The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-01-04
WARDEN SANDERS MANAGE
MENT.

MENT.
In fairness to Warden Sanders OF
the Fort Madison penitentiary there
was reproduced in these columns the
other day an article from the Burning
ton Hawk Eye in explanation and de-
Tense Of his conduct of that penal in
stitution. Naturally in his interview
with the representative of that paper
the warden put the best possible con-
struction on his views and policies, as
is admitted in a subsequent issue OF
the Hawk-Eye under Fort Madison
date line After declaring that "a good
many substantial citizens of Fort Mad
ison, who are fairly in touch with con-
ditions in the penitentiary under the
new management, do not consider
that these conditions are ideal by any
means, the writer goes on to say:
"The Hawk-Eye's representative
came to the city expressly for the pur-
pose of getting Warden Sanders per
sonal views on his policies, and to
make a picture of the work being ac-
complished under him, as described
and demonstrated by himself. me
warden had been severely criticised
for his new ideas, and no one could
better defend his policies than him
self. He was given free rein, and
when not quoted literally the article
took on it's color and tone from lin,
so that it might be the warden
himself who was pleading his cause
with the public
1t is admitted that the original ar
/ ticle failed to state all that might
have been said; inferentially tha'
there is another side to the story
/ Something of this other side is limited
at in the dispatch in question. foi
: instance:
whatever ether results have fol
lowed from the change OF wardens I'D
the Inauguration of new policy, 1t Is
claimed the change is costing the
state more money.
This records show that under the
skillful management of Warden Jones
the prison not only paid expenses, but
it accumulated a surplus in its treas
ury 1t is not accommodating any now
AccQfQllS 10 OlIC f3I lSpoI - liz oai
plus has all been spent.
AS a matter Of justice to both war
dens it is stated in this connection
that the cost of running the prisol
began 10 increase as soon as tn
board of control was given supervis
ion. Mr. Jones was subordinate OF
fetal and could not do otherwise THAI
carry out the financial policy OF tn
board of control. 1t is said he re
monstrated against the increased ex
pense of running the prison, but il
vain. And finally he was let out OF
thirty days notice and for no know
cause. The board of control now ha
man of it's own choice and there i
no evidence that he is at variance wit
the board in the matter of expense.
However, the financial feature Q
the case, bad as it is. is not the wors
by any means The situation in Fol-
Madison, outside the penitentiary,
thus reluctatly admitted by the autho
of the dispatch in the Hawk-Eye:
warden Sanders acknowledged t
/, the Hawk-Eye representative that tn
people of Fort Madison We're nervou
about his methods of treating tn
r criminals. This was found to ne en-
t phatically true in conversation wit
e citizens. While Warden Sander
r scouts their fears, md says there
q nothing 10 it," the fact that prit
! oner escaped last Wednesday evenin
under his method of leniency,
pointed to as ample proof of the dan
:, ger in which the citizens feel then
d selves placed by the new policies. Me
e and women are generally uneasy col
l. corning their safety especially
q night
This is not the testimony of an
= particular citizen but it is the feeli1.
in the air, and the trend of the go
N sip that is heard among the citizens
II the homes, or on the streets. Wher
IS ever two or more people gather togetl
d or there is liable to be heard som
4 thing about the 'doings at the pen
e is common gossip that prisoners al
" allowed to wander about the localit
'e outside the walls, unattended; tn;
women and others have come upc
groups of them along the roads in Il
vicinity of the prison. There is
il rumor that some OF the convicts wei
in taken on an automobile ride into II
= nos. attended by single guard al
!. that two convicts were seen in a loo
restaurant after midnight recently.
70 The feeling apparent among poop
ne here is that the honest, hardworkiI
IF taxpayers of Iowa, who have nev
ce been convicted of crime, many
If whom have not one-fourth of the lu
I'm uries of Fort Madison convict, sho',
IN get after the board and end this ole
= bouff, which is making the state
- laughing stock
ii- 1T is also held that the treatme
m OF the convicts at Fort Madison