The morning times., 1895-07-27
]. W. French, of Indiana, Will
Be Its First Warden.
HAS HAD LONG EXPERIENCE
Prisoners From All Parts of the United
States Now Dist ributed 4 mong Vari-
GUS States, to Be Brought to Fort
Leavenworth-Brief Review of In
diana Politics.

Mr j. W. French, of Michigan City, Ind,
is at the Shoreham. Mr. French is one
of the best known private and public men
in his State. He was for some years one
of the editors of the Lafayette Journal
was several terms elected representative
and State senator, and was, until legis-
lated out of office by the Republicans, war
den of the Northern Indiana prison.
MI French is in the city in response TO
an invitation from the Department of
Justice. 1t is understooad that he has
been appointed to take charge OF the United
States prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan
sas. This prison is the first OF the kind
ever established by Uncle Sam, and is re-
suit OF sentiment of various Attorney
Generals that the government should have
its own prison for its own prisoners, in
stead of having them kept under contract
with various States, such as New York
at Albany; Ohio, at Columbus, and Missouri,
at jefferson City.
WILL TAKE CHARGE SOON.
The sentiment In this direction was
also largely aided by the recommenda-
tions and suggestions of the National
Prison Congress, which met at Nashville
in 1889, and has since maintained the agi-
tation successfully.
For the past twelve years there has been
a military prison at Fort Leavenworth
Under an act of Congress, which went
into effect July l , this property was trans
ferred from the War Department to the
Department of Justice. and transfer
OF all the military prisons made to various
barracks and garrisons. After the trans
fer the prison was placed under the direct
control of the Attorney General
1t is expected that Mr. French will as
sumo control OF the First Federal prison
within a very short time, when he viii re-
lieve Capt. Pope, who has been detailed to
hold the place until the final arrangements
have been completed.
The records show that the present ca
pacity OF the Fort Leavenworth prison is
for about 600 prisoners, although there
are between 2,200 and $500 scattered
among the various State prisons Whether
it viii be the policy Of the government to
enlarge the Fort LeaYeuwo ORTIZ establishment
orto secure others, remains to be determined
1t is, however, the declared policy of the
Department Of Justice to make the new
prison model in every respect.
Mr.. French has thus been called to a
responsible position for which his prac-
-tical experience in Indiana eminently quail
flies him He does not care TO discuss the
-
this institution other than on points on
which the policy has been definitely settled
POLITICS in INDIANA
AS to politics in Indiana, it was different
Mr.. French is a Democrat and has long
been familiar with Indiana politics.
There is not much to be said just now -
replied Mr.. French to a question on poll
tics. The people of Indiana, as l think
they are everywhere, are paying more at
tention to economic questions than they
are to purely political issues. The topic
most discussed is finance
During the panic the silver diScu ssion
was strong, but the return OF good times
has weakened the silver forces There
is undoubtedly strong Element remain
ing, and it would be hard TO foretell the
result of the contest; but the men who have
been conspicuous for their clamor in the
silver craze have subsided, indicating a
radical change of sentiment"
Mr.. French is OF the opinion that the
Republicans viii renominate Harrison and
that IL Gov. Matthews is nominated by the
Democrats Indiana will become a royal
battlefield" Matthews, he says, is a
man of eXceptioai executive ability, and
would make a model President The
even division of political parties in his
State necessitates the maintenance of per-
manent headquarters for both sides The
new election law has done a great deal to
free the people from political. bossi SIN.
The State is nonlinally Democratic, but
1t is always debatable ground in a political
contest,
Mr.. French will probably leave the city
| tonight for his home.