The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-04-10
FREE TRADE.
In the Workshops Of the State Peni-
Tertiary.
The Kind OF Men That Make
COnvictS.


Day before yesterday We took walk
through the work shops aad houses Of the
Kansas State Penitsntiary with Major John.
son, who was then Deputy Warden. We
confess to learning something on that trip
that will not come amiss. if We should ever
become permanent guest of the State hotel,
and also something that will be useful under
any circumstances. The first objects inspect
ed were the
MARROW CELLS
wherein the prisoners are "ushered" when
the twilight deepens. The cells are too
small. 1t doesn't require an architect to
discover this. The ventilation is hardly ade-
quate to supply fresh air to the Sl4 convicts
Who are confined therein. OF course this
fault Is net with the present management Of
the prison. Still it is fault that can be
corrected, and ought to be corrected at once.
Ex-Governor Robinson, in the Legislature
two years ago, epoke of the narrow and close
cells, and said in the course
of his speech that he had
been in the Peniientiary, and ''knew how it
vas himself" While speaking on the sub
ject he said that the men in the Penitentiary
were no worse than the men in the Legisla
ture, and on that ground appealed for reform
in the construction of cells. We never serv-
ed term in either the Kansas Legislature or
the Kansss Penitentiary, and hence cannot
". s" y ~ hr,
Ne hsrl visited DgsA institutions, and do
not hesitate ~ say tuat Inc prison is managed
better than the Legislature. We have found
out that sentencing a man to the Penitentiary
does not destroy his sense of the beautiful, or
his love for the little triukets and ornaments
that render the walls Of a room picturesque
and cheerful. The proof of this Assertion
can be found in the appearance of the CELL
walls. Some of the convicts display re-
markable taste in framing and arrang-
ing photographs, and adjusting little
trinkets. OF course oil paintings will not
be seen On the walls. but photographs Of the
prisoners friends and relatives are hand
somely taken care Of. The pursuit of picto-
rial attractions compels the convict to pre-
serve all the
ILLUSTRATED PAPERS
that come in his way, and from these he |
takes the best executed cuts, usually eelect- |
ing pictures of ladies. He will then expend /
. vast deal Of labor, and reveal no little in
genuity in constructing frames. Portraits of
army officers, illustrious Presi-
dents, eminent actors and actresses, notorious
pugilists and celebrated politicians, are all
found in the various galleries of the "Hotel
de Kansas" 1t does seem from the display
that one cannot get into the illustrated pa
pens without getting into the Penitentiary.
In the progress of our walk We visired the
shops where the prisoners get
FREE TRADE,
and At the same time receive ample protec-
ton (as the city wagon makers say) from
foreign competition. Probably one hundred
farmers residing within q radius of ten
miles from the prison have purchased
wagons, and paid for them in
corn, oats, and other farm productions. The
officers of the Penitentiary advance this as
IN argument in support of the cheap prison
labor.
In a conversation with Major John
son IS to the detail of convicts to the various
grades of work, We inquired if he did not
place the convicts who had learned q trade
before entering prison, to the same labor
hat they had been educated to perform.
This incidental question ELECTED an answer
full of
FOOD FOR REFLECTION,
and We record the reply for the benefit of
Ehoughtless fathers and indulgent mothers.
johnson replied:
eve don't get that class of men here.
We haven't q man in prison who had learn
ID q trade before he was sent here. The
,onvicts are composed of men who were
neglected in their youth by indulgent
parents, and permitted to grow up in in
lolenoe; -skllled mechanics are unknown in
he prison.
That johnson uttered a great truth ia
vident, and his remarks will help to en-
courage the boys of the period who are
Working with their hands.