The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-10-22

sold to actual consumers, or rather
the growers of grain who need them in
shipping their crops. When KEGS al
lowed the grain sacks to get into the
hands Of spectators he upset the pur-
pose Of the state in manufacturing jute
sacks, in that he prevented the states
output from holding grain sack prices
within reach.
Trouble With convicts.
There has also from time to time
been bitter complaints as to the treat
ment received by the men confined
within the walls Of the state penal in
stitution, and this may have Influenced
the board of control in its action.
The state demands that its penal
wards be surrounded with adequate
sanitary conditions, but these are not
obtained at Walla Walla. There is no
sewerage system but great, common
pool into which all sewage matter is
thrown and then conducted down to
the prison truck garden for irriga-
ton purposes.
Favoritism is charged. The law of
reward for virtue did not prevail under
Warden KEGS. Petty grating appears
in securing easy berths for convicts.
The bathing Of 16S jute mill men
the lowest form of convict punish
ment-in one pool, twenty-eight at a
time, without change of water, and all
to be accomplished within thirty min
utes, forms a condition that is loath-
some even to the convicts who are sup
posed to become hardened to the ex-
perience.
And, finally, the sending forth of the
ex-convict, clad in suit of clothing
that has been cast off by some incom-
ing convict, filthy and ragged OBJ
ject, badly equipped to take up life's
fight among good, clean men, is the
fitting climax to the acts that have
made Warden KEGS name a byword
for Encouragement Of the Walla Walla
institution.
Tell Damaging Story.
Mismanagement of state prison at
fairs by Warden KEGS, as found by the
state board of control, is supplemented
with the evidence of three men who
have just returned to Seattle from that
institution, charging brutal, barbarous
treatment Of the convicts. If the war
denis offense in the jute bag deal had
not been deemed sufficient cause for
removal, there would be enough evil
dence available against him on charges
of cruelty to have brought about the
result.
Unnatural treatment of sick men, re-
sulting in their deaths, and hundreds
of infections of petty hardships, form
the arrangement of the warden who Is
about to be deposed.
"A I6-SCdI-O wy, UOhAOu AiiONASoA
attention for three weeks, finally came
down to the operating table and died
the following day. Another hapless
fellow died Of tuberculosis and his
body was denied Christian attention
and left out on rear porch all night
for the dogs to howl over. Punish
ment of the most barbarous character
has been inflicted on the offending con-
vict. One fellow, Edward Bloom, be-
reft of reason by cruel treatment, COM
mitted suicide rather than undergo an
| other chastisement
Under Warden KEGS administration
there has been used a mode Of pun
| ishment that is more barbarous than
any used in an inquisitorial prison.
The naked convict is strapped to a
cross and a powerful stream of water
| is directed against his vital parts.
The dungeon is worse, so far as can
| be ascertained, than any maintained in
any states prison in the land.