The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-27
NEW SYSTEM
. REFORMS COV|CTS
Gov. Vests Square Deal" Policy
Pays Dividends in Dollars and
Cents in Oregon.
aY DANA slEErh.

!.
i SALEM, Ore July 27.-Does Gov
policy for states prisoners pay, In
\ cash?
II sure does. Figures talk:
Formerly the men In the prison
a brick yard were making 10000 brick
. day. Gov. West called in delega.
ton and said:
fou fellows are not doing your
4 best; don't blame you. you are get
\ ting nothing out OF IT, But II you
i make 10000 brick day Ill give you
hall OF what you make over the 49,
000."
But suppose some OF the fell
\ lows loaf. GOVERNOR? said the spokes-
man.
ANY man who loafs on you will
80 to the store foundry and-have q
chance TO get acquainted with real
work, and no pay" said the COVER
\ nor.
That brick yard today Is beating
the 10000 mark, the state Is gettins
more brick for less money, the men
are happy and laying aside a stake
4 The men In rhe machine shops
(they are "men" down at Salem nov
y
( hours a day and getting nothing for
H. West reduced their hours TO nine,
and allowed them three of the nine
for themselves you work six hours
/ for the state and three for yourself
! and you'll get paid for the three
hours" was the new order. That ma
chine shop is doing better work. more
Of Il and several men are working
SaaN "a 81 liza.
them selt-supporting.
Does II ray? Listen TO the COVER
nor:
Il hope in three years, maybe in
two, TO make the penitentiary self
supporting. Not only that, but hope
10 make II a paying institution so that
1t will not need TO ask the legislature
for any more appropriations for build
iDgs, equipment or grounds"
The new system Is not happen
chance. IL Is carefully worked out. The
State Prison Aid society works with
the state parole board and governor
TO find remunerative employment for
paroled men. Men that have proven
reliable and efficient on prison work
are recommended for parole Job
IL secured them. II they get q bet
l.
must work! And every man OF the
90 paroled In the last three months
has made good.
When West inaugurated his guard
less. outside policy he sent Tor Is.
year convict.
Put him on the street car, give
him car fare, don't send a guard. and
tell him to come to my ONCE" the
tNk> h.. 80 IL
den.
The man came, and went into ex-
ecutive conference with the governor.
The plan was outlined, the honor sys-
tenn worked out, and the man went
back to prison on the next car and
spread the news through the 4h0
men behind the walls Once the gov
ernor sent half a dozen long term
men to town to see the sights for
half day and report back to the
warden by shutdown. They had n
good time and reported back to the
minute. sober and contented.
When the convicts were first sent
out to work alone on the roads the
farmers protested loudly. But the
men soon proved that they were hui
man, were living up to their honor
| pledge and were making better roads
for the farmers than the farmers
could make for themselves. The farm
ers OF Marion county. where the pris-
on 10, are now the heartiest supper
tiers OF the new policy.
Is II safe to let conyicts out with
out a guard.
Some more flguresI From January
TO July this year with $50 men work.
Ing, outside, without a guard. but
three have escaped. and all three
were weak In the head" and should
have been In the asylum.
During the same period two years
ago, when the real old Oregon gang
was running things, 10 men escap-