The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-07-23
ONE MAN DEFEATS
BIG POLITICIANS
Public Rallies to Ex-Convict's Aid
and He Will Continue His Work
For Prisons 0utcasts.

n OAKLAND. Cal. July 23.-Five-cent
meals, a bed on the floor OF a squalid
shack, the animosity OF powerful POI
n lticians. the shadow OF cell, hardship,
privation. persecution-none OF these
n had terrors for j. Wess Moore. par
oiled convict. II. by accepting them all.
he could establish the means OF help
ing other men. ex-convicts like him.
SELF. To get new start In life.
It's the story OF one poor old mans
hight against the organized forces OF
political power. And the best part Ot
the story Is that the poor, old man
won.
j. Wess Moore was 62 years old
when he left felon's cell at San
Quentin. CALIFORNIA; state prison. on
parole. He had served eight years If
life sentence for killing man who
had Jumped" his mining claim. With
the memory OF those eight years indel-
IDLY stamped on his lite, he consecrat-
ed his remaining days To making life
/ mean something TO other men with
lives criss-crossed by prison bars.
Moore came To- Oakland and quietly
began the organization OF what he cali
\ ed Society for the Friendless. IL
was not long before his efforts were
seen. Help and encouragement from
many persons Interested In prison re-
\ form followed Mrs. NJ. V. Newman.
\ 4 prominent prison worker IL this city.
offered Moore her services as secre'
tary OF his society and when nc glad
~ accepted, she devoted herself to
the work OF organization.
"Echoes From the Tomb
While In prison Moore had sritten a
book OF verse Echoes From the
Tomb OF the Living" every poem sns-
gested by some experience OF ills eight
years in stripes These books he How
sold, and used the money to keep tho
society on its feet. He even spent his
civil war veterans monthly pension.
The society grew. and with its
growth and the good work IL accom-
plished. came public praise for its
founder.
Ii may be that Chas. Mont gon-
cry, president OF the California pris-
on commission, begrudged Moore his
praise. 1t may be that Montgomery
believed that Moore was interfering
bynhis efforts, with the work OF sim
liar society which Montgomery him
self had founded. But whatever the
motive, Montgomery, when Moores
success seemed sure. began TO pun inc
political wires OF the Republican ma
chine. TO have Moore sent back TO MS
cell. One day Moore was hate, De-
fore State Prison Director Chas. SOM
tag and biuntly told that either ne
must take advantage OF the prison d.
rectorS. permission to leave the state,
give I'D his own society and devote
his energies to aiding Montgomery In
the organization OF his, or go back 10
San Quentin.
There are many good people back
OF my society now said Moore. IL
does not lack for funds. | am OLD.
Il can we'll get along without me- but
I will not give II up" Then. quietly.
II will take the cell.
But Montgomery. In pulling his po-
litical wires. had forgotten that soma
times the public heart is touched; ina.
sometimes even political machine
fails In the face of public sentiment.
Storm Of Protest.
When Moore's sacrifice was known.
there was q storm OF protest. Friends
aockod to the rescue. Before the day
ON which he was to deliver himself To
the prison directors. lawyers offered
me ex-convict their services free OF
charge. money and checks were sent
him to pay the costs of a court trlal-
and n thoroughly aroused pubic
watched. On the morning thai Moore
surrendered, Sonntag announced that
no had been mistaken. that Montgom-
cry was at fault, and that Moore could
continue his work. Sonntag even or
tered the Society for the Friendless
his assistance.
That is the happy story OF Tie poor
mans fight. The story OF Moore, trans
gressor, Is tragic.
In 1900 he was living happily In
Trinity county. this state. with ms
Young wife. He was known as quiet
iaw-abiding citizen. A civil war Vet-
Gran he stood high In Grand Army cir
cles. One day he left home on busi-
ness and when he returned week "a.
Ter he found that his mining claims
had been Jumped" He appealed 70
the authorities without avail. Theu
he took the law into his own hands
In attempting to take what was MS
he shot one Of his enemies 10 death:
He was tried for murder, conVic'eu
and sentenced for life.
His fraif little wife died OF broken
behrt a few months after the prison
swallowed up her husband.
And ]. Wess Moore In the cell Oh
selon bore his grief alone.