Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1911-08-23
EES SAY WORKHOUSE CONDITIONS ARE RIGHTf

men work on the farm, in the quarry |
or upon the road they are employed |
out OF doors at all seasonable times. |
but we have at present no exercise
yard for long term prisoners. Your |
readers are probably not aware from |
the inception Of the building this mat |
ter has often been before the trustees, |
and more than a year ago orders were |
given to the warden 70 build a high |
concrete wall which would enclose
a yard for such purposes. Some prac-
teal objections I'm regard to location
and other matters have deferred this
operation, but we hope these objec-
tons can be overcome. In very many
Of the penitendaries the long term
prisoners are not allowed such priv
ileges.
The fact that a considerable pro-
portion Of prisoners comes to us from
most unsanitary surroundings with
the seeds Of tuberculosis already sown
in their systems which confinement
Of any kind invariably develops
makes outdoor exercise very desir-
able. Those peculiarly susceptible to
such disease are the negro prisoners,
and the trustees greatly deplore the
increase of crime in this class Of our
community. II is most important for
our general welfare that the decent
and self-respecting negroes, OF whom
there are very many with us, should
do all in their power to check this
tendency.
Your readers may therefore be as
sured that so long as the present
Board of Trustees is in control of the
New Castle County Workhouse the
discipline of the institution will be
strict, the treatment Of the prisoners
humane and ample food Of good
quality will be served The trustees
are sure that any relaxation OF strict
discipline would result In many de-
plorable events, such as even with
the greatest care we have already had
sad examples.
One of the most desired results aimed
at by the trustees is to do their full
share toward making our beautiful
city of Wilmington and the fine old
state Of Delaware a safe and pleasant
place to dwell in, and we believe there
is opportunity for a wide diffusion of
this spirit
In conclusion we commend 10 your
readers the letter of Doctor Frantz.
secretary Of the State Board OF
Health, already published. and the en-
closed copy Of an entirely unsolicited
letter addressed to the warden. We
ask for particular attention to the para
graph beginning, 1--WE trust you will
not consider the newspaper reports as
in anywise expressing our thought in
the matter.
Respectfully,
Board Of Trustees Of the New Castle
County Workhouse.
Letter from Ardenltes.
When this statement was handed
out il was stated that a letter pre-
pared by Frederick f. Windle. the
Philadelphia lawyer, who served time
with the Ardenites at the Workhouse,
was to be attached TO It. This letter
was signed by all the Ardenites who
were imprisoned at the Workhouse
with the exception of Hamilton Ware
and Alexander Dublin.
The trustees took great pride in this
communication, which was sent to
Warden Crawford on August Z. It
was signed by Upton Sinclair follow
ing an interview In which he stated
in reply to a letter published from
Warden Crawford that he would like
to have the warden investigate the
charges he made. The Ardenites had
apparently forgotten their anxiety TO
be interviewed by the reporters fol-
lowing their release from the Work
house. The letter is as follows;
Edge Moor Postofice, Arden, Della
ware. August z. 1911.
mir. Crawford. Warden, Greenbank,
Del.
Dear Sir. Certain statements have
appeared in various newspapers, both
IN Delaware and elsewhere, from
which it might be inferred that we, as
a group from Arden are unappreola-
tive Of the courteous treatment we re-
ceived from yourself and your subor-
dinates, while we were your guests as
the result Of our determination, In
support of a principle, to suffer i'm
prisonment rather than take the easier
course Of paying fines and costs. In
order that there may be no mistake In
your mind as 10 our feelings in the
matter we desire to say to you most
emphatically that so long as prisons
must exist and attractions of the law
must be punished, we could not have
been accorded greater consideration
than was received by us at your hands.
We trust that you will not consider
the newspaper reports as in any wise
expressing our thought in the mat
ter We appreciate TO the fullest ex-
tent the fact that while carrying out
the law you did so in such way as
to leave a most pleasant impression
in our minds of your fairness under
the conditions in which we could not
have been surprised to find It far from
otherwise. Believe us sincerely
yours,
Harold NJ. Ware, Upton Sinclair
Donald Stevens, V. G. Toby. Fred. +
Windle, Chester f. Lighthown, Fred
]. Steinline. j. H. Garrod."
Physicians to Probe.
, The letter that will be sent TO tho
, six local physicians asking them L
J visit the place follows:
Doubtless you have seen the criu
cisms that have been made concerning
the New Castle County Workhouse
The Board OF Trustees desire tina
( our representative physicians should
r inspect the Workhouse In order tina
/ they may give the public an unbiase'
: statement of conditions they finI
therein and make any recommends
D lions they may deem advisable for tn
{ physical welfare of the prisoners. W
Y would like you to consult with other
r herein named and arrange your tim
for your visit. II will be unnecessar
for you to consult the warden as to th
J time of visit, as We would prefer 20
: to come unannounced."
= | RpDIV 70 Sinclair