Telegram-herald., 1891-07-31
A .Kfrokm" DEFENSE

The Democrat has had another hor-
rible attack of metropolitan enterprise
Ii rushes IN To the defense OF Warden
Davis of the State prison. with scolumn
of correspondence from Eaton Rapids,
signed J. W. F., very familiar conlbi-
nation of initials that do not tend to
cast an air Of credibili.y over the cor
respondence. They are too well known.
What j. w. F. was doing IN Eaton Rap
ids 20 learn how Warden Davis feeds
his prisoners, one can not very eaHly
imagine, but the nature OF the stun he
wrote would provoke suspicion that
j. w. F. was taking treatment At the
Eaton Rapids mineral wells for soften
ing of the brain. The TELEGEAN-HER-
AID got its information, as TO Warden
Davis reform" management of the
prison, from Jackson and when IL seeks
any more such information, 1t will tind
it there and not in Eaton Rapids. The
Democrat, however, with Its combined
New York and Wisconsin management
must not be expected to be accurate IN
Michigan topography.
The correspondence OF the TELEGRAM
HERALD, which 80 opened Warden
Davis eyes and understanding, was
dated at Jackson. July 25, and appear
e. in our issue of the next day. 1t ex-
cited much comment throughout the
Is
cary for the reform" Warden. The
discovery was suddenly made mat q
correspondent of the Democrat had
been in the PRISON on the Goth also. So
astonishing was the fact that . reporter
had been admitted within the sacred
precincts of the "reformatory" that it
was to be kept profound secret. The
reporter writes: "Had not . Grand
Rapids paper. tho TELEGRAN-HERALp,
published an article on MONDAY reflect
ing upon the treatment OF prisoners by
Warden Davis, and so utterly mislead-
ing and untruthful, the fact of the SUM-
day visit might have remained q
secret" And yet he says he was ad-
mitted especially as a representative of
the Democrat. Do the reporters of
metropolitan journals" usually visit
such institutions to keep their informa-
ton secret? The gaunness of the tale
IS equaled only by what follows.
For what purpose did J. w. F. make
this alleged visit to the prison? He was
given permission by Warden Davis-so
the story goes-'to visit the men IN the
several wards" and "full liberty to con-
verse with the men," Armed with this
permission. bearing the sign manual OF
Warden Davis, the redoubtable J. W.
+. performed one Of the most astound-
ing feats OF interviewing on record. To
quote his own language: "The reporter
was placed in the care of the prison as
sIstant postmaster ia convictl and with
him visited every cell in the several
wards and conversed privately and
freely with each inmate. Over these
interviews there WAS not the least re-
striction or espionage whatever, and
the men were free to say what they
pleased. Very many had requests to
make Of the reporter, to convey mes
ssges to friends or things Of similar
nature. and only one made . COM
plant"
Now let US apply the test of figures
TO his wonderful exploit. He could not
have conversed freely with every in
mate and heard all their requests and
messages short of an average of FIVE
minutes each. In round numbers there
are 500 inmates. 1t would require a.
600 minutes, or 663 hours. or more than
days OF 10 hours each. without stops
for refreshment. TO get around. j. W.
r. undoubtedly accomplished it in that
one sunday visit, but II was the biggest
infrsction OF the fourth commandment
the world has ever seen. No wonder
j. w. +. betoox himself to Eaton Rap
ris 10 soak his head IN mineral water.
The readers of the Democrat will put
Just "a much faith IN J. W. F.'s defense
Of Warden Dsvisss they honestly thIssk
they can without reducing themselves
% h.s level.
prison management that has 10 he
bolstared mp by such defense - that
~ weak indeed. A correspondent who
will send in such "rotr should be IN
continently fired. and the editorial head
Of metropolitan journal that will
run It ought to &c soaked IN the wsu-
keshs waters of Wisconsin for month.
CoIGC ET tETERt.
The Lansing Journal, whose editor
u the Deputy Secretary # state under
Dan Sopsr's reform susp'ees-not
that Dan loved him more, but could