Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1912-10-03
By WILL n. MAYES.

| lhe progress OF any SONetuLheht
is the ignorance of the people.
/ hey may be ever so learned IN
other things, but if they lack in
formation about the things per-
tanning to government their
country must suffer from that
| ignorancd. 1t is every citizen s
duty to inform himself as well as
opportunity is afforded, in the
affairs of the state and nation in
which he lives. Could that ideal
istic condition be brought about
where every citizen knows every
law, knows how the laws admin
istered. knows how the business
affairs of his county are conduct
ed. the government OF that
country would soon become all
that could be desired.
The purpose of this series of
articles is to acquaint the peo-
pie of Texas with the laws per
tanning to the management of it's
penitentiaries, with the penlten-
tiary system Of the state, with
the method of handling convicts
with the financial affairs of the
system, and with the difficulties
that are in the way; and posi-
bly, some suggestions may be
made as to improving the physi-
cal and financial conditions of
the system. These articles are
written after a week spent with
the Governor of the State and
others on a personal inspection
of the penitentiareS and state
1 farms. | am frank to admit that
before seeing the system for my
self, though | had heard much
and read more, | was perhaps as
ignorant about peniteniary affair
as the average citizen. | shall
endeavor faithfully to give such
Of you as care to read what |
shall write what ! have recently
seen and learned, and | believe
that if you will follow the acti-
cles closely you will profit some
what by them, and be somewhat
better informed citizens.
1t is the policy Of the state,
clearly defined in the law which
took effect in January of last
year, in the operation of its pris-
on system, to so manage and
conduct the same that those
convicted of violating the law
and sentenced to a term in the
penitentiary, shall have humane
treatment and shall be given
opportunity, encouragement and
training in the matter of infor
nation. Briefly stated, the pur-
pose of the state is three fold;
to punish the prisoner for his
wrong doing, to place him where
he can not lnjure society, and to
reform him. The idea once pre-
vailed with prison arrangements
and it existed in this state until
in recent years that the sole pur-
pose OF the state was to contine
and punish the prisoner, and
reformation was largely lost
sight of There arose a class of
reformers, who, in their feeling
Of outrage at the treatment of
prisoners, lost sight of the de
mand for the punishment Of
convicts, and regarded imprison-
ment as merely an opportunity
to educate and improve them.
| Those who believe in making
prison life as severe a punish
ment as it was possible to intlict
upon erring persons appeared to
| lose sight of the humane side of
| life, while the prison reformers
went too far the other way and
wanted too treat prisoners as.in-
/ dustrlal colleges that would not
only board and instruct prison
er for nothing, but would give
all the earnings 10 him or his
family. II hasn't been month
since | noticed the suggestion
that all prisoners should be paid
wages commensurate with the
salaries they could earn outside
I the prison walls and that these
) wages should bee sent 20 their
, families. Such treatment would
tend 20 make the state the guar
dian of every man without "a Job
or too triHIug tu support his
family.
But the Texas law steps in and
effects a compromise that inSures
punishment of the prisoner, and
helps him, II $50 inclined 10 make
a better citizen and e better
) wage Garner when once he is
freed Humane treatment.
training, reformation and sound
! business judgement arc the com
blnat.up that the State of Texas
IS now cudc3yur.ug to properly
adjust To understand hoW
/ these are tn le brought about
I ID IFS necessary fo EU1w some
) thing uf Gre .H- p.riling tu
{ peuitent.lr.e-.
The management af the pf.-
ou system ui the state is vested
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