The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-08
GOVERNOR TALKS.
Defends His System OF ParOling
C0nvicts.
Reads Letters to Show They
Comply With Rules.
SPEAKS AT A CHURCH.
Discusses Reforms In Manag-
ing State Institutions.
National Charities Convention
Subject of Another Address.


church last evening with bundle of
correspondence which he received yes
terday at his Office. The letters were
from penitentiary convicts whom he
has released on conditional pardons, and
he read the letters to the congregation,
emitting the names of the convicts. to
prove that the conditional pardon idea
was good thing.
The meeting was in the interest of the
coming National Conference of Chari-
ties and Correction, to be held in To-
peka next May. It was addressed by
c. E. Faulkner, of Minneapolis, Mimi,
and by Governor Stanley. 1t was during
his address that Governor Stanley pro-
duced the convict's letters.
Governor Stanley does not share the
enthusiasm of Mr.. Faulkner regarding
the good that can be accomplished by
the coming conference in Topeka, and
he did not hesitate to say so. Mr..
Faulkner had warned the audience be-
forehand that the governor was in
clined to be pessimistic in regard to it,
so people were prepared for it.
i wish had some of the enthusiasm
of my friend Faulkner in this matter"
said Governor Stanley in beginning his
address, and some degree of his faith
in what can be done. There is an old
adage which says, Seeing is believing,
and will believe when I see what can
be done. This is a great people in this
state of ours. They are an honest peo-
pie, and a powerful people If we could
once get them aroused on this subject
it would not take long to settle these
questions of reform in our charitable
institutions and prisons.
Probably 100 sheriffs in the state of
Kansas will be invited to come to this
conference. Then there will be 300 coun-
ty commissioners who will be invited.
and in addition to these there will be
about 100 superintendent and other Of
ficerS of institutions of different kinds.
Now how many of this 500 do you sup
pose will come?' he asked turning to-
ward Mr. Faulkner. III tell you," he
continued. IF you get so of them here
you will do WE'LL
''Wen, governor" broke in Mr.. Faux
ner I'VE intend to ask you to sign let
ter to each of them requesting that they
come"
'.I'H do it." said Governor Stanley.
"I'il invite 'em. I wish could do more
and make them come. But can't, and
they are like this public sentiment of
ours, it is difficult to get them aroused"
Governor Stanley then told how many
parents asked the state to take care of
their children because they made q, fail
ure of it themselves.
There are whole lot of little fell
lows over there" continued the COVER
nor, pointing north towards the reform
school, many of them placed there be-
cause their parents made a failure of
providing homes that would keep them
out of mischief. 1 believe that when y
parent once asks the state to take
charge of his boy, he ought to be made
to relinquish all claims on that boy.
That will give the state a chance to do
something. A man who had made a
failure of controlling his boy before the
lad was 10 years old asked the state to
take him to the reform school. The boy
was taken there, and then a home was
found for him in good family out in
I1-vx- y h
and the people liked him. Then came
the father who had made a failure with
the boy before and demanded the boy
back the people had to give him up to
be taken back to be spoiled again.
Mr.. Faulkner says that legisla lures
are too busy to pay any attention to re-
forms along these lines, and I guess
that's So I asked the legislature last
winter to do something along the line I
have just spoken of, but they didn't do
it. The trouble is with public senti-
ment. If we could get that aroused it
wouldn't take long to make these re-
formations.
But we can do some good" contin-
ued the governor. Il have been trying
what I call conditional pardons with
some of the prisoners at the peniten-
tiary, and I find it works first rate. l
don't know whether they are legal or
mott think they are, and 1 shall say
so until the supreme court says differ
ent. 1 make these pardons upon these
COuQlllOuS- nat the pdIuOH6Q man
shall leave intoxicating liquors alone;
that he shall keep away from gambling
resorts and other places where he
might get into trouble; that he shall
not violate any law; that he shall do all
he can to find employment and support
those dependent upon him, and that he
shall report his whereabouts and how
he is getting along on the first of each
month. Then in addition to this I try
to secure a promise from some of his
friends who are trying to secure his
pardon that they villa see that he has
work. That is the secret of the whole
thing in many caSes-employment. I
have issued u of these pardonS, and to
show you how they work 1 will read
you some of the reports which came to
my office today from the warden"
Governor Stanley then read a num-
Der of the letters. The first one told
Warden Tomlinson that he took his pen
in hand to tell him he was well and
hoped these few lines would find him
and his family the same. The convict
then told where he was working, how
much he was making, and said that he
was contented. The next letter was
from a negro who is working in a coal
mine Some of the letters were rather
peculiar in their construction. but they
conveyed the meaning all right, and
each one showed that the writer was
employed. One man asked to be in
formed when he could quit writing
I think these letters show that the
plan is a success" said Governor Stan
ley II make it a point to write to
each man every month after I receive
his report, to show my interest in him
and to encourage him to make a good
citizen of himself"
At this point in the governors adj
dress a very unusual thing happened.
Notwithstanding that it was Sunday
evening and in a church edifice, the
congregation broke into hearty ap-
plause to show it's approval of Cover
nor Stanley's action.
The address of Mr.. Faulkner was
largely to explain the work of the con-
ference, of which he is the head. AL
though Mr. Faulkner gives his address
as Minneapolis, Mimi, he still considers
himself a Kansan, and he began his adj
dress last evening by saying, Fellow
Kansans.' He represented Saline