Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-07-06
KANSAS NOVELTY IN PAROLES.
Prisoners to Get Out Must Agree to At
tend Church.

Prisoners to Get Out Must Agree to At
tend Church.
Gov. Stubs Of Kansas, says To-
peka dispatch, has established new
requirement in the parolins and par
doning of prisoners in the state peni-
tentiary. Hereafter when convict Is
liberated on parole or by absolute par
don he must stipulate in writing that
he will regularly attend church, Sunday
school and prayer meeting once each
week. II the prisoner is pardoned the
governor will have no recourse II the
agreement is violated, but paroled
prisoner could be returned to the pen
itentiary.
The parole law Of Kansas provides
that a convict must agree to keep away
from bad associates, seek employment
and lead a moral life.
"I have added church going and Sun
day school service to the list" Gov.
Stubbs told the correspondent for the
New York Sun, because it Is the kind
of influence which ought to surround
every man or woman who comes out OF
a state penitentiary. I shall insist upon
this agreement from every prisoner
paroled, no matter how exemplary has
been his conduct in the penitentiary.
Gov. Stubs does not believe much
in the innocence of men or women VINO
get into the penitentiaries Of the coun-
try. He entertains high opinions OF
courts and juries that try and convict
them, and he does not believe gov
ernor should set side their Judgments.
The governors attitude has become
known in the state penitentiary, and
the letters which are being received at
the executive Office in Topeka from
convicts are of a different tenor from
those that came during the late Hoch
administration. Gov. Stubbs must also
be convinced that man Is penitent be-
fore he will grant a parole or pardon,
even If the judge, the jury and the
prosecuting attorney who convicted
him petition for the mans release. He
saws penitence is one Of the WORLDS
greatest virtues.
In the Kansas institution, where
more than 1000 prisoners are incar-
cerated, he says there are many who
are contrite and penitent and who
would make good and useful citizens II
released. These are the men who Will
received favors from Gov. Stubbs; but
those who write telling Of their inno-
cence do not receive much considera-
ton unless they possess the penitent
spirit.
Gov. Stubbs wonders II his experience
is similar to that of other executives
throughout the country. If he were to
believe all the letters written to him
by convicts not less than 80 per cent OF
the men in the penitentiary are abso-
lutely innocent, and the other 10 per
cent are only partially guilty.
Occasionally the governor receives a
letter from a convict who doesn't pre-
tend to be innocent. One Of this kind
which came in the mails a few days
ago contained a sharp fling at former
Governor Hoch who, 1t has been re-
ported, pardoned the murderer Arnold
because he wrote sentimental poem
which has been printed in the Sun.
The convicts name Is withheld by Gov.
Stubbs, but his letter follows:
Judging from what I have read,
from conversations held with inmates OF
this penitentiary, have arrived at the
conclusion that am the only guilty
scamp in this place. l can't plead In
nocence, l can't write classical poem
and l have no flowers blooming In the
conservatory of my SOUL You have no
idea how lonesome this leaves me.
Better kick me out Of here lest 1 cor
rupt the morals of this institution
This letter Is written in a remarka-
bly, fine hand. While the letter Is re-
freshing, in that 1t Is different from
hundreds Of others received from the
same institution, it Is likely that before
he grants any favors to this convict the
governor will recommend that he begin
the cultivation of flowers in the con-
servatory Of his SOUL" This expression
has been used in jest many times since
it was first uttered by former Gov.
Hoch before the graduating classes OF
the state university, but Gov. Stubbs
believes in the idea 1t conveys.
Ordinarily the convicts write that
their morals, which were good when
they went into the penitentiary, are
being corrupted by the many criminals
around them and that they want to get
out where they can lead useful lives.
Some Of these who have heard of Gov.
Stubbss requirement as to churchso-
ing have written him that they desire
to be released, so that they may have
the advantages Of church and Sunday
school work, to which they offer to de-
vote the remainder of their lives. One
of these offered to join any church the
governor would suggest. The eXecu-
tive is an old fashioned Quaker, but he
will not use his power in behalf Of that
sect.
The first parole to contain the new
church going condition was issued re-
Gently. Charles Glass was serving a
sentence for robbing a schoolhouse In
Stafford county. His father died and
the friends of the family asked Gov
Stubbs by wire to parole him so he
could attend the funeral. The govern
or granted the parole, but not until he
had conferred with the warden by long
distance telephone and learned that
Glass had earned his release by good
behavior.
"SARTIN SURE" SIGNS.