The state herald., 1908-01-24
STATE PRISON
ASSOCIATION
lTe WORK REVIEWED AT TENTH
ANNUAL MEETING AND
ANNIVERSARY.
AIDING EX.C0NvICTS
WOULD ABOLISH KANGAROO
COURT AND FURNISH WORK
FOR PRISONERS.

! Denver.-The Colorado Prison Asso'
citation celebrated its tenth anniversary
at its annual meeting in this city
Thursday. The anniversary program
was held at Unity church, under the
auspices of the board of direction Of
the Prison Association. Luncheon was
served by the ladies of the church at
p. m, and there were numerous ad-
dresses afterward. Former Governor
c. S. Thomas delivered the principal
address.
Hon. Henry V. Johnson, president of
the association, was unable to be pres
ent owing to a recent fall from which
he is still suffering, but he sent COM
munication to be read, which is in part
as follows:
THE care and attention and little
money properly expended at the right
time has saved many a poor, despond-
ent and hopeless man from relapsing
into the old life which has placed him
behind the bars. This is not only hu-
manity In its highest form, but it is of
great benefit TO the state OF Colorado,
because every ex-convict that this So
ciety through its efforts can save from
a relapse, means n large amount in
good, hard dollars to the honest ciu-
zens of the state.
"The Kangaroo court which has ex-
listed, and | understand still exists in
the city of Denver. l take great pleas
ure In branding as a disgrace to the
people OF the city and county of Den
yer, and as thing which the judges
OF the District Court OF this city and
county should see to is at once and
forever abolished.
Another thing which this associa-
ton. through its officers. has been en-
deavoring to accomplish, is the enact
ment and execution OF n law by which
the convicts of the state OF Colorado
shall be put to some useful and re.
munerative work. II is economy on
that part OF the state. and II is human
ity toward the conyicts themselves.
With the 700 or more able bodied con.
vlcts in the state penitentiary, much
beneficial, useful and remuneratiyo
work could be done for the state. When
! thought over this matter, have pic,
tured to myself, what n great work
these convlcts could do for the state
Of Colorado, In the building OF roads
throughout the state. or the building
OF reservoirs at proper places. These
D . la. |IslH q
petent engineers, could be done in a
way that the results would last for n
I thousand years or more. Think OF
| tho magnificent roads that could be
built through our mountains and other
/ parts OF the state. and thereby enable
| the citizens Of the state TO transform
| what today is desert, into homes and
| gardens. But they would not be lin.
/ tied TO these two things, There are
many other useful lines in which they
could be employed to the great adyan-
/ tage OF the conyicts themselves, and
/ to the state at large.
Some people may pronounce such
/ aims and hopes as vngnrios and the
ories, bIu happily tho matter has been
/ thoroughly and beyond all chyil vert.
I fed. and shown TO bo entirely possible
/ and practicable
Last November while on n visit 10
/ Detroit, | had the pleasure of visiting
| tho Detroit House Of Correction. I
/ was met by the superintendent, Mr..
/ Mcdonald. who very kindly and grac,
| lously took me all through that i'm.
I mense Institution. Tho cells occupied
I by the prisoners were In a large court
or building that was thoroughly lighted
I and thoroughly ventilated, The air IN
| the place was no froHh and as pure as
| that outside. order and discipline aud
| without tho use Of any Kangaroo court
/ was found 10 be easily maintained. not
| withatanding the fact that they hnyo
] on nm average OF over 400 prisoners IN
/ the place. All NJ the prisoners able 10
| do any work are occupied IN manufac.
/ turing three or four useful things via.
chairs pearl buttons, scrub brushes
| aud horse brushes, and although they
nro employed In manufacturing only
/ these four named articles. nll Of the
/ expenses nf taking caro- Of tho pria
/ oncrl. OF feeding them. OF guarding
them. Of buying material and implo,
monta for them 10 work with. are paid
/ for. and last year n net profit 10 the
/ city OF Detroit. they showed the onor.
nous sum OF $4,000. In addition 10
paying all Of these expenses and In
paying for the raw material. there In n
small amount each day credited 20 the
prisoner who proves himself of good be-
haylor. and 20 bo steady and indus
triouH Tho prisoner In credited with
this amount. and al the time that his
imprisonment expires, he has some
small amount Of money 10 HIS credit,
which IL paid over 10 him. The pfis,
onors were not dressed In stripes. and
ma n rule, they had happy or AZ least
contentod look upon their faces"
Tho report of W. n, collot', general
secretary ~ tho association. shows
that In four years, since tho aHsoeia,
tons enlargement from the Prisoners
Aid Society. between 500 and coo er,
prisoners and the families of men who
ara IN prison, have been assisted In
securing suitable employment. and fur
nlHhed with extra clothing. tools.
transportation and lilta essentials.