The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-13


att ention from thinking people who seek
the reason for the existing condition o.
! affairs.
| What was the prime cause OF this
disturbance? Who can be blamed, And
on whose shoulders rests the response
bility?" are the natural questions that
arise.
1t was with view to answering these
| questions from the standpoint OF one
familiar with prison work that a News
| representative talked with Warden
| Nelson A. Wall OF the Rhode Island state
| prison.
The Rhode Island prison is, as il well
known, an orderly, well-governed insti-
tuition, when such "a state of anarchy as
now prevails in Charlestowu seems al
most beyond the range OF possibility aud
Gen. Wallis views will be found the
more interesting from this fact.
There are several causes" sa, the
warden, that may safely be adduoe1 a
responsible for the trouble. Que Of these
Is OF the labor question. Owing TO the
regulation forbidding the introduction
OF new machinery in the Charestown
prison, all OF the convicts cannot be sup
piled with work aud some have TO remain
idle. Now you know that old say
ing, AN Idle mans brains is the
devils own work shop and it stands To
reason that men kept IN enforced idle
ness Tor any length of time, will grow
uneasy and discontented. Society is par
italy responsible for the aft iir by not
giving the management proper support
AS / have said in that prison. no new
tools are introduced, and in the work
shop they have the same old machinery
that has Deen in use since the completion
OF the structure many years ago. The
work done in the prison is on what is
called the.
Piece Price Plan.
and is not contract work. Some OF the
prisoners are necessarily literally idle,
and it is from their active brains that
these troubles spring.
1--WE never have any trouble here. All
tire men work at one thing or another,
and except in "A few extreme cases none
OF them are kept in solitary confinement.
continued longing after freedom
that dominates every mans nature
when under restraint, but il is seldom
that prisoner gets courage enough to
make desperate break for liberty. The
average criminal, if he does not succeed
In getting away when he makes the first
attempt almost ALWAYS seems to lose all
hope and settles down into a hum
drum, every day existence, peaceful and
docile until the end OF his term ap-
prosches when h spinces up somewhat
and looks forward eagerly to that day
when once again lie can tread unre-
strained, the free country.
"No, STRIP continued the general, after
a moments thought during which the |
report Razed cur ously at a lon line of |
gray Clothed men stumbling in single |
file across the yard. no, sin" he repeat |
ed, I'VE have nothing or that sort here. |
4 he men work, and IL any signs of trou-
Bile are brewing we just
Weed Out the Fingleaders
and deal with them.
"But," said he, warming up to his
subject, "there is another and far more
serious cause of that outbreak in
than has yet been consid-
,red, and that is in the peculiar relation
snip existing between the warden and
ais deputies. There the warden has not |
,he power to exercise his Office. He can
ot appoint or dismiss his subordi-
iate officers. They are appoint ed by a
PRISON council aud the warden is pow
'rless to correct them in any misle-
neanor. He is appointed by the COVER
ior and n council, and is placed in an un-
'nviable position. The warden should be
allowed TO select his own officers. as he is
made responsible for the manage nent of
he institution. Good work can only be |
/
n harmony, Nov, here, / am appoint
d by the board OF state charities and
corrections for an indefinite time ap-
'oint and dismiss as / think neces s lry,
nd you can readily see what n |
r1at ADVANTAGE it is to have that power.
[ any one OF my men resists my au,
horIty can dismiss him. 1t is not nee
sSary Tor me TO report him 10 prison
ommission who will investigate mis- mis-
emeanor and will take their time about
citing In the affair; no, not at all, if say
o. out he goes, aud there is an end TO
he matter"
Gen. Wall, by the way was appointed
'arden of the state prison by tue board
state charities and corrections in 1867,
nd, with the exception of two or three
ears. has served continuously in that
Ince. During his wardenship, there has
cen no trouble of any serious nature
nong the men and all alike respect
I'm. In nature he is stern, OF uubending .
gnity and has always been accustomed
, the
Handling of Men.
Serving as he did ia the Mexican war
ld in the putting down of South
merican revolt, has given him n clear
sight into the traits aud qualities dis
nguishing mankind, and has equipped {
ost hardened aud desperate Grim. .
al. IL was not long ago !
Iat recently released convict 7,
'oke TO the News man about
e admiration held for the general by
q prisoners. lie said that the hardest {
deal he had 20 undergo was when the ,
arden approached him on the day he
as ushered into the stone mansion and
KING bis eyes on him asked him a ques- q
on or two. The convict said that those :
es seemed TO pierce through him and
exert mcsmeric influence over him. y
that rom that moment he was his /.
aunchest friend.
, opeaking Of crime the warden said: D
Ihe study OF crime aud criminals il "A
my MIND one OF the most interesting | A
estions OF the day. The prevalence OF :,
me. us alarming spread and growth.
e rapidlty with which our prisons are
-n1 Win Young Illl al / q