The Columbus journal., 1910-04-27
THE new FEDERAL
PRISON At L 6hvENWORTH

IhYEMW ORH
with one movement Of . lever, by .
guard. In every cell there are two
beds, and every cell IS fitted with
vashstand and water closet Also, in
every cell there i IN cir shaft, with
forced drah upward, while outside, in
the vail Of Tie big cell house, are fire.
quent cir ahafts with forced daft to
supply the building with fresh air.
Not ono private home in dozen is
kept - clean - this prison. In the
kitchen, IN attendant gave Us samples
of the food being served for dinner,
then about ready. The kitchen is
finished throughout in white tile, and
white marble abouIds everywhere.
The bakery Is the most modern l have
ever visited, the finish in white tile,
and everything as clean Is in Spotless
Town. Around great hotelsand great
institutions. there is usually a spot
where neatness Is notably lacking. In
many institutions, and in most private
homes, there Is q place back of the
kitchen where you do not expect
cleanliness. But there 10 no such
plague spot around the new Federal
prison 1t Leavenworth. Flies do not
receive much encouragement in this
institution. Every house keeper could
get suggestions BY visiting this prison.
The women will cay: The warden
ought to keep things clean; be has
everything to do with, and plenty of
help" That's true; al the work is
done BY prisoners, and they can't quit
at any time they see it. But men in
charge Of the big institutions often fail
to keep things neat, and give satiafac-
ton. You are probably familiar with
the manner in which the wolves chase
the head men Of big institutions. The
wolves have been after Warden r. G..
McClaughry thirty.ive years. and
they haven't caught him yet; he has
been noted as . prison official that
many years. He served in the Army
Of the Tennessee - . major in the
188th Illinois volunteer infantry; then
he became warden Of the Illinois pen.
itentiary; then he was superintendent
Of the Pennsylvania industrial refor-
matory, and later of the Illinois refor-
matory; for two years he was chief of
police of Chicago; then he was re-
appointed warden of the Illinois peni-
Tertiary, and in 1899, was appointed
to his present position. He is . noted
authority ON prison matters, and has
written and lectured . great deal on
the subject He escorted me around
the place. and We stopped near the
great stone working shop. The war.
den talked, and I listened. and his talk
was very interesting; l imagine he
quoted At times. unconsciously, from
some Of his lectures. He is an enthu.
siast, intelligent, and has been a prison
official thirty.five years. Besides, he
is . kindly man; his attitude toward
the prisoners seemed fatherly and
friendly. He is seventy years old; I
remember he told me John r. Walsh
Was three years older, and Walsh is
seventy.three. I could have spent
half a day listening to the warden talk
about prisoners. but he wanted to show
me the prisoners at dinner, and took
me to the dining room.
The orchestra which had played At
the chapel exercise. was playing in the
great dining room. One thousand and
forty.four men seated at dinner in IN
enormous room. and everything Is
clear - soap and water, and plenty of
could make it. We went
into gallery overlooking the room.
I asked to see John r. Walsh, the
noted prisoner from Chicago; who was
once worth twenty million dollars, and
owned the Chicago Chronicle, . na-
tional hank, trust company, and sew
eral railroads. The warden did not
point him out, but took me into . room
hack ofthe gallery, and explained how
| might pick out the noted prisoner.
Look, he said, at the second group on
he right; in the second row, the fourth
man from the end was John Il. Walsh.
We returned to the gallery, and I eas.
~ picked out Walsh, . small man with
'mooth shaven face; . man worth all
he other men in the room, including
he visitor, if judged by energy, and
natural ability; . man who At one time |
Vas ono of the really big men of won.