But Carter and Nash, in what must be the most savage example of token integration on record, divided eleven Negroes between two all-white halls in one cell block. The warden locked the halls up and removed privileges, but was forced to rescind his orders when the penned-up inmates became ugly. The din of their ruckus floated over the wall to Carter's house one weekend evening and he informed neighbor Nash who went across the street and shot the pacifying tear gas into the cells himself. In the last two months there has been a shifting of convicts to the new Moberly prison, to farms, honor camp and sawmill. Population at the penitentiary is down to about 1,600, but it would be folly for the new governor or assembly to think the problems have been solved.
Convicts still hold authority, still run the prison.
That means that gambling, drugs, sex affairs and violence will continue. The new committee chairman needs more cooperation from the new Governor than his predecessor got from the old one. Patrick J. Buchanan is a member of the staff of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. All rights reserved. Unauthorized redistribution is prohibited.