Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-11-15
PRISONS AND POLITICS.

ural consequences OF the cruuS proNlsions
adopted. Those provisions contained no
sufficient checks against the abandonment
of the prison administration to partisan
politics, and therefore it was not to be ex.
pected that the politicians would fail to
utilize their opportunities. As the RECORD
UNION long ago pointed out, the only way
by which the end sought could have been
attained would have been by appointing
professional penologists to the Office of
Wardens, and making them responsible for
their subordinates, while exercising strict
supervision over the Board of Directors.
This advice, however, was disregarded, and
one OF the results is that among the changes
to be expected from the recent Democratic
success at the polls is the entire revolu-
tionizing of the prison administration. The
public must anticipate what the politicians
call ga new DEAL" in fact. The present
Wardens and all their officers will doubt.
less have to make room for Democrats, and
unfortunately it will be useless to protest
against the change, because it will be said
to be only in the line of precedent. The
present Wardens were neither of them
chosen because of any special fitness for the
work. In fact neither of them knew any,
thing about it when they went in. But
they have been learning ever since, and
now, when they have acquired some under.
standing of what is needed, they will have
to make way for altogether untried men.
That lie, they will have to Go this unless
General Ssoneman is prepared to with
stand the solicitations and pressure of the
politicians, and to deal with ths% import
ant matter from higher standpoint than
that of partisan politics. If he is willing
and able to do this We can furnish him with
ample reasons. In the first place the appeal
to presidents is entirely irrelevant. II
hospitals instead OF prisons were in ques-
ton, and if one party proposed to put in
Ignorant physicians because the other party
had done 80, everyone would see at once
that such a proposition was outrageous and
irrational. 1t would be recognized that
the welfare of the patients must be the
controlling consideration, and that if one
party had been SO neglectful of its duty as
to abandon the hospitals to politics, this fact
could not justify the ether party in CON-
uniting the same fault. But there is really
close analogy between prisons and hos
pitfalls. Under every enlightened Govern.
ment the fact is now recognized that So
ciety is bound, in its own interest as well
as by its duty to its lawless members, to
make the punishment of criminals reform
atory. In other words, it is the highest
and soundest State policy to diminish crime
by curing those who commit it of their
criminal tendencies.
Now, this process of cure, or reform,
calls for science in those who are to admin
lister prisons. 1t is idle to take men at
haphazard and make Wardens of them.
1t is as idle as it would be to put politicians
10 charge of insane asylums. Penology is
a science in these days, and it requires
long and patient study and special expert
ence. It involves a knowledge of criminal
human nature, which can only be OBJ.
tanned by the most deliberate and extern
sive observation. Such knowledge is very
rare. 1t certainly ia not possessed by the
average man. Politics is not the field in
which it is acquired. Moreover the main
objects of the politician are opposed to what
the main object of every prison officer
ought to be. The politician has two
special purposes to serve. One is to
avoid scandals in prison administration
the other is to use the prison government
as political machinery. Now this kind
of administration is incompatible with the
attainment of the best results. The ideal
Warden is man who is devoted to Grim
inal reform, and who understands how
practically to bring it about. A skilled
penologist would be competent to advise
the Legislature as to the best methods of
securing penal reform, but the reports of
all the prison Wardens who have thus far
held Office in California are chiefly remark
able for the absence Of useful sugges-
tions in this regard.
General Stoneman has two courses open
to him besides that which the politicians
will urge upon him. He may keep the
present Wardens in office; or he may ap-
point skilled penologists to take their
places. 1t is, however, necessary to point
out that if ever this last plan is adopted
it will be indispensable to leave to the
Warden the choice of his subordinates
since to appoint fit Wardens, and then to
give all the subordinate positions to politi-
clans, would be torender improvement hope.
less, and to muzzle the new Wardens at
once. In fact we are tolerably certain
that no trained penologist would accept
such an Office unless he had the promise
beforehand OF the unfettered choice of his
own lieutenants. We do not lose sight of
the fact that what we are suggesting is
very hard thing for new Governor to do
1t is quite possible, we may even say prob.
able, that General Stoneman will receive
no encouragement from the Legislature to
make any such reforms. It will be
question almost entirely for his own con.
science. He must be aware that the pur.
pose of the new Constitution concerning
prison administration has not yet been
fulfilled. He must be aware that it de.
Ponds largely upon himself whether it
shall be hereafter. If he is capable of
rising above partisan politics he can do
this thing, and in that case only.
No doubt a great deal would be gained
if Board of Directors were appointed
which had large enough views to re-
frain from all political interference with
the Wardens. If, however, the Board and
the Wardens all belong to the same class
OF politicians, such abstinence from inter.
ference would effect little good. The
whole prison administration must be put
upon right basis if any real reform is to
be assured. 1t is useless to tinker at the