The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-11-10

1.-THE institution is now in a condi-
ton that needs prompt and heroic
treatment if any permanent good is to
be accomplished. While I nave been
treated with savage severity I am NOT
inclined to hnrl denunciations against
any officer. 1t is the system that is
rotten, base, horrible and barbarous
Nothing short of a revolution is re-
quired. A perfunctory investigation,
a labored report, and few minor leg
islative enactments will 90 nothing
but aggravate the abuse and perpetu-
ate a brutal and indefensible system.
1.-THE commission should be abso-
lutely untrammeled. No officer should
be present during the interviewing Of
convicts. No notice should be given
of the commissions intended visits.
No opportunity should be given the
officers to deceive them by making
temporary clean up, nor should the
steward be warned that a good meal
should be given the prisoners when
the members Of the commission wish
to examine the kind Of food supplied
by the state to it's wards.
Investigations Have Failed.
"When Dryden was on the 'gridiron'
about two years ago a newspaper re-
porter was invited to get from con-
victs their. versions Of the treatment
accorded them. Dryden received the
newspaper men very courteously and
called Lewis, who is serving eight
years, to tell what a very humane man
he Oryden) was and how well the
convicts fare in the institution. Lewis
was well fed, we'll clothed and had
a very comfortable bed to sleep I'm.
Now this was true, but onl ytrue as
regards a number of political prison.
ers. who have special situations which
carry with them accommodations
equal to those enjoyed by the guards,
but absolutely and unqualifiedly false
as regards 700 or 800 other men. Now,
do not blame Lewis for perverting
facts, for If he had done otherwise,
it would soon nave been discovered
that he had ceased to be useful in
the capacity of chief turkeys clerk
and would have been relegated to the
,jute mill. where he would nave spent
surroundings and would have been
compelled to subsist upon starvation
rations.
Il have no grudge against any OF
the officials but 1 believe the public
can get regarding the institution so
as to be in a position to adopt INTEL
ligent measures for the correction Of
the number of abuses that belong to
a system that is untitled for present
day civilization and inadequate for the
needs of society.
Il am prepared to give your COM
mission information that 1 am sure
will prove Of value and will, if listen
ed to with patience, convince the gen.
tlemen that hosing man to death and
placing a woman in a cold steel dun
geon, while in delicate health, are not
essential to the proper management
of a penal institution. A coat OF
whitewash might give the place a
good external appearance, but if So
ciety wants good, permanent results
it must use a large supply of moral
dynamite.
Il will not here attempt to men,
ton the special and general abuses
that have made Infamous that wretch |
ed den. 1 will close by stating that |
am ready, when called upon, to detail !
what l believe are the wrongs of the |
convicts, and at the same time sug-
gest what measures might prove, if |
not entirely remedial, at least benef1-
cial.
"P. S.-The convicts instructed mo
to thank you heartily for removing |
KEGS from office, whose oppressive ac-
lions were unworthy the conduct Of a |