The Elbert County tribune., 1913-10-31
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entered element that was unthought of former
~. This new element has to do with the reclama-
ton of the convicts, the development of their moral
senses and their ultimate return to the world as
iawabiding citizens. rather than human derelicts
made unfit through their prison life for any fur
ther attempt to lead an honest existence
The new Idea of convict road labor is to aid
both the state and the convict; to give the state
the benefit OF the labor that can be utilized to
greater advantage in this way than in any other,
and to give the convict the benefit of the out
door life, the freedom from the restraint of prison
walls and the different character OF discipline that
makes 1t possible for him to regain his sef-respect
In working out this idea. especially with
the view to the reformation OF the conycts old
IDEAS OF prison regulations necessarily have dsap-
peared and the whole system OF discipline has been
revolutonized The honor system has taken the
place OF armed guards, in many instances and the
road camp" has replaced the stockades and "bull
pens of the old days OF convict road labor
Colorado was OF the first states to adopt the
new idea New Jersey began experiments along
the same line a short time later. President Wood.
row Wilson. then governor of New Jersey ia given
credit for the Inauguration Of the convict rood
work In that state along tho lines Several
other states have fallen In line. each working
possibly In different way. but toward the same
general end
Illinois is the latest state to make BEGIN
ming In this work force OF nearly one hun
dred convicts was recently taken from the peni-
tentiary at Joliet and placed at work on the
roads Armed guards dispensed with and
the men we're placed upon their honor The
convicts pledged themselves to make no effort
to escape and the authorities are relytne upon
their keeping this promise
In this case q tendency developed on the
part OF the people to overdo the idea of giving
the convicts greater liberty and pleasure. "A
plan to give the convicts automobile ride
and theater party In nearby city was pro-
posed to the authorities but Governor Dunno
vetoed this program and let 1t be understood that
while 1t is planned to give the convicts greater
freedom than they have been accustomed to
within the prison walls and to aid them in get
ting better view of life the fact that they
have been sentenced to pay penalty for in.
fraction of the states laws must not be forgot.
ten and the men must be made to realize that
punishment awaits such violations of the stat
utes.
The working Of convicts upon the roads In
COLORADO was made possible only few gears
ago by act OF the legislature. The system has
been generally adopted throughout the state
during the past two three years, the various
counties cooperating with the state in the i'm
provement OF the highways. The result is seen
In many miles OF splendid roads built by the
convfcts
The honor system was adopted simultaneously
With the placing OF the convicts on the roacs
In Colorado. All OF the convicts were not
turned loose from the penitentiary without
guards. but a certain percentage OF the prison
err. including those having the best prison REQ
ords, were taken from the penitentiary drst a.
an experiment Az the success Of the cxpert-
ment seemed evident to the authorities, the num-
ber OF honor" increased and more
than 30 per cent OF the convicts were finally
removed from the prison and placed in tho road
camps
Warden lyman and other prison authorities de-
clare the experiment has been even more suc-
cessful than they anticipated.
During the last three years have had more
than one thousand individual prisoners in the
convict camps" says the warden. These men.