Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-21
HAWTHORNE NOW
SEEKS REFORM
ELSEWHERE
Former Convict, Before New York
Governor, Advocates Reforma-
lion for Sake of Humanity.

Julian Hawthorne, whose arraign
ment Of conditions at the Federal
prison, where he was an inmate for
several months, created a sensation,
is hard al work stirring up sentiment
10 bring about changes in penal insti-
tutions everywhere. In a plea to the
Governor OF New York he points ont
some needed reforms
First" said Mr.. Hawthorne, tho
State must provide adequate appro-
priations so that prisoners may be
properly housed and fed In this
connection, too, 1t is most important
that the guards, who exercise such
despotic power over their unfortu-
nate charges, should be Of higher type
than those employed by the Govern
ment in Atlanta. Men who know how
10 treat the inmates humanely, AMI
TO mingle mercy with justice must
necessarily receive good salaries.
Lock Step Is an Evil.
90 lOHB hs ii pIAsOHfl > spirit 10
not broken he does not become des-
perate man. The Anticipated system
now in vogue In many OF the penal
institutions is certain to drive men
insane The lock-rtep should be abol-
ished the honor system should be
adopted; the rule OF silence should be
abolished; above ALL inmates should
be treated as humans.
prisoners who have families
should be paid for their labor. The
money should be RENTED at stated
intervals to those who have been de-
prived of the prisoners support.
There is nothing which will turn the
model prisoner into desperate char
acter so quickly as the worry over the
fate of the loved ones left behind 20
depend upon the charity of an I'M
feeling world
THE policy of limiting a prison
er's privilege of writing letters is ex
tremely cruel. What advantage IS
there to be gained in preventing the
first offender from communicating
with his relatives and friends. and in
receiving from them ',tters which will
help him to be brave until his ordeal
is ended? In this connection I would
suggest that much good might be ac
complished by permitting the prts-
oners relatives and friends TO visit
him more frequent"
Colorado Prison a Model.
Colorado's honor system" in Mr..
Hawthorne's opinion. Is a model that
Warden Meyer could well copy. He
related the incident OF a man who had
served a long term in Sing Sing and
was looked upon a a desperate GRIM
inal, 40 later was an inmate in the
Colorado prison and was there rated
as q model prisoner. This man has
served his term and is now a useful
and respected member of society.
when this prisoner was convicted
and sentenced in Colorado" Mr.. Haw-
thorne said, he naturally assumed
that he was to go through another
few years OF hell on earth. such rs
he had experienced at Sing Sing.
Upon his arrival at the prison he was
surprised when a guard sent him off
alone to visit the warden's house. a
mile away.
free 10 escape If he desired, tae
man went to the warden's home, and
there had cordial welcome. The
warden chatted with the new inmate
for few minutes, and finally handed
10 the convict SIS and instructed him
to visit a town 100 miles away and
bring some horses to the prison.
You will go Gnguarded.' said the
warden, and spend whatever money
is necessary for your expenses and
bring back to me what you do not
use"
Sing Sings desperate criminal
could not bell We that the warden
was not testing, but when convinced
that he was really in earnest he left
on the mission to which he had been
assigned. He returned in due time
with the horses. He came out Of the
prison a new man"
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