Arizona republican., 1912-03-26
GOVERNOR HUNTS VAUDEVILLE ACTS GIVE
 HIM PLENTY OF NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING

few days aSo the w C T. L. of Phoenix, Mesa. and Tempe, adopted a resolution commendatory of Gov. Hunts "honor convict" scheme A copy of this resolution has been sent tc this paper. accompanied by a let ter from Mrs. Cora $. Gage. Superin- tendcnt of jail and prison work, in which she says:
 We enclose d copy of the above letter and resolutions of the Mesa, Tempe. and Phoenix Unions, which hope you get permission from him and print the same, and obliSe,
 Yours truly,
 MRS. CORA $. GAGE
 Possibly the above statement of the purport of the resolution will be all that is required. so The Republican has not thought il necessary to ask Governor Hunt for permission to print the same in full. It is conceivable. however, that Governor Hunt would grant this permission. He has never Ieen known yet 10 SideStep anything that gave him the chance 10 get his name in the newspapers. In fact, The Republican has an awful suspicion that it is largely for the purpose of getting personal advertising that Gov crnor Hunt is indulSinS in a good many vaudeville performances, whose net effect so far has been to get him. self and the state ridiCuled by out side newspapers.
 The w C. T L. is q most worthy organization. It has done and is do- ing vast amount of good. But in this case the women seem to be let ting their sentimentality run away with their judgment
 MT Hunt is governor of the state, and if it is his mind to sleep all night in a convict cell with a long term prisoner. as it is said he has done. march to the breakfast hall with the convicts. and eat with them. there is no one to say him nay. h. fact if the governor wants to spend a month or six months in the pen itcntiary instead of a single night, hc has the perfect right to do it.
 In fact that is the proper way, 1t would seem, to get into actual touch with convict life. Let the governor sentence himself to six months in tho Florence prison and let it be under stood in advance that no pardon" goes. Then. let him be put to work, with full credit for good behavior and time off for extra labor. By this means he will fully acquaint himself with prison conditions and the state fl ular stunts.
 But it's a shame the governor can't think of something original to sat isfy his acute hunger for notOriety His honor convict scheme is bor- rowed from Colorado; and even the childish act of sleeping behind q Srat ed door was tried out some months ago by Governor Hooper. of Tcnnes- see. For the love of Mike. governor. if you have to make yourself talked about. try to think of something original.
 But il remained for Mir. Hunt to discover that the old system Of caring for convicts is all wrong. Yet the fact remains that that system worked to the satisfaction of everybody cX- cept some of the prisoners themselves The convicts were not cruelty treated. Their good behavior was recognized and rewarded. Thcv got extra time for outside work It is true they were expected to remain in custody until they were legally discharged. But most people have supposed that was the object of remedial statutes.
 It remained for aIr. Hunts gigantic intellect to discover that these men are not criminals at all They are ''unfortunates' They are mighty good fellows who are victims" of environ ment
 There are a good many of these un- it would seem. There Is 2 man named Rodriguez. who mur- dered his wife in Phoenix last sum lner. and who was inhumarly sen tenced by Judge Kent to pay the for that crime. There are the ''unfortunates," dozen or so of them, who recently shot and killed judge,
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