The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-17
AT THE PRISON.
Glimpse at State Institution For
Criminals.
Warden Codding and His Plan
of Reform.
FOOD is IMPROVE ID
New Cook Employed and Bill of
Fare Changed.
Inmates Appear to Appreciate
the Changes.

There have been other changes made
at the Kansas state penitentiary lately
besides the appointment of a new war
l'den. They have new cook over at the
Lansing institution. and that affects
the boarders more closely than any 9TH
er one thing. Then there is a difference
in the way of treating the prisoners
Not a big difference, but enough to be
noticeable among men whose daily
round is q deadly monotony of eating,
working and sleeping.
There have been no radical changes5
nothing has been turned up side down,
but the convicts from the TRUSTEES" in
the warden's house and the men in the
library and offices to the husky ne
groes in the coal mines and brickyards,
are more cheerful and cotented and
work harder since J. K. Codding, the
rev warden, took charge ten days ago
He touched them in their tenderest spot
their stomachs. Eating is the one
pleasure they can look forward to. The
quantity and quality of the food is the
same, but there is more care and work
spent in its preparation. The new cneI
was secured from the federal prison at
LeaVenWOrth. He could not pass Ine
civil service examination at the fort on
astronomy and the abstract sciences,
but he knows how to cook for large
body of men and can serve them 1000
they like and that will keep them
he althy.
Warden COdding's Way.
Then Warden Codding takes an in
terest in the men. in their work, IN
their condition and In their treatment
by the attaches of the prison. He is not
g. prison expert nor has he had expert
ence in that work, but he has the one
requisite that is necessary to success
in any line of Work-enthuS1asm. WIN
out enthusiasm experience and ability
will fail every time in a big work. En-
thusiasm means earneStneSs and con-
scientiouS effort. Warden CoddlnS IL
doing his best. He takes his task seri-
ously and realizes his responsibility
Yet he shows no signs of stopping over
or getting hysterical when he contem-
plates the misery of over 100 human
beings entrusted to his care. He knows
that they were sent there by the courts
in order to protect society and ne is
quiet and stern as he goes about his
work. But neither is he callous to Suf-
fering and i'll treatment. and he believes
With Governor Stubs. that the inmates
should be treated in a fashion best cal
culated to help them to be better clti-
zens at the end of their terms. II
these efforts meet with success in 40
per cent of the cases in prison the
work will have been well done.
Drs. Crumbine and Finley of the state
hoard of health went over to the prison
yesterday to begin the tuberculin test
of all the inmates and a State jour
nal representative went along to see
the test made and also to see the eff
feet of the reforms started by the new
management
A Great Institution.
Few Kansans who have not visited
the big institution can have any idea
of what a fearful and wonderful
place it is and how it is conducted. |
There is not factory or business
enterprise in the state that is run
along such economical and efficient |
lines as the state penitentiary. At |
faT. znpndinep a d9V there If is hard to |
realize that it is the home of over |
700 of the worst criminals in the |
state. The prison grounds proper, |
occupy a space a little larger than |
the state house square. The front |
of the grounds are beautifully kept !
and flowers adorn the grassy ter !
races. Behind the administration |
building is the central court of the |
institution and it is surrounded by !
the workshops and factories. The |
dining room and kitchens and the Ii |
brary and the building for the insane |
patients are located in the middle of |
this court. The broad walks are
paved and squares of turf and flower |
hand and afford pleasant relief from |
the hot sunshine. The place is as
quiet and orderly as college during |
the study hour. Only the barred |
tragedy behind the mask of flowers.
The Reforms Under Way.
Warden Codding found a we'll or
dered penitentiary, well kept and
clean. The discipline was excellent
and the service efficient. The re-
forms now under way are along the
lines of sanitation, food and the
treatment of the prisoners. Not that
they were treated cruelty before, but
Governor Stubs idea is to treat them
as well as possible and yet maintain
strict discipline. To try and make
them better from their confinement
and not worse.
The kitchen and dining room
were the first points of attack. The
old kitchen with its brick floors and
low ceilings is being remodeled en-
tirely. The cracks between the bricks
caught and held the filth of years.
Cement floors will be put in. The
ceilings will be torn away entirely
clear to the roof and thus give more
ventilation and light New and
modern apparatus will be installed,
including a steam dishwashing ma
chine and a machine to knead the
bread. The kitchen will be put on
par with that of a big restaurant or
hotel.
The meals will be cooked and