The Oskaloosa herald., 1913-05-29
MUSIC APPEALS
| TO BETTER SIDE
WARDEN SANDERS WOULDN'T
RUN DOG FIGHT WITHOUT 1T.
MEN LARGELY LIKE ANIMALS
Fort Madison Penitentiary Has Or
chestra Of Twelve Pieces and
Band of 17-Most instruments
Owned by Prisoners.

run dog fight without music" Such
$ the statement of James c. Sanders
warden of the Iowa penitentiary al
Fort Madison, who was the first to
Introduce music in penitentiary in
this country, and who has attracted
attention from all over the United
States because OF his new methods
Ia handling men convicted of crime
Men, after all, are largely like ami
mails" said the warden, in comment
ing on the discipline of the peniten'
tiary," and they are accordingly
crossest when they are eating. Trou
BILE in penitentiaries and asylums OF
the country, you will find on careful
Investigation, always starts in the din.
ing room or the kitchen. Appreciate
ing this fact. l applied the soothing
effect of music, by organizing an or
chestra and having it play during the
meal hour. We have had no trouble
in the dining room since the music
was introduced"
Music appeals to the better side
Iof men. l found the prisoners will
ling to learn to play musical instru-
ments and to participate in the band
and orchestra. We now have an or
chestra of twelve pieces and band
of seventeen. In the orchestra are
two violins, one viola, one cello, one
cornet, one clarinet, one bass, one
\ A,,No tror
|saxophone. In the band are two clari-
nets, one cornet one baritone, two
basses, two altos, three saxophones,
one trombone, two piccolas, and b
bass, three drums.
I'VE have instrumental music at
our Sunday services. This interest
I in instrumental music has created an
Interest in vocal music and the peni
ltentiary has a choir of male voices
that would compare favorably to any
similar body of men without.
Most of the instruments in the
orchestra and band are owned by the
prisoners themselves, having been
purchased with money they have
saved from the meager pittance al
lowed them by the state for luxuries,
They have been bought instead of to
bacco, fruit and sweets. l dare say
the prisoners now own at least $500
worth of instruments. l believe mu
sic is one of the greatest means OF
discipline that could be secured. 1t
should be in every prison and every
asylum in America. It will appeal to
the better side of man when every
thing else fails.
SfrIlt 4,
ed his theory music has been install
ed in a number of American penlten
!tiaries. The Iowa warden has blazed
the way for radical prison reform
When he first took charge of the
Iowa prison and issued his orders, all
authorities of the United - States
threw up their hands in amazemept
He took the clubs away from the
guards.
He abolished the lock step and sub
istituted the military step.
He introduced music.
He organized a lecture course and
brought talent from without to speak
all paid for by the prisoners them
selves. e. ... '..
He abolished the stripes, except
ing for worst criminals.
He made the men polish their shoes
and comb their hair, for he abolished
the shaving of the head.
He made the gloomy walls echo
with the sound of singing men.
He introduced basket ball and base
ball.
He put men in prison on their hon
or
He created in them some selfre
lspect.
For this he was at first severely
criticized, but now is praised. During
the last year offers of positions have
come to him from half a dozen differ
ent states.
A great cry went up few months
Iago when it was made known that
several of the prisoners were permit
| ted outside the walls of the prison
went to the city on errands and work
of the institution. But no prisoner
yet trusted has ran away. But re
Gently a man insulted woman with
in hearing of 'trusty" and the latter
knocked the insulting man down
When criticized for abolishing the
guards clubs, the warden pointed ou'
that the guards were over men man
lufacturing pitchforks and asked wha
chance guard would have with
short club If man turned on hin
with a pitchfork-none. The club
he maintained was merely sign o
oppression, and was hence abolished
The lock step was abolished because
1t marked the gate Of men and brand
ed them for life. The lecture courses
were organized and with the none,
made by prisoners working overtime
in their cells at night some OF thu
best talent of the United States hai
been brough within the Iowa prison
walls to give information to those re
strained men. The recent Legislature
took cognizance of the benefit OF thi'
educational and literary training b.
lproviding that hereafter every Wis
tor entering the institution shall pa
a fee of twenty-five cents to go into
fund to buy books and periodicals an