the  hammer,  telling  of  the  busy  "what-not"  of 
industry  engaged  in  by  the  sixteen  hundred  toilers 
expiating  worldly  sins  in  your  very  midst.  You 
will  read  of  a  marvelous  school  where  more  than 
three  hundred  matured  men,  twenty-five  of  them 
lifetime  prisoners,  are  striving  valiantly  to  mas- 
ter the  rudiments  of  reading  and  writing. 
Throughout  you  will  glean  that  the  mighty  ma- 
chinery of  the  state  prison  is  daily  grinding  out 
an  overflowing  measure  of  return  to  the  state 
whose   dignity    we    have    outraged. 

We  are  a  city  within  a  city.  Sixteen  hundred 
hearts  beat  beneath  our  shirts.  Sixteen  hundred 
souls  are  in  the  process  of  purging  and  sixteen 
hundred  future  good  citizens,  or  future  leeches 
on  the  body  of  society,  are  in  the  process  of 
making. 

We  want  to  present  the  entire  prison  problem 
as  we  see  it — present  it  to  you  fairly  and  square- 
ly— and  then  see  what  you  think  of  it.  .After 
all  it  is  you,  Mr.  General  Public,  who  decides 
the  question  as  to  who's  right,  not  the  political 
climbers ! 

To  sum  up:  We  add  nearly  a  thousand  new- 
comers to  our  ranks  each  year  and  we  turn  loose 
upon  your  communities  hundreds  of  men  and 
women  each  year.  In  the  great  swirl  and  mael- 
strom of  our  high-gear  civilization,  these  "social 
pariahs" — as  we  are  termed— become  an  integral 
part  of  the  community.  I'.y  confirming  and  sup- 
porting genuine  reformative  measures  such  as 
are  now  in  operation  here,  xve  absolutely  guaran- 
tee the  continued  purity  of  your  homes,  your 
families  and  your  social  system. 

Humane  treatment,  shorn  of  all  sentiment,  is 
in  fact  simply  what  Warden  Thomas  is  practic- 


ing every  day.  It  is  tiatural  treatment.  It  is 
giving  men  and  women  a  chance  to  l)cttcr  their 
condition,  mentally,  morally  and  j)hysically,  dur- 
ing their  stay  in  prison  an<l  is  helping  them  to 
help  themselves  when  released. — Ohio  State 
Penitentiary  Nnvs.  state  fair  edition. 

Education  and  Opportunity  for  Prisoners 

The  great  matter  of  educating  the  men  con- 
fined for  crime,  is  Incoming  more  and  more 
important  as  the  people  come  to  understantl  the 
good  that  may  come  from  it.  Education  is  soon 
to  be  inaugurated  in  all  corrective  and  penal 
institutions  in  America.  This  is  shown  in  nearly 
all  the  reports  of  prison  committees  on  investi- 
gation. \\  here  there  has  been  an  honest  effort 
to  learn  the  reason  for  crime,  it  is  found  that 
about  eighty  per  cent  of  the  inmates  are  nearly 
illiterate,  or  do  not  average  a  better  percentage 
than  the  fourth  grade. 

Under  present  coinlitions  it  is  next  to  im- 
possible for  a  man  to  enter  a  reformatory  or 
penitentiary  and  leave  there  better  equipped  to 
fight  the  battle  of  life.  Most  of  the  institutions 
have  little  systematic  educational  direction  and  a 
bit  of  effort  in  that  line  would  develop  a  special 
interest  that  would  be  of  economic  value  l)oth  to 
the  taxpayers  and  the  inmates. 

A  modern  educator  would  set  a  goal  for  the 
inmate  to  strive  for  and  in  that  way  would  a<hl 
zest  to  the  game.  He  would  learn  the  individual 
aptitude  of  the  student  and  apply  him>.clf  to 
bringing  out  the  latent  talent  the  inmate  might 
have  for  a  particular  study.  Whether  it  is  dairy 
farming  or  journalism  wouUl  make  no  diflrcrcnrc 
to  the  instructor,  for  his  aim  would  l>c  to  so  fit 
the  inmate  to  take  his  place  in  society  as  to  leave 
no  excuse  if  again  he  should  break  the  law. 

The  time  is  coming  when  the  recidivist  who 
has  had  an  opportunity  will  be  placed  in  an  insti- 
tution apart  from  tho^e  who  have  neyer  enjoyed 
his  chance  and  he  will  be  kept  there  under  a 
different  arrangement  than  is  now  in  vogtic  in 
America.  This  new  institution  will  in  reality 
be  punitive  while  the  ones  for  edti  l  pur- 

poses will  not  be  affected  by  its  in:  .;  ;.  The 

Inde.r.  ll'nshinoton  ."^tate  Reformatory. 

Each  person  who  sends  in  a  contribution  must 
remember  always  to  put  his  name  and  number 
on  the  manuscript.  We  cannot  use  manuscript 
that  is  not  signed  and  besides  wc  may  need  to 
communicate  with  the  jKrson  who  furnishes  it. 
Write  your  name  and  number  plainly  on  every- 
thing sent  to  this  office.  The  name  will  not 
appear  in  print  unless  the  contributor  so  desires. 


.-,30 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 

REPRINTS 


First  Yeai 


The    headings   of    the    reprints   are    written    by   the    editors    ot 
this  magazine. 


sc 
to 


Canada  Commission  Would  Let  Nature  Help  Con- 
victs to  Redeem  Themselves 

[Reprinted    from    New    Orleans,    La..    States] 

"Old  Mother  Nature  is  a  kind  nurse  to  the  fellow 
who  is  at  all  disposed  to  get  back  to  his  better  self. 
Men  who  have  lived  their  lives  in  narrowly  circum- 
ribcd  areas  and  have  fallen  into  crime  arc  likely 
receive  moral  and  physical  stimulus  from  the 
open  air  and  sunshine." 

On  these  grounds  the  Canadian  Royal  Commis- 
sion gives  outdoor  work  first  place  in  the  recom- 
mendations for  the  development  of  the  Canadian 
prison  industries  outlined  in  its  report,  which  has 
just  been  released.  Work  on  the  highways  is  prob- 
ably the  most  important  of  the  things  that  can  be 
done  outdoors. 

The  commission  was  appointed  a  year  ago  to  in- 
visti&ate  the  conduct  and  administration  of  the 
Dominion  penitentiaries,  with  a  view  to  bringing 
about  methods  which  will  promote  the  reformation 
of  the  prisoners. 

Many  of  the  prisons  of  this  country  were  visited, 
and  the  commission  also  journeyed  to  New  York 
for  conferences  over  the  labor  problem  with  repre- 
sentatives of  the  National  Committee  on  Prison 
Labor. 

The  stand  taken  by  the  National  Committee  on 
Prison  Labor  against  the  contract  system  is  en- 
dorsed by  the  commission.  It  suggests,  when  the 
prisoner  is  employed  indoors,  he  should  manufac- 
ture clothing,  boots  and  shoes,  blankets,  tents,  etc., 
for  the  mounted  police  and  the  militia;  also  mail 
bags  and  rural  mail  boxes,  as  well  as  the  articles 
usually  manufactured  in  our  prisons. 

But,  above  all,  the  commission  approves  outdoor 
work,  preferably  on  the  farm  or  in  stone  crushing. 
Farm  worlc  has  proved  a  successful  means  of  em- 
ploying the  misdemeanor  prisoners  in  the  province 
of  Ontario,  and  its  development  in  the  Dominion 
penitentiaries  is  urged. 

Road  work  is  also  suggested  in  the  report,  but  the 
commissioners  have  the  old  fear  that  exposure  to 
the  public  eye  is  scarcely  fair  to  the  prisoners.  The 
stretches  of  stone  roads  built  long  ago  by  the  con- 
victs in  Australia  are  referred  to  as  proof  that  ex- 
cellent roads  can  be  built  by  convicts,  but  the  com- 
mission sees  also  the  chains  and  other  degradations 
which  attended  the  building  of  these  roads. 

Such  things  have  passed  away  in  the  road  camps 
of  the  Western  States,  where  the  men  work  under 
the  honor  system.  In  Ohio  the  gangs  of  prisoners 
working  on  the  roads  cannot  be  distinguished  from 
gangs  of  free  wotkingmen. 

Road  building  is  a  valuable  factor  in  the  develop- 


ment of  the  industrial  system  of  a  prison,  while  the 
sense  of  freedom  which  attends  it  can  contribute 
greatly  to  the  upbuilding  of  the  prisoner.  More- 
over it  trains  the  prisoner  for  a  field  in  which  there 
is  constant  demand  for  laborers  and  where  there  is 
every  opportunity  for  one  who  wishes  to  make  good. 


Warden    Henry    Wolfer    of    Stillwater    Minn.    State 
Prison  Recommends  Road  Work  by  Prisoners 

[Reprinted  from  Bemidji,  Minn.,   Pioneer] 
Employment    for    prisoners     at    Stillwater     state 
prison  on  road  work,  as  approved  by  the  Northern 
Minnesota    Development    Association,    is    urged    in 
the  biennial  report  of  Warden  Henry  Wolfer,  who 
retires  Oct.  10,  to  the  state  board  of  control,  made 
public  today.    As  an  alternative  Wolfer  recommends 
that  a  third  state  industry  be  found  to  go  with  the 
twine   plant  and  the  harvester  factory.     About  250 
prisoners  employed  heretofore  in  the  shoe  factory, 
are  now  on  the  warden's  hands,   as   the   shoe   con- 
tract   expired   Tuesday.      They   are    being   used    to 
clean   up   the   grounds   at  the   new  prison,   and   this 
will  keep  them  busy  for  some  time,  but  eventually 
work  must  be  found.    The  attorney-general  has  held 
that  prisoners  cannot  be  used  on  road  work  without 
amending  the  constitution.     Wolfer's  plan  is  for  the 
state  to  acquire  rock  quarries  and  employ  convicts 
on  them  in  the  winter  months  in  movable  camps  of 
about   fifty   prisoners    each.      In    summer   he   would 
use  them  in  road  building.     Wolfer  strongly  urges 
a  separate  building  for  women  prisoners,  to  be  built 
near  the  new  prison,  and  suggests  that  it  would  be 
built  by  prison  labor  at  a  cost  of  $40,000.    In  the  last 
two    years,    the    report    says,    the    state    industries, 
manufacture   of  binding   twine   and   harvesting   ma- 
chinery, have  earned  a  net  profit  of  $687,794.17,  after 
charging  up  75  cents  a  day  for  each  man  employed 
and  crediting  it  to  the   institution   support,   and  an 
average  of  25  cents  a  day  for  the  benefit  of  inmates. 
In   the   last  year  the  plant  made   19,481,410  pounds 
of  twine  and  11,155  harvesters.     The  twine  plant  is 
large  enough  now,  the  report  says,  but  the  harvester 
plant    can    be    increased   and   for   the    next   year   he 
expects  14,000  machines  will  be  turned  out.     Fami- 
lies of  twenty-eight  prisoners  are  being  given  spe- 
cial aid,  ranging  from  $5  to  $30  a  month.     The  per 
capita  cost  of  prisoners  last  year  was  $238.53.     The 
prison  population  was  1,069  at  the  beginning  of  the 
year   and   1,131    at   the    close,    including   242   federal 
prisoners.     There  are  123  prisoners  on  parole.     Out 
of  285  life  prisoners  who  have  been   committed   to 
the  prison  to  date,  121  are  still  there,  37  have  died, 
48  have  been  pardoned,  4  discharged  by  court  pro- 
ceedings, 60  have  had  terms  commuted,  of  whom  15 
are   still  serving  new  sentences,   and  15   have  been 
transferred   to   asylums.     The   warden   recommends 
strongly  a  new  institution   for  criminal   insane,  and 
says  it  would  start  with  200  inmates  weeded  out  of 
the  prison  and  asylums  for  the  insane. 


October  1.   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


i2l 


Paroled  Prisoner  States  His  Views  on  Honor  Sys- 
tem in  Nevada 

[Reprinted    from    San    Jose,    Cal.,    MerouryJ 

Out  in  Nevada  they  have  a  prison  reform  system 
that  is  attracting  favorable  attention,  according?  to 
an  interview  with  a  Carson  City  paroled  convict 
as  publislied  in  a  San  Francisco  paper. 

"You  talk  about  honor,"  said  this  man,  "I'll  bet 
you  there  isn't  another  state  in  the  l^nion  that  has 
the  sort  of  honor  they  have  on  the  convict  farm  at 
Carson."  Protesting  that  he  regarded  it  as  a  matter 
of  simple  justice  to  the  warden  and  ofticials  of  Ne- 
vada penitentiary  to  give  a  meed  of  praise  to  the 
system  of  convict  control  wliich  makes  a  prisoner 
practically  a  free  man,  he  explains  at  some  length 
how  the  system  in  vogue  at  Carson  works  and  why 
it  is  a  success.  "I  have  nothing  to  gain  by  telling 
the  truth  about  these  men,"  he  declared.  "Tiiey 
will  probably  never  know  who  is  the  author  of  this 
statement." 

He  then  explained  that  on  tlie  state  farm  there 
are  no  guards,  no  guns  nor  other  appliances  to  en- 
force discipline  and  no  apparent  steps  are  taken  to 
that  end.  The  men  wear  citizen's  clothes,  and  are 
free  to  do  anything  they  please,  except  getting 
drunk,  out  of  business  hours.  The  "grub"  is  plen- 
tiful and  good.  The  men  who  are  to  work  on  the 
farm  are  picked  out  by  Warden  Denver  S.  Dicki- 
son.  These  number  about  30,  besides  the  superin- 
tendent and  foreman.  The  men  are  not  minor  of- 
fenders, some  of  them  being  life  termers  for  serious 
offences.  Instances  of  violation  of  the  honor  sys- 
tem are  reported  to  be  rare.  Similar  conditions  are 
said  to  prevail  in  the  prison  itself  where  convicts 
converse  with  guards  on  friendly  terms  and  even 
with  the  warden.  The  leniency  in  administering 
the  parole  laws  by  the  Nevada  prison  board,  with- 
out adhering  to  hard  and  fast  rules,  is  anotlier  sub- 
ject of  favorable  comment.  The  men  are  said  to 
feel  kindly  toward  the  warden  and  the  prison  offi- 
cials and  demonstrate  their  appreciation  of  tiie  gen- 
erous treatment  accorded  them  as  "human  beings." 

While  all  this  sounds  like  a  fairy  tale,  the  en- 
thusiasm of  this  paroled  man  in  telling  his  story 
warrants  the  assumption  that  there  must  be  some- 
thing in  prison  reform  if  it  is  of  tlie  right  sort  and 
fairly  administered.  Tlie  way  to  reform  in  prison 
conduct  is  to  reform  and  if  a  system  will  not  stand 
a  fair  and  ample  test  it  should  be  discarded  for  a 
better  one.  The  matter,  however,  should  not  be 
conducted  in  a  half-hearted  way,  but  should  be 
broad  enough  and  long  enough  to  give  opportunity 
for   reasonable   success. 

That  there  is  urgent  need  for  reform  in  prison 
management  goes  without  saying,  for  every  effort 
should  be  bent  to  cure  degraded  men  of  crime, 
rather  than  to  wreak  vengeance,  which  comes  too 
late  for  effectiveness.  The  system,  however,  should 
first  of  all  be  fair  and  at  tlie  same  time  liberal  in 
its  terms.  It  should  not  be  judged  by  occasional 
lapses,  but  rather  by  the  quantitative  results  on  the 


principle  of  the  greatest  good  to  the  greatest  num- 
ber. If  such  a  system  makes  for  the  uplift  of  the 
individual,  it  will  also  uplift  the  cummunity.  In 
contributing  to  greater  manhood  it  niukt  be  counted 
a  success  and  worthy  of  emulation.  The  Nevada 
system  seems  to  be  one  of  that  kind. 

Missouri  Needs  Good  Roads;  Prisoners'  Labor  Is 
Advised 

IKeprinteU    from    St.    t^ni*.    Mo..    Star] 

One  of  the  big  clothing  companies  which  employs 
about  1,000  convicts,  has  notified  the  prisi.n  officials 

that  it  will  terminate  the  contract  with  the  s< •» 

months  from  date,  on  February  20.  1915.     Si 

cials  arc  disturbed  because  they  do  not  know  how 

to  employ  the  men. 

That  should  not  be  a  difficult  problem  to  solve. 
The   General  Assembly  of  1911  abolished  the  con- 
tract  labor   system,   to   become   effective   upon   the 
expiration  of  the  existing  contracts.     The  /\-        '  'v 
meets  again  in  January.    .\  committee  name:  ...   ...c 

last  Assembly  has  prepared  a  report  on  a  substitute 
for  the  contract  system.  This  committee  hat  visited 
a  number  of  states  in  which  the  conti  i  has 

been    abolished.      Doubtless    the    co: as    a 

workable  plan  which  can  be  whipped  into  shape 
and  passed  in  the  first  few  weeks  of  the  session 

Few  of  the  progressive  states  retain  the  • 
system,    which    puts    convict    labor    in    con;,     :  .  ,  ;. 
with  laborers  who  must  pay  rent  and  support  fami- 
lies.    In  some  states,  huge  farms  are  operated  upon 
which  nearly  all  the  food  and  fruit  used  by  t! 
institutions    arc    raised.      In    others,    factor. .^ 
operated  by  the  convicts,  but  the  products  arc  used 
only    in    the    state    institutions.      Others,    notably 
Texas,  Colorado,  New  Jersey  and  Illinois,  the  men 
are   worked   upon   the   roads  on   the   honor   system. 
The   men   of   the   first   grade  arc   promoted   to   the 
work  as  a  reward  for  good  conduct.    In  many  of  the 
western   states  this  system  has  worked  out   admir- 
ably. 

If  there  be  one  thing  Missouri  needs  more  than 
another,  it  is  good  roads.  Two  or  three  days'  work 
a  year  done  by  those  citizens  who  answer  the  call 
ot  the  Governor,  may  accomplish  something,  but 
the  work  is  done  by  inexperienced  men  and  often 
is  misdirected.  The  State  will  have  available  1,700 
or  more  men.  many  of  them  .i  '  '  ' 

labor  and  all  of  whom  would   -  . 
and  physically  by  work  in  the  open. 

The  State  has  been  spending  a  great  deal  uf 
money  in  the  maintenance  and  improvement  "^ 
roads.  The  use  of  the  convicts  upon  them  W"  .1 
not  only  be  an  economy,  but  would  result  in  a 
few  years  in  the  State  of  Missouri  having  the  fin- 
est system  of  hi  '  -  in  the  L'nitcd  States.  Onrr 
completed,  the  i.  .  ,  iiicnt  of  the  convicts  in  tlim 
maintenance  would  keep  the  men  busy,  well  and 
contented  all  the  time  and  make  the  state  roads 
second  to  none. 


522 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


should  leave   the   whole   business   severely   alone   to 

Who  Pays?  .  . 

'  private  competition. 

[Reprinted  from  Fresno,  Cal.,  Republican]  ^^   between    those    who    contend    that   they   should 

The  action  of  the  governor  of  Arizona  in  taking  not  '  be    burdened    with    competition    from    convict- 
the  convicts  off  public  road  work  and  substituting 
for  them  citizens  who  have  lost  their  jobs  through 


the  occurrence  of  war,  is  an  example  of  proper  ac- 
tion to  fit  circumstances  in  spite  of  general  eco- 
nomic laws.  In  general  it  is  poor  economic  policy 
for  a  state  to  maintain  convicts  in  idleness  on  the 
ground  that  they  compete  with  free  men  outside  of 
prison  if  put  at  profitable  work.  But  like  all  con- 
clusions, this  is  true  or  not  true  according  to  cir- 
cumstances. And  in  this  unusual  condition  of  the 
war's  throwing  workmen  out  of  jobs  in  mtnes  and 
elsewhere,  it  is  the  best  for  the  state  to  give  them 
work,  and  if  necessary  even  to  keep  the  convicts  in 
idleness  in  the  meantime.  But  of  course  they  do 
not  need  to  be  kept  without  work.  Less  profitable 
employment  can  be  found  for  them  within  the 
prison  walls. 

Under  such  a  well  balanced  economic  system  as 
would  give  to  each  man  his  earned  share  in  the 
economic  output  of  the  world,  there  would  be  no 
reason  at  all  for  favoring  the  free  man  as  against 
the  convict  in  the  matter  of  working.  The  convict 
iinist  be  maintained  by  the  state,  and,  therefore  if 
he  is  maintained  in  idleness,  the  citizens,  who  are 
the  supporters  of  the  state,  would  be  paying  for 
his  keep  without  remuneration  to  themselves.  Cer- 
tainly work  itself  should  not  be  considered  a  fea- 
ture of  punishment  or  of  penalization.  We  may 
even  come  to  tlie  time  when  compulsory  work  is 
not  a  stigma  of  crime,  but  will  be  rather  the  neces- 
sity of  all  of  us.  We  may  not  have  the  choice  even 
of  working  or  starving.  We  may  be  prevented  from 
committing  suicide  by  starving,  and  as  long  as  we 
live  and  eat,  we  may  have  to  work  for  our  sus- 
tenance and  work  where  we  are  given  a  chance  to 
work.  This  is  the  picture  that  is  held  out  to  us  by 
the  Socialists,  and  is  not  an  attractive  one,  even  as 
an  incident  to   conferring  economic  justice. 

But  for  the  time  being,  there  should  be  no  pen- 
alty inflicted  on  crime  except  that  of  restraint,  and 
the  notion  that  the  work  of  any  sort,  including  re- 
munerative work,  is  peculiar  to  either  convicts  or 
free  men,  should  not  be  tolerated.  Convicts  should 
work  for  their  living,  just  as  do  free  men. 

But  there  is  considerable  justice  to  the  objection 
of  men  in  certain  trades  to  the  competition  of  con- 
•victs  in  their  occupations.  The  throwing  into  the 
trade  scale  of  great  quantities  of  goods  made  under 
large  manufacturing  conditions,  by  the  state,  with 
convict  labor,  may  not  be  fair  to  men  striving  for 
a  livelihood  at  their  vocations,  and  struggling  with 
their  employers  for  improved  economic  conditions. 
The  state  competition  may  not  be  fair,  either,  to  the 
employers.  There  is  justice  in  the  contention  that 
the  government  should  not  nibble  at  a  trade.  It 
should  either  take  it  over  as  a  whole,  as  has  been 
done   in   the  case   of  handling  the   mail,   or  else   it 


made  goods  because  the  state  should  maintain  the 
convicts,  and  those  who  declare  that  the  workers 
maintain  the  state  and  therefore  maintain  the  con- 
victs, there  is  some  truth  on  both  sides,  because 
taxes  are  not  equitably  administered. 

The  workman  does  pay  to  some  extent  for  the 
maintenance  of  convicts.  Therefore  he  is  to  some 
extent  interested  in  seeing  that  penal  institutions 
are  self-supporting.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  he 
does  not  pay  equally  from  year  to  year,  under  the 
changing  circumstances  of  work,  a  fixed  proportion 
of  taxes,  and  thus,  if  his  working  conditions  continue 
steadily,  he  may  be  much  more  interested  in  main- 
taining the  working  conditions  in  his  trade  than  he 
is  in  keeping  down  either  direct  or  indirect  taxes 
through  having  convicts  work  for  their  living. 

It  is  not  likely,  however,  that  conditions  in  Ari- 
zona will  call  very  long  for  the  putting  of  miners 
to  work  on  the  public  roads  in  the  place  of  the 
prisoners. 


Approves  of  Humane  Treatment  of  Prisoners 

[Reprinted    from    Wheeling,    W.    Va.,    Register] 

Does  the  new  idea  in  prison  management,  which 
gives  the  convict  the  status  of  a  human  being  sus- 
ceptible to  uplifting  influences,  pay?  The  warden  of 
Auburn  penitentiary  answers  the  question  affirma- 
tively, and  the  results  of  his  humane  treatment  of 
the  1,300  unfortunates  committed  to  his  care  sus- 
tain his  view. 

Warden  Rattigan  has  organized  a  Mutual  Welfare 
League,  which  is  purely  an  Auburn  institution.  Un- 
der its  direction  the  prisoners  are  allowed  to  play 
each  afternoon  from  4:30  to  6:15  o'clock  within  the 
prison  grounds.  When  a  bugle  call  is  sounded  the 
prison  band  starts  to  play,  and  the  convicts  form 
in  six  lines.  At  another  signal  there  is  a  rush  to 
favorite  spots.  Six  baseball  games  start;  bowling 
teams  compete,  using  balls  and  pins  of  their  own 
make;  checker  players  take  up  an  indeterminate 
series;  a  mandolin  player  gives  outdoor  lessons, 
there  is  a  strumming  of  banjos  in  the  hands  of 
darkies,  and  a  piano  plays  dance  music. 

Prisoners  who  wear  the  white  and  green  buttons 
of  the  league  conduct  the  games  and  enforce  dis- 
cipline. It  is  said  to  be  sufficient  punishment  for 
any  ordinary  offense  to  be  suspended  from  the 
league  and  denied  the  privilege  of  recreation  in  the 
yard,  which  also  includes  the  freedom  to  carry  on 
conversation.  There  has  been  but  one  fight  since 
the  play  hours  began.  No  keeper  was  on  hand,  but 
league  members  stopped  the  row,  reported  it  to  the 
warden,  and  the  offenders  were  punished.  Can  any- 
body doubt  that  such  treatment  of  convicts  will 
have  a  beneficial  effect  upon  them? 


October   1.    I'.tN 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


533 


Dairymaids   for   Ohio 

[Reprinted    from   Jacksonville,    Fla..    Mciropolit] 

There  is  a  plan  on  foot  in  Ohio  to  turn  the  wom- 
en prisoners  of  the  State  into  (hiiryinaiils.  The 
State  Hoard  of  Administration  lias  tlic  matter  under 
advisement  in  connection  with  the  new  reformatory 
for  women  near  Marysville.  It  is  expected  that 
the  new  buildings  there  will  be  ready  for  occupancy 
before  the  first  of  next  year.  The  reformatory  is 
said  to  be  one  of  the  most  modern  institutions  of 
its  kind  for  women  in  the  world. 

'•Bad  Medicine" 

[Reprinted    from    St.    Joseph,    Mo.,    Gazette] 

Beef  for  use  at  the  Missouri  state  penitentiary 
during  the  coming  year  will  cost  the  commonwealtli 
$17,500  more  than  ever  before.  The  meat  is  intended 
to  keep  the  convicts  strong,  so  they  will  be  able 
to  work  for  the  prison  contractors  at  a  wage  of  75 
cents  a  day,  payable  to  thq  state. 

It  might  be  cheaper  financially— and  a  lot  more 
satisfactory  generally — to  put  the  prisoners  on  a 
vegetable  diet,  tell  the  contractors  to  move  out,  and 
let  the  work  now  done  inside  the  institution  go  in- 
stead to  honest  mechanics  outside  who  are  keeping 
up  homes  and  rearing  families  to  the  great  credit 
and  lasting  good  of  the  entire   state. 

Federal    Department   of   Agriculture    to    Investigate 
the  Value  of  Road  Work  by  Prisoners 

[Dennison    and    Uhrichsville.    Ohio,    Paragraphs] 

The  increasing  tendency  on  the  part  of  state  gov- 
ernments to  use  convict  labor  in  works  of  public 
improvement,  such  as  road  construction,  has  caused 
the  office  of  public  roads  of  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture to  get  in  touch  with  the  situation  as  it  has 
been  worked  out  in  a  number  of  states.  The  pur- 
pose of  the  federal  government  is  to  study  the  ques- 
tion with  relation  to  the  practical  results  obtained 
in  road  improvements,  and  these  studies  will  begin 
in  Colorado  this  month,  and  thereafter  will  be  car- 
ried into  Utah,  Wyoming,  Idaho,  Oregon  and  Wash- 
ington. Later  the  studies  will  e.xtend  to  Michigan. 
Illinois,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Oklahoma,  Texas. 
.\rizona  and  New  Mexico  and  a  number  of  south- 
ern states.  This  road  work  has  been  carried  on 
by  the  states  with  an  idea  of  demonstrating  that  tin- 
condition  of  the  convict  would  improve  by  reason 
of  employment  in  the  open.  Wonderfully  satisfac- 
tory results  have  been  reported  from  .Xrizona  as 
the  result  of  the  policy  of  Governor  Hunt,  while 
Illinois  has  also  made  satisfactory  tests  of  the  more 
humanitarian  methods  of  treatment  for  convicts, 
while  affording  thein  privilege  of  out-of-door  ac- 
tivities. The  national  government  has  gone  on  the 
scent  with  the  idea  of  encouraging  the  movement 
providing  it  can  be  fully  demonstrated  that  the  good 
roads   movement  can   be  advanced   in   this  manner. 


Honor  System  in  West  Virginia  Proving  Out  Value 
of  New  Law 

(Keprinied    from    Dayton,   Ubio.   Journal) 

Success   in   convict   road    work   ia   reported   from 
West  Virginia.     This  road  work  has  l»ccn  de\  •  '         ! 
as  the  result  of  legislation  pas»e<l  at  the  last  -^ 
()f  the  legislature.     Prior  to  this  scftion  Governor 
Hatfield  and  representatives  of  the  leKislaiure  and 
supreme  court  juorneyc«l  to  New  York  for 
with   the  national  committee  on   priscuis   . 
labor. 

At  the  conference,  in  which  representatives  of 
the  department  of  highway  ennineering  and  the  bill 
drafting  bureau  of  Columbia  L'niversity  participated, 
a  state  road  bureau  was  planned  to  co-operate  with 
the  state  prison  department  in  working  the  prisoners 
upon  the  public  foads. 

.\  recent  report  received  by  the  national  commit- 
tee on  prisons  and  prison  labor  from  A.  D.  Wil* 
liams,  chairman  of  the  road  bureau,  states  that  to 
date  three  convict  road  camps  have  been  estab- 
lished, the  men  being  under  the  honor  system  and 
living  in  tents.  Two  of  the  camps  are  located  on  a 
stream  and  the  men  each  evening  go  bathing  and 
enjoy  all  the  liberties  of  camp  life.  Three  Italians 
have  attempted  to  escape,  but  the  .\mcricans  and 
negroes  arc  proving  themselves  worthy  of  trust. 

At  St.  Mary's  camp,  in  solid  and  loose  rock  the 
men  have  averaged  4.03  cubic  yards  per  day.  M 
the  Inwood  camp  the  average  was  4.3.1  cubic  yards, 
which  included  the  erection  of  one  concrete  culvert 
20x30  feet,  27  feet  long,  and  16  days  labor  for  one 
man   out  of  118  laying  tiling. 

.'\  crew  of  citizen  labor  was  also  working  at  St. 
Mary's  camp  on  the  same  work  and  an  interestinir 
comparison  of  costs  was  made;  the  cost  of  movinff 
material  by  citizens  was  8;{  cents  per  cubic  yard 
against  30  cents  with   the  prisoners. 

These  developments  indicate  that  through  road 
work  West  Virginia  will,  to  a  great  extent,  solve  her 
prison  problem,  as  will  any  state  wherein  co-opera- 
tion is  securefl  between  the  highway  and  the  prison 
departments. 


Prison  Problems  in  Missouri 

I  Reprinted    from    Kan»J>  Cil>,    .M«' .   .I'vimaij 

The  practical  abandonment  of  the  convict  labor 
s>stcm  in  Missouri  places  S(|uarcly  before  the  next 
legislature  a  problem  which  previous  legislatures 
have  had  before  them  in  one  form  or  another,  but 
which  they  have  not  attempted  to  solve  in  any  com- 
prehensive and  effective  way.  The  last  legislature 
took  a  forward  step  in  the  matter  by  enacting  a  law 
providing  for  abolition  of  the  system  by  the  end  of 
the  current  year,  but  nothing  was  substituted  for  it 
— at  least,  in  two  important  particulars.  In  the 
first  place,  nothing  was  done  to  provide  for  the  thoa» 
sand  and  more  convicts  the  employment  which  ij 
universally   recognized   as   necessary   for   the   hcaitl* 


524 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


and  morals  of  prisoners;  and  in  the  second  place, 
nothing  was  done  by  way  of  offsetting  the  loss  of 
the  revenue  which  has  been  derived  from  farming 
the  men  out  to  contractors. 

The  penitentiary  is  now,  roughly  speaking,  virtu- 
ally self-supporting,  but  thoughtful  men  everywhere 
are  looking  askance  at  this  kind  of  automatic  main- 
tenance of  penal  institutions,  achieved  at  the  in- 
evitable expense  of  free  labor.  Contractors  may 
be  rendering  a  valuable  service  in  providing  em- 
ployment for  the  convicts  and  at  the  same  time 
furnishing  the  state  with  a  revenue,  but  this  is  ac- 
complished at  a  hea\-j-  cost.  For  one  thing,  the 
wages  paid  the  convicts  are  about  one-fourth  the 
wages  received  by  the  free  labor  with  which  the 
convict  goods  come  into  competition,  and  the  dif- 
ference, of  course,  goes  into  the  pockets  of  the  con- 
tractors, for  there  is  no  record  that  free  goods  are 
distinguished  from  penitentiary  goods  in  the  mat- 
ter of  price.  The  families  of  the  convicts  do  not 
receive  any  of  the  profits  of  the  contract  system. 
and  in  many  instances  the  community  is  compelled 
to  support  the  families  while  the  convicts  themselves 
are  working  for  one-fourth  regular  wages  and  com- 
ing into  competition  with  the  free  labor  which  has 
to  pay  the  taxes  that  support  the  state  government, 
even  though  the  penitentiarj-  be  self-maintaining. 

It  is  a  bad  system  from  several  points  of  view, 
but  the  problem  is  not  solved  with  its  abolition.  In 
fact,  the  solution  hardly  more  than  begins  at  this 
point  There  is,  for  example,  the  matter  of  provid- 
ing work  for  the  idle  men,  and  there  is  the  matter 
of  providing  several  hundred  thousand  dollars  every 
year  to  maintain  the  penitentiarj-,  with  its  1,500  or 
more  convicts  to  feed.  Free  labor  is  relieved  of  the 
competition  of  convict  labor,  and  the  contractors 
are  compelled  to  hire  free  labor,  at  regular  wages. 
These  are  material  and  desirable  advantages,  but 
there  still  remains  a  large  share  of  the  problem 
unsolved,  and  this  undoubtedly  will  give  the  next 
legislature  plenty  to  do  before  the  question  is  satis- 
factorily settled 

Plan   Whereby   Michigan   Is   to    Speculate   in    Real 
Estate  Under  the  Pretext  of  Prison  Reform 

[Reprinted    from    Saginaw.    Mich.,    VaDey-Xews] 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  control  of  the 
Michigan  state  prison  at  Jackson  held  re- 
cently, a  new  plan  to  give  convicts  work  and 
at  the  same  time  give  the  state  the  benefit  of  that 
work  will  be  outlined  by  Land  Commissioner  \  C 
Carton  and  James  N.  McBride.  member  of  the  pres- 
ent house  of  representatives  from  Shiawassee 
count>^  the  candidate  of  the  National  Progressive 
party  lor  heutenant-governor. 

n  ^r  r°  ^w^"  °'  '"°'"  ^^"^^^-  Carton  and  Mc- 

co";^'  .  r^  °  ^'  """"'^  ^'^  ^  P^^"   »°  ^^"le   the 

convic    labor  proposition,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
make  the  work  of  the  reclaiming  of  cut-over  lands 


in  the  state  a  much  easier  one.  The  plan  will  en- 
tail the  appropriation  of  the  next  legislature  for  the 
work  in  the  neighborhood  of  $100,000. 

The  plan  is  to  purchase  large  tracts  of  the  cut- 
over  lands,  in  both  peninsulas,  then  let  convicts 
build  good  roads  over  them,  divide  them  into  fair 
sized  farms,  clear  a  few  acres  and  erect  a  house 
Then  each  farm  is  to  be  sold  at  auction  to  the 
highest  bidder  and  the  money  go  to  the  state. 


^» 


Demoralizing  the  Prison 

[Reprinted   from   Trenton,   N.    J.,   Times] 

Governor  Fielder,  in  order  to  favor  the  Martin 
faction  in  Hudson  county  last  winter,  helped  jam 
through  the  legislature  a  series  of  bills  that  has  re- 
sulted in  the  utter  demoralization  of  the  State 
Prison.  And,  then  to  cap  the  climax,  it  became 
necessary  to  juggle  the  funds  of  the  State  Road  De- 
partment to  make  ends  meet.  All  of  which  shows 
the  loose  manner  in  which  the  state  is  being  run  at 
the  present  time. 

But  that  is  not  the  worst  of  it  all.  As  the  New- 
ark Sunday  Call  points  out,  nobody  seems  to  fully 
realize  that  the  State  Prison  population  is  made  up 
mainly  of  young  men  and  that  a  large  percentage  of 
the  "hardened  criminals"  are  hardened  in  prison,  and 
not  before.  We  defy  any  man  of  sensitive  nature 
and  experience  and  education  to  visit  the  prison, 
and  not  emerge  with  a  sense  of  shame  for  the  man- 
ner in  which  those  out  of  prison  treat  those  within. 
There  are  those  who  have  felt  that  the  outsiders  de- 
served the  severer  punishment. 

The  courts  find  a  man  guilt  of  a  statutory  crime, 
and  by  a  haphazard  system,  which  varies  in  every 
county  in  every  administration  of  the  courts,  and, 
sometimes,  according  to  the  mood  of  the  moment 
of  the  judge  sentences  him  to  a  term  in  State 
Prison.  The  prisoner  soon  recognizes  that  he  is 
under  no  settled  and  logical  government  of  the 
prison,  that  he  has  chances  of  parole  or  pardon 
which  depend  largely  upon  the  success  with  which 
his  case  is  presented,  and  that  hypocrisy  and  sinuous 
device  will  obtain  for  him  privileges  which  are  de- 
nied others.  If  he  is  a  cunning  rascal,  he  will  get 
along  easily;  if  he  is  turbulent,  he  will  incite  riot, 
and  if  he  is  the  ordinary  prisoner — who  is  almost  in- 
variably mentally  deficient — he  will  emerge  a  wreck 
of  a  man.  It  is  all  bad,  and  the  whole  plan  is  to 
blame. 

We  agree  with  others  that  the  main  trouble  is 
in  the  criminal  courts,  at  the  start,  and  heartily 
approve  the  suggestion  for  systematizing  sentences 
and  for  an  agreement  through  conference,  of  the 
judges  who  have  the  matters  in  charge.  But  the  re- 
form of  the  State  Prison,  the  complete  change  of 
the  control,  and  the  simplification  of  the  manage- 
ment can  be  effected  by  legislation,  if  the  legislature 
will  ignore  the  fact  that  some  powerful  persons  will 
have  to  lose  their  political  jobs  thereby. 


Oclol)Lr   1,    1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


525 


Gives  the  Credit  Where   It   Belongs 

[Reprinted   from  Chicago  Journal] 

The  honor  system  and  the  use  of  convicts  in  road 
building  is  proving  as  great  a  success  here  as  it  has 
elsewhere.  It  brings  hope  to  the  prisoners  and  good 
service  to  the  State.  The  system  should  be  ex- 
tended as  fast  as  possible. 

Meanwhile,  it  is  well  to  remember  that  Illinois 
owes  the  present  working  of  this  beneficent  reform 
by  Gov.   Dunne. 

The  legislature  merely  permitted  the  use  of  con- 
victs on  the  roads  and  stopped  there.  Gov.  Dunne- 
stepped  in  and  made  the  plan  workable  by  pledging 
his  word  to  commute  sentences  in  such  manner  that 
every  thirty  days  of  honest  work  on  the  roads  would 
count  forty  days  in  reckoning  a  prisoner's  sentence. 

This  is  the  Colorado  plan,  the  plan  which  has 
solved  the  vexed  question  of  convict  discipline  in 
open-air  work;  and  for  the  adoption  of  this  wise 
and  just  system  of  compensation,  the  state  may 
thank  Gov.  Dunne  alone. 

Union    Labor    Will    Ask    Law    Against    Labor    by 
Prisoners 

[■Reprinted   from   Jackson,    Mich.,    Patriot] 

Legislation  to  change  the  present  plan  of  convict 
labor  in  Jackson,  and  other  state  prisons,  will  prob- 
ably be  considered  at  the  coming  state  convention  of 
the  Michigan  Federation  of  Labor.  A  statement, 
just  issued  by  Secretary  Homer  F.  Waterman,  of 
the  Michigan  Federation,  says  the  ofiicials  of  the 
state  unions'  organization  have  decided  to  ask  the 
coming  convention  to  take  action  on  the  present 
convict  labor  system  followed  in  Michigan.  Jack- 
son delegates  to  the  state  meeting  at  Lansing,  later 
this  month,  will  have  an  opportunity  to  express 
themselves  on  the  convict  labor  plan  in  use  at  Jack- 
son prison. 

"The  labor  federation  is  fully  aware  of  the  neces- 
sity of  prison  authorities  finding  some  means  of 
utilizing  the  convict's  time  and  keeping  him  active 
rather  than  idle,"  says  Secretary  Waterman  ii)  his 
statement.  "What  organized  labor  opposes,  particu- 
larly, is  the  system  by  which  prison  inmates  are  put 
in  competition  with  free  labor.  If  prison  authorities 
would  pay  inmates  the  salary  paid  free  labor,  we 
would  have  little  objection  against  competitive  la- 
bor," said  Mr.  Waterman,  "for  two  reasons:  First, 
the  worker  would  then  receive  a  just  wage  and, 
second,  prison  goods  would  command  a  higher  price 
and  not  offer  unfair  competition  against  goods  made 
by  free  labor.  Prison  goods  sell  cheaply  because 
the  labor  used  in  making  them  is  dirt  cheap.  Such 
a  system  makes  it  hard  for  outside  goods  to  success- 
fully compete  and  the  labor  market  is  cheapened  by 
the  convict  labor  system." 

The  state  has  materially  reduced  its  number  of 
convicts  who  were  in  competition  with  outside  la- 
bor, by  allowing  contracts  with   manufacturers,   for 


the  use  of  pri»oncrs,  to  expire.  A  larKc  perccntaKc 
of  the  work  done  by  Jackson  prison  inmates,  now. 
IS  farm  work.  It  is  underitood  the  union  labor 
forces  of  the  state  favor  a  general  advance  in  pay 
for  all  kinds  of  convict  labor,  including  farm  labor. 

Prisoners  on   Roads  in   Weat   Virginia 

(Reprinted   from   Cincinnati   Enquirer] 

Success  in  convict  road  work  is  reported  from 
West  Virginia.  This  road  work  has  been  developed 
as  the  result  of  legislation  passed  at  the  last  session 
of  the  legislature.  Prior  to  this  session  Governor 
Hatfield  and  Representatives  of  the  Legislature  and 
Supreme  Court  journeyed  to  New  York  for  confer- 
ence with  the  National  Committee  on  Prisons  and 
Prison  Labor. 

At  the  conference,  in  which  representatives  of  the 
Department  of  Highway  Engineering  and  the  Bill 
Drafting  Bureau  of  Columbia  University  partici- 
pated, a  state  road  bureau  was  planned  to  co-oper- 
ate with  the  state  prison  department  in  working 
the  prisoners  upon  the  public  roads.  These  develop- 
ments indicate  that  through  road  work  West  Vir- 
ginia will,  to  a  great  extent,  solve  her  prison  prob- 
lem, as  will  any  state  wherein  co-operation  is  se- 
cured between  the  highway  and  the  prison  depart- 
ments. 

New  York's  First  Camp  for  Prisoners 

L Reprinted    from    New    Vork    Engincerinf    Record] 

The  New  York  State  Highway  Department  i» 
completing  quarters  for  a  gang  of  convicts  from  the 
prison  at  Ossining  who  are  to  spend  three  seasons 
locating  a  4;i-mile  road  near  Palenville.  in  the  Cats- 
kill  Mountains.  The  establishment  of  this  com- 
munity, the  first  of  its  kind  in  the  state,  was  noted 
in  the  Current  News  pages  of  this  journal  July  S6 
and  is  described  at  length  in  the  July  issue  of  the 
.\'ew  York  HtKhuvy  .S'ru's.  Fifty  men  arc  now 
housed  at  the  camp,  and  plans  which  include  a  sew- 
erage system  and  a  'j-mile  water  line  are  going  for- 
ward. It  is  expected  that  eventually  200  men.  in- 
cluding the  otlicials.  will  l>e  stationed  at   this  point. 

The  conditions  of  the  project  lend  themselves 
readily  to  the  use  of  prison  labor.  The  highway 
starts  at  Palenville,  about  14  miles  south  of  Catskill. 
and  skirts  the  south  side  of  Kaatertkill  creek  on  a 
shelf  which  at  times  is  175  feet  above  the  bed  of  the 
creek.  Rock  cuts  to  reduce  the  25  per  cent  grades 
will  make  the  work  slow  and  costly.  The  legisla- 
ture has  appropriated  5190,000  for  this  project.  The 
road  will,  in  fact,  form  a  direct  route  over  the  hither- 
to almost  impassable  barrier  between  the  Hudson 
river  and   the   interior   towns  of   Green   county. 

Three  large  buildings — the  guards'  living  quarters, 
and  a  dormitory  and  a  mess  room  for  the  workers — 
have  been  built  at   an   isolated   point  about  3  miles 


526 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


from  I'aleiiville,  where  a  relocation  of  the  road  will 
necessitate  heavy  work.  The  camp  is  directly  at  the 
foot  of  a  hill  below  Sunset  Rock  on  Kaaterskill 
Mountain,  surrounded  by  South  Mountain  and  North 
Mountain,  and  it  is  necessary  to  travel  a  mile  and  a 
half  to   reacli   another  habitation. 

In  addition  to  the  large  buildings  there  have  been 
erected  a  well-equipped  bath  and  dressing  room  for 
the  nun.  Water  for  the  engines  and  for  cooking 
and  drinking  purposes  will  be  secured  by  tapping  a 
spring  on  Round  Top  Mountain,  3,600  feet  high. 
It  will  be  necessary  to  run  1,600  feet  of  2-inch  pipe 
down  the  mountain,  crossing  the  creek  above  high- 
water  level  and  proceeding  underground  to  a  4,000- 
gallon  tank  immediately  back  of  the  bath  house. 
The  steep  gradient  will  allow  a  pressure  of  approxi- 
mately 20  pounds. 

Besides  establishing  this  coinfortable  home  for 
ilie  unique  community,  the  highway  departnient  has 
had  to  purchase  an  expensive  road-construction 
equipment.  This  includes  a  5-ton  traveling  crane, 
a  traveling  derrick  and  a  20-horsepower  boiler,  three 
rock  drills,  a  48-horsepower  portable  boiler,  a  black- 
smith outfit,  four  dump  cars,  a  30-hole  blasting  bat- 
tery, a  3-ton,  double-chain  screw  hoist  and  4  tons  of 
rail  for  tracks. 


Prison   Labor   Problem  in   Missouri 

[Reprinted    from   St.    Louis   Post-DispatchJ 

The  canceling  of  the  Houchin  contract  for  con- 
vict labor  in  the  State  Penitentiary  is  a  timely  re- 
minder of  the  task  of  the  Major  administration  to 
provide  a  substitute  for  the  present  contract  sys- 
tem. The  cancellation  anticipates  by  a  year  the 
time  fixed  for  the  abolition  of  the  system. 

The  next  State  legislature  should  make  provision 
lor  a  radical  change  in  the  methods  of  handling  con- 
victs. I'lans  should  be  well  defined  for  the  change. 
Whatever  may  be  the  final  disposition  of  the  con- 
victs, steps  should  be  taken  to  relieve  the  State 
I'enitentiary  of  overcrowding.  Conditions  there  are 
nitoleral)le.  They  are  insanitary  and  make  for  vice 
and  crime. 

A  State  farm  for  convicts  offers  an  excellent  solu- 
iiun  for  the  worst  part  of  this  problem.  Many 
convicts  could  be  utilized  for  outdoor  work  which 
would  greatly  benefit  them  and  could  be  profitable 
to  the  State. 

Gov.  Major  favors  the  farm  system  and  is  reported 
to  have  outlined  a  tentative  plan.  If  he  will  per- 
fect his  scheme  for  submission  to  the  legislature 
next  session  he  will  do  good  service.  Public  opinion 
in  the  State  is  strongly  in  favor  of  prison  reform 
ar.d  doubtless  the  legislature  would  adopt  a  prac- 
tical project. 

Conditions  in  the  penitentiary  are  a  reproach  ■  to 
the  State  They  should  be  rectified  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. The  closing  of  the  Houchin  shop  makes 
prompt   action    imperative. 


Favors  Prison  Road  Work  If  Intelligently  Managed 

IReprinted    from    Buffalo    Times] 

"Give  a  dog  a  bad  name,"  etc.  That  is  about  all 
tliere  is  to  the  argument  against  road-building  by 
convicts  in  Erie  county.  If  it  were  put  to  a  vote 
of  the  prisoners  themselves,  they  would  vote  for 
the  road  job  by  a  large  majority. 

Whether  convict  labor  on  roads  is  a  good  or  a 
bad  thing  depends  entirely  on  how  it  is  managed. 
In  the  South,  convict  road  construction  used  to  be 
associated  with  the  chain-gang,  the  bloodhound,  and 
all -sorts  of  brutality,   crookedness  and  graft. 

This  evil  tradition,  due  wholly  to  wicked  men  and 
shameful  methods,  has  hung  like  a  nightmare  about 
honest  efforts  in  Northern  states,  to  give  convicts 
outdoor  employment,  to  create  hope  and  renew  self- 
respect  in  the  heart  of  the  criminal,  and  to  provide 
the  State  a  fair  return  from  the  labor  of  those  it 
supports. 

We  may  as  well  get  rid  of  the  notion  that  convict 
work  on  roads  is  intrinsically  detestable.  There  is 
no  comparison  between  the  conditions  in  the  South 
before  the  Civil  war  and  in  some  of  the  less  pro- 
gressive regions  of  the  South  and  Southwest  at  a 
later  period,  and  the  situation  in  Erie  county  today. 

With  the  advance  of  humanitarianism  and  penol- 
ogy, convict  labor  on  roads,  especially  in  the  North, 
has  assumed  a  totally  different  aspect  from  that 
which  it  formerly  presented.  There  is  nothing  in 
its  objects,  customs  or  development  to  identify  it 
with  the  grim  legends  which  once  made  convict  road 
employment    a    synonym    of   oppression. 


Prisoners'  Prohibition  Petition  Arouses  Ire 

f  Reprinted    from    Indianapolis    Barrels    &    Bottles    Magazine] 

It  is  not  probable,  says  the  Washington  Herald, 
in  discussing  the  prohibition  petition  of  the  inmates 
of  the  Eastern  Penitentiary,  that  the  legislature  of 
Pennsylvania  will  give  more  attention  to  this  peti- 
tion from  a  thousand  convicts,  than  it  will  to  the 
voice  of  the  8,000,000  people  in  the  State  who  have 
never  been  convicted  of  crime.  If  this  petition  were 
for  a  modification  of  the  criminal  code,  changing 
the  penalty  for  murder,  highway  robbery,  rape,  and 
theft  from  imprisonment  to  a  fine,  no  one  would 
pay  any  attention  to  it.  But  we  have  abroad  in 
tills  country  today  a  considerable  number  of  alleged 
sociological  teachers,  who  lose  sight  of  the  healthy, 
normal  and  law-abiding  people,  and  devote  their 
whole  attention  to  the  reform  of  the  social  outcasts 
and  degenerates  who  are  incapable,  from  physical, 
mental,  or  moral  defects,  of  taking  a  responsible 
part  in  a  government  of  the  people.  To  such  emo- 
tional enthusiasts  the  petition  of  the  convicts  in 
the  Eastern  Penitentiary  of  Pennsylvania  will  ap- 
peal as  a  convincing  argument  w^hy  the  8,000,000 
law-abiding  residents  of  the  State  should  be  placed 
111  straitjackets  as  a  means  of  reforming  the  law- 
less. 


October  1.   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


Sterilization  Law  Held  Unconstitutional 

[Reprinted    from    Chicago    Legal    News] 

The  United  States  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  has 
pronounced  the  Iowa  statute  providing  for  the 
sterilization  of  habitual  criminals  unconstitutional 
and  void.  Judge  McPlicrson  in  his  opinion  says: 
"Complainant  in  his  verified  bill  alleges  that  the  statute 
is  in  violation  of  the  United  States  Constitution  in 
that  it  is  in  effect  a  bill  of  attainder  in  that  there  is 
to  be  no  indictment  or  trial;  that  the  statute  abridges 
his  privileges,  and  that  he  is  denied  the  equal  pro- 
tection of  the  laws;  that  he  is  denied  due  process  of 
law;  that  the  statute  is  in  conflict  with  the  Iowa 
constitution  in  that  the  statute  denies  the  inalienable 
right  to  enjoy  life,  liberty  and  to  pursue  and  obtain 
safety  and  happiness;  that  there  is  no  jury  trial 
awarded  him  and  that  the  statute  provides  cruel  and 
unusual  punishment."  Judge  McPherson,  after  a 
full  discussion  of  the  case,  concludes:  "Our  con- 
clusion is  that  the  infliction  of  this  penalty  is  in  vio- 
lation of  the  constitution  which  provides  that  cruel 
and  unusual  punishment  shall  not  be  inflicted."  He 
also  holds  that  the  statute  deprives  the  convict  of 
due  process  of  law  and  that  it  fulfills  the  definition 
of  a  bill  of  attainder,  a  legislative  act  which  inflicts 
punishment  without  a  jury  trial. 


More  Men  Go  Out 

In  the  past  month  thirteen  short  time  men  have 
gone  to  Camp  Dunne  and  three  long  time  men  ano 
eight  life  time  men  have  gone  to  the  Joliet  Honor 
Farm.  When  the  eleven  men  went  to  the  honor 
farm  there  was  a  great  deal  of  interest  among  the 
men  of  the  yard  who  saw  them  go.  Seeing  a  number 
of  the  prisoners  start  for  the  honor  farm  looks  like 
a  step  towards  freedom  to  the  men  who  remain 
within  the  walls. 

The  Honor  Band 

The  band  headquarters  has  been  tastefully  deco- 
rated with  bunting  and  flags,  giving  the  almost  over- 
large  room  an  air  of  warmth  and  comfort,  while 
chairs  and  tables  have  added  greatly  to  the  general 
appearance. 

The  new  uniform  of  cadet  gray,  trimmed  with 
black  braid,  has  made  a  most  favorable  impression 
among  the  inmates. 

A  few  of  the  musical  numbers  which  have  mei 
with  hearty  approval  at  the  dining  hall  daily  con- 
certs are  Remicke's  Hits.  No.  14;  Hall's  Wedding 
of  the  Winds;  Rollinson's  marches;  Dalby's  and 
Southwell's  overtures;  serenades  by  Pettce  and 
Southwell,  and  the  ever  popular  S-.u^a  .iii-l  K.  H. 
Hall  marches. 


A  POEM 
TO  REMEMBER 

JOYS 

Vt>u  needn't  lie  n.  Ii  to  l>c  happy, 

You  needn't  be  famous  to  smile; 
There  arc  joys  for  the  p<)orcst  of  tuilcrt, 

I  f  only  he'll  think  them  wurth  while. 
There  are  blue  skies  and  sunshine  a  !il<iif\ 

And  blossoms  for  all  to  behold ; 
.And  always  the  '       '      ■ 

The  fiark  .ind  : 

Sweet  sleep  s  not  a  gm  ui  ihc  wealthy, 

And  love's  not  alone  for  the  great ; 
For  men  to  grow  old  and  successful. 

It  isn't  joy's  custom  to  wait. 
The  poorest  of  toilers  have  blessings 

His  richer  companions  may  crave 
.And  many  a  man  who  has  riches 

Goes  sorrowing  on  to  the  grave. 

Vou'U  never  be  happy  tomorrow 

If  you  are  not  happy  today; 
If  you're  missing  the  joys  that  arc  present, 

And  sighing  for  joys  far  away ; 
The  rose  will  not  bloom  any  fairer, 

In  the  glorious  years  that  may  be; 
(ireat  riches  won't  sweeten  its  frai^rancc. 

Nor  help  you  its  beauties  to  see. 

Today  is  the  time  to  make  merry, 

'Tis  folly  for  fortune  to  wait; 
You'll  not  find  the  skies  any  bluer 

If  ever  you  come  to  be  great. 
You'll  not  find  your  joys  any  brighter, 

No  matter  what  fortune  you  win; 
Make  the  most  of  life's  sunshine  this  minute, 

Tomorrow's  too  late  to  begin. 

«      «      <» 

Statement    of    the    Ownership.    Management. 
Circulation,  Etc. 

of  The  Joliet  I'rison   I'ost,  publish.  il>   ai  Johct. 

Illinois,  required  by  the  .Act  of  .Au„..      - ..  1912. 

Editor,  Feter  Van  Vlissingen,  Joliet.  Illinois. 

Managing  Editor.  Peter  Van  Vlissingen.  Joliet.  Illinois. 

Business  .Managrr.  Peter  Van  Vlissingen.  Joliet.  Illi- 
nois. 

Publisher,  The  Board  of  Commissionors  and  the  War- 
den of  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary  at  Joliet.  Illinois. 

Owners:     The    Illinois   State    Penitentiary  at   Joliet, 

Illinois. 
There    arc    no    bond    holders,    mortgagees    or    other 

security  holders. 

PkTYM    \  an     \LlbM>lifcN,    hdtlur. 

Sworn  to  and  subscribed  before  me  this  twelfth  day 
of  September    '"' • 

Wn.l.lAU    \VirKE«SHAM. 

[.NoTARiAi-  SEAtI  S otory  PubUc. 


528 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Little  Zeke  Goes  Hunting  on  the  Joliet  Honor  Farm 


"Golly!     Ise  sho  gwine  to  'joy  to-morrow's  dinnah/ 


October  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


5U*9 


'Gosh  a'mighty!    Ise  hit! 


ifi" 


'y^y 


'-^' 

•/-•i 


1^  \ 


A> 


y>- 


^, 


-»r 


rti 


'?, 


;^ 


1    i    t    1    I 


r       ^^ 


«^*- 


r  -^ 


530 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


BUCKNER  6  O'BANNON 

903  West  Main  Street,  Louisville,  Ky. 


"rriEAF  TOBACCO 


We  buy  our  leaf  tobacco  directly  from  the 
farmers  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  and 
make  a  specialty  of  supplying  manufac- 
turers and  state  institutions. 


White  Bear  Brand  Steel  Cut 
Coffee 

Superior  in  the  cup — Popular  in  prices 

Durkasco  and  White  Bear  Brand 
Pure  Fruit  Preserves 

Durand  &  Kasper  Co. 

Wholesale  Grocers  and  Manufacturers 
Importers  and  Roasters  of  Coffee 

CHICAGO  ILLINOIS 


Bray's  Drug  Store 

The  HOME  of  BRAY'S  COUGH 

MIXTURE.    A  Remedy  that 

cures  where  others  fail. 


25  Cents  — Per  Bottle— 50  Cents 
104  Jefferson  Street,  Joliet,  Illinois 


^I^^Hb"'^ 

K         Happy  Hour   and 

V)        Camel  Pure  Foods 

^                ARE  THE  BEST  FOR 
r                  ALL  OCCASIONS 

^  ■    f^-     _             CAMPBELL 

^^^^^         ^^^0^^      BLOOMINGTON 

COMPLIMENTS   OF 


SULZBERGER  g  SONS  COMPANY 


U.  S.  A. 


Majestic  Hams,  Bacon 
Lard,  Canned  Meats 

FAMOUS  EVERYWHERE  FOR  HIGH  QUALITY  AND  EXCELLENCE  OF  FLAVOR 


October  1,   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


531 


To  Obtain  the  Best  Results  in  the  Safest  Manner,  in  Using  High-Explosive 


USE 


Patented.     Trade  Mark  Registered 

The  World's  Greatest  High-Explosive 

A  Nitrated  Hydro-Carbon  Explosive 


Dynalite  is   used  at  the  quarry  of 

the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary  at 

Joliet,  Illinois,  where  it  has  given 

satisfaction  for  many  years. 


Adopted    by   The    Ohio    Salionul    Ouard, 
Battalion  of  Engineer!. 

Uted  by  the  Ohio  State  Penitentiary,  the 
Dayton  State  Hotpital and eimilar  inelitu- 
tiont^Wanting    and  Iknowing  ^ihe    BEST. 


MANUFACTURED  BY 


THE  AMERICAN  DYNALITE  COMPANY 

Amherst,  Ohio.     U.  S.  A. 


WERDEN  BUCK 

BUILDING 
MATERIAL 

511  and513  WEBSTtRST. 


BOTH  PHONES  215 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


THE  J.  C.  ADLER  CO. 

JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 
If  you  want  the  best  in 

HAMS,  BACON.  LARD 

Sug.rCure        ^^   SAUSAGE    "ickory  Sn,okc 

order  ours — we  make  them 

MARCO  GROCERS 


Louis  Stoughton  Drake 

Incorporated 


Fabricators  of  the  Celebrated 

LOONTIE 
CANE  and  REEDS 


Boston 


Massachusetts 


532 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Prison  Supply 
Company 

JOHN  W.  GIBBONS,  Agent 

Woohni  anb 
Cailorg' 


For    Officers,     Inmates 
and  Discharge  Clothing 

Tools  of  Every  Description 

34  S.  Fifth  Ave.,  CHICAGO,  ILL. 


W.   Freeman  &   Co. 

Wholesale  Potatoes  and  Fruits 

Car  Lois  a  Specialty 

Chicago  'Phone  618  N.  W.  'Phone  859 

105  S.  JOLIET  STREET  JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


Chicago  Phone:  OflBce  1037. 


Residence  548. 


Daniel  Feely 

Wholesale  Dealer  In 

MEATS  AND 
PROVISIONS 

Room  4,  Clement  Building 
Ottawa  Street       :        :        ;        JOLIET,  ILL. 


Telephone  Yards  5150  and  5151 

Holman  Soap  Company 


Manufacturers  of 


ALL  KINDS  OF  SOAP 

Toilet  Preparations,  Perfumes,  Toilet  Soap, 
Soap  Powder,  Scouring  Powder,  Scouring  Soap, 
Metal    Polish,    Furniture    Polish,    Inks,    Etc. 


3104  to  3106  Fox  Street 


Chicago 


Enterprise  Plumbing 
Supply  Co. 

Plumbing  Supplies 
to  the  Trade  Only 


Randolph  1520 


Auto.  47-313 


26-28  W.  Kinzie  Street 


Chicago 


I.  B.  WilUams 
CS,Son 


-MANUFACTURERS  OF- 


Oak  Tanned  Leather 
Belting 

Round  Leather 
Belting 

Cut   and   Side   Lace 
Leather 


14  N.  FRANKLIN  STREET 

TELEPHONE  MAIN  1666 

CHICAGO 

AGENTS  IN  ALL  PRINCIPAL  CITIES 


October  1.  I'Jll 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


583 


CHICAGO  BUTCHERS 
PACKING  COMPANY 

216-222  North  Peoria  St. 
CHICAGO  ::  ILL. 

The  ''I  WilV  Brand 
Hams,  Bacon  and  Lard 


SAUSAGES  of  all  kinds, 
which  are  known  for  their 
QUALITY  and  FLAVOR  and 
which  do  not  contain  any  ce- 
real, but  which  are  pure  meat. 


COMMISSION  A   SPECIALTY 


When  opporlunily  presents  itself, 
SPEAK  A  GOOD  WORD  FOR 

TheP.E.HOLMSTROM 
COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  GROCERS 
JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


Our  Brands 

Boulevard  Brand 
Renroh  Brand 
Kan  Brand 

Ask  your  grocer  for  above  brands  and 
get    quality    consistent     with     price 

HENRY  HORNER  &  CO 

Importers  and  MaLnufacturers  of  Groceries 
CHICAGO,  U.  S.  A. 


Joliet  Oil  Refining  Co. 

REFINERS  OF  PETROLEUM 

High   Grade   Illuminating  and   Lubri- 
cating Oil,  Purity  Automobile  Oil 

All  Kinds  of  Crease  Linseed   Oil   Soap 

Located  on  Mills  Ro&d  ,^\„  JOLIET,  ILL 


F.  C.  HOLMES  ca,  CO. 

llSl.UUH>HA  1  kill 

WHOLESALE  DEALERS  IN 

Fresh,  Frozen  and  Smoked 
Fish  —  Oysters  in  Season 


Telephones 
Mooroe  180 
Automatic  SO-108 


735  West  Randolph  Street 
CHICAGO 


WEBB'S 

GAS   HOASTFD 

COFFEE 


Piilil-M  ebb 
Coiiipnii  y 

Importers  niul 
HojistcrN 

Clii<'iij[io     ::     IlliiioiH 


534 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


The 

BOSTON 
STORE 


Joliet's  Biggest 

Busiest  and  Best 

Store 


Come  in — We  will  treat  you  so 

well  you'll  never  want  to 

trade  anywhere  else 


"NoneSuch'ToodProducts 

THE  BEST  THAT  SKILL  AND 
NATURE  CAN   PRODUCE 

GUARANTEED  TO  COMPLY 
WITH  ALL  PURE  FOOD  LAWS 

Manufactured  by 

McNeil  &  Higgins  Company 

Chicago,    Illinois 


"^^^E  have  in  our  warehouses 
everything  in  the  steel  line 
and  are  able  to  ship  immediately 
any  order  received. 

Scully  Steel  CS,  Iron  Co. 

Chicago,  III. 
Send  for  our  monthly  Stock  List 


The  Weber  Dairy 

OF  JOLIET 

Established  in  '84,  then  used  the  milk  of 
two  cows,  now  we  use  the  milk  of  400  cows 

DAILY  PURE  MILK  OUR  TRADE  MARK 

AL.  J.  WEBER,  Proprietor 

503  W.  Jefferson  St.,  Joliet,  Illinois 


WARLEY'S 

Boiler  Cleansing  Chemicals 
Lubricating  Oils  and  Greases 

are  used  by  those  who  want  abso- 
lutely the  best,  and  are  willing  to 
pay  a  fair  price. 

THOS.  C.  W^ARLEY  CS,  CO. 

202  S.  Clark  Street,  CHICAGO 

Sim  J.  Stevenson,  Manager 


Bush  &  Handwerk 

Wholesale  and  Retail 

HARDWARE  DEALERS 


Specialties 

Factory  and   Quarry  Supplies 

Stoves  and  Ranges 

Plumbing     and     Gas    Fitting 

Steam  and  Furnace  Work 


115-117  JEFFERSON  STREET 
JOLLIET,  ILLINOIS 


October  1.   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


535 


o 
u 

2      -^ 

OQ     o      . 

°a  i  g 


The  Harvester  Cigar 

A  dozen  sizes  from  five 
cents  up. 

Mild   as  a  good  cigar 
can  be. 

In  Universal  Favor 


LYONS  BROTHERS 

LUMBER  and  FUEL  COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  and  RETAIL 

LUMBER  and  COAL 


Both  Tflcphona  No.  17 


Washintrton  Street 
and  York  Avenue 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


ROBERT  T.  KELLY,  Pres.  P.  F.  McMANOS,  Vice-Pres. 

CHAS.  G.  PEARCE.  Cashier      WM.  REDMOND,  Asi't  Cath'r 


^f)e  f  oliet  J^ationnl 
Panfe 

3%  on  Savmgs  3% 
JOLIET  ILLINOIS 


Victor  Petertyl 

Manufacturer 

Chair  Dowels 
Telephone  Pins 
and  Brackets 

Traverse  City  -:-  Mich. 


Rattan  &  Cane  Company 

IMPORTERS 
AND  MANUFACTURERS  OF 

Rattans^  Reeds, 
Canewebbing,  Willows 

66  West  Broadway,       New  York,  N.  Y. 


URPHY,  LINSKEY  & 
KASHER    COAL   CO. 

MINERS    AND    SHIPPERS    OF 

Original 
Wilmington  Coal 

FROM   BRAIDWOOD   MINE  ON 
CHICAGO  A  ALTON  RAILROAD 

Pontiac  Coal 

FROM  PONTIAC  MINE  ON  ILLINOIS 

CENTRAL.  WABASH  AND  CHICAGO 

AND  ALTON  RAILROADS 


Main   Office,   BRAIDWOOD,    ILL. 

Phones,   Chicago    1  4-M 

Interstate   64  1  -L 


536  THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


APELITF 

^^^^^^^^^  TRADE    MARK       REGISTERED  ^^^^^B 

PAINT  AND 

VARNISH   PRODUCTS 

SPREAD  FURTHEST,  LOOK  BEST 
AND    WEAR   WELL    LONGEST 

ADAMS  &   ELTING  CO- 

716-726  Washington  Blvd.,  CHICAGO  Telephone  Monroe  3000 


Wadsworth-HoAvland 
Company 


Paint  and  Color  Makers 


Carpenter  and  Fulton  Streets 

Chicago 


THE  JOLIBT 
PmSONPOST 

^#  EDITED  BY  PRISOSERS 

Published  Monthly  by  the  Board  of  CommUttonera  and  the  Warden 
of  the  Illinoi*  State  Penitentiary.  Joliet,  III.,  U.  S.  A. 


One  Dollar  the  Year 


Kntared  m  MeoBd  elMS  mattor.  Imaumrr  M.  ItU.  at  lb* 
Poatoffloe  at  Joliet.  IlllnoU,  onder  Act  of  March  S.  int. 


Vol.  1 


Ten  Cents  the  Copy 

JOLIET,  ILLINOIS,  NOVE.MBER  1.   19H  -^^^^a  No.  11 


REPRODUCTIONS    PERMITTED    UNCONDITIONALLY 


EDITORIAL 


Can  Prisoners  Solve  a  Problem  Which  Society 
Has  Failed  In? 

How  shall  a  discharged  prisoner  make  an  hon- 
est living?  This  question  is  of  vital  interest  to 
the  man  who  has  served  time,  but  it  is  also  of 
great  interest  to  the  community  in  which  he  is 
to  take  up  his  abode.  We  do  not  pretend  that  all 
men  who  leave  prisons  would  acquire  a  living 
by  honest  labor  if  they  could  do  so,  but  we  in- 
sist that  the  safety  of  life  and  property  will  be 
greatly  enhanced  when  those  men  who  leave  pris- 
ons determined  to  live  within  the  law  shall  have 
a  better  opportunity  than  they  now  have. 

It  is  frequently  found  hard  by  men  who  have 
no  prison  record  to  earn  an  honest  living;  how 
then  about  men  who  have  to  lie  about  their  past 
lives  in  order  to  get  an  opening  or  who  go  to 
work  under  the  handicap  of  having  it  known 
that  they  have  served  time? 

We  do  not  invite  sentimentality  to  enter  into 
the  consideration  of  this  question.  We  submit 
it  on  the  grounds  of  expediency,  pure  and  sim- 
ple. We  arc  not  dealing  with  a  theory.  It  is 
a  fact  that  every  state  turns  loose  each  year 
thousands  of  prisoners.  These  men  were  sent 
to  prison  because  they  had  failed  to  comply  with 
the  requirements  of  present-day  civilization,  and 
they  are  constantly  being  returned  to  society  to 
comply  with  its  demands. 

The  right  of  initiative  has  been  taken  from 
the  prisoner  during  the  period  of  his  incarcera- 
tion, the  state  has  taken  upon  itself  his  guardian- 


ship for  the  time  being.  Docs  the  state  during 
this  period  of  guardianship  use  its  op|>ortunity  to 
the  full  extent  to  fit  the  man  for  his  re-entry 
into  society?  Does  society  protect  itself  as  fully 
as  it  can  by  present-day  prison  methods? 

We  are  not  urging  sympathy  for  prisoners  or 
ex-prisoners ;  we  are  not  making  excuses  or  urg- 
ing any  advantage  for  them.  We  arc  submitting 
the  matter  only  from  a  jxjint  of  society's  pro- 
tection of  itself,  knowing  that  this  includes  the 
interest  of  all  prisoners  who  intend  to  become 
good  citizens. 

The  prisoner  has  served  his  time.  He  is  re- 
turned to  the  world.  He  must  find  employment 
at  remunerative  labor.  He  has  no  references. 
His  is  the  choice,  to  obtain  employment  by  means 
of  fraud  or  to  tell  his  past  histor>'.  If  he  se- 
cures work  through  lying,  he  makes  a  false  start. 
In  order  to  obtain  employment  in  an  honest  man- 
ner he  nnist  find  an  employer  who  will  overlook 
his  past  conduct,  and  then  he  must  take  his 
chances  on  what  his  fellow  workers  will  do  about 
having  an  ex-convict  in  their  midst.  Where  arc 
his  chances  l>est — in  the  rural  districts  or  in  the 
larger  cities?  .As  prisons  have  been  conducted, 
where  has  the  state  failed?  How  can  society 
best  protect  itself  in  the  future? 

We  believe  that  prisoners  can  find  the  solu- 
tion to  these  questions  and  that  theorists  can- 
not. We  believe  that  the  questions  can  be  solved, 
and  we  invite  suggestions  froiTi  prisoners  from 
all  parts  of  the  I'nitecl  States  for  publication 
in  future  issues.  Names  will  not  be  published 
tmless  we  are  expressly  authorized  to  do  so,  but 
thev  must  accompany  all  communications. 


538 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Conduct  Inside  the  Walls,  at  the  Camps  and 
the  Joliet  Honor  Farm 

A  prisoner  occasionally  enters  into  a  fight  with 
a  fellow  prisoner  in  a  very  light-hearted  manner. 
He  overlooks  the  fact  that  in  prisons  records 
are  kept  of  all  violations  of  the  rules,  and  that 
these  records  exercise  a  great  influence  in  the 
conclusions  of  the  officers  who  choose  men  for 
trusty  positions  and  for  preference  in  assign- 
ments to  road  or  farm  work.  The  men  in  this 
prison  cannot  wipe  out  their  past  records  but  they 
can  keep  their  future  records  clean.  Those  be- 
hind the  scenes  in  the  work  of  selecting  men  for 
road  or  farm  work  know  that  the  officers  strive 
to  get  men  who  are  peacefully  inclined,  as  they 
can  handle  a  fight  within  the  walls  much  more 
easily  than  outside,  and  consequently  the  men 
who  fight  have  little  or  no  chance  until  sufficient 
time  has  elapsed  after  the  latest  fight  to  give  the 
officers  who  make  the  selections,  confidence  that 
the  prisoner  under  consideration  has  outgrown  his 
pugnacious  proclivities.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact 
that  out  of  the  two  hundred  men  who  have  left 
this  prison,  to  go  to  the  camps  or  farm,  only 
two  have  engaged  in  a  fight.  Another  of 
the  men  selected  so  far  forgot  himself  as  to 
make  threats  against  a  prisoner  and  was  immedi- 
ately returned  within  the  walls.  This  remarkable 
record  shows  that  the  prisoners  selected  for  road 
and  farm  work  are  masters  at  self-control,  and 
that  the  officers  who  have  made  the  selections 
have  performed  their  work  in  an  able  manner. 
While  on  the  subject  it  may  be  well  to  remind  the 
prisoners  in  this  institution  that  there  is  a  rule 
here  making  a  prisoner  ineligible  for  road  or 
farm  work  within  six  months  of  his  having  been 
punished  in  the  solitary  for  any  infraction  of 
the  prison   ndcs. 

It  is  timely  to  announce  that  during  the  past 
year  there  has  not  been  even  one  complaint  by  a 
citizen  against  the  conduct  of  any  of  the  men 
who  have  been  selected  for  either  road  or  farm 
work.  It  is  doubtful  if  any  other  two  hundred 
laboring  men  in  the  State  of  Illinois  have  as  good 
a  record. 

From  this  we  do  not  argue  that  prisoners,  as  a 
class,  are  better  than  the  average  common  la- 
borers, but  we  do  maintain  that  a  given  num- 
ber of  prisoners  will  make  a  better  record  than 
the  same  number  of  free  men.  and  that  this  is 
due  to  the  unusual  responsibility  carried  by  the 


prisoners,  to  which  is  added  their  sense  of  loy- 
alty to  the  officers  who  have  selected  them  for 
preferment,  and  the  restrictions  of  discipline 
under  which  they  are  employed.  Conduct  which 
might  result  in  a  fine  inflicted  in  court  to  a  free 
man  would  surely  cause  a  prisoner's  being  re- 
turned to  the  penitentiary. 

The  men  so  far  sent  out  of  this  prison  for 
road  and  farm  work  have  always  succeeded  in 
winning  the  good  will  of  the  free  people  with 
whom  they  have  come  in  contact. 


A  Burial  Service 

Recently  an  inmate  of  the  Kansas  State  Peni- 
tentiary was  laid  to  his  rest  in  the  prison  ceme- 
tery. 

The  prison  publication  of  that  institution.  The 
Bulletin,  tells  us  that  the  prison  band  led  the 
march  to  the  burial  ground,  and  that  it  played 
"Departed  Comrades"  over  the  open  grave. 

Few  men  confined  within  the  walls  of  a  peni- 
tentiary can  picture  this  scene  without  feelings 
of  emotion;  and  to  men  out  in  the  world  the 
picture  must  open  a  page  in  the  life  of  the  prison 
house,  a  page  over  which  they  will  ponder  the 
hopes  and  fears  of  those  who  cry  for  freedom. 

It  is  best  that  this  is  so.  For  the  things  of 
life  are  but  shadows  until  the  heart  itself  is 
touched ;  until  then,  men  are  not  endowed  with 
the  life  that  is  real  and  true.  And  those  within 
the -walls,  as  well  as  every  freeman  who  reads 
these  lines,  must  come  to  the  realization  that 
because  this  man  was  buried  in  the  prison  field 
he  had  borne  something  more  than  the  pressure 
of  sorrow  and  remorse  upon  his  heart — that  his 
had  been  the  burden  of  loneliness,  the  weight 
of  which  only  the  friendless  know.  Always  must 
his  heart  have  been  hungry.  A  home  there  once 
had  been,  but  its  appeal  had  long  been  lost ;  per- 
haps its  love  call  was  not  far  flung.  And  as  for 
friends,  long  absence  had  destroyed  them  all.  In 
the  distant  past,  some  soul  may  have  been  taken 
into  his  own — but  so  far,  far  back,  we  can  im- 
agine, that  no  remembered  joy  had  flooded  the 
heart  when  he  caught  the  shadow  of  death's  still 
valley;  in  his  last  hour  he  had  looked  into  no 
eye  that  kindled  in  common  with  his  own. 

And  yet  he  was  remembered.  Out  in  the  open, 
his  comrades  in  adversity  yielded  reverence  to 
his   memory.      There   was    a    service    of   music. 


November  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


539 


There  was  a  service  of  prayer.  Around  his  open 
<:^ravc  was  made  manifest  a  brotherliood  of  sym- 
pathy, of  simple,  human  pity,  more  helj)ful  to 
that  gathering  than  all  the  wisdom  of  the  world. 
It  is  a  i)icturc  of  deep,  human  heart-interest ; 
a  picture  of  the  new  awakening;  of  the  eternal 
good  which  is  in  c\ery  soul. 

Courts'  Orders  to  Leave  the  City  or  Town 

It  is  a  common  practice  in  Look  county  in 
minor  cases  for  judges  of  the  Municipal  Court, 
as  well  as  for  justices  of  the  peace,  to  order  a 
man  who  is  brought  before  the  court  and  charged 
with  a  misdemeanor  to  leave  the  city  within  a 
"Stated  time,  usually  twenty-four  hours.  We  pass 
lightly  over  the  fact  that  there  is  no  law  for  such 
decrees,  to  ask  what  right  a  self-respecting  com- 
munity has  to  unload  its  miscreants  upon  other 
communities?  If  the  accused  man  has  done 
wrong,  the  law  fixes  his  status,  and  directs  what 
shall  be  done  to  him.  If  he  has  done  no  wrong 
and  is  simply  deemed  an  undesirable  character, 
what  right  has  a  judge  to  make  threats  as  to  w^hat 
will  be  done  to  him  unless  he  leaves  town  within 
a  stipulated  time?  If  every  community  should 
follow  the  example  of  the  Cook  county  courts 
many  men  would  be  driven  from  pillar  to  post 
and  never  have  a  chance  to  obtain  a  foothold 
anywhere. 

Aliases  Not  Necessarily  Indicative  of  Sinful- 
ness 

At  the  trial  of  a  man  accused  of  crime,  the 
fact  of  his  having  one  or  more  aliases  is  usually 
a  great  handicap  to  him.  It  is  not  generally 
known  that  men  who  come  into  conflict  with  the 
law  frequently  acquire  one  or  more  aliases 
through  no  fault  of  their  own.  After  an  arrest, 
and  upon  being  booked,  names  are  fref|uently 
added  to  the  one  given  by  the  prisoner  without 
either  his  suggestion  or  consent.  This,  consti- 
tuting a  part  of  his  police  record,  will  follow  him 
through  life.  It  often  happens  that  a  man  is 
arrested  by  mistake,  having  been  taki-n  for  some 
other  person  who  is  wanted  by  the  jiolice.  In 
such  cases  the  prisoner  will  usually  give  his  own 
name,  but  he  will  be  booked  under  the  name  of 
the  man  sought,  plus  that  i)crson*s  aliases,  and 
with  his  own  name  as  an  additional  alias.  I'>om 
that  moment  the  man  will  have  his  own  name 


and  the  name  of  the  man  sought.  p!u>  all  the 
aliases  of  the  man  sought,  and  all  of  these  names 
will  constitute  his  aliases  ujion  any  fuUirc  trial. 

I'^oreigners  coming  to  this  country  acquire  one 
or  more  aliases  at  the  caprice  of  a  shop  fore- 
man who  disapproves  of  the  long  real  name  of 
the  person  and  gives  him  one  easily  remetnlKre<l. 
This  results  in  instances  like  Danbcrnowsky  alias 
.^mith  alias  Johnson. 

Prosecuting  attorneys  are  wont  to  lay  great 
emi)hasis  on  the  fact  of  a  man's  having  one  or 
more  aliases,  and  the  play  usually  is  effectively 
])rejudicial  with  the  average  juror.  A  n)an  under 
these  circumstances  may  readily  have  several 
aliases  and  yet  be  as  innocent  of  wrong  as  a  new- 
born babe. 

Proving  a  Previous  Prison  Record  Uf)on  Trial 

An  ex-convict  knows  that  if  U|>on  a  trial  for 
crime  he  takes  the  witness  stand  in  his  own  Ik*- 
half,  his  record  of  a  previous  conviction  will 
be  introduced  and  that  it  will  damn  him.  lie 
also  knows  that  if  he  docs  not  take  the  witness 
stand  in  his  own  behalf,  his  silence  will  count 
against  him,  usually  to  the  extent  of  his  undoing. 
We  do  not  claim  that  it  is  wrong  to  introduce  a 
man's  past  record  but  he  should  lie  iK'rmilte<! 
to  show  everything  possible  in  his  favor,  and 
we  think  that  there  are  many  occasions  when  a 
person  accused  of  crime  who  has  been  in  prison 
on  a  previous  occasion  could  materially  change 
the  atmosphere  of  his  case  were  he  able  to  pro- 
duce an  officer  from  the  jjenitentiary  or  reforma- 
tory— as  the  case  may  be — to  testify  as  to  his 
conduct  while  in  prison.  For  instance,  in  the 
case  of  a  person  accused  of  a  crime  of  violence 
the  fact  that  he  was  an  ex-convict  who  had 
served  a  long  sentence  might  create  a  prejudice 
sufficiently  strong  to  result  in  a  conviction  on 
evidence  which  would  otherwise  be  considered 
insulVicient.  In  such  a  case  the  evidence  of  a 
state  emi>loye,  such  as  an  officer  of  a  prison,  to 
the  effect  that  the  man  on  trial  had  In-cn  un«lcr 
close  sui>ervision  for  many  years  during  the  tenu 
of  his  imprisonment,  and  that  he  had  during  that 
period  conducted  himself  as  a  peaceful  |xrr.son, 
might  more  than  overcome  the  prejudice  against 
him  by  reason  of  a  fomicr  conviction,  and  yet 
the  man  on  trial  would  be  receiving  only  what 
he  was  justly  entitled  to.    I'nder  the  law  and  the 


540 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


rules  of  evidence  a  defendant  could  not  be  per- 
mitted to  introduce  such  evidence. 

Vocational  Training  vs.  Failure 

Many  of  the  unfortunates  who  have  proven 
themselves  unable  to  cope  with  the  standards  of 
society  have  had  the  advantages  of  many  years 
of  schooling,  and  some  of  them  left  school  before 
they  had  completed  their  studies,  because  through 
lack  of  interest  they  could  not  be  induced  to  re- 
main. Had  an  opportunity  been  given  to  these 
young  people  to  choose  a  trade  by  means  of  voca- 
tional training  during  their  years  of  schooling, 
many  of  them  would  have  been  fitted  to  occupy 
positions  of  independence,  or  at  least  had  the 
foundations  laid  for  a  trade  or  a  profession. 

A  lack  of  interest  in  the  every-day  life  leads 
children  and  young  men  and  young  women  to 
seek  diversion,  and  all  too  often  the  diversion 
found  does  not  come  within  the  scope  of  the 
standards  of  society.  Had  the  individual  inter- 
est of  each  of  these  children  and  young  people 
been  centered  on  some  branch  of  the  vocations 
of  life  there  would  have  been  little  chance  of 
their  seeking  and  finding  diversion  that  was  dan- 
gerous. 

If  the  education  of  the  first  ten  years  of  school- 
ing were  to  be  made  more  interesting  and  practi- 
cal and  less  monotonous  and  theoretical,  then 
there  would  be  fewer  human  derelicts. 

Why  Men  Get  Into  Prison 

It  is  inevitable  that  society  shall  try  to  protect 
itself  from  persons  who  violate  that  which  is 
looked  upon  as  being  good  for  society. 

Once,  many  an  individual  act  would  pass  cur- 
rent in  social  affairs  that  cannot  now  be  allowed. 
Ideas  have  changed,  the  social  standard  has  been 
raised  and  the  requirement  is  different. 

The  least  that  can  be  expected  of  even  the 
highest  order  of  society  in  protecting  itself  is 
that  it  shall  restrain  social  offenders  from  min- 
gling with  society.  The  idea  and  custom  have 
been,  along  with  this  restraint,  to  punish  the 
offenders  so  as  to  avenge  the  wrongs  they  had 
committed  and  more  lately  there  is  the  purpose  to 
make  the  punishment  exemplary  so  as  to  restrain 
others. 

To  punish  for  exemplary  effect  is  somewhat 


redemptive  in  its  purpose;  it  seeks  to  restrain 
others  from  committing  crime. 

It  is  natural  as  society  has  moved  along  toward 
a  consideration  of  the  welfare  of  the  persons  who 
offend,  for  it  at  last  to  ask  why  men  get  into 
prison,  and  to  begin  to  inquire  in  what  ways  men 
can  be  kept  from  the  things  that  lead  to  prison. 

The  address,  therefore,  of  Mr.  C.  C.  Mc- 
Claughry,  Warden  of  the  Iowa  State  Reforma- 
tory, at  Anamosa,  on  "Why  Men  Get  Into  Pris- 
on," is  timely  and  of  interest.  It  carries  the 
question  of  social  offenses  from  a  consideration 
of  a  penalty  for  such  offenses  to  a  consideration 
of  the  removal  of  the  offenses  themselves. 

Warden  McClaughry  declared  that  the  great 
social  lack  with  reference  to  social  offenses  is 
want  of  proper  home  training  for  the  young.  He 
suggests  that  the  Ten  Commandments,  which 
are  recognized  by  Jews,  Catholics,  Protestants 
and  by  all  intelligent  men,  shall  be  put  on  bronze 
tablets  on  the  streets  of  the  cities.  These,  he 
said,  would  be  better  than  any  police  patrol  box, 
and  he  declared  that  if  boys  and  girls  were  taught 
so  that  they  would  follow  the  right  as  their  con- 
science guides  them  that  they  would  be  in  no  dan- 
ger of  getting  into  a  pentitentiary. 

Warden  McClaughry  says  that  while  not  all  of 
the  prisoners  at  Anamosa  will  acknowledge  the 
previous  use  of  liquor  or  drugs,  forty-two  per 
cent  of  them  do  admit  the  use  of  liquor  and  a  few 
admit  the  use  of  drugs. 

The  average  age  of  the  men  in  the  reformatory 
is  twenty-five  and  one-half  years.  The  minds  of 
about  sixty  per  cent  are  the  minds  of  children 
ten  years  of  age  or  less.  Warden  McClaughry 
says : 

"Out  of  311  prisoners  examined  by  the  Binet- 
Simon  scale  of  mental  measurement,  138  were 
mentally  only  eleven  years  old ;  eight,  ten  years 
old ;  twenty-seven,  nine  years  old ;  one,  eight 
years  old ;  two,  seven  years  old,  and  ten,  five 
years  old."  To  quote  further:  "This  means 
that  just  as  in  the  case  of  90  per  cent  of  the 
190,000  insane  who  crowd  the  asylums  of  the 
United  States,  the  cause  of  their  mental  feeble- 
ness lay  in  the  combined  agencies  of  alcoholism 
and  venereal  disease,  either  in  themselves  or  in 
their  parents  'unto  the  third  or  fourth  genera- 
tion,' preceding  them. 

"While  very  few  of  this  60  per  cent  of  sub- 
normal minds  in  our  institution  are  incapable 
of  following  the  simple  laws  of  God's  Ten  Com- 
mandments— for  even  a  little  child  mav  follow 


November  1.  1914                             THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.  541 

them — it  means  that  with  l^ad  environment,  ncj;-  never   allow   the   tendency    for   waywarchiess  to 

lect,  lack  of  familiarity  with  these  simple  laws,  develop." 

in  addition  to  the  burden  of  enfeebled  mentality  The  association  proi)oses  to  i)rovidc  a  farm  for 

through  bad  heredity,  coupled   with   the   strong  ,,,^.^^,^^,       jsoners  where  they  can  find  suitable 

passions  and  temptations  of  phvsicallv  full-grown  ,  ,      ,  ,             ,                .•,... 

men,  they  have  come  into  theVosition  of  active  ''"''  '^^''^^**^>'  employment  that  will  take  the  prison 

enemies  of  the  law.  For  the  40  per  cent,  who  are  pallor  from  their  faces  and  that  will  bring  back 

normal,  the  problem  is  one  of  the   iiulividuai's  the  glow  of  health  and  hope. 

willingness  to  return  to  the  position  that  he  might  Rev.  Mr.  Pelrie  is  addressing  ncclings  m  Uif- 

have  maintained  or  may  regain     *     *     *     K.x-  f^,^^^^              ^^   Wisconsin    for  the   puriwsc   of 

perts  m  the  study  of  insanity  claim  that  in  addi-  .....                ,    ,             ,    ■      ,          , 

lion  to  the  190.000  patients  who  are  in  the  asy-  <l"'^»<emng  the  interest  of  the  people  in  the  wcl- 

lums,  there  are  80,000  insane  who  are  privately  f«ire  of  men  who.  have  been  let  out  from  prison 

cared  for.     Does  this  bring  to  your  mind  a  view  and  who  want  to  come  again  to  goo<l  citizenship, 

of  the  great  blessings  that  would  ensue  if  liquor  and  in  the  interest  of  having  the  public  take  uj)  a 

was  totally  wiped  out  of  our  list  of  manufactures,  ^^.^,^,^  ^^^^  ^^,i„  ^^  ^^.^j,^          ,^  ^y^^^  ^  j^.^ .  .^^^„,\^J. 

when   I   tell  you  that  eminent  experts  proclaim  . 

that  60  per  cent  of  the  men  and  boys  of  our  na-  "^  '"^"  "^^X  ^  ^^"»J°  P"^«"- 

tion  are  victims,  to  a  greater  or  less  degree,  of  WW 

venereal  disease,  either  acquired  or  inherited,  and  All  Labor  Is  Competitive 

that  three-fourths  of  venereal  disease  owes  its  jj  j^  ^^^^  general  consensus  of  opinion  that  it 

existence  to  the  follv  and  passion  and  blindness  c      .u           i     »      r      •        i  »    ,  .^    ^~, 

^.Nu.icuv^«.  i^  lin.  iw   >  «       '    o     XT         -4.  •    x^n  IS  wrong  for  the  products  of  prison  labor  to  com- 

mduced  by  the  use  of  liquor?     Now,  it  is  folly  ,^               '               ,  r        i  t          -ri 

to  attack  the  tree  of  evil  by  knocking  the  diseased  Petc  with  the  products  of  free  labor.    The  view 

and  degenerate  fruit  from  its  branches.    The  ax  is   also   generally   hekl    that    prisoners    must    be 

should  be  laid  at  the  root  of  the  tree."  given  employment.    Yet  there  is  no  way  in  which 

^  prisoners  can  be  given  work  to  do  without  the 

products  of  prison  labor  entering  into  comjx'ti- 

Anothcr  person  who  is  taking  the  question  of  ^.^^  ^^.^^  ^j^^  products  of  free  labor. 

social  oflPenses  back  to  the  question  of  why  men  j^  ^  company  of  prisoners  is  sent  out  to  im- 

eet  into  prison  is  Kev.  A.  C.  Petrie,  superintend-  ../.-.               u         i       i ;  u 

^        ,    ,'    „,.                ....         r  .u     TD  •        i^„  prove  a  road  they  do  just  so  much  work  which 

ent  of  the  Wisconsin  division  of  the  Prison  Ke-  *:                      i  •    .        rr                       ^t  ^,;c««-«> 

free  men  could  do.     If  a  company  of  prisoners 

foi-m  Association.  ,,  ^  .  .^  .  ,  work  on  a  farm  the  crops  which  are  raised  will 
In  recent  addresses  Rev.  Mr.  Pe  rie  said  that  ^^^^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^^  .^  com,>etition  with  the  pro<l- 
"instead  of  reforming  our  criminals  after  they  ^^^^^  ^^  ^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^  .^  ^^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^^,^ 
are  sent  to  prison,  they  should  be  reformed  be-  ^^  ^^^■^^^^,,  ,,e  used  in  state  institutions  these 
fore  they  are  sent  there. '  institutions  will  purchase  just  so  much  less 
The  Prison  Reform  Association  deals  with  ^^^^^^  ^^^^^^^  consequently  the  result  as  to  corn- 
persons  who  have  been  released  from  prison  and  ^^^.^.^^^  .^          ^^  ^^^^^.^^ 

Rev.  Mr.  Petrie  reports  that  seventy-eight  per  ^^^^  ,,ifference  does  it  make  if  a  prison  makes 
cent  of  the  2,800  released  from  prisons  who  have  ^^^^^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^  ^^^  ^^  ^^„^  ^^^^  ^^  ^^^  „,.,^. 
received  help  from  the  association  have  made  ^^^^  ^^  prisoners  did  not  supply  state  institu- 
good.  He  said  that  he  believes  that  men  who  ^.^^^^  ^^.^^^  ^^^^^^^^  ^^^^^  institutions  would  pur- 
have  fallen  into  the  rut  of  crime  are  not  given  a  ^^^^^  ^^^^^^^  .^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^^^^^^^  consequently 
chance  to  recover  themselves  by  the  people  as  a  ^^^^^  pHson-made  broom  takes  the  place  of  a 
whole.    He  continued :  ^^^.^^^^^   ^^j^j^.,^   ^^.^^1^1   ha^c  been   made   by    free 

"An  organized  attempt  should  be  made  to  give  labor  if  there  were  no  prison  labor, 

these  unfortunates  the  opportunity  and  assistance  j^^,  products  of  labor  are  all  comiK-titive  and 

they  need  in  order  to  make  them  citizens  of  a  de-  ^^^.^  ^^^^  ^^^^  ^  recognized.     If  prisoners  were 

sirable  caliber.     In  the  first  place,  reform  shouM  ^        ^y^^  expense  of 

sistance  to  enable  them  to  see  and  follow  the  bet-  proportion  to  the  tax  levies  the  resuhs  wouUI  be 

ter  and  nobler  side  of  life.     In  this  connection  ^^^,^^  worse. 

a  great  deal  of  responsibility  falls  on  the  teacher  ^^^^  .^  truthfully  be  said  that  men  sentenced  to 

of  the  public  schools  as  well  as  «"  .l»;;-\j;;;[;"\  '';  ,o^e  their  freedom  are  also  sentenced  to  lose  their 

the  home.     The  teacher  has  the  child  umltr  ner 

care  almost  as  much  as  the  parent  and   should  right  to  work . 


542 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


If  society  attempts  that  attitude  let  it  not 
overlook  the  consequences  of  keeping  men  in 
idleness  for  a  number  of  years  and  then  turning 
them  loose  to  earn  a  living  by  honest  labor. 

The  question  of  prison  labor  has  never  been 
settled  right  because  the  adjustments  which  in 
the  past  have  been  attempted  have  considered 
only  those  interests  which  at  the  time  were  ac- 
tively presenting  their  particular  claims. 

Classification  of  Prison  Labor  Systems 

The  Secretary  of  Labor  of  the  United  States 
has  recently  published  an  interesting  document 
on  convict  labor.  One  of  the  features  of  this 
document  is  the  secretar>-'s  classifications  of  the 
different  systems  under  which  prisoners  are  em- 
ployed throughout  the  L^nited   States. 

The  secretary  classifies  the  different  systems 
under  six  general  heads,  which  are  named  and 
defined  as  follows: 

The  lease  system. — Lender  this  system  the  con- 
tractors assume  the  entire  control  of  the  con- 
victs, including  their  maintenance  and  discipline, 
subject,  however,  to  the  regulations  fixed  by 
the  statute.  In  general,  the  prisoners  are  re- 
moved from  the  prisons  and  are  employed  in 
outdoor  labor,  such  as  mining,  agriculture,  rail- 
road construction,  etc.,  though  manufacturing  is 
sometimes  carried  on.  The  nature  and  duration 
of  the  employment  are,  within  the  restrictions 
of  the  law,  fixed  by  the  lease. 

The  contract  system. — The  employment  under 
this  system  is  usually  within  the  prison  shops  or 
yards,  discipline  and  control  remaining  in  the 
hands  of  the  officers,  only  the  labor  of  the  con- 
victs being  let  to  and  directed  by  the  contractors 
for  manufacturing  purposes.  The  state  usually 
furnishes  shop  room  and  sometimes  also  provides 
power  and  machinery. 

The  piece-price  system. — Not  only  the  disci- 
pline of  the  convicts,  but  the  direction  of  their 
labor  as  well,  is  retained  by  the  state  under  this 
system,  the  contractors  furnishing  the  material  to 
be  made  up  and  receiving  the  finished  product,  an 
agreed  price  per  piece  being  paid  for  the  labor 
bestowed. 

The  public-account  system. — There  is  no  in- 
tervention of  outside  parties  under  this  system, 
the  employment  of  the  convicts  being  in  all  re- 
spects directed  by  the  state,  and  the  products  of 
their  labor  being  sold  for  its  benefit. 


The  Siate-use  system. — This  system  is  similar 
to  the  above,  except  that  such  articles  are  pro- 
duced as  will  be  of  service  to  the  State  in  sup- 
plying and  maintaining  its  various  institutions, 
and  are  appropriated  to  such  use  instead  of  being 
put  on  the  general  market. 

The    public-zvorks-and-zvays    system. — Under 
this  system  convicts  are  employed  in  the  con- 
struction and  repair  of  public  buildings,  streets, . 
highways  and  other  public  works. 

Take  Your  Choice 

An  interesting  dispatch  appeared  in  the  Chi- 
cago Journal  of  August  29.    It  reads  as  follows : 

"San  Francisco,  August  29. — The  first  arrest 
in  the  history  of  the  state  under  authority  of 
section  650-A  of  the  penal  code  was  made  here. 
The  section  makes  it  a  misdemeanor  to  give  in- 
formation to  any  employer  that  an  employe  has 
served  time  in  prison.  Frederick  Schroeder,  a 
painter,  has  been  accused.  Decision  was  re- 
served." 

F'rom  the  dispatch  above  quoted  it  seems  that 
if  in  California  a  son  informed  his  father  of  the 
fact  that  an  employe  of  the  latter  had  been  in 
prison,  the  son  would  be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor. 

In  many  European  countries  it  has  long  been 
the  law  that  no  one  may  name  a  person  as  hav- 
ing been  in  prison.  This  is  on  the  theory  that 
a  man  who  has  served  his  time  has  paid  his  debt 
to  society  in  full  and  that  he  is  immune  from 
further  punishment  or  inconvenience  by  reason 
of  the  commission  of  the  act  which  led  to  his 
imprisonment.  This  provision  rests  on  great  jus- 
tification. On  the  other  hand,  it  would  only  seem 
right  for  an  employer  to  know  all  about  the  his- 
tory of  his  employe. 

Prison  Press  Policy 

The  new  editor  of  Our  View  Point,  published 
at  the  Washington  State  Penitentiary,  announces 
in  Our  View  Point's  platform  principles  that  in 
the  columns  of  that  magazine  there  shall  be  no 
"spirit  of  vindictiveness" ;  he  says  that  "such  a 
spirit  cannot  possibly  result  in  anything  but  evil." 
The  editor  also  announces  that  the  magazine  is 
published  in  the  interest  of  both  the  prisoners 
and  the  general  public  and  that  commimica- 
tions  will  be  welcomed  from  all  persons,  whether 


November  1,  1914                             THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST.                                                      543 

prisoners  or  not.     The  closing'  sialenieiu  of  the  pfxxl"  iK-tore  Ixmhk  inearccratcd.     It  sctrms  prob- 

editor's  announcenietn  is  that  the  maKa/ine  "will  able  that  the  ii.iKJer  methods  will  tend  to  gradu- 

be  managed  without  fear  or  favor  and  with  mal-  ally  lessen  the  weight  of  prisoners  ui>on  society, 

ice   toward   none,   with    love    for   all   and    with  I'.ut  the  change  in  public  attitude  which  makes 

conscientious    devotion    to    truth    as    God    gives  all  of  this  iwssible  and  which  is  working  to  pro- 

us  to  see  the  truth."  vide  freedom  for  all  who.  cither  l>eforc  or  after 

As  we  see  the  office  of  the  prison  press.  Our  imprisonment,  will  proiK-rly  unite  in  a  common 

Vieiu  Point  has  taken  the  right  position.  social  interest,  docs  not  mean  that  the  new  at- 

Nothing  can  come  from  the  championing  by  titude  is  to  provide  freedom  for  cverybotly.  Just 

prison  journals  of  the  interests  of  the  prisoners  as  surely  will  it  provide  that  men  and  women 

as    against    the    interests    of    the    public.      The  who  will  not  live  right,  who  will  not  live  true  to 

trouble  with  prisoners  is  that  they  have  lived  too  the  social  interest,  shall  not  l)C  released  at  all. 

selfishly;  no  man  possesses  power  to  win  any-  Treatment  of  even  the  worst  of  the  criminals 

thing  of  real  good  as  long  as  he  lives  only   in  who  are  not  relea.sed  will  be  better,  will  be  more 

his  own  interests.  luuiiatie  than  in  the  past,  but  freedom— which  is 

Prison  betterment  will  come  only  as  prisoners  an  entirely  different  thing— will  be   farther  re- 
unite their   interests   with   the   interests   of   the  moved  than  ever.     Inevitably  the  improvement 
people  as  a  whole.    Prisoners  should  realize  that  of  pri.«;on  conditions  will  lead  to  longer  sentences 
prison  betterment  is  something  more  than  ex-  for  those  prisoners  who  will  not  live  true. 
tracting    from   society   a   grant   of   larger   privi- 
leges. 


• 


More  than  ever  before,  society  is  set  upon  pro-  It  is  clear  that  the  position  of  Our  I'inv  Point 
tecting  itself  and  upon  its  improvement.  The  is  correct  and  that  it  is  the  logical  jxjsition  for 
prisoner  who  wants  only  to  be  released  so  that  every  mind  that  sees  the  tendency  of  the  times. 
he  can  again  pursue  a  criminal  career  will  find  A  spiritual  purification  is  going  on  within  the 
that  ere  long  society  will  decree  that  he  shall  not  men  and  women  of  this  day  which  is  a  i>art  of 
be  released  at  all.  The  leniency  felt  toward  pris-  life's  own  natural  and  necessary  forward  move- 
oners  is  not  that  society  is  less  careful  of  its  own  ment,  and  that  spiritual  purification  is  beginning 
interests;  the  leniency  is  for  the  protection  of  to  work  out  into  individual  and  social  affairs. 
its  interests,  interests  which  hitherto  it  has  over-  The  spirit  of  vindictiveness  cannot  result  in 
looked,  as  well  as  in  acknowledgment  of  the  in-  anvthing  but  evil.  And  it  is  just  as  true  tliat 
terests  of  prisoners.  the  spirit  of  fairness  cannot  result  in  anything 

Society  has  found  that  confinement  and  pun-  but  good, 

ishment  alone  do  not  serve  either  itself  or  the  As  the  prison  press  comes  to  recognize  these 

prisoners  except  in  a  very  few  cases  where  the  two  truths  as  Our  Vinv  Point  has  recognized 

quality  of  human  life  is  so  low  that  ideals  do  them,  and  as  the  prison  press  teaches  these  truths 

not  appeal  to  the  person  and  when  only  suffering  to  the  inmates  of  prisons  and  as  the  prisoners  be- 

and  the  fear  of  suffering  will  restrain  the  person  gin  to  recognize  and  to  live  these  truths,  a  tre- 

from   doing   wrong.     There   have   always   been  mendous  change  in  prison  jwlicy  and  in  court 

among  prisoners  men  and  women  who  have  had  methods  will  come. 

the  capacity  and  the  willingness  to  grow  into  .Ml  correction  can  W  in  kindness  with  sol'.ci- 
good  citizenship.  Society  is  now  beginning  to  tude  for  the  welfare  of  every  jKrrson  involveil. 
see  that  it  is  right  that  these  persons  should  be  It  will  be  found  that  if  Our  Vice  Point's  plat- 
helped  to  become  good  citizens ;  that  it  is  right  form  is  liveil  up  to  in  all  prison  betterment  work, 
for  the  person  himself  and  that  it  is  right  and  that  progress  in  the  work  will  be  secure  and  that 
far  better  for  society  as  a  whole.  it  will  also  be  raj)id. 

Society  is  beginning  to  realize  that  it  is  far  Only  that  which  is  tnie  endures ;  and  only  that 

better  to  reform  a  prisoner  than  to  dehumanize  which  is  true  really  helps  to  build  that  which  is 

him,  and  going  farther  by  means  of  paroles  from  to  endure.     Fairness  in  all  that  wc  say  and  «lo 

the  bench  it  acknowledges  that  the  present  view  will  unite  us  with  the  peof)le  of  the  earth ;  the 

is  that  it  is  frequently  better  to  give  a  person  jH-oplc  will  come  to  our  supyxirt  as  we  prove  our- 

accused    of    crime    one   more   chance   to   "make  seKes  to  be  worthy  of  their  help. 


544 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


The  Prison  Press  Guards  Its  Own 

In  August  we  quoted  a  report  made  in  a  re]>u- 
table  Cliicago  newspaper  of  a  mock  court  at  Sing 
Sing  prison  in  which  a  prisoner  was  tried  for 
stealing  meat  and  which,  the  report  said,  "asked 
ihc  Warden  to  inflict  the  severest  penalty,  as 
the  man  had  stolen  meat,  thus  depriving  other 
pi  isoiiers  of  food." 

\Vc  pointed  out  the  moral  bearing  of  such  an 
attitude  by  prisoners. 

The  Star  of  Hope,  published  at  Sing  Sing 
prison,  says  that  the  newspaper  report  upon 
which  our  comment  was  made,  is  untrue.  It 
says  that  the  man  did  steal  the  meat;  it  gives 
the  e.xact  weight  of  the  meat  and  tells  how  the 
fact  of  theft  was  established.  But  the  Star 
of  Hope  wishes  to  have  it  known  that  the  pris- 
oners' court  did  not  ask  for  "the  severest  pen- 
alty" and  that,  in  fact,  it  did  not  fix  the  penalty, 
preferring  not  to  do  so,  although  it  did  pro- 
nounce the  man  guilty: 

"The  court  could  see  no  possible  justification 
for  not  finding  him  guilty.  When,  after  it  had 
declined  to  fi.x  his  sentence,  it  was  urged  to  do 
so,  it  still  refused  to  name  a  penalty,  but  sug- 
gested that  as  this  was  certainly  a  second  and 
possibly  a  third  off'ense,  his  punishment  should 
be  greater  than  on  his  first  conviction.  The 
sentiment  of  the  court  was  such  that,  had  it  been 
possible  for  him  to  eat  the  food,  it  would  have 
recommended  mercy,  but  he  could  not  possibly 
have  eaten  one-tenth  of  it." 

The  correction  of  the  newspaper  report,  which, 
under  the  new  administration  at  Sing  Sing,  the 
Star  of  Hope  is  able  to  make,  indicates  the  value 
to  prisoners  and  to  the  prison  cause,  of  the 
prison  press  having  now  a  freedom  of  expres- 
sion and  a  freedom  to  circulate  among  the  gen- 
eral public. 

The  Star  of  Hope,  together  with  other  prison 
journals,  rejoices  that  the  day  of  no  voice  for 
prisoners  has  gone  or  is  fast  going.  It  is  an 
event  in  the  history  of  prison  life  that  the  Star 
of  Hope,  from  out  of  the  hitherto  silent  depths 
of  Sing  Sing  prison,  can  send  forth  its  voice 
and  say  that  that  which  has  been  said  about  the 
men  of  Sing  Sing  is  not  true ;  and  yet  so  lingers 
the  spell  of  the  old  confinement  and  isolation 
that  it  is  felt  even  as  the  newly  liberated  voice 
speaks : 

"It  is  one  of  the  unfortunate  conditions  of  life 
in  Sing  Sing,  which  we  have  until  recently  had 


to  bear  in  silence,  that  sensation  mongers  have 
at  all  times  felt  at  liberty  to  misreport  the  doings 
in  Sing  Sing  and  when  it  served  their  purposes 
to  slander  us.  That  we  believe  is  passing  and 
we  thank  God  for  it." 

To  a  greater  extent  than  many  have  yet  come 
to  realize,  the  hope  of  the  prison  cause  is  in  the 
growing  purpose  and  power  of  the  prison  press. 

The  Joliet  Prison  Post  is  glad  that  the  Star 
of  Hope  can  today  correct  an  untrue  report  about 
the  men  of  its  community. 

What  is  true  must  at  last  come  to  be  known, 
since  finally  only  what  is  true  can  stand. 


Honor  System  Applied  to  Jails 

It  seems  that  putting  prisoners  upon  their 
honor  shall  more  and  more  come  to  be  the  policy 
in  handling  the  men  who  have  come  under  the 
charge  of  the  state. 

Calhoun  county,  Michigan,  has  begim  to  apply 
the  honor  principle  to  its  jail  inmates  and  with 
very  .satisfactory  results. 

Fifteen  prisoners  have  been  selected  to  work 
at  a  gravel  pit  some  distance  from  the  jail  and 
every  morning  a  wagon  drives  to  the  jail  to 
sret  the  men  and  take  them  to  their  work.  When 
the  day's  work  is  finished  the  wagon  appears 
again  and  takes  the  men  back  to  the  county  lock- 
up. The  men  go  to  their  work  and  return  alone, 
without  officer  or  guard.  So  far,  one  man  has 
attempted  to  escape,  but  he  was  captured. 

The  Battle  Creek,  Michigan,  Enquirer  says: 

"The  honor  system  as  tried  in  Calhoun  county 
is  little  different  from  that  seen  in  Illinois  peni- 
tentiary, or  the  penal  institutions  of  several  other 
states.  If  anything,  it  goes  even  farther  than 
they  do,  for  where  they  have  guards  to  watch 
the  men  at  work,  none  are  used  in  this  county. 

"The  one  principle  in  the  honor  system  is  the 
placing  of  implicit  trust  in  men. 

"Those  men  may  be  criminals.  They  may  be 
men  of  the  worst  stamp.  They  may  be  men  in 
whom  courts  and  juries  have  come  to  believe  all 
honor  dead.  And  then  again  they  may  he  men 
v/ho  have  slipped  dov/n  the  ladder  in  life  and 
are  merely  paying  the  penalty  of  a  deed  done, 
not  by  premeditation  or  because  they  were  bad 
inside,  but  on  the  spur  of  the  moment.  But 
even  in  thieves  there  can  be  found  honor,  and 
Calhoun   county   is   learning  this. 

"It  isn't  unknowai  for  men  to  betray  a  trust 
placed  in  them.  Such  things  are  common.  Ei;t 
there  are  many  men  of  honor  among  the  so- 
called  criminals,   and  it  is  these  that   the   state 


Xovcnihcr   1,   101  I 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


^4^ 


;ni(l   county    is   hciidUintj   hy    plaoinq;   in   them   a 
trust  and  then  rclyinj;  on  tlKin  tu  keep  it. 

"And  the  phui  has  been  found  a  success  here, 
a-  elsewhere." 

Keys  as  Phony  Evidence 

There  are  many  subjects  on  which  prisoners 
can  give  information  to  the  general  public.  an<l 
one  of  these  is  the  value  of  certain  kinds  of  evi- 
dence in  criminal  cases.  As  experts  on  the  sub- 
ject, we  wish  to  warn  future  jurors  of  the  unre- 
liability of  all  evidence  against  a  man  on  trial 
for  burglary  or  a  highway  robbery  when  that  evi- 
dence consists  in  part  of  keys  belonging  to  the 
victim  or  one  of  the  victims  and  found  in  the 
])ockets  of  the  accused  man.  To  an  average 
juror  the  testimony  of  a  policeman  to  the  effect 
that  he  found  upon  the  accused  after  his  arrest, 
keys  which  were  later  identified  by  the  victim 
as  belonging  to  him,  would  seem  almost  conclu- 
sive evidence  of  guilt.  If  such  a  juror  had  had 
even  a  little  experience  as  a  burglar  or  highway- 
man he  would  know  that  men  of  this  class  have 
no  use  whatever  for  old  keys  and  that  they  know 
their  danger  as  incriminating  evidence.  Let  a 
man  attend  criminal  trials  often  enough,  and 
he  will  find  that  the  number  of  cases  in  which 
keys  ])lny  an  important  role  is  so  large  as  to  cause 
wonderment  in  view  of  the  fact  that  no  burglar 
or  highwayman  will  touch  them.  If  a  juror 
knew  "the  ropes"  he  would  look  with  suspicion 
upon  all  evidence  where  the  linding  of  keys  is 
a  feature.  I'nfortunately  for  some  men  who 
are  tried  and  convicted,  juries  are  nearly  always 
composed  of  men  who  are  inexperienced  in  crim- 
inal proceedings. 


He  Is  Making  Good 

There  is  a  man  at  the  Washington  State  Re- 
formatory at  Monroe,  Washington,  who  did  not 
wait  for  his  release  to  begin  to  make  good.  I  lo 
began  a  year  ago  when  he  first  entered  the  jirison. 
"He  took  the  view."  says  the  Index,  the  reforma- 
lor\-  paper,  "that  no  one  could  hurt  him  but  him- 
self and  he  set  about  to  improve  his  own  condi- 
tion." 

The  prisoner  was  by  nature  a  talented  pianist. 

'    He  had  had  some  experience  in  carpentry.     He 

decided  to  study  something  of  architecture  and 


asked  for  a  ]Misitiou  in  the  car|Knler  shop,  which 
was  given  him.  He  joinctl  a  night  class  in  me- 
chanical drawing.  I^tcr  he  went  from  the  car- 
penter's shop  to  the  chaplain's  office,  where  he 
had  time  to  study  l)ooks  on  mechanical  tlraw- 
ing  and  architecture.  When  he  had  studied 
about  two  months  a  vacancy  occurred  in  the  of- 
fice of  Mr.  I**cy,  the  chief  engineer.  The  pris- 
oner, Ogden  by  name,  accepted  the  position  in 
Mr.  I'ey's  office  of  timekeej)er  for  the  civilian 
mechanics.  This  was  still  greater  opjxjrtunity 
for  his  study,  as  he  came  in  direct  contact  with 
the  men  who  were  doing  the  actual  building  and 
he  also  had  access  to  the  blue  prints  of  all  the 
institution's  buildings,  which  he  diligently 
studied. 

Ogden  is  now  about  to  be  released.  He  has 
drawn  plans  for  a  five-room  bungalow  which  he 
intends  to  build.  "There  are."  the  Index  says, 
"several  original  ideas  in  the  plans  for  this  cozy 
little  home."  The  work  is  reported  to  l>e  crc<l- 
itable  to  the  young  draftsman.  Ogden  will  en- 
ter a  .school  for  a  further  study  of  draftsman- 
shi])  when  he  leaves  the  Monroe  institution. 


NEWS  NARRATIVE 


LOCAL 


ANNOUNCEMENT  BY  THE  BOARD  OF 

PAROLE 

The  Board  of  Parole,  speaking  through  its 
president.  Mr.  Lewis  (1.  Stevenson,  has  instructed 
us  to  publish  the  following  announcements ; 

1.  In  the  future  very  few  prisoners  will  be 
permitted  to  serve  their  parole  jKriods  in  Cook 
county.  The  exceptions  will  be  only  those  pris- 
oners whose  records  encourage  the  opinion  that 
the  temptations  of  a  large  city  such  as  Chicago 
;ire  no  particular  menace.  All  others  will  be  re- 
(juired  to  secure  emjjloyment  in  some  small  town. 
or  failing  to  do  this  they  will  be  held  in  the  prison 
until  their  maximum  time  has  been  served. 

2.  The  Board  will  do  its  .share  in  every  pos- 
sible way  towards  making  an  entl  to  the  viola- 
tions of  parole,  which  have  been  all  too  numerous, 
and  in  this  connection  serves  notice  on  the  in- 
mates of  this  prison  as  well  as  on  all  prisoners 
out  on  parole  that  every  prisoner  who  is  returned 


546 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


for  the  violation  of  his  parole,  where  the  viola- 
tion seems  serious,  will  be  required  to  serve  his 
maximum  sentence. 

3.  Every  prisoner  who  comes  to  this  prison, 
having  been  caught  with  a  deadly  weapon  on  his 
person,  or  having  been  associated  with  a  person 
caught  with  a  deadly  weapon  on  his  person, 
who  might  otherwise  be  paroled  short  of  doing 
his  maximum  term,  will  be  required  to  remain 
here  one  year  extra  for  this  feature. 

©     ^     ® 
JEWS  CELEBRATE  ANNUAL  HOLIDAY 

The  Jews  of  this  institution  celebrated  the 
Jewish  New  Year,  Rosh-Hashona,  from  sunset 
Sunday  to  sunset  Tuesday,  September  20  and  22, 
with  services  in  the  chapel,  the  release  of  the  men 
from  any  requirement  by  the  administration  con- 
tinuing during  the  period.  A  number  of  friends 
from  the  outside  attended.  The  management  of 
the  celebration  was  in  charge  of  Judge  Philip  P. 
Bregstone,  of  Chicago,  who  was  present  at  all  of 
the  services  and  who  also  addressed  these  meet- 
ings. 

On  September  29  and  30,  from  sunset  to  sun- 
set, the  Jews  were  again  given  the  privilege  of 
the  chapel,  where  they  celebrated  the  holiest  day 
of  the  Jewish  calendar,  Yom-Kippur,  the  Day  of 
Atonement.  Friends  from  outside  again  took 
part  in  this  celebration  and  Judge  Bregstone  again 
addressed  the  men.  Father  Peter  and  Rev.  A.  J. 
Patrick,  Catholic  and  Protestant  chaplains  of  this 
prison,  also  spoke.  Mrs.  Robinson  and  Mrs. 
Freeman,  of  Joliet,  were  particularly  instrumental 
in  making  the  celebration  a  success. 

Judge  Bregstone  told  the  men  that  he  had  been 
in  conference  with  the  Jewish  committee  of  Chi- 
cago and  that  through  the  kindness  of  the  warden, 
the  committee  would  be  able  to  do  a  great  deal 
more  for  the  Jews  here  than  had  been  possible 
heretofore. 

Judge  Bregstone  first  took  part  in  the  celebra- 
tion of  the  Jewish  holidays  here  last  year  and 
now  he  has  become  very  much  interested  in  help- 
ing the  men  who  are  held  here  and  who  need  help. 

The  Yom-Kippur  celebration  was  concluded 
with  a  banquet  on  the  evening  of  the  30th,  which 
was  spread  in  the  Administration  building  dining 
room  and  which  was  provided  for  partly  by  the 
men  and  partly  by  the  friends  from  Joliet.  This 
was  greatly  enjoyed  by  the  forty-eight  Jews  here, 


each  of  them  duly  appreciating  the  great  favor  of 
the  prison  administration  showed  them  in  allow- 
ing so  much  liberty  for  their  festival  season. 

The  Jewish  prisoners  unanimously  adopted  the 
following  resolutions  in  acknowledgment  of  the 
prison  administration's  granting  the  privilege  of 
the  festivities,  and  of  the  support  of  the  Jewish 
people  of  Joliet  and  of  Chicago,  who  helped  to 
make  the  festivities  a  success : 

Whereas,  The  administration  of  this  prison 
has  adopted  principles  of  kindness  and  humanity 
in  the  treatment  of  the  prisoners  and  has  recog- 
nized the  principle  of  religious  liberty  and  toler- 
ance among  the  prisoners,  and 

Whereas,  The  Jewish  people  of  Joliet  and  of 
Chicago,  with  the  approval  of  the  prison  adminis- 
tration, have  made  possible  the  celebration  of  our 
two  most  important  holidays,  Rosh-Hashona,  the 
Jewish  New  Year,  and  Yom-Kippur,  the  Jewish 
Day  of  Atonement,  and 

Wherea.s,  Judge  Philip  P.  Bregstone,  of  Chi- 
cago, representing  the  Jewish  people  of  Chicago, 
has  given  his  time  and  interest  to  making  the 
celebration  of  the  two  holidays  a  success,  and 

Whereas,  Rev.  Father  Peter  and  Rev.  A.  J. 
Patrick  kindly  addressed  the  meetings,  therefore 
be  it 

Resolved,  by  the  Jewish  prisoners  duly  assem- 
bled, that  we  appreciatingly  acknowledge  the 
privileges  that  have  been  given  us  and  that  for 
these  privileges  we  thank  the  Hon.  Edmund  M. 
Allen,  warden,  and  Mr.  William  Walsh,  deputy 
warden,  as  the  personal  representatives  of  the 
prison  administration,  and  that  we  also  thank  the 
subordinate  officers  whose  kindness,  tolerance  and 
patience  contributed  to  making  the  holiday  spirit 
helpful  and  happy,  and  be  it  further 

Resolved,  that  we  thank  the  Jewish  people  of 
Joliet  and  of  Chicago  for  their  kind  work  in  our 
interest  and  for  their  material  aid  in  making  the 
celebration  so  successful.    And  be  it  further 

Resolved,  that  we  thank  Judge  Philip  P.  Breg- 
stone for  his  earnest  and  devoted  work  both  prior 
to  and  during  the  festivities  and  for  his  helpful 
addresses  made  to  inspire  and  to  lift  the  men  to 
better  things.    And  be  it  further 

Resoved,  that  we  thank  Rev.  Father  Peter  and 
Rev.  A.  J.  Patrick  for  their  kind  addresses,  for 
their  presentation  of  the  high  philosophic  and 
religious  truths  in  which  all  faiths  and  all  civilized 
people  can  and  do  unite. 


November  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


547 


JOLIET  HONOR  BAND  IMPROVEMENT 

Since  the  organization  of  the  Joliet  Honor 
Band  several  months  ago  it  has  been  passing 
through  a  period  of  continuous  improvement. 

The  band  was  organized  under  the  (hrection  of 
Mr.  [.  F.  Saville,  who  was  conductor  of  the  or- 
chestra and  who  from  the  first  took  a  keen  inter- 
est in  his  new  organization  and  brought  it  into 


Guide     Mattel,     Bandmaster,     Illinois     State 
Penitentiary,  Joliet,   Illinois 

great  favor  with  the  men.  Mr.  Saville  has  now 
resigned  his  position  and  a  young  man  of  good 
musical  culture  and  high  spirits,  Mr.  Ciuido 
Mattei,  has  been  appointed  band  master  and  or- 
chestra conductor.  Mr.  Mattei  was  born  in  Italy, 
where  he  received  his  musical  education.  He  has 
been  in  this  country  almost  ten  years  and  during 
that  time  has  played  with  different  bands.  For 
the  last  six  years  he  has  been  with  the  Delwood 
Park  Band  of  Joliet. 

The  Joliet  Honor  Band  now  has  27  pieces; 
three  more  are  to  be  added  soon.  The  instru- 
ments are:  five  clarinets;  four  cornets;  one  saxo- 


I)hone  alto ;  four  altos ;  two  tenors ;  one  baritone ; 
four  trombones;  three  basses;  one  snare  drum; 
one  base  drum ;  one  cymbal.  The  three  pieces  to 
be  added  are:  one  baritone  saxophone;  one  solo 
alto;  one  snare  drum. 

Mr.  Mattei  takes  the  deepest  interest  in  his 
new  work.  He  has  the  ambition  to  make  the 
band  the  highest  i)ossible  credit  to  the  institution 
and  also  to  himself.  He  is  taking  hold  of  his 
work  with  the  intense  interest  peculiar  to  the 
Italian  temperament.  Music  is  in  his  bloo<l.  and 
his  whole  body  expresses  the  intense  emotion  he 
feels.  He  throws  his  whole  being  into  conduct- 
ing any  composition  of  particular  expression  and 
force  and  carries  his  audience  as  well  as  his  musi- 
cians along  with  him  in  the  turbulence  and  to  the 
height  of  his  own  realization. 

The  new  flircctor  is  in  the  band  room  all  day. 
He  comes  to  the  institution  at  seven  o'clock  in 
the  morning  and  does  not  leave  until  six  at  night. 

The  men  say  that  Mr.  Mattei's  method  of  con- 
ducting the  band  gives  them  inspiration. 

^    ^    (9^ 

ON    THE    DIAMOND 

I'^or  the  last  few  weeks  of  the  baseball  season 
the  baseball  nines  in  this  institution  have  been 
doing  their  utmost  to  improve  their  percent.iges  in 
order  that  they  might  be  eligible  to  play  in  the 
post-series  games.  The  standing  of  the  different 
clubs  at  the  close  of  the  season  was  so  even  that 
it  was  suggested,  as  a  way  out  of  the  difficulty, 
to  let  Manager  Estellc,  of  the  Wrappers,  and 
Manager  Murjihy,  of  the  Sun-Dtnlgers.  pick  out 
the  best  players  of  the  several  nines  so  that  there 
could  be  played  a  series  of  three  games,  the  win- 
ners to  be  proclaimed  champions  of  the  institu- 
tion. .Although  there  was  no  purse  to  be  divided 
between  the  players,  no  silk  flag  to  go  to  the  win- 
ners, there  was,  nevertheless,  sufficient  enthusiasm 
to  stir  the  boys  to  their  best  efforts. 

For  the  first  few  innings  of  the  first  game  of 
the  series  it  looked  like  a  cinch  for  Estellc's 
aggregation,  they  having  gained  a  three-run  lead 
before  the  Sun-Dodgers  had  put  a  man  past  sec- 
ond. The  Sun-Dodgers,  instead  of  becoming  dis- 
couraged, continued  to  fight  desperately,  and 
though  failing  to  win,  managed  to  tie  the  score,  a 
remarkable  feat  considering  the  odds  that  were 
against  them.  The  leading  features  of  the  game 
were  Conroy's  steady  pitching  in  the  face  of  the 


.548 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


The  Joliet  Honor  Band 


wcakot  kind  uf  support,  and  Kuerle's  homer, 
with  two  down,  three  on  base  and  the  count  two 
and  three  on  him. 

When  the  tied  game  was  played,  Estelle's 
\\^rapi)ers  won  by  a  score  of  6  to  0.  The  pitching 
of  Murphy  was  ahnost  fauUless,  but  the  weak 
support  and  errors  of  his  team  mates,  coupled 
with  their  inability  to  do  anything  with  Van 
Buer's  out  drops,  deprived  Murphy  of  a  victory. 

The  second  game  of  the  series  v^^as  played  on 
a  perfect  October  day,  and  the  opposing  forces 
appeared  to  be  in  the  pink  of  condition.  Estelle's 
men  looked  serene  and  confident,  while  the  atti- 
tude of  the  Sun-Dodgers  was  one  of  dogged  de- 
termination. The  Sun-Dodgers  won  by  a  score 
of  3  to  1.  In  the  last  half  of  the  fourth  inning 
the  Wrappers  and  their  followers  began  to  enter- 
tain high  hopes  of  winning,  or  at  least  tying  the 
score,  for  Jaswick,  the  first  man  up,  started  things 
off  with  a  hit  for  a  home  run.  The  next  batter, 
Packey.  hit  a  safe  one,  reached  second  on  Van 
Buer's  sacrifice  to  the  pitcher,  stole  third,  but  he 


could  not  reach  home  because  of  the  real  inside 
brand  of  baseball  put  up  by  the  Sun-Dodgers,  in- 
cluding a  clever  catch  of  a  remarkable  high  fly 
by  Conroy,  the  one-armed  pitcher,  for  the  second 
out,  and  the  scooping  of  a  red-hot  grounder  out 
of  the  dust  by  Rabinau  for  the  final  out. 

On  October  5  the  final  game  of  the  post-series 
was  played,  and  won  by  Estelle's  Wrappers.  Be- 
fore the  break  came  in  the  fourth  inning,  it  was 
a  game  full  of  that  intense  excitement  that  finds 
expression  in  such  phrases  as  "bully  boy,  Gus," 
"fine  and  dandy,  Johnny,"  "that's  the  stuflf, 
Moran,"  and  other  remarks  of  like  nature.  But 
when  Cleveland  hit  one  for  a  home  run  the  flood- 
gates of  enthusiasm  broke  loose,  and  from  that 
time  on  shouts  of  derision  or  cheers  of  approval, 
as  the  case  might  be,  greeted  every  poor  or  good 
play. 

The  Wrappers  have  reason  to  be  proud  of  de- 
feating their  opponents,  for  included  in  the  line- 
up were  men  who  are  conceded  to  be  the  very 
best  players  in  the  institution. 


November  1,  l'J14 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


:i4'j 


The  line-up  by  sides  was  as  folows : 

Wrappers.  Sun-Dodgers. 

Rice,  s.  s.  Kuerle,  s.  s. 

Jaswick,  c.  Brophy,  c. 

Maher,  1st  b.  Rabinau,  2d  b. 

Van  Buer,  p.  (iardner,  1st  b. 

Myers,  2d  b.  Moraii,  1.  f. 

Stevins.  r.  f.  McMamis,  3d  b. 

Packey,  3d  I).  Moran.  L..  r.  f. 

Cleveland,  c.  f.  Murphy,  p. 

Dago,  1.  f.  Conroy,  Algr..  c.  i. 

Estelle,  Manager. 
Umpires:     Hynes,  Covington,  King. 

It  would  be  pleasing  to  all  of  the  fans  here  to 
have  given  a  more  detailed  account  of  these  post- 
series  games,  the  most  interesting  and  the  best 
played  games  of  the  past  year;  but  the  baseball 
rcjiorter  has  been  tipped  off  as  to  the  amount  of 
space  at  his  disjiosal.  We  hope  that  arrange- 
ments can  be  made  with  the  editor  of  The  Jolikt 
Prison  Post  next  year  to  secure  more  space  for 
the  recording  of  baseball  news,  as  we  are  con- 
vinced that  such  arrangement  would  materially  in- 
crease the  circulation  of  the  magazine.  With  this 
suggestion  and  attendant  i)rophcsy.  we  bid  all 
farewell  for  the  season  of  1914. 

©     ©     @ 

REPORT    FROM    THE   JOLIET    HONOR 

FARM 
The  Joliet  Honor  Farm,  October  17,  1914. 
Editor  The  Joliet  Prison  Post. 

Dear  Sir:— The  fall  season  is  here  and  we 
have  husked  the  first  load  of  corn.  The  quality 
is  excellent.  Four  of  my  men  are  i)icking  seed 
corn.  So  far  they  have  picked  200  bushels  of 
well  selected  Western  Plowman  yellow  dent 
of  a  very  fine  grade.  Our  corn  crop  is  up  to 
expectations;  we  estimate  that  the  yield  will 
be  15,000  bushels.  Some  progress  has  been 
made  at  potato  digging,  1,000  bushels  have  so 
far  been  delivered  to  the  prison  commissary 
department.  We  are  making  daily  deliveries 
to  the  prison  commissary  department  of 
onions,  tomatoes,  cabbage  and  turnips,  from 
our  truck  garden.  We  have  75  acres  of  millet 
which  will  soon  be  cut.  It  will  be  used  ft^r 
feed  for  the  stock  on  the  farm.  The  40  acres 
of  alfalfa  which  we  seeded  last  August  is 
doing  finely,  and  if  conditions  continue  favor- 
able we  will  have  a  large  yield  next  year. 

The  farm  work  at  this  sea.son  is  so  scattere«l 
it  is  hard  to  enumerate  all  we  are  doing,  but  1 


can  truly  say  everything  is  moving  along  in  tine 
shape. 

The  prisoners  played  a  game  of  ball  last 
week  with  a  visiting  team  from  Joliet,  but  1 
am  sorry  to  say,  our  men  were  defeated. 
While  my  men  may  not  be  up  to  the  standard 
as  ball  players,  they  make  up  for  it  as  first- 
class  farnii  !■-  ind  ,.f  \]\,-  fwM,  I  prefer  good 
farmers. 

The  discipline  on  the  farm  could  not  be  bet- 
ter and  the  men  all  seem  anxious  to  do  their 
part.  The  experiment  uf  working  prisoners 
<»n  the  Joliet  Honor  Farm,  on  their  honor,  is 
a  great  success.  N'o  employer  of  labor  ever 
worked  a  better  lot  of  men  than  are  the  forty- 
nine  prisoners  under  my  care. 

Yours  verv  trulv, 

Rf.RT   II.    F.M.TZ. 

Superintendent. 

^    «    « 

BASEBALL    AT    THE    JOLIET    HONOR 

FARM 

The  ])risoncr^'  i)a.sei>all  team  at  the  Joliet 
Honor  I-'arm  played  a  return  game  on  October 
IX  with  the  Ilazer's  Colts,  a  pri»inising  young 
team  from  Joliet,  which  had  recently  admin- 
istered a  defeat  to  the  pri>oners  in  their  first 
clash. 

The  defeat  did  not  daunt  the  prisoners  from 
clamoring  for  another  chance,  and  they  were 
accomm<Klate(l  by  the  Hazer's  Colts  on  the  as- 
sumption that  the  latter  "had  it"  on  the  pris- 
oners in  forty  different  ways,  whatever  the  dif- 
ferent ways  were. 

TIu'  pris(^ners,  from  the  beginning  lo  ihe 
end  of  the  return  engagement.  administcre<l  a 
complete  drubbing  to  the  visitors,  who  arc, 
without  a  doubt,  clean,  fast  and  aggressive 
players. 

Kelly,  for  the  prisoners.  pitche<l  a  masterful 
game  and  should  have  scored  a  shutout. 
I-lleven  of  the  Hazer's  Colts  whiffed  the  at- 
mos|)here.  The  whole  team  of  the  prisoners 
played  the  game  as  it  should  he  |>laycd  and 
deserved    the   victory   which    they   won.     The 

^'■'"■*'-  1234  5  6789  T 

Pris«.ner-  12  0  0  0  0  2  6  0^5 

Hazer's  Colts  0  0  0  0  0  10  0  O-l 

Batteries — Prisuner>.  Kelly  and  Clark. 
Hazer's  Colt«.  Nagle  and  Murphy. 


550 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


THE  AMERICUS  MINSTRELS 
The  Minstrels  of  the  Americus  Council  of  the 

Knights  of  Columbus,  Chicago,  favored  the  men 

here  a  few  Sundays  ago  with  an  entertainment 

which  the  men  thoroughly  enjoyed. 
These  minstrels  visited  here  in  June  and  when 

it  was  announced  they  were  to  come  again,  there 

was  great  interest  awakened. 

The    troupe    has    twenty-seven    members,    all 


accommodate  all  the  men,  Mr.  Frank  Stretton 
and  Mr.  E.  J.  Donnelly  acting  as  interlocutors. 
One  of  the  special  features  was  an  impersona- 
tion of  Bert  Williams  of  Williams  and  Walker 
by  Mr.  James  Cleary,  which  was  loudly  ap- 
plauded. The  members  of  the  minstrel  company, 
since  their  visit  here  in  June,  have  come  to  a 
great  interest  in  the  prison  betterment  work 
which  is  under  way  here. 


A  Minstrel  Entertainment  in  the  Chapel  of  the  Penitentiary  at  Joliet 


Chicago  professional  and  business  men,  who 
have  taken  up  the  minstrel  work  as  a  social  pas- 
time. They  have  been  brought  to  a  high  state  of 
efficiency  by  their  manager,  Mr.  John  F.  Diflfen- 
derfTer,  who  was  with  them  on  their  visit  here. 

The  men  "blackened  up"  and,  in  tiers  of  raised 
seats  across  the  stage,  they  looked  very  profes- 
sional in  their  white  suits  and  with  the  proper 
decorations  in  red  and  blue  for  the  end  men. 

The  minstrels  gave  two  performances,  one  in 
the  forenoon  and  one  in  the  afternoon,  so  as  to 


They  explained  to  Father  Peter,  our  Catholic 
chaplain,  that  their  ideas  of  prisoners  have  under- 
gone an  entire  change  and  that  they  will  be  with 
him  to  a  man  to  help  him  carry  out  a  plan  which 
he  is  developing  for  helping  discharged  prisoners 
who  are  believed  to  be  worthy. 

The  plan  will  be  more  fully  explained  later, 
when  the  details  are  more  completely  worked 
out.  It  may,  however,  be  said  now  that  the  plan 
is  not  institutional;  in  spirit  it  is  a  big  brother 
movement  and  the  men  who  leave  here  are  to  be 


November   1,   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


SSI 


^ivcn  a  chance  on  an  equal  footing  with  other 
men. 

Fatlier  Peter  has  explaincil  liis  plan  at  ditlerent 
meetings  in  Chicago  and  he  will  address  other 
meetings.  He  has  had  cordial  support  from  all 
with  whom  he  has  talked  so  far. 

The  visiting  minstrels  left   for  home  in  their 
utomobiles  at  the  close  of  the  day,  a  happy  lot 
(if  young  men. 

They  had  been  most  cordially  entertained  by 
the  prison  administration  and  they  knew  that  the 
prisoners  had  heartily  welcomed  them  also. 


A   FUNERAL   SERVICE 

The  funeral  of  Charles  Masters,  the  victim  of 
the  vicious  attack  of  a  fellow  prisoner,  was  held 
here  in  due  form  by  Father  Peter,  after  which 
the  body  was  taken  to  Chicago  by  a  friend. 
Father  Peter  blessed  the  body  and  said  prayers. 
The  band  then  led  the  funeral  conveyance  to  the 
east  gate,  playing  Hall's  "March  Funebre,"  from 
where  the  casket  was  taken  to  the  station  for 
shipment.  Father  Peter,  Captain  Michael  J. 
Kane  and  other  officers  followed  the  casket.  On 
the  Sunday  morning  following,  mass  was  said  for 
the  deceased. 

®     ®     @ 

BECOMING    ACQUAINTED    WITH    C.    J. 
CARLSON 

An  impromptu  meeting  of  the  men  employed 
in  the  machine,  foundry,  tin.  blacksmith  and  car- 
pentry shops  was  held  at  the  close  of  work  Satur- 
day evening,  October  3,  1914,  and  the  following 
resolution  was  unanimously  adopted  and  ordered 
presented  by  the  chairman  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee to  Mr.  C.  J.  Carlson,  steward  of  the  con- 
vict kitchen : 

"You  have  given  us  several  exceptional  Satur- 
day dinners;  the  last  batch  of  pies  was  better 
than  ever  heretofore.  The  'inner  man'  feels  glad. 
We  thank  you  and  beg  to  encourage  you  in  your 
good  work. 

"Let  us  hope,  dear  sir,  that  our  sincere  appre- 
ciation may  spur  you,  and  the  higher  powers,  on 
to  even  greater  betterments." 

Cordially  yours, 

A.  Poole,  Chairman. 


A  MESSAGE  FROM  JUDGE  BREGSTONE 

Judge  I'hilip  1*.  iircgblunc  of  the  i'robale  court 
of  Chicago,  in  a  letter  to  the  editor  of  The  Joliet 
Prison  Post  has  expressed  his  appreciation  of 
the  courtesies  shown  him  during  his  attendance 
upon  the  Jewish  holi<lays  recently  celebrated  by 
the  Jewish  inmates  of  this  institution,  and  wishes 
us  to  announce  that  while  his  interest  is  prinurily 
for  the  Jewish  prisoners  here,  he  is  also  deeply 
interested  in  every  man  and  woman  whose  mis- 
fortunes have  brought  them  to  this  prison,  and 
that  u|)on  each  visit  to  this  institution  he  observes 
a  friendly  response  from  the  prisoners  to  him. 

OTHER  PRISON  COMMUNITIES 

EXHIBITS  OF  PRISON  PRODUCTS 

Last  month  we  mentioned  that  the  Ohio  and 
Washington  state  penitentiaries  had  exhibited 
their  products  at  their  respective  state  fairs. 

Michigan  joined  in  the  new  line  of  prison  en- 
terprise and  made  an  exhibit  at  the  Jackson 
county  fair  of  its  prison  products.  The  Jackson 
Citizen  Press  says  that  one  of  the  most  unique 
exhibits  at  the  county  fair  is  that  placed  there  by 
the  Michigan  State  Prison  for  the  inspection  of 
the  public:  that  the  exhibit  is  a  credit  to  the 
prison  and  of  great  interest  to  all  visitors. 

So  successful  was  the  Jackson  county  exhibit 
that  exhibits  were  afterwards  made  at  the  fairs 
of  different  counties  of  the  state.  A  car-load  of 
products  was  sent  to  Hartford.  Van  Burcn 
county,  and  a  large  exhibit  was  also  made  at 
Hillsdale  county,  the  exhibits  being  increased 
over  that  first  made  in  Jackson  county.  The 
j)roducts  of  every  industry  within  the  prisim 
were  shown. 

The  Alabama  State  Prison  also  made  an  ex- 
hibit of  its  manufactured  products  at  the  .\lal>ama 
State  Exposition.  Mr.  Hartwell  Douglas,  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  convict  inspectors,  ma<le  ar- 
rangements for  the  exhibit  with  Mr.  F.  C.  Sal- 
ter, president  of  the  fair  association.  Concern- 
ing the  exhibit.  Mr.  Douglas  says: 

"The  amvict  department  has  dcci<lcd  to  make 
an  exhibit  at  the  forthcoming  exix)sition.  The 
display  will  consist  of  cotton  goo<ls,  fecd-^tuffs 
and  maiuifactured  products  made  by  the  c<»nvicts 
under  the  direction  of  the  department.  President 
Salter  of  the  fair  association,  has  called  upon  the 


552 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


(Icpartincnt  and  states  that  he  thinks  such  an  ex- 
hibit would  be  one  of  the  most  profitable  that 
could  be  shown,  and  he  promised  that  the  space 
allotted  to  the  department  would  be  one  of  the 
most  prominent  in  the  exposition  hall. 

"The  convict  dej^artment  feels  that  in  making 
this  display  the  public  will  have  the  opportunity 
of  seeing  exactly  the  various  products  raised  and 
the  kinds  of  manufactured  goods  which  the  con- 
victs at  the  present  time  are  making.  These  are 
not  only  a  source  of  profit  to  the  state,  but  an 
education  to  the  prisoner  in  teaching  him  differ- 
ent kinds  of  trades  and  pursuits  which  he  can 
follow  after  his  release  from  prison." 

©    ©    ® 

LABOR  DAY  AT  SING  SING  PRISON 

Sing  Sing  has  been  the  most  famous  of  the 
I)risons  of  this  country  as  prisons  have  gone  here- 
tofore— the  most  "infamous,"  says  the  Star  of 
Hope,  published  at  Sing  Sing.  The  Star  of  Hope 
says : 

"Sing  Sing  in  days  gone  by  the  home  of  the 
'water  cure/  the  yoke,  and  many  other  devil- 
born  instruments  of  cruelty — Sing  Sing  where 
men  were  formerly  restrained  and  degraded  and 
their  manhood  repressed  until  they  became  worse 
than  beasts — Sing  Sing,  within  the  memory  of 
many  now  here,  a  place  where  stool  pigeons  and 
tale-bearers  flourished  and  a  man  awoke  in  the 
morning  trembling  with  fear  that  ere  the  sun  set 
some  one  of  them  would  'job'  him  into  a  punish- 
ment cell,  that  hell  which  stole  away  a  man's 
health  and  dethroned  his  reason." 

With  the  advent  of  the  new  warden,  Mr. 
Thomas  T.  McCormick,  a  change  began  at  Sing 
Sing  which  was  radical  and  which  seems  to 
promise  to  become  complete. 

According  to  reports  Sing  Sing  went  beyond 
all  other  prisons  of  the  country  in  its  recognition 
and  celebration  of  Labor  Day.  Sports  had  been 
introduced  at  Sing  Sing  and  it  was  natural  that  a 
I^bor  Day  celebration  would  take  form  in  sports. 

Of  this  day  the  New  York  Press  says : 

"Convicts  in  Sing  Sing  passed  the  greatest  day 
of  their  prison  lives.  They  held  an  all-day  athle- 
tic meet,  and  wound  up  with  a  baseball  game  on 
which  the  lead  in  the  Golden  Rule  League  cham- 
pionship for  the  year  hinged. 

"All  rules  and  regulations  were  suspended  and 
the  men  were  put  on  their  honor  to  behave  them- 
selves.    They  did. 

"The  athletic  meet  was  the  first  of  its  kind  ever 
held  in  Sing  Sing.  It  was  the  idea  of  Warden 
McCormick,  who  already  has  established  a  full- 
day  holiday  for  the  men  on  Sunday." 


The  New  York  World's  comment  is  that : 

"The  convicts  took  on  so  much  spirit  and 
were  so  gladdened  by  'liberty  day'  that  it  is  likely 
to  be  repeated." 

The  Star  of  Hope  published  a  three-page  re- 
port of  the  Labor  Day  event  with  large  and  very 
well  defined  photographs  of  the  different  features 
of  the  day.  The  photographs  show  spacious 
grounds  and  a  large  and  intensely  interested 
crowd.  The  ball  field  illustration  with  its  clearly 
defined  diamond,  its  players  in  action,  its  field 
grandstand  aw^ay  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  pic- 
ture and  its  line  of  interested  observers  stand- 
ing along  the  diamond,  tells  a  vivid  and  graphic 
story  of  what  was  actually  lived  by  the  men  of 
the  old,  historic  Availed  town  which  sits,  cold,  un- 
impassioned,  and  severe,  on  the  banks  of  the 
majestic  Hudson  which,  unmindful  of  the  prison's 
tragic  life,  moves  its  mighty  waters  ceaselessly 
on  to  the  sea. 

Other  illustrations  show  with  fine  perspective, 
the  sack  race,  the  high  jump  and  boxing. 

The  Star  of  Hope  opens  its  three-page  report 
of  its  "greatest  day"  with  the  following  words  of 
spirit  and  hope : 

"We  had  on  Labor  Day  in  Sing  Sing,  to  quote 
the  words  of  our  principal  keeper,  'the  greatest 
day  Sing  Sing  has  ever  seen  and  probably  the 
greatest  day  that  there  will  ever  be  in  Sing  Sing,' 
for  the  conditions  that  made  the  day  great — the 
recent  riving  of  the  fetters  that  bound  us  to  old 
methods  and  old  ideas  of  prison  management — 
can  never  be  repeated.  The  prisons  of  the 
past,  so  far  as  New  York  state  is  concerned,  are 
gone  forever,  and  in  their  stead  have  come,  not 
only  new  kinds  of  prisons,  but  also  new  kinds  of 
prisoners,  for  kindness  remakes  men  as  nothing 
else  can.  For  seven  weeks  we  have  had  the  new 
liberty  in  Sing  Sing,  and  Labor  Day  came  as  a 
sort  of  climax  and  it  was  a  fitting  climax. 

"No  one  who  was  within  the  walls  of  Sing 
Sing  on  Monday  last  will  ever  forget  Labor  Day, 
1914.  There  was  something  about  the  occasion 
that  made  an  indelible  impression  on  the  mind  of 
every  man  present.  It  was  not  the  fact  that 
nearly  1,500  men,  branded  by  the  law  and  exiled 
from  society  by  its  stern  decree,  were  enjoying 
a  measure  of  freedom  that  one  short  year  ago 
would  have  been  deemed  beyond  the  range  of 
possibilities,  although  that  contributed  to  it.  It 
was  not  that  the  day  passed  without  a  note  of 
discord  or  any  angry  word,  although  in  a  gather- 
ing of  such  size  that  was  remarkable.  It  was 
not  the  interest  taken  in  the  games,  the  good 
natured    spirit    of    emulation    displayed    or    the 


November  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


553 


► 


character  of  the  athletic  feats  |)erformcd,  al- 
though all  of  these  were  noteworthy.  But  it  was 
the  atmosphere  of  freedom,  so  foreign  to  a  pris- 
on ;  the  feeling  of  good  fellowship  everywhere 
apparent;  an  all  pervading  spirit  of  confidence 
that  exists  only  when  men  are  trusted  and  known 
to  be  worthy  of  trust.  All  these  there  were, 
and  there  was  something  more,  an  indefinahle 
something  that  words  caiuiot  express,  but  which 
caused  those  present  who  realized  what  prison 
means  to  the  proud,  the  ambitious,  the  sensitive 
man  such  as  many  of  us  are,  to  rejoice  that  at 
last  a  ray  of  sunlight  had  penetrated  within  the 
gloomy  walls  of  Sing  Sing." 

The  grand  stand  which  had  been  reserved  for 
visitors  was  filled  with  many  prominent  citizens. 
Among  them  were  Mr.  Richard  M.  Hurd,  presi- 
dent of  the  Lawyers  Mortage  Company ;  Senator 
John  H.  Healy;  Dr.  F.  F.  Buermeyer ;  Mr.  J.  M. 
Reynolds;  Mr.  A.  P.  Taliaferra ;  Mr.  Thomas 
M.  Mulry,  president  of  the  Emigrant  Savings 
Bank,  and  others. 

The  Ossining  Post  of  the  (irand  Army  of  the 
Republic  marched  through  the  prison  grounds, 
and  as  they  passed,  the  Aurora  Band,  "our  band," 
says  the  Star  of  Hope,  played  the  Star  Spangled 
Banner,  "and  all  the  men  in  the  vicinity,  includ- 
ing the  thousand  or  more  of  the  inmates  on  the 
grandstand,  stood  up  and  took  off  their  hats  as 
a  token  of  respect,  not  alone  for  the  national 
anthem,  but  also  for  the  veterans  who  had  hon- 
ored us  by  their  presence." 

Perhaps  nothing  has  happened  in  the  history 
of  modern  prison  betterment  work  which  more 
clearly  shows  the  great  transformation  which  is 
taking  place  in  prisoners  themselves  and  in  the 
relationship  of  the  general  public  to  prisoners 
than  this  great  celebration  at  Sing  Sing  where 
men  from  "outside"  mingled,  without  differentia- 
tion, with  the  men  who  are  "inside,"  and  where 
all  with  uncovered  heads  arose  as  one  man  in 
acknowledgment  and  in  honor  of  the  nation's 
soldiers  and  the  nation's  song. 

®     ^     0 

FLYING     MACHINE     EXHIBIT     AT 
LEAVENWORTH  PENITENTIARY 

A  most  unusual  privilege  was  granted  the  men 
at  the  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  U.  S.  Penitentiary, 
recently. 

Warden  Morgan  and  De])uly  Warden  Zcrbst 
arranged  to  have  "Mickey"  McGuire  give  the 
prison    men    an    exhibition    of    real    air    travel- 


ing, which  ni'>-.t  nf  the  men  '>  •<'  •..-i-n  miK  in  pic- 
ture lx)oks. 

Arrangement  for  the  exhibit  was  made  by  the 
Warden  and  Deputy  with  the  Leavenworth 
County  Fair  Association,  which  had  the  contract 
with  the  aviator. 

The  biplane  arose  from  the  fair  grounds  of 
Leavenworth,  which  are  such  a  distance  from  the 
prison  tliat  the  airship  was  barely  disccmable  to 
the  naked  eye.  As  the  biplane  moved  toward  the 
prison,  it  grew  larger  and  later  the  cracking  of 
its  engine  could  be  distinctly  heard.  The  walled 
in  men  were  thrilled  at  the  sight  as  the  air  ma- 
chine came  nearer  and  nearer  and  many  saw 
what  they  had  never  dared  ho(>c  to  sec. 

The  Knv  Era,  the  penitentiary  ncwspajK-r, 
gives  this  description  of  the  biplane's  work. 

"And  what  an  exhibition  it  was! 

"Approaching  the  pri.son  at  a  great  height.  Mc- 
Guire inclined  over  the  south  wall  at  a  height  of 
perhaps  two  hundred  feet,  and  dropped  some- 
thing which  many  thought  to  be  a  l)omb,  but 
which  proved  to  be  brand  new  baseball. 

•'With  a  salutary  'Hello.'  and  wave  of  the  hand, 
'Mickey'  circled  the  walls  and  showed  us  how 
easy  it  was  to  incline  an  aeroplane  this  way, 
that  way — every  way — until  he  had  our  necks 
twisted  like  corkscrews,  and  heads  of  curly  hair 
standing  straight. 

"The  eyes  of  the  multitude  nearly  fH)pj>cd  out 
as  again  the  'human  bird'  circled  and  pointe<l  the 
infernal  thing  straight  at  us.  Those  of  us  who 
claim  to  have  been  brave'  when  we  joined  this  or 
that  secret  society  years  ago  must  have  since  lost 
our  nerve,  for  many  there  were  who  broke  for 
lumber  piles  and  dodged  around  the  comer  of 
buildings,  thinking  that  the  thing  was  running 
away  with  'Mickey,'  and  was  about  to  prepare  us 
for  a  trip  to  Government  Hill. 

"But.  with  a  villain's  'lla.  ha.'  'Mickey.' 
squegeed  the  goose  upward  and  circled  again,  this 
time  looping-the-loop  once  directly  over  our 
heads.     This  stunt  got  our  g»tat  for  fair. 

"After  more  -  -■--  r  planing,  di  •  ••  ■  and 
whatever-else-you  :     .     all-it.  which  >  ;cd  to 

hold  the  crowd  aghast,  the  'Wild  Irish  Rose'  as 
'Mickey'  proudly  dubs  himself.  for  us 

from  tiie  west  wall  at  a  sixty  !"'  ute  clip. 

1  he  demon   descended   as   he  d,   until 

one  could  almost  touch  hin\  with  upreachcd  arms, 
and  then  ascended  and  gracefully  r  the 

f.i>it  wall,  and  ticw  far  north  and  o.v .  .  ..;  l,eav- 
cnworth.  Rising  to  a  great  height  over  the  Fort. 
Mr.  McGuire  circled  and  returned,  passing  over 
the  prison  at  a  height  many  calculated  to  be  'a 
mile  in  the  sky.' 

"It  was  great!     It   was  more  tlian   that!     It 
was  the  biggest  little  thing  we  ever  witnessed." 


>54 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Prison  Industry  Under  the  Ohio  Penitentiary  Plan 


Initiative  In  a  Prison  Factory  System  With  the  State  Use  Plan  for  Handling 

Products 


Prisoners  Earn  Wages  and  Upon  Discharge  Draw  Accumulated  Earnings  in  Lieu  of  Accepting 

a  Gratuity  From  the  State 


The  Ohio  State  Penitentiary  is  continually 
forgin<j  ahead  in  methods  of  modern  social  up- 
lift for  its  prisoners,  and  late  reports  from  this 
prison  indicate  that  the  prison  authorities  are 
well  pleased  with  the  result  of  their  experiments. 

There  are  in  the  prison  proper  1,623  inmates. 
These  are  employed  in  about  twenty  different 
lines  of  work,  which  makes  the  Ohio  institution 
a  busy  industrial  community. 

The  interest,  however,  in  the  Ohio  prison,  in 
the  light  of  modern  prison  methods,  does  not 
center  so  much  in  the  central  institution  as  in 
the  extension  of  the  prison  community  to  set- 
tlements outside  of  and  away  from  the  peniten- 
tiary buildings. 

The  Cleveland  Plain  Dealer  savs  of  the  Ohio 
penitentiary: 

"Hundreds  of  prisoners  are  out  on  honor, 
miles  from  the  prison  they  have  not  seen  or  en- 
tered for  months  or  years.  Only  four  per  cent 
of  men  out  on  honor  broke  faith  and  made  their 
escape  last  year.  Great  farms  are  being  operated 
this  year  by  convicts. 

"Trainloads  of  food  products  are  grown  for 
use  of  prisoners.  The  cost  of  their  keeping  is 
reduced.  The  health  of  the  convicts  is  improved. 
Better  food  and  more  outdoor  exercise  give  bet- 
ter dispositions  and  fewer  infractions  of  ruhs 
are  reported." 

The  Ohio  Penitentiary  AVtv'.?,  the  prison  pub- 
lication, in  its  special  state  fair  edition,  makes 
a  detailed  report  of  the  prison's  honor  system. 
characterizing  the  system  as  "a  practical,  humane 
application  of  common  sense  principles." 

"Despite  cries  of  protest,"  says  the  News, 
"that  an  honor  system  founded  on  the  convicts' 
word  of  honor  is  'fallacious  in.  effect,  anarchistic 
in  principle  and  dangerous  in  precedent,'  the  hun- 
dreds upon  hundreds  of  men  placed  upon  honor 
by  Warden  Thomas,  have  made  good,  have 
splendidly  maintained  their  pledged  word." 

The  Ohio  State  Penitentiary  with  its  1,623  in- 


mates is  situated  in  the  very  heart  of  the  cos- 
mopolitan city  of  Columbus  with  its  215,000 
inhabitants.  Away  from  the  prison  and  out- 
side of  the  city  are  several  honor  camps  at  which 
there  are  different  forms  of  industry,  and  be- 
sides these  camps  there  are  a  number  of  pris- 
oners stationed  on  honor  at  different  state  in- 
stitutions. 

A  number  of  men  also  hold  trusty  positions  in 
and  about  the  state  institutions  in  Columbus. 

There  are  now  316  prisoners  on  the  Ohio  pris- 
on's roll  of  honor.  As  stated  by  the  Cleveland 
Plain  Dealer,  less  than  four  per  cent  of  the  honor 
men  have  broken  their  faith.  "This,"  says  the 
Ohio  Penitentiary  Nezvs,  "in  a  large  measure, 
is  owing  to  the  ennobling  efforts  and  sacrificing 
labor  of  an  administration  pledged  to  the  con- 
servation of  the  welfare  of  the  human  race." 

The  stone  quarry,  located  at  the  western  bor- 
der of  Columbus,  is  one  of  the  honor  "suburbs" 
of  the  Ohio  State  Penitentiary.  Thirty-five  men 
are  employed.  The  men  do  not  march  back  to 
the  prison  at  the  close  of  their  day's  work,  but 
are  housed  at  the  quarry  in  a  modern  dormitory 
which  has  been  built  for  them.  The  food  is 
wholesome,  the  regulation  "prison  fare"  having 
very  happily  been  forgotten. 

The  quarry  is  a  scene  of  industry,  not  a  scene 
of  discipline  and  punishment.  A  new  and  up- 
to-date  crusher  has  a  capacity  of  1,000,000 
pounds  of  crushed  lime  and  a  machine  utilizes 
the  dusty  waste,  converting  it  into  a  high-grade 
fertilizer.  This  machine  has  a  capacity  of  400,- 
000  pounds  of  this  product  each  day.  The  quarry 
men  take  an  interest  in  their  work  and  are  mak- 
ing themselves  felt  as  a  part  of  the  industrial 
strength  of  their  state. 

Thirty-five  miles  from  the  prison,  at  Junction 
Cit}',  there  is  a  brick  plant  which  gives  employ- 
ment to  eighty  men.  Here  also  the  industrial 
interest    completely    overshadows    any    punitive 


November  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


555 


Preston  E.  Thomas.  Warden  Ohio  State  Penitentiary.  Colui.u,....  U;... 


556 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


purpose  tlial  iii;i\   >lill  lie  lurkini,^  in  Oliio's  penal 
system. 

Aside  from  the  oNerseers,  the  brick  plant  is 
manned  wholly  by  prisoners  sent  out  on  their 
honor  from  the  Columbus  institution.  The  men 
arc  showing  qualifications  for  honest  and  valua- 
l)le  work  and  for  citizenship.  The  Chicago  Post 
prints  the  following  concerning  the  plant  : 

"Other  states  have  prisoners  working  in  'honor 
S(|uads'  on  roads  or  employed  in  penitentiary 
shops,  but  it  remained  for  Ohio  to  establish  a 
model  factory  system  for  convicts.  This  plant, 
going  full  blast  today,  is  not  within  the  peniten- 
tiary walls.  It  is  thirty-five  miles  from  the 
prison.  Eighty  prisoners  work  six  days  a  week 
making  bricks.  No  guards  stand  by  to  see  that 
they  do  not  escape.  They  are  alone  except  for 
ten  skilled  brickmakers,  nil  employed  by  the  state, 
who  direct  the  work. 

"The  men  live  in  a  big  dormitory  built  by 
themselves.  They  have  a  baseball  diamond  near 
by  and  a  small  baseball  league  has  been  organ- 
ized among  the  prisoners.  Ihit  their  favorite  di- 
version is  the  holding  of  a  mock  trial.  They 
take  delight  in  addressing  the  jury  and  in  giving 
ponderous  'judicial'  decisions. 

"The  capacity  of  the  plant  is  30,000  paving 
brick  or  45,000  building  l)rick  a  day.  Five  more 
kilns  are  to  be  built  and  more  prisoners  will  be 
sent  to  work  on  the  plant.  The  entire  output  is 
used  by  the  state.  I'Lxpcnses  of  the  plant,  out- 
side of  pay  to  the  men  employed  and  the  amounts 
allowed  the  prisoners,  consist  almost  -entirely  of 
food  and  fuel  bills." 

.\t  Morgan  l"\arm,  near  Orient,  eighteen  miles 
from  the  Columbus  prison,  is  a  colony  of  thirty- 
five  men  returning  to  the  state  an  overflowing 
measure  of  valuable  service,  as  well  as  living  in 
Cod's  sunshine. 

The  Ohio  Penitentiary  Nci^'S  says : 

"Here  they  serve  their  sentence  with  no  walls 
to  remind  them  of  their  sorrow,  no  uniformed 
guards  to  censor  their  actions  and  no  cell  bars  tt) 
add  to  the  torture  of  the  long  night.  They  have 
the  freedom  of  the  azure  sky  for  a  prison,  the 
tentacles  of  'pledged  word  of  honor'  for  guards 
and  a  natural,  human  desire  to  make  good." 

The  farm  is  under  the  direction  of  a  practical 
farmer,  Mr.  R.  R.  Hiatt,  and  the  men  stationed 
at  the  farm  learn  farming  and  also  the  care  of 
live  stock  and  poultry.  Last  year  the  Morgan 
Fami  products  amounted  to  $10,000,  of  which 
one-half  was  a  clear  saving  to  the  state.  The 
Ohio  prisoners,  through  their  enlarged  oppor- 
tunity in  industry,  are  lifting  from  the  state  the 
expense  of  the  support  of  the  state's  prisoners. 


JJesides  the  Morgan  b'arm  there  is  the  New 
Prison  Farm  of  1,.S00  acres  located  near  London, 
in  Madison  county.  Here  twenty-three  men  are 
employed  on  the  "honor  squad,"  to  which  more 
men  will  be  added  as  the  New  Prison  Farm  is 
(le\'eloped.  The  ambition  of  the  prison  authori- 
ties and  of  the  farm  honor  men  also  is  to  make 
the  new  farm  a  model  prison  farm  and  one 
of  the  most  famous  farms  of  the  country. 

There  is  a  farm  at  the  Ohio  Sanitarium  for 
Tuberculosis  at  Mt.  \^ernon,  Ohio,  where  seven- 
teen men  are  employed.  Four  honor  men  have 
been  assigned  to  positions  at  the  State  School 
for  the  Blind;  five  men  at  the  Delaware  Girls' 
industrial  School,  and  twenty-four  at  the  Dela- 
ware Stone  Quarry,  all  of  whom  are  perform- 
ing valuable  service. 

The  state  laws  of  Ohio  do  not  provide  for 
the  employment  of  prisoners  on  roads.  Ohio, 
not  being  able  to  work  out  the  prison  betterment 
plan  by  putting  its  prisoners  on  the  roads,  has 
turned,  therefore,  to  fields  that  are  open  and  is 
ajiplying  the  new  principle  to  farms  and  par- 
ticularly to  industry. 

In  a  personal  letter  from  Mr.  P.  E.  Thomas, 
warden  of  the  Ohio  State  Penitentiary,  to  The 
JoLiET  Prison  Post,  he  writes  as  follows  of  the 
work  of  his  institution : 

"I  am  glad  to  see  the  prison  betterment  move- 
ment; better  prison  conditions  mean  better  pris- 
oners, and  better  prisoners  mean  eventually  bet- 
ter men  when  release  comes,  and  all  is  for  the 
betterment  of  society  as  a  whole. 

"Referring  to  our  industries  in  the  Ohio  peni- 
tentiary, I  am  sending  you  a  copy  of  the  Ohio 
Penitentiary  News,  containing  mention  of  the 
various  activities  here.  The  prisoners  are  em- 
ployed eight  hours  a  day  and  receive  from  one 
to  three  cents  per  hour  for  their  labor.  No  set 
task  is  assigned  them.  Ninety  per  cent  of  the 
earnings  of  a  prisoner  is  sent  to  his  dependents 
and  the  remaining  ten  per  cent  is  placed  to  his 
credit  here  to  give  him  a  fund  on  which  to  be- 
gin again.  I  find  this  excellent  In  this  way — 
the  discharged  prisoner  instead  of  accepting  a 
gratuity,  steps  up  and  receives  his  'earnings,' 
and  the  moral  efifect  of  this  is  not  to  be  under- 
estimated. 

"As  to  the  work  of  the  men  in  the  honor 
camps,  at  our  quarry  near  Columbus  and  at 
the  quarry  at  Delaware  a  fine  grade  of  lime- 
stone is  produced  which  is  used  in  highway  con- 
struction and  in  the  manufacture  of  limestone 
fertilizer.  Brick  for  highway  building  and  also 
building  brick  are  made  at  the  plant  at  Junction 


Novemlnr  1,   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


557 


(.  ily.  (iciK-ral  farm  work  i>  done  by  the  pris- 
i  oners  at  the  Morgan  farm,  at  the  New  Prison 
farm  near  London  and  at  the  farm  of  the  Ohio 
Sanitarinni  for  Tuberculosis  at  Mt.  X'ernon. 

"The  honor  system  was  inauijurated  nearlv 
three  years  ago,  when  the  last  of  the  slKips  oji- 
erating  under  the  old  contract  labor  system  left 
the  penitentiary.  At  that  time  there  was  not 
enough  work  to  provide  all  the  ])risoners  with 
employment  and  the  honor  system  was  given  a 
trial.  It  has  been  enlarged  upon  since  then. 
unlil  now  I  constantly  have  three  hundred  or 
more  prisoners  out  on  their  honor. 

'"Since  the  contract  system  was  abolished  all 
the  prisoners  are  employed  under  the  state-use 
system  ;  that  is,  all  the  products  of  their  labor 
are  consumed  by  this  and  other  state  institutions 
or  departments,  none  of  the  products  being  dis- 
])Osed  of  on  the  open  market."' 

I'Vom  Warden  Thomas'  letter  it  is  to  be  seen 
that  (  )hio  is  doing  away  with  the  old  penal  idea 


of  subjugating  ihc  priNoucr  and  breaking  his 
will.  The  prisoner  in  Ohio  does  not  now  need 
to  accept  a  gratuity  froni  the  state  when  he  is 
dismissed  from  prison.  Instead  of  this  he  draws 
the  money  which  he  has  earned  with  his  own  toil 
ami  which,  therefore,  he  fecit  and  which,  the 
state  grants,  is  his  own.  In  the  meantime  the 
prisoner  who  has  a  family  has  Inren  contributing 
nine-tenths  of  what  he  has  earned  to  the  su|)- 
port  of  his  family. 

The  prisoner  who  goes  out  of  the  ( )hio  Slate 
Penitentiary  goes  with  a  feeling  that  he  has  livc<l 
a  somewhat  normal  life  an<l  he  must  Ik*  far  more 
ready  to  enter  normal  life  in  the  worM  than  if 
during  the  period  of  his  imprisonment  he  had 
lived  abnonnally  and  had  been  kept  a  deiK'iulenf. 

C)hio's  demonstration  that  nonnal  industry  is 
practical  to  prison  life  will  Ik*  of  inestimable 
value  to  the  country. 


Iowa  State  Penitentiary  Tries  Original  Method   to 

Solve  Prison  Problem 


Warden  Sanders  and  Board  of  Control  Accept  Jobs  from  Citizens;  Prisoners  Go 

Out  to  Work  by  the  Day 


Plan  is  Protested  by  City  of  Fort  Madison  and  Case  Is  Now  Before  Supreme  Court;  Plan  Has 
Proved  That  the  Normal  Life  Is  Good  for  Making  Prisoners  Into  Good  Citizens 


According  to  the  local  situation  and  the  tem- 
per of  the  inmates,  the  different  prisons  of  the 
countiy  that  have  entered  the  work  of  hettering 
prisoners'  conditions  have  each  taken  up  some 
feature  of  work  that  is  peculiar  to  itself  and  its 
circumstance. 

Colorado  sends  some  of  its  prisoners  to  build 
roads;  Kansas  lets  some  of  its  men  gcj  to  work 
on  the  Kansas  farms  and  occasionally  allows  its 
prison  ball  teams  to  jjlay  inter-prison  games;  the 
Washington  State  Reformatory  has  given  a  pris- 
oner a  leave  of  absence  to  prove  uj)  on  a  tree 
claim;  New  York  has  introduced  limited  self- 
governing  organizations  at  Auburn  and  at  Sing 
Sing  which  include  nearly  all  of  the  inmates  of 
those  institutions;  the  Cheshire  reformatory. 
Connecticut,  the  L'nited  States  prisons  at  Atlanta 
and   at   l-'t.   Leavenworth   and  other  prisons  al- 


low their  prison  baseball  learns  t«»  play  niatchc<l 
games  with  outside  teams;  the  Arizona  pri>on- 
ers  have  a  baseball  diamond  outsitle  of  the  prison 
walls;  the  Eastern  Penitentiary  of  Pennsylvania 
allows  individual  initiative  ami  many  lines  of 
work  have  been  taken  uf)  that  develop  individ- 
ual ability  and  provide  individual  revenue;  the 
Illinois  prison  at  Joliet  has  sent  over  fifty  of  its 
prisoners  to  a  2,100-acre  farm  and  over  one  hun- 
<lre<l  of  them  to  ro.id  camps;  the  Ohio  peni- 
tentiary is  developing  industries  for  prisoners 
outside  of  the  prison  where  the  men  arc  working 
luider  nearly  nonnal  con<Iitions. 

Prison  Labor  Contracts  Expire  and  Prisoners 
Work  for  Citizens 

\\  ith  all  of  these  various  features  peculiar  to 
the  many  prisons  that  have  taken  up  the  prison 
betterment  work,  it  has  remainetl  for  Warden  J. 


)58 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


C.  Sanders  of  the  Iowa  State  Penitentiary  at 
Fort  Madison  to  undertake  something  still  differ- 
ent. 

Warden  Sanders  found  the  contracts  expir- 
ing under  which  his  men  were  given  employ- 
ment by  manufacturing  firms,  and  he  felt  the 
necessity  of  making  some  other  provision  to  keep 
the  prisoners  occupied. 

All  prisons  face  a  problem  in  the  transition 
from  the  contract  system  to  a  state-use  system 
of  industr)',  and  since  no  machinery  for  state- 
use  work  had  been  provided  by  the  Iowa  leg- 
islature, it  remained  for  Warden  Sanders  to 
work  out  some  plan  for  himself.  He  conceived 
the  idea  of  allowing  some  of  his  men  to  go  out- 
side of  the  walls  to  do  any  kind  of  suitable  work 
that  he  could  get  for  them  to  do.  In  this  the 
Warden  was  supported  by  the  Board  of  Control, 
the  prison  governing  body  of  the  state. 

In  time  Warden  Sanders'  practice  brought  him 
into  conflict  with  the  town  of  Fort  Madison,  and 
the  discussion  that  has  ensued  has  raised  the 
"cherry  picking"  of  Warden  Sanders'  men  to 
the  prominence  of  national  interest. 

Long  ago  Warden  Sanders  was  a  band  master  ; 
later  he  was  superintendent  of  schools ;  and  then 
the  Iowa  authorities  sought  him  for  the  hardest 
task  he  had  undertaken — the  wardenship  of 
Iowa's  worst  prison,  that  to  which  the  hardened 
criminals  were  committed. 

.A  critic  reviewing  Warden  Sanders'  work  says : 

"Warden  Sanders  is  setting  the  whole  prison 
world  by  the  ears  because  of  his  reforms  here. 
He  has  received  letters  from  wardens  all  over 
the  land  and  even  foreign  countries,  wanting  to 
know  more  of  his  work.  He  believes  that  there 
is  good  in  every  man  and  that  the  good  should 
be  developed  even  among  prisoners.  He  thinks 
the  only  way  to  protect  society  is  to  send  out  the 
cx-convict  with  a  higher  conception  of  citizen- 
ship. He  conducts  the  only  prison  lecture  course 
in  the  world,  and  this  course  is  partly  paid  for 
by  the  prisoners  themselves." 

Warden  Sanders'  lectures  are  illustrated  with 
word  pictures.  They  are  intensely  interesting, 
absorbing.  They  are  graphic  and  are  weighted 
with  a  deep  human  interest.  The  lectures  bring 
before  the  public  the  prisoner's  measureless  bur- 
den of  human  wickedness  and  woe;  a  city  of 
fallen  manhood  and  shame  and  tears,  but  also 
of  hope.  "There  are,"  says  an  observer,  "pathos, 
humor,   sense   and   conclusion   in   the    lectures." 


Warden  Sanders  has  filled  many  engagements 
under  Chautauqua  managements,  as  well  as  hav- 
ing spoken  at  different  times  under  the  admin- 
istration of  various  other  organizations. 

All  newspaper  comment  shows  that  in  allow- 
ing the  men  under  his  charge  to  go  to  work  out- 
side of  the  prison  for  the  townspeople  and  farm- 
ers of  the  vicinity,  Warden  Sanders  was  con- 
scious of  doing  something  of  far  more  impor- 
tance than  merely  adopting  an  expedient  which 
offered  itself. 

Back  of  all  of  the  Warden's  work  is  the  im- 
pulse to  bring  into  practical  and  permanent  ex- 
pression the  latent  manhood  which  he  believes 
is  potential  in  each  of  his  prisoners.  His  great 
object  is  to  teach  the  men  self-reliance  and  thrift 
and  to  quicken  in  them  the  aspiration  that  will 
awaken  them  to  higher  and  ennobling  things. 

The  New  York  Evening  Post  pays  Warden 
Sanders  the  following  high  compliment : 

"J.  C.  Sanders,  warden  of  the  Iowa  State  Peni- 
tentiary at  Fort  Madison,  has  gone  farther  than 
any  other  warden  in  the  world  to  make  life 
worth  living  for  the  men  behind  the  bars.  The 
primary  purpose  of  the  amusements,  and  espe- 
cially of  music,  is  to  regenerate  the  souls  of  the 
imprisoned  men  and  to  refine  their  natures. 
Never  is  a  convict  called  by  his  number,  but  by 
his  first  name.  This  is  one  way  in  which  the 
management  recognizes  that  each  convict  has  a 
soul  and  an  individuality.  In  the  privileges  of 
games,  the  enjoyment  of  the  night  school  and 
the  library,  and  in  permission  given  to  decorate 
their  cells  with  pictures,  and  in  the  'honor'  sys- 
tem practices,  the  convicts  are  not  allowed  to 
lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  they  have  been  incar- 
cerated for  the  protection  of  society  and  the  pun- 
ishment of  crimes." 

The  citizens  of  Fort  Madison  overlook  the 
great  problem  of  the  upbuilding  of  human  char- 
acter to  which  W^arden  Sanders  in  all  the  par- 
ticulars of  his  work  is  devoting  himself,  and  see 
only  the  small  detail  of  some  of  the  prison  men 
"picking  cherries"  in  competition  with  the  Fort 
Madison  women  and  taking  some  of  the  odd  jobs 
of  the  neighborhood  away  from  the  Fort  Madi- 
son men. 

Fort  Madison  Sues  Warden  of  Penitentiary 

"The  employment  of  prison  labor  is  a  serious 
question  down  at  Fort  Madison,"  says  the  Cedar 
Rapids,  Iowa,  Republican. 

The  differences  between  the  city  administra- 
tion and  the  prison  authorities  have  brought  a 


1 


November  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


SS9 


J.   C.   Sanders.   Warden    Iowa   State   Penitentiary.  Fort  Madison,  Iowa 


560 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


clash  Which  has  resulted  in  a  lawsuit  in  which 
the  town  of  Fort  Madison  sues  Warden  Sanders. 
The  suit  is  brought  under  an  ordinance  drawn 
to  meet  the  case,  recently  passed  by  the  Fort 
Madison  council.  The  Warden  is  charged  with 
permitting  the  prisoners  to  go  about  the  city 
and  to  do  odd  jobs  and  ends  of  labor  and,  it  is 
charged,  this  brings  the  prisoners  in  competition 
with  free  men.  The  citizens  say  that  at  times 
their  municipality  is  overrun  with  prisoners  seek- 
ing jobs.  The  Warden's  reply  is  that  the  pris- 
oners go  where  they  are  sent  to  labor  and  that 
the  prisoners  are  desired  and  that  for  their  labor 
they  are  paid  the  prevailing  prices  that  any  men 
would  receive,  that  they  do  not  work  for  lower 
wages  than  would  be  paid  free  men. 
The  Cedar  Rapids  Republican  says  : 

"The  labor  situation  in  our  penitentiaries  is 
undergoing  adjustments.  We  no  longer  believe 
in  the  contract  labor  systems  of  the  past,  under 
which  private  contractors  have  made  what  they 
could  out  of  the  ill-paid  labor  of  the  unfortu- 
nates. At  the  same  time  we  have  come  to  be- 
lieve in  a  wider  industrialization  of  prison  labor. 
The  task  is  to  find  the  place  for  such  labor,  where 
it  will  be  profitable  to  the  state  and  to  the  con- 
victs and  their  dependents,  and  still  ofifer  no 
serious  competition  to  free  labor.  While  we  are 
l)ringing  about  this  readjustment,  it  may  be  well 
for  all  of  us  to  have  patience  and  not  jump  into 
hasty  criticisms.  The  adjustment  must  be 
reached  somehow.  Surely,  there  ought  to  be 
places  where  a  few  hundred  men,  under  sen- 
tence, can  work  without  injury  to  society." 

During  one  month  the  prisoners  received 
$918.14  as  wages  for  work  done  for  private  busi- 
ness houses  and  individuals,  according  to  a  re- 
port made  to  the  Board  of  Control.  Only  one 
of  the  men  who  have  been  given  permission  to 
go  outside  of  the  walls  to  work  has  tried  to  get 
away  and  he  changed  his  mind  and  came  back. 

About  two  hundred  men  are  now  on  Warden 
Sanders'  honor  roll,  and  the  possible  increase  in 
the  men  beyond  this  number  is  one  of  the  things 
that  has  brought  the  question  to  an  issue. 

The  Iowa  Republican  states  the  question 
clearly  as  the  question  looks  to  the  eyes  of  the 
men  and  women  who  see  their  possible  jobs  taken 
by  Warden  Sanders'  men : 

"We  assume  it  is  not  so  much  what  has  been 
done  in  the  way  of  prison  employment  as  the 
possibilities  that  stir  Fort  Madison  people. 
There  are  something  like  six  hundred  men  in 
the  prison. 


"The  state  is  moving  to  abandon  inside  con- 
tract labor.  This  makes  it  necessary  to  give  the 
men  work  elsewhere.  The  state  has  done  noth- 
ing in  the  way  of  permanent  outside  employ- 
ment. This  brings  to  the  people  of  Fort  Madi- 
son the  possibility  of  having  several  hundred 
men  offered  them  in  competition  with  free  labor. 
It  does  not  affect  the  men  in  the  factories  or 
shops,  but  it  does  affect  many  who  live  by  day 
labor.  Women  pick  cherries,  and  they  find  men 
from  the  prison  picking  them  for  money  or  on 
shares.     The  women  have  lost  their  work. 

"Old  men  and  boys  mow  lawns,  cut  weeds, 
make  gardens,  care  for  barns  and  furnaces.  Pris- 
oners are  doing  that  kind  of  work  and  many  men 
and  boys  have  lost  their  work.  Contractors  em- 
])loy  common  labor  in  building,  in  digging  and 
laying  sewers,  in  paving,  and  free  labor  gets  con- 
siderable in  that  way.  These  men  are  in  dan- 
ger of  losing  their  work. 

"The  Republican  can  see  the  possibilities  of 
the  situation.  It  is  not  criticising  the  Warden, 
for  he  has  to  look  after  his  part  in  the  con- 
test. The  best  way  to  judge  this  proposition  is 
to  put  one's  self  into  the  place  of  the  cherry 
pickers,  the  grass  and  weed  cutters,  the  street 
cleaners,  the  laborers  on  contracts,  and  then  ask 
how  we  should  feel." 

The  Fort  Madison  Democrat  takes  up  the 
question  of  its  home  town  and  undertakes  to 
set  the  municipality  right  in  the  eyes  of  the 
public : 

"There  has  been  a  general  misinterpretation 
of  the  object  of  the  ordinance  which  resulted  in 
the  Warden's  arrest,  and  there  has  followed  a 
broadcast  idea  that  Fort  ]\Tadison  as  a  city  is 
antagonizing  the  policy  of  finding  outdoor  w^ork 
for  prisoners.  Nothing  was  further  from  the 
minds  of.  those  who  framed  the  ordinance.  The 
city  of  Fort  Madison  has  ever  been  a  persistent 
advocate  of  the  outdoor  use  of  prisoners  in  a 
manner  which  will  be  directly  beneficial  to  the 
state  of  Iowa,  a  use  w^hich  has  a  hundred  varia- 
tions. The  ordinance  was  directed  against  a  re- 
tail use  of  prison  labor  where  it  came  in  opposi- 
tion with  privileged  labor  of  individuals  in  the 
city,  and  to  curb  the  promiscuous  appearance  of 
prisoners  at  large  within  the  city  limits." 

The  Clinton,  Iowa,  Herald  questions  if  the  pub- 
lic mind  of  Fort  Madison  is  as  free  from  feel- 
ing because  of  the  mere  fact  that  the  men  who 
are  working  in  the  neighborhood  are  prisoners  as 
the  Republican  thinks  it  is.  The  Herald  presents 
a  similar  case  of  the  state  university  students 
working  in  competition  with  local  citizens  where 
no  such  objection  to  the  work  of  transient  citi- 
zens hci?  been  raised.    The  Herald  says : 


Novciiil)ir   1,   11(14 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


^)ii 


'The  people  of  Fort  Madison  object  to  con- 
victs pickinj:^  cherries  on  shares,  because  it  com- 
petes with  home  industry.  But  the  students  of 
the  state  university  earned  $40,000  in  Iowa  City 
last  year,  and  the  students  at  Ames  and  Cedar 
I'alls  earned  larfje  sums.  The  people  of  Iowa 
City,  Ames  and  Cedar  l-'alls  have  as  nuuh  riijht, 
lejjjal  and  moral,  to  forbid  the  students  of  the 
state  educational  institutions  to  work  in  those 
cities  as  the  people  of  I*"ort  Madison  have  to  for- 
bid the  convicts.  In  each  case  it  is  competition 
w  ith  local  labor  by  people  whose  homes  and  main 
interests  are  outside.  The  course  taken  by  I'ort 
Madison  is  both   fooli>^h  and  futile." 

The  Council  Bluffs  Nonparicl  also  takes  the 
broader  view,  endorsinj^  the  broad  humane  prin- 
ciples which  Warden  Sanders  is  following  out. 
Under  the  heading.  "A  Heartless  Ordinance."  it 
says : 

"Fort  Madison  city  aldermen  have  passed  an 
ordinance  forbidding  the  working  of  prisoners 
within  the  city  limits  from  the  state  penitentiary 
located  at  that  place.  Warden  .San<lers.  acting 
under  instructions  from  the  Board  of  Control, 
gave  no  heed  to  the  ordinance.  He  has  been  ar- 
rested for  violation  of  the  statute  and  a  test 
case  will  be  made. 

"It  looks  at  this  distance  as  though  the  Fort 
Madison  authorities  were  exceedingly  narrow 
and  selfish.  Instead  of  forbidding  this  work  by 
ordinance,  they  should  co-operate  with  Warden 
Sanders  in  his  effort  to  redeem  men  to  lives 
of  useful  service  to  themselves  and  to  the  state. 

"This  is  a  Christian  country.  There  is  a  sa- 
cred obligation  resting  upon  every  individual 
to  be  a  good  neighbor  antl  friend  to  his  fellow 
man.  This  obligation  rests  upon  cities  as  it  does 
upon  individuals.  Fort  Madison  people  owe  it 
to  the  state  of  Iowa  and  to  humanity  to  work 
with  and  not  against  Warden  Sanders  in  his  ef- 
forts to  save  men." 

Concerning  the  personal  character  and  pur- 
pose of  the  Warden,  the  Nouparicl  says  further: 

•'Warden  Sanders  is  one  of  the  most  humane 
and  progressive  wardens  in  the  country.  His 
whole  aim  is  to  transform  the  men  placed  in  his 
charge  from  criminals  into  decent  citizens.  He 
tries  to  convince  these  men  that  the  state  de- 
sires to  help  rather  than  to  i>unish  them.  To 
this  end  he  has  bent  every  energy.  He  has  taken 
prisoners  out  of  the  penitentiary  to  work  for 
wages.  He  has  had  them  picking  cherries  and 
doing  all  sorts  of  work.  Through  his  efforts 
these  men  have  earned  in  driblets  thousands  of 
dollars  with  which  they  have  provided  clothing 
for  themselves  or  saved  funds  to  help  them  when 
thev   were  finallv  paroled   or   freed.      In   many 


cases  this  money  ha^  );une  to  support  de|x'ndcnt 
families." 

.\  summary  of  the  general  opinion  of  the  work 
W  arden  Sanders  has  lx*cn  doing  and  of  the  cor- 
rectness of  hi«>  i>osition  in  the  present  crisis  is 
given  in  the  IX"s  Moines,  Iowa,  Tribunt: 

"Aside  from  the  legal  phase  of  the  matter, 
there  can  be  but  one  opinion  among  those  who 
know  anything  of  what  Warden  Sanders  has 
been  doing  to  encourage  the  njcn  of  the  prison 
to  become  trustworthy  workers. 

"His  men  have  done  an  enonnous  amount  of 
work  that  otherwise  would  have  not  been  done, 
have  earned  a  large  sum  for  the  prison,  and 
have  become  themselves  the  guardians  of  ficacc 
and  good  order  that  they  might  enjoy  the  oi>- 
porunity." 

Warden  Sanders'  Own  Explanation  of  the  Case 

In  order  to  give  a  clear  understanding  of  the 
facts  in  the  case,  this  magazine  wrote  to  Warden 
Sanders  for  a  statement  of  the  local  particulars, 
which,  in  a  jK-rsonal  letter,  Warden  Sanders 
gives  as  follows : 

"The   custom    of    jx-rmitting   certain    i 
of  this  institution  to  work  for  some  of  our  ;...... 

ers  so  that  they  can  earn  money  to  help  their 
families  does  not  come  from  a  special  act  which 
provides  for  that.     Rather  the  •  m  is  from 

the  administration's  taking  adva:. ......     f  a  clause 

in  the  statutes  which  permits  the  Warden  to 
work  the  men  outside  of  the  prison  walls. 

"I  began  the  custom  in  a  small  way  -  ! 

vears  ago  when  I  first  came  here.  As  di;  :.  i 
farmers  saw  the  benefit  to  themselves  of  the 
prisoners'  work,  the  requests  for  help  incrcasc<l 
and  the  prison  administration  was  able  to  tf)' 
out  a  policy  which.  1  am  thankful  to  say.  has 
proved  of  immense  help  to  all  conccnie<|. 

i  believe  it  would  serve  public  good  if  all  leg- 
islatures would  pass  a  law  jx-rmitting  wardens 
of  i)risons  to  work  trusted  men  at  any  place  in 
the  state  in  any  way  that  would  help  along  the 
individuals,  providing  always  that  prisoners  be 
paid  for  their  labor. 

"I  find  that  when  a  prisoner  is  directly  bene- 
fited by  his  lal)or  and  is  given  the  immediate 
and  sole  use  of  that  benefit,  he  *  <  a  Intter 

man.  not  only  as  a  prisoner,  but  m  contem- 
plation of  his  future  life  as  a  free  citizen.  In 
fact  as  we  branch  out  and  get  further  and 
further  away  from  the  old  l>cliefs  and  therefore 
nearer  to  a  normal  existence  un<lcr  i)cnal  con- 
finement, the  moral  natures  of  the  men  become 
strengthened,  and  through  encouragement  and 
with  a  continuation  in  goo<l  habits,  many  who 

were  bent  and  cripple<l  b«  ''^  and  erect 

A  sense  of  personal  resj i  honor  is 


562 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


aroused  aiifl  duties  which  were  once  tossed  aside 
are  carefully  observed. 

"From  what  I  have  said,  it  is  not  to  be  ni- 
fered  that  we  lease  men  out.  Our  men  do  job 
work  for  the  farmers,  help  them  plow  if  needed, 
reap  their  harvests,  clear  wooded  patches,  budd 
and  i)aint  barns,  and  in  fruit  .season  we  assist 
them  in  {^atheringj  their  fruit;  and  we  do  other 
thinjjs  of  like  nature.  We  clean  carpets,  repair 
Mu\  varnish  furniture,  make  brooms,  do  uphol- 
-teriufT  and  contract  for  almost  any  kind  of  \york 
we  can  get  that  is  not  in  comi)etition  with  skilled 
labor— and  for  all  this  we  pay  the  men  who  do 
the  work. 

•'We  also  work  the  men  in  camps  and  have 
three  camps  out  at  this  time — one  at  Glenwood, 
one  at  Woodward,  and  one  at  Mt.  Pleasant- 
each  under  the  supervision  of  my  own  officers. 
The  men  are  well  fed.  comfortably  housed  and 
,ire  given  all  the  freedom  possible  under  the  cir- 
cumstances. The  men  at  the  camps  are  also  paid 
for  their  services. 

"The  total  number  of  men  on  our  trusty  list 
at  this  time  is  about  two  hundred.  I  could  work 
twice  as  many  if  I  had  them,  but  there  are  still 
contract  shops  in  the  jirison  and  the  prison  work 
must  be  done,  therefore  the  number  who  can  go 
outside  is  limited. 

"My  policy  in  all  this  work,  itS  well  as  in  the 
government  of  the  men  inside  of  the  walls,  has 
been  to  treat  them  fairly  in  every  particular, 
having  found  by  experience  that  in  the  heart  of 
every  man,  however  good  or  however  bad,  there 
is  an  undying  respect  for  the  'square  deal.'  This 
method  and  the  bolstering  up  of  broken  natures 
have  kept  the  men  at  their  posts  under  condi- 
tions which  are  not  encouraging. 

"1  have  not  the  power  or  the  authority  to 
otter  the  men  any  inducements  to  remain  loyal 
i-xcept  fair  treatment.  I  cannot  shorten  the 
sentence  of  the  deserving  or  hold  out  the  faint- 
est hope  to  any  man  that  his  work  will  be  recog- 
nized in  a  way  to  help  him  get  a  parole  or  other 
release.  Therefore,  I  can  say  with  the  keenest 
jileasure  that  even  without  any  of  these  induce- 
ments, only  one  of  them  has  violated  the  trust  I 
put  in  him.  This  one  man  ran  away,  but  even 
he.  after  being  out  one  night,  became  conscience 
stricken  and  surrendered  to  a  farmer.  He  asked 
the  farmer  to  telephone  to  me  that  he  had  given 
himself  up. 

"From  this  record  I  believe  that  I  am  .safe 
Ml  saying  that  the  nearer  prisoners  are  permitted 
to  live  a  normal  life,  the  more  they  can  be 
trusted  to  act  as  men.  In  this  I  should  make  one 
reservation:  Some  of  them  must  first  be  edu- 
cated to  where  thcv  will  wish  to  do  the  ridit 
thing. 

Warden  Sanders  was  charged  with  violating  a 
city  ordinance  by  allowing  prisoners  to  pick  cher- 
ries for  a  citizen.     Mr.  John  Fletcher,  assistant 


attorney  general,  appeared  in  defense  of  Warden 
Sanders,  which  action  took  the  case  out  of  the 
local  courts  to  the  district  court.  Finally  Judge 
W.  S.  Hamilton  of  the  district  court  handed 
down  a  decision  in  which  he  ruled  that  the  city 
ordinance  prohibiting  prisoners  from  remain- 
ing within  the  city  unless  on  state  duties  is  valid. 
Thus  far  the  town  of  Fort  Madison  has  won  in 
the  controversy  with  the  state's  warden. 

An  appeal  has  been  taken  to  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  state.  Those  who  have  supported 
Warden  Sanders  in  his  attempt  to  open  a  way 
for  the  employment  of  his  prisoners  and  for 
them  to  come  more  into  normal  life  believe  that 
the  Supreme  Court  will  reverse  the  decision  of 
the  lower  court  and  that  the  prisoners  will  be 
entitled  to  continue  in  the  work  they  have  been 
doing. 

The  prison  authorities  feel  that  they  cannot 
now  say  what  they  will  do  if  the  case  is  decided 
against  them.  In  all  such  matters  the  Warden  is 
governed  by  the  Board  of  Control  and  the  Board 
now  awaits  the  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court. 

In  further  explaining  the  case.  Warden  San- 
ders at  a  later  date  in  a  personal  letter  to  The 
JoLifiT  Prison  Post  writes : 

"Conditions  do  not  make  it  possible  for  money 
received  for  jobs  to  be  paid  directly  to 
the  men  by  the  farmer  or  other  person  em- 
ploying them.  The  men  who  do  the  work  know 
what  the  job  is  worth.  The  prison  receives  the 
money  and  distributes  it  in  proper  proportion  to 
the  men  who  do  the  work. 

"In  some  cases  a  piece  of  work  is  taken  for 
a  lump  sum.  In  other  and  in  most  instances,  the 
jobs  are  done  by  the  day,  conditions  varying  in 
regard  to  expenses,  such  as  the  supply  of  tools, 
feed,  teams,  etc.  The  prison  does  not  solicit 
work.  In  all  instances  the  work  is  done  at  the 
special  instance  of  the  men  wanting  it. 

"I  am  very  glad  to  say  that  all  we  have  done 
has  given  eminent  satisfaction.  All  men  have 
at  all  times  conducted  themselves  with  decorum 
and  I  believe  they  do  better  and  more  faithful 
work  than  the  majority  of  free  men  would  do. 
Perhaps  that  is  the  reason  that  so  many  farmers 
and  others  want  to  employ  our  men.  They  do 
want  our  men  and  if  I  had  more  men  at  my  dis- 
jjosal  I  could  make  use  of  them  all. 

"I  am  firmly  of  the  opinion  that  the  time  to 
reform  a  man  is  while  he  is  in  prison,  not  after 
he  goes  out,  and  I  am  proud  to  say  that  most  of 
my  men  who  are  getting  the  normal  treatment 
are  acting  like  normal,  self-reliant  beings  and 
that  they  are  falling  into  good  habits.  If  I 
can  only  get  them  to  save  their  money  I  shall 


November  1,  1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


S63 


have  accomplished  a  ^rcat  .leal.  Savinjj  is  thrift 
and  It  may  be  that  the  lack  of  this  ability  or 
^ift  has  had  something  to  do  with  K^'ttiiig  these 
men  into  trouble.  I  feel  that  this  is  true,  for 
1  am  sure  that  many  who  have  been  denouiKe.I 
as  bad  men  are  not  so  at  heart,  and  1  l)elieve  the 
time  will  come  when  prisoners  will  concede  to 
the  punishment  intlicled  by  the  curls  and  will 
willingly  get  into  line  with  any  plans  propo.sed 
to  better  their  lives  and  to  strengthen  their  pur- 
jHjses   for  morality. 

"  The  whole  ciucstion  is  to  a  great  degree  one 
of  education  and  public  opinion.  When  the  pub- 
lic begins  to  meet  the  prisoner  as  an  erring  man 
and  upon  a  fairer  basis  than  that  upon  which 
it  has  w.et  him.  he  will  come  out  of  the  sboll  of 
suspicion  which  now  encrusts  bim  and  will  ac- 
cept reasonable  truth  in  the  interest  of  society's 
protection.  That  a|)pears  to  be  the  trend  of  con- 
diticjus  even  now." 

A  deep  human  problem  is  being  worked  out 
at  Fort  Madison.  A  broader  conception  of  hu- 
man rights  and  of  .social  duties  is  to  be  born  and 
a  clearer  understanding  of  the  adjustment  of 
individual  and  social  life  to  each  other  is  to  be 
gained.  The  interest  of  the  men  of  the  peni- 
tentiary and  the  men  of  the  city  of  Fort  Madi- 
son are  one  interest.  The  authorities  of  the  two 
communities  are  to  find  how  the  interest  of  each 
is  to  be  kept  unimpaired. 


CONTRIBUTIONS 

THE   POLICE   COURT 
By  Joseph  Matthew  Sullivan 

I  Of    the    Ro<itnn,    Massachusetts,    Rar. 

The  police  court  always  possesses  a  peculiar 
fascination  for  loafers.  Here  the  college  rowdy, 
thief,  loafer,  and  drunkard  are  supposed  to  meet 
on  an  equal  footing.  .\  burly  court  officer  is 
stationed  at  the  door  to  keep  out  idle  busybodies 
and  loafers.  The  fellow  who  is  supported  by 
the  labor  of  his  hard-working  mother  invariably 
has  the  most  imi)ortant  business  before  the  court. 
The  police  court  runner  is  in  evidence  to  carry 
the  grist  of  business  to  the  police  court  lawyer 
and  incidentally  to  promise  in  return  for  his  fee 
"freedom  while  you  wait."  The  dock  is  tilled 
with  the  offscourings  of  last  night's  revels  from 
the  saloons.  The  respectable  housewife  who  in 
a  moment  of  weakness  stole  some  trifling  articles 
from  some  department  store  will  in  a  few  min- 


utes feel  the  wrath  of  the  law       ihc  de|Milmem 
store  lawyer  is  there  to  c.xert  a  malicious  inMu- 
ence  on  the  court  in  the  matter  of  sentence     The 
stereotyiK-d    legal    routine;    the    disiMisiiiun    of 
judges  to  believe  only  one  side— that  of  the  po- 
lice — makes  the  administration  of  the  criminal 
law  in  the  jmlice  courts  of  our  large  .\merican 
cities  a  screaming  farce.    The  legal  scythe  swings 
with  a  heartless  regularity:  here  we  have  a  hos- 
pital of  contagious  moral  leprosy;  the  judge  is 
the  legal  surgeon  and  the  iKjlice  arc  the  knives. 
1  he  tout  is  there  with  wide-oix-n  cars,  listening 
to  t)l>tain  infonnation  and  sell  it ;  the  sKxjI  thief 
is  there  to  assist  the  police  and  therefore  distract 
atteiUion  from  his  own  villainy ;  the  fellow  with 
his  "near  dope"  is  sleeping  on  the  benches;  the 
"chump   copi>er"   is   there   dreaming  of   promo- 
lion;  the  f.dlen  woman  «itill  promises  to  reform 
if  wicked  men  will  let  her ;  the  second-hand  dealer 
is  there  to  identify  thieves  and  also  to   feailier 
his  own  nest.     Fach  and  every  ty|)c  of  humanity, 
crooked  and  straight,  is  there  to  keep  infonne<l 
on  the  business  of  his  neighbor  and  incidentally 
neglect  his  own.     The  drunk  who  has  forgotten 
the  name  he  gave  when  arrested  adds  to  the  hu- 
mor of  the  situation  and  his  lapse  of  memory 
delays    the    court's    business    and    increases    the 
troubles  of  the  clerk.     \'olumes  couhl  Ir*  written 
about  the  police  court,  the  legal  .slaughter  house 
ihc  place  where  justice  too  often  miscarries,  and 
where   mistakes  arc   made   which   can   never  Ik* 
rectified. 

«     «     • 

LIMITED  SELF-GOVEKNMKNT 
By  Fred  E.  Stuart 

A    Priioncr 

Some  of  your  contributors  have  dwelt  u|>on 
the  question  of  hmited  self-government  in  this 
institution.  N'et  it  seems  to  me  that  there  are 
many  men  here  who  fail  to  grasp  lK)th  the  mean- 
ing of  the  ex|)ression  or  the  full  significance  of 
thf  i<lea. 

While  the  lilK'rty  which  we  associate  with  the 
term  "limited  .self-govcrtunenl"  does  not  imply 
a  too  o|)en  freedom  it  docs  mean  that,  through 
co-operation  and  helpfulness  a  large  majority  of 
the  prisoners  will  to  an  extent  Ik-  able  to  contnil 
the  actions  of  their  lives  while  here. 

Too  many  of  us  have  exjierted  the  adnunis- 
tration  to  give  us  a  "ready-made"  system  of  self- 


.'.tU 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


ifovernnient.  This  is  impossible.  But  a  coni- 
iminity  such  as  ours  could  be  managed  success- 
fully under  the  laws  of  liwitrd  self-government, 
-iiould  the  laws  be  founded,  as  they  would  be. 
(Ml  justice.  Justice  is  the  unchanging,  everlast- 
ing will  to  give  each  man  his  right.  The  plan 
must  be  worked  out  by  the  prisoners,  subject  to 
the  approval  of  the  officers  of  the  administration. 
It  may  seem  slow  in  coming,  but  we  will  yet 
reach  it. 

©    ©    ® 

THE  MESSAGE 

By  I.  N.  Mate 

A   Prisoner 

.\lthough  an  empty  life  of  sin  - 

Has  always  been  my  part, 
.Mone,  tonight,  I've  w^on  the  fight, 

.\nd  pledged  another  start. 
In  that  still  hour  on  bended  knee 

Within  my  heart  there  grew 
A  hope  divine  as  I  read  this  line : 

'•J  will  always  jiray  for  you." 

liefore  me,  through  the  flowing  tears, 

I  saw  a  figure  stand; 
Close,  close,  she  came,  and  breathed  my  name, 

And  held  my  drooping  hand. 
.\nd  now  when  hang  the  leaden  skies. 

And  I  am  feeling  blue, 
I  bend  my  ear,  these  words  to  hear: 

"I  will  always  pray  for  you." 

©    ©     © 

A  WHEEL  WITHIN  A  WHEEL 

By  J.  L. 

A    Prisoner 

It  has  occurred  to  me  that  it  would  be  a  com- 
mendable plan  for  those  prisoners  here  who, 
tlirough  either  conduct  or  efficiency,  have  shown 
their  appreciation  of  the  Warden's  efforts  to 
lighten  their  burdens,  to  organize  a  "close  cor- 
poration" honor  squad  of  their  own  that  would 
not  only  be  honorable  upon  the  surface,  but  hon- 
orable clear  to  the  core.  An  organization  of  this 
kind,  it  seems  to  me.  would  be  valuable  to  the 
men  behind  it  and  to  the  administration  because 
of  the  principles  of  loyalty  which  are  involved. 

Doubtless  there  would  be  a  number  of  persons 
who  would  disapprove  of  a  movement  of  this 


character.  Through  a  perversion  of  facts  and 
because  of  narrow  vision  some  prisoners  here 
have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  officers  of 
this  institution  are  partly  responsible  for  their 
•ondition.  The  result  of  this  is  that  many  are 
inditierent  or,  as  too  frequently  is  the  case,  an- 
tagonistic to  the  prison  betterment  policies  of  the 
administration. 


REVIEWS 


THE  GROWING  STATE  USE  PLAN 

The  practicability  and  naturalness  of  the  state 
use  plan  in  prison  industry,  is  gradually  being 
shown. 

An  Ohio  paper  publishes  the  following : 

With  the  gradually  disappearing  prejudice 
against  the  use  of  prison-made  goods  on  the  part 
of  county  institutions,  the  demand  for  prison 
labor  in  producing  such  goods  under  the  new  law 
abolishing  the  contract  labor  system,  is  rapidly  in- 
creasing and  in  many  lines  of  such  goods,  the 
prison  shops  find  difficulty  now  in  keeping  up 
with  the  demand." 

The  Youngstown,  Ohio  Vindicator  says  that 
the  creation  of  a  board  to  take  the  places  of  the 
twenty  different  boards  that  have  hitherto  man- 
aged the  different  Ohio  state  institutions,  indi- 
cates that  a  marked  economy  is  to  ensue : 

"The  latest  saving  is  in  the  rags  that  heretofore 
went  to  waste.  All  the  rags  are  to  be  saved  and 
•sterilized  and  shipped  to  the  penitentiary,  where 
a  machine  will  pick  them  to  pieces,  after  which 
thirty  per  cent  of  new  wool  will  be  mixed  and  the 
material  woven  into  blankets,  ten  thousand  pair 
of  which  are  needed  every  year  at  the  institutions. 
This  bit  of  saving  means  something  like  thirty 
thousand  dollars  to  the  State.  Besides,  the  pris- 
oners in  the  penitentiary  have  something  to  do 
that  benefits  the  State,  where  formerly  prisoners' 
labor  was  sold  cheap  to  contractors  who  worked 
the  prisoners  on  products  that  entered  into  com- 
petition w'ith  those  of  free  labor." 

In  Nebraska  the  contracts  for  prison  labor  are 
terminating  and  the  prison  administration  is  grad- 
ually transferring  the  prisoners  to  other  forms  of 
industry. 

The  Lincoln,  Nebraska.  State  Journal  makes 
the  following  report : 

"Machinery  is  being  installed  in  the  state  peni- 
tentiary carpenter  shop  so  that  furniture  can  be 


November  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


&6ft 


made  on  a  larger  scale  than  heretofore.  Warden 
Fenton  has  planned  for  some  time  to  increase  the 
facilities  of  the  shop  so  that  most  of  the  furniture 
reciuired  by  all  state  institutions  can  be  made  at 
the  prison.  At  present  the  prison  shop  has  an 
order  for  tifty  rocking  chairs  and  thirty-live  chif- 
foniers for  the  school  for  the  blind  at  Nebraska 
City.  Convict  Snow,  who  is  a  skilled  cabinet 
maker,  will  direct  the  work  of  the  furniture  man- 
ufacturing part  of  the  carpenter  shop." 

Ihe  rci)ort  of  W  ardeu  \V.  V.  Choisscr.  of  the 
Southern  Illinois  Penitentiary,  shows  that  the 
state  use  plan  is  well  introduced  in  IlliiK.is.  War- 
den Choisser  says : 

■"It  is  perhaps  not  generally  known  that  our 
clothing  factory  manufactures  practically  all  the 
clothing  which  is  woni  by  the  inmates  of  all  the 
penal  and  charitable  institutions  in  the  state. 

"The  state  penal  and  charitable  institutions  ob- 
tain their  shoes  and  furniture  from  the  Illinois 
State  Penitentiary ;  they  have  their  printing  done 
at  the  Illinois  State  Reformatory  and  they  obtain 
their  clothing  and  hosiery  from  the  Southern 
Illinois  Penitentiary. 

"When  one  of  the  state  institutions  desires 
clothing,  they  make  a  requisition  on  the  Board  of 
Prison  Industries,  specifying  the  kind  of  material 
and  character  of  clothing  desired,  the  number  of 
suits  or  dresses  and  the  sizes  wanted.  The  State 
Board  of  Prison  Industries,  if  they  approve  the 
requisition,  forward  the  same  to  the  Southern 
Illinois  Penitentiary  to  be  filled. 

"When  this  requisition  has  been  received  by  us 
we  send  samples  of  the  goods  to  many  wholesale 
dealers  for  bids.  We  award  the  contract  to  the 
lowest  bidder.  By  following  the  competitive  sys- 
tem we  save  the  state  appro.ximately  $500  to  $1,- 
000  a  month. 

"In  addition  to  the  clothing  made  for  the  South- 
ern Illinois  Penitentiary  during  the  last  year  we 
made  clothing  for  the  Elgin  State  Hospital,  .\nna 
State  Hospital,  Kankakee  State  Hospital,  Water- 
town  State  Hospital,  Jacksonville  State  Hospital. 
Peoria  State  Hospital,  Lincoln  State  School  and 
Colony,  Illinois  School  for  the  Blind,  Illinois  Sol- 
diers' and  Sailors'  Home,  Illinois  Soldiers'  Or- 
phans' Home,  Illinois  Charitable  Eye  &  Ear  In- 
firmary, Illinois  State  Penitentiary,  Illinois  State 
Reformatory,  St.  Charles  School  for  Boys,  Illi- 
nois State  School  for'  the  Deaf,  Illinois  State 
Training  School  for  Cirls,  Chester  State  Hospital 
and  Illinois  Soldiers'  W'idows'  Home. 

"It  will  perhaps  be  interesting  to  know  the 
great  variety  of  clothing  for  the  difTerent  institu- 
tions manufactured  here,  among  which  are  men's 
suits  and  overcoats,  youths'  suits  and  boys'  e.xtra 
pants,  men's  and  boys'  extra  vests,  brown  duck 
suits,  ladies'  aprons  and  bonnets,  men's  and  boys' 
caps,  underwear  for  men,  women  and  boys'  paja- 
mas, house  dresses  for  women,  gloves,  cotton  and 


leather  palm,  night  gowns  and  night  shirts,  hand- 
kerchiefs for  men  an<I  women,  -^  and 
jumper  coats,  overalls  for  men  anu  .  .,  siurts 
for  men  and  boys  of  percale,  cambric,  etc..  skirts 
for  women  of  muslin.  •'                  etc.,  undershirts 

for  men  and  lK>ys,  v,    •  i.  white  lawn. 

etc.,  and  waists  for  ^    ^        j,  etc. 

"The  establishment  of  the  clothing  factory  was 
begim  here  by  order  of  the  Board  of  Prison  In- 
dustries in  SeptemlxT.  l'*04.  By  a  slow  process 
the  factory  was  built  up  until  wc  now  have  96 
sewing  machines  in  full  «»|X'ration.  The  value  of 
the  machinery  used  in    "         "  to  the 

last  appraisement,  is  o;,..  .., ,.  ,,  ,^,  i^,.i  year 
an  average  of  1 14  men  were  employed." 

When  the  Boohcr-Hughes  bill  to  limit  inter- 
state commerce  in  prison-made  goo<ls  was  before 
congress,  William  H.  Whittaker,  superintendent 
of  the  District  of  Gilumbia,  Washington,  which 
institution  has  a  farm  of  1,150  acres  at  Occoquan, 
\  irginia,  aj)peared  before  the  Interstate  Com- 
merce Commission  and  made  the  following  state- 
ment : 

"Within  the  boundaries  of  a  state  the  authori- 
ties can  find  employment  for  all  prisoners  under 
the  state  use  plan. 

"There   are   700   prisoners   at   '"*   ■•      nd 

there  is  work  for  all  of  them.  iis 

of  the  district  are  taking  the  output  of  the  labor 
of  these  people  and  never  will  there  be  any  rea- 
s<jn  for  shijjping  a  dollar's  worth  of  supplies  from 
the  labor  of  the  prisoners  other  than  to  public 
institutions  of  the  city  of  Washington. 

"Our  output  consists  of  common  brick,  paving 
brick,  crushed  stone,  and  products  raiseil  on  the 
farm.  We  have  work  for  every  prisoner  in  the 
open,  without  bars.  locks  or  cells.  It  is  not  a 
<|uestion  of  the  dollars  and  cents  we  »  iit 

of  these  men.     \\  c  must   have  an  ...ion 

that  will  make  of  them,  when  |>«»ssibK  r  citi- 

zens, and  you  cannot  do  this  if  you  confine  them 
to  the  machines,  as  is  <lone  under  the  contract 
system,  and  do  nothing  else  with  them. 

"This  is  one  of  the  great  wrtMigs  of  the  contract 
system.  Six  years  ago  when  f  stood  l>cfore  a 
similar  conmittee  and  argue<l  a  go.   '   '     '        '  ■  «ie 

gentlemen    have    who    are    opposi;.^    :... I 

thought  if  the  bill  passed  it  would  stop  the  busi- 
ness of  the  prisons  of  the  country.  I  have 
changed  my  mind  in  t1  •  d  .im 

convinced   that  the  pri.     ..;  c  can 

be  worked  within  the  boundaries  of  the  individual 
state  under  the  state  use  plan  and  a  large  per 
cent  of  them  redeemed  to  society. 

"One  state  may  solve  this  problem  in  one  way 
and  another  state  in  another.  Wc  solve  it  in  the 
District  of  Columbia  by  honest  labor,  sunlight  and 
fresh  air  on  the  farm — by  doing  all  sorts  of  work 
that  is  done  in  any  city  of  a  thousand  people. 


566 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  First  Year 


There  is  not  a  state  in  this  union  but  has  thou-  "The  men  who  are  under  court  sentences  are 
sands  and  hundreds  of  thousands  of  acres  of  still  human  beings  and  they  are  entitled  to  do 
waste  land  to  rc'lcem  and  roads  to  build,  the  waste  work  that  will  keep  them  out  of  idleness.  The 
land  can  be  redeemed  and  the  roads  constructed  thing  that  free  labor  objects  to  most  is  the  fact 
with  the  labor  of  the  prisoners."  that  such  labor,  in  the  past,  has  been  sold  to  con- 
tractors at  prices  below  the  wages  commanded  by 
Mr.  Whittakcr  has  been  in  prison  work  tor  ^^^^^  outside,  thus  creating  unfair  competition. 
twenty  years  and  for  the  last  four  years  he  has  There  are  no  objections  to  men  in  prisons  work- 
been  developing  the  work  of  the  Occoquan  farm,  ing,  but  there  are  objections  to  them  working  for 

,,.             .              ,      ^-  ^1  i..,^,.,u,jrT/=  in  nrJcnn  coutractors  at  a  rate  of  50  or  60  cents  a  day. 

H,s  experience  and  practica  knowledge  in  prison  .^,^^^^  .^  ^^^^  ^^^^.^  ^^  ^^^^  ^^.^  ^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^^^_ 

wt)rk,  make  his  remarks  well  worthy  of  consider-  p]jji,,e(.i  of  " 

at  ion  But  it  is  found  that  the  humanitarian  demands 

It  is  not  clear  that  in  the  large  circuit  of  ex-  ^an  be  met  under  a  state  use  system  of  employ- 
changes  counted  in  periods  of  years,  the  state  use  ,-,ient  as  fully  as  under  any  other  system,  and 
]ilan  will  have  any  different  effect  upon  the  mar-  ^i„ce  the  state  use  system  will  do  away  with  all 
kct  than  if  the  prison  made  goods  were  sold  in  a  question,  it  is  likely  that  it  will  gradually  make 
regular  way  to  dealers  who  would  offer  them  for  ^^.^y 

public  sale.     In  the  whole  country  a  certain  quan-  ^     4..     ^ 
tity  of  goods  are  manufactured  and  a   certain 

quantity    are    consumed.     Selling    prison    made  PRISON   PROGRESS   IN   THE   SOUTH- 

goods  to  the  state  or  selling  them  for  final  private  ERN  STATES 

consumption,  can  make  no  ultimate  difference.  An  effort  is  being  made  by  the  North  Carolina 

But  particular  interests  are  affected  when  goods  Prisoner's  Aid  Society,  headquarters  at  Raleigh, 
of  one  or  another  line  are  manufactured  and  put  to  abolish  the  flogging  of  prisoners  of  that  state, 
njwn  the  market  and  it  is  the  particular  interests  North  Carolina  has  a  law  against  this  practice, 
that  make  the  cry.  But  while  this  is  all  true,  the  but  the  guards  sometimes  indulge  their  own  feel- 
state  use  plan  serves  the  rights  of  the  prisoners  ings  at  the  expense  of  the  prisoners. 
as  well,  and  it  does  avoid  the  conflict  with  inter-  Rev.  Sidney  Love,  secretary  of  the  society, 
ests  which  feel  that  they  are  not  properly  con-  makes  the  following  statement : 

■^'•'cred.  ,,--,          ,         ,               .                ,         .                 , 

™,     „.             jr.        e  T^     -Kir  •        T  We  are  kept  busy  trying  to  make  prison  guards 

The  Rcgutcr  and  Leader  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  ^^ey   the   law   prohibitin|  flogging      Wh?n   we 

criticises    the    restrictions    which    the    platform  hear  that  some  ignorant,  brutal  prison  guard  has 

adopted  at  the  progressive  state  meeting  in  Iowa  flogged  a  prisoner,  we  file  affidavits  against  him 

would  put  upon  prison  labor  in  employing  it  onlv  '^^^^'1  ^^^  prosecuting  solicitor,  charging  assault 

1     •              1     r        1.  i                   i.-          T-i  ^nd   battery.     We   have   had   several   gfuards   at 

in  producing  goods  for  state  consumption.     The  u  1  •  1    •   j    ..    1            .1        t.               1     .1        .1 

'              . ,                                            '  Kaleigh  indicted  recently.     It  was  only  the  other 

Cedar  Rapids  Republican  commends  the  position  ,iay  that  the  supreme  court  of  North  Carolina  up- 

of  the  Register  and  Leader  and  further  says:  held  the  constitutionality  of  the  anti-flogging  law 

by  confirming  sentences  imposed  on  prison  guards 

"  There  is  no  human  sense  in  such  limitations,  for  floggino^  prisoners." 
It  will  not  free  other  labor  from  competition,  for 

•it  means  that  the  state  institutions  will  be  getting  J"flge  Carter  of  Elizabeth  City,  North  Caro- 
along  without  the  products  of  free  labor.'  It  ^i"a,  has  ordered  that  no  prisoner  shall  be  struck 
curtails  the  markets  of  the  free  laborers  to  the  by  a  guard  and  also  that  the  shackles  shall  be  re- 
same  extent.  It  is  a  mere  beating  around  the  moyed  from  the  legs  of  the  prisoners  of  Pasquo- 
Inish.  There  is  nothing  in  these  contentions  and  .^„t,  ^^,„  .  t  .  c  •  ru 
distinctions.  Surely  there  ought  to  be  a  place  '^"^  r""'>  •  twenty-five  prisoners  were  liber- 
wherc  the  products  of  a  few  hundred  imprisoned  ^^^^^  *'"°"^  shackles.  A  number  of  the  guards  re- 
men  can  be  used  without  upsetting  our  industrial  signed  their  positions,  saying  that  they  cannot 
system.  A  few  hundred  men  caiiiio:  glut  the  manage  the  prisoners  if  they  do  not  have  some 
nuykets  of  the  country  with  their  products,  when  way  of  enforcing  their  authority  over  them. 

It  IS  known  that  the  efiiciencv  of  such  labor  is  not  tv,«  XT^-f^n    \t-     •   •      rz-     •   •       d;  * 

j^j  j^  •<                                     -                                   '  1  he  JN  or  folk,  Virginia,  Virgiman  Pilot  says: 

The  Republican  then  takes  up  the  question  on  "Jndge   Carter   has   plainly   indicated  that  he 

liiinianitirinn  rrrr^.itiri  ^  o,,,i  oo,-.  (     fU  ^^^^  "^^  approvc  of  thc  mauucr  in  which  the  con- 

numanitarian  grounds  ana  savs  turther:  it.         1^         ^       ^t    ^   ,        ,        ^^             .-    . 

^                        -  victs  have  been  handled  by  the  officers  of  the 


November  1,  iyi4 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


597 


png.  lie  has  made  reference  several  times  to 
iron  neck  rings  and  other  such  things  in  an  im- 
personal way.  Recently  he  ordered  the  convicts 
to  be  brought  before  him  and  all  day  he  was  en- 
gaged in  holding  a  private  examination  of  the 
convicts  as  to  the  manner  in  which  they  have  been 
treated  by  the  guards. 

"Before  court  adjourned  he  ordered  that  the 
shackles  be  removed  from  the  legs  of  the  con- 
victs and  that  they  should  be  brought  before  him 
in  the  morning  free  of  these  incumbrances.  He 
also  issued  an  order  that  no  convict  shall  be 
struck,  and  if  any  person  disregards  this  order, 
while  he  is  in  Pasquotank  county,  that  i)erson 
would  be  brought  before  him  and  punished. 

"The  order  of  the  judge  was  complied  with 
and  the  shackles  were  removed. 

"Judge  Carter  advocates  the  honor  system 
aniong  the  convicts  and  believes  that  it  will  work. 
The  otificers  are  doubtful  if  the  plan  can  be  made 
to  work  here  and  they  believe  members  of  the 
gang  will  run  away  at  the  first  opportunity. 

"\'arious  rumors  have  been  going  the  rounds 
for  some  time  as  to  the  cruelties  practiced  upon 
the  convicts  and  Judge  Carter  is  determined  to 
get  at  the  bottom  of  these  reports  and  find  out 
the  truth." 

But  the  system  of  working  prisoners  out  in  the 
open  without  shackles  is  proving  out  and  it  is 
being  found  that  those  who  propose  to  deal  with 
prisoners  more  on  the  basis  of  manhood  and  less 
on  the  basis  merely  of  master  and  subject,  are 
in  a  great  measure  right. 

Dr.  W.  H.  Oates,  state  prison  inspector  for 
Alabama,  who  has  been  inspecting  conditions,  has 
filed  a  report  in  which  he  says  that  at  Bessemer 
he  found  thirty-six  prisoners  confined  in  the  jail 
and  that  all  of  the  prisoners  had  on  shackles. 

Dr.  Oates  has  several  times  taken  up  the  mat- 
ter with  the  city  officials  and  he  had  supposed 
that  something  had  been  done  toward  removing 
the  shackles.     He  says : 

"They  are  put  on  when  a  prisoner  is  convicted 
and  worn  continuously  by  him  until  he  has  served 
his  sentence.  A  number  of  prisoners  have  ugly 
sores  upon  their  atikles  caused  by  these  leg  irons. 

"I  was  under  the  impression  that  they  were 
removed  at  night,  if  not  altogether  discontinued, 
but  I  find  that  I  was  wrong  and  that  neither  has 
been  done. 

"In  my  opinion,  the  shackling  of  prisoners 
from  the  moment  of  their  incarceration  until  their 
dismissal,  particularly  when  prisoners  have  been 
convicted  only  of  misdemeanors,  is  to  say  the  least, 
inhuman,  if  not  cruel,  and  is  a  sad  commentary 
and  reflection  on  the  city  of  Bessemer,  and  should 
by  all  means  be  instantly  abolished. 


"I  res|>cctfully  call  r»        •■.    •        ,4  t|,^.  „,.,,,,, 

and  city  council  of  lit  fact  that  bcv 

eral  of  the  counties  of  this  slate,  including  Madi 
son.    Pike.    '*         !i    an<l    Ktowah.    arc    working; 
long-term  c..;..  ■>  the  n»ads  without  shackle-^ 

with  very  few  i 

The  Birmingham,  Alabama.  UJger  reports 
that  Mr.  Frank  (JafTord,  street  commi.ssioncr,  sav^ 
that  fifty  of  the  120  city  prisoners  now  at  wiirk 
on  public  roads  arc  working  without  shackles.  It 
is  being  conceded  that  State  Commissioner 
W'eatherby's  exiK-rimcnt  of  working  men  without 
chains,  is  proving  a  success.     Mr.  Gafford  says: 

"One  of  the  unshackled  prisoners  who  escaped 
from  the  work  on  the  new  crematory  at  West 

End  about  ten  days  ago.  was  captured  Monday. 
Only  three  unshackled  prisoners  have  run  away 
so  far.     We  have  caught  two  of  them  and  here 
after  those  two  will  wear  the  chains." 

.\t  New  Decatur.  Alabama,  the  plan  of  putting 
prisoners  on  their  honor  has  been  tried  and  it  is 
found  to  be  a  decided  success.  The  putting  of 
men  ujwn  their  honor  has  been  carried  to  the  ex- 
tent of  allowing  the  prisoners  to  sleep  and  to 
board  at  home,  if  they  wish  to  do  so,  instead  of 
being  kept  in  the  city  jail.  As  will  be  seen,  the 
men  are  placed  on  their  honor  entirely. 

Mr.  J.  Xewton  Hendrix,  prisoners'  guard  for 
Xew  Decatur,  says  of  the  plan : 

"The  plan  is  working  ad^- -  "v.  We  have 
but  little  trouble  with  the  l  :.  .>  now.  It  is 
very  seldom  that  a  convict  tries  to  escape,  an<l 
when  he  does,  the  other  convicts  assist  in  his  cap- 
ture. We  place  them  entirely  on  th<  -  '  or  and 
they  arc  given  extra  time  for  good  W..  .1.  And 
I  tell  you  what.  I  find  that  but  very  few  convicts 
will  take  advantage  of  the  lil)erty  given  them. 
They  work  In'ttcr  and  it  costs  the  city  less  to 
work  them  under  this  plan. 

"The  convicts  are  allowed  to  sleep  and  board 
at  home,  if  they  have  a  home  and  want  to  go 

there.     If  they  Ixxird  at  hoii-     •' -       "         ' 

on  their  time  for  boarding  tl 
have  no  home  they  can  board  and  sleep  at  the 
city  jail,  but  they  are  not  l«Kkc«l  up.     They  are 
at  liberty  to  go  at  will,  the  same  r-  

"I  tell  you  it  doesn't  matter  if  .1  •rokcn 

the  law  and  how  low  he  has  become,  he  still  has 
some  honor  al>out  him.  I  have  found  this  out  in 
working  convicts  under  the  plan  we  are  now  using 
in  New  Decatur.  The  man  who  has  broken  the 
law  feels  that  he  is  still  a  man  and  he  appreciates 
that   someone  still   has   so-  '       c  in   him 

when  he  serves  out  his  sc;.u.,.^  .  ;.  ;;;e  streets; 
he  responds  to  being  placed  on  his  honor  instead 
of  being  treated  like  a  brute." 


568                                                      THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST                                            First  Year 

The  Birmingham  Age-Herald  gives  the  follow-  "What  moral  right  have  we  to  detect  a  man  in 

ing  endorsement  of  the  honor  svstem  as  it  is  crime  and  send  him  to  some  corporation— take 

**                       XT       T-»      *             '  "^s  wage  from  him  and  leave  his  wife  and  inno- 

working  out  at  New  Decatur :  ^^^^^  children  to  suffer  and  maybe  to  starve  unless 

"The  New  Decatur  city  jail  is  no  longer  used  they  go  to  a  county  home  with  its  humiliation  and 
as  a  place  of  confinement  for  the  city  convicts,  ^hame^  because  the  man  violated  a  law  of  so- 
New  Decatur  is  today,  perhaps,  the  only  city  in  ciety. 

Alabama,  if  not  in  the  entire  South,  that  places  Everything's  plan  is  that  prisoners  who  are 

its  convicts  on  their  honor.  working  in  camps  "should   each   day  be  given 

New  Decatur  convicts  are  no  longer  shackled,  ,.f,            ,,         ,         ,,,^, 

and  they  are  not  locked  up  in  the  city  jail  when  credit  for  the  work  they  do.    At  the  end  of  the 

they  are  not  at  work.     When  the  day's  work  is  year  each  should  be  charged  with  his  actual  ex- 

ilone.  they  are  allowed  to  go  home.     If  they  have  penses  and  his  account  settled — in  the  meantime, 

no  home  they  are  allowed  to  sleep  in  the  city  jail,  ^^e  gt^te  should  advance  monthly  what  is  really 

but  thev  are  not  locked  up.     They  are  at  liberty  ,       ,  .       -r         i    u-u        >» 

'  ,                 ^u        u             'fu             u       J  due  his  wife  and  children, 
to  go  and  come  as  they  choose.     1  hey  can  board 

at  home  if  they  like  and,  if  they  do.  they  are  given  x^e  Charlotte,  North  Carolina,  Observer  corn- 
credit  on  their  time  for  their  board.  ^          ^,             ^.         ,  ,,       •  i  ,     r  .1 

"J.  Newton  Hendrix,  who  has  charge  of  the  "^^"*^  °"  ^^^  question  of  the  right  of  the  prison- 
New  Decatur  city  convicts  and  who  is  largely  cr's  family  to  a  portion  of  his  wages  for  its  sup- 
responsible  for  the  inauguration  of  this  plan,  says  port  and  says : 
that  this  system  has  been  in  practice  in  New  De- 
catur for  several  months  past  and  that  he  has  "Tfie  question  of  the  state's  responsibility  to 
not  lost  a  single  convict.  He  states  if  a  convict  the  family  left  helpless  by  the  conviction  of  the 
attempts  to  escape  the  other  convicts  will  assist  in  man  upon  whom  its  support  has  depended,  is  one 
his  capture  and  return."  which  is  being  agitated  in  many  parts  of  the  coun- 

try  and  one  which  sooner  or  later  will  have  to  be 

«^    «^    ©  faced  by  the  law-makers." 

WIVES  AND   CHILDREN  AND  THE  Members   of   the    Detroit   Woman's    Political 

PRISONERS'  WAGE  Civic  Club  recently  visited  the  Jackson,  Michigan, 

While  the  southern  states  are  somewhat  be-  ^^^^c    prison    as    guests    of    Warden    and    Mrs. 

hind   the  West  and   North   in  improvement   of  ^'athan  F.  Simpson.    The  visitors  sought  infor- 

prison  conditions  and  in  making  their  penal  policy  '"ation  of  how  they  might  best  aid  the  dependent 

more  humane,  the  South,  nevertheless,  is  moving  ^^'^^^  ^"^  children  of  the  men  confined  in  the 

.dong  in  the  same  direction  in  which  the  other  P"son  who  had  been  sent  from  Detroit. 

sections  of  the  country  are  moving  ^^^^  Indianapolis  News  makes  the  following 

At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Louisiana  Prison  '^"'"'""^  °"  ^^'  ^"''^^°"  °^  '  prisoner's  wage 

Reform  Association,  at  New  Orleans,  the  New  ""."^  ^"  ]''?^  .\'  "'  ^  "''""'  °^  '"PP°''  ^°'  '^' 

r\  ^          n-                           ^  prisoner  s  family : 

Orleans  Picayune  reports.  Secretary  John  L.  Sut-  ' 

ton  gave  a  detailed  report  of  his  appearance  be-  "That  a  gradual  change  is  coming  over  the  ef- 

fore  a  senate  committee  in  the  interest  of  the  ^°^*  ^*  apportioning  punishment  to  make  it  bet- 

..^,^i„  1        •    1  .        •                               .  ter  fit  the  crime,   is  apparent  even  at  a  hasty 

parole  law,  mdetermmate  sentences  and  provision  glance.     The  whole  course  of  the  indeterminate 

tor  the  wives  and  children  of  prisoners.  se;itence  has  been  in  this  direction.     There  is,  and 

Senator  E.  M.  Stafford,  in  reporting  on  the  '""^^  ^°"S  ^^^"'  ^"  attempt  to  adjust  the  punish- 

in<<;nap  nf  r«.fr>r,-,-.  u,„.    A    ^      J  xL  .  xi  ment  even  in  ordinary  cases  so  that  the  eft'ects 

jia^.sage  ot  retorm  laws,  declared  that  the  asso-  -n  c  n        ^•^^^                 •u^          ^i      •             *. 

.    .     ,    .              .                                         ^  '^^^"^  will  fall  as  little  as  possible  on  the  innocent. 

ciation  s  interest  in  matters  affecting  reform  was  "It  is  now  suggested  that  the  Chicago  Bride- 
felt  deeply  by  the  law-makers  at  Baton  Rouge.  ^^ell  inmates  be  paid  for  their  services,  the  pro- 
Colonel  Fairbrother,  publisher  of  Everythinq  ^^^^^  *°  ^°  t°  *^^  families  of  the  prisoners.  This 
hac  tni-*>n  1  A^^r^  ;„f^  ..  •  ^t-  L  ..  \.  ,  P^an  is  advanced  by  the  civil  service  commission 
nas  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  betterment  of  the  c  ^.u  •*  r  ^u  i.u  j  r  r  •  ^u 
...         -      .                                  tmiciiL  ui  LUC  Qf  ^Yie  city  as  one  of  the  methods  of  relieving  the 

condition  of  prisoners  in  the  South,  and  deplores  rigors  while  holding  the  essential  substance.     The 

the  fact  that  prisoners  are  farmed  out  by  states  suggestion  is  not  entirely  new,  but  its  success  in 

to  private  corporations.     Everything  urges  that  Detroit  and  its  essential  justice  may  bring  it  into 

a  part  of  the  wages  paid  for  the  men  should  go  ^^"^^-^  "f  •'"  *'"'^- 

to  the  men's  wives  and  children     It  asks  •  •     u    '"  ?  I    I  f  ^"^  ^^^^  """^  °^  ^^^  ^""^^^  ^^'''^^' 

^"-    ^^  ^^^^  •  IS  the  relief  of  the  wives  and  children  and  other 


November  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


SM 


dcpciulfiU  ones  of  men  who  are  justly  sciUcnccd 
With  them  society  has  no  quarrel.  But  in  a  larj^i 
way  society  has  to  support  them  while  the  bread- 
winner is  incarcerated  and  their  dependence  is 
gone,  and  so  they  are  punished,  and  society  it- 
self is  punished,  while  it  maintains  the  guilty  ones 
in  idleness." 

Mr.  E,  A.  Snively,  former  chairman  of  the 
Hoard  of  Pardons,  of  Illinois,  in  remarking  ujxjn 
a  statement  by  Judge  Coverly,  says: 

"During  a  service  of  sixteen  years  on  the  board 
of  pardons,  I  took  part  in  the  investigation  of 
hundreds  of  cases  similar  to  that  to  which  the 
judge  refers.  There  have  been  and  are  now 
many  men  serving  time  in  the  penitentiaries  and 
houses  of  correction  whose  imprisonment  inflicts 
more  punishment  upon  their  wives  and  children 
than  upon  the  prisoners. 

"At  my  request  James  F.  Morris,  of  Spring- 
field, introduced  a  bill  in  the  last  legislature  pro- 
viding that  the  wardens  of  the  various  prisons 
keep  an  account  with  each  prisoner,  and,  after 
charging  him  with  the  expenses  for  his  keeping 
and  clothing,  should  then  give  him  credit  for  his 
work  and  the  difference  should  be  paid  to  the 
wife  and  family  of  the  j)risoner.  In  a  large  num- 
ber of  cases  it  is  the  innocent  who  suffer,  while 
the  guilty  man  is  better  fed  and  better  clothed 
than  before  his  conviction." 

The  Milwaukee  IVisconsin  considers  a  possible 
concrete  case  and  discusses  the  principles  involved 
as  follows : 

"The  woman's  party  of  Cook  county,  Illinois, 
has  come  out  in  advocacy  of  a  law  whereby  the 
convict  in  prison  shall  be  employed  in  pul.lic  work 
at  prevailing  wages,  such  pay  to  go  for  tlie  sup- 
port of  his  family,  thus  relieving  them  from  de- 
pendency upon  charity. 

"This  suggests  a  problem  which  is  lost  sight  of 
too  often  in  the  punishment  of  individuals  who 
misbehave.  Often  it  happens  that  fines  are  ex- 
acted from  men  who  have  been  arrested  for 
drunkenness  when  the  men  are  the  sole  support- 
ers of  families,  and  the  mulcting  of  them  in  fines 
imposes  punishment  not  on  them  but  on  those 
dependent  on  them.  There  have  been  numerous 
instances  in  Milwaukee  of  this  phase  of  the  mis- 
carriage of  justice.  A  man  l)ccomcs  crazed  by 
drink  and  beats  his  wife.  The  wife,  alarmed  for 
her  safety,  calls  upon  a  policeman  for  aid.  The 
policeman  arrests  the  offender,  who  is  sentenced 
to  pay  a  fine  or  stand  committed  to  the  house  of 
correction. 

"If  he  pays  the  fine  the  money  comes  out  of 
the  family  coffer,  and  his  wife  and  children  suf- 
fer the  loss.  If  he  is  unable  and  his  family  are 
unable  to  command  the  ready  cash  for  paying  the 
fine,  he  goes  to  the  house  of  correction,  in  which 


'    Ills  V,  and  Ji  may  l»c  he  loses  his 

iiion  a    ..  winner,  to  the  s'-rl  "'-  «lctri- 

menl  of  those  dc[)cndcnt  on  his  ea; 

"The  system  is  crude — barbarously  crude.  It 
is  a  travesty  on  '     *  It  whips  the  victims  of 

the  offense.     It  i lious  atonement  of  a  kind 

that  finds  no  sanction  in  religion  or  common 
sense.  There  ought  to  be  a  better  method  of 
dealing   with   drunk.  and   v   "'      '      -'  -ly 

conduct,  than  this,  \',  iivw  yn: if 

ferers  by  the  misdemeanor  more  severely  than 
the  misdemeanant." 

Ohio  pays  certain  of  her  prisoners  a  wage  and 
provides  that  nine-tenths  of  the  prisoner's  earn- 
ings shall  be  sent  home  to  his  wife. 

New  Jersey,  since  1911,  has  ha<l  a  law  which 
provides  for  a  prisoner's  wage  and  that  a  part 
or  all  of  this  shall  be  sent  to  the  prisoner's  family. 


EDITORIALS  FROM 
PRISON  JOURNALS 


The«e    editorials    are    abridged    when    it    U    practicable    to    4o 
io  and  still   to  preserve  unimpaired  the  pnncifMil  ihousht. 


Ground  for  Permanent  Betterment 

(Reprinted  from  Our  View  Point,  Wa*hington  Sute  Pr.<.t-nt;.r. 

Walla   Walla  1 

We  hope  to  convince  the  public  that  the  only 
sane  and  economically  sound  method  of  treating 
the  criminal,  is  that  which  is  based  upon  his  re- 
form rather  than  upon  his  punishment ;  and  that 
this  can  be  accomplished  only  by  fostering,  in- 
stead of  destroying,  his  self-resfKct.  We  believe 
that  the  people  will  see  that  it  is  poor  business 
lK»licy  to  keep  men  confined  at  unrcmunerativc 
labor,  at  an  actual  expense  to  the  slate,  when  they 
may,  as  is  the  case  in  Minnesota  and  elsewhere, 
become  a  source  of  revenue,  and  at  the  same 
time  earn  enough  money  to  help  support  their  de- 
pendent families,  who  otherwise  will  become  a 
public  charge  or  will  be  forced  into  a  life  of  im- 
morality. We  hope  to  arouse  the  jKoplc  of  this 
state  to  an  increased  sense  of  their  r-  ibility 

toward  the  men  confine<l  in  this  inxiuuU'in;  to 
convince  them  that  their  civic  duty  is  only  l>cgtui 
with  the  apprehension  and  conviction  of  the  crim- 
inal ;  that  their  greater  duty  consists  in  leaving 
nothing  undone  which  may  lead  to  his  rehabilita- 
tion. 

On  the  other  hand,  we  Iwpe  to  be  able  to  in- 
fluence the  attitude  of  the  men  within  the  walls 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


>,.\vard  society  in  general:  to  arouse  into  activity 
that  higher  nature  which  Hes  dormant  in  all  men; 
to  inspire  them  along  lines  of  self-development 
and  self-restraint ;  and  to  help  turn  their  thoughts 
into  channels  which  will  fit  them  to  become  use- 
ful citizens— useful  alike  to  themselves  and  to  the 
community  in  whidi  they  may  live. 

Do  You  Believe  in  Prison  Friendship? 

[Reprinted    from   The    Mirror,    Minnesota    State   Prison, 
Stillwater] 

We  believe  it  is  true  that  prison  life  to  a  great 
extent  is  unnatural,  but  that  does  not  signify  that 
the  nature  of  man  undergoes  a  change  unless  he 
wills  it.  We  have  heard  that  a  prison  is  a  poor 
l)lace  to  form  friendships. 

Xaturally,  the  population  of  a  prison  is  cos- 
mopolitan, the  inmates  are  of  every  description, 
l)ut  social  conditions  to  an  extent  prevail  and 
personal  likes  and  dislikes  are  not  altered  because 
of  prison  restrictions.  Personal  attributes,  we  be- 
lieve, are  more  noticeable  here  because  of  close 
confinement.  Noting  these  attributes  we  are 
more  inclined  to  express  opinions  than  were  we 
in  the  world  at  large. 

We  all  know  the  value  of  true  friendship. 
Friendship  is  a  joy  that  knows  no  sorrow ;  we 
trust  it  as  we  trust  a  mother-love  and  its  spark 
will  kindle  anytime.  But.  these  friendships  are 
rare.  If  you  find  that  you  like  a  fellowman  in 
prison,  like  him  as  you  would  like  to  have  him 
like  you,  regardless  of  the  opinions  of  others. 
.\nd  as  the  years  go  by  and  you  find  him  true, 
still  regardless  of  the  opinions  of  others — like 
him  more. 


©     © 


Grading  Prisoners 


iReprinted    from    New    Era,    U.    S.    Penitentiary,    Leavenworth, 

Kansas] 

Nebraska's  state  board  of  control  has  arranged 
to  funish  its  prisoners  in  the  state  penitentiary  at 
Lincoln  with  three  different  colored  uniform?,  as 
provided  for  by  the  last  legislature.  The  uniform 
for  the  first  grade  will  be  blue  with  gold  braid  on 
the  sleeve ;  second  grade,  blue  without  braid ;  and 
the  third  grade  will  wear  plain  uniforms  of  gray. 
The  men  are  assigned  to  the  grades  according  to 
their  conduct. 

The  grading  system,  with  new  uniforms   for 


the  first  grade  men,  is  in  the  course  of  evolutior 
here  and  we  feel  certain  that  the  moral  effect  of 
this  recognition  of  good  conduct  will  prove  bene- 
ficial. It  creates  a  distinction,  a  goal  to  strive 
for,  with  a  reward  of  merit  for  elTort. 

We  approve  of  the  grading  system  even  more 
than  of  abolishing  numbers,  which  is  also  taking 
place  here.  Human  nature  demands  something 
tangible  for  reward  of  endeavor.  Men  serving 
sentences  go  backward,  mentally,  morally  and 
physically,  when  they  have  nothing  to  look  for- 
ward to  other  than  the  monotony  found  in  doing 
time. 

Many  create  for  themselves  a  goal  while  in 
prison.  But  the  oppressiveness  of  confinement 
on  the  great  majority,  whose  creative  powers  are 
limited,  serves  to  offset  any  method  they  put  forth 
for  their  own  rehabilitation  or  advancement. 

And  so  we  are  thankful  for  the  grading  sys- 
tem, and  for  the  abolition  of  numbers  and  for 
any  and  all  things  that  will  help  men  out  of  the 
ruts  so  common  and  so  easily  gotten  into,  in 
prison  life. 

©    ^    ^ 

An  old  negro  was  recently  brought  before  a 
justice  in  Mobile.  It  seemed  that  Uncle  Mose 
had  fallen  foul  of  a  bulldog  while  in  the  act  of 
entering  the  henhouse  of  the  dog's  owner. 

"Look  here.  Uncle  Mose,"  the  justice  said  in- 
formally, "didn't  I  give  you  ten  days  last  month  /' 
for  this  same  thing?     It  was  the  same  henhouse 
you  were  trying  to  get  into.     What  have  you  got 
to  say  for  yourself?" 

Uncle  Mose  scratched  his  head. 

"Mars  Willyum,  yo  sent  me  ter  de  chain  gang 
fer  tryin'  ter  steal  some  chickens,  didn't  ye?" 

"Yes ;  that  was  the  charge." 

"An  don't  de  law  say  yo'  can't  be  charged  twice 
wid  de  same  'fense?" 

"That  no  man  shall  be  twice  placed  in  jeopardy 
for  the  identical  act,  yes." 

"Den,  sah,  yo'  des  hab  to  let  me  go,  sah.  Ah 
war  after  the  same  chickens,  sah." — Pittsburgh 
Chronicle. 

®     ®     ® 

Under  severe  discipline  each  infraction  of 
the  rules  meant  cruel  and  degrading  punish- 
ment, frequently  causing  loss  of  health  and 
hastening  death. 


November  1,  11(14 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


371 


REPRINTS 


The    headings   of   the    reprints   arc   written   by   the    editor*   o» 
this  magazine. 


Sound  Prison  Reform 

I  Kciirmtcd    from   Chicago   Triliuiic] 

From  Maine  to  California,  says  a  writer  in  the  east, 
prisons  arc  getting  back  to  mother  earth,  back  to 
the  land.  The  old  style  congregate  penitentiary 
with  its  gray  walls  and  gray  buildings  is  disappear- 
ing. Its  place  is  taken  by  the  prison  farm.  The 
convict  in  these  newer  prisons  is  garbed  in  a 
farmer's  costume  with  a  dominant  shade  of  gray, 
but  no  stripes.  He  works  in  the  open  air.  The 
nmiiber  of  guards  has  been  reduced  to  a  minimum. 
Finally,  when  the  prisoner  is  restored  to  society 
once  more,  he  comes  out  of  his  confinement  not  a 
frail,  broken  down  individual,  diseased  in  body  and 
anti-social  in  spirit,  but  a  man  whose  physique  has 
been  built  up  and  whose  sense  of  honor  has  been 
developed  to  a  much  higher  standard  than  the  one 
that  characterized  him  before  he  was  deprived  of 
his  freedom. 

The  adult  convict  is  not  the  only  one  who  re- 
sponds readily  to  the  call  of  mother  earth,  who  is 
l)enefited  and  rehabilitated  by  the  close  communion 
with  nature.  The  incorrigible  lad  who  has  been 
the  bane  of  the  old  fashioned  reform  school,  who 
apparently  seemed  "too  tough"  for  any  reforming  in- 
fluence to  reach  him,  was  found  to  lose  many  of  his 
subversive  traits  when  taken  from  the  reform  school 
that  savored  too  strongly  of  prison  and  placed  in  a 
reformatory  that  was  in  practically  every  essential 
a  farm.  Aliss  Katharine  B.  Davis,  commissioner 
of  correction  in  New  York,  has  recently  taken  some 
forty  of  the  toughest  young  offenders  from  an  old 
style  reformatory  and  placed  them  on  the  land 
under  the  honor  system  and  the  result  was  fairly 
marvelous.  With  the  exception  of  an  escape  or  two 
the  rest  of  the  boys  have  lost  their  savage  hatred 
of  all  rules  and  order  and  are  rapidly  going  for- 
ward in  the  direction  of  decent,  nspcctable  man- 
hood. 

It  is  a  pity,  however,  that  this  benign  influence 
of  mother  earth  is  employed  only  in  restoring  con- 
victs to  society.  It  should  be  used  to  keep  men 
and  boys  from  becoming  convicts.  The  world's 
ancient  and  honorable  profession  of  tilling  the  soil 
is  too  often  neglected  nowadays  for  more  glittering 
but  less  substantial  positions  behind  store  counters 
or  factory  benches  in  the  large  and  overcrowded 
cities.  The  back  to  the  land  movement  in  prisons 
is  a  good  way  out  of  a  bad  situation.  Such  a  move- 
ment to  the  land  among  the  thousands  upon  thou- 
sands of  men  who  waste  their  lives  in  a  hand  to 
mouth  existence  in  the  cities  would  go  far  towards 
reducing  not  only  our  prison  population  and  bur- 
dens, but  also  many  of  our  acute  civic  and  sf>cial 
problems. 


No  Closed  Season  for  Killing  Husbands  in  Cook 
County 

(Keprinied    from   CbicAgo  Tribune) 

The  lengthening  roll  of  women  acquitted  of  mur- 
der in  Cook  county  is  impressive  enough — no  one 
can  doubt  that.  Is  it  really  impossible  to  convict  a 
woman  of  serious  crime  hereabouts?  In  the  HiffRs 
case  the  state  did  not  demand  the  death  penalty,  but 
the  jury  was  not  willing  to  sin.l  the  wom.ui  <>•  •'>«• 
penitentiary.     Why? 

Assuming  that  the  evidence  was  legally  sufficient 
and  a  conviction  warranted;  assuming  that  it  was 
ably   presented:  assuming  that   the  jury   w;  rc- 

scntative  of  the  average  character  and  in:-..„-:.ce 
of  the  community,  the  conclusion  must  be  that  the 
jurors  permitted  sentiment  or  sentimentality  to 
override  their  judgment  and  conscience.  The  "ifs" 
arc  formidable,  but  no  one  who  has  not  sat  in  court 
and  followed  the  whole  trial  attentively  can  discust 
a  case  without  many  such  ifs.  However,  we  do  not 
believe  that  Cook  county  is  peculiar  in  its  treatment 
of  women  charged  with  murder  or  homicide.  There 
have  been  no  revolutionary  changes  in  its  popula- 
tion. There  have  been  no  general  waves  of  hysteria 
or  emotionalism.  If  nations  cannot  be  indicted. 
populous  and  settled  counties,  with  schools,  news- 
papers, churches,  civic  bodies,  etc..  are  equally  im- 
nmne.  Offhand  comment  is  inevitable,  but  its  value 
is  slight. 

It  is,  however,  reasonable  to  suppose,  as  some 
leading  women  do,  that  mixed  juries  of  men  and 
women  would  bring  in  fairer  verdicts  in  a  certain 
class  of  cases.  Of  course,  society  is  gradually  ap- 
proaching that  consumniation.  and  we  shall  see  what 
we  shall  see.  Woman  is  not  cruel  to  woman,  but 
lawyers'  trade  tricks  and  melodramatic  accessories 
that  affect  mere  man  when  judging  women  won't 
go  down  with  expcri'.iued  and  llunkmL'   women. 

Public  Policy  Demands  That  Suits  for  Divorce  Be 
Contested  Where  the  Defendant  Has  a  Legitimate 
Defense 

I'Keprinted    from    PbilaJclphia.    I'a..    Kcc^rd) 

The  judge   who  announced   that   he   should   grant 
an    order    for    alimony    in    all    uncontested    divorce 
cases    was    moved    by    his    observation    that   a    man 
would  part  with  his  wife  without  a  pang,  but  could 
not   part  with  any  of  his  money  without  keen  an- 
guish.    A   general   practice  of  this  sort   would  end 
collusive  divorces.     Of  course,  in  most  cases  where 
one  party  seeks  a  divorce  the  other  is  not  particu- 
larly anxious  to  maintain  the  marriage.     But  if  the 
husband  has  any  defense  ^  his  wife's  charges 

good  public  policy  dcmau. .  .....;  he  should  make  it. 

Otherwise,  divorce  is  granted  practically  at  the  ap- 
plication of  cither  party. 


572 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


Slow,  but  Coming 

[Reprinted    from    Louisville,    Ky.,    Courier-Journal] 

The  chairman  of  the  Kentucky  prison  commission 
has  come  forward  with  the  gratifying  assurance 
that  the  commission  has  plans  for  the  employment 
of  the  convicts;  that  no  contract  will  be  let  for  a 
period  of  years  and  that  no  contract  will  be  made 
"unless  it  contains  a  provision  subjecting  it  to  all 
acts  of  the  legislature  affecting  contract  labor." 

There  is  the  further  assurance  in  the  chairman's 
letter,  published  in  Saturday's  Courier-Journal,  that 
no  contractor  has  made  a  demand  for  a  return  to 
the  practice  of  whipping  the  prisoners,  and  that  the 
present  warden  of  the  Frankfort  prison  "is  secure  in 
his  position  .  .  .  and  if  an  attempt  is  made  to  dis- 
place him  it  will  fail." 

The  Courier-Journal  has  no  desire  to  misrepre- 
sent the  commissioners,  the  contractors  or  any 
one  else  and  has  no  interest  in  the  matter  other  than 
a  feeling  in  common  with  all  good  citizens  that  no 
backward  steps  should  be  taken  in  prison  manage- 
ment. The  state  has  made  some  substantial  prog- 
ress in  its  penal  affairs.  The  day  of  deliverance  from 
the  leasing  system  is  still  far  distant,  but  we  are 
getting  nearer  to  it.  Time  has  been  when  prison  au- 
thorities ate  meekly  out  of  the  contractors'  hands. 
If  the  situation  in  this  respect  has  been  reversed  the 
commission  and  the  commonwealth  are  to  be  con- 
gratulated. 


No  Law  Nor  Place  for  Defectives 

[Reprinted   from   Chicago  Tribune] 

In  sentencing  a  boy  "moron" — in  plain  lay  Eng- 
lish a  mental  defective — to  an  indefinite  term  at  the 
Pontiac  reformatory  the  other  day  Judge  Dever 
pointed  out  that  if  the  boy  defendant  had  not 
changed  his  plea  of  "not  guilty"  to  one  of  "guilty" 
all  the  testimony  of  Dr.  Hickson  of  the  municipal 
psychopathic  lal)oratory,  or  of  other  psychologists 
and  scientific  experts  in  criminology,  would  have 
had  to  be  excluded.  The  boy  having  admitted  his 
guilt — the  charge  was  murder — the  court  was  free 
to  hear  experts  and  take  their  statements  as  to  the 
boy's  actual  mental  limitations  and  arrested  develop- 
ment into  account  for  the  sole  purpose  of  fitly  fixing 
his  punishment. 

Judge  Dever  further  pointed  out  that  Pontiac  was 
only  a  makeshift  and  that  society  has  provided  no 
proper  place  for  morons  or  other  mental  defectives 
who  are  degrees  below  normal  without  being  idiots 
or  insane  persons. 

This  means  that  as  a  matter  of  fact  there  is  neither 
law  nor  local  habitation  for  a  class  of  delinquents 
and  defectives  that  is  known  to  science  to  be  quite 
large.  And  not  to  science  alone.  Sheriffs,  wardens, 
keepers,  and  prison  commissioners  who  are  inno- 
cent of  the  least  claim  to  psychological  authority 
know  from  direct  and  abundant  experience  and  say 
very  frankly  that  many  of  their  prisoners,  adult  and 


other,  are  mentally  defective,   though  not  "insane" 
in  a  medical  sense. 

The  law  treats  these  as  if  they  were  normal  per- 
sons, and  expects  results  from  ordinary  punishment 
that  cannot  possibly  be  secured  in  the  penitentiaries 
and  houses  of  correction.  Here,  then,  is  a  problem 
for  the  legislature.  The  criminal  law,  as  The  Trib- 
une has  said  already  and  now  repeats,  must  catch  up 
with  science  and  with  fact.  The  legislature  should 
provide  for  an  investigation  of  the  whole  situation 
with  regard  to  defectives  whom  chance  or  bad  en- 
vironment seizes  upon  and  tempts  into  grave  crime. 


Keeping  the  Door  of  Opportunity  Open  in  Wiscon- 
sin 

[Reprinted   from   La   Crosse,   Wis.,   Tribune] 

Perhaps  not  many  Wisconsin  people  are  familiar 
with  the  facts  set  forth  in  the  following  statement: 

Wisconsin's  prison  system  is  headed  in  the  right 
direction.  At  Waupun  they  are  beginning  to  trust 
the  convicts.  The  men  are  taken  to  various  parts 
of  the  state  to  work  on  the  roads,  and  are  allowed 
the  same  freedom  which  any  other  group  of  work 
men  have.  They  work  under  foremen  instead 
guards  and  their  clothing  does  not  suggest  con 
victs. 

The  idea  is  working  well  and  promises  to  be  oi 
great  economic  value  to  the  state. 

However,  its  greater  value  lies  in  the  effect  upoi 


of/ 


oil 
the    convicts.     The    true    mission    of    the   law   is   tcJ 
reform,  not  to  punish.     Modern  courts  recognize  na 
such  thing  as   vengeance.     Penalization   is   a   deter* 
rent,  not  retribution.     The  more  we  make  our  conj 
victs    feel    that   the    door   of   honest    opportunity   i' 
not  closed  to  them,  the  less  we  convince  them  tha' 
they  are  lost  souls,   the   more   shall  we   be   able  t'  j 
restore  them  to  useful  citizenship.     To  this  end  ■< 
must  work  as  strongly  as  is  consistent  with  pub. 
safety.     Wiconsin  has  not  been  a  leader  in  this  ( 
rection,  but  she  gives  evidences  of  falling  in  line. 


Honor  System  a  Success  in  Wisconsin 

[Reprinted   from   Fond   du    Lac,    Wis.,   Reporter] 

That   the   honor   system  recently  adopted   at 
Wisconsin    state   prison    is    proving   a    decided    f- 
cess  is  shown  by  a  recent  statement  of  Ralph  Sm 
chairman   of  the   state  board   of  control.     He   sa 
"Not  an  incident  has   occurred  nor  a  circumstar 
arisen    in    connection    with    the    experiment    in 
adoption  of  the  honor  system  in  the  Wisconsin  pe 
institutions  to  upset  our  faith  in  that  system."     . 
Smith's  statement  in  itself  furnishes  sufficient  ai- 
ment  in  favor  of  a  continuance  of  the  honor  sysi 
which    Wisconsin    is    still    experimenting    with,  t 
which   has   proven   successful   in   states   througit 
the  union.     The  honor  men  employed  in  the   - 
vict  camps  at  Taycheedah  and  on  the  Chester  r, 


Xovciiibcr   1,   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


573 


while  taking  full  advantage  of  the  liberties  allowed 
tlicm,  nevertheless  have  not  violated  any  of  thr 
rules  adopted  for  the  government  of  the  camps. 
They  are  enjoying  their  liberty  to  the  utmost,  but 
at  the  same  time  by  strict  observance  of  the  rules 
are  demonstrating  that  they  are  in  earnest  in  their 
desire  to  reform  and  to  again  become  law  abiding 
citizens.  The  exchange  of  the  grey  prison  walls 
for  fresh  air  and  sunlight  is  doing  wonders  with 
those  honor  men.  They  arc  viewing  life  with  new 
eyes.  They  arc  realizing  what  law  observance  will 
mean  to  them  and  they  are  doing  all  in  their  power 
to  prove  that  the  prison  officials  have  adopted  the 
right  course  in   dealing  with  them. 

©     ^     ^ 
Let  the  German  Army  Come  to  Joliet 

[Reprinted    from    Chicago    Daily    XcwsJ 

London.  England.  Oct.  10.— .\  dispatch  from  .Xni- 
sterdam  to  Renter's  Telegram  Company,  dated  Fri- 
day night,  says: 

"During    yesterday's    bombardment    of    Antwerp 
some  shells  exploded  on  the  roof  of  the  prison.    The 
Awarders  immediately  liberated  the  prisoners. 

I  ^      ^ 

^A  Kentucky  Gentleman 

j  ["RepriiHed   from   St.    Paul,   Minn..   Pioneer    Pre»»l 

Warden  Wells  of  the  Kentucky  state  prison  wai 
heartily  applauded  when  at  a  recent  session  of  the 
American  Prison  .Association  he  declared  himself 
to  be  in  favor  of  permitting  prisoners  to  converse 
with  each  other.  His  avowal,  if  it  could  be  heard, 
would  find  an  echoing  response  in  the  heart  of  ev- 
ery prisoner  in  every  silent  and  lonely  cell  in  the 
land.  For  of  all  the  methods  employed  to  punish 
criminals,  that  of  refusing  them  permission  to  hold 
converse  with  their  fellows  is  the  most  cruel  and 
blighting  to  the  human  spirit  ever  conceived. 

One  has  only  to  isolate  himself  from  his  fellow 
men  for  a  day  or  two.  speaking  to  and  being  hailed 
by  no  one,  to  bring  him  to  a  profound  realization 
of  the  absolute  need  of  conversation  in  one's-  daily 
life.  With  a  prisoner  the  prohibition  against  talk- 
ing is  infinitely  more  depressing  than  it  would  Ix- 
with  a  free  man.  Cut  off  from  converse  with  his 
neighbors,  he  is  driven  in  on  himself,  the  sickening 
sense  of  his  isolation  is  made  doubly  real  to  him. 
and  brooding  and  moroseness  become  almost  second 
nature  to  him. 

If  reformation  and  not  mere  retribution,  is  to  i)e 
the  new  note  in  prison  management,  then  it  must 
inevitably  follow  that  conversation — if  only  in  a 
limited  way — may  be  indulged  in  by  the  prisoners. 
For  how  can  a  man  be  reformed  if  he  is  forced  to 
consider  himself  so  much  of  an  outcast  that  he 
cannot  even  speak  to  and  be  spoken  to  by  his  com- 
rades? 


Release  the  Innocent  and  Punish  the  Gt^ty 

( Reprinted    ttom  ChU«co  TnbunrJ 

The  council  committee  that  it  inveitiK4tiiii(  tnc 
causes  of  the  growth  of  crime  in  Chicago  hat  been 
provided,  in  the  statistical  report  and  study  of  Miss 
Edith  Abbott,  with  an  excellent  and  indispensable 
basis.  Of  course,  statistics  may  "prove"  anything 
and  nothing  in  certain  hands:  they  require  careful 
interpretation.  But  certain  conclusions  emerge 
almost  at  once  from  the  report,  and  these  raise 
grave  issues. 

Crime  is  increasing.  The  crime  waves  are  reali- 
ties, not  fictions.  Yet  the  mills  of  law  and  justice 
show  little  improvement  in  efficiency.  The  person 
arrested  for  a  serious  offense  actually  stands  only 
one  chance  in  thirty  of  going  to  the  penitentiary. 
The  county's  costly  machinery  of  justice  teems  to 
be  maintained  almost  wholly  either  for  the  purpose 
of  freeing  the  innocent  or  for  the  purpose  of  fining 
and  imprisoning  those  who  are  charged  with  petty 
and  trivial  ofTenses;  the  criminals  who  are  a  menace 
to  the  community— as  to  habitual  criminals,  by  the 
way.  there  are  no  figures  or  data  worthy  of  the  name 
in  the  county  or  city — somehow  escape  conviction 
and  punishment. 

Now,  justice  is  not  justice  llIllc^s  .■  ;  :.;!ly 
releases  the  innocent  apprehended  on  s:->i>!i  lun  in 
addition  to  punishing  the  guilty.  But  the  "in  ad- 
dition" is  vital.  If  too  many  of  the  guilty  go  free, 
there  is  something  wrong  with  the  machinery,  from 
the  patrolman  and  detective  up  to  the  .Appellate 
courts.  And  it  hardly  needs  adding  that  if  some- 
thing is  wrong  with  the  machinery  that  is  set  up  to 
prevent,  deter  and  punish  crime,  that  defect  itself 
l)ecomes  a  potent  cause  of  crime — or  of  ihr  dispro- 
portionate increase  in  criminality. 

Arousing  the  Better  Instincts  in  Prisoners 

(Reprinted   from   Mank«to,   Minn.,   Review) 

Convict  life  becomes  increasingly  pleasant.  One 
of  the  most  cheerful  pictures  of  it  is  given  in  a  de- 
scripti6n  of  the  daily  loutine  at  Auburn.  N*.  Y. 

I' very  day.  at  4:30  p.  m.,  the  1.300  inmates  knock 
off  for  recreation.  A  bugler  sounds  the  call,  and 
the  men  pour  out  from  the  cells  and  '  '         '     *he 

big   prison   yard.      Another   signal ;-ak 

ranks  and  proceed  to  have  a  good  time  for  an  hour 
and  three-quarters 

Scores  of  them  organize  baseball  games.     Other* 

start   bowling,  with  the  level      - '   •   -   alleys  and 

balls  and  pins  of  their  own  •  rs  sit   in 

the  shade  and  play  checkers.  Old  friendt.  weary  of 
silence,  meet  and  stroll  about  in  conversation.  Here 
and  there  the  tinkle  of  a  mandolin  or  banjo  is 
hear<l.  .\  piano  is  hauled  out,  and  a  gifted  convict 
"bangs  the  ivories"  while  f»thers  practice  the  tango 
and  niaxixe. 

There  are   no   guards   in   sight.     Their   places   are 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


taken  by  officers  of  the  Mutual  Welfare  League,  a 
local  prison  organization.  If  any  man  abuses  his 
freedom,  they  suspend  him  from  membership  and 
bar  him  from  the  yard.     So  there  is  little  trouble. 

If  the  warden  happens  to  wander  into  the  yard, 
carrying  the  gold-headed  cane  the  league  has  given 
him,  the  men  touch  their  caps  and  he  responds  with 
a  friendly  "hello!"  Sometimes  he  joins  in  the 
games. 

".\  nice  way  to  treat  murderers  and  burglars  and 
liighwaymen!"  snorts  a  citizen  with  old-fashioned 
notions  on  penology. 

But  somehow,  it  seems  to  make  human  beings 
out  of  a  good  many  of  the  prisoners,  and  arouse 
l>ctter  instincts  in  all  of  them. 

Third  Honor  Camp  in  Wisconsin 

[Reprinted  from  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  Free  Press] 

The  third  convict  honor  camp  to  be  established 
in  the  state  this  summer  was  founded  recently 
when  Warden  Woodward  sent  four  prisoners  from 
llie  state  penitentiary  to  the  site  of  the  new  tubercu- 
losis sanatorium  at  Tomahawk  lake. 

The  men  were  placed  on  the  honor  roll  and  are 
in  charge  of  Superintendent  Grosskaupf.  Their 
privileges  and  the  camp  regulations  are  the  same  as 
those  at  the  Taycheedah  camp  and  at  the  Chester 
road  camp,  between  Waupun  and  the  village  of 
Chester.  The  convicts  will  assist  in  the  construc- 
tion  of  the   new  tuberculosis  sanatorium. 

The  camp  is  distinctive  inasmuch  as  it  is  located 
more  than  1.50  miles  from  the  state  prison.  The 
other  two  camps  are  within  twenty  miles  of  the 
pcnitentiarj'. 


Flowers  and  Music 

[Reprinted    from    Youngstown,    Ohio,    Vindicator] 

The  State  prison  authorities  at  Santa  Fe  in  New 
Mexico  have  learned  something  of  how  to  arouse 
the  better  nature  of  the  prisoners,  as  prison  author- 
ities and  workers  everywhere  have  learned  that  after 
all  it  is  not  punishment  so  much  as  the  right  kind 
of  treatment  to  be  given  those  who  must  pay  the 
penalty  of  violated  law  with  their  freedom.  There's 
a  different  notion  generally  held  now  of  the  purpose 
of  penalty  and  the  method  of  enforcing  it. 

But  to  go  back  to  the  case  of  the  prison  authori- 
ties way  down  in  New  Mexico.  It  appears  they've 
learned  the  one  great  truth  that  it's  near  to  nature 
that  man  must  get,  where  he  can  not  easily  go 
wrong,  for,  as  Young  says,  the  course  of  nature  is 
the  art  of  God.  Somebody  thought  of  building  a 
conservatory  and  permitting  a  few  of  the  convicts 
lo  work  among  the  flowers.  Others  of  the  prison- 
ers found  out  about  it  and  were  eager  to  be  em- 
ployed about  the  place  where  flowers  were  grown. 
The  warden  of  the  prison  says  it  is  impossible  to  es- 
timate the  good  the  flowers  have  done  the  prison- 


ers, some  of  them  the  most  desperate  men  in  the 
country,  who  when  free  were  held  in  terror.  They 
have  been  as  happy  as  children  when  having  the 
opportunity  to  work  in  the  conservatory. 

It  is  in  flowers  and  music  that  we  find  the  influ- 
ence to  arouse  the  best  that  is  in  people,  no  matter 
whether  they  be  free  to  go  about  as  they  please 
or  be  serving  time  for  their  misdeeds.  It  is  to  child- 
hood we  must  look  for  the  largest  love  and  enjoy- 
ment of  flowers,  and  childhood  is  the  stage  of  in- 
nocence, of  appreciation  of  good  because  every  ef- 
fort is  made  to  surround  it  with  only  that.  It  is  not 
the  appreciation  of  contrast  that  comes  of  years  of 
experience  in  the  world  of  affairs  and  events  and 
misfortunes  that  befall. 

After  all  this  would  be  a  rather  dreary  earth  if  it 
were  not  a  blooming  earth.  It's  the  blossoms  on 
our  pathway  that  cheer  us  to  the  noblest  impulses. 


The  Probation  System  in  New  York  State 

[Reprinted    from    New    York   World] 

New  proof  of  the  satisfactory  working  of  the 
probation  system  is  given  by  the  figures  showing 
the  increase  of  the  number  of  probationers  in  the 
state  from  about  3,000  seven  years  ago  to  the  pres- 
ent total  of  10,029. 

Ten  thousand  first  offenders  at  liberty  under  sus 
pended  sentence  and  free  to  earn  an  honest  living         i 
and  reclaim  themselves — and  with   the   incentive  tc 
exert  themselves  to   that   end  as  the  alternative   ci      ,f 
imprisonment — are  10,000  good  citizens  in  the  mak 
ing.     Is  there  any  question  that  they  are  far  mort 
likely  to   live   down   their    offense   and   regain   their 
self-respect  under  these   conditions,  than   after   con- 
finement in  a  cell? 

Society  nowadays  exhibits  great  concern  over  the 
"reclamation  of  the  criminal"  as  the  best  object  of 
prison  punishment.  In  providing  individual  offend- 
ers with  the  incentive  to  work  out  their  own  recla- 
mation and  in  giving  them  the  opportunity  it  sup- 
plies the  best  method  of  accomplishing  that  desired 
result. 


West  Virginia  Prisoners  at  Road  Labor 

[Reprinted    from    Iowa    City,    Iowa,    Republican] 

It  appears  that  West  Virginia  has  solved,  in  part 
at  least,  a  problem  of  interest  to  every  person  in  the 
United  States — good  roads — by  employing  its  pris- 
oners on  such  work.  One  cannot  commend  convict 
labor  when  it  competes  against  free  labor,  but  when 
employed  for  the  public  good,  under  regulations  that 
insure  proper  treatment  of  men  paying  the  penalty 
they  owe  to  society  for  violating  the  law,  and  this 
use  does  not  conflict  with  the  freeman,  it  is  good 
for  the  state  to  so  employ  them. 

The  economic  side  of  the  question  of  convict  la- 
bor appeals  to  the  common  sense  of  the  public  gen- 
erally,  as   the   report   of   the    comtnittee    on   prisons 


November   1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


its 


and  prison  labor  on  the  work  done  in  one  West  Vir- 
(4inia  camp  shows  that  the  average  cost  was  83 
cents  for  citizen  labor  compared  to  30  cents  for 
prison  labor.  When  it  is  remembered  that  these 
men  are  not  in  competition  against  each  other, 
and  that  free  labor  is  not  menaced  in  any 
way,  it  shows  that  West  Virginia  has  solved 
to  a  great  extent  her  prison  problem  and 
at  liie  same  time  has  made  a  great  stride  forward 
in  the  movement  for  good  roads,  which  also  mean; 
l)etter  schools.  The  report  shows  that  three  con- 
vict road  camps  were  estabUshed,  the  men  beinK 
under  the  honor  system  and  living  in  tents.  Two 
of  the  camps  were  located  on  a  stream,  and  the  men 
each  evening  would  go  bathing  and  enjoy  all  the 
liberties  of  camp  life.  Three  Italians  attempted  to 
•escape,  but  the  Americans  and  negroes  proved  them- 
selves worthy  of  trust. 

Sentence  the   Man  to  Work 

[■Reprinted   from  Canton,   N.   C,  Observer] 

.\  man  by  the  name  of  Smith  was  sent  to  the 
roads  Tuesday  for  selling  whisky.  At  the  trial  ap- 
peared his  wife  and  baby  and  several  other  small 
children.  They  are.  we  have  been  informed,  left 
without  support  while  this  man  builds  roads  for 
his  county.  We  are  not  objecting  to  his  being  pun- 
ished, but  we  do  think  that  it  is  wrong  for  the 
mother  and  children  to  suffer  because  of  the  crime 
of  the  husband  and  father.  If  such  men  could  be 
hired  out  so  that  his  family  could  receive  his  wages, 
it  would  be  much  better. 


Miscarriage  of  Justice  in  Criminal  Cases 

(Reprinted    from   Chicago   Tribune] 

The  statistical  report  of  Miss  Edith  Abbott  hav- 
ing shown  that  there's  something  wrong  with  our 
whole  local  machinery  of  criminal  justice,  the  coun- 
cil committee  on  crime  is  prepared  to  hear  explana- 
tions and  specifications  from  informed  witnesses. 
Judges  of  the  Municipal  court  have  made  statements 
to  the  committee  that  strangely  take  one  back  to 
the  old  justice  shops  and  the  articles  they  turned 
out  under  the  label  of  "law." 

There  is  room  for  difference  of  opinion  concern- 
ing the  parole  system  or  even  the  grand  jury  as 
an  institution.  Rut  what  room  is  there  for  differ- 
ence of  opinion  concerning  the  professional  alil)is, 
the  pickpocket  lawyers'  trust,  the  "friendly  jurors." 
the  activity  of  politicians  in  securing  nonsuiting  on 
a  wholesale  plan?  Who  will  dispute  the  statement 
that  the  city  prosecutors  are  useless  in  many  cases 
and  worse  than  useless  in  some?  Who  doubts  that 
the  office  of  the  city  prosecutor  needs  a  thorough 
overhauling? 

One  valuable  and  practical  statement  made  by 
the  Municipal  judges  who  have  given  testimony  is 
that  a  central  police  court  is  necessary  for  the  trial 


of  criminal  cases.  The  scattering  of  the  police  courts 
helps  the  "system"  or  the  "alliance"  of  crooks,  black- 
mailers and   political   parasites. 

We  owe  many  distinct  reforms  to  the  Municipal 
court,  but  on  the  criminal  side  that  institution  leaves 
nmch  to  be  desired.  The  more  flagrant  abuses,  for- 
tunately, can  be  corrected  by  the  introduction  of  effi- 
ciency and  method  into  the  prosecuting  and  judicial 
machinery.  Will  there  be  the  courage  and  the  de- 
termination to  tackle  the  abuses  and  put  pull  and 
politics  aside? 

An  Unanswerable  Argument 

(Reprinted    fruro    Detroit,    Mtcb.,    Newt] 

Efforts  toward  the  solution  of  the  prison 
problem  have  been  nu^re  fruitful  of  results  than 
have  efforts  to  make  better  places  of  our  jails.  The 
man  sent  to  prison  is  under  conviction  of  crime. 
From  the  established  viewpoint  he  is  deserving  of 
confinement,  if  not  of  punishment.  Yet  society  is 
striving  more  and  more  to  reform  prisons,  to  make 
them  places  of  moral  improvement  rather  than  of 
degradation. 

Prisoners  in  county  jails  are  merely  accused  of 
crime.  A  large  proportion  of  them  arc  acquitted  in 
the  course  of  time.  Innocent  men  are  held  for  days, 
and  weeks  because  of  crowded  court  dockets. 

The  worst  penalty  that  can  be  visitcil  upon  a  man 
is  involuntary  idleness.  Loafing  is  unnatural.  It 
corrodes  and  softens   the   fiber  of  character. 

Sheriff  Oakman,  in  providing  indoor  baseball  and 
calisthenics  for  prisoners,  has  acted  in  accord  with 
modern  ideas  of  prison  management. 

How  much  better  the  hours  of  wholesome  exer- 
cise provided  by  the  new  system  than  the  day-lonr 
inertia,  varied  only  by  the  telling  of  dubious  stories 
and  boasting  of  shady  exploits  on  the  outside. 

Interpreter  Needed 

(Reprinted    from    Penitentiary    Newt.    Columbu*.    Ohio) 

"And  what  do  you  do?"  inquired  the  prosecuting 
attorney  of  the  German  laborer  who  was  in  ihc 
witness  chair. 

'.\h  vos  bretty  veil."  replied  the  witness. 

"I  am  not  intiuiring  as  to  your  health,  I  want  to 
know  what  you  do?" 

"York!" 

"Where  do  you  work?"  continued  the  counsel. 

"In  a  vactory." 

"What  kind  of  a  factory?" 

"It  vos  a  bretty  big  vactory." 

"Your  honor,"  said  the  lawyer,  turning  to  the 
judge,  "if  this  goes  on  we'll  need  an  interpreter." 
Then  he  turned  to  the  witness  again. 

"Now  Britzman.  what  do  you  make  in  the  fac- 
tory?" he  asked. 

"ICight  dollars  a  week." 

Then  the  interpreter  got  a  chance  to  earn  his  daily 
bread. 


(.  THE  JOLIET 

BORROWED  HUMOR 


PRISON  POST 


First   Year 


Mr.  Justice  Hawkins,  whose  name  is  not  yet 
forgotten  in  Yorkshire,  is  the  central  figure  in 
the  following  incident: 

In  a  murder  case,  counsel  for  the  prosecution 
discerned  the  prisoner  say  something  earnestly  to 
the  policeman  in  the  dock.  He  demanded  to 
know  what  the  prisoner  had  said.  The  police- 
man said  he  would  prefer  not  to  repeat  it.  But 
counsel  was  ohdurate,  and  the  judge  supported 
his  demand. 

"I  would  rather  not,  your  Lordship.  I  was — " 
stuttered  the  officer,  getting  red. 

■■  Never  mind  what  you  would  rather  not  do. 
Inform  the  court  what  the  prisoner  said." 

'ile  asked  me,  your  Lordship,  who  that  hoary 
heathen  with  the  sheepskin  was,  as  he  had  often 
seen  him  at  the  race  course." 

"That  will  do,"  said  his  Lordship.  "Proceed 
with  the  case." — The  Law  Student's  Helper. 


Although  he  ate  the  documentary  evidence 
against  him  while  on  the  witness  stand  in  full 
view  of  court  attaches  and  spectators,  a  Seattle 
contractor  was  bound  over  to  the  grand  jury  by 
Municipal  Judge  Stevenson  on  a  charge  of  passing 
a  had  check  for  $35. 

While  testifying  in  his  own  behalf,  the  prisoner 
asked  to  be  allowed  to  examine  the  check,  re- 
taining it  while  being  questioned.  He  was  no- 
ticed holding  his  handkerchief  to  his  mouth,  and 
court  attaches  said  his  jaws  were  busily  working. 

Later,  when  the  prosecution  called  for  the 
check,  the  prisoner  declared  he  did  not  have  it. 
A  search  failed  to  reveal  the  slip. — The  Bar. 

®     #     ® 

"What's  the  discussion?" 

"The  boys  had  assembled  to  lynch  a  horse 
thief." 

"Well?" 

"But  now  a  knotty  point  of  jurisprudence  ha.' 
come  up.  Seems  he  stole  an  automobile." — Thi 
Law  Student's  Helper. 


The  late  Dennis  Spencer  of  Napa,  Cal.,  was 
noted  as  a  lawmaker,  orator  and  lawyer. 

One  day  there  entered  his  office  in  Napa  a 
bright-looking,  well-dressed  Chinaman.  He  took 
a  chair  and  proceeded  straight  to  the  point : 

"You  Mr.  .Spencer,  the  big  lawyer?" 

"Yes." 

"How  much  you  charge  to  defend  a  China- 
man ?" 

"For  what  crime?" 

"Murder." 

"I'^ive  hundred  dollars." 

The  Chinaman  said  he  would  call  again. 

.•\  few  days  later  he  returned  to  Spencer's  of- 
fice, gravely  placed  $500  in  coin  on  the  desk  be- 
fore the  astonished  attorney,  and  said: 

"All  lite.  I  kill  'im." 

Spencer  defended  and  acquitted  him.— -T/jr 
Bar. 


Juror — We  acquitted  him  out  of  sympathv. 
Friend — For  his  aged  mother? 
Juror — Oh,  no — for  having  such  a  lawyer. 
The  Law  Student's  Helper. 


"Mrs.  Brown  has  the  kleptomania." 
"Indeed;  what  is  .she  taking  for  it?"  ' 

"Anything    that   looks    good    to    her." — Nezv 
York  Times. 


A  POEM 
TO  REMEMBER 

SOMEBODY  CARES 

Somebody  cares,  so  he  clings  to  his  duty, 
True  to  the  trust  will  he  valiantly  stand; 

Somebody  cares,  so  he  fashions  with  beauty 
Every  high  purpose  that  comes  to  his  hand. 

Somebody  wishes  him  happiness  ever, 
Ever  his  name  is  in  somebody's  prayers; 

So  goes  he  forth  to  each  noble  endeavor, 

Braved  by  the  thinking  that  somebody  cares. 

Somebody  cares,  so  for  friend  and  for  neighbor; 

Self,  and  the  world  must  he  fashion  his  part, 
Striving  to  offer,  whatever   his  labor, 

Every  good  gift  of  the  hand  and  the  heart. 

Somebody  cares;  as  the  sun  to  the  flower 

That  spills  its  rare  scent  on  the  redolent  airs; 

As  to  the  meadow  the  joy-giving  shower 

Is  the  thought,  to  the  toiler,  that  somebody  cares. 

— Nixon    Waterman,    in    Christian    Science    Monitor, 


November  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


577 


Hardware,  Plumbing, 
Heating,  Gas-Fitting 
and  Sheet  Metal  Work 


When  you  want  a  strictly  honest 
and  good  job  at  an  honest  figure 
for  best  workmanship  and  material 

CALL  ON  us. 

We  will  let  our  work  and  price 
give  you  an  idea  of  our  honesty 
and  the  quality  of  goods  we 
handle. 


POEHNER  &  DILLMAN 

417-419-421-423  Cass  St.  Joliet,   III. 

Chicago  Phone  119       North  Western  Phone  525 


B 


OILER  COMPOUNDS! 
LUBRICATING  OILS! 
GREASES! 


Oldest  and  Largest  INDEPENDENT 
OIL    COMPANY    in    the    West 


On  competitive  tests  every- 
where our  "Famous  Vege- 
table Boiler  Compound " 
ALWAYS  wins  out  against 
allcomers.      ::  :: 


Northrop  Lubricating 
Oil  Company" 

308  N.  Commercial  Ave.      St.  Louis,  Mo. 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


1900  COLLINS  STREET,     JOLIET,   ILL. 


1914 


Enclosed  find. 


for   One    Dollar,    in   payment 


of  subscription  for  One  Year. 

Name 


Street  and  No.. 


City. 


County 
State  _ 


CUT    THIS    OUT    AND    MAIL    IN     YOUR     SUBSCRIPTION 


578 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


White  Bear  Brand  Steel  Cut 
Coffee 

Superior  in  the  cup — Popular  in  prices 

Durkasco  and  White  Bear  Brand 
Pure  Fruit  Preserves 

Durand  &  Kasper  Co. 

Wholesale  Grocers  and  Manufacturers 
Importers  and  Roasters  of  Coffee 

CHICAGO  ILLINOIS 


Bray's  Drug  Store 

The  HOME  of  BRAY'S  COUGH 

MIXTURE.    A  Remedy  that 

cures  where  others  fail. 


25   CentM  —  Per  Bottle      50  Cents 
104  Jefferson  Street,  Joliet,  Illinois 


It's  a  Lye  I 

And  we  can  prove  it 


CHAMPION 


HIGH  TEST 


Champion   ¥  ^^¥7^ 
Hi^h  Test  MJlSLi 


The  reliable  family  soap  maker 
cleanser  and  disinfectant 


At  all   leading  grocers 


COMPLIMENTS   OF 


SULZBERGER  6  SONS  COMPANY 


U.  S.  A. 


Majestic  Hams,  Bacon 
Lard,  Canned  Meats 

FAMOUS  EVERYWHERE  FOR  HIGH  QUALITY  AND  EXCELLENCE  OF  FUVOR 


November   1.   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


5Tt 


To  Obtain  the  Best  Results  in  the  Safest  Manner,  in  Using  High-Explosive 

USE 

Patented.     Trade  Mark  Rcjfistcretl 

The  World's  Greatest  High-Explosive 

A  Nitrated  Hydro-Carbon  Explosive 


Dynalite   is    used  at  the  quarry  of 

the  Illinoia  State  Penitentiary  at 

Joliet ,  Illinois,  where  it  has  given 

satisfaction  for  many  years. 


Adoptmd    by  Tha    Ohio    Nmtionml    CwarW, 
Battalion  of  Enginmart. 

UfJ  byth»  Ohio  Stata  tanitanlimry,  tk» 
Oayton  Statm  Hotpital  anj  timilar  in»lita- 
lioni   wanting    and     knowing     (/■•    BEST. 


MANUFACTURED  BY 


THE  AMERICAN  DYNALITE  COMPANY 

Amherst,  Ohio.     U.  S.  A. 


WERDEN   BUCK 

BUILDING 
MATERIAL 

511  and  513  WEBSTER  ST 


BOTH  PHONES  215 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


THE  J.  C.  ADLER  CO. 

JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 
If  you  want  the  best  in 

HAMS,  BACON,  LARD 

Sug-rCure        ^^    SAUSAGE     H-kcMy  Smoke 

order  ours — we  make  them 

MARCO  GROCERS 


Louis  Stougtiton  Drake 

Incorporated 


Fabricators  of  the  Celebrated 

LOONTIE 
CANE  and  REEDS 


Boston 


Massachusetts 


580 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Prison  Supply 
Company 

JOHN  W.  GIBBONS,  Agent 

Woohm  anb 
trimmings; 


For    Officers,     Inmates 
and  Discharge  Clothing 

Tools  of  Every  Description 

34  S.  Fifth  Ave.,  CHICAGO,  ILL. 


BOILERS 


HEATERS 


WM.    HEGGIE 

BOILER  WORKS 

606  North  JoHet  Street 
JOLIET 

isiSMSjaMaiaiaMsiai 

General  repair  work  promptly  attend- 
ed to   and  satisfaction    guaranteed. 

Chicago  Telephones: — 

Shop  343 
Residence  1825- J 


STACKS 


TANKS 


W.   Freeman  &   Co. 

Wholesale  Potatoes  and  Fruits 

Car  Lois  a  Specialty 

Chicago  'Phone  618  N.  W.  'Phone  859 

105  S.  JOLIET  STREET  JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


Enterprise  Plumbing 
Supply  Co. 

Plumbing  Supplies 
to  the  Trade  Only 


Randolph  1520 


Auto.  47-313 


26-28  W.  Kinzie  Street 


Chicago 


I.  B.  Williams 
caSon 

Oak  Tanned  Leather 
Belting 

Round  Leather 
Belting 

Cut   and   Side   Lace 
Leather 

14  N.  FRANKLIN  STREET 

TELEPHONE  MAIN  1668 

CHICAGO 

AGENTS  IN  ALL  PRINCIPAL  CITIES 

November  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


Ml 


High  Grade  Veneers 

Mahogany  Yellow  Poplar 

Circassian  Pine 

Birdseye  Maple       Rotary-cut  Birch 
Curly  Birch  Walnut  Butts 

Rotary-cut  Red  and  White  Oak 
Quartered  Oak — Sawn  or  Sliced 

Always  in  Stock 

We  are  not  in  business  for  one 
day  or  one  year.  Our  policy  is 
to  treat  our  customers  so  fairly 
that  they  remain  our  customers. 

WE  GUARANTEE 
every  foot  of  veneering  we  sell 

Veneer  Manufacturers  Company 

Fulton  and  May  Streets       CHICAGO,  ILL. 


When  opportunity  presents  itself, 
SPEAK  A  GOOD  WORD  FOR 

TheP.E.HOLMSTROM 
COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  GROCERS 
JOLIET,  ILLINOIS 


L.  A.  RAUB  CO. 

DEALERS  IN 

Fine  Clothing  and  Gents 
Furnishings 

227  Jefferson  Street,  corner  Ottawa 

JOLIET,  ILL. 


Joliet  Oil  Refining  Co. 

REFINERS  OF  PETROLEUM 

High  Grade   Illuminating  and   Lubri- 
cating Oil,  Purity  Automobile  Oil 

All  Kinda  of  Grr«»«  Lin»**d   Oil  Soap 

Located  on  Mills  Roid  rJi",,,,  JOLIET,  ILL 


F.  C.  HOLMES  ca,  CO. 

p.,       .k  )-<  H  A  IU> 

WHOLESALE  DEALERS  IN 

Fresh,  Frozen  and  Smoked 
Fish  —  Oysters  in  Season 


Telephone* 
Monroe  ISO 
Automatic  SO-IM 


736  West  Randolph  Str*«t 
CHICAGO 


THE 

Powell  -  Myers 
Lumber  Co. 

South  Bend,  Ind. 

We  specialize  in 

DIMENSION 
HARDWOODS 

at  satisfactory  prices 


SEND  US  YOUR  INQUIRIES 


>82 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


The 

BOSTON 
STORE 


Joliet's  Biggest 

Busiest  and  Best 

Store 


Come  in — We  will  treat  you  so 

well  you'll  never  want  to 

trade  anywhere  else 


"NoneSuchToodProducts 

THE  BEST  THAT  SKILL  AND 
NATURE  CAN    PRODUCE 

GUARANTEED  TO   COMPLY 
WITH  ALL  PURE  FOOD  LAWS 

Manufactured  by 

McNeil  &  Higgins  Company 

Chicago,    Illinois 


"^^E  have  in  our  warehouses 
everything  in  the  steel  line 
and  are  able  to  ship  immediately 
any  order  received. 

Scully  Steel  CS,  Iron  Co. 

Chicago,  111. 
Send  for  our  monthly  Stock  List 


The  Weber  Dairy 

OF  JOLIET 

Established  in  '84,  then  used  the  milk  of 
two  cows,  now  we  use  the  milk  of  400  cows 

DAILY  PURE  MILK  OUR  TRADE  MARK 

AL.  J.  WEBER,  Proprietor 

503  W.  Jefferson  St.,  Joliet,  Illinois 


WARLEY'S 

Boiler  Cleansing  Chemicals 
Lubricating  Oils  and  Greases 

are  used  by  those  who  want  abso- 
lutely the  best,  and  are  willing  to 
pay  a  fair  price. 

THOS.  C.  ^VARLEY  CS,  CO. 

202  S.  Clark  Street,  CHICAGO 

Sim  J.  Stevenson,  Manager 


Bush  &  Handwerk 

IVholesale  and  Retail 

HARDWARE  DEALERS 


Specialties 

Factory  and  Quarry  Supplies 

Stoves  and  Ranges 

Plumbing    and     Gas    Fitting 

Steam  and  Furnace  Work 


115-117  JEFFERSON  STREET 
JOLLIET,  ILLINOIS 


November  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


583 


• 

o 

^    ,    ^-^ 

• 

g 

W   1^ 

c/) 

^^ 

-^^^^       ^IB^ 

O 

^^^^ 

^^Bjm. 

^    i 

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2     H 

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H^^^^H^^H^ 

^     5 

o      mifl 

^^^El^^^^^^          ''^       ^^^^Mm^i 

< 

Ft 

VI 

Thi 

t  Harv 

A  dozen  j 

ester  Cigar 

sizes  from  five 

cents  up. 

Mild   as 

a   good   cigar 

can  be. 

In 

Universal  Favor 

LYONS  BROTHERS 

LUMBER  and  FUEL  COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  and  RETAIL 

LUMBER  and  COAL 


Bo«h  Telrphoo«  No.  17 


Wwhinaton  Street 
and  York  Avenue 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


ROBERT  T.  KELLY.  Pre«.  P.  F.  McMANUS.  Vice-Pre*. 

CHAS.  G.  PEARCE,  Cwhier      WM.  REDMOND.  Aw't  CMh'r 


^\)t  f  oliet  i^ational 
Pank 

3%  on  Savings  3% 
JOLIET  ILLINOIS 


Victor  Petertyl 

Manufacturer 

Chair  Dowels 
Telephone  Pins 
and  Brackets 

Traverse  City  -:-  Mich. 


Rattan  &  Cane  Company 

IMPORTERS 
AND  MANUFACTURERS  OF 

Rattans,  Reeds, 
Canewebbing,  Willows 

66  West  Broadway.        New  York,  N.  Y. 


URPHY,  LINSKEY  & 
KASHER    COAL   CO. 

MINERS    AND    SHIPPERS   OP 

Original 
Wilmington  Coal 

FROM  BRAIDWOOD   MINE  OK 
CHICAGO  A  ALTON  RAILROAD 

Pontiac  Coal 

FROM  PONTIAC  MINE  ON  ILUNOIS 

CENTRAL,  WABASH  AND  CHICAGO 

AND  ALTON  RAILROADS 


Main   OHIce.   BRAIDWOOD,    ILL. 

P*honea,   Chicago    1  4-M 

InlsraUte   04  1 -L 


584 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  First  Year 


&P  ELITE 

^^^^^^^^^  JRADE    MARK       REGISTERED  ^^^^^^ 

PAINT  AND 

VARNISH   PRODUCTS 

SPREAD  FURTHEST,  LOOK  BEST 
AND    WEAR   WELL    LONGEST 

ADAMS  St    ELTING  CO- 

716-726  Washington  Blvd.,  CHICAGO  Telephone  Monroe  3000 


Institutions 

PRIVATE  and  GOVERNMENTAL 

SERVED   BY   OUR 

CONTRACT  DEPARTMENT 

Hosiery  Notions  Curtains 

Underwear  Ribbons  Furniture 

Gloves— Mittens  Bedding  Rugs— Carpets 

Muslin  Underwear  Table  Linen  Cork— Linoleum 

Cotton  Piece  Goods  Towels— Toweling  Beds— Mattresses 

Carson  Pirie  Scott  &  Co. 

CHICAGO 


THE  JOLIBT 


l-.niTED  HY  PR!St)\l-:RS 


Published  Monthly  by  the  Board  of  Commifiioner*  and  the  Warden 
of  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary,  Joliet ,  III.,  U.  S.  A. 


One  Dollar  the  Year 


Klit«ml  ••  ••cond  rUuw  matter.  Ja 
t^Ml<llnc«  at  JollM.  IlllDOl*.  uikIw  . 


Ten  Cents  the  Copy 


Vol.  1 


JOLIET,  ILLINOIS,  p' '■''^•'""^"  1     1011 


No.  12 


EDITORIAL 


ANNOUNCEMENT 
After  this  number  this  magazine  will  be  issued 
(juarterly.  The  subscription  will  be  the  same, 
$1.00  a  year.  Unexpired  subscriptions  will  be 
'filled  with  the  magazine  in  its  new  form  unless 
a    subscriber   wishes   the   amount    due   him    rc- 

ifunded. 

^1  The  Editors. 

The  Greatest  Holiday 

There  is  a  certain  holiday  which  brings  forth 
h  revelation  to  most  people— people  both  within 
and  without  the  prison  precincts.  On  that  holi- 
day the  ear  is  inclined  towards  the  voice  of  the 
destitute  and  sorrowing;  the  eye  sees  with  a 
fuller  vision  and  beyond  the  interests  of  self; 
the  tongue  is  ever  on  its  guard  that  it  may  not 
mwittingly  offend. 

And  th^t  illimitable  thing  called  Time,  draw- 
ing us  daily  nearer  to  the  valley  of  the  shadows. 
)rings  to  us  at  the  close  of  every  year.  this,  the 
[greatest  of  all  earth's  holidays. 

It  is  the  greatest  holiday  because  from  us 
[origin  can  be  traced  the  welfare  of  the  human 

[race. 

It  is  the  greatest  holiday  because  in  the  outer 
world  that  single  and  glorious  thing  called  Hap- 
piness, visits  alike  the  palace  and  the  hovel. 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  happiness  can  and 
ioes  visit  on  that  day  the  narrow  world  of  our 
)wn   life;  it  enters  the  silent  corridors  of  the 


prison  house ;  it  knocks  at  the  iron  door  of  every 
prison  cell.  .\nd  yet.  happiness  is  not  the  object 
of  pursuit.  Rather,  it  is  l)oni  in  the  heart  of 
every  man;  it  grows  during  tlir  ("hristmas  day 
in  the  light  of  other  men's  i  .  <  And  on  that 
day,  more  than  on  any  other  day  of  the  year, 
every  action,  every  deed,  every  spoken  word, 
bears  the  test  of  sober  judgment ;  men  see  in 
each  other  a  self-approving  conduct. 

On  the  greatest  of  all  earth's  holidays  the 
thoughts  of  the  men  within  the  walls  arc  not 
dependent  on  language.  Memory  writes  her 
shining  characters  ujwn  the  black  page  of  ob- 
livion, and  men  take  themselves  out  of  servitude 
into  freedom ;  they  are  guided  over  the  threshold 
of  home— life's  l>cst  defence,  life's  best  reward. 

Limited  Self-Government  in  Prisons 

The  supreme  court  of  the  state  of  W  a.shing- 
ton  has  ruled  that  the  kangaroo  court  is  a  benefi- 
cent institution. 

Commenting  ui>on  this  ruling  the  Seattle  Timfs 
says: 

"The  »i  i}   '^^  ■         '  ''     ^"' 

i^nod  tocoiMv  .....  .  i  •:  jail.    '1 :         ^  ^'aroo 

■  airt.  as  is  well  known,  is  organizcti  and  con- 
ducted by  prisoners  themselves  for  the  'Ic 
puriK)se  of  .-i-  '  '  !>cace  officers  to  kcvi.  ilie 
jail  decent  ai.  .  ... 

"The  ruling  is  based  on  wi.^lom.  Men  are 
pretty  much  the  same,  wherever  they  lie  found. 

"Some  gtMMl  ti  •      '       lil;  many  bad  men 

escape  that  prci;  d  the  fact  remains 

that  men,  in  jail  or  out,  must  nroceed  accordmg 
to  order  and  system  largely  dictated  by  them- 
selves. 


58G 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


•'llcncc,  ilic  kang^aroo  court,  within  reasonable 
limitations,  j^^ains  a  just  and  deserved  recognition 
from  the  highest  tribunal  in  the  state." 

The  importance  of  the  supreme  court's  ruling 
is  that  it  affirms  the  value  of  self-government 
even  in  bodies  of  men  who  are  imprisoned. 

The  Ittdcx.  published  at  the  Washington  State 
Keformatory.  recognizes  this  significance  of  the 
ruling  and  argues  a  reorganization  of  the  Broth- 
erhood of  the  reformatory.  The  Index  points 
out  that  there  are  many  offenses  which  disturb 
the  peace  and  interfere  with  the  progress  of  the 
men.  which  those  affected  do  not  wish  to  report 
to  the  officers.  All  of  these  matters  could  be 
met  by  the  men  themselves  who  would  realize 
the  need  of  dealing  with  them  and  who  would  also 
enjoy  the  experience  of  going  through  the  forms 
of  legal  investigation  and  decision.  The  Index 
says  that  if  there  were  an  inmate  court  to  deal 
with  the  culprits,  the  acts  against  the  comfort 
and  property  of  other  inmates  would  soon  cease 
and  that  every  privilege  extended  to  the  men 
would  be  protected.  The  men  would  not  stand 
for  one  man's  hurting  all  with  his  selfish  action. 

"Resides,"  says  the  Index,  "if  w^e  wish  to  take 
our  places  in  governed  society,  we  should  know 
something  of  the  reason  for  laws.  If  men  prac- 
ticed self-government  they  would  learn  the  rudi- 
ments of  the  laws  which  govern  society  outside 
and  would  thereby  avoid  another  fall ;  they  would 
realize  the  justice  of  majority  rule.  The  court 
should  have  a  judge  from  each  of  the  dormitories, 
a  prosecuting  attorney,  a  defending  attorney,  a 
sheriff  and  his  assistants — possibly  one  from  each 
dormitory — a  clerk,  bailiffs,  in  fact,  it  should  be 
as  nearly  like  an  outside  court  as  possible." 

The  Index  does  not  aspire  to  have  a  public 
defender  at  this  time,  although  it  thinks  that  that, 
too,  will  be  practicable  when  more  of  the  courts 
of  the  country  have  adopted  such  an  oflBce,  which 
they  will  do  "before  many  years,  if  the  good 
results  being  obtained  in  Los  Angeles  count  for 
anything." 

The  idea  of  self-government  in  prisons  is 
growing  and  in  Auburn  prison,  New  York,  the 
plan  has  assumed  great  scope. 

The  following  quotation  from  The  Bulletin, 
issued  weekly  by  the  Mutual  Welfare  League^ 
the  Auburn  prison  organization,  gives  an  idea 
of  the  detail  work  of  the  League  in  dealing  with 
the  prison  community's  daily  problems ;  gives  an 


idea  of  the  latitude  permitted  the  prisoners  in 
self-government: 

"Grievance  Committee  No.  6  was  called  by  the 
assistant  clerk,  and  the  following  cases  disposed 
of: 

"Irving  Allen  and  Alexander  Moore — Re- 
])orted  for  boxing  in  the  yard.    Reprimanded. 

"Jappano  of  the  chair  shop;  case  dismissed. 

"Alonzo  Seeds,   returned   from  the  road   for| 
being  a  general  trouble  makei'.     The  Committee 
after  an  investigation,   found   Seeds  guilty,  bull 
owing  to  his  bad  health  he  was  paroled  in  the  I 
custody  of  the  Sergeant-at-arms. 

"Frank  Rogers  returned  from  the  road,  after 
a  careful  investigation  the  follow^ing  motion  wa- 
l)assed:  That  Rogers  was  justly  returned  from 
the  road,  but  owing  to  the  good  work  he  had: 
done  for  the  League  before  going  on  the  road,| 
and  after  being  returned  from  the  road  vmderi 
charges  lost  a  good  job,  that  he  be  reprimanded, 
and  given  a  chance  to  get  back  to  his  former 
good  standing. 

"Joseph  Michaels — Reprimanded. 

"John  Toolan — Case  Dismissed. 

"Grievance  Committee  No.  2  was  called  or 
Tuesday  and  heard  the  following  cases,  whicl 
they  acted  on : 

"C.  Deckstein — Reprimanded  and  paroled  in 
the  custody  of  the  Delegate. 

"Andrew  Stillato,  Joe  Nicola  and  G.  Fiorelh 
reprimanded  and  paroled  in  the  custody  of  Dele 
gate  J.  Murphy,  of  the  Invalid  Co. 

"Louis  Rosinski — Case  dismissed. 

"Joseph  Rosso — Reprimanded. 

"Edward  Jones — Reported  for  shirking  work' 
Delegate  Morris  was  asked  to  see  the  doctor  i| 
Jones'  behalf. 

"Thomas  Murphy — Reprimanded  and  parolee] 
in  custody  of  Delegate.  '• 

"Joseph  Schaefer — Reprimanded  and  paroled. 'l 

The  League,  besides  dealing  thus  through  iti; 
grievance  committees  with  the  offenses  of  itI; 
members,  takes  up  larger  questions  through  itls 
Governing  Body.  I 

The  Governing  Body  elected  Delegates  Crow  '- 
ley,  Lefcyzk  and  Gee  to  act  as  the  parole  boar  d 
for  the  ensuing  month. 

The  appeal  of  Delegate  Aromillino  was  hearal 
and  the  findings  of  the  Grievance  Committee  wa/s 
reversed  and  Aromillino  was  restored  to  goojd 
standing  as  a  delegate.  | 

A  motion  was  also  made  to  be  voted  on  at  thfe 
next  meeting,  to  amend  the  by-laws  so  as  to  read  : 
"In  every  case  the  decision  of  the  grievanG:e 
committee  shall  be  subject  to  an  appeal  to  la 
committee  to  be  known  as  the  Appellative  Cona- 
mittee,   said    committee    to   be    selected   by   the 


December  1,   1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


587 


Board  of  Delegates  from  their  own  members." 
Also  a  motion  was  made  "to  have  a  circular 
letter  sent  out  to  the  wardens  of  the  <li(Terent 
prisons  in  the  Tnited  States  asking  for  statistics 
regarding  the  operation  of  their  parole  laws. 
where  such  laws  are  in  force,  in  order  to  enable 
the  League  to  place  before  the  members  of  the 
coming  Ixgislature  such  statistics  so  that  they 
may  be  fully  informed  relative  to  any  proposed 
legislation  along  similar  lines  for  this  state." 

The  Governing  Body  also  considered  and  re- 
ferred to  the  Athletic  Committee  a  request  to 
allow  the  use  of  boxing  gloves. 
•  These  items  indicate  to  what  extent  the  men 
of  Auburn  prison  are  handling  their  own  social 
affairs  and  no  one  can  question  but  that  the  work 
of  thus  administering  their  own  affairs  helps  to 
fit  them,  when  they  shall  be  released,  for  a  proper 
interest  in  the  social  matters  of  society  in  general. 
Hon.  C.  F.  Rattigan,  warden  of  the  Auburn 
prison,  in  a  letter  to  The  Jolikt  Prison  Post, 
says  of  the  self-government  plan  of  his  institu- 
tion : 

"The  system  is  not  what  is  commonly  called 
an  Honor  System,  but  is  a  plain  in  and  out  self- 
government  movement,  inaugurated  by  the 
prisoners  themselves.  The  officials  of  the  prison 
have  no  voice  in  the  selection  of  the  delegates  and 
whenever  a  man  violates  a  rule  of  the  League 
he  is  brought  before  a  committee  of  his  own 
kind  and  they  investigate  the  matter  and.  if 
necessary,  discipline  the  man  by  taking  away  the 
privileges  which  they  have  been  able  to  secure 
for  the  men. 

"I  feel  that  the  League  has  been  the  means 
of  taking  a  lot  of  work  and  worry  from  the 
shoulders  of  the  officers.  .\  better  feeling  pre- 
vails among  the  men  and  1  feel  morally  .sure  tliat 
the  League  will  be  of  great  service  in  bringing 
about  the  reformation  of  the  prisoners.  The 
great  object  of  the  League  is  to  fit  men  in  |)rison 
Ito  bear  responsibility  so  that  when  they  leave 
here  and  have  to  battle  with  the  outside  world 
they  will  be  able  to  take  care  of  themselves." 

Within  the  past  few  months  Sing  Sing  has 
introduced  a  plan  of  limited  self-government 
similar  to  that  of  the  Auburn  prison.  The  re- 
formatory of  New  Jersey  is  planning  to  iiuro- 
duce  the  same  method  and  to  a  degree  self- 
government  is  being  introduced  at  other  |)risons. 
The  Washington  state  supreme  court's  endorse- 
ment of  the  kangaroo  court  of  the  county  jail 
seems  to  be  justified  by  the  practicability  which 
in  other  and  larger  institutions  is  being  shown 


of  even   more  exlcn>uv   j'iai)>    i<.r   -eii  govern- 
innif 

^     IS! 

Governor  Hodges  Declares  in  Favor  of  Family 
Aid 

(lovernor  HodgLs.  ot  Kan.sas,  has  come  out 
N(|uarely  in  favor  of  state  aid  to  the  families  of 
men  who  are  <ierU  to  prison  an«l  who  must  suf- 
fer when  thus  deprived  of  their  natural  mean- 
of  sup|K)rt.  Governor  Hotlges  does  "not  1k1h.\c 
in  lessening  the  punishment  of  the  wrong  doer." 
but  he  does  believe  that  "the  state  slunild  step  in 
and  alleviate,  if  iM)ssibIc.  the  suffering  of  inno- 
cent persons."    Governor  Hwlgcs  says: 

"Not  only  do  I  believe  that  Kansas  should 
provide  for  a  mother's  and  widow's  {KMision.  hut 
I  firmly  believe  the  state  should  in  some  manner 
l»ro\ide  for  the  care  of  <li  '  it  wives  ami 
children  of  men  setit  to  pris«...  .  .cry  man  an<l 
woman  who  is  in  touch  with  existing  conditions 
in  Kansas  knows  that  there  are  dozens  of  cases 
where  rlependent  mothers  an<l  children  .suffer  un- 
justly when  a  husband  and  father  is  <icnt  to 
prison  for  crime." 

The  governor  declares  that  if  he  is  returned 
to  the  governorship,  he  will  incoqwrate  in  his 
message  to  the  legislature  a  recommendation  for 
the  passage  of  a  law  that  will  relieve  the  condi- 
tion of  the  prisoners'  families  of  his  state 

Benefits  of  Probation  System 

There  is  a  growing  interest  in  many  states  lo 
show  leniency  jxirticularly  to  |KTsons  who  have 
transgressed  the  law  for  the  first  time  am!  who 
have  been  led  into  the  otTense  hy  conditions  or 
through  a  weakness  of  their  nature  rather  than 
from  viciousness  of  nature  and  intent 

In  his  campaign  for  justice  of  the  Disirici 
Court  of  .XpjHals.  .Superior  Judge  Sargent,  of 
Californin    ni:i<!i-  tin-  fi.tluulmr  it.-.laration : 

"It  is  ill  Ic  Un  u>  ;  nilo  the  1 

mind  to  k.  ..,   jUst  how  it   , to  the  t< 

tions  of  want  or  the  de>ire  for  the  Inrtter 
of  life.     We  must  accept  these  matters  as  found 
after  they  h  '  -d  in  a  trinr      '       '.  and 

the  unfortun...,  ;.;  .  ;er  is  before  li.  j..  .gc  for 
sentence.  It  is  within  his  |)ower  to  hran<l  these 
unfortunates  as  felons  or  to  extend  a  helping 
han<l  in  an  endeavor  to  place  the  <■-  ine  in 
the  right  path.  The  latter  I  have  ;  ,  to  be 
the  more  successful  way  of  dealing  with  offend- 


588 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


ers,  and  my  efforts  in  this  respect  have  been 
eminently  satisfactory. 

"In  but  few  exceptional  cases  have  I  con- 
demned a  young  man  to  the  state  prison  for  his 
first  offence,  or  even  for  his  second  one,  where 
the  fault  was  the  weakness  of  his  nature  rather 
than  the  viciousness  of  his  character. 

"Many  a  man  is  serving  a  sentence  in  state 
prison  who,  had  mercy  been  extended  to  him, 
might  today  be  an  upright  citizen,  and  a  number 
of  probationers  are  now  in  lucrative  positions 
and  leading  honest  lives  with  their  misdeeds 
entirely  erased. 

"This  is  no  maudlin  sentiment,  and  I  believe 
a  man  who  has  transgressed  the  law  should  be 
punished  for  his  acts,  but  the  methods  employed 
should  be  as  humane  as  possible.  Incarceration 
in  prison,  condemnation  to  hard  labor  under 
strict  guard,  will  never,  to  my  mind,  reform  the 
prisoner.  We  are  too  prone  to  judge  harshly, 
and  too  often  forget  to  extend  charity  and  sym- 
pathy to  the  less  fortunate  whose  misery  and 
want  we  cannot  fathom." 

By  the  side  of  these  principles  announced  by 
Judge  Sargent,  may  be  placed  the  figures  of 
the  report  of  Prof.  Charles  R.  Henderson,  chair- 
man of  the  committee  on  prevention  and  correc- 
tion of  the  Civic  Federation  of  Chicago. 

Prof.  Henderson  reports  that  the  earnings  of 
the  adult  probationers  of  Cook  county  in  the 
year  ending  October  1,  1914,  amounted  to  $1,- 
754,769,  which  is  an  increase  of  more  than 
$1,200,000  over  the  preceding  year.  Also  the 
report  shows  that  probationers  who  had  been 
guilty  of  theft  have  made  restitution  to  the 
amount  of  $33,105  as  against  $21,790  last  year. 

Of  the  probation  work  in  Chicago,  Judge 
McGoorty  says : 

"Adult  probation  in  Cook  county  has  been  of 
great  value.  With  approximately  3,000  men  and 
women  on  probation  all  the  time,  fully  75  per 
cent  of  the  cases  are  making  good,  and  the  pro- 
bationers are  earning  more  than  $1,000,000  a 
year  instead  of  being  jailed  at  public  expense 
while  their  dependents  become  objects  of  charity, 
and  in  cases  of  theft  and  embezzlement  are  mak- 
ing restitution  to  the  extent  of  $31,000  a  year. 
It  is  important,  therefore,  to  safeguard  this 
system  from  abuse  and  promote  its  efficiency." 

The  New  York  World  makes  the  following 
report  of  New  York's  experience  with  probation : 

"New  proof  of  the  satisfactory  working  of 
the  probation  system,  is  given  by  the  figures 
showing  the  increase  of  the  number  of  proba- 
tioners in  the  state  from  about  2,000  seven  years 
ago  to  the  present  total  of  about  10,029 


"Ten  thousand  first  offenders  at  liberty  under 
suspended  sentences  and  free  to  earn  an  honest 
living  and  reclaim  themselves  to  that  end  as  the 
alternative  of  imprisonment — are  10,000  good 
citizens  in  the  making.  Is  there  any  question 
that  they  are  far  more  likely  to  live  down  their 
oft"ence  and  regain  their  self-respect  under  these 
conditions  than  after  confinement  in  a  cell? 

"Society  nowadays  exhibits  great  concern  over 
the  'reclamation  of  the  criminal'  as  the  best 
object  of  prison  punishment.  In  providing  in- 
dividual offenders  with  the  incentive  to  work 
out  their  own  reclamation  and  in  giving  them  the 
opportunity  it  supplies  the  best  method  of 
accomplishing  that  desired  result." 

In  Indiana  the  spirit  of  probation  has  been 
adopted  even  in  imposing  sentence ;  without 
being  locked  up,  men  are  to  be  allowed  to  prove 
their  ability  to  live  orderly  lives.  What  state 
prisons  and  some  county  jails  are  doing  in  select- 
ing men  who  wish  to  "make  good"  for  work  out- 
side of  prison  walls  and  without  guards,  Indiana 
is  to  do  directly  from  the  bench.  A  new  law 
requires  that  when  the  buildings  are  completed 
on  the  new  state  farm  in  Putnam  county,  the 
circuit,  superior,  criminal  and  city  courts  shall 
sentence  prisoners  committed  for  more  than 
sixty  days,  and  they  may  sentence  prisoners  for 
less  than  sixty  days,  to  work  on  this  farm. 

The  Indiana  plan  of  sentencing  a  certain  class^ 
of  its  prisoners  to  work  on  a  farm  does  not  allow 
the  prisoners  as  full  freedom  while  proving 
themselves  as  does  the  probation  system  of 
Chicago  and  of  the  state  of  New  York,  but  it 
does  provide  "individual  offenders  with  an  in- 
centive to  work  out  their  own  reclamation"  and 
give  them  a  way  "to  live  down  their  offence  and 
to  regain  their  self-respect"  without  having  to 
bear  the  added  stigma  of  "confinement  in  a  cell." 

These  practical  steps  and  material  results  show 
the  value  to  society  of  the  probation  system  as 
against  any  policy  of  merely  confining  men  in 
jail  or  in  a  workhouse  at  public  expense.  They 
also  help  to  establish  as  a  social  policy  such 
principles  as  those  announced  by  Judge  Sargent. 


Drop  the  Word  "Convict" 

The  New  Era,  published  at  the  U.  S.  Peni- 
tentiary at  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  asks  all  the 
prison  papers  to  "set  a  good  example  for  the 
outside  press"  in  dropping  the  word  "convict" 
and  using  instead  the  word  "prisoner." 

It  is  to  be  admitted  that  there  is  a  stigma  at- 


December  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


589 


taching  to  the  word  "convict"  which  at  least  the 
more  humane  element  of  society  no  longer 
wishes  to  have  attached  to  any  person  cxcn 
though  he  may  have  had  to  pass  some  of  his 
days  in  prison. 

The  time  for  tlie  untempered  condemnation 
of  a  man  who  has  been  convicted  in  a  court  has 
])assed.  Society  looks  upon  the  man  differently 
from  the  way  in  which  it  has  heretofore  looked 
U]ion  liim,  and  society's  purpose  with  the  man 
is  different  from  what  it  used  to  be. 

The  use  of  the  word  "convict"  continues  now 
more  from  habit  than  from  any  set  purpose  in 
the  people's  mind  to  continue  to  use  it.  Let  the 
prison  papers  themselves  get  out  of  the  habit. 
The  new  editor  of  the  Netv  Era  says  that  he  has 
adhered  to  the  nde.of  not  using  the  word.  This 
magazine,  also,  does  not  use  the  word  except 
when  we  quote. 


NEWS  NARRATIVE 


LOCAL 


EDITOR'S  COLUMN 


The  offices  of  The  Joliet  Prison  Post  have 
iljeen  permanently  moved  to  the  second  floor  of 
the  chapel  building.  The  new  quarters,  consist- 
ling  of  two  large  and  airy  rooms,  well  heated  and 
[lighted,  possess  every  requisite  for  a  live  and 
[up-to-date  newspaper  office. 

Elsewhere  in  this  issue  appears  an  able  article 
I  written  for  The  Joliet  Prison  Post  by  Mr.  VV. 
|h.  Whittaker,  superintendent  of  the  District  of 
.Columbia  Work  House.  The  manuscript  was 
(lobtained  through  Mr.  W.  R.  Blackwelder,  Home 
jATsitor  Board  of  Administration,  through  whose 
[influence  we  succeeded  in  getting  in  touch  with 
IMr.  Whittaker. 

Any  man  can  work  out  some  improvement 
|n  the  condition  which  he  is  in.     Things  may 
)e  bad  but  why  use  all  your  life  force  just 
:ompIaining? 

If  the  heart  purpose  or  heart  quality  is  weak, 
)ne  cannot  stay  long  with  any  cause— not 
iven  the  cause  of  his  own  welfare. 

«    Every  able-lx)died  inmate,  upon  leaving  a  pe- 
eBial  institution,  should  be  skilled  in  some  trade 

nd    be    capable   of   his    own    support   and     of 

hose  dependent  upon  him. 


THANKSGIVING  DAY  AT  JOLIET 

On  Thanksgiving  Day  all  work  was  sus|)cn(lc(l 
at  the  institution,  in  keeping  with  the  general 
custom. 

In  the  morning  an  interesting  program  was 
rendered  in  the  chapel,  after  which  the  nK*n  file*! 
back  to  the  cellhouse,  anticipalive  of  the  gooil 
dinner  which  was  soon  to  be  served. 

The  dining  hall  presented  a  pleasing  ap|)ear- 
ance  to  the  fifteen  hundred  men  as  they  later 
entered  it  through  the  three  big  entrance  doors 
which  had  swung  hospitably  open  to  receive  them. 
Each  plate — and  there  seemed  to  be  endless 
gleaming  rows  of  them — had  thereon  a  generous 
portion  of  the  succulent  turkey,  together  with 
those  appurtenances  which  go  toward  making  up 
a  "square"  as  well  as  a  wholesome  Thanksgiving 
meal. 

After  dinner,  the  men  returned  to  the  cellhouse, 
there  to  remain  until  the  following  morning.  The 
outer  world  was  rejoicing  for  the  blessings  that 
it  had  received.  -And  upon  the  faces  of  the  men 
who  were  returning  to  their  narrow  rooms,  thank- 
fulness could  also  be  read— the  fertile  soil  on 
which  all  gladness  may  thrive. 

®    ^    © 

MISSOURI'S  GOVERNOR  VISITS 
JOLIET 

Governor  Major,  of  Missouri,  recently  paid  a 
visit  to  the  Joliet  prison,  the  Joliet  Honor  I'arm 
and  Camp  Dunne. 

Governor  Major  is  contemplating  a  prison 
farm  for  Missouri  and  expects  to  reconmicnd  to 
the  ne.xt  general  assembly  the  purchase  of  1,000 
and  possibly  2.000  acres  of  land  in  the  Missouri 
river  bottom  in  Callaway  county. 

The  Mis.souri  prison  has  alxjul  J,.^UO  nnnatcs 
and  the  Governor  believes  that  nearly  one-half 
of  them  can  .safely  be  employed  at  farm  work 
which  will  aid  materially  in  helping  to  .solve  the 
problem  of  what  shall  be  done  with  prison  labor. 
The  contract  system  is  soon  to  expire  in  Mis- 
souri and  the  State  authorities  realize  that  some- 
thing must  be  done. 

(;overnor  Major  favors  the  intensive  system 
of  farming  which  will  give  employment  to  a  large 


590 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


number  of  men  per  acre.  He  would  raise  vege- 
tables and  garden  stuffs  of  all  kinds,  as  well  as 
cattle,  hogs  and  sheep.  He  is  also  considering  a 
canning  factory  for  preserving  the  produce  that 
is  not  consumed  in  season  on  the  prison  table, 
similar  to  the  plan  in  Michigan.  The  governor 
believes  that  such  a  farm  will  be  of  great  mate- 
rial benefit  to  the  State  in  lessening  the  cost  of 
maintaining  the  prison. 


THE  GIFT  DISPLAY  IN  THE  SHOW 
ROOM 

The  long  lines  of  tables  in  the  show  room  are 
now  loaded  with  many  attractive  gifts,  all  made 
by  the  inmates  of  the  institution.  This  quiet 
comer  of  the  penitentiary  possesses,  perhaps,  a 
deeper  attraction  for  the  visitors  to  the  institu- 
tion than  any  other  place  which  is  open  for  their 
insjKction.  The  genial  "Mac"  and  his  obliging 
assistant,  who  are  in  charge  of  the  exhibit,  are 
going  through  a  veritable  course  of  salesmanship 
without  knowing  it,  and  getting,  we  dare  say, 
lots  of  fun  out  of  it  all  at  the  same  time.  There 
is  a  rumor  afloat  that  "Mac"  is  so  loaded  down 
with  the  root  of  all  evil  at  the  end  of  the  day's 
sales  that  a  special  guard  is  delegated  to  see  him 
.safely  "home." 

©    ©    ^ 

THE    STUDIO    IN    ITS    CHRISTMAS 
DRESS 

The  Christmas  cards  and  water  color  sketches 
which  are  now  to  be  seen  in  great  profusion  in 
the  Studio,  are  a  source  of  delight  to  all  visitors 
who  view  them.  Considering  the  quality  of 
work,  prices  are  reasonable,  and  many  visitors, 
as  well  as  some  of  the  inmates  of  the  institution, 
mindful  of  the  inspired  slogan,  "Do  your  shop- 
ping early,"  have  taken  advantage  of  this  oppor- 
tunity to  purchase  their  holiday  gifts. 


THE  PRISON  HONOR  BAND 

Since  the  publication  of  our  last  issue,  the 
headquarters  of  the  band  has  been  moved  to  the 
first  floor  room  formerly  known  as  the  vegetable 
room.  The  room  has  been  renovated  to  meet 
the  requirements  of  the  band,  the  ceiling  freshly 
painted  and  new  electric  lights  installed.  The 
walls  and  columns  have  been  tastefully  decorated 


with  flags  and  bunting,  and  it  is  the  intention  to 
further  adorn  the  walls  with  cartoons  and  pic- 
tures, which  are  now  being  drawn  by  a  local 
artist. 

The  noticeable  improvement  in  the  Prison 
Honor  Band,  both  in  artistic  interpretation  and 
technique,  is  due  not  more  to  the  labor  of  its 
enthusiastic  leader,  Mr.  Guido  Mattel,  than  to 
the  deep  interest  that  each  member  has  in  his 
work.  Mr.  Mattei  has  felt  the  "pulse"  of  the 
men,  so  to  speak,  and  has  been  so  judicious  in 
his  selections  that  in  his  repertoire  is  something 
that  has  its  special  personal  appeal  to  each  man. 


THE   VOICELESS   PLAYGROUND 

Excepting  for  those  who  pass  occasionally 
across  it,  bent  upon  their  various  duties,  the  rec- 
reation ground  presents  a  deserted  aspect  in  these 
days  of  crisp  winds  and  snow  flurries.  The 
wooden  benches,  toned  to  a  soft  gray  by  the  suns 
and  showers  of  many  seasons,  stand  out  in  tragic 
loneliness,  while  the  course  which  designates  the 
baseball  diamond  is  fast  losing  all  semblance  of 
a  beaten  path.  Indeed,  these  once  enlivening 
opening  spaces  seem  to  stretch  out  before  the  eye 
in  hopeless  resignation  to  winter's  inexorable 
demands. 


REPORT    FROM    THE   JOLIET    HONOR 

FARM 

The  Joliet  Honor  Farm,  November  25,  1914. 
Editors  The  Joliet  Prison  Post: 

Dear  Sirs: — For  several  weeks  we  have  been 
hard  at  our  fall  work.  Everything  is  now  out  of 
the  fields  with  the  exception  of  the  corn  and  we 
are  now  starting  a  full  force  at  the  husking.  If  '^ 
the  weather  remains  favorable,  we  expect  to  fin- 
ish the  husking  within  three  or  four  weeks.  We 
have  finished  harvesting  the  farm  products  and 
the  amounts  of  the  same  so  far  delivered  to  the 
prison  commissary,  are  as  follows : 

Potatoes,  2,529  bushels ;  tomatoes,  251  bushels  ; 
turnips,  1,323  bushels;  onions,  150  bushels;  cab- 
bage, 32,997  heads  and  sweet  corn,  60,381 
pounds. 

We  are  making  excellent  progress  with  the  fall 
plowing  and  have  turned  under  so  far  five  hun- 
dred acres.  The  ground  is  all  plowed  to  a  depth 
of  seven  inches. 


i 


December  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


591 


We  have  just  finished  cutting  and  storing  sev- 
enty acres  of  millet  hay  and  threshing  100  bushels 
of  navy  beans  and  200  bushels  of  millet  seed. 

The  fall  work  is  progressing  well ;  the  boys 
are  anxious  to  get  along  with  the  husj;ing ;  there 
is  considerable  speculation  among  the  men  as  to 
who  will  be  able  to  carry  away  the  honors  by 
husking  the  greatest  number  of  bushels  of  corn 
in  a  day.  As  soon  as  suflicient  progress  has  been 
made  at  the  husking,  we  will  start  work  on  the 
new  one  and  a  half  mile  railroad  switch,  which 
is  to  be  laid. 

The  discipline  could  not  be  better.  The  men 
under  my  charge  certainly  deserve  great  credit, 
for  no  body  of  men  could  do  a  more  creditable 
day's  work. 

Very  respectfully, 

Bert  H.  I-'/VLTz, 
Superintendent  the  Joliet  Honor  Farm. 


BUSY  DAYS  AT  MAIL  OFFICE 

The  mail  ofTice  now  presents  a  scene  of  strenu- 
ous activity  owing  to  the  usual  increase  of  out- 
going and  incoming  mail  at  the  Christmas  season 
of  the  year.  Mr.  J.  H.  Rooney,  superintendent 
of  mail,  since  his  occupancy  of  office  has  won 
the  respect  of  all  inmates  of  this  institution  who 
have  had  reason  to  council  with  him  on  matters 
pertaining  to  the  duties  of  his  office. 

©     ©     ® 

PARAGRAPHS 

Every  Saturday  afternoon  during  the  winter 
months  the  "movies"  will  be  shown  in  the  chapel ; 
two  exhibitions  arc  given,  one  for  each  wing  of 
the  cellhouse,  the  first  show  starting  at  1  :00  p.  m. 
By  this  arrangement  the  auditorium  is  less 
crowded  and  proper  ventilation  is  obtained.  Great 
interest  has  been  manifested  in  the  weekly  enter- 
tainment. 

Mr.  James  J.  Corbett,  who  was  recently  in 
Joliet  at  the  Orpheum  theatre,  was  a  visitor  at 
the  prison  and  entertained  the  men  with  a  short 
talk  after  their  midday  meal  in  the  dining  hall. 
He  told  a  number  of  amusing  stories  of  his 
experiences  as  a  pugilist  which  were  heartily  en- 
joyed by  his  audience.  Two  other  members  of 
the  theatre  company  gave  a  number  of  mandolin 
and  guitar  ducts. 


The  Protestant  an<l  Catholic  choirs,  which 
heretofore  have  sung  at  chai)cl  services  on  alter- 
nate Sundays,  liave  now  been  united,  and  hence- 
forth the  combined  choir  will  sing  at  both  the 
Protestant  and  Catholic  services.  Charles  J. 
Schreibcr  has  been  chosen  i>ianist  and  his  accom- 
paniments .Tfi-  :i  helpful  part  of  the  new  song 
service. 

Father  Blackman,  Catholic  chaplain  of  the  In- 
diana State  Penitentiary,  Michigan  City,  Ind., 
visited  this  institution  recently.  Father  Peter 
showed  the  visiting  Father  alK)ut  and  cxplainetl 
to  him  the  methods  that  arc  being  intrcj<luced 
here.  Father  Blackman  was  well  pleased  with 
the  plans  now  un<ler  way  in  this  institution. 

Mr.  J.  T.  Conley,  who  has  several  times  visited 
this  institution  with  the  Americas  Minstrels,  was 
here  again  on  a  recent  Sunday.  He  gave  a  short 
talk  to  the  boys  at  the  close  of  the  service,  telling 
stories  of  his  experiences.  In  the  course  of  his 
remarks,  he  said:  "I've  a  lot  of  friends  and  pals 
here  whom  I  wish  to  see" — and  when  the  men 
interrupted  him  with  vehement  cheering,  he 
added  as  soon  as  he  could  make  himself  heard — 
"in  Chicago."  Mr.  Conley  promised  another 
visit  in  the  near  future  from  the  Amcricus  Min- 
strels, with  a  new  show. 


OTHER  PRISON  COMMUNITIES 

THE     HELPING     HAND      FROM     THE 
EASTERN  STATE  PENITENITARY 

The  Umpire,  published  at  the  Eastern  State 
Penitentiary.  Philadelphia,  anxious  that  every 
inmate  of  that  institution  should  l)C  given  the 
opportunity  at  Christmas  to  assist  the  charity 
workers  of  Philadelj)hia.  through  themselves 
providing  Christmas  cheer  for  their  own  fami- 
lies, has  started  a  fund  known  as  "Tlie  Umpire 
Christmas  l-'und,"  to  which  contributions  by  the 
prison  men  arc  solicited.     The  Umpire  says: 

"In  the  city  there  is  much  distress  liccausc  of 
the  lack  of  work  in  almost  all  ilepartir  •  of 
traile.      Charity    workers,   and   other   bt;  nt 

people,  will  have  many  families  to  care  for  this 
winter  and  an  uiujsually  large  numlKT  of  'kid- 
dies' to  provide  with  Christmas  cheer. 

"The  Umpire  believes  that  the  men  of  this 
jjlacc  would  be  glad  of  a  chance  to  take  i>art  in 
this  good  work  now  going  forward  in  every  di- 
rection. 


592 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


"\V'hy  shouldn't  we  consider  it  a  great  privi- 
lege to  look  after  these  poor  'kiddies'  our- 
selves? We  are  just  one  great  hig  family  here, 
and  it  is  known  that  no  appeal  to  relieve  the 
distress  of  some  outside  member  of  it,  has  ever 
been  ignored.  Let  us  all  combine  to  give  our 
own  poor  a  'Merry  Christmas"  this  year.  In 
doing  so,  we  will  not  only  be  assuming  a  care 
which  really  belongs  to  us,  but  indirectly  we 
will  be  aiding  the  other  little  ones,  in  that  or- 
ganized charity  workers  will  have  just  that  much 
more  to  spend  for  their  account. 

"In  former  years,  charity  workers  have  taken 
care  of  an  average  of  forty  families  of  'kiddies' 
whose  fathers  or  mothers  were  inmates  of  this 
place.  This  year,  it  is  believed,  we  want  to  do 
this  ourselves. 

"Therefore,  the  Ui)i/^irc  asks  for  contributions 
to  its  Christmas  fund  from  every  inmate  of 
this  place.  No  sum  will  be  too  small,  for  in 
movements  of  this  kind,  more  so  than  in  any 
other,  'every  little  bit  helps.'  We  would  rather 
see  the  sum  hoped  to  be  obtained,  made  up  by 
individual  contributions  from  1400  men  and 
women,  than  receive  it  all  from  a  dozen,  or  less. 
It  is  desired  to  have  this  fund  represent  the 
tnie  spirit  of  our  men;  to  show  that  they  are 
willing  and  eager  to  extend  their  earnest  sym- 
pathy and  support  in  a  practical  way,  to  the  poor 
little  children,  who  are  the  innocent  sufferers 
through  their  father's  shortcomings." 

©    ©    ® 

THE  FOOTLIGHTS  AT  FORT  LEAVEN- 
WORTH 

In  the  United  States  Military  Prison  at  Fort 
Leavenworth,  the  inmates  look  forward  eagerly 
to  the  weekly  entertainments  held  in  the  prison 
auditorium.  In  the  institution's  weekly  publi- 
cation, Stray  Shots,  mention  is  made  of  a  min- 
strel troupe,  "whose  twenty-one  comedians  took 
possession  of  the  auditorium  and  unwound  a 
varied  array  of  entertainment  which  included 
everything  from  eccentric  tumbling  to  sentimental 
ballads.  The  minstrels  sang  and  danced  their 
way  into  generous  appreciation  and  the  final 
chorus  by  the  entire  company  closed  an  altogether 
excellent  show  in  a  fitting  manner." 

In  another  issue.  Stray  Shots  comments  on  the 
local  talent  of  the  institution  as  follows : 

"Each  act  was  well  received,  and  fully  merited 
the  generous  applause  that  followed  its  turn  We 
do  not  desire  to  detract  from  the  credit  due  the 
Orpheus  Quartette,  nor  from  the  worthy  efforts 
of  Green  and  O'Toole,  whose  roller  skating  was 
clever,  but  again  that  unmistakable  comedy  pair 
Lang  and  Tufts,  proved  the  big  clean  up  hit  of 


the  bill.  Here  are  two  popular  favorites  who  re- 
ceive an  ovation  regardless  of  their  frequent  ap- 
jicarances,  and  well  they  should,  as  they  are  a 
hard  working  pair  who  possess  wonderful  ver- 
satility. It  is  amazing  the  way  these  boys  can 
bring  out  something  new  at  each  showing,  consid- 
ering the  inferior  props,  wardrobe  and  make-up 
they  are  compelled  to  employ." 


A  MEMORY  OF  THE  ST. 
CONVENTION 


PAUL 


In  a  recent  issue  of  The  Delinquent,  pub- 
lished by  the  National  Prisoners'  Aid  Associa- 
tion, are  printed  three  interesting  articles  which 
were  among  the  many  excellent  papers  read  at  the 
recent  American  Prison  Association  at  St.  Paul, 
Minn.  The  subject,  "Prison  Discipline,"  is  ably 
handled  by  Dr.  A.  G.  Wells,  Warden  of  the  Ken- 
tucky State  Penitentiary  at  Frankfort.  The  other 
two  papers,  "Probation  and  Parole,"  by  Charles 
E.  Vasaly,  chairman  Minnesota  State  Board  of 
Parole,  and  "The  Field  of  the  Prison  Physician," 
by  Guy  G.  Fernald,  M.  D.,  physician  at  the  Alas- 
sachusetts  State  Reformatory,  are  worthy  of  at- 
tention  and   study. 


A  PRISON  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

The  strength  and  appeal  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
has  been  felt  by  reformative  institutions — a 
healthy  sign.  We  read  in  The  Pioneer,  of  the 
Illinois  State  Reformatory  at  Pontiac,  of  a  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  meeting  recently  held  at  that  institution,  at- 
tended by  300  seniors  and  20  juniors.  Selections 
were  rendered  by  a  graphophone  and  addresses 
were  made  by  inmates. 


THE    NEW    ERA 

It  appears  that  the  New  Era,  published  at  the 
United  States  Penitentiary,  Leavenworth,  Kans., 
can  be  sent  only  to  those  "especially  interested 
in  prison  work  and  to  government  officials."  This 
is  a  condition  in  the  ruling  of  the  Department  of 
Justice,  which  provides  for  the  publication  of  the 
New  Era.  The  paper  has  received  many  inquir- 
ies from  persons  who  would  subscribe,  and  the 
editor  says  that  if  general  subscriptions  could  be 
received,  "an  enlargement  and  a  circulation  to  be 
proud  of  would  follow." 


December  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


593 


A  Christmas  Reverie 


By  Hugh  Manyte 


A   Pri»oncr 


'Life  is  a  canipai^Mi,  not  a  battle,  and  has  its  defeats  as  well  as  its  victories."— Dawn  Pialt. 


I 
Beyond  the  mists  that  round  me  prey. 
Far,  far  beyond  the  encircling  walls, 
A  melody  of  song  today 
Like  some  sweet  benediction  falls. 

Enchained,  my  hollow   voice   I   lift; 
Set    free  the  soul's  enhungered  cry. 
With  craving  eyes,  I  seek  the  rift 
r.etween  the  clouds  that  dull  my  sky. 

O,  radiant  mom  of  hope !    Far,  far 
Beyond  control  in  this  lone  hour 
Though  tide  and  circumstances  are, 
Yet  conduct — that  is  in  my  power! 

II 
The  cynic's  voice  I  have  withstood, 
Which  ever  mockingly  maintains 
That  life  is  but  the  choice  of  good 
That  least  of  sinfulness  contains. 

Oft  blessings  come  in  failure's  guise 
Ere  journey's  goal  we  may  discern; 
Through  misadventure,  men  arise — 
The  bravest  of  life's  lessons  learn. 

So  armored  am  I  for  the  sw^rm, 

I  hold  my  strength,  whate'er  betide ; 

In  cheerfulness  essay  to  form 

The  track  on  which  my  lif'-  <h:dl  Hide. 

III. 
In  safety,  with  her  i)ricelcss  freight; 
Out  of  the  sea's  mist-laden  breath, 
The  Christmas  ship  has  reached  the  gate 
That  opens  on  the  jilains  of  death  ; 


Where  for  dominion,  lust  is  rife; 
W  here  Peace  weeps  at  her  hrokeji  throne; 
Where  jewels  of  manhood  an«I  of  life 
Over  the  re<l  expanse  arc  strown. 

,\bovc  the  thunderous  voice  of  war 
Another  note  bestirs  the  Ian<l ; 
A  tender  host  entreating  for 
The  olden  kiss—the  absent  hand. 

Its  eyes  l)ehold  the  disarray 
Of  honie's  fair  ahar.  as  they  long 
For  one  glad  vision  of  this  day — 
For  one  sweet  fragment  of  its  song! 

IV 

O,  Vuletide  strain!     Within  me  wake 
The  simple  faith  I  knew  of  old: 
.'\nd  if  my  golden  hopes  should  break. 
Then  let  my  patience  bravely  hokl. 

Bearing  the  yoke  that  sm  entails, 

(His  all  omnii>otent  decree L 

O'er  life's  broad  deep  I'll  spread  lb.-  sails 

Which  He  has  \..n.b  afcd  unto  nu 

And  when  the  storm  subsides;  the  charms 
Of  breaking  light  the  waves  assiuigc, 
I'll  sight  the  harlM)r's  welcome  anus. 
Where  I  may  cast  my  anchorage; 

ir  -11.  1       till*    lo\  •■  liittii     slrr-nm< 

Homes   liarboi.    wmii    int    km* 

\\  here  round  me  shall  tlu)se  fa 

That  I  ha<l  greeted  in  my  drcam^. 

That  I  had  lovetl— and  lost  awhile! 


594 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


The   Joliet   Prison's  Message   of   Christmas  Cheer 

to  the  Children  Overseas 


Emerson  has  beautifully  said:  "The  only  gift 
is  a  portion  of  thyself.  Therefore,  the  poet  brings 
his  poem;  the  shepherd,  his  lamb;  the  farmer, 
corn;  the  miner,  a  gem;  the  sailor,  coral  and 
shells ;  the  painter,  his  picture." 

In  response  to  the  inspired  appeal  of  the  Chi- 
cago Herald,  an  appeal  that  rang  from  the  At- 
lantic to  the  Pacific,  and  from  the  Canadian  bor- 
der to  the  blue  waters  of  the  Gulf,  the  prisoners 
of  this  institution,  isolated  from  the  outer  world 
as  they  are,  and  bowed  under  the  burden  of 
society's  condemnation,  have  given  of  themselves 
as  best  they  knew  how. 

For  the  men  heard  that  far-sounding  call.  In 
this  age.  the  age  of  the  new  reform,  prison  walls 
prove  no  barrier  to  the  working  out  of  the  good 
and  generous  impulse.  Opportunity  knocked  at 
the  forbidding  gate  of  the  prison  house;  and 
while  it  has  made  its  occupants  better  known  to  a 
doubting  world,  it  has  achieved  a  still  greater 
miracle — it  has  given  them  a  fuller  insight  of 
their  true  self-hood. 

It  was  not  so  very  long  ago  that  a  large  number 
of  the  inmates  of  this  institution  were  busily  en- 
gaged in  the  making  of  the  useful  articles  and 
toys  which  later  were  to  be  packed  in  the  capa- 
cious hold  of  the  "Christmas  Ship."  At  about 
this  time,  a  poem,  entitled,  "The  Little  Toy 
Shops,"  appeared  in  the  Chicago  Herald,  which, 
in  its  comment  upon  the  verses,  said  that  "it  re- 
vealed one  of  the  deepest  aspects  of  the  ideal  of 
the  brotherhood  of  man."  The  poem,  written  by 
the  writer  of  this  article,  and  an  inmate  of  this 
institution,  is  here  reproduced: 

O,  I  hear  the  hum  of  labor  down  the  gloomy  cell- 
house  aisle; 

I    can   hear   the   hammer   rapping   and   the    sing   of 
saw  and  file. 

And    the    long,    long    row    of    workshops,    sending 
forth  their  shafts  of  light, 

Seem  pervaded  with  a  spirit  that  is  strangely  new 
tonight. 

I  incline  my  ear  to  listen     *     *     *     fancy  bears  me 
oversea, 

To    the    withered    lands    of    tumult,    rent    by    war's 
catastrophe; 

Where  the  dying  fill  the  trenches;  where  the  living 
sternly  wait; 

Where   the   sacred   Red   Cross   emblem   streams    its 
folds,  inviolate. 


See  I,  too,  the  dull-eyed  mothers  ucan  the  east  and 
scan  the  west. 

Home  returning,  but  to  find  there — Grief,  the  un- 
invited guest. 

In  the  silent  marts  and  spaces  I  can  see  the  chil- 
dren throng. 

But  the  ring  has  left  their  laughter,  and  their  eyes 
have  lost  their  song. 

Stately  ship  of  Christmas  greetings!  When  your 
precious  freight  is  stored, 

From  the  Golden  Gate  to  Gotham  will  resound  your 
"All  aboard!" 

For  the  world  wnll  bend  to  listen  when  your  deep- 
lunged  whistle  blows; 

When,  as  massive  hawsers  loosen,  proudly  seaward 
swings  your  nose. 

So  those  noises  come  a-tumbling  down  the  dim-lit 

cellhouse  aisle; 
I  can  hear  the  mallet  falling  and  the   rasp   of  saw 

and  file. 
And   the   endless   row   of   workshops,    casting   forth 

their  beams  of  light, 
Seems  pervaded  with  a  spirit  that  is  strangely  new 

tonight! 

There  is  no  great  achievement  that  is  not  the 
result  of  patient  working,  of  patient  waiting.  The 
weeks  passed  by,  and  every  evening  those  "noises 
come    a-tumbling    down    the    dim-lit    cellhouse 
aisle,"  until  the  lights  were  extinguished  at  nine 
o'clock.     And  when,  on  one  Sunday  morning  at 
the  conclusion   of  the  regular    service    in    the 
chapel,  it  was  announced  by  the  Catholic  Chap- 
lain, Father  Peter  Crumbly,  O.  F.  M.,  that  the 
gifts  that  had  been  made  by  the  inmates  of  the 
penitentiary  for  the  children  of  war-strickened 
Europe  were  to  be  exhibited  in  the  show  room, 
the  greatest  interest  was  manifested.    As  the  men 
filed  out  of  the  chapel  and  passed  into  the  -show 
room  adjoining,  a  most  pleasing  sight  greeted 
them.    Long  tables  had  been  arranged  in  the  cen- 
ter of  the  spacious  room,  and  upon  these  the  gifts 
were  displayed  in  delightful  profusion.    The  men 
were  told  to  make  the  circuit  of  the  room,  leav- 
ing by  the  door  through  which  they  had  entered. 
It  was  an  impressive  scene.    The  gaze  of  many 
of  the  men  was  directed  towards  the  specimens 
of  their  own  handiwork ;  often  in  such  instances, 
they  would  pause  for  a  brief  moment  to  view 
them  in  their  Christmas  setting  and,  for  aught  we 
know,  to  breathe  out  upon  them  the  honest  wish 
that  had  found  lodgment  within  their  heart.    Sat- 
isfaction and  repose  seemed  to  play  upon  many 
of   the   faces   as   the   ever-moving  lines   passed 


Uecember  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


S9S 


through  the  aisles,  created  by  the  indulgent  mass- 
ing of  potted  plants,  ferns  and  palms,  all  of  which 
contributed  to  the  warmth  and  heart-interest  note 
of  the  scene.  As  the  procession  of  men  silently 
l)assed  by,  there  was  brought  home  to  the  writer, 
half  hidden  as  he  was  from  his  vantage  point  of 
observation  under  the  spreading  fans  of  a  big 
palm,  the  beautiful  truth  that  it  is  not  what  one 
takes  up  but  what  one  gives  that  makes  one  rich. 
A  few  days  before  this  article  was  written,  a 
"moving  picture  story"  of  the  Christmas  ship  was 
told  at  the  La  Salle  theater,  Chicago.  It  was  a 
private  showing  of  the  most  interesting 
"movies"  of  the  year.  The  Chicago  Herald, 
which  gave  the  exhibit,  says  that  "one  of  the 
most  interesting  exhibits  shown  in  Friday's 
films  was  that  made  by  the  honor  men  of  the 
Illinois  State  Penitentiary." 

The  Christmas  ship,  or  to  be  exact,  the  Christ- 
mas ships,  for  there  is  more  than  one,  have  al- 
ready sailed,  and  before  these  lines  shall  have 
been  read  by  the  inmates  of  the  Illinois  State 
Penitentiary,  the  countless  thousands  of  gifts 
which  had  weighted  the  prayer  blessed  vessels 
down  to  their  water  line,  will  be  speeding  by 
train  or  moving  by  van  across  the  blackened 
wastes  of  Europe. 

The  ship  in  which  the  men  of  this  prison  and 
the  country  at  large  is  most  interested,  is  the 
United  States  Navy  collier  Jason,  which  sailed 
out  of  New  York  harbor  Saturday,  November 
14,  flying  its  flag  of  the  single  Christmas  star. 
President  Wilson  had  wired  his  best  wishes,  and 
as  it  steamed  down  the  bay,  every  passing  vessel 
saluted  it,  from  the  ubiquitious  little  tug  to  the 
four-funneled  leviathan  of  the  seas.  Conuuenting 
upon  the  enormous  cargo  of  the  Jason,  the  Chi- 
cago Herald  says : 

Not  for  a  minute  did  the  projectors  of  the  ship 

forget  that  the  Europeans,  for  whom  t' I'ifts 

were   designed,   ncetlcd    the   bare   nci  <  of 

life.  The  practical  nature  of  the  cargo  may  be 
seen  in  the  following  list. 

There  are  10,000  cases  aboard  and  this  is  what 
they  hold : 

Fourteen  cars  of  children's  clothes. 

Five  cars  of  women's  clothes. 

One  car  of  men's  clothes. 

Five  cars  of  toys. 

Two  cars  of  shoes. 

Two  cars  of  foodstufl'"s. 

One  car  containing  $13,000  worth  of  merchan- 
dise bought  in  New  York. 


1  wcni>  ihrcc  cars  of  nusccllancous  merchan- 
dise. 

Twenty-nine  cars  of  assorted  goods. 

A  total  of  eighty-two  carloads  of  Christmas 
I)rescnts. 

There   arc   alxjut   eij^htccn   carload*   of   sntail 
pa.l  ,...  .    ..,.1  ;...^,  ti,^.  i(,tal  numl)cr  of  Oirisimas 

<l'»'  i  on  the  Javon  an  even   100  rnr- 

loads  of  Christmas  happiness. 

The  destination  of  the  Jason  was  Devon|X)rt, 
ICngland.  From  there  the  gifts  for  the  Belgians 
were  trans-ship|>c<l  to  the  steamer  Rotterdam 
on  the  advice  of  the  Belgian  minister,  "where 
the  machinery  of  the  Anicrican  relief  commis- 
sion might  \)c  utilized  for  their  distribution." 

After  discharging  at  the  Devonixirt  navy  van! 
her  cargo  of  gifts  for  the  English  children 
(which  were  in  turn  sent  by  rail  to  I^ndon  for 
distribution),  the  Jason  sailed  out  of  Plymouth 
naval  basin  on  Novcml)er  28  for  Marseilles, 
where  the  consignment  of  presents  for  the  boys 
and  girls  of  France  was  unloaded. 

The  Christmas  gifts  for  the  Russian  children 
are  aboard  the  steamer  Korsk,  of  the  Russian- 
.\merican  line,  which  left  New  York  I->i«lay, 
Xovembcr  20.  The  Kor^k  will  not  touch  at  neu- 
tral ports,  but  will  go  direct  to  .Xrchangcl.  the 
most  northern  ix)rt  of  Rus-^ia.  From  there,  her 
precious  cargo  will  be  shipiK-d  by  rail  to  Petro- 
grad  and  other  large  centers,  where  the  relief 
commissioners  will  take  charge  of  the  distribu- 
tion. 

l"ar  away  in  those  war-swept  lands,  the  faces 
of  Europe's  children  will  flcxnl  with  hafi|)iness 
on  that  day  which  is  called  Oiristnus.  For, 
being  children,  they  think  not  of  what  is  jusl  nor 
what  is  to  come.  One  thing  is  known  to  all — 
that  they  sweeten  the  lalx)rs  of  the  lircd  mothers 
who  are  sur\'cying  the  far  horizon  with  dull  fear 
in  their  eyes,  yet  hope,  alwnvs  li,,fK-  uitliin  ihc 
inmost  recesses  of  their  ht 

.So  the  men  of  the  Jolirt  prison  have  sent  their 
Merry    Cliristmas   over  ind    (hey    will    be 

happy  on  Christmas  day,  for,  like  the  light  of 
heaven,  hap|»iness  is  reflective.  In  fancy,  they 
will  sec  the  glint  of  the  childioh  eye;  they  will 
hear  the  ring  of  the  childish  voice.  Tlicy  will 
realize  that  the  greatest  grace  of  a  gift  is  that 
it  anticijiatcs  and  admits  of  no  return ;  they  will 
come  to  the  fullness  of  the  knowledge  that  all 
the  sentiment  of  the  world  weighs  less  than  a 
single  unselfish  action. 


596 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Camp  Allen  an  Example  of  Prison  Road  Labor 

A  Demonstrated  Business  and  Moral  Success.  The  Prisoners  Loyal  to  the  Gimp 


The  Neighboring  Farm  and  Village  People  Believe  In  the  Camp  and  Give  It  Their  Support 

By  A.  R.  Person 

A  Prisoner 


"We  shall  arrive  in  time  for  supper,"  said  the 
officer  who  conducted  me  to  Camp  i\llen. 

We  reached  the  camp  at  about  5  o'clock.  ^  The 
pri5;oners  had  begun  to  gather  from  the  different 
posts  where  they  had  been  at  work  during  the 
day  and  were  preparing  for  supper.  Greetings 
came  from  a  number  of  them  and  already  I  began 
to  feel  at  home. 

Camp  Allen  is  located  one  and  one-half  miles 
east  of  Beecher,  Will  county,  Illinois,  on  the  farm 
of  Dr.  D.  D.  Van  Voorhis. 

A  mound  about  eight  rods  in  width  and  forty 
rods  in  length,  with  natural  drainage  on  all  sides, 
runs  north  from  the  roadway  rising  above  the 
broad  level  field  which  surrounds  it.  Skirting 
the  borders  of  this  mound,  is  a  narrow  grove 
of  second  growth  oak  trees,  which  have  been 
building  up  trunk  and  shade  for  fifty  years,  since 
the  land  was  first  cleared  and  put  under  cultiva- 
tion by  the  thrifty  Germans  and  Hollanders 
whose  sons  and  daughters  now  own  and  culti- 
vate the  rich  fields. 

The  center  of  the  mound  is  clear,  forming  a 
broad  avenue  running  the  length  of  the  mound 
between  the  two  lines  of  trees. 

One  may  dream  that  from  the  beginning  life 
has  held  in  store  the  new  hope  which  was  to  be 
held  out  to  men  who,  in  the  present  year,  would 
go  out  from  the  prison  house  to  prove  to  them- 
selves and  to  show  to  the  world  that  there  is  in 
them  yet  that  which  makes  good  citizenship  and 
that  Nature,  handmaiden  in  all  life's  great  pur- 
poses, laid  her  plans  and  fructified  her  trees  to 
make  for  these  men  the  place  that  should  be 
suitable  to  them;  that  should  cheer  them  and 
that  should  make  them  feel  that  circumstances 
are  supporting  them  in  their  new  move. 

The  natural  features  of  Camp  Allen  are  ideal. 

Under  the  shade  of  the  thickly  set  oak  trees 
along  either  side  of  the  mound,  are  pitched  the 
tents  of  the  men  who  have  gone  out  from  the 
Joliet  prison. 


The  tents  are  9x9  army  tents,  lent  by  the 
state;  water-proof  and  warm.  Each  has  a  floor 
w^ell  up  from  the  ground  and  a  small  heating 
stove.  Two  board  buildings  stand  in  the  west 
row  of  tents — the  kitchen  and  the  officers'  dining 
room.  A  large  tent  with  a  well-laid  floor,  with 
tables  carefully  set  with  white  porcelain  ware, 
serves  as  dining  room  for  the  prisoners.  Near 
the  kitchen  on  the  side  of  the  mound  is  a  well 
which,  from  a  depth  of  only  twenty  feet,  gives 
forth  pure  cold  water.  West  of  the  mound  by 
the  side  of  a  stream  flowing  northward  is  a 
large  tent  used  for  laundry  purposes  and  for 
a  wash  room.  Here  a  small  hot  water  plant  is 
installed  which,  in  cold  weather,  makes  possible 
proper  provision  for  baths.  The  officers'  and 
the  commissary  tents  are  the  first  of  the  east 
row  near  the  road.  A  tall  flagstaff  stands  at  the 
head  of  the  camp  near  the  roadway  from  which 
floats  the  Country's  banner  and  a  streamer  bear- 
ing the  words,  "Camp  Allen." 

First  Night  at  Camp 

Such  is  the  camp  as  I  saw  it  upon  my  arrival. 
I  was  to  learn  more  of  it  as  the  days  would  go  by. 

The  prisoners  began  to  arrive  in  groups 
and  finally  the  whole  camp  of  sixty-three  were 
present.  Straight  to  the  wash  tent  they  went 
to  clean  and  freshen  up  for  the  evening  meal. 
Up  the  side  of  the  mound  from  the  wash  tent 
they  came  singly  and  in  groups,  light  of  speech, 
cheery  of  countenance  and  buoyant  of  step. 
Cordial  greetings  came  from  all  who  knew  me; 
and  nearly  all  did  know  me.  "What  do  you 
think  of  the  camp,"  everybody  asked.  Of  course 
I  answ^ered,  'T  think  it  is  very  fine,  but,"  I  added, 
'T  do  not  know  all  about  it  yet."  "You  will  like 
it,"  they  all  said.  I  soon  found  that  the  men 
of  Camp  Allen  believe  in  the  camp  and  are  proud 
of  the  record  that  it  has  made. 

Different  men  as  they  came  near  the  dining 
tent  were  greeted  by  the  others  and  all  waited 


December  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


507 


for  the  gon^  to  sound.  In  a  few  minutes  the 
'^oug  sounded  and  the  men  marched  in  an  orderly 
way  to  their  places  at  the  tables,  which  had  been 
neatly  set  by  the  head  waiter  and  his  lHli>er.  I 
saw  later  that  after  each  meal  every  piece  used 
in  the  table  service  is  thoroughly  washed  and 
carefully  wiped  by  hand,  which  accounts  for  the 
neatness  of  the  tables  as  they  appeared  to  me 
on  that  first  evening. 

\\'e  had  hash  for  supper  that  night,  carefully 
prepared  from  the  roast  beef  of  the  day  before. 
There  was  bread  and  butter,  prunes  for  sauce, 
and  tea  with  sugar.  "Water,  boys,  water,"  called 
a  waiter  coming  down  between  the  tables.  "Do 
you  need  any  more  tea,  Hank,"  asked  another 
waiter  in  a  happy  voice.  "I'm  glad  to  see  you 
enjoying  yourself,"  said  one  man  at  the  table 
to  another  as  he  w^atched  his  neighbor  disposing 
of  a  fair  allotment  of  food.  All  was  pleasant 
and  companionable.  The  men  were  cheerful 
and  contented  as  one  could  easily  see.  Near 
the  close  of  the  meal  each  was  served  with  four 
cookies  and  some  with  a  second  dish  of  prunes. 

After  supper  I  went  to  Beecher  with  the 
prisoner  who  was  to  bring  back  supplies  that 
had  come  from  Chicago.  He  carried  the  kitchen 
waste  which  was  to  be  delivered  to  a  farmer  from 
whom  the  supply  of  milk  is  obtained.  We  went 
into  the  large  barn  where  were  the  long  rows  of 
sleek-looking  cows,  and  down  the  line  I  could 
hear  the  fresh  warm  milk  streaming  into  the 
pails.  And  yet  the  man  who  was  with  me  driv- 
ing the  team  and  myself,  were  prisoners  held 
under  the  authority  of  a  prison  forty  miles. away, 
where  all  the  inmates  had  been  securely  locked 
in  their  cells  fully  three  hours  before.  It  was 
dark  now  and  the  men  were  going  about  the  barn 
with  lanterns. 

W^e  went  on  from  the  farmhouse  to  Beecher 
and  at  the  depot  loaded  in  the  wagon  a  quarter 
of  beef,  other  smaller  cuts  of  meat  packed  in  ice, 
a  tub  of  butter  and  things  that  were  needed  in 
the  camp's  equipment.  As  we  drove  through  the 
streets  nearly  every  boy,  it  seemed  to  me,  called 
out  to  my  companion.  "Hello,  Clyde,"  and  Clyde 
called  back,  "Hello."  They  knew  him,  dark  as 
it  was ;  he  was  as  one  of  the  young  men  of  the 
town  to  them,  a  good  fellow  who  always  spoke 
cheerfully.  They  had  seen  and  knew  nothing 
of  the  gray  and  cold  prison  walls  from  which 
the  man  had  come,  to  the  rules  of  which,  as 
applied  to  the  camp,  the  man  must  be  obedient. 


The  word  "prison"  meant  nothing  to  thcni.  As 
for  the  camp,  they  liked  that ;  Ihcy  had  visited 
it  and  had  fouml  it  interesting:  the  men  were  of 
a  good  sort. 

When  we  returned  to  the  camp  the  night  had 
•grown  dark.  1  he  day's  work  was  finishe<l.  Kwu 
in  the  dining  tent  the  tables  had  all  U-cn  set  for 
the  early  morning  meal.  Ihc  men  were  relaxc<l 
and  in  or  out  of  their  tents  or  out  through  the 
trees  or  up  the  road  for  a  stroll— they  were  at 
their  own  affairs. 

When  the  Lights  Arc  Burning 

All  of  this  was  so  different  from  what  I  had 
seen  twenty-four  hours  before  in  the  conmiunity 
of  1,500  men  from  which  I  and  these  sixly-thrcc 
men  of  Camp  Allen  had  come. 

I^st  night  at  alnnit  this  same  h(»ur  -having 
bad  late  detail  at  the  Joliet  prison     I  lofiked  into 


The  Camp 

the  long  grated  windows,  high  up  from  the 
grounil,  in  the  east  and  west  wings  of  the  prison 
at  the  men  in  their  cells  behind  the  iron  grating 
of  their  doors  ;  men  sitting  on  bunks  or  [vicing 
the  vacant  i\oor  space,  an  area  two  1  n  feet. 
But  I  was  to  get  the  meaning  of  ali  iiu^  change 
later  when  I  shouhl  talk  with  and  Irani  the  pur- 
IMjses  of  the  men  of  the  cam|)  and  when  I  shuuld 
go  out  over  the  miles  of  gooil  road  that  they  arc 
builtling.  Work,  rllicient  scr\icc  to  the  slate. 
earning  the  rights  of  citizenshiji — these  arc  the 
explanations.  But  as  yet  1  am  only  the  first  night 
in  camp:  let  me  sec  how  the  men  live  when  they 
have  finishe<l  their  <lay*s  work  and  take  up  their 
own  personal  thought. 


598                                                     THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST                                            First  Year 

But  I  lincl  that  all  the  men  are  not  at  leisure;  of   a   contemplative   or  light-spirited   man   who 

some  have  again  gone  out  to  work.    Eighty  rods  wished  to  pass  the  evening  by  himself.     These 

away  at  the  railroad  side  track,  I  hear  the  con-  harmonicas  I  afterwards  heard  again  from  with- 

tinual  shoveling  of  crushed  stone  being  passed  in  the  mysterious  little  tents  on  a  number  of  rainy 

slowly  but  continuously  from  the  large  flat  cars  days  that  followed.    I  looked  into  one  tent.    The 

down  the  long  line  of  chutes  into  the  small  cars  light,  which  through  the  opening,  had  invited  me, 

of  the  "dinky"  line  which  distributes  the  stone  was  from  an  oil  lamp  set  securely  in  a  bracket 

along  the  roadway  now  being  built.    And  I  hear  made  fast  to  one  of  the  tent  poles.    At  intervals 

the  whistle  and  the  puff  of  the  "dinky"  engine  toward  the  north  end  of  the  row  of  tents,  mid- 

as  it  starts  out  on  its  night  trip,  a  three  to  five  way  in  the  avenue,  were  evening  fires  around 

mile  haul,  with  twenty-eight  to  thirty  cars  of  the  which  groups  of  men  had  gathered  telling  stories 

road  material.  — some  of  them  not  altogether  wholesome — talk- 

The  men  work  in  shifts:    From  3  o'clock  a.  m.  ing  about  their  experiences  and  reviewing  their 

till  noon  and   from   1   o'clock  p.  m.  till  9.     A  cases.    Their  cases  are  a  continual  theme.    Even 

number  of  the  men  of  the  morning  shift  also  here  at  the  camp,  with  all  its  naturalness  and 

have  gone  back  tonight  to  work  overtime— and  freedom,  I  find  that  the  men  still  realize  they  are 

to  get  the  sixty  or  eighty  cents  which  the  three  i"  prison ;  the  prison  holds  them  and  they  want 

or  the  four  extra  hours  of  work  bring.  the  earning  of  time  and  the  extra  ten  days  given 

I  walked  up  and  down  the  forty-rod  avenue  ^^^  ^^^^  thirty  days  of  road  work,  to  count  as 

between  the  two  rows  of  tents.  rapidly  as  possible— or  they  want  their  time  still 

Occasionally  a  man  passed  me  in  the  dark.  ^"^^^'^^  shortened.     Oh,  it  is  prison.     None  of 

Sometimes  the  man  would  speak.     I,  being  less  *^  "'^"  ^^'  ^  "'^"^^"^  ^^'^^^  *«  recognize  that. 

familiar,  could  recognize  no  one.     The  ends  of  ,    '^!^"  '^^  '^^'  "^"^"-    '^^"  '^^'^  '^^°^^"  ^^^  °^^^- 

the  tents  were  somewhat  open  and  streams  of  ^''^^'  *^^  constellations  looking  down  from  their 

light  shone  through.    There  was  a  suggestiveness  f^customed  places.     Pointing  to  the  pole  star, 

of  security,  satisfaction  and  rest,  and,  withal,  a  ^"""^  ^^^  ^'^^^  ^'PP^'  ^^  ^^^  ^"^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^^ 

happiness,  such  as  any  well-ordered  industrial  "'  ^^^^  ^^^  "^^^^  ^^'  ^°"^"^^  °"-    Suddenly  there 

camp  might  show  when  everything  is  going  well  ^'J^^  *^  night-watchman's  cry  all  along  the  hne, 

and  where  peace  and  hope  reign.     I  walked  up  "^^^  ^" '  lights  out." 

and  down  the  avenue  many  times— alone,  think-  ^^^  ^^^  ^^^  ended ;  the  men  must  rest  so  as 

ing  and  dreaming  of  the  dreams  that  men  might  ^o  be  ready  for  the  morrow's  work,  for  it  is  work 

be  dreaming;  the  men  are  happy,  not  only  for  — "ot   the   amenities — which   justifies   the   road 

the  camp's  advantages   but   for  the  open   way  camp.    The  time  was  half  past  nine  o'clock, 
which  the  camp  is  to  that  which  lies  beyond — 

home,  liberty,  re-establishment.     There  are  men  ^°^g^"g  ^"^  ^o^^ 

who  go  to  prison  who  have  not  these  purposes  Camp  Allen  is  not  a  recreation  place,  it  is  a 

but  those  who  get  out  to  a  road  camp  are  mostly  business  organization.     The  township  pays  fifty 

ot  this  sort.  cents  a  day  for  each  man,  whether  employed  at 

Through  the  opening  in  the  tents  I  could  see  actual  road  work  or  at  camp  duties. 

men  sitting  on  the  low  single  beds  conversing;  The  men  get  none  of  this  as  wages  and  the 

some  were  playing  checkers ;  and  in  a  number  of  state  asks  none  of  it  for  a  state  profit.     The 

tents  the  men  were  diligently  at  work  on  the  money  goes  to  the  camp  for  camp  expenses.    So 

trinkets— necklaces,  charms,  etc— which  on  the  long  as  the  camp  keeps  within  its  earnings  of 

following  Sunday  would  be  placed  on  display  in  fifty  cents  per  day  per  man,  it  is  industrially 

front  of  the  tents  of  the  ingenious  and  industri-  independent.    The  men  themselves  earn  what  the 

ous  for  sale  to  the  visitors  who  on  Sunday  never  camp  spends.    Thirty-five  cents  a  day  per  man  is 

fai    to  come.     In  the  dining  tent  a  number  had  apportioned   for   food  and  incidentals,  such  as 

gathered  and  the  strong  and  loud  talk  of  several  soap,  lamp  oil,  postage  stamps,  etc.,  and  fifteen 

men  at  once  justified  the  declaration  of  one  of  cents  a  day  for  clothing  and  shoes.     There  is 

the  men  that  they  were  having  a  "regular  debat-  no  extravagance.    The  men  live  within  the  camp's 

ing  society.      From  an  occasional  tent  came  the  income, 

strains  of  music  from  a  harmonica  in  the  hands  The  day  following  my  arrival  I  began  to  take 


December  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


account  of  things.  I  had  slept  in  a  watcr-tij^ht 
tent  on  a  reg^ilation  prison  hospital  bed  with 
springs  and  mattress ;  the  tight  hoard  floor  was 
high  enough  from  the  ground  to  be  free  from 
any  excess  dampness.  The  corner  of  the  tent 
had  been  raised  and  I  felt  the  pure,  fresh  air 
sweeping  across  my  face  all  through  the  night. 
There  are  two  beds  to  a  tent,  each  with  four 
good  army  blankets. 

In  the  course  of  the  forenoon  I  was  shown  the 
kitchen. 

The  first  thing  that  met  my  eyes  was  a  bushel 
l)asket  half  full  of  large  fresh  country  eggs.  In 
a  corner  underneath  a  cupboard  which  had  been 
built  for  the  long  loaves  of  fresh  while  bread, 
were  piled  four  large  bags  of  flour,  nearly  600 
pounds ;  in  the  corner  opposite  was  a  spacious 
flour  bin,  and  a  sugar  bin  in  which  I  saw  a  quan- 
tity of  granulated  sugar.  To  one  side  of  the 
kitchen  stood  a  large  steel  range  in  the  oven  of 
which  the  loaves  of  white  bread  were  baked 
fresh  each  day  and  on  the  top  of  which,  the  range 
having  been  built  for  this  purpose,  the  hot  wheat 
cakes  which  were  to  be  served  mornings  at 
breakfast,  were  baked ;  in  one  corner  was  a  meat 
block;  there  was  a  set  of  counter  scales  and  a 
meat  choper;  on  the  wall  hung  soup  ladles, 
skimmers,  cake  turners,  a  horseradish  grater,  e. 
beaters,  gem  pans  and  cake  tins;  on  the  shelw- 
were  packages  of  soda,  baking  powder,  etc. 

One  man  sat  i)ecling  potatoes  in  preparation 
of  the  noon-day  meal.  On  the  range  was  a  patent 
soup  stock  boiler,  always  kept  in  use,  it  was  ex- 
plained to  me.     A  large  patent  coffee  boiler  is 

also  used. 

Everything  looked  neat  and  under  command 
and,  as  I  learned,  the  meals  always  come  'round 
on  time.  I  turned  to  the  chef  who  likes  his  work 
and  who  is  very  competent,  and  said:  "Don't 
you  want  to  go  back  to  Joliet  ?" 

lie  looked  at  me  and  smiled,  drew  in  through 
his  nostrils  some  of  the  savory  o<lors  rising  from 
a  cut  of  meat  that  was  being  prepared,  looked 
out  of  the  south  window  at  the  sun  which  was 
shining  brightly  that  day,  took  a  sniff  of  the 
fresh  country  air  coming  in  at  the  top  of  the 
lowered  window  and  replied.  "No,  I'm  going 
to  stick  around  here  now." 

The  man  had  been  chef  at  the  Administration 
building  while  at  Joliet.  He  was  making  gomi 
at  the  camp.  Then  one  of  the  chef's  heli>ers 
spoke  up:     "There  ain't  anything  there  to  go 


back  to."  And  so  all  the  ■■■<•.  .it  the  camp  feel. 
They  want  never  to  sec  the  prison  w  'Ms  nr  to 
hear  the  clang  of  the  priMm  doors  ai^a 

I  went  clown  to  the  outside  celbr  in  which  I 
saw  pumpkins  and  cabbage,  hams  and  bacon  hung 
from  the  ceiling  and  tubs  of  butter  at  one  side. 
A  barrel  of  syrup  stoo<I  by  the  door. 

Ditmcrs  are  put  up  and  carricti  to  i^  i  at 

work  on  the  road  three  anti  four  nm'-.  uum 
canif).  Once,  owing  to  a  f"'  ''':«t  had  to  be 
avoided,  the  trip  with  the  -   was  t^wclvc 

miles.  A  prisoner  makes  this  trip  alone;  some- 
times one  prisoner,  sometimes  another.  The  train 
crew  and  the  men  working  on  the  cars  at  the 
siding  come  in  to  the  camp  for  dinner.  Tlic 
dinners  taken  out  arc  put  up  in  bulk  and  ' 

to  the  men  on  the  roa<lside  on  clean  pouvjain 


Loading  the  Small  Cars  from  the  Chutes 

plates,  the  meat  and  potri'—  '•  ■'  "•'  the  coffee 
steaming.     There   was   i:  ii   **»«   '*"* 

summer  tiays  in  keeping  the  meat,  and  of  this 
there  was  some  complaint.  Another  summer 
there  will  l)c  a  larger  ami  letter  refrigerator, 
when  this  difficulty  can  be  avo-. 

The  meals  5er\e<l  at  the  camp  were  ; 
larlv  iKilatable.    The  coffee  •  .dwitliLicaiu 

and  sugar  (the  camp  has  a  cow  ut  tt»  own   '•'^ 

the  milk  it  buys)  and  so  goo<l  is  it  that  >  ..  ...1 
ask  for  another  cup  when  you  '■  '^•-  drcady  had 
enough.     The  |H)tatocs  arc  bt  i   to  a  fine 

color  and  the  brownc<l  gravy  does  credit  to  the 
man  who  makes  it. 

In  the  dining  tent  I  hcar.l  the  head  waiter  say 
several  times  as  he  inadvertently  bnishcd  against 
a  man  at  the  table :    "I  ' 
The  chef,  when  asked  ii  uic  \%uiii<..i  "..  -  -  it 


600 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


the  camp  and  inspect  his  kitchen  ever  criticize, 
said:  "I  have  never  yet  given  them  an  oppor- 
tunity to  criticize  anything,"  To  a  iew  men, 
talking  and  laughing  as  they  came  from  the  well 
just  before  dinner,  I  said:  "Are  you  happy?" 
"Happy?,"  came  the  answer,  "Just  look  at  our 
faces,  and  when  we  get  into  that  dining  tent 
around  there,  you  will  see."  "Does  it  seem  bet- 
ter here.  Bill,  than  among  the  old  smokestacks," 
I  said  to  one  man  whom  I  knew.  "Oh,  yes,"  he 
replied,  "a  thousand  per  cent." 

And  so  we  see  the  camp  as  the  men  see  it  and 
as  they  live  in  it,  in  hope,  day  by  day. 

What  of  the  deeper  principles  involved ;  what 
of  the  tragedies  in  these  men's  and  in  their  fam- 
ilies' lives,  which  all  the  gaiety  and  the  passing 
good  will  would  cover  and  put  from  sight? 

Officers  and  Relationship  with  the  Men 

There  are  at  Camp  Allen  literally  no  guards 
in  the  sense  in  which  guards  are  known  at  the 
prison.  T.  G.  Keegan,  superintendent  of  road 
work,  calls  at  intervals,  inspects  and  directs  the 
work.  William  J.  MahOney,  who  was  stationed 
at  the  quarry  at  the  prison  and  who  knew  most 
of  the  men  personally  before  they  went  out  on 
the  road,  is  superintendent  of  Camp  Allen.  John 
Ristau  is  night  watchman.  The  camp  superin- 
tendent and  the  night  watchman  are  the  only 
officers  continuously  at  the  camp. 

Representing  the  people  in  whose  behalf  the 
highway  work  is  being  done,  are  F.  H.  Hatha- 
way, of  the  state  highway  department,  civil  en- 
gineer; D.  S.  James,  state  highway  commissioner. 
who  has  charge  of  finishing  the  roads;  Floyd 
Little,  master  mechanic,  who  superintends  the 
machinery  and  places  the  stone,  and  Fred 
Thatcher,  who  attends  to  the  grading  of  the  road 
bed. 

Mr.  Alahoney  calls  the  roll  each  morning  at 
breakfast  time  and  Mr.  Ristau  counts  the  men 
in  at  night.  The  state  and  township  officers  deal 
with  the  men  only  as  workmen;  they  have  no 
responsibility  of  the  men's  not  going  away. 

Camp  Allen  is  a  construction  camp,  pure  and 
simple.  Outside  of  remembering  that  the  prison 
has  prescribed  a  certain  time  which  is  to  be  ful- 
filled, the  men  have  forgotten  the  prison.  The 
time  that  is  required  for  them  they  remember, 
and  day  by  day  they  count  the  obligation  less. 
As  a  construction  camp,  Mr.  Keegan  says,  it  is 
as  clean  and  feeds  its  men  as  well  as  any  other 


construction  camp  in  the  country  and  he  thinks 
the  men  are  treated  better  than  men  are  treated 
in  most  camps.  "The  Illinois  camps  are  strictly 
honor  camps,"  Mr.  Keegan  continued.  "There 
is  nothing  of  physical  force  to  hold  the  men  here 
if  they  want  to  get  away.  The  whole  restraint  is 
in  what  the  men  feel  within  themselves,  in  what 
the  other  men  would  think  about  their  running 
away  and  in  their  pledged  faith  to  the  prison  ad- 
ministration." Night  watchman  Ristau  reported 
that  he  once  missed  a  man  from  one  of  the  tents 
and  "I  hollered,"  he  said.  Quickly  came  the  cry 
from  the  man  who  had  stepped  outside  of  the 
tent,  "I  am  here,  I  am  here." 

Mr.  Keegan  said  that  he  had  never  had  occa- 
sion to  reprimand  a  man.  Mr.  Mahoney,  who  is 
with  the  men  every  day  and  who  knows  their 
daily  experiences,  has  to  speak  with  authority  at 
times.  Yet,  only  one  man  from  Camp  Allen  has  ' 
been  returned  to  the  prison  and  that  was  to 
prevent  something  threatened,  not  because  of 
anything  that  actually  happened.  The  men  have  | 
respect  for  their  officers  and  a  great  loyalty  to 
the  camp.  x\lmost  to  a  man  they  regret  that  the 
one  man  had  to  be  sent  back  to  prison.  "That 
is  the  only  blemish  on  the  camp,"  was  said  to  me 
time  and  again. 

If  in  Camp  Allen's  success  there  is  a  secret 
it  is  in  the  one  word,  confidence,  which  charac- 
terizes the  relationship  of  the  prison  administra- 
tion and  the  camp  officers  with  the  men.  And 
that  confidence  is  born,  primarily,  of  a  new  con- 
ception of  the  relationship  of  the  state  to  its 
prisoners,  of  the  relationship  of  society  to  the 
individual. 

"It  is  more  creditable  to  the  state,"  said  Mr. 
Keegan,  "as  well  as  to  the  man  himself,  to  send 
a  man  out  from  the  institution  with  some  color 
in  his  face  than  with  the  prison  palor  which 
comes  with  being  locked  up  in  those  close  and 
narrow  cells  for  three  or  four  years. 

"This  new  treatment  of  the  men  by  the  state 
is  bound  to  show  in  each  man's  attitude  where 
the  man  has  the  least  spark  of  honor  in  him. 
The  state's  confidence  in  him  makes  him  feel  that 
he  wants  to  and  that  he  can  become  a  better 
citizen,  a  really  useful  citizen." 

"I  tell  you,"  said  one  of  the  men  to  me,  "it's 
encouraging  to  have  them  treat  you  that  way." 

No  man  will  be  sent  back  to  the  prison  with- 
out a  hearing.  The  officers,  I  am  satisfied,  mean 
always  to  do  the  square  thing.    If  a  man  is  sick, 


I 


December  1,  1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


a  physician  from  Bccchcr  is  suminoncd.  There 
is  no  distinctive  clothinj;  and  no  mark  to  <lcsig. 
Mate  to  the  pubHc  that  the  men  are  prisoners. 
On  the  new  clothes  which  come  into  the  camp 
oven  the  register  number  is  not  used.  W  hen  the 
men  went  out  from  the  prison  they  were  each 
Kiven  two  suits,  a  working  suit  and  a  suit  for 
travehng.  Sundays  the  better  suits  arc  worn 
while  some  have  bought  new  ready-made  store 
suits  for  themselves. 

The  Work 


The  men  went  out  to  the  camps  to  build  roads 
and  also  to  get  away  from  the  prison  walls,  for 

1  fresh  air  and  more  liberty,  and  to  shorten  the 
time  which  they  would  serve.  But  the  getting 
away  from  the  prison  walls,  the  fresh  air  and 
liberty  and  the  shortening  of  time  are  all  con- 
tingent on  the  practicability  and  the  economy 
of  the  road  building. 

All  the  men  realize  that  the  work  they  do  is 
the  justification  of  the  camp.  Thirteen  miles  of 
i^ood  roads  were  to  be  built;  one  part  nmning 
cast  and  west,  another  north  and  south  and 
intersecting  at  Beecher. 

The  roadway  is  surveyed  and  the  grade  line 
fixed  by  the  state  engineer.  The  lines  are  deter 
mined  according  to  the  topography  of  the  land, 
cuts  and  fills  being  made  to  equalize  one  another 
so  as  to  do  away  with  the  minor  undulation- 
After  the  grading  the  road  bed  is  tuni-piked. 
when  the  sub-grading  is  done  in  preparation  for 
laying  the  stone. 

The  subgrading  is  the  excavation  made  alonj; 
tlie  center  of  the  roadway  of  a  depth  and  width 
determined  by  the  road  that  is  to  be  built.  The 
east  and  west  subgrade  is  ten  feet  wide  and  ten 
inches  deep;  the  north  and  south  road,  twelve 
feet  wide  and  twelve  inches  deep.  The  north  and 
south  road  is  a  part  of  the  Chicago  road,  a  high- 
way running  from  Chicago  to  Kankakee,  and  is 
largely  used  by  automobiles.  The  ten  or  twelve 
inch  shoulders  at  either  side  of  the  subgrades 
keep  the  crushed  stone  in  place. 

"The  main  thing  in  building  these  roads,"  said 
Mr.  Keegan,  "is  to  have  good  drainage."  To 
provide  this  side  outlets  from  the  road  bed  are 
dug  at  intervals  somewhat  lower  than  the  sub- 
grading  and  filled  in  with  the  crushed  stone. 
These  protect  the  new  road  from  any  water 
accumulation. 

At    the    siding,    bins    and    chutes    have    been 


Ml 


erected  into  which  the  crushed  jHone  »hipIK^I 
from  Joliet  is  unloa.Ied.  From  the  chute*  Uic 
"dinky"  cars  arc  fillc<l.  when  they  arc  drawn  out 
in  trains  of  tu  "or  thirty  cars  by  the 

"dinky"  engine  i.j;  „,c  track  bid  in  < 

sections  in  ihc  new  road  bc<l.     Aliout  sixty  c-ii> 

of  stone  arc  used  to  the  mile,  forty-two       -* 

to  the  car     Four  men  unload  int..  tl,, 

three  cars  a  day,  each  man 

and  one-half  yards  of  stone  (t\\ 

loads)   in  nine  hours.     At  alwut  the  same  rate 

of  handling,  the  stone  is  loade<l  from  chutes  into 


Visitors 

the   smaller  cars.     When   tiic   .hIouc   jn  d 

along  the  road  Ix-d,  the  track  is  lifted  .lui  tne 
stone  leveled  with  ■  ri,,,\  m ..  I,inc  tlr-""  'ly 
two  teams.     The  sti    ,  tnc  h 

tion    power,    furrows   bcin,  .cd   three   and 

four  miles  long. 

Small  s({uads  of  men   work  at  fi  :  the 

leveling  by  hand  after  the  r(Ki<l  machine  i  c 

its  work;  other  men  spread  the  i        '  .:    >{ 

fine  stone  or  of  gravel,  whicli  is  «ii.i»M  ..;.  u.tni 
or  has  previously  1..."  i.!...  .1  if  flu-  M.fi  i.f  fl»e 
subgrade  by  the  > 

Three  twenty-ton  steam  rollers  press  the  foun- 


G02 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


dation  stone  into  place  and,  when  the  top  dress 
stone  is  placed,  the  road  is  rolled  again. 

The  squads  of  men  work  by  themselves,  the 
most  of  them  literally  alone,  two,  three  and  five 
miles  from  camp.  At  one  place  a  little  station 
from  which  gravel  was  being  drawn,  I  found 
four  prisoners  on  a  car  waiting  for  the  next 
wagon  to  be  loaded.  These  men  were  entirely 
alone,  six  miles  from  camp  and  three  miles  from 
any  of  the  other  men  and,  as  one  of  them  said, 
"Freight  trains  go  by  here  every  twenty 
minutes." 

It  is  to  these  squads  of  men  that  the  dinners 
are  taken  from  Camp  Allen.  As  I  looked  at  the 
men  loading  the  wagons,  I  said : 

"It  looks  like  real  work  here." 

"It  is,  too,  and  lots  of  it,"  came  the  ready  but 
cheerful  reply. 

Another  man  said :  "I  tell  you  we  are  working 
out  here.  When  a  man  tells  the  warden  that  he 
can  stand  hard  graft,  he  wants  to  know  that  he 
can  stack  right  up." 

During  the  hot  summer  the  work  bore  down 
heavily,  the  men  said. 

I  helped  to  load  one  wagon  and  shoveled  stone 
from  a  car  one  hour  myself  just  to  see  what  the 
work  is. 

I  noticed  particularly  how  the  men  kept  to 
their  tasks  as  the  natural  thing,  worked  faith- 
fully, without  anyone  to  observe  or  direct  them 
further  than  one  of  their  own  number  who,  by 
the  nature  of  the  situation,  was  the  natural 
"foreman"  of  that  squad.  One  of  the  men  said 
to  me: 

"The  men  are  as  much  interested  in  having 
the  work  well  and  quickly  done  as  the  officers 


are. 


One  township  officer,  a  "boss"  of  the  old 
school,  looking  upon  the  men  as  "convicts,"  tried 
to  push  the  men  unreasonably.  Mr.  Keegan  sent 
word  of  this  to  the  highway  commissioners  and 
the  "boss"  was  given  other  work.  D.  S.  James, 
the  highway  commissioner,  who  superintends 
the  finishing  of  the  roads  and  who  at  this  writing 
is  the  only  officer  out  with  any  of  the  men,  said 
to  me: 

"No  one  is  shirking.  There  is  not  a  man  out 
here  who  is  not  workinsf  ri^ht " 

Mr.  Keegan  accounts  for  the  particular  effi- 
ciency of  the  men  in  their  being  of  a  higher  class 
than  men  who  usually  work  in  construction  gangs 
and  in  the  men's  interest  in  helping  to  make  the 


road  work  plan  a  success  both  for  their  own 
good  and  for  the  good  of  the  other  prisoners. 

Mr.  Hathaway  said  the  work  is  being  done 
cheaper  than  it  would  be  done  by  regular  labor 
but  the  difference  is  not  so  great  as  the  differ- 
ence in  pay  to  the  men  might  suggest.  The 
township  pays  fifty  cents  a  day  for  each  man, 
but  this  includes  rainy  days  and  Sundays.  Seven 
men  do  not  work  on  the  roads,  being  employed 
at  the  camp.  The  men  must  be  at  the  camp  at 
a  certain  hour  for  supper,  which  makes  the 
workday  short  when  the  work  is  far  away;  the 
township  pays  the  night  watchman,  furnishes  the 
coal  used  at  the  camp,  bore  the  expense  of  plac- 
ing the  well,  erected  the  two  camp  buildings,  etc., 
all  of  which  adds  to  the  expense  of  the  prison 
labor. 

"There  would  be  a  possible  further  economy 
another  year,"  said  Mr.  Hathaway,  "through 
what  has  been  learned  from  the  experience  of 
this  year."  The  prison  labor  costs  the  township 
near  one  dollar  a  day  a  man.  The  Beecher  road 
costs  about  $4,000  a  mile,  the  grading  costing 
about  $1,000  a  mile.  The  exact  figures  can  be 
given  when  the  job  is  completed  and  the  initial 
expenses  equalized  over  the  whole  work. 

As  explained,  the  men  work  in  shifts,  one  shift 
from  3  o'clock  a.  m.,  until  noon ;  the  other  from 
1  o'clock  p.  m.,  until  9.  The  men  change  shifts 
each  alternate  week.  Five  hours'  work  only  on 
Saturdays.  Every  day  some  men  from  one  of 
the  shifts  work  overtime  unloading  cars  for 
which  they  receive  twenty  cents  an  hour.  The 
camp  men  also  have  their  turn  and  besides  they 
are  credited  for  their  own  work  with  one 
and  one-half  hours'  overtime  for  Sundays  and 
holidays.  Three  hours  are  the  regular  extra 
time  after  supper  during  which  four  men  un- 
load one  car  of  stone.  Sometimes  there  are  four 
hours'  work  when  the  men  earn  eighty  cents. 
One  man  made  $1.20  from  overtime  in  one  day. 
Another  put  in  nine  hours  besides  his  regular 
day  to  the  state  and  made  $1.80.  He  worked 
from  3  o'clock  a.  m.  until  11  p.  m.  Some  have 
earned  and  saved  from  $15.00  to  $40.00.  Two 
or  three  have  earned  $65.00.  One  man,  from 
September  2  to  October  7  earned  $14.40;  one 
from  July  17  to  October  7,  $45.00;  one  had  fifty- 
two  cents  when  he  came,  now  he  has  $21.00  even ; 
one  said,  "When  I  came  out  here  I  hadn't  a 
bean;  now  I  have  $21.00."  One  man  earned, 
per  week,  $4.00,  $10.70  and  $7.62 ;  for  the  three 


December  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


Ml 


weeks,  $22.32.     He  earned  it  "shoveling  rock," 
he  said. 

I  watched  one  man  on  a  car  at  the  siding. 
He  was  a  Lithuanian  who,  (|uile  through  the 
accident  of  circumstances,  an  affair  that  involvc.I 
his  wife,  had  committed  and  had  heen  convicted 
of  manslauj^ditor.  He  had  come  from  Russia 
fifteen  years  ajjo.  He  was  an  honest,  even- 
tempered.  in(histrious  man. 

"Hard  work?,"  I  in(|uired. 

"Sure,  hard  work;  hut  I  nmko  a  'lollir  t>«.-.i*v 
cents  this  day." 

The  man  had  worked  overtime  and  had  earned 
about  twenty-five  dollars. 

"A  long  time  to  make  that,"  he  said.  "Work 
nine  hours  for  the  state,  then  work  evenings  to 
earn  this.  Yes,  we  have  to  work  hard  in  this 
place." 

I  leamed  afterwards  that  this  man  was  one 
of  the  most  trusted  men  in  the  camp.  Before 
his  trouble  he  had  worked  in  coal  mines  for 
thirteen  or  fourteen  years.  "I  work  hard  all 
time,'  he  said.  One  man  explained,  "The  reason 
I  do  not  work  at  night  is  that  I  am  afraid  it 
will  pull  me  down.  I  work  the  half-day  extra 
time  on  Saturdays."  Some  work  during  tlieir 
spare  hours  for  neighboring  farmers,  one  or  two 
miles  away,  shocking  oats,  filling  silos,  husking 
corn,  plowing.  Other  men  make  trinkets,  neck 
laces,  charms,  etc.,  which  are  sold  to  visitors. 
Some  have  sold  $20  worth  or  more.  Two  men 
in  one  tent  advantageously  situated  sold  $15 
worth  in  one  day. 

"Every  man  in  camp  has  a  bank  account," 
said  Mr.  Mahoney. 

The  men  have  bought  new  suits  and  other 
supplies.  They  have  spent  three  times  the 
amounts  that  have  been  sent  to  them  by  their 
friends.  On  October  5  the  men  had  a  collective 
bank  balance  of  $827.79. 

One  man  of  the  construction  train  gang  who 
shared  the  tent  with  ine,  responded  one  morning 
to  the  night  watchman's  3  o'clock  call  and  while 
still  sitting  on  the  side  of  the  bed  said,  "I'll  be 
glad  when  the  shift  changes  to  afternoon."  With- 
out further  word  the  man  dressed  and  went 
quietly  out  into  the  dark.  Later  I  heard  the 
little  engine  whistle  down  in  the  yard ;  then  I 
heard  it  puff  its  way  out  along  the  track  where 
its  noise  faded  away  into  the  distance  and  all 
was  silent  again. 


This  man  every  day  worked  extra  time  for  A 
farmer. 

I  went  to  sleep.     I  nexi  mani  luc  unaKiast 
call  at  6  o'clock. 

Why  these  men  stay  faithful  to  their  dntiet  at 
the  camp  is  a  question  of  some  ii:  But 

it  is  a  question  that  can  Ik  answered  and  that  it 
being  answered  by  the  daily  live*  of  the  men 
at  the  road  camps  an<l  at  the  stale  farms,  and 
the  answer  is  u«!       '  :al 

tb'ni'ht  alxiut  pi  i  uiL  imiicni. 

;i.-'  :  V  of  the  en: 


;:». 


The  Freedom 

I  have  said  that  the  one  word  in  whkrh  is  the 
secret  of  the  success  of  Camp  Allen,  is  *'coafi* 
dence."     To  break  the  cot  S  is  now 

between    the    prison    admiuihUutiun,    the    camp 


Leveling 

officers  an<l  the  men.  would  change  the  whole 
character  of  the  camp.  That  of  the  camv  v^Jii.  h 
is  vital  and  in  which  is  the  ho|tc  of  the  i  •! 

the  security  of  the  state,  would  be  gone. 

The  prisoners  who  have  been  sent  to  Camp 
.Mien   from   the   Illinois   State    Prison    feci   that 
so  far  as  society  and  as  the  state  are  repretkcnted 
by  the  prison  administration  and  the  camp  oAi- 
.  there  is  a  new  i  'on  of  the      '  "   p 

ui  the  state  to  its  -  -  a  new  anii  niust  mic 

and    wholesome    j^.... ..ip   of    society    '••    '•^• 

individual. 

The  men  believe  they  can  nuke  this  same  con- 
dition good  with  society  at  Urge  if  the  rcLi: 
ship  at  Camp  Allen  can  t>e  maintained  so  that 
while  there  they  can  fully  prove  thet 
can  hardly  be  hoped  that  every  one  ol  the  men 


no4 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


at  the  road  camps  will  make  good  when  they 
leave  the  camps,  but  the  most  of  them  will  and 
it  is  the  large  percentage  who  will  become  a  social 
asset,  who  will  add  something  to  the  social  worth 
of  the  state  or  of  the  country  at  large  that  I  am 
taking  most  into  account. 

The  whole  prison  problem  is  to  bring  men  to 
live  a  normal,  social  life  and  to  make  them  strong 
enough  to  continue  in  that  whatever  be  the  stress 
of  circumstances  or  the  opportunity  for  appar- 
ent advantage  to  do  otherwise. 

As  I  understand  it,  Warden  Allen's  purpose 
is  to  make  the  men's  life  at  the  camps  as  normal 
as  possible.  There  are  really  only  two  prohi- 
bitions over  the  camp — the  men  shall  not  run 
away  and  they  shall  do  nothing  to  bring  the 
camp  into  disrepute. 

Mr.  Keegan,  superintendent  of  road  work, 
says: 

"One  thing  that  has  helped  the  camp  more 
than  any  one  thing  else,  is  Warden  Allen's  lib- 
eral nature.  He  has  granted  nearly  all  that  the 
men  have  asked  and  that  gives  the  men  confi- 
dence in  our  purpose  here  to  open  to  them  every 
possibility  which  we  can  see  they  will  make  use 
of.  They  see  that  they  are  not  abridged  except 
in  ways  which  they  themselves  recognize  are  nec- 
essary in  order  to  preserve  the  authority  of  the 
state  and  to  keep  intact  the  Warden's  obligation 
to  the  people  as  a  whole.  The  Warden  can  call 
every  man  in  camp  by  his  given  name  and  all 
of  the  men  are  glad  to  see  him  when  he  comes. 

"Our  experience  shows  that  a  great  many  men 
in  prison  can  be  taken  out  into  the  country  and 
put  to  work  as  any  ordinary  men  work.  It  is 
a  great  thing  to  find  this  out. 

"When  any  question  of  a  particular  freedom 
at  the  camp  comes  up,  I  do  not  say  'yes'  until 
I  know  I  am  justified  in  saying  it  and  that  to  give 
that  freedom  is  within  the  law  and  within  the 
rules  for  the  camp  that  have  been  laid  down  by 
the  Warden.  When  I  know  that  I  am  justified 
I  say  'yes'  and  then  all  that  I  promise  I  fulfill. 

"Our  road  work  is  not  compulsory.  No  man 
need  work  on  the  road  if  he  does  not  choose  to. 
Only,  of  course,  each  understands  that  the  camp 
is  for  men  who  do  want  to  work  on  the  road 
and  that  he  who  does  not  want  to  work  is  to 
be  taken  back  to  the  prison. 

"This  is  a  camp  of  free  workers;  it  is  not  a 
corral  of  men  under  enforced  servitude.  Every 
movement  in  the  work  of  every  man  here  is  a 


free  movement  from  his  own  will  and  from  his 
own  choice.  He  wants  to  do  what  he  is  doing 
because  he  knows  that  it  is  winning  him  his 
complete  freedom. 

"Freedom  is  the  foundation  principle  of  the 
Illinois  camps  and  the  freedom  that  is  allowed 
the  men  in  w^orking  or  not  working  on  the  road 
must  also  be  given  them  in  their  other  life  here 
so  long  as  they  recognize  and  protect  the  camp's 
obligations. 

"There,"  said  the  superintendent,  as  he  pointed 
to  a  tall,  lanky  fellow  with  a  dinner  pail  who 
w^as  just  about  to  disappear  over  a  hill,  "is  a  man 
going  away  a  mile  to  work  by  himself."  Before 
the  man  went  out  of  sight  he  turned  and  waved 
his  hand  to  us  and  smiled. 

"It  is  necessary  to  send  the  men  out  like  that," 
continued  Mr.  Keegan.  "I  make  a  study  oif  the 
men  and  I  know  their  ability ;  I  know  the  nature 
of  the  work  to  be  done.  If  a  man  is  able  to  do 
the  work  we  send  him  right  out  and  trust  him. 

"Every  man  of  this  camp  has  just  one  object 
in  view — to  'make  good.'  He  calls  up  every- 
thing in  him  in  order  to  do  the  work.  Every 
man  seems  to  say:  'They  have  put  all  this  con- 
fidence in  me  and  I  am  going  to  prove  myself 
and  to  win.'  " 

One  man  has  bought  an  air  rifle  and  the  diflFer- 
ent  men  in  their  odd  hours  hunt  English  spar- 
rows with  it  in  the  trees  of  the  camp  or  in  the 
trees  on  neighboring  farms.  Two  sleek  cats  of 
the  camp  have  learned  to  hunt  and  they  go  along. 
The  men  enjoy  seeing  the  cats  rise  on  their  hind 
feet  waiting  for  the  birds  to  fall,  which,  when 
shot,  they  catch  before  the  bird  reaches  the 
ground.  Besides  having  learned  to  hunt,  these 
cats  have  been  taught  a  number  of  tricks.  Two 
dogs  are  also  pets  at  the  camp.  The  man  who 
owns  this  air  gun  escaped  from  the  prison  once, 
and  under  Mr.  Keegan,  too,  when  Mr.  Keegarj 
had  charge  of  the  quarry,  but  now,  as  it  suits  his 
fancy,  he  gets  up  at  4  o'clock  and,  all  alone  with 
his  gun  and  the  cats,  goes  away  into  the  neigh- 
boring groves  hunting  sparrows. 

The  camp  fellows  are  all  boys  when  the  day's 
work  is  over  and  can  enjoy  a  little  fun  as  do 
other  people.  Once,  when  starting  in  from  the 
work  on  the  road,  it  was  found  that  the  wagon 
would  not  carry  all.  One  colored  fellow  said: 
'T'm  a  horse  jockey,  I'll  ride  the  mule."  He 
mounted  the  mule,  set  his  legs  firmly  against  the 
mule's  sides,  saying,  "Well,  look  out,  boys,  I'm 


December  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


605 


going  to  the  camp."  Tlic  young  colored  fellow 
went  straiglit  iij)  into  the  air  and  the  nnile  was 
home  eating  her  oats  in  the  little  camp  stable 
when  the  "jockey."  now  not  quite  so  certain  of 
himself,  arrived. 

One  holiday  I  took  a  walk  with  the  head  waiter 
of  the  dining  room  out  over  one  of  the  new  roads 
that  had  been  built.  After  walking  about  a  mile 
we  encountered  two  other  men  who  had  started 
out  from  camp  for  a  walk  ahead  of  us.  \Vc 
four  walked  until  we  came  to  the  Indiana  state 
line  but  not  a  man  would  cross  the  middle  of 
the  intersecting  road ;  no  one  would  pass  from 
under  the  sovereignty  of  the  state  to  which,  while 
a  prisoner,  he  was  under  obligation.  On  the 
Illinois  side  of  the  road  is  a  creamery  and  we 
had  some  new  and  refreshing  buttermilk.  Wi- 
returned  to  the  camp  and  reached  there  in  time 
for  the  head  waiter  to  set  his  tables  for  dinner, 
which  had  been  his  concern  all  the  time  we  were 
out.     We  had  walked  nine  miles. 

At  one  place  on  the  road  one  man  spoke  up, 
"Right  along  here  is  where  I  made  $1.80  ovf^^- 
tinie  in  two  days." 

Late  one  evening  two  men  asked  me  to  l, 
for  a  walk.     When  out  a  little  way  from  camp 
we  met  a  prisoner  coming  out  of  the  dark  turn- 
ing into  the  road  from  the  railroad  where  he  had 
been  walking  by  himself. 

'Men  who  want  them  have  their  own  razors 
and  other  articles  of  a  shaving  outfit  and  als( 
they  buy  what  other  personal  accessories  they 
need.  One  Sunday  afternoon  a  man  came  down 
the  row  of  tents  hurrying  from  the  superintend 
ent's  tent  saying,  "Say,  have  any  of  you  fellows 
got  the  catalogue  of  Sears,  Roebuck  &  Co?" 

Tiie  naturalness  with  which  the  men,  when 
not  at  work,  pick  up  and  go  to  their  baseball 
field  reveals  the  worth  of  a  method  like  that  of 
Camp  Allen  to  make  men  again  of  those  whom 
society  has  come  to  doubt  and  who  themselves 
had  almost  abandoned  manhood. 

The  camp  men  had  given  a  minstrel  show  at 
Bcecher.  During  the  i)reparation  a  piano  had 
been  lent  with  which  the  men  practice<l  their 
parts  at  the  camp.  The  twenty-two  members  of 
the  company  made  a  dress  parade  in  the  after- 
noon preceding  the  show.  The  hall  was  fur- 
nished free.  With  a  paid  admission,  they  filled 
the  hall  and  turned  away  as  many  more.  The 
show    was    repeated    a    second    night.      Many 


met 
and 
and 
c  to 


snatches  from  different  sketches  were  recited  to 
me  when  I  arrived. 

Sunday  is  \     •         '    ..     1  he  \ 
at    the   train    \^ii,,   .i>ii<>nu»bilc   or 
taken  to  the  camp.     They   ren""^ 
are  given  some  of  the  chef's  « 
drink  with  their  lunch —  compliment  of  the  canij» 
lAerylxxly  expresses  his  good  will  to  the  vi*' 
when  they  go.     To  one  mother  who  lud  viMtetl 
the  camp  each  Sunday,   I   said  an  «  4 

worcl.    She  thanked  me,  "Hut."    "         uj.    1  u;int 
you  to  do  something  to  /  !•«•>  uut." 

M.nl  .-..in, -s  !«;...  .  .1 .,  ....,;  (j^  men  write  a* 


Dumping  Stone  for  New  Roadway 

often  as  they  wish  with  material  and  stamp  fur- 
nished. 

Attracted  l»y  the  National  flag  3n<l  the  streamer 
iK-aring  the  words,  "Camp  A'  which  float 

from  the  top  of  the  tall  flag  stall  at  the  head  of 
the  camp,  men  who  come  along  slop  and  ask  for 
work,  not  knowii         '    t  kind  of  a  camp  it  is. 

On  one  of  my  in-i  i.tys  in  camp  I  saw  a  meal 
Inring  set  up  by  the  chef  in  the  kitchen  for  a 
man  whom  I  di<l  not  know.  I  noticcfl  that  the 
man  had  coflfee  with  a  lilnrral  amount  of  cream, 
I)Otatoes,  bacon,  three  eggs,  bread  and  butter  and 


606 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


cookies  and  that  when  the  meal  was  finished  the 
man  was  given  an  additional  number  of  cookies 
to  take  along  with  him.  I  asked  who  the  man 
was.  None  knew.  "We  often  feed  men  such 
as  he  who  come  along  the  road,"  said  the  chef. 
The  man  was  a  stranger,  a  "tramp"— and  can 
a  conz'ict  know  a  tramp?  Outcasts  both  in  the 
conventional  thought  of  the  world ! 

Saturday  nights  a  change  of  clothing  begins. 
Sunday  moniing  all  are  dressed  in  their  best  suits 
for  the  day.  Another  week  of  camp  freedom 
passed  and  every  one  answering  to  the  morning 
roll  call ! 

The  Camp's  Influence 

Camp  Allen  was  established  June  15,  1914, 
when  forty- four  men  were  sent  out.  Since 
then  twenty-one  men  have  been  added  to  the 
camp  while  some  of  the  original  men  have  earned 
their  discharge. 

Camp  Allen  has  made  the  best  record  of  any 
Illinois  camp  so  far.  The  men  were  carefully 
picked.  But  yet  they  are  mostly  men  of  prison 
experience,  men  with  "records ;"  they  are  not 
men  all  of  whom  have  not  before  been  enmeshed 
in  the  law  as  might  be  supposed.  There  is  a 
tremendous  importance  in  what  is  being  done  in 
the  road  camps  and  on  the  state  farms  through- 
out this  .American  commonwealth.  The  older 
theories  of  penologists  of  the  genesis  of  crime, 
and  the  opinion  of  the  world  that  punishment, 
and  punishment  alone,  cures  crime,  is  being  dis- 
solved. Constructive  methods  are  beine  found 
to  be  of  far  greater  value  than  the  old  penal 
jiolicies. 

An  in(Hvid^,al  cataloging  of  the  men  at  Camp 
Allen  could  be  made  to  show  their  court  and 
prison  experiences.  A  few  cases  will  be  sug- 
gestive : 

One  young  man,  who,  with  great  interest  is 
now  learning  to  cook  under  the  competent  chef, 
has  been  in  the  Joliet  penitentiary  twice,  on  one 
charge,  however,  he  having  been  returned  to  the 
prison  on  broken  parole.  Another  man  is  now 
ser\ing  a  third  period  of  a  sentence  to  the 
Illinois  penitentiary.  He  broke  his  parole  and 
was  away  from  the  prison  four  years;  he  was 
again  granted  parole,  broke  it  and  was  out  eleven 
years.  He  is  now  making  good  at  the  camp.  I 
saw  him  one  day  with  two  other  prisoners  work- 
ing, the  three  wholly  alone,  fully  three  miles  from 
camp.     One  man,  assistant  waiter  in  the  dining 


room,  has  been  once  in  the  John  Worthy  School, 
twice  in  the  state  reform  school,  six  or  seven 
times  (he  could  not  remember)  in  jail,  twice  in 
the  bridewell  and  twice  in  /the  state  penitentiary. 
One  man  who,  when  fourteen  years  of  age,  ran 
away  from  home,  has  served  one  term  in  the 
Illinois  reformatory,  one  in  the  Colorado  state 
prison  and,  as  he  said,  "fifteen  or  twenty  times 
in  the  bridewell,"  and  he  is  now  in  the  Illinois 
State  Penitentiary  for  the  third  time ;  altogether 
seventeen  solid  years  inside  prison  walls.  In  the 
seventeen  years  he  was  reported  once  only.  In 
the  evening  after  I  had  taken  these  notes,  this 
man  came  and  put  his  head  into  the  opening  of 
my  tent  and  said :  "If,  with  the  prison  experi- 
ence I  have  had,  I  can  make  good,  any  man  can 
make  good.  You  may  use  my  name  if  you  want 
to  if  it  will  help  anybody."  This  man  was  work- 
ing on  the  car  of  stone  where  I  took  my  hour's 
experience  in  helping  to  unload.  One  other  man 
has  been  ten  times  in  the  bridewll,  three  times  in 
the  state  reformatory  and  once  in  the  state 
penitentiary.  The  last  sixteen  men  who  went 
from  the  penitentiary  to  Camp  Allen  on  July 
17  are  nearly  all,  they  told  me,  men  with  records. 
I  was  told  that  not  over  ten  men  in  the  camp 
are  without  records,  that  is,  men  who  have  been 
convicted  but  once.  And  yet  all  these  men  are 
getting  on. 

It  is  the  new  social  attitude  toward  the  indi- 
vidual, the  new  attitude  of  the  prison  adminis- 
tration toward  the  prisoners  that  is  doing  the 
work.  Men  and  women  need  moral  strength; 
the  state  supplies  a  measure  of  that  strength 
through  showing  the  men  that  it  has  confidence 
in  them.  If  the  prison  administration  and  the 
camp  officers  should  fail  the  men,  the  men  would 
fall  inevitably.  In  this  is  the  whole  secret  of 
the  men's  new  strength  to  go  forward  toward 
the  fulfillment  of  their  hope,  to  go  forward,  at 
least,  while  under  the  beneficent  influence  of  the 
prison  authorities.  A  man  at  the  camp  voiced 
it :  "This  camp  is  named  after  the  Warden,  and 
we  are  all  trying  to  do  our  best."  Another  said : 
"Mr.  Keegan  is  well  thought  of  by  every  man 
in  the  camp,  and  his  word  is  as  good  as  his  bond." 
It  is  the  help  that  the  men  get  that  is  carrying 
them  forward.  It  is  not  that  the  men  are  so 
much  stro-nger  than  they  were  before.  The 
simple  thing  is  that  they  have  found  a  friend. 
In  the  want  of  such  a  friend  when  they  go  out 
into  the  world  is  the  explanation  of  why  men 


■y 

5 


I 


i 


I 
11 

IV] 


December  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


607 


who  make  good  in  the  camps  fail  when  they 
mingle  with  society;  the  life  bond  of  pure  uplift 
and  helpfulness  is  wanting. 

"There  isn't  a  man  here,"  said  a  man  who 
works  at  the  siding,  "but  is  ready  to  do  his  Kv«d 
best." 

One  man,  an  Italian,  who  felt  deeply  the  con- 
trast of  the  camp  with  the  prison,  said  to  me 
one  evening  as  he  came  from  work: 

"I  was  given  a  time  to  do  and  I  never  expected 
to  be  out  here  and  to  see  the  stars  until  I  had 
done  all  of  it." 

"Well,  you  can  see  the  stars  now,"  I  said, 
looking  up. 

"Yes,  I  see  them  now,"  said  the  man,  looking 
into  the  clear  sky  and  raising  his  hands  and 
clasping  them  together.  Then  he  continued : 
"God  bless  the  administration ;  all  of  it,  all  of  it. 
And  this  is  all  of  prison  for  me;  this  is  the  end." 

I  said :  "Are  you  tired  from  your  day's  work  ?" 

"No,"  he  replied,  and  then  added,  "just  a  little, 
but  that  don't  amount  to  anything." 

One  man  wished  that  the  legislature  would 
give  a  larger  allowance  of  good  time,  one-third, 
as  is  given  in  some  states,  instead  of  one-fourth. 
"I  think,"  he  said,  "if  they  will  do  that  the  men 
will  do  their  utmost  to  prove  themselves  of  worth 
to  society." 

Concerning  the  influence  of  the  camp  in  tilting 
the  men  to  stand  up  in  the  world  at  large  when 
they  are  discharged,  Mr.  Mahoncy  said: 

"There  is  many  a  man  here  who,  if  he  had 
been  sent  out  directly  from  prison,  would  have 
gone  back  to  his  old  habits,  but  when  these  men 
leave  here  they  will  be  good  citizens.  Nearly 
every  man  now  is  figuring  where  he  can  get 
a  job  when  he  gets  out." 

Mr.  Keegan,  the  superintendent  of  the  road 
work,  is  a  strong  supporter  of  the  camp  plan. 
His  endorsement  has  grown  with  his  experience. 
He  saw  a  number  of  the  same  men  in  the  quarry 
at  the  prison  and  he  knows  how  the  men  have 
acted  and  have  felt  under  the  ditTcrent  circum- 
stances and   with  the  different  prospects. 

"The  men  now,"  said  Mr.  Keegan,  "are  not  so 
irritable,  their  minds  are  easier  than  they  were. 
At  the  prison  they  were  cranky  and  fault-finding, 
now  they  curb  themselves.  That  they  arc  out 
here  on  their  honor  is  foremost  in  their  minds. 
They  are  changed  men  under  the  new  conditions. 
What  has  taken  place  in  these  men  upsets  the 
whole  former  view  of  how  such  men  should  be 


dealt  with.  1  he  criminolof^st's  view  and  con- 
seijucnt  theory  is  all  wrong. 

"Take  that  colored  man  there.  He  Irictl  to 
get  away  from  nic  at  the  quarry.  I  have  two 
other  men  who  tried  to  cscajx*  from  there.  I 
thought  there  was  some  good  in  this  fellow  and 
I  said  to  him  one  day: 

"  'Will  you  fail  to  make  good  if  I  take  you 
out  on  the  road?    Will  you  run  away?* 

"  'No,'  he  told  me.  I  brought  him  out  and  ihc 
months  have  [lassed  and  there  he  is. 

"The  constructive  i)olicy  of  camp  life  gives 
men  a  chance  to  get  outside  into  good  surround- 
ings and  fresh  air  where  they  can  prove  them- 
selves. It  is  a  benefit  for  Ixjth  the  men  and  for 
society.  There  will  come  a  tinjc  when  we  won't 
need  any  prisons.  Men  sentencr''  '-v  flu-  rnurt 
will  go  directly  on  the  road." 


The  Finished  Koad 

The  men  of  the  camp  who  have  ncciled  to  grow 
into  the  idea  of  the  right  aiul  propriety  in  earn- 
ing wages  and  of  living  thus  ufwn  their  own 
resources,  arc  learning  these  from  the  normal 
life  they  arc  beginning  to  live.  The  social  value 
of  what  is  Ijeing  done  at  prison  camps  and  farms 
is  that  the  cam|w  and  farms  arc  .showing  that 
men  who  have  been  sent  to  prison  can  l»e  made 
into  good  citizens,  and  from  this  it  will  be  learned 
that  many  men  can  be  made  into  good  cilijtcns 
without  Ixring  sent  to  prison. 

Why  the  Men  Stay 

Why  the  men  stay  with  the  camp  can  best 
l)e  known  by  talking  with  the  men  themselves, 
by  living  among  them  day  by  day,  so  that  they 


608 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


will  come  to  know  that  one  is  considering  their 
best  interests.  They  then  will  talk  with  one  freely 
and  one  may  know  what  they  really  feel. 

The  foundation  of  the  camp's  security  is  the 
confidence  the  men  have  of  the  administration's 
intention  to  deal  well  with  them.     The  men's 


tration  is  really  doing  its  best  for  them  is  of  great 
moral  strength  in  stimulating  the  men  to  "come 
clean."  It  furnishes  them  with  a  stamina  that, 
without  the  state's  helpful  attitude,  would  be 
lacking.  In  becoming  a  big  brother  to  the  man, 
the  state  gives  the  necessary  help.     Many  of  the 


thoueht  may  be  wrong  of  what  they  consider      men  are  not  themselves  big  enough  to  be  the 


injustices,  but  that  is  one  of  the  peculiarities  of 
the  situation;  the  men  themselves  are  subject  to 
the  quality  and  character  of  their  own  minds. 
One  man  said  to  me :  "Twenty-five  per  cent  of 
the  men  who  run  away  do  so  because  they  think 
they  have  been  given  a  raw  deal." 

But  most  men  who  leave,  do  so,  I  find,  because      will  run  away." 


first  to  show^  the  good,  but  when  the  state  shows 

its  good  to  them,  they  can  respond. 

One  man  said,  and  let  us  take  his  own  words : 
"It  is  too  confining  there  at  the  prison.     One 

is  shut  in  too  much  like  a  dog.    Here  in  the  open 

there  is  fresh  air,  more  freedom.     No  man  here 


they  do  not  want  to  give  up  from  their  lives  the 
time  that  the  state  is  requiring  of  them.  One 
man,  the  manager  of  the  camp  laundry,  said : 

"At  the  prison,  under  the  old  conditions, 
eighty  per  cent  were  trying  to  get  away.  Now^ 
at  this  camp,  one  hundred  per  cent  are  staying. 
The  old  way  called  out  the  worst  that  is  in  us; 
the  new  way  calls  out  the  best  that  is  in  us,  and 
we  want  to  live  up  to  it." 

I  was  told  by  a  man  of  prison  experience  that 
three  per  cent  of  the  men  even  at  camps  stay 
only  because  they  do  not  have  the  courage  to 
get  away ;  they  are  governed  by  fear  rather  than 
by  any  virtue. 

Rut  I  am  convinced  that  the  great  majority  of 
the  men  stay  because  they  feel  it  is  the  wisest 
thing  to  do.  The  percentage  of  men  who  stay 
only  because  their  honor  is  pledged  and  because 
the  administration  has  faith  in  them,  is  com- 
paratively small ;  all  the  men,  I  believe,  have  this 


One  young  fellow  was  looking  on  wistfully 
when  we  were  talking  about  the  finishing  of  time. 
I  said: 

"Here  is  a  boy  who  wants  to  go  home  very 
badly." 

"You  bet  I  do.    I  have  been  here  a  long  time." 

"How  long?" 

"Nine  years ;  I  have  two  years  and  seven 
months  more  to  do." 

Tfte  man  had  a  twenty-year  sentence,  but  was 
earning  eight  years  and  nine  months  good  time 
by  not  getting  into  trouble  and  being  reported. 

To  a  colored  man  of  round  face  and  sturdy 
form,  I  said : 

"Does  the  idea  ever  enter  your  mind  that 
possibly  it  might  pay  to  try  to  run  away?" 

He  looked  at  me  squarely,  rolling  his  big  eyes : 

"No,  I  never  think  of  that.  I  came  out  with 
the  first  bunch.  There  is  so  much  freedom  here 
and  everybody  who  lives  around  here  is  treating 


reason,  but  the  great  majority  of  them  have  an      us  so  well  that  nobody  wants  to  run  away.     It 
additional  reason  also.    They  accept  the  obliga-      is  just  like  home  here." 


tion  due  the  state  as  a  man  accepts  the  obligation 
due  the  person  who  holds  a  mortgage  on  his 
land,  or  as  a  man  accepts  any  obligation  which 
he  acknowledges,  and  they  set  themselves  to  the 
task  of  fulfilling  and  dissolving  the  obligation  so 


There  are  a  number  of  minor  complaints  in 
the  camp  and  many  that  will  never  come  to  the 
ears  of  the  officers,  and  there  are  indications  of 
undermovements  which,  however,  may  never 
come  to  the  surface.    The  men  accept  the  things 


that  they  may  be  free  from  another's  authority      complained  of  because  they  do  not  see  that  they 


over  them  as  the  man  with  the  mortgage  is  free 
when  he  has  his  mortgage  paid. 

I  found  this  wholesome  and  rational  judgment 
in  most  of  the  men  at  Camp  Allen.  They  recog- 
nize that  their  sentence  is  not  something  that  is 
to  be  escaped;  here,  if  anywhere  in  the  world, 
most  of  the  men  recognize  that  not  one  jot  or 
one  tittle  shall  pass  from  the  law  till  all  be  ful- 
filled. 

The  men's  confidence  that  the  prison  adminis- 


can  be  corrected  and  also  some  of  them  fear  that 
a  complaint  would  send  them  back  to  the  prison. 
One  man  said:  "The  thought  of  things  back 
there  makes  us  put  up  wnth  the  smaller  things 
here."  But,  as  I  have  said,  I  believe  that  every 
officer  at  the  camp  means  to  do  right  by  each  of 
the  men  and  I  think  that  any  man  of  the  camp, 
if  he  knows  how  properly  to  offer  his  criticism, 
will  have  consideration. 

In  the  main,  the  men  stay  with  their  obligation 


December  1.  1014 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


600 


to  the  state  because,  in  sober  judKnunt,  they  be- 
lieve it  is  the  best  thing  for  them  to  do.  They 
liave  reasoned  it  out  and  they  see  that  to  earn 
their  freedom  is  best. 

The  Neighborhood 

\\  hen  the  Camp  Allen  men  reached  Beecher 
they  found  a  large  crowd  of  jK-ople  waiting  to 
see  them,  brought  mostly  through  curiosity,  of 
course.  The  men,  in  their  citizen's  suits,  left 
the  train  as  any  other  like  number  of  men  travel- 
ing together  would  have  left  it ;  the  first  to  go 
out  from  the  prison  and  not  to  march  in  line  with 
officers  when  passing  through  a  town. 

The  men  report  that  at  first  when  they  met 
women  and  children  in  the  road  the  women  kept 
the  children  close  to  them  and  when  alone  the 
children  would  go  away  out  into  the  fields. 
One  farmer  said  to  me : 

"Before  I  saw  the  men  I  locked  up  every- 
thing. Since  I  have  seen  and  talked  with  them,  1 
see  that  they  are  the  same  as  other  men  and  1 
have  implicit  confidence  in  them." 

In  town  one  afternon  I  could  see  that  in  the 
stores  there  was  no  distrust  of  the  prisoner  who 
was  with  me. 

The  show  that  the  men  gave  at  lieecher  drew 
farmers  from  the  country  around  as  well  as  the 
townsfolk. 

Dr.  D.  D.  \'an  \'oorhis,  who  owns  a  large  farm 
adjoining  Beecher,  has  brought  grapes  to  the 
camp  for  the  men;  once  he  came  with  a  half 
bushel  of  peanuts  which  he  distributed ;  after 
I  came  he  brought  a  large  basket  of  pears  which 
his  young  son  distributed  from  tent  to  tent. 

The  neighborhood  people  have  inaugurated 
Sunday  services  at  the  camp  and  .services  are 
held  each  week  which  a  number  from  outside 
attend.  At  the  first  service  I  attended  flowers 
had  been  brought  which  were  placed  upon  the 
organ.  At  the  first  service  the  visiting  men  and 
women  shook  hands  with  all  of  the  men  of  the 
camp.  Always  on  Sunday  afternoon  there  are 
neighborhood  visitors,  several  automobiles  stand- 
ing about  at  one  time. 

One  weekday  afternoon  a  farmer  lad  came 
driving  in  with  a  flourish ;  he  loaded  in  an  empty 
e^^  case  and  drove  away.  Tf  nil  seemed  so 
normal  and  natural. 

Dr.  Van  \'oorhis  and  his  wife  and  others  with 
them  have  come  in  on  week  days  and  played  the 
organ  and  sung  with  the  men. 


I  said  lu  .se\eiai  oi  the  men:  "Do  the  neigh- 
l)orh(KMl  people  treat  you  all  right?" 

"So  well  tli.if  vv<-  cannot  wish  to  be  treated 
any  letter." 

Mr.  Fretl  K.  Ilelt,  justice  of  the  i)cacc,  sai<I : 

"At  first  the  i>eople  were  afraid  that  the  prison- 
ers would  take  the  work  away  from  the  residents, 
but  when  they  began  to  sec  what  kind  of  men 
they  are  they  felt  different  alwut  it. 

"Bringing  men  from  the  prison  out  here  and 
having  them  mingle  with  the  jK-opIc  again  will 
make  better  men  of  them.  Whenever  the  camj) 
men  have  any  idle  time  the  farmers  all  want 
them  and  wherever  they  have  worked  they  can 


After  Service.  Sunday  Afternoon 

go  back  and  work  for  the  same  fanner  again. 

"I  don't  believe  in  putting  men  away  l>chind 
the  bars  and  leaving  them  there.  Hie  world 
should  not  try  to  put  a  man  down ;  it  should  try 
to  build  him  up.  I  don't  mean  us  farmers  around 
here;  we  arc  up  already.  Help  mn^t  Ik*  given 
the  men  who  are  down  and  who  nrrd  help." 

Dr.   Van  Voorhis  said : 

"I  saw  the  men  every  day  when  they  first 
came  out  here.  I  eyed  them  with  a  great  deal 
of  suspicion.     Their  physical  contlitlrui  has  im- 


6l6 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


proved.  I  feel  that  their  coming  out  here  has 
been  a  great  help  to  them. 

"The  move  to  take  prisoners  outside  of  the 
prisons  is  yet  in  its  infancy.  I  believe  the  work 
will  branch  out.  It  is  a  benefit,  not  only  to  the 
men,  but  also  to  the  state.  Laboring  men  can- 
not object;  the  road  work  is  different  from  the 
work  laboring  men  are  generally  engaged  in. 

"I  have  not  the  least  anxiety  about  any  mis- 
deeds by  the  men.  The  camp  men  are  as  well 
behaved  as  any  camp  doing  public  work  that  I 
have  ever  seen.  A  number  of  the  men  have 
worked  for  me." 

One  man  who  had  worked  for  Dr.  Van  Voor- 


his  and  other  farmers  made  a  contract  for  the 
coming  year  with  one  farmer;  the  contract  was 
signed  one  month  before  the  man's  time  expired. 
Three  other  men  whose  time  will  be  finished, 
have  been  asked  to  go  with  one  of  the  township 
representatives  on  a  large  road  job  he  will  have 
next  year. 

And  so,  as  typified  by  the  farming  community 
about  Beecher,  the  people  of  the  state  are  giving 
their  approval  of  the  plan  to  "give  the  men  a 
chance"  who  have  gotten  into  prison  and  who 
now  wish  to  make  good  and  to  quit  the  life  of 
unlawful  acts.  The  men  are  making  good,  and 
they  are  being  accepted  again  by  society. 


The  Honor  System  as  Applied  In  the  Prisons  of 

Different  States 


Men  Gradually  Introduced    Into    the    System;  Work  Without   Guards;    Earn 

Wages  for  Support  of  Their  Families 


Educational  Facilities  Offered;  Natural  Means  of  Social  Uplift  Used  to  Solve  the  Problems 

of  Prison  Communities 


The  foundation  of  the  prison  honor  system  Not  all  honor  men  prove  up  finally,  but  the 

is  that  there  is  in  every  man  a  spark  of  divine  percentage  of  success  is  so  high  that  there  is  a 

life  which,  if  recognized  and  trusted  by  the  prison  general  confession  that  the  honor  system  is  a 

administration,  will  live  and  grow  so  that  also  success  in  the  management  of  prisons. 

the  man  himself  will  heed  it  and  obey  it.  The  Zanesville,  Ohio,  Courier,  while  criticising 

"My  policy,"  says  J.  C.  Sanders,  warden  of  some  of  the  actual  results  in  the  working  out  of 

the  Iowa  State  Penitentiary,  in  a  letter  to  The  the  honor  system,  still  endorses  the  system  as  a 

JoLiET  Prison  Post,  "has  been,  in  all  the  work  policy  and  believes  it  can  be  made  a  success  in  all 

which  I  have  enumerated  as  well  as  in  the  govern-  states : 

ment  of  the  men  inside  the  walls,  to  treat  them  .^^^^  ^^^^  q^-^  ^^^^-^^^  disappeared  yester- 

fairly  m  every  particular,  havmg  found  by  ex-  day  from  a  so-called  honor  squad.    We  have  no 

perience  that  in  the  heart  of  every  man,  how-  idea  as  to  the  total  of  such  disappearances  for 

ever  good  or  however  bad,  there  is  an  undying  the  year,  but  the  number  must  be  large  judging 

respect  for  the  'square  deal.'  "  ^^^^  ^^^  frequent  reports  of  'escapes.'     From 

xj^^r.^  .V  :    *.i                 u           c     11     J       1        1  this  it  might  be  inferred  that  the  honor  plan  of 

Honor  is  in  the  men  who  are  finally  developed  u     ai-               •  4.    •             ■            •  *-  ^  ^    u,,^  oo  o 

,                      I.        1               ,                 y^^y^^iJ^^  handling  convicts  is  a  serious  mistake,  but  as  a 

as  honor  men,  but  they  need  the  strength  that  matter  of  fact  it  has  proved  very  successful  in 
comes  from  an  acknowledgment  and  a  trust  of  other  states  hence  one  is  warranted  in  the  con- 
that  honor  in  order  to  enable  them  to  Hve  it.  elusion  that  the  fault  is  not  with  the  system,  but 
Many  a  man  who  is  weak  in  himself,  is  made  ^^^^^  ^^s  application." 
stronger  when  somebody  believes  in  him.  The  Courier  thinks  that  prisoners  are  probably 


December  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


611 


sometimes  promoted  to  the  honor  squad,  not  as  a 
reward  for  good  conduct  which  the  prisoners 
have  already  shown  and  proved,  hut  more  as  an 
inducement  to  have"  the  men  hve  square  wlio 
without  such  inducement  miijht  not  do  so.  This, 
the  Courier  thinks,  is  not  the  acknowledgment 
and  trust  of  the  men's  honor  which  so  strength- 
ens the  man  that  he  is  henceforth  ahle  to  live 
true  to  the  trust  that  is  put  in  him,  hut  that  it  is 
more  of  a  hribe  otTered  to  insure  better  deport- 
ment which  is  something  wholly  dilTerent  from 
quickening  a  man's  honor ;  it  only  makes  a  bar- 
gain with  the  man.  "Either  this  is  true,"  says 
the  Courier,  "or  else  there  has  been  a  woeful 
lack  of  common  sense  in  selecting  prisoners  fit 
for  the  honor  squad  experiment.  Something 
more  than  a  mere  official  designation  is  required, 
to  give  a  convict  a  sense  of  honor." 

The  Courier  then  makes  this  closing  comment : 

"No  right-thinking  person  would  wish  pris- 
oners at  the  penitentiary  to  be  treated  with  undue 
harshness  neither  do  any  such  want  criminals 
taught  that  the  state  cherishes  them  and  is  only 
anxious  to  make  the  penalty  for  their  misdeeds 
as  light  as  possible.  The  frequent  disapjiearance 
of  honor  men  in  this  state,  is  not  a  rellection  on 
the  wisdom  of  this  plan  of  handling  convicts  but 
is  merely  an  indication  of  the  bungling  way  in 
which   the  experiment  is  being  tried." 

A  Municipal  Farm  in  Ohio 

The  Louisville,  Ky.,  Courier-Journal,  under 
the  heading,  "Outdoor  Treatment  for  Crime," 
speaks  as  follows  of  Cleveland's  beginning  in  the 
experiment  of  employing  city  prisoners  on  a 
municipal  farm : 

"A  number  of  years  ago  the  city  of  Cleveland 
began  the  experiment  of  working  city  prisoners 
on  a  municipal  farm.  In  the  outset  it  was  very 
generally  predicted  that  the  result  would  be  a 
failure,  but  subsequent  events  have  demonstrated 
the  entire  feasibility  of  the  plan." 

This  Correction  Farm  is  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Harris  R.  Cooley,  director  of  charities. 
It  is  a  part  of  a  tract  of  2,000  acres  which  has 
four  divisions  of  500  acres  each  and  which  arc 
used  respectively  for  the  farm,  the  city  alms- 
house, a  tuberculosis  colony  and  an  extensive 
municipal  cemetery  which  is  to  be  graded  and 
developed  by  prison  labor. 

Trusties  began  to  take  care  of  the  farm  in 
1905  when  they  were  lodged  in  the  old  scattered 
buildings  then  on  the  land.     In  1906  two  frame 


buildings  were  erected  with  accommodations  tor 
150  men.  Three  years  later  a  building  2'iO  feet 
sfjuarc  with  a  large  ojjcn  court  was  erected  and 
the  prisoners  moved  into  thi.s  building  in  ( Vclobcr, 
1 W.  This  was  the  first  of  the  [Krmuncnt  build- 
ings which  now  fonn  the  Correction  Group. 
The  Courier- Journal  says: 

"Mr.  Cooley  says  the  men  work  much  more 
heartily  on  the  farm  than  they  ever  did  in  the 

workhouse.     'Some  of  i' '      -     •       *  -,  ^t 

in  the  animals  and  the  j;  ^  ^         c* 

and  grains.'  They  have  better  air  and  In-tter  food. 
Their  «!  e  more  a.  '<?  an«I  their 

health  i.,.v  ..V  ■ .     .  ..e  trust  and  <  •  ...  ..  .  i     ,.,| 

in  them  'call  forth  the  remnant  of  i  'f 

the  thousands  of  pri.soncrs  sent  to  the  farm, 
many-are  vagrants  ;md  in  these  cases  strict  dis- 
cipline is  not  enforced.  If  the  men  ran  away 
and  take  care  of  themselves  the  puq>ose  of  the 
law  has  been  accomplished.'  These  cases  make 
the  repcjrts  of  e-  '  '        at   that 

the  escape  jxjrcen:..^^. .  .  ,..   .<..\." 

Mr.  Cooley  recognizes  that  all  men  committed 
cannot  be  trusted  to  work  in  the  oj>cn.  He  clas- 
sifies the  men  under  his  charge  as  trastics,  semi- 
trusties  and  untrastworthy.  The  trusties  often 
work  entirely  alone;  the  semi-trusties  work  in 
gangs  of  twenty  or  thirty  with  a  foreman  present. 
The  untrustworthy  arc  always  under  guard. 

Mr.  Cooley  has  come  to  the  following  conclu- 
sions as  the  results  of  his  ex[)ericncc: 

"Our  experiences  at  the  Correction  Farm  have 
demonstrated  that  the  treatment  is  much  Ix-ttcr 
for  the  prisoners.  The  outd(X)r  life  is  just  as 
rational  and  elective  in  cases  of  vice  and  crime 
as  in  cases  of  tulicrculosis  and  insanity.  These 
people  have  lived  in  an  abnormal  environment 
and   have  dev. '        .....  .  ,  ,] 

and  moral  con..:         .......;-      ....     ic 

and  first  thing  to  do,  is  to  place  them  in  the 
normal  environment  of  the  country  life.  It  may 
not  always  cure,  but  it  is  surely  the  first  thing 
to  do  for  them. 

"The  land  furnishes  unlimited  opjiortunity  for 

useful  work.    All  kinds  of  lalx)r  can  be  employed 

nctively.     1  here  •  i- 

tal  and  moral  iufbi.  ii.  r 

the  o|Kn  sky. 

"The  most  imjKjrtant  thing  which  the 

tion    I'arm  has  d< •    '    ■     •'    •   '  I 

has  become  kindei  i- 

tional  and  human  treatment  of  its  prisoners.  The 
heart  of  Cleveland  has  grown  in  its  sense  of  right 
and  justice.  Instead  of  contem|)t  and  malice, 
there  has  come  a  desire  'to  know  the  i>ath  up 
which  the  crime  has  come,'  and  the  general  dis- 
lx)sition  to  give  opix)rtunities  for  normal  lives. 


612 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


This  reflex  influence  is  really  the  larger  part  of 
the  benefit.  For  its  own  sake  society  cannot  af- 
ford to  he  cruel  and  brutal  to  its  meanest  and 
most  unworthy  member." 

Commenting  upon  the  years  of  experience  at 
the  Columbus  Correction  Farm  upon  Director 
Cooley's  policy  of  management,  the  Courier- 
Joiirttal  concludes : 

"To  say  the  least,  the  outdoor  treatment  of 
crime  has  many  advantages  over  the  old-time 
method  by  which  prisoners  of  all  classes  were 
treated  with  practically  the  same  degree  of  se- 
verity and  the  same  disregard  for  humanitarian 
])rinciples.  There  is  little  doubt  that  Mr.  Cooley 
is  right  in  saying  that  'with  the  proper  spirit 
and  wisdom  in  the  officials,  there  is  no  reason 
why  this  outdoor  method  may  not  be  applied  to 
all  our  penal  institutions.'  " 

The  Kentucky  State  Penitentiary 

A.  J.  G.  Wells,  warden  of  the  Kentucky  State 
Penitentiary,  which  has  a  population  ranging 
from  1,200  to  1,400,  has  taken  up  work  with  the 
men  of  his  institution  on  the  ground  that  what 
helps  to  promote  good  citizenship  in  society  in 
general  will  help  to  promote  good  citizenship  in 
any  community,  including  prison  communities, 
and  that  what  does  not  help  to  promote  good 
citizenship  in  society  in  general  will  not  help  to 
promote  it  in  any  prison  community.  Warden 
Wells  believes  in  using  within  the  prisons  the 
means  which  the  best  thought  of  the  society  of 
the  day  thinks  is  the  best  for  social  improvement 
and  he  adds  to  this  policy  of  individual  and  social 
betterment,  the  purpose  to  make  the  men  of  his 
prison  realize  that  what  he  does  is  for  their  good ; 
is  the  opening  of  the  way  for  them  to  help  them- 
selves as  other  communities  help  themselves.  "If 
the  management,"  says  Warden  Wells,  "can  be- 
get in  the  minds  and  hearts  of  eighty-five  per 
cent  of  the  inmates,  not  only  an  earnest  desire  to 
lo  right-  themselves,  but  gently,  by  example,  to 
induce  the  other  fifteen  per  cent  to  do  right, 
prison  discipline  is  made  comparatively  easy." 

On  the  need  in  prisons  of  natural  ways  of  im- 
provement, Warden  W^ells,  in  his  address  deliv- 
ered at  the  recent  American  Prison  Association 
Conference  at  St.  Paul,  says : 

"What  are  the  agencies  in  the  village  that  are 
reasonably  calculated  to  build  up  character  and 
destroy  malicious  and  evil  tendencies  ?  They  are 
the  home,  the  school,  the  church,  good  books, 
healthful  exercise,  plenty  of  hard  work— leaders^ 
teachers,  stalwart  men  and  women  inspired  with 


their  work — a  flame  of  fire  as  it  were,  consum- 
ing the  dross  and  daily  molding  and  building 
human  character. 

"The  same  agencies  must  be  on  the  inside.  Is 
not  humanity  the  same  ?  Ha's  not  the  young  man 
who  enters  the  prison  door  the  same  head,  heart 
and  soul  that  he  had  back  at  home?  Is  he  es- 
sentially different  from  the  boys  of  his  school 
days  back  at  home?  If  there  be  any  difference 
he  only  needs  these  agencies  the  more. 

"If  the  church,  the  school  and  the  community 
spirit  need  to  be  alive  back  at  home  to  save  the 
boys  from  prison,  what  shall  I  say  of  the  energy, 
the  love,  the  patience,  the  revitalizing  force  that 
should  permeate  the  prison  and  make  it  easy  to 
reform  the  life  and  go  out  into  society  again 
strong  enough  to  meet  the  demands  of  enlight- 
ened citizenships." 

The  Louisville  Courier-Journal  makes  this 
comment  on  Warden  Wells'  address : 

"The  prison  spirit,  in  the  opinion  of  Warden 
Wells,  is  not  the  creation  of  a  day.  To  bring  it 
about,  he  insisted,  the  warden  or  superintendent 
'must  give  largely  of  his  time  and  energy  to  the 
shops,  the  games,  the  school,  the  Saturday  and- 
Sunday  meetings  and  both  by  precept  and  ex- 
ample teach  the  better  way.'  The  prison  life,  he 
pointed  out,  will  assert  itself  in  some  direction 
and  'the  prison  as  a  whole  is  all  the  time  getting 
better  or  worse.' " 

Warden  Wells  recognizes  that  the  fundamental 
necessity  in  making  the  honor  system  practical, 
is  to  let  the  men  know  that  they  are  to  be  dealt 
with  fairly,  that  the  prison  administration  on  its 
part  will  be  true  to  the  "square  deal"  for  which, 
as  Warden  Sanders  says,  every  man  has  "an  un- 
dying respect."  Warden  Wells  makes  this  the 
foundation  principle  in  his  relationship  wath  his 
men ;  he  then  meets  with  them  personally  and 
makes  them  feel  that  his  interests  are  one  with 
their  own :  his  own  faith  in  his  men,  and  his  dis- 
closure of  that  faith  in  ways  that  make  the  men 
realize  its  genuineness  and  the  men's  consequent 
faith  in  him,  is  the  rock  of  hope  in  the  new  era 
which  is  coming  in  the  Kentucky  prison.  The 
Warden  says:  * 

"If  the  state,  through  her  officials,  fails  to 
provide  all  those  agencies  which  are  reasonably 
calculated  to  inspire,  encourage  and  ennoble,  it 
must  happen  that  the  first  offender,  the  occasional 
or  accidental  criminal  will,  on  account  of  his 
environment,  be  made  worse  instead  of  better. 

"There  must  be  a  feeling  that  those  in  author- 
ity are  attempting  in  good  faith  to  give  a  'square 
deal' 

"Proper  punishment  administered  in  a  kindly 


December  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


013 


and  proper  way  on  a  profKr  subject,  is  altogether 
w  holesomc.  Indiscriminate  punishment,  on  the 
other  hand,  is  very  destructive  to  good  govern- 
ment. 

"I  do  not  beheve  in  the  silent  system.  Then 
are  times  when  prisoners  can  with  propriety  con- 
verse. 

"Music  and  flowers  are  indispensable  to  the 
best  government  of  a  prison.  The  management 
that  wants  all  its  money  in  guard  force  and  none 
in  music  and  flowers,  has  not  studied  very  pro- 
foundly the  hearts  of  men. 

"Punishment  in  the  great  majority  of  cases. 
should  be  the  withholding  of  some  privilege  from 
the  prisoner  which  he  would  otherwise  enjoy. 

"Fresh  air,  good  water,  well-cooked  foods, 
proper  sanitation,  are  prerequisites  to  good  order. 
Many  fights  are  caused  by  a  bad  conrlition  of  the 
stomach.  The  state  has  a  right  to  imprison  a 
citizen  convicted  of  crime,  but  it  has  no  right  to 
rob  him  of  these  fundamental  things,  vouchsafed 
to  all  creatures  of  the  globe. 

"A  good  prison  library  is  worth  much  if  it 
circulates.  I  have  but  little  patience  with  the  idea 
that  the  reading  of  the  daily  papers  will  hurt 
anybody.  One  of  the  very  best  things  that  the 
management  can  do  is  to  create  and  foster  the 
reading  habit.  The  intelligent  prisoner  is  gen- 
erally the  good  prisoner.  The  low.and  the  vicious 
are  generally  the  ones  that  are  steepe<l  in  ignor- 
ance. There  may  be  some  exceptions,  but  this  is 
clearly  the  rule.  Let  the  electric  light  burn  un- 
til 9  o'clock,  see  to  it  that  each  prisoner  can  read 
well,  furnish  him  with  good  literature;  let  him 
subscribe  for  a  daily  ])aper.  and  you  have  done 
much  toward  good  discipline — finally,  toward 
good  citizenship. 

"The  work  required  of  a  prisoner  should  be 
that  of  a  reasonable  day's  work. 

"The  question  is  asked :  Will  these  influences 
and  agencies  reach  the  real  bad  men  in  the  pris- 
on? My  answer  is  that  a  mf)scjuito  cannot  live 
on  a  mountain.  It  is  possible  to  make  society  so 
good  in  a  prison  that  the  very  bad  man  will  go 
into  winter  quarters." 

Warden  Wells  also  said  that  prisoners  should 
have  the  right  to  see  the  warden  daily,  that  "noth- 
ing so  conducive  to  good  government  in  prison 
as  the  never  failing  daily  right  to  be  heard  at  the 
close  of  working  hours."  The  honor  system, 
music  and  flowers  are  urged  as  invaluable  aitis  in 
maintaining  discipline. 

During  the  last  two  years  more  than  one-half 
of  the  men  at  the  Frankfort  j)rison  have  enliste<l 
in  the  night  school  work,  which  has  been  oflfered. 

The  St.  Paul  Dispatch  says  that  the  association 
before  whom  the  Kentucky  warden's  address  was 
delivered,  applauded  the  Warden's  remaiks  again 
and   again,   particularly   when   he  declared   that 


prisoners  shouM  be  alJnu, .!  to  read  newspapers 
and  that  the  day  had  ;  for  silni.r  .in,..ng 

the  men. 

The  Courier- Journal  says: 

"Twenty  years  ago  stirh  .nn  .id.tmss  before  an 
assemblage  of  prison  .  ;  have  fallen 

"I>^'"  '  ears.     The  |>ct)plc  of  Ken- 

lucky   ...>     ;  with   ••  '       •    V*       ',.„ 

Wells  at  Fra;  In  tl>        ^         ^  ...    ..^.rls 

were  deride«l  by  some,  who  deciarc<l  that  a  pHiion 
could   not   be   run  'on  the  Si:  \* 

There  are.  perha|)s,  a   •* t  -i   the 

same  belief,  but  the  co;  n  is  th:it 

the  warden  has  made  good." 

Prison  Work  in  Wisconsin 

The  honor  system  has  been  in  operation  in  the 
Wisconsin  State  Penitentiary  for  two  years  and 
a  half  and  during  that  time  there  has  not  been 
an  attempt  to  escape  or  any  other  serious  infrac- 
tion of  the  rules. 

Guards  were  kept  at  the  pri.son  farm  and  with 
the  men  on  other  work  outside  of  the  walls  until 

-April    1,    1012,   when  they  were  all  di<  ' d. 

.\  general  suj)erintendent  was  put  in  m\,..;^^  lo 
oversee  the  work,  but  he  is  not  in  any  way  made 
resi)onsible  for  keeping  the  men  from  leaving. 

The  .\ppleton,  Wis.,  Post,  publishes  an  address 
by  Rev.  Daniel  Woodward,  warden  of  the  Wis- 
consin State  Prison.     Warden  Woodward 

"The  results  attained  by  this  application  of  ihc 
honor  system  were  very  ;  ug  to  all  con- 

cerned.    The   men   thus   •  ■    '    '     ,    t^e 

touch  of  true  manhood  an  been 

trusted  by  the  oflicials,  were  in  every  way  pre- 
pared to  go  out  and  take  their  places  in  society 

again  at  the  e.xpi'  ■'• •*  •'  •■' The 

state   received   m  \   \\\c 

expense  of  unnecessary  guards,  and  with  one 
excef)tion.  of  the  more  than  three  h;  '  men 

who  have  l>een  thus  truste-'    '•••• .  and 

(•ne-half  years,  only  one  I  d   to 

this  institution  to  serve  a  second  sentence,  or  in 
any  other  way  to  l)ecomc  a  burden  to  society." 

The  tnisted  men  leave  the  prison  at  five  o'clock 
in  ihe  morning  and,  after  working  all  (by  un- 
guarded, they  return  unacconiftanied  to  the  prison 
at  seven  or  eight  o*cl<Kk  in  ihe  evening.  In  the 
past  summer  two  honor  camps  were  put  in  ojKra- 
tion.  ( )ne  camp  which  is  one  and  one-half  miles 
from  Waupun.  has  l>cen  buiMing  the  Waupun- 
C'hester  macadam  road  and  the  other  camp  is  at 
work  on  the  buildings  of  the  new  Womcns  Re- 
formatory at  Taychcedah,  a  few  miles  east  of 
the  city  of  Fond  du  Lac. 


614                                                      THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  First  Year 

There  are  seventy-seven  men  in  the  camps  who  says  that  he  has  had  thousands  of  interviews 

never  return  to  the  prison.    The  work  is  super-  with  the  men  and  that  never  has  one  of  them 

vised  by  a  superintendent  and  an  assistant  super-  used  imprudent  or  abusive  language  to  him  or  in 

intendent,  unarmed.     These  officers  oversee  the  any  way  tried  to  take  advantage  of  the  oppor- 

work  of  the  camps  exactly  as  any  superintendent  tunity  given  to  make  their  side  of  any  question 

would  direct  the  general  work  of  a  camp  of  ordi-  clear.     The  Warden  says : 

nary  laboring  men.     The  superintendents  retire  a  ^      ^u        r  .^u        r           i        •        •    i    i 

•'.  ,           *'      ,      ,              ^.        .  Another  of  the  reforms  has  m  mmd  the  per- 
at  night  at  regular  hours.     A  prisoner  acts  as  g^^^i  feelings  of  the  inmates ;  that  is,  the  permit- 
night  watchman  and  during  the  night  makes  a  ting  of  the  inmates  to  write  their  letters  to  their 
count  once  an  hour  "for  their  own  protection  and  outside   friends  on  perfectly  plain   paper,   in  a 
to  warn  the  superintendents  in  case  any  outsider  P'ain  envelope  and  without  any  inspection  stamp 
is  seen  lurking  about  the  camp."  o^  ^.t^^r  mark  to  show  the  origin  of  the  letter; 
T^     .       ,,    *      ^    ,                              ,      ,,..  nor  is  any  keeper,  clerk,  or  any  mmate  permitted 
During  the  past  three  years  several  additions  ^^  ^^^^^^^  ^^e  mail  of  the  inmates,  the  chaplain 
have  been  made  to  the  prison  buildings,  the  in-  and  his  assistant  being  under  instructions  to  seal 
mates  doing  almost  all  of  the  construction  work,  the  letters  as  soon  as  they  have  read  them.  This 
A  binding  twine  plant  was  installed  and  it  has  reform  has   resulted  in  allowing  many  men  to 
been  made  a  paying  business.  cornmunicate  with  their  families  or  friends  who 
wr    J      tir     -i        1  under  the  previous  system,  were  deterred  there- 
Warden  Woodward  says :  ^ ^.^^^^  ^^  ^  ^^^^-^^  J^  ^^^^^  ^f  revealing  their 

"It  is  conceded  by  all  that  our  camps  surpass  Positions.     I   feel  that  this  is  important    as  to 

the  average  construction  camp,  in  efficiency,  co-  !^^"7  ?^  f.^^  mmates  the  only  up  if  ting  influence 

operation,  moral  conditions,  sanitation,  and  gen-  ""^  ^heir  lives,  is  the  faithfully  kept  love  of  a 

eral  good  fellowship  among  the  men.  go°^  mother  or  patient  wife  and  children,  whose 

"The  work  has  given  such  general  satisfaction  letters  not  only  greatly  mitigate  the  monotony 

that  we  are  now  planning  to  establish  a  third  of  confinement  but  keep  alive  in  the  breast  of  the 

camp  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  the  P"soner  to  once  more  go  back  into  the  homes  and 

institution  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  second  ^^^f,\  °^  V^^^^    f          •'      •         ,     ,  . 

state  tuberculosis  sanitarium  Another   reform    instituted   this    summer,    is 

"This  is  mv  fourth  year'  in  the  wardenship  ^^^  Saturday  half  holiday.     Every  Saturday  at 

of  the  Wisconsin  State  Prison  and  during  that  "°°"  ^^^^  factories  and  all  other  departments  of 

time  it  has  been  my  constant  policy,  to  maintain  ^^^^  institution  are  shut  down  and  after  dinner 

good  discipline  along  rational  lines,  to  administer  ^^^^  mmates  are  marched  to  the  ball  park  and  per- 

the  business  of  the^institution  in  the  most  busi-  mitted  to  mingle  together,  talk  and  visit  during 

ness  like  manner,  and  for  the  warden  to  come  the  afternoon.     There   is   always  a  ball  game, 

into  personal  touch  with  the  entire  prison  popu-  generally  between  teams  made  up  of  inmates,  but 

lation.  on  special  occasions  a  team  from  the  outside  is 

"In  short  we  believe  that  this  and  all  like  in-  admitted  and  then  the  inmates,  loyal  as  any  fans, 

stitutions  should  stand  for  a  three-fold  policy :  root  madly  for  their  own  team.    The  band  plays 

the  protection  of  society,  the  reformation  of  the  throughout  the  afternoon   and   impromptu   foot 

inmate,  and  as  far  as  possible  to  reimburse  the  races,  wrestling  matches,  etc.,  serve  to  make  the 

state   for  the   expenditure   of   the   prosecutions  day  one" of  rounded  and  complete  enjoyment  for 

and  the  money  expended  in  the  operation  of  the  the  inmates,  who  are  for  the  time  encouraged   i 

institution."  to  forget  that  they  are  prisoners."                            -t 

Some  of  the  improvements    under    Warden  Wisconsin  has  long  abolished  the  practice  of  ., 

Woodward's  administration  are:     The  installa-  clipping  the  hair  of  the  prisoners  except  some- 

tion  in  each  cell  house  of  a  locked  mail  box  into  times  for  sanitary  purposes.     It  is  an  invariable 

which  all  prisoners  who  wish  may  drop  a  request  rule  of  the  prison  administration  to  contract  for 

to  see  the  Warden.    These  requests  are  a  matter  only  the  better  grade  of  food  and  the  dietary 

between  the  men  and  the  Warden  only ;  other  in-  is  at  all  times  wholesome  and  palatable  and  suffi- 

mates   and   the   officers   need   know   nothing   of  cient  in  quantity  to  give  every  inmate  all  that  he 

them.    The  Warden  himself  holds  the  key  to  the  desires.    During  the  noon  and  evening  meals  the 

box.    The  plan  enables  the  men  to  come  into  close  prison  orchestra  plays  in  the  dining  room.     In 

personal  touch  with  the  Warden  and  enables  the  addition  to  library  privileges,  standard  magazines 

Warden  to  hear  from  the  men  their  side  of  the  are  furnished  so  that  each  prisoner  who  wishes 

many  questions  that  come  up  in  prison  life  be-  may  have  six  magazines  to  read  each  month, 

tween  inmates  and  officers.    Warden  Woodward  Warden  Woodward  speaks  as  follows  on  edu- 


December  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


615 


cation  and  prisoner's  families  and  prisoner's  com- 
pensation : 

"During  the  last  school  year  the  attendance  at 
times  ran  as  high  as  two  hundred  twenty-five. 
The  school  term  has  been  lengthened  to  inclu«le 
all  but  the  summer  months  and  tiiree  nights  per 
week  during  the  nine  months  of  the  session,  all 
who  desire  may  have  the  benefit  of  this  chance 
to  improve  their  education.  To  those  who  de- 
sire to  take  up  the  higher  branches,  the  jjrivilcge 
is  aflforded  for  taking  up  a  correspondence  course 

of  study,  either  through  the  State  University  ex- 
tension department,  who  sell  the  courses  uj)on 

easy  terms  and  at  actual  cost  to  the  state,  or 
from    one    of    the    commercial    correspondence 

schools. 

"Many  of  the  inmates  have  taken  this  method 
of  completing  their  education  and  have  gone 
forth  from  the  institution  better  equipped  men- 
tally than  when  they  were  committed.  In  all 
cases  where  a  man  has  a  trade  or  profession  or 
is  partly  grounded  in  some  special  line,  he  is 
given,  if  possible,  work  along  that  line. 

"Thus  men  who  have  been  electricians  on  the 
outside,  are  placed  in  the  electrical  department ; 
if  a  man  is  a  tailor  he  is  put  into  the  tailor  shop ; 
carpenters  are  assigned  to  the  wood  working  de- 
partments, and  practically  all  of  the  construction 
and  repair  work  about  the  institution  is  done  by 
the  inmates,  some  of  whom  were  already  trades- 
men and  many  who  were  booked  as  only  common 
labor  on  their  commitment  are  so  drilled  in  the 
•work  of  the  trades,  that  upon  their  release  they 
can  and  do  secure  positions  as  plasterers,  masons, 
bricklayers,  concrete  workers,  etc.  By  this  jmlicy 
the  state  is  saved  the  cost  of  highly  paid  artisans, 
but  still  receives  efficient  service;  the  man  is 
benefited  by  being  given  congenial  work  ami  by 
the  added  wage  earning  ability,  and  finally  so- 
ciety is  benefited  by  being  given  back  a  trades- 
man, hardened  to  physical  labor  and  accustomed 
to  regular  work  in  place  of  the  occasional  laborer 
or  habitual  idler. 

"To  the  end  that  the  families  of  the  inmate 
might  suflFer  as  little  as  possible  through  the  con- 
finement of  the  bread-winner,  when  he  is  com- 
mitted to  this  institution,  we  have  arranged  a 
schedule  of  wages  by  which  every  man  in  the 
prison  who  is  able  to  work,  receives  some  recom- 
pense. The  men  employed  in  the  stocking  shops 
have  a  task  system  by  which  they  are  permitted 
to  earn  considerable  sums  by  applying  themselves 
industriously  to  the  work,  the  amount  i)aid  to 
them  aggregating  between  twelve  and  nineteen 
hundred  dollars  per  month,  the  amounts  earned 
by  single  individuals  sometimes  exceeding  twen- 
ty-five dollars  in  one  month.  The  men  emi)loyed 
in  the  twine  plant  are  paid  on  a  basis  of  the  ton- 
nage of  material  produced,  and  are  enabled  to 
earn  slightly  higher  average  wage  than  the  men 
in  the  stocking  shops.    For  ordinary  labor  about 


the  institution  a  wage  of  fifteen  cents  per  day 
is  pai<l  by  the  state.     For  the  construction  work 

ilf  TIC  by  c(tntractors  on  the  1,   ■' '■ 'nil 

\  liinn  this  and  other  nearby  a 

wage  of  fifty  cents  i>cr  day  is  allowed  to  each 
man  ff)r  common  labor,  an<l  ten  «  ur  to 

the  skilled  laborer.     For  all  the  m. ..  e<l  in 

the  camps,  an  allowance  of  fifty  ct  ;   day 

will  be  credited  to  each  man." 

In  selecting  men  for  the  camps  or  for  work 
outside  of  the  walls,  Wanlcn  Wootlward  talks 
with  each  man  at  some  length.  He  then  makes  a 
careful  reconl  of  the  man's  statements  regarding 
his  family,  his  home  life  and  his  opjKjrtunitics. 
He  inquires  concerning  the  man  of  the  judge  and 
of  the  district  attorney  who  conductetl  the  trial. 
He  writes  to  the  man's  former  employers  and  to 
reliable  citizens  of  the  community  in  which  the 
man  had  lived.  The  information  obtained  gives 
a  basis  for  estimating  the  man's  purposes,  char- 
acter and  ability. 

Fach  candidate  for  a  camp  must  have  worked 
long  enough  within  the  walls  to  have  thoroughly 
drilled  himself  in  self-control  and  to  have  come  to 
realize  that  he  is  gaining  a  great  deal  in  being 
given  the  privilege  to  leave  the  monotony  of 
prison  life  and  to  go  to  the  freer  and  healthier 
life  of  the  camps. 

When  the  results  of  all  these  means  show  that 
the  candidate  for  the  honor  camp  is  worthy  of 
being  tnisted,  the  Warden  puts  the  question  to 
his  "own  mature  ju«lgment  of  the  man,"  and  if 
his  judgment  approves,  "then  and  not  till  then" 
the  honor  i)Osition  is  given. 

The  precaution  taken  in  selecting  men  from 
the  prisons  for  honor  |>ositions  has  a  great  <leal 
to  do  with  the  public's  approval  of  the  honor 
policy  and,  as  the  Zanesville.  t^hio,  Courier  says, 
with  the  honor  system's  success. 

When  properly  ai)plied,  the  honor  system  is 
demonstrating  some  a.stoni.shing  and  most  val- 
uable results,  l)oth  for  the  individual  and  for  so- 
ciety. Warden  Woo<lward's  [wlicy  is  the  growing 
policy  of  prison  administration  throughout  the 
country. 

•     «     • 

Men  within  the  walls  should,  il  they  can, 
get  a  broader  view  of  life  than  their  immediate 
experience.  Within  the  walls  is  not  the  only 
place  where  people  arc  handicapped  and  in 
trouble.  Did  we  ourselves  not  have  problems 
outside? 


\ 


616 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


The    Modern   Idea  of    the    Industrial   Farm 
Thoroughly  Practicalized  at  Occoquan,  Va. 

By  W.  H.  Whittaker,  Superintendent  District  of  Columbia  Work  House 


If  results  are  ever  obtained  in  the  handling  of 
unfortunates  it  will  be  through  right  treatment. 
There  must  be  a  thorough  investigation  before 
the  stain  of  a  prison  sentence  is  passed.  In  a 
great  percentage  of  the  cases  for  minor  offenses, 
these  unfortunates  require  nothing  more  than  a 
dismissal  with  a  friendly  word  of  encourage- 
ment from  the  courts,  or,  if  in  the  judgment  of 
the  courts  they  need  supervision,  they  then  should 
be  turned  over  to  a  practical  probation  officer 
who  should  see  to  it  that  it  is  not  necessary  to 
commit  them  to  imprisonment. 

A  prisoner  should  never  be  committed  to  jail 
to  serve  time.  The  average  jail  of  this  country 
is  a  disgrace  to  civilization.  It  is  a  cess  pool  for 
the  breeding  of  disease  and  crime.  Many  of  the 
cases  that  come  to  the  police  and  criminal  courts 
for  minor  offenses  only  require  supervision, 
change  of  surroundings  and  a  new  home.  Insti- 
tutional treatment  should  be  the  last  remedy. 
What  we  must  do  is  to  abolish  the  fixed  sentence 
and  de-institutionalize  our  institutions.  Finally 
these  people  must  be  made  to  feel,  whether  in  an 
institution  or  out,  that  they  are  working  for 
home-making. 

Modern  penology  must  not  be  sentimental; 
it  should  be  practical.  Then  we  must  have  pre- 
vention, which  is  formation,  not  reformation,  for 
ninety-five  per  cent  of  our  subjects  in  the  penal 
institutions  and  reformatories  of  the  country 
have  never  been  correctly  formed  in  their  mental 
and  physical  make-up. 

Modern  penology  in  order  to  aid  social  prog- 
ress must  sentence  its  unkempt,  immoral  and  dis- 
eased citizens  to  an  indefinite  term  of  sunshine, 
fresh  air  and  honest  work,  with  such  system  as 
will  make  of  them  an  asset  rather  than  a  liability 
when  returned  to  society.  Modern  penology  must 
be  able  to  say  whether  this  can  be  done.  If  not, 
sterilization  or  definite  isolation  on  the  farm 
must  be  resorted  to.  In  addition  to  all  this,  mod- 
ern penology  must  bring  to  bear  upon  society  the 
miportance  of  ideal  administration  for  its  way- 


ward subjects, — that  of  humane,  educated  and 
trained  employes  in  all  departments  of  our  penal 
institutions. 

At  the  District  of  Columbia  Farm,  we  are  at- 
tempting to  lay  the  foundation  and  inaugurate  a 
system  which  will  be  practical,  a  system  in  which 
the  inmates  will  not  suffer  by  having  too  much 
done  for  them,  a  system  in  which  the  inmates 
must  be  made  to  feel,  whether  in  an  institution 
or  out  of  it,  that  there  is  a  work  for  them  to  do 
individually. 

We  believe  beneficial  results  cannot  be  obtained 
successfully  in  the  old-time  prisons  with  high 
walls,  locks  and  bars.  We  believe  the  walls  must 
come  down  and  the  locks  and  bars  must  go  to 
the  scrap  pile.  We  believe  tha.t  for  every  bar  of 
restriction  removed,  more  rays  of  sunlight  and 
hope  will  reach  the  heart  of  the  convicted  man. 

With  these  preliminary  thoughts,  I  will  now, 
briefly  describe  the  District  of  Columbia  Farm, 
which  less  than  four  years  ago  was  a  wilderness 
in  the  hills  of  Virginia,  twenty  miles  south  of 
Washington,  D.  C.  The  farm  consists  of  1,150 
acres  of  land,  which  cost  the  general  govern- 
ment $18.00  per  acre. 

On  this  land,  we  have  constructed  some  thirty 
buildings,  including  dormitories,  dining  rooms, 
lounging  halls,  hospitals,  horse  and  dairy  barns. 
These  are  all  one-story  buildings,  made  of  wood, 
with  a  view  to  giving  ample  light  and  ventila- 
tion. The  plan  for  the  prisoners  is  that  of  the 
congregate,  or  dormitory  system.  There  are  no 
cells,  locks  or  bars  about  the  institution.  Two 
hundred  prisoners  are  taken  care  of  during  the 
night  in  each  dormitory  and  as  we  have  six  hun- 
dred male  prisoners,  this  requires  three  buildings. 
Cots  are  arranged  side  by  side  in  these  dormitor- 
ies on  raised  platforms,  sufficient  bedding,  con- 
sisting of  mattress,  sheets  and  pillows,  blankets 
and  comforts,  are  given  to  each  prisoner.  All 
the  buildings  are  equipped  with  steam  heat  and 
electric  lights  and  have  ample  water,  both  hot 


December  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


817 


and  cold  in  each  of  the  buildinjijs,  with  modern 
and  up-to-date  sewerage  systems. 

During  the  evening  and  after  the  day's  work- 
is  done  and  on  Sundays,  the  men  arc  taken  to  a 
large  building  known  as  the  Rest  Hall  and  Li- 
brary, where  they  are  permitted  to  talk.  i)lay 
checkers,  or  read  the  daily  newspapers,  which  are 
bought  for  them  by  the  management.  They  have 
access  to  the  library  of  over  four  thousand  vol- 
umes. On  summer  evenings  and  on  Sundays,  the 
iinnates  are  permitted  to  take  the  benches  out 
into  the  yard  where  it  is  possible  to  enjoy  more 
freedom  and  have  an  abundance  of  fresh  air. 

In  one  of  the  buildings  referred  to,  there  is  a 
.shower  bath  and  arrangements  for  the  inmates  to 
make  their  toilets.  In  this  building,  one  hundred 
twenty-five  men  can  be  taken  care  of  at  one  time. 
We  have  no  wash  basins,  but  have  a  faucet  for 
each  man  which  makes  it  more  sanitary  and  the 
men  are  also  furnished  with  individual  towels 
and  soap. 

The  prisoners  are  sent  to  us  for  short  sen- 
tences, the  time  now  being  from  fifteen  days  to 
three  years,  or  average  sentence  being  thirty-five 
days.  This  makes  it  very  essential  and  important 
that  sanitary  conditions  should  be  closely  looked 
after  as  from  ten  per  cent,  to  fifteen  per  cent,  of 
the  prisoners  sent  us,  when  received,  have  vermin 
on  their  persons.  This,  however,  is  looked  after 
so  closely  that  although  we  handle  from  five  to 
six  thousand  people  a  year,  we  are  absolutely 
free  from  vermin  in  all  of  the  thirty  buildings. 

In  working  prisoners,  we  give  from  fifteen  to 
twenty  men  to  an  officer.  His  part  is  to  direct 
this  number  in  a  humane  and  intelligent  manner 
and  to  have  them  understand  it  is  our  purpose 
to  be  helpful.  With  such  methods  we  have  very 
little  trouble  as  far  as  discipline  is  concerned. 
Work  on  this  1,150  acres  of  land  consists  of 
building  roads,  constructing  .buildings,  farming, 
making  brick,  crushing  stone,  building  and  re- 
pairing wagons,  painting  and  white-washing  the 
buildings,  poultry  raising,  dairying,  etc. 

At  the  present  time,  we  are  working  seventy 
head  of  horses.  These  are  all  cared  for  by  the 
inmates  without  an  ofTicer  over  them,  and  neither 
the  farm  nor  the  buildings  are  enclosed  by  so 
much  as  a  fence.  We  lose  very  few  prisoners 
through  escape ;  less  on  an  average  than  two  a 
month.  Our  results  show  we  get  a  fair  day's 
work  from  each  of  our  able-bodied  inmates. 
I  have  handled  prisoners  for  the  past  sixteen 


years,  starting  with  the  old-time  methmls  of  liav- 
ing  a  thirty  fot)t  wall,  cells,  locks  an<l  liars,  and 
striped  clothing.  In  the  early  days  when  a  pris- 
oner was  reported  by  an  officer  for  failure  to 
comply  with  some  order,  he  was  taken  into  a 
room,  his  clothing  rcmovc<I  and  he  was  lashed 
with  a  "cat-o-nine  tails"  by  the  officer  who  re- 
ported him.  My  experience  convinces  me  that 
the  open-air  method,  with  as  few  restrictions  as 
possible,  so  far  as  the  inmates  arc  concerned, 
gives  better  re.sults  from  the  standpoint  of  dis- 
cipline and  reformation. 

We  handle  the  women  prisoners  from  the  city 
of  Washington  with  the  same  system  of  build- 
ings provided  for  the  men.  The  Women's  De- 
partment is  managed  by  women  and  the  two  in- 
stitutions are  some  distance  apart.  Tlie  average 
number  of  prisoners  in  the  Women's  Defjart- 
ment  is  aljout  one  hundred.  They  do  the  laundry 
work  and  make  the  clothes  for  the  prisoners  of 
the  two  institutions.  In  addition,  a  numljcr  of 
them  work  on  the  lawn  and  in  the  garden,  do 
the  painting  and  other  sanitary  work  about  the 
buildings.  The  Women's  Department,  like  the 
Men's  Department,  has  neither  cell,  kn-k  nor  Iwr. 
The  buildings  are  one  story,  with  neither  wall  nor 
fence  around  them.  We  have  handled  three 
thousand  women  in  the  past  three  years,  and 
have  only  lost  three  through  escape. 

We  have  very  little  sickness.  This,  we  attrib- 
ute to  our  method  of  work,  sanitation  and  to  the 
construction  of  the  buildings,  which  gives  |)lenty 
of  fresh  air  antl  sunshine  at  all  times.  Ninety- 
five  per  cent,  of  our  iinnates,  both  male  ami  fe- 
male, show  a  decided  improvement  after  iK'ing 
discharged,  both  in  their  mental  and  physical  con- 
dition. 

The  time  is  coming  when  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia Workhouse  will  l>e  self-supfxirting.  if  not 
more.  When  it  is,  I  l>elievc  an  appropriation 
should  be  provided,  whereby,  the  dcjKMidcnt  fam- 
ilies of  the  inmates,  whether  they  be  sent  to  us 
because  of  non-suf»i>«»rt  or  for  other  violati<»n  of 
the  statutes,  should  be  paid  a  sum  of  uHiney 
sunicient  to  provide  comfortably  f«>r  fli.Ir  suf>- 
port  during  the  confinement  of  the  >  ■  rs.  If 

such  a  system  were  inaugurated,  the  financial 
benefit  to  the  family  would  In?  only  a  secondary 
consideration.  The  greater  Inrnefit  would  be  the 
lasting  impression  made  on  the  individual  while 
at  the  institution,  developing  in  him  indu.strial 
habits  and  self-confidence  which  would  help  him 


618 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


tQ  become  a  self-supporting  citizen,  capable  of 
caring  for  his  family  after  he  is  released.  This 
certainly  would  be  true  in  sixty  per  cent  of  the 
cases  we  have,  if  there  can  be  brought  about  a 
change  in  the  penal  code  of  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia to  have  inmates  committed  on  an  inde- 
terminate sentence,  rather  than  on  a  fixed  sen- 
tence, as  is  now  the  plan. 


CONTRIBUTIONS 


A    CORNER    OF    BOHEMIA 


A  Christmas-tide  Pilgrimage 
By  E.  K.  S. 

A  Prisoner 

Long,  long  ago  I  had  discovered  it ;  it  had  left 
its  delicate  imprint  upon  my  memory  because  it 
had  strangely  satisfied  a  longing  of  the  heart. 
There  had  been  brought  home  to  me  the  truth 
that  within  the  prison  precincts  something  beauti- 
ful and  uplifting,  detached  from  my  books,  could 
be  found  for  the  seeking ;  that  my  heart  had  al- 
ways been  hungry  for  that  which  had  been  sub- 
consciously  missed. 

The  other  day  I  again  set  out  upon  a  similar 
journeying,  eager  to  view  this  place  of  pleasant 
memory  in  the  warmth  of  its  holiday  dress,  with 
the  Christmas  spirit  its  soft  and  inspiring  back- 
ground. 

In  answer  to  my  knock,  the  Little  Painter  Avel- 
comed  me  in.  A  stranger  must  woo  him  out  of 
a  natural  shyness,  but  we — were  we  not  friends 
of  long  standing?     How  could  he  serve  me? 

"I'm  not  going  to  purchase  anything,"  I  as- 
sured.him,  my  eye  sweeping  the  long  and  lofty 
room  in  a  helpless  attempt  to  take  note  of  its 
treasures.  "I've  come  only  to  'look  around,' 
as  people  say  in  the  big  stores,  outside.  I  wish 
to  look,  look — and  perhaps  I  shall  ask  you  some 
questions ;  will  I  be  in  the  way  ?" 

In  answer,  the  artist  pointed  to  a  chair  adja- 
cent to  his  own  at  the  heavy  oak  table  that  ran 
nearly  half  the  length  of  the  room.  It  was  a 
massive  affair  was  this  table ;  the  kind  around 
which  one  might  readily  imagine  King  Arthur 
and  the  Knights  of  the  Round  Table  had 
gathered  in  merry  comradeship  in  the  days 
bygone.  But,  alas !  This  table  was  not  round 
— so  the  simile  is  shattered ! 


"This  is  my  latest  work,"  said  the  Little  Paint- 
er, enthusiastically.  Before  us  on  the  dull  sur- 
face of  the  table,  in  rows  and  in  confused  heaps, 
were  sketches  in  water  color.  They  were  painted 
on  white  and  tinted  cards  of  various  sizes,  while 
others  were  made  up  in  pretty  booklets,  tied  with 
varicolored  ribbons  and  gold  and  silver  cord. 
While  I  saw  many  winter  landscapes,  most  of  his 
pictures  breathed  forth  the  soul  of  the  spring- 
tide and  the  summer ;  but  the  hint  of  the  Yuletide 
season  was  engraven  upon  them  all  in  such 
phrases  as,  "Merry  Christmas,"  and  "Best 
Wishes." 

And  then  I  commenced  my  tour  of  explora- 
tion upon  that  riotous  sea  of  color.  How  fond 
nature  is  of  color !  She  has  made  nothing  with- 
out it.  I  wandered  through  the  meadows  and 
scaled  their  broken  fences  and  time-gray  walls; 
I  followed  the  voice  of  the  brook,  from  which  the 
cowpath  threaded  its  serpentine  course  to  the 
foothills  beyond;  I  sought  the  stillness  of  valley 
and  fragrant  lane,  with  their  wealth  of  foliage, 
fern  and  flower ;  the  blue  shoulders  of  the  moun- 
tain, distant  and  illusive,  breathed  of  the  solitude 
which  all  men  need  at  times;  in  the  lake  I  be- 
held nature's  crystal  mirror,  reflecting  the  chariot 
clouds  and  the  overhanging  arms  of  oak,  pine  and 
willow. 

Little  Painter,  you're  a  genius ! 

But,  no ;  I  would  call  you  by  a  homelier  name. 
It  carries  its  wealth  of  meaning  when  said  in  a 
certain  way;  when  it  is  accompanied  by  a  glint 
of  the  eye  or  a  pressure  upon  the  shoulder: 
Little  Painter — you're  a  brick! 

He  was  talking  rapidly  to  me  now.  At  times 
he  gets  away  from  his  art,  and  talks  war;  then, 
and  then  only,  do  we  disagree. 

"How  can  you  paint  all  of  these  beautiful 
things?"  I  find  myself  inquiring  every  once  in  a 
while.  "You  are  not  outside,  wandering  in  the 
open  with  your  palette  and  easel.  From  where 
do  you  get  your  inspiration?" 

And  his  modest  answer  is  generally  the  same 
at  all  times: 

"I  just  remember  what  I  have  seen." 

Then  I  look  into  his  eyes,  and  understand. 
They  are  the  eyes  of  the  artist ;  they  would  fill 
at  a  vision,  at  a  thought  of  loveliness.  He  paints 
his  landscapes  and  flower  studies  from  memory, 
yet  his  art  is  unfalteringly  truthful;  he  has  a 
clear  perception,  a  firm,  bold  hand,  while  tech- 
nical dexterity  is  displayed  by  him  to  an  unusual 


December  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


610 


degree.  He  has  had  no  academic  training,  and 
a  man  of  less  talent  would  have  suffered  from 
the  lack  of  it. 

At  last  I  arose.  "I'm  going  to  poke  aroun.l," 
I  told  him.  My  eyes  had  heen  attracted  to  the 
many  sketches,  all  artistically  framed,  which 
hung  upon  the  walls  with  a  delightful  disregard 
for  order.  I  have  discovered  that  it  requires  an 
artistic  temperament  to  be  able  to  hang  pictures 
in  any  old  way,  and  yet  in  the  right  way,  if  I 
may  use  the  paradox.  In  the  past.  I  have  vainly 
attempted  to  hang  my  own  pictures  in  accor<lancc 
with  conventional  ideas ;  yet  no  matter  how  I  ar- 
ranged them,  they  always  presented  a  painfully 
straight  and  stiff  appearance  from  whatever 
angle  they  were  viewed. 

In  all  of  his  pictures,  I  caught  the  note  of  lyric 
loveliness;  in  many,  their  emotional  appeal  was 
poignant.  I  could  see  no  portraits  in  the  entire 
collection;  he  paints  what  he  loves — not  what 
others  have  loved.  From  picture  to  picture  I 
passed.  Some  of  them  carried  me  away  from 
my  narrow  world,  out  beyond — but  why  should 
I  tell  where?  .  .  .  Suddenly  the  artist's  voice 
fell  upon  my  ear.  .He  had  stepped  up  softly 
behind  me,  and  I  had  not  heard  him  because  of 
the  ridiculous,  soft  slippers  that  he  always  wears. 
(I  wonder  if  all  artists  wear  slippers  all  of  the 
time?) 

"Look  at  the  stage  curtain."  he  was  saying. 
"There  is  a  particularly  favorable  light  just 
now." 

The  stage  curtain !  His  coup  d'essai  in  this 
school  of  painting.  Several  times  in  the  past  I 
had  peeped  into  the  studio  to  watch  this  curtain 
"grow."  But  in  those  days,  the  Little  Painter 
was  in  an  incommunicative  mood.  He  was  not 
wont  to  be  disturbed  when  engaged  upon  a  work 
that  called  forth  his  best  endeavor.  His  art 
comes  first — visitors  and  friends  ne.xt.  Such  is 
the  way  of  genius*  children. 

At  the  far  north  end  of  the  room  the  curtain 
hung,  stretching  almost  from  floor  to  ceiling — 
and  the  ceiling  is  very  high.  I  had  seen  the 
painting  before  in  its  completed  state ;  it  had 
already  twice  been  used  on  the  auditorium  st.^gc. 
But  somehow,  on  this  visit,  I  viewed  it  with  a 
new  and  growing  interest.  The  artist  was  at 
my  side,  answering  my  amateurish  (and  to  him. 
doubtless,  very  silly),  questions  on  i>crspcctivc 
and  color  tones. 

The    curtain     represents     Pocahontas     being 


brought  captive  to  Jamestown.  In  the  back- 
ground loom  the  dim  outlines  of  the  ship  that 
brought  the  luijjlish  across  the  water.  In  the 
f«)reground,  seven  commanding  figures,  life  sixe, 
rivet  the  attention  at  once.  Prominent  amongst 
them  are  the  \'irginian  colonist.  Rolfe,  and  Poca- 
hontas, the  lovely  daughter  of  the  Indian  "em- 
peror" Powhatan.  The  Indian  girl  in  her  pic- 
turesque native  garb,  is  represcnlctl  in  an  attitude 
of  humility  and  appeal.  Tlic  story  is  well  known. 
I'ourtecn  fiinircs  in  .nil  nr.-  vlu.ufi  upon  the  can- 
vas. 

The  figures  of  the  men  and  women  display 
dignity  and  sweetness  of  pose  and  bearing.  And 
the  clothes  and  drai>eries!  TTie  artist  has  evoke«l 
the  admiration  of  all  visitors  to  the  studio  by  the 
magic  with  which  he  has  melted  and  merged  his 
colors  into  harmony. 

Ah  !  Little  Painter !  Though  you  may  lack  the 
brilliancy  of  the  old  masters,  you  have  dipped 
your  brush  into  your  own  soul,  and  tl)ouyh  yours 
may  not  be  the  vision  of  a  GainsljomuKh  or  a 
\'an  Dyck,  or  of  tho.sc  ^thcr  great  minds  who 
have  satisfied  the  deepest  need  of  the  human 
heart,  still,  you  are  an  artist,  inasmuch  as  you 
respond  spontaneously  to  every  fleeting  hint  of 
loveliness. 

In  the  pale  light  of  the  December  afternoon. 
I  left  him.  And  as  I  parsed  out  to  fac  •  the  stem 
realities  of  my  envi  otmient.  where  I'cht  '  "  1- 
ness  is  an  effort,  and  whire  lnuj:;hter  ?c<  i..-  ....i>- 
ishcd  beyond  recall,  mv  ron,]  \\.i~!)rs  wen'  nut  to 
the  one  of  whose  ho  _  i  just  p  \. 

May  he  ever  be  ambitious  of  the  unachieved! 
May  his  art  remain  anchored  in  nature ;  may  he 
succeed  in  snatching  her  innermost  secrets.  And 
when  he  passes  out  through  the  gate,  out  info 
the  new  freedom  which  he  shall  have  ri  '  *'"  "v 
eame<l.  may  he  g:iin  new  in<ipiralion  as  I.-,  -n,.} 
fetters  are  cast  aside  into  the  <lark  gap  of  the 
buried  yesterdays.  This  is  niy  wish-  my  Qirisl- 
mas  wish— for  the  I.itile  Painter. 


A  prison  is  wli.it  the  oiiiccrs  and  the  pris- 
oners make  it;  the  greater  share  of  the  re«i|t«»n- 
•iibility   rests  ujwn   the  inmates. 

«     •     • 

Whenever  a  man  or  woman  is  temi)ted  to 
crime,  the  devil  is  working  overtime. 


620 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First  Year 


REVIEWS 


A    CRUMB    OF    COMFORT 

Dr.  Sydney  Strong,  pastor  of  the  Queen 
Anne  Congregational  Church,  Monroe,  Wash., 
spoke  recently  on  "A  Message  From  a  Pris- 
oner's Cell," 

Dr.  Strong  declared  that  "all  prisoners  are 
not  criminals  and  prison  life  may  be  a  fruit- 
ful life."  There  is  a  crumb  of  comfort  in  what 
Dr.  Strong  says.     He  continues : 

"Some  of  the  best  men  have  been  in  jail. 
Isaiah  was  thrust  into  prison,  Paul  was  in  jail. 
Daniel  and  Joseph  were  in  jail.  Bunyan  spent 
years  in  jail.  Galileo  was  thrown  into  a  dun- 
geon. Cramner  and  Hampden  and  Cromwell 
and  Garrison  served  their  terms.  In  fact,  in 
achieving  tip-top  greatness  one  almost  has  to 
give  explanation  why  he  was  never  incarcer- 
ated by  the  judgment  of  his  generation." 

We  may  have  no  Isaiahs  and  no  Pauls 
among  us,  but  there  are  many  here  who,  in 
their  own  way  and  to  the  measure  of  their 
own  light,  stand  for  something  as  real  as  that 
for  which  Paul  or  Bunyan  or  Cromwell  or 
Garrison  stood. 

The  honor  system,  which  is  making  such 
rapid  strides  in  the  prisons  of  the  country,  is 
fast  becoming  a  cause.  It  began  as  an  ex- 
pedient, but  now  it  is  seen  that  it  involves 
some  of  life's  deepest  possibilities,  some  of 
humanity's  greatest  virtues,  some  of  the 
world's  highest  hopes.  The  honor  system, 
where  it  is  so  applied  that  each  is  put  back  on 
his  honor  for  decision  in  everything  he  does, 
is  of  necessity  a  practical  method  of  character 
building.  Every  man  in  prison  can  at  least 
be  building  his  character  while  he  is  here.  Dr. 
Strong  says : 

"A  prison  life  may  be  a  fruitful  life.  Paul 
had  been  in  prison  for  two  years.  No  doubt 
he  often  wondered  why  he  should  spend  all 
this  time  is  idleness.  When  he  wrote  the  let- 
ters to  the  Ephesians,  to  the  Colossians,  to 
the  Philippians,  he  was  chained  to  a  Roman 
soldier.  Yet  those  three  letters  have  inspired 
and  strengthened  millions;  have  done  more 
good  than  any  two  possible  years  of  intensest 
activity.  Many  prisoners  of  disease  or  sorrow 
or  infirmity  have  done  magnificent  work  for 
humanity.  A  prison  life  may  be  the  most 
fruitful  of  lives." 


In  some  way  each  man  and  woman  who  is 
waiting  for  liberation,  can  do  something  of 
value  while  still  here. 


A  POEM 
TO  REMEMBER 

BELLS  ACROSS  THE  SNOW 

O    Christmas,    merry    Christmas !      Is    it    really 

come  again? 
With  its  memories  and  greetings,  with  its   joy 

and  with  its  pain, 
There's  a  minor  in  the  carol,  and  a  shadow  in 

the  light, 
And  a  spray  of  cypress  twining  with  the  holly 

wreath  to-night; 
And  the  hush  is  never  broken  by  laughter  light 

and  low. 
As  we  listen  in  the  starlight  to  the  "bells  across 

the  snow." 

O  Christmas,  merry  Christmas!  'tis  not  so  very 

long 
Since  other  voices  blended  with  the  carol  and 

the  song. 
If  we  could  but  hear  them  singing  as  they  are 

singing  now. 
If  we  could  but  see  the  radiance  of  the  crown 

on  each  dear  brow, 
There  would  be  no  sigh  to  another,  no  hidden 

tear  to  flow. 
As  we  listen  in  the  starlight  to  the  "bells  across 

the  snow." 

O  Christmas,  merry  Christmas !  this  never  more 
can  be; 

We  cannot  bring  again  the  days  of  our  un- 
shadowed glee; 

But  Christmas,  happy  Christmas,  sweet  herald 
of  good-will. 

With  holy  songs  of  glory  brings  holy  gladness 
still ; 

For  peace  and  hope  may  brighten,  and  patient 
love   may  glow. 

As  we  listen  in  the  starlight  to  the  "bells  across 
the  snow." 

Frances  Ridley  Havergall. 


December  1,  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


art 


To  Obtain  the  Best  Results  in  the  Safest  Manner,  in  Using  High-Explosive 

USE 

Patented.     Trade  Mark  Registered 

The  World's  Greatest  High-Explosive 

A  Nitrated  Hydro-Carbon  Explosive 


Dynalite   is   used  at  the  quarry  of 

the  Illinoiu  State   Perxitentiary  at 

Joliet,  Illinois,  where  it  has  given 

satisfaction  for  many  years. 


Adoptad    hy  Th»    Ohio    MmtU*ft    Cmmtd. 
Battalion  of  Cnglnaara. 

Und  by  lh€  Ohio  Stafr  Ptnitmntiaf y,  thm 
Oayton  Slate  HotpitalanJ  timilmr  tnttilu- 
lion*  I0antins    and    knotting     Iha    tCST. 


MANUFACTURED  BY 


THE  AMERICAN  DYNALITE  COMPANY 

Amherst,  Ohio.     U.  S.  A. 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 

1900  COLLINS  STREET,     JOLIET,   ILL. 


1914 


Enclosed  find 


for   One    Dollar,    in   payment 


of  subscription  for  One  Year. 

Name 


Street  and  No. 
City 


County 
State 


CUT    THIS    OUT    AND    MAIL    IN     YOUR     SUBSCRIPTION 


622 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST. 


First  Year 


Prison  Supply 
Company 

JOHN  W.  GIBBONS,  Agent 

WwXtm  anb 


For    Officers,     Inmates 
and  Discharge  Clothing 

Tools  of  Every  Description 

34  S.  Fifth  Ave.,  CHICAGO,  ILL. 


WERDEN  BUCK 

BUILDING 
MATERIAL 

511  and513  WEBSTLRST. 


BOTH  PHONES  215 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


THE  J.  C.  ADLER  CO. 

JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 
If  you  want  the  best  in 

HAMS,  BACON.  LARD 

Sugar  Cure        ^^   SAUSAGE    "i^'^^'y  Smoke 

order  ours — we  make  them 

MARCO  GROCERS 


W.   Freeman  &   Co. 


Wholesale  Potatoes  and  Fruits 


Car  Lots  a  Specially 


Chicago  'Phone  618  N.  W.  'Phone  859 


105  S.  JOLIET  STREET 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


Enterprise  Plumbing 
Supply  Co. 

Plumbing  Supplies 
to  the  Trade  Only 


Randolph  1520 


Auto.  47-313 


26-28  W.  Kinzie  Street 


Chicago 


I.  B.  Williams 
(®,Son 

Oak  Tanned  Leather 
Belting 

Round  Leather 
Belting 

Cut   and   Side   Lace 
Leather 

14  N.  FRANKLIN  STREET 

TELEPHONE  MAIN   1666 

CHICAGO 

AGENTS  IN  ALL  PRINCIPAL  CITIES 

December  1.  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


i,S:« 


White  Bear  Brand  Steel  Cut 
Coffee 

Sup>erior  in  the  cup     Popular  in  pricea 

Durkasco  and  White  Bear  Brand 
Pure  Fruit  Preserves 

Durand  &  Kasper  Co. 

lVhole^ale  Grocers  and  Manufaciurert 

Importers  art  J  RoasUrs  of  Coffee 

CHICAGO  ILLINOIS 


Bray's  Drug  Store 

The  HOME  of  BRAY'S  COUGH 

MIXTURE.    A  Remedy  that 

cures  where  others  faul. 


2S  Cents  — Per  Bottle  — SO  Cents 
104  Jefferson  Street,  Joliet,  Illinois 


When  opportunity  presents  itself, 
SPEAK  A  GOOD  WORD  FOR 

TheP.E.HOLMSTROM 
COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  GROCERS 
JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


ANALYZE  YOUR  COAL 

It  Pays 

To  Check  Up  on  Your  Deliveries  and 
see  that  you  get  value  received. 
Our  laboratory  is  devoted  exclusively 
to  the  analysis  of  coal.  Wc  have  the 
highest  type  of  apjmratus  known  to 
science  today. 

Commercial  Testing  and  Engineering  Co. 

1785-90  Old  Colony  BIdg.,  CHICAGO 


Joliet  Oil  Refining  Co. 

REFINERS  OF  PETROLEUM 

High  Grade   Illuminating  and   Lubri- 
cating Oil,  Purity  Automobile  Oil 

All  Kinda  of  Grease  Lin»««d   Oil   Soap 


located  on  Mills  Road  nJSritu  JOIIFT,  ILL 


F.  C.  HOLMES  C®.  CO. 

(DtCOtrOaATBO) 

WHOLB8ALS  DIAUftS  III 

Fresh,  Frozen  and  Smoked 
Fish  —  Oysters  in  Season 


TelephoDM 
Monroe  180 
Automatic  SO-IM 


736  West  Randolph  Sueet 
CHICAGO 


RECOGNIZED 
STANDARD 
LAUNDERERS' 
MATERIALS 


H.KOHNSTAMM&CO. 


IJI9  Park  Piaca 

NEW  YORK 


!«-n  N.  Franklin  St. 
CHICAGO 


624 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


First   Year 


The 

BOSTON 
STORE 


JoHet's  Biggest 

Busiest  and  Best 

Store 


Come  in — We  will  treat  you  so 

well  you'll  never  want  to 

trade  anywhere  else 


"NoneSuch'ToodProducts 

THE  BEST  THAT  SKILL  AND 
NATURE  CAN   PRODUCE 

GUARANTEED  TO  COMPLY 
WITH  ALL  PURE  FOOD  LAWS 

Manufactured  by 

McNeil  &  Higgins  Company 

Chicago,  Illinois 


"^^K  have  in  our  warehouses 
everything  in  the  steel  line 
and  are  able  to  ship  immediately 
any  order  received. 

Scully  Steel  ca,  Iron  Co. 

Chicago,  IlL 
Send  for  our  monthly  Stock  List 


The  Weber  Dairy 

OF  JOLIET 

Established  in  '84,  then  used  the  milk  of 
two  cows,  now  we  use  the  milk  of  400  cows 

DAILY  PURE  MILK  OUR  TRADE  MARK 

AL.  J.  WEBER,  Proprietor 

503  W.  Jefferson  St.,  Joliet,  Illinois 


WARLEY'S 

Boiler  Cleansing  Chemicals 
Lubricating  Oils  and  Greases 

are  used  by  those  who  want  abso- 
lutely the  best,  and  are  willing  to 
pay  a  fair  price. 

THOS.  C.  W^ARLEY  CS,  CO. 

202  S.  Clark  Street,  CHICAGO 

Sim  J.  Stevenson,  Manager 


Bush  &  Handwerk 

IVholejale  and  Retail 

HARDWARE  DEALERS 


Specialties 

Factory  and  Quarry  Supplies 

Stoves  and  Ranges 

Plumbing    and     Gas    Fitting 

Steam  and  Furnace  Work 


115-117  JEFFERSON  STREET 
JOLLIET,  ILLINOIS 


December  1.  1914 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST 


<ns 


O                               A 

^        -^ 

J 

^^m 

CO                       J 

^^^    ^^. 

BRO 

ORS 

,  ILL. 

^^^^^^^^^^^Hr.A 

^i§    i 

^  1  ^    li 

^    °    o       1 J 

^H^^^^^^^Hr 

u     B    mn 

^Hj^^^^     '>  ^Kff 

^J^^^l^ 

u. 

^^^^^^ 

The  Harv 

A  dozen  s 

ester  Cigar 

>izes  from  five 

cents  up. 

Mild  as 

a  good  cigar 

can  be. 

In  Universal  Favor 

LYONS  BROTHERS 

LUMBER  and  FUEL  COMPANY 

WHOLESALE  and  RETAIL 

LUMBER  and  COAL 


Both  TcMKma  No.  17 


Wa<hin8ton  Street 
and  York  Avenue 


JOLIET.  ILLINOIS 


ROBERT  T.  KELLY,  Pres.  P.  P   McMANDS,  Vice  Pre* 

CHAS.G.PEA&CE.CMhier      WM.  REDMOND,  Au'tCa^'r 


tlTfje  f  oliet  i^ational 


Yq  on  Savings  3% 
JOLIET  ILLINOIS 


Our  Brands 

Boulevard   Brand 
Renroh   Brand 
Kan  Brand 

Aih  your   grocer  for  aboV€  branJi  and 
gmt     quality     con»i»teryt     with     prie* 

HENRY  HORNER   &   CO. 

Importers  ind  M&nuftcturcrt  ut  oruc«rlM 
CHICAGO.  IJ.  S.  A. 


BUCKNER  6  O'BANNON 

903  West  Main  Street,  Louisville.  Ky. 


Independent 
Dealers  in 


LEAF  TOBACCO 


We  buy  our  leaf  tobaocu  a 
farmers  in  Kenludcy  and    ;   :.:. 
make  a  specialty  of  supplying 
turers  and  state  institutions. 


MURPHY,  LINSKEY  & 
KASHER    COAL    CO. 

MINERS    AND    SHIPPERS   OF 

Original 
Wilmington  Coal 

FROM  BRAIDWOOD   MINE  ON 
CHICAGO  A  ALTON  RAILROAD 

Pontiac  Coal 

FROM  PONTIAC  MINE  ON  ILLINOIS 

CENTRAL,  WABASH  AND  CHICAGO 

AND  ALTON   RAILROADS 


Main   Office,   BRAIDWOOD,    ILL. 

Phone*,   Chicago    1  4-M 

Interstate   e41<L 


(520 


THE  JOLIET  PRISON  POST  First  Year 


&D  ELITE 

W^   ^^^^^^  TRADE    MARK       ReOISTEREO,'  ^^^^^B 

PAINT  AND 
VARNISH   PRODUCTS 

SPREAD  FURTHEST,  LOOK  BEST 
AND    WEAR   WELL    LONGEST 

ADAMS  &    ELTING  CO- 

716-726  Washington  Blvd.,  CHICAGO  Telephone  Monroe  3000 


Wad  s  Avorth-Ho  wland 
Company 


Paint  and  Color  Makers 


Carpenter  and  Fulton  Streets 

Chicago 


^Emm