The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-30

TON HERALD, So NDAY, OC
the different units OF government As
one ~penitentiary, for example. garbage
wagons, harness. and whips are manu-
featured and sold 10 Buffalo. Rochester
and other large cities. Elsewhere cloth.
ing is made for persons who are clothed
at public expense.
I'm Michigan prisoners are engaged in
the manufacture Of chairs under an ar
rangement with outside concerns thai
prices are not TO be cut to where there
is no profit. Binding Irvine is made in
the penitentiary of Minnesota in compe-
tition with what is called the eordsg e
trust. Prices have been reduced. Stlll
II the grain crop were to fail in that
State. or II the great cordage company
were to slaughter its prices under the
pressure OF competition. Minnesota might
find binding Irvine a losing undertaking
Work for Prisoners.
"A bill was introduced in the last Con
gress," Mr.. La Dow Continued TO say
''for the construction Of fine military
road. the work to be done by prisoners
between Lsavenworth and Fort Riley, ir
Kansas. The point was raised that II
would be unconstitutional for Federal
prisoners TO perform public work Of that
kind within single State. a suggestion
was offered that the road be laid by way
of the city Of New York. or course. the
bill failed 10 pass.
THE construction OF wagon roads by
prisoners has always seemed practicable
to many persons, but the actual dim
culties to be overcome are so serious anc
numerous as to make any enterprise OF
the kind very doubtful. First, the cost
OF guarding the workers would be In
creased enormously. Feeding them woule
be another difficult and costly matter
Camp followers would prove an ever
present nuisance and danger. Further
more, II should be remembered that the
average days work Of the man IN prison
is but two-ffths of an average days
work OF the man out OF prison We have
!, 600 acres of good land at Leavenworth
and fifty men. perhaps, are employed II
farming. but agriculture goes by seasons
and very little work is necessary in win
ter. Farming. therefore offers no solu-
ton for the labor problem"
What is done for a man who has
completed his term In a government pen.
itentiary?"
I'VE have tailors whom we pay $40
each per month. They are supposed tc
know something about the latest styles
There are bolts Of different coloret
cloth in our tailor shops. A prisoner
soon TO gain lis liberty may choose The
cloth he likes for a suit Of clothes. Tie
is also given shoes. instead OF hrogans
and a stln hat. His outfit. however. Is
limited to t12 in cost. Then he IS supplied
with s. in money and a railroad tickle
back 10 his home or the place OF convic
ton II lie had more than s. he would
probably spend it all in one dehauch.'
=" Moonshine' whisky 7 suppose, is stu
made In the mountains"
About one-tenth Of the prisoners a.
Atlanta were 'moonshiners.' They seldom
violate any Of the rules and feel no de-
temporarily withdrawn from association
with free men. Nature. by their philos
ophy. produces corn, and they are no
blamewcrthy for converting the corn int,
an intoxicating drink and declining :,
pay the government a tax for a per
feetly legitimate privilege and function
Usually they are mountaiueers with
fa-.~ ola rsr
grow their corn for meal and whisky and
raise their lean and long-legeed pigs
They need money for sugar. coffee. tea
and clothing. and 'moonshining' supple
them with the funds
Aside from their Illicit performance
around their hidden stills and their feuds
caused, I suspect, 10y a too free Use o
their own goods. they are law-sbidlul
citizens. Going 20 the penitentiary. Il
their view. is no disgrace, and they con
tinue 10 carry themselves with SELF
respect, conforming 20 prison law an,
doing their work cheerfully and well
Years ago there was no culpablity ir
A complaining 70 the revenue officer
about 3. and in having c, D. Z, F. and {
J TAilAtiAtiAEA as nlAalNF1Eo ID MNlAA
10 jail, but c. D. +. F, and q would &c
witness fees at the trial and pTospeTitl
would dwell amid the mountains. Whel
B got home he was within his rights
and the etiquette Of the region II he in
formed on A and called a cloud OF hi
neighbors 10 corroborate his assertions
! Thus government money was kept in mo-
ton There IS q Weu-attested case OF
witness drawing HIS fees and then walk
ing 90 miles 10 save travelling expenses
| You see. he had mighty little money
| but plenty OF time
when a revenue officer goes amonl
| the 'moonshiners' 10 serve the paper
Of court he IS not molested, However
II he raids a still at night he is likel,
to be assassiuated. In the first instance
you understand, he IS making it possible
/ for some OF the mountaineers TO aCcu
mulate government money as WIT
nesses. In the second instance, however
/ he IS striking at the very root Of thing
and Is destroying or carrying away pro
ductivs property"
Copyright. 1910 by James p. Mouowl
CHANGES IN LATIN QUARTER