The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-30

for the government OF the shop guards
requires; s'They will inform Themselves
Of the nature Of the work to be done by
conyicts under their charge that they
may be better enabled to judge OF It's
quality and the amount they should be
able TO perform" The almost total dis.
regard Of this rule is one OF the points OF
complaint and is the basis for the obIec..
tons raised TO the frequent changing oil
the shop guards.
The reference to the escaped prison
ers is misleading. -Four Of these men
escaped at two different times through
the same hospital window, two Of whom
have been recovered and two are still at
large, Marion Letter, q rapist, sentenced
to eighteen years, being one, and one
Smith, a New York crook, the other.
Mr.. Maupins' rabbit hunters have been
returned to the institution.
AS to the weak argument in support
OF the changing OF the shop guards IN
which they assail the character OF one Of
the old guard, the poor mans only
legacy, which once destroyed would
leave him worse than beggared, it Is
pertinent to inquire il such reason ex-
listed why was it not brought forth ut
the Board meeting in February, at
which the Superintendent declared that
he changed the guard because 1t was his
pleasure, land Il this Board passes an
order to me in five minutes to restore
the old guards to the shops 1 will dlsre-
gard it,"
II this man is so dishonest why did
not the Superintendent discharge him
forthwith as it is his duty to do in such
cases? Why did he take him out OF the
shop and put him into u more RESPONSE
BILE position, where he had the handling
Of money and kept the wicket? Finally,
with due Difference to the expressions OF
Mr.. Howard, and due regard for his
opinions, we cannot refrain from asking
him candidly how he is able to express
an intelligent opinion OF the discipline
at this institution when his visits are
confined TO perhapsan hour in the shops
and buildings once each month or two
during the year ut the regular Board
meetings, and when the dates OF those
meetings are no secret with the man
agement?
What more does he know about the
discipline at this institution than OF that
at the ten other prisons with which he
comparesit? And is not his knowledg e |
of discipline based almost II not quite
entirely upon matters Of hearsay, that is
to say on what the officers OF the lnstl-
tutions tell him? How was 1t possible
during the stoppage OF the four days in
February to destroy the discipline OF
the institution when the fact that there
was none to destroy was the cause OF the
stOrpage, and to seek a return TO better
methods the reason for It? Is not the
general tone OF penal institution the
best guide as to the ability OF its man
agement, and what can you truthfullly
say OF the tone Of the West Virginia
Penitentiary?
We beg to remind the gentlemen that
it has been found impracticable long
since ito make silk purse out OF u
sow's ear" If your management is SO
excellent why do men who have spent
thousands OF dollars in establishing bust
ness here and who will have to spend
thousands more to make the Contemp-
lated changes OF moving away, feel OBJ
liged to submit to such charges?
Is it because they dislike you person
ally? Not at oil. Is it because they
want to run the institution? By no
means. They have enough to do in
managing their own affairs.
1t is simply because to do business
under the disadvantages ofundisciplined
convict labor and with prison manage
ment devoid Of business principles
means financial ruin, and nothing more.
WEBSyHR WAGON COMPANY,
B. F. Hodgman, Gen. Supt.
WRAvER & HUMPHREYS,
WEAVER & BARpALL.
Moundsulle, Nay %.