Morris tribune., 1909-07-10
NOVELTY IN PAROLES
What Kansas Penitentiary Pris-
oners Must Do to Get Out.
AGREE TO ATTEND CHURCH.

Also Prayer Meeting and Sunday
School Once Each Week-Require-
ment the Idea Of Governor Stubbs.
Convicts.
Governor Stubs Of Kansas has es-
tablished a new requirement in the
paroling and pardoning of prisoners
in the state penitentiary. Hereafter
when convict is liberated on parole
or by absolute pardon he must stipu-
late in writing that he will regularly
attend church. Sunday school and
prayer meeting once each week. If
the prisoner is pardoned the governor
will haye no recourse if the agreement
is violated. but a paroled prisoner
could be returned to the penitentiary.
The parole law Of Kansas provides
that convict must agree to keep
away from bad associates, seek en-
ployment and lead moral life.
81 have added church going and
Sunday school service to the list"
Governor Stubs said, because it is
the kind of influence which ought to
surround every man or woman who
comes out of state penitentiary. I
shall insist upon this agreement from
every prisoner paroled, no matter how
exemplary has been his conduct in the
penitentiary."
T Governor Stubs does not believe
much in the innocence of men or wom-
en- who get into the penitentiaries Of
the country. He entertains high opin-
ions Of courts and juries that try and
convict them, and he does not believe
a governor should set aside their judg-
ments.
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. Governor Stubs must
llSO NC luUL q Ludu pSu1-
tent before he will grant a parole or
pardon, even if, the judge, the jury and
the prosecuting attorney who convict
ed him petition for the mans release.
He says 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 if
released. These are the men who will
receive favors from Governor Stubbs, |
but those who write telling Of their
innocence do not receive much con-
sideration unless they possess the pen
itent spirit.
Governor Stubs wonders if his ex-
perience is similar to that of other
executives throughout the country. II
he were to believe all the letters writ
ten to him by convicts not less than
80 per cent of the men in the peni- |
tentiary are absolutely 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 few days |
ago contained a sharp fling at former |
Governor Hoch, who, it has been re-
ported. pardoned the murderer Arnold |
because he wrote sentimental poem.
The convict's name is withheld by
Governor Stubbs. but his letter fol- |
lows:
Judging from what 1 have read, from
conversations held with inmates of this
penitentiary, l have arrived at the con-
clusion that l am the only guilty scamp
in this place. l can't plead innocence, |
cant write a classical poem, and have
no flowers blooming in the conservatory
of my SOUL" You have no idea how lone
some this leaves me- Better kick me out
of here lest 1 corrupt the morals of this
institution.
This letter is written in a remark
ably fine hand While the letter is re-
freshing in that it 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 conservatory of his SOUL" This
expression has been used in jest many
times since it was first uttered by
former Governor Hoch before the grad
uating classes of the State university,
but Governor Stubs believes in the
idea it 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 Governor Stubs requirement as
to church going 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 devote the remainder Of
their lives One Of these offered to
join any church the governor would
suggest The executive is an old fash