Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-26
CHAPLAIN OF ANAMoSA RE-
FoRMAToRY CONDEMNS CON.
TRACT SYSTEM.
RoAsTs THE OFFICIALS
Declares sherffs Sometimes Come to
Prison Drunk and Criticses the
County Attorneys Who piscrilni-
nate Against Poor Prisoners.

the Iowa legislature in the state pris-
ons was assailed in no uncertain terms
yesterday afternoon by Rev. Felix II.
Pickworth, Episcopal Clergyman and
who urged as a substitute that the
state should pay each man a per diem
wage In return for his labor while in
confinement.
ITO sell penal labor for so or SO
cents a day and compel the taxpayers
to foot the difference in the cost of
maintenance amazes me-" declared
Chaplain Pickworth in the course of
mastery paper on the reformation Of
criminals, in which he also criticized
police officers, sheriffs, county attor-
neys and the newspapers for some
times failing in justice to the Grimm
al
The state must provide employment
for her penal population The queS-
large portion of the supplies needed
for use by the state to be manufac-
tured by the labor of our penal popu
lation? Politicians and contractors
would no doubt. oppose, but / can see
no just reason why the taxpayer
should not receive consideration in the
matter.
II view the contract system in penal
institutions as the selling of slaves to
ought to be allowed to have it in their
power to profit by the forced labor of
the helpless. Imprisonment under the
best conditions is far from desirable,
and it ought not to be made harder by
compelling men to become human ma :
chimes worked like galley slaves.
But Few Can Earn.
But you say, the men like to get on
the contract so they may earn money
In that lies a trouble. Men look upon
the contract as a place for favored
ones, and they are ready to believe You
must have stand in with the deputy
warden in order to get a place there.
When man thinks he is entitled to
consideration and does not receive it
posed to be responsible Moreover, at
Anamosa, 1t affects only about forty
men; at least 300 men are barred
from the privilege of earning any
money.
Il hold that the state should pay
each inmate per dienS. Out of that
would have him pay to the state his
share of the cost of the running ex-
penses of the institution and of his
cwn maintenance and clothing.
would have him contribute to the sup
port of those dependent upon him, and
stop him from fooling his money away
on unnecessary things and lawyers In
short, I would compel him to limit his
spendings, teach him the value of
thrift and help him save money in
preparation for his new battle with
the world"
Naming discipline, labor and educa-
ton as a trio that spells salvation for
the convict. the Rev. Mr.. Pickworth
after devoting most of his paper to
these Endorsed such methods as those
introduced by Warden Sanders at FIT.
Madison.
CAS- other factors in the reformation
of lawbreakers," said he. land which
furnish inspiration and helpfulness to
the wards of our penal institutions I
name music manual and military
training. athletics, lectures, entertain
nlents, good ancient and current liter
allure. moral and religious instruction.
Many will say, you would make the
place too attractive for scamps and
tramps. Nonsense! Liberty is the most
attractive boon you can offer to any
| man. You cannot make a penal insti-
tuition too attractive for sane and
| healthy men"
Increases Self Respect.
! Much has been said recently about
the inmates of penal institutions being
| permitted to wear laundered shirts
and the administration has bee,
charged with pandering to the whims
of the prisoner. The granting of the
| permission TO wear such articles has
for its purpose the inspiration of self
respect and care for personal APP
pearance. The idea that we must re
mind man $500 times an hour that
| he Is in prison. that he is lawbreak-
er. Is a senseless retention of bsrbar-
| ism.
Our methods of clothing inmates
| though infinitel-- better than it was e
! few years ago. leaves much to be de.
sired. Permitting one man to wear s
| chased with his own money, whilst an.
other must be satisfied with the faded
colored shirt supplied at the state
expense, is an innovation ] have nevel
| been able to reconcile myself with. L
| indicates too glaringly the differenc.
in the financial conditions of the in,
mates to the great disadvantage ant
chagrin of the poorer man.
why not have all clothing unforn
and indicate the difference in grade
! by arn1lets or shoulder straps? A
least. why not provide a good clear
suit. shirt and collar for wear on Sun
| days and special occasions? To get ri'
| Of the unkempt. Seven Dials. Bower,
like appearance of the men assembled
oping in the men self-respect and
desire to forsake former habits an,
launts.
There s one class of lawbreaker
fer whom ] would speak a word-th
l:fer Men inveigh against the AL
mighty when told he doons the sin
,ler to everlasting punishment an
forget that herein hey condemn them
selves. To tell ii-rr to keen up hop
IS tut to il crease he misery and bit
terress of his already gloomy exist
ence. Hope, indeed. The ifer realize
the force Of Wosley's plant that 'Whe
he falls he falls like Lucifer, never t
rise again. Imprisonment under an
conditions IL torture, but imprison
lncnt for the tern, = ones natural lif
is a slow death IN a dismal tomb
Agrees VIII, Rev. MIR. Bell.
The Rev. Mr.. Pickworth gave
hearty Endorsement to the Rev r. r
E. Bells theory that youthful offend
ers In many instances should be pare,
ed before commitment and declare
that boys are torn from their mother
apron strings and sent TO penal in
stitution to learn the art of hein
/ CRIMINALS. He said it is uaw-ise to sen
t" prison boys who in a moment Q
thoughtlessness, or even waywardnes!
have broken the law.
= do not plead for naarkish senti
mentalism. or for that feolishnes