The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-01-28

to get caught up In the meshes Of
the law often would be sent to the
penitentlary and come In contact
with hardened criminals through
which association ultimate ruin was
brought about. The new law offers
an lnducement for reformation. If
the crime Is a first offense and the
prisoner seems to be entitled to a
chance to escape the ignominy Of
becoming a convict, the court may
suspend the sentence and release
him on probation. II he deports him
self as law-abiding citizen he will
expiate his sentence without going
behind prison walls.
Gov. Harmon is a lover of prunes,
for the executive Is a student in the
matter of eating as in many other
things Incidently this fondness and
his knowledge of the peculiarly de-
leotable fruit may have the effect of
improving the quality of those serv-
ed in future in the state institutions.
The governor lunches at a North
High street safe. He lodges tie
club and the hotels because usually
he finds at them divers and sundry
gentlemen who are always anxious
to discuss affairs of state and state
jobs with him. So he slips off to the
cafe, loses himself modestly among
folks who never suspect his identity
and appeases a keen appetite with
the substantials rather than the tit
bits of the menu.
The other day prunes were on the
governors order list. Out of the
half dozen he found in the dish the
waiter brought were four which he
put aside with grimace. They were
the usual leathery variety of the
down town restaurant
There is one of the greatest
sources Of graft in the state institu-
tions," the governor remarked.
Usually a good price is paid for the
prunes purchased, but the stewards
allow the dealer to substitute a poor
variety. And one really has to be
an expert, so-to-speak, to be able to
distinguish between prunes.
Look at that quartet; they seem
to be all right, judging from appear
ances, but I couldn't eat one of them.
They were either gathered too green
or poorly cured Either would spoil
them. And buying that sort of fruit
Is like throwing state money into the
street-only it Is worse"
Which tends to indicate that soon
er or later the trustees of some of
the state institutions will learn the
governor is onto his job.
For three weeks senate and house
members Of the finance committee will
hike about the state on parlor cars
hn ruIn nd ot -Fa 70
hospitals, asylums and reformatorles
at the expense Of the taxpayers.
They will return after the recess
and recommend appropriations to the
several institution. In the past, the
better the reception has been, the
larger the appropriation.
A week or 10 days notice is given
each institution to be visited. The
superintendent and his attaches get
everything in apple-pie order. The
committee is met at the station with
carriage, Is taken to the institution
before the members have had a chance
to talk with the town people, a bang
up dinner is served and the best rooms
in the place reserved for them. There
are good cigars. Frequently a dance
is arranged. Seldom is any attempt
made to talk over business until the
second day.
Then the superintendent gets with
| the visitors and tells how much he
needs. He puts it high enough so
they can shave it and still leave a
fair working margin
The committee visits every building
1t sometimes takes as much as two
or three hours to do this.
1t is found that the place is clean !;
that the inmates are we'll dressed and
apparently well fed.
Its flne," they agree.
Then there is another course din
ner and the committee piles into the
parlor car for the next institution.