The record-union., 1897-06-02
THE TROUBLE AT SAN QUENTIN.

The rebellion at the San Quentin Pris-
on is disreputable and disrgaceful, no
matter howsit is looked at; no matter
what the cause. Causes which produce
such effects are not sudden. If they are
specific. they ought to have been dis
covered and guarded against long be-
fore the possibility of such an outbreak.
1t is claimed that the underlying cause
of the trouble is depriving the leaders of
opium. 1t is said that lately the author
tiles have SO much restricted the use of
the noxious drug that the strike and
riot which followed are easily traceable
to that cause.
But why is it that opium importation
into the prison grew to such proportions
in the first place? The convicts cannot
procure opium except it is purchased.
If it was being brought in in such large
quantities as alleged, then there must
have been money exchanged for it. In
some cases this might be done by out
side friends. but surely not in the great
majority of instances. To shut the
convict off, therefore, from the handling
of any means with which to procure the
drug ought to be a fair corrective.
But if in this we are in error, if it is
true that without money a large num-
Der of convicts manage to secure opium,
it follows that something is wrong in
the management. However, we are not
disposed to believe that the opium traf-
fc is the chief underlying cause of the
trouble. We can understand that de-
spite utmost vigilance some opium will be
smuggled in; that even employees of the
prison may not be in all cases wholly
trustworthy in this respect, and that
through these sources the drug might
come in. But the habitual users of
opium are not so numerous as to incite
and sustain such a riot as that at San
Quentin. Nor is the opium habitue
likely to be so greatly leader and or
ganizer as to influence 700 men in pris-
on to such concert Of action.
We prefer to think that the convicts
have been too well treated, too well fed
and housed. They have been cared for,
the Warden is reported as saying, in the
matter of food better than seven-tenths
of working men are able to care for
themselves. These perverts. incorrigi-
bles, tyros in crime and confirmed GRIM
inals, have been so well treated that they
have become arrogant. inflated with
false ideas, and hence demand still bet
ter order of food and still greater pro-
vision for their care by the State.
1t is very easy, indeed, for men in
confinement, who are we'll fed. lightly
worked, and who lead a comparatively
easy life, little exposed to stress of
weather. never working long hours or
at night, given conveniences for ex-
ceptional cleanliness, and compelled to
observance of hygienic laws that insure
them fair health. to work themselves
into the belief that they should have
still better treatment. and that any
praeticed economy bearing upon what
they conceive to be privileges" is tyr
annous and in violation of their rights.
The Oakland Tribune says:
Those who have studied penology and
in their Investigations have visited
other prisons throughout the country
say that California treats her crimin-
ais far too well as compared with the
methods of other States. In addition
to being quartered at one of the most
delightful retreats in California, they
are well housed. we'll fed, have little
work, and are subjected to such slight
punishment that it is almost a farce.
The strikers struck because the cooks
did not suit them, and because they were
not allowed to receive turkeys, fruits,
cigars, etc, from the outside, and one
of the conditions they made for return
ing TO their duties was that they should
be allowed to name those to be placed
in charge of the kitchen.
And this we take it is getting very
near to the truth. We treat our prison
ers as guests, instead of Furnishing them
as offenders against society and its laws.
What these grand rascals need is ap-
plication of far greater severity, less