The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-11-08
FAMOUS MURDERER
PRISON REFORMER
Harry Orchard, Slayer Of
Steunenberg, Makes State
ment to the Press.
Special 20 The Tribune.

Special to The Tribune.
BOISE, Ida. Nov. HAIRY Orchard,
murderer OF Ex-Governor Frank Steunen-
berg and famous witness in the trial
of Moyer- Haywood -Pettibone In the
Western Federation case, as a prison re-
former is the latest title assumed by this
famous convict in the Idaho state peni-
tcntiary. Orchard has given out an In
terview to his ideas of prison re-
form, his statement having been secured
following an inspection of the local state
penal institution, resulting in bringing 10
light the fact that il Is oYercrowded
There arc 237 prisoners confined TO the
prison and due to the existing laws but
a small percentage Of them are worked
outside the prison walls. At least half
do little II any work and the balance
are employed in the quarry cutting
stone, in the small shoe shop or in the
prison gardens and fields.
From the time of his first solitary
confinement Orchard declares that his
mind has been alert to the possibilities
OF prison reform and for the past year
he has pursued n course OF historical
reading concerning prisons and punish
ments.
There must be prison REFORM Or
chard declares, but it. must come slow
ly. Great changes cannot be made with
out time. Convicts may be pushed too
fast and may therefore take advantage
Of the confidence placed In them, When
A man has done wrong the only way he
can reform is 10 come TO an acllnowl-
edgment that he is wrong and TO wish
10 do right.
1.-The officials need TO DO deep students
of men that they may discern whom to
trust. The prisoners in the penitentiary
are picked up out OF a pretty hard class
with few exceptions. OF course, there
are some when IN the heat OF passion
commit crimes which they regret very very
is a class which is prey upon society
and are not to be depended upon One
great thing that lie necessary is that
the officials should be careful whom they
trust. IL man is trying TO do right
nothing encourages him more than to be
trusted, The officials must know men or
taken of confidence. There are bound
TO be some disappointments anyway"
When told OF the incident of the shoe
maker whom Governor West Of Oregon
sent 10 Portland during the rose festival
there 10 investigate the factories. Or
chard did not appear a. all surprised. He
said he thought the honor system
might work out in some cases.
'"rhe real way TO reform is by Great
ing change OF heart In the prisoner
himself. but the practical way IS TO In
are not spiritually inclined" said Or
chard. ITO arouse their honor is a
stepping stone. Prisons are necessary,
but I believe that their purpose Is for
punishment. l cannot believe that 1t is
possible that society would confine men
In prison just FOR vengeance. There
must be discipline. II a convict has
something wrong. II We live UP to the
spirit Of the rules there IS no trouble.
| | have never experienced an unknd
word from an officer and the men should
return such courtesles.
'Idleness Is great drawback. The
prisoners have too much time TO think
about what they will do when they get
out. Their conversation Ia nothing and
one can't get their ear 10 talk about any
thing deep. They read az trashy IT.
erature as they can get hold OF and are
crazy for magazines OF this character.
They must have employment to aid in
making their minds healthy. The prison
officials try to get ideals. but such
things como slowly | have been read
ing books dated as far back as 100 years
and see the great strides In prison re-
form;
ployment is that the state should look
nfter the men for some time after they
leave the prison. Tho state could do
this more easily than society. Many
or the men so out with good intentions,
and should 60 TO some one or to some
place TO work. Sometimes a prisoner
Is turned out with nothing but pair
of overnIls and a few dollars. He Is all
there is work for all OF them II they
hunt IL frankly and honestly. They don't I
have 70 steal, II they would confess their
condition.
other .penItentiares are what | call
'habitu' criminals: crime IS chronic
with them. The state could help such
men by looking after them for awhile,
after they leave the penltentiary. / can't
imagin though. what is in mans
himseIf in here the second time Every