The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-28

Warden Jewett, of Lansing,
Gives COnvicts Good Advice.
Practically All of the l,lSO
Inmates Were Present.
HE DID HIS VERY BEST.
Tells Prisoners There Is Yet
Hope for Them.
Will Give Them a Helping Hand
in Outside World.
lie DID HIS VERY BEST.

Leavenworth, Kas, Aug. 2S.-E. B.
Jewett, warden of the Kansas peni-
Tertiary, who will retire from the
management Thursday, gave his
farewell" to the prisoners Sunday.
Practically all of the 1,1SO inmates
were in the chapel Mr.. Jewett is
well liked by the prisoners. He had
much to do with establishing the pa
role law and the indeterminate sem
tence system now on trial in Kansas.
In addition Mr.. Jewett always was
in favor of liberal policy in passing
on applications for parole and was
ever ready to take up the case of a
poor unfortunate prisoner who was
without relatives or friends. There
is some good in the man; let's give
him another chance was a remark
often made by Mr.. Jewett in passing
on a request for parole.
The prisoners enjoyed water
melon dinner at noon. Each one was
furnished half of a large melon and
more if that was not sufficient. The
dinner was equal to that of a holiday.
The address Of MIR. Jewett was made
near the close of the regular Sunday
morning religious services. Most of
his remarks were in the nature of a
frank talk on prison affairs. He
touched a little on politics at one
pOllll MI jewell SdlQ III part
\ Reference to Politics.
I go without envy for those who
follow me, or for those who stay after
me. I would not criticise the power
which has displaced me; I know
something of the fury of the on
slaught of factionalism of party poll
ties. know something of the
charge of ingratitude hurled at him
who is placed in power by the faction
of a party whose will he does not do
So that while statesmen know there
should be more here than a remedy
to smooth and iron out distempers
provoked by party quarrels, they first
protest and then consent.
I came to the task of tine manage
ment of this institution without eX-
perience. I leave it conscious of hav-
ing done the best 1 could. In many
respects the work has been interesting
to me; at times the responsibility has
beer great The little world behind
these walls is almost unknown to the
great world on the outside. The re-
lation of warden and inmate is but
little understood; that there should
develop a feeling of respect and con-
fidGnce on the part OF the man con-
fined for the officer in charge, and on
the part of the officer a feeling OF
sympathy for the man who is All In
mate here, is not unnatural 1t is
right; it would be wrong should it
be otherwise.
I believe with that great humanitar-
ian, that student of the relation of hu-
nan life to its environment, Jacob RiiS,
that if we but press the button right.
we will make the good show up in most
men. 1 have tried to impress this theory
of prison conduct upon this institution
and upon the laws of this state, and
am satisfied that something has been
accomplished, not simply for the benefit
of the man confined here, but for society,
the potent agencies in the making of
good citizenship and as the church grows
more charitable in the advocacy of
creeds, its power for good increases
These agencies do not make all men
good, all men good citizens but no man
to do away with them for that reason.
So if the reformatory idea of prison
mana cement does not succeed in some
instances, should it be done away with?
I / tn nix not, and I believe that the en-
lightened public sentiment of the state
sustains this view.
Hope for the Prisoners.
Now in this connection want to maka
this statement, that in a majority of in
stances the men who go out from here
will be given another chance by society
to become self-sustaining and even
prosperous citizens if you hold fast to
but a few simple little rules-go to work
do it well, little better than anybody
else, if possible, and mind your own
business. There is a big demand in
this country for that class OF men, and
if you follow these rules there will not
be much inquiry about your past life,
and after a while you will be like most
. Scotchmen in this country
I do not believe that it was ordained
or predestined that you were to be here
1t may be the result however. of your
own voluntary act. It may be that the
forces for good in you, in order to re-
main so and be the controlling forces of
your makeup, needed a better environ
ment than they had. I know that this
Is true in many instances. It may be
that the court made a mistake; 1t NAV
be all wrong from the standpoint of
the great philosopher, Tolstoi But YOU
are here, and it is the law of this place
that good order must prevail; that is
matter about which there is no contro-
Versy- If I should meet with you in the
world outside and you are making an
honest effort to re-establish yourself
along the lines of good citizenship. I
Will give you a square deal and shan
advise others to do So