Gilpin observer., 1908-01-23
STATE PRISON
ASSOCIATION
ito 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 recent fall from which
he is still suffering, but he sent COM
munication to be read, which is in part
as follows:
1.-THE care and attention and little
money properly expended at the right
time has saved many poor, despond-
ent and hopeless man from relapsing
into the old life which has placed him
behind the bars. This is not only hui
manity in it's highest form, but it is Of
great benefit to the state Of Colorado,
because every ex-convict that this So
ciety through it's efforts can save from
relapse, means a large amount in
good, hard dollars to the honest citi-
zens of the state.
1.-The kangaroo court which has ex-
listed, and I understand still exists in
the city of Denver, 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
county should see to is at once and
forever abolished.
Another thing which this associa-
ton, through it's officers, has been en-
deavoring to accomplish, is the enact
ment and execution of a law by which
the convicts of the state Of Colorado
shall be put to some useful and re-
munerative work. 1t is economy on
that part of the state, and it is human
| ity toward the convictS themselves.
With the 700 or more able bodied con-
victs in the state penitentiary, much
beneficial, useful and remunerative
work could be done for the state. When
! thought over this matter, have pic
tured to myself, what a great work
these convicts could do for the state
of Colorado, in the building of roads
throughout the state, or the building
of reservoirs at proper places. These
works, under the supervision of COM
petent engineers, could be done in a
way that the results would last for a
thousand years or more. Think Of
the 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 linn
tied to these two things. There are
many other useful lines in which they
could be employed to the great advan-
/ tage Of the convicts themselves, and
| to the state at large.
Some people may pronounce such
aims and hopes as vagaries and the
ories, but happily the matter has been
thoroughly and beyond all cavil veri-
fed, and shown to be entirely possible
and practicable.
Last November while on a visit to
Detroit, l had the pleasure of visiting
the Detroit House of Correction.
was met by the superintendent, Mr..
Mcdonald, who very kindly and grac-
iously took me all through that i'm
mense institution. The cells occupied
by the prisoners were in large court
or building that was thoroughly lighted
and thoroughly ventilated. The air in
the place was as fresh and as pure as
that outside. Order and discipline and
without the use Of any Kangaroo court
was found to be easily maintained, not
withstanding the fact that they have
on an average of over 400 prisoners in
the place. All of the prisoners able to
do any work are occupied in manufac-
turing three or four useful things, viz,
chairs, pearl buttons, scrub brushes
and horse brushes, and although they
are employed In manufacturing only
these four named articles, all of the
expenses of taking care of the pris.
oner5, Of feeding them. of guarding
them, of buying material and imple.
ments for them to work with, are paid
for. and last year a net profit to the
city Of Detroit, they showed the enor
nous sum Of $4,000. In addition tc
paying all Of these expenses and in
paying for the raw material, there is a
small amount each day credited to the
prisoner who proves himself Of good be
havior, and to be steady and indus
trious. The prisoner Is credited with
this amount, and at the time that his
imprisonment expires. he has some
small amount Of money to his credit
which is paid over to him. The pris
oners were not dressed In stripes. ant
as rule, they had happy or at least
contented look upon their faces"
The report Of w. e. Collett, genera
secretary OF the association. show.
that in four years, since the associa
tion's enlargement from the Prisoners
Aid Society. between 500 and 600 ex
prisoners and the families Of men VIII,
are In prison. have been assisted II
securing suitable emnloYment and fur