The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-10-12
Governor West and
The COnVicfS 9, 1....ss. ss,s,

There are other ways of occupying |
the convicts mind. There is the Ii
biary common to many prisons. rhe |
readers are mostly men who arc men.
tally or physically untitled for work.
The proportion of those who, OF their
own accord. would sit in the library
reading in preference to performing
the hardest kind of manual labor out
ofdoors is extremely small. The re.
cently-completed chapel serves as a
theatre several times month-iu it
are held concerts, lectures and most
modern of the outside worlds attrac-
tions-moving pictures.
The cinematograph was purchased
by the convicts themselves from their
entertainment fund, after vote had
been taken to determine how to dis
pose of the money that had accumu-
lated. 1t is operated by a convict who
is an expert electrician. The convicts
invited Governor West to be present
on the evenig of the Fourth of July,
when the new machine was to be OPP
Grated for the first time. He came and
the first picture that was flashed on
the white curtain over the stage was
a portrait of the governor. The en-.
thusiasm of political meeting was
dwarfed by the demonstration that fol
lowed--the secret of that picture had
been known to only few and was as
carefully guarded as would have been
the most precious plans for the es-
cape of Harry Tracy ten years be-
fore
4 And so in work, sport and play, the
boys and men of the Oregon peniten-
tiary are forgetting earlier lessons in
law-breaking and learning fresh ones
in citizenship. No man is turned out
with the feeling that he is to become
the prey of the first detective or dep
uty sheriff who hears of his release, a
convenient scapegoat upon whom to
fasten a fresh offense. He is made to
feel that the friends he made while at
Salem are to be relied upon from first
to last. He has acquired trade, or at
least he has got his hand in" at work.
ing again, so that he need not fear
the necessity of going back to law.
breaking to gain that living the world
owes him. Before he leaves the pris
on he is offered work of the kind he
is best suited for. II he has been a
sailor and wants to try the sea again
before he goes home to his family, a
place is waiting for him on the first
ship that clears for Portland. If he
has a trade there are usually dozer
chances within radius of fifty miles
of the capital itself waiting for him
II it's Just work" he wants, the farm
ers about Salem are clamoring fol
J him, ready to pay good money ant
: serve good fare.
The old system of turning away COZ
Wet upon the expiration of his tern
with five dollars and a suit of prison
clothes is thing of the past, too, ant
for this the honor system" can ais
claim the largest share of the respon
sibility. The state does not consida
that the proceeds of a convict's labo
belong to it entirely-it shares then
with him. For the work that Is don
about the state institutions he is pai
twenty-five cents day. This none
is saved and he is given the cash VI
on his release from the penitentiary
. Those working in the stove factor,
are allowed percentage of thei
T earnings, while the men in the brick
j yards, through their willingness l.
work LANCER hours, are each earning
about forty cents a day and hav
greatly increased the revenue of tn
u state
y These brick-yards have been a par
Il of the prison for some time. The con
= victs employed there had been turn
ing out about 10000 bricks a day
Governor West watched them at worl
and then talked with them on person
ally. He told them the state was sal
isfied they were working hard enougl
in the brick.yards, but he believe,
more could be done. Everything owe
: the 10000, he told them, would meaI
so much clear profit for the state. II
was willing, he said, TO divide the pre-
fits of any brick in excess of tina
number with the men in the yards.
4 They accepted his proposition an
the next week the number of brio
turned out averaged over 10000. Fror
. then on it has been between 20,00
\ and $4,000 daily. II meant money TO
] the convic,s aTd II meant money 70
I the state. II WI simple and effe1
tive method of increasing efficienc