The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-20
All Can Be Done Simply by
Correspondence.
REWARD FORCONVICTS
Mr.. Stanley Believes In Recog-
nizing MeritOriOus Service.
News From the State House
Departments.

Governor Stanley. upon being asked
about the policy OF the administration
in rewarding penitertiary convicts with
pardons in cases where the prisoner
had performed some meritorious ser
vice for the state, said to a Journal re-
porter today:
L believe it is a plan which under
judiciOus management might prove
beneficial in many ways. 1t would APP
pear as a reward for suppresslIg nuu-
MES, stopping disturbances and other-
wise aiding in the enforcement OF the
rules governing the institution.
The governor has passed upon SeVeral
pardOnS during the past few days, Two
Of them being along the lines mentlon-
ed in the foregoing. These pardohs
were issued upon the recommendation
of the warden of the prison ana We're
in cases where the men so remembered
had aided in the maintenance OF the
discipline of the institution under very
trying circumstances.
Two weeks ago two prisoners escaped
from the penitentiary and adopted new
tactics. Instead of making an effort
to get away by fleeing across the coun-
try they Secreted themselves IN some
heavy underground near the prison
walls and were waiting for darkness to
aid them in making good their escape.
A number of the officers went IN pur-
suit of the escaped convicts and with
them went two other prisoners. To
one of these who was very diligent,
was due the capture of the men in hid
ing The warden appreciated this SER
vice and upon his recommendation the
governor issued a conditional pardon to
the man.
The discussion of matters pertaining
to pardon cases developed the fact that
the governor is at all times DeSleSed
with personal interviews by persons
seeking pardons when the case could
be discussed and decided by CORE
spOndence just as well as by personal
interviews Thinking of this phase OF
the subject the governor said:
There is one thing which I desire
to prevent" said the governor, land
that is the expenditure of money by
friends and relatives of applicants for
pardons, who come to Topeka to make
a personal appeal to me in urging the
applications.
In pardon cases there is no need of
going to the expense of employing at
tOrneyS as a case will have just as
much consideration where no attorney
is employed as where a lawyer takes
charge of the case.
In many instances parents are poor
and i'll able to bear the expense of a
trip to Topeka, yet they come to urge
the claims for their friends or family
members, the latter class being usually
sons. All of these matters can be fully
attended to by correspondence and then
I can indicate to the applicants whether
there is any need of having their
friends or relatives appear for them.
When there is no use for such personal
effort the expense may as well be
spared.
"A mother, was in the office yester-
day; another was in today, both press
ing applications for their sons. They
could not afford the expense of the visit
to Topeka and the facts surrounding
both cases We're of such a character
that they could have been disposed of
by correspondence.
There are two ideas which appli-
cants for pardons should bear in mind:
"First-The employment of a lawyer
is unnecessary.
''SecOnd-PersOnal visits to the execu-
tive office need not be made until the
preliminaries are disposed of by mail.
Persons having such cases would
save themselves time trouble and
money by observing these regulations
which will hereafter govern the de-
Darfnent''