Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-17
Warden Sanders Suggests Rad
ical Reforms in Treatment
OF Prisoners
TAILORED SUITS, WHITE SHIRTS
Warden Insists That Clothes Help to
Make the Man-Never Beats a Prs-
oner-sanders Suggests Modification
of Many of the Present Severe Penal
Statutes.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines, Dec. 17-Urging that in
mates of the state penitentiary should
be given tailor made suits, laundried
shirts and polished shoes instead of
Sanders of the Fort Madison peni-
tentiary, created a decided sensation
before the state board of control at
the regular meeting here this week.
He firmly told the board that so
long as he is warden no prisoner will
be beaten, that he purposes to totally
abolish the solitary confinement" and
will do all within his power to fur
nish pleasure to the inmates of the
penal institution.
He condemned many of the state
laws. fiayed unhesitatingly judges and
prosecutors, and pointed out that it is
the legislatures duties to abolish cap
ital punishment and also life commit
ment on circumstantial evidence.
The present Interpretation of punish
ment he charged to be entirely wrong.
Why should the state set the example
of killing man." says Mr.. Sanders.
We seem to forget that any punish
ment is reserved for the Almighty to
administer Many man has marched
upon the field of battle without pas
sion, at least nothing more than dra-
matte passion, shot down his comrade
=, a.,
the other hand the same social organi-
zation that pensions this man locks
him UP for life, or DEGREES to kill him
for having slain his fellowman in pas
sion, real and natural.
Il believe it is mistake to send a,
man to the penitentiary for life on cir
cumstantial evidence.
THE right of society to defend itself
iis without question, yet with certain
limitations. Might is not always right
and the majority is not always just and
fair. We are human. The juror or Judge
who acts on the theory that honesty
is the best policy is the fellow you
want to look out for after ALL because
he acts from policy and not from a
source of right.
"If man steals ride on a railroad
he is called hobo if he steals the
whole railroad his name is emblazoned
in history as a financier.
"Our own legal system is confess
sion that we are not ready for self gov
ernment. notwithstanding the fact we
boast creation of the system and the
ability to administer it, with a club.
1T is very grave mistake to carry
the idea that a man thrown into pris-
on is disposed of forever. 1t behooves
us therefore, since the larger part of
the men are simply detained for few
years, to see to it that the best condi-
tons possible for the development of
the complete man are brought to bear
in the penitentiaries.
'It is not only sufficient that men
should become penitent but it is nee
essary that every attribute of the hui
man soul should be cultivated and
every effort brought to bear, to bring
about this result. Let us punish the
criminal by confinement and reward
society by a man born anew
"This is an age of canned goods but
you can't cure a man by a label.
"The old style prison conception con-
templates that after a man enters
prison his eyes, ears and heart are lit
orally closed. Architecture i'm prison
construction is just as essential and
vital as any church, school house or
public edifce in the world. Heat, light
and sanitation, all should play a very
important part.
Green houses, flower gardens, grassy
lawns and Gods out-of- doors is just
as necessary in prison as in any other
institution. To close up mans ears
to the refining influence of music is
nothing short of criminal.
.Ey cry man who enters penal In
stitution, at least all first offenders,
should be clad in the first and best
grade. No man was ever reformed or
made better by the practical assump-
tion that he is a rascal.
"It is my opinion there should be
some system of earning devised for the
prisoners. It is punishment of the most
cruel character to turn a man loose
from prison with nothing in his pocket
but SIS.
"The personal appearance of the pris-
oner should be emphasized by re-
spectacle suit of clothes, tailor made
laundried shirts and polished shoes
When you consider that Is per cent of
them never had these refining influ-
ences on the outside and have subor-
dinated their senses to overindulgence
of passion, it is worth while to reward
them. You can not make man better,
YOU can not make him think better or
act better, until you first throw about
him the best influences there are. 1t
does not cost any more to make suit
of clothes shapely than it does to throw
it together and hang it on prisoner
as YOU would rags on a scarecrow.
"a mans food should be varied, not
with extravaganza, but he should have
everything that is found in well reg
ulated home. These men have eaten
with their hands, in hobo clusters out
of troughs, much like the swine, on the
outside and have failed. Why not show
u. u