Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-08-21
WRITE OF LIBERTY.
A kansan's Unique Contest Among
Prison Inmates ls Decided.

Prison Inmates Is Decided.
A. G. Gates, ex-chaplain Of the Kan
sas State Industrial Reformatory at
this place, says Hutchinson, Kansas,
letter, has just brought to successful
conclusion a very interesting contest.
A few months ago he wrote letter to
the various state penal and reformatory
institutions throughout the country Of
fering a series Of prizes for the best
article written by prisoners on the sub
ject, What Is True Liberty, its Value,
and How Obtained?" There was a
ready response to the invitation to
compete in this contest and the prizes
have just been awarded.
One hundred and forty manu-
scripts from institutions In twelve
states were received by Mr.. Gates and
eleven prizes were awarded-a first
prize Of S25, a second prize Of SO, a
third prize Of S. and eight additional
prizes Of 81 each. No. 1872, Massa-
chusetts state reformatory, was the
winner Of the first prize; Convict ]. E
R., Alabama state penitentiary, won
the second, and No. 3219, Indiana state
reformatory, was given the third prize
The winners Of the first rank In the
dollar prizes were: N. B., state indus
trial school for girls, Beloit, Kan; No
Att and No. 501S, Indiana state re-
formatory, the three being given the
same grade Of merit Other institu-
tions winning 81 prizes were Ohio pen
itentiary, North Carolina state prison
Missouri penitentiary, Iowa penitentia-
ry, Iowa. reformatory and Allegheny
county workhouse, Pennsylvania.
In explaining the manner in which
the contest was conducted, Mr.. Gates
said
After the one hundred and forty
seven articles were carefully read by
me, and some Of them re-read several
times, thirty eight Of the best were
copied on typewriters that the manu-
scripts might go into the hands Of the
judges in uniform style. And, that
there might be no question raised by
anyone as to the absolute fairness in
the grading Of the papers, complete
set of these copies was placed In the
hands of each Of four judges, who re-
side in different states or different Sec
tions Of the same state, with the wri-
ter's postoffice address omitted, and his
name or number marking the author
ship Of the article. The judges were
the Rev. J. Kent Rizer, pastor Of the
Trinity Lutheran church, Upton, Ie.;
Miss Kate Smelser, a member Of the
Alumni association, Earlham collee9
Richmond, Ind; Mrs. Cora G. Lewis
Kinsley, Kas., and the Rev. w. F..
Gray, pastor Of the First United Prec-
byterian church, Hutchinson, Kas.
After the work Of each Of these
judges was completed, the articles re-
ceiving the ranking positions as indi-
Gated by each judges grading were
placed in the hands Of the fifth judge
George w. Winans, ex-state superln-
tendent Of public instruction, for final
grading. feel that this gave an alb
solutely correct ranking Of the various
efforts Of the prisoners and good idea
Of their several abilities. believe that
such contests not only help to develop
the mental faculties of the prisoners
but cheer their spirits as well, indicat-
ing, as it does, that there are persons
on the outside who are interested In
their welfare"