Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-07-25

The penltentiary disbursements ag-
gregate u hundred thousand dollars
Il year. 1t employs 6s guards. officers
etc. all OF whom are appointed by the
warden. An average of over $50
convicts are there confined These
moral delinquents need above all citi-
zens the guidance and supervision OF
| trained men in order that their char
acters may be reformed and they ceas
to be source of danger and OF ex-
pense to the state. Neither in Colo
| RADIO nor upon Gods earth Is there a
| position which more cryingly demands
long experience and specially adapt
ed mental and moral make up than
the wardenship of great penitentiary.
We were therefore justified in ex-
pecting that Governor as the chief
| executive and the elected trustee of
the people of the state would see to
it that the best available man should
be placed at the head of this great in
stitution. And this the more because
of the public professions he had al
ready made. In his inaugural ad-
dress delivered to the Thirteenth
said; Having taken the oath of
office in your presence. I desire TO
say that it shall ever be my greatest
aim to discharge the duty OF chief ex-
ecutive of the state in such a manner
and with such regard for the fights of
the whole people as shall win their
approval and commendation.. -
shall endeavor while occupying the
position of chief executive of the
state to conduct the affairs of the
statestate on a strictly business prin-
ciple. The interests of the people
demand it
Let us now so far as the state pen
itentiary is concerned contrast prom
ise with performance. Mr.. C. p
Hoyt whmo was the penitentiary war
den when Governor Ormanu's admin
istration began, had been connected
with prison work since 1883. His
unusual fitness for the work is attest
ed by the fact that he was the ap-
pointee for the wardenship of either
the peDitentiary or the reformatory
of every Democratic governor of
the state.
mere III tne rccOfu.
1889. Appointed warden of the pen
itentiary by Governor Grant
1887. Appointed warden of the
penitentiary by Governor Adams.
1897. Appointed warden OF the re
formatory by Governor Adams.
1888 Appointed warden of the
penitentiary by Governor Thomas.
Accordingly for period of Is years
Mr.. Hoyt had largely devoted him
self to questions connected with pris-
on administration. He had come to
be recognized as the leading penal ad-
| ministratOr of Colorado His repnta-
tion extended outside of the state ana
had steadily grown. The prison war
dens of the whole country had come
to recognize Mr. Hoyt as "A prison au-
| thority. The last two years of his
administration of. the penitentiary--
despite the opposition of a hostile
board of prison commissioners-tle
spite the meagerness of the state
| funds-and despite numerous diff
culties arising from political pressure
have been remarkable for the work ac.
complished. for the permanent i'm
provements effected. and for the high
| discipline maintained. do not write
this because of any friendship for Mr.
Hoyt. | know him personally hardly
more than | do his successor But
Mr.. Hoyt's longtime experience. his
reputation and standing, and the work
he has accomplished speak for them
| selves.
In contrast, what special fitness has
Mr. n. n. Martin for the exceedingly
| responsible position of penitentiary
warden? He has not had the slight.
est experience in prison management.
He knows no more about the care and
discipline OF convicts than does the
| writer about the breeding of beacon
| strictors. He has, in the writer's
judgment. no adaptability for the
work He had one and only one tt
tie to the position. He is the broth
er-in-law OF Governor Orman.
The penitentiary appointment is not
the only stain on the record of Gov
ernor Orman. The removal OF Mr..
butcher from the wardenship OF the
reformatory--a man who gave unusual
promise OF developing into frst-o1ass
prison superintendent also indie.
fensible. And there are many addi
tionai points OF criticism. The prac
tical question is; What are you go
ing to do about It? That the gov
ernor of the state will see and repair
his wrong Is hardly to be expected
There seems to be sad fatality In
the fact that public man who is fool
ish enough to commit wrong.ve
veryrarely has the wisdom and the
manhood to acknowledge andu ndo 1t
The duty Of good citizens Is to pro
test 80 loudly and so forcibly agains
such executive acts that public senti
ment may be educated to n degre,
which will prevent any future gov
ernor OF the state from daring to re
gard official positions as private plum
der. A healthy public opinion mus
be created which will successfully de
mand that. following the example o
other states. allof our public charita