San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-02-11

when parties have taken possession
of the public school land by fencing
or line riding TO the exclusion OF the
general public, 1 would open II up TO
the public alike, if the user did not
pay for it.
THE PENITRNrIARY POLICY.
Reporter-What policy would you
suggest in regard to the penitentiary
affairs 30 that the convicts would be
solf-sustaining and at the same time
not come in conflict with labor OF the
State
SWAMI would endeavor to pro.
vide penitentiaries in which to confine
every convict 1 believe they can be
made self-sustaining in prison as well
as they can in camps and railway cars.
Our state has no means of sustaining
or even sheltering the 1885 convicts
inside prison now but provision should
be made for them. There has been
dearth of labor in Texas heretofore.
The demands for all kinds Of labor has
been greatly in excess of the supply,
but that condition is rapidly chang
ing. No one can doubtthe policy then,
of Withdrawing servile labor from q
conflict with free labor. Iwould urge
the building Of additional penitentiar-
les, as many as required, and as
speedily as the circumstances would
permit without increased taxation.
Until this is done 1 would confne as
many as could possibly be worked
within the walls of the two peniten-
tiaries and would withdraw those now
working on railroads from that SER
vice. I object to the system of work
ing convicts on the outside on ac-
count of the facility it offers for es-
cape and the trouble it causes in the
vicinity of the farms and camps. Z
would not be willing to see the peo-
pie taxed to support the convicts in
idleness as long as they can be utiliz-
ed upon farms. 1 also think the
number of felony convictions can be
reduced by change in our criminal
laws. Such change as contemplate
ed would reduce number of offense-
to misdemeanors and such convicts
might be utilized IN the counties to
work on and improve the county
roads. | lam also in favor of estab-
fishing reformatory for youths un-
der II years OF age, who may be con-
victed ola felony. Thes suggestions,
well observed in the detail, would, /
think, remove the embarrassment at
tending the management Of the peni-
tentiaries. ~
Reporter Would you establish O
penitentiary at the Granite Mountain,
and develop that resource of wealth?
Swami think two more prisons
should be located, but would not
to say where they should
be situated. You see, the Granite
Mountain does not belong to the
state, and I would not locate them
there, and place the state at the mer-
cy of the owner of the land. I would
locate west and northwest of the pres
ent prisons, wherever best, accessible
ity and other matters considered.
THE STATE UNIvsRsITY.
Reporter Can you explain why
the state university has not been
more of success, and what is neces-
sary to make it more effective and
Swami do not think the state
is unpopular, nor am will
ling to admit that it is unsuccessful.
1t is now in its third year, and there
are about 200 students in attendance.
A year ago there were some COM
plants, alleging extravaganza in the
of regents in their man
cement, but that was not sustained,
aud there has never been any fault or
objection to the faculty. The uni
versity should be effective, and asthe
agricultural and mechanical college is
by the constitution made a branch of
the university, both should be under
one board of regents, or arrangement.
This is what was intended, and it
would give to each a just management,
without conflict OF competition. The
most effective way to render the uni
versity more effective is to encourage
md make more successful the public
schools OF the state. These will fill
the colleges in due time, and the col
Ieges will fill the university with
worthy material. The denomina-
tional colleges will form auxiliary to
the university, and from them we may
expect to get the very best material.
The most friendly relations should be
encouraged and maintained. / have
great hope of the university succeed
ng, and L believe it will
e PROHIBITION QUESTION.
Reporter - Will the prohibition
question be considered in the next
state convention, and what do you
think should be the policy Of the
democratic party on that question :
SWAMI do not know what the
may OF may not do upon
that question. Heretofore it has not
,ut any figure in our state conven-
ions. The constitution and laws Of
Texas give counties, cities and pre-
,incts the right to vote on the qnes-
ion, and 1 presume if IT is raised in
he convention, it vii receive the at
.ention the importance Of the matter
demands. As long as the question
remains a local one, affecting alone