Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1912-06-01

h'iSHl HIe al dtCoTHey. NOlWllI
standing, Mack was convicted an
sent to the p%enitentiary for life.
Some months later Governor Yves
heard. that the old folks were abou
TO loose their farm through a fore
closure of the mortgage. He sen
for Billy.
IF you were a free man." the gov
ernor asked, "how long would it taxi
you to pay off the mortgage?"
Billy pondered, six months he fl
ally said.
Very WE'LL" snapped the chief ex
%ecutive, go out and get a job any
where, just so it's a good job. Sta.
with it until you have paid off tn,
mortgage. Then go back to the pen
itentiary and report to the warden a
gain"
Mack disappeared. Two or tire,
weeks later he wrote to the Cover
nor and said he had a good job ant
was saving money. On January Att
of this year he reappeared at the
penitentiary.
I'm back" he announced to the
warden with a grin. THAT mortgage
is paid off"
He began by dropping in for siz
o'clock breakfast with the convicts
and one of the things that struck
him forcibly was their yearning for
responded readily to his advances,
and he soon got to know many of
them as men who had gone wrong
from waywardness and not because
they We're criminals at heart. He
also learned that the regulations In
force at that time We're debasing.
We read on:-One of the most
striking instances of Governor Vests
faith in the c~onvicts Is the case of
No. 1915. He was considered one of
the most dangerous prisoners in the
p~enitentiary. Several times he had
tried to escape. Once, by crawling
through the prison sewer, he nearly
succeeded. But it was No. 1915 that
Governor West called on the telepho1
one day when the honor system
was yet young.
Give him carfare and tell him to
come down to my office" the gov
ernor directed.
Naturally the warden protested, but
West was firm.
1t was No. 3615's first sight in
years of the great world outside.
A few minutes later however he wall
ed into the Governors private office.
Things look pretty good outside?"
the Executive asked.
West looked him over carefully.
why didn't you try to make a run
for it?" he asked physically.
No. 1915 was plainly confused. He
suffered.
well he finally answered" it was
the first time / could remember that
any one took the trouble to trust me.
simply couldn't u away.
Then West got down to business.
You are n of the best mechan-
les In the state" he said, land | wal
You to help me out of a bad hole.
You know as we'll as | do that our
shoe-shop at the p%eniteniatry ism It
making good. It's expensive and un.
productive. 1t ought to make enoug
shoes for all of our state institutions
Now tell me why it can't make e.
nough for the penitentiary alone"
No. 1915 said the s~hoe-making ma
chinery was old-fashioned and that
the men weren't working with a will.
The interview ended with Vests
telling the convict to take an hours
walk around town before returning
to the ~penitentiary.
The mex day the Governor sent
for No. 1915 again.
60 down to Portland he instruct
ed, 'and look over the shoe-manufac-
plants there. Go anywhere it
is necessary for you to go to make
a full report Of what is needed in
penitentiary shoe shop. Stay as
long as you think necessary, but
when you come back | want you to
tell me how to make more shoes for
ess money.
When No. 1915 got to Portland
lie found the annual Rose Festival
n full fling. The streets We're jam
I'd with thousands Of merrymakers,
tut No. 1915 went on about his bus
ness. Several days later he return.
ID to Salem. He had a note book
ull Of data and a pocket full of ma
circulars and plans. He turn
ID all the information over to the
Governor, with suggestions. These
uggestions were s%traightway acted
lpon, new machinery was bought, the
liant rejuvenated, and No. 1915 was
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