Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1913-10-31
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entered an element that was unthought of former
ly 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
law-abiding citizens rather than human derelics
made unfit, through their prison life, for any fur
Their attempt to lead an honest existence.
The 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 it possible for him to regain his selfrespec
In working out this new idea, especially with
the view to the reformation of the convicts old
ideas of prison regulations necessarily have disap
peared and the whole system of discipline has been
revolutionzed.. 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 one Of the first states to adopt the
new idea New Jersey began experiments along
tho same line short time later President Wood
row Wilson, then governor Of New Jersey, Is given
credit for the Inauguration of the convict road
work in that state along the new 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 a begin
ming in this work A force Of nearly one hun
bred conyicts was recently taken from the peni-
tentiary at Joliet and placed at work on the
roads Armed guards were 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 relying upon
their keeping this promise
In this case tendency soon developed on the
part of the people to overdo the idea of giving
the convicts greater liberty and pleasure,
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 it is planned to give the conyicts greater
freedom than they have been accustomed to
within the prison walls and to aid them in get
ting a better view Of life, the fact that they
have been sentenced to pay a 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 years
ago by act of the legislature The system has
been generally adopted throughout the state
during the past two or three years the various
counties cooperating with the state in the i'm
movement of the highways. The result Is seen
in many miles OF splendid roads built by the
convicts.
The honor system was adopted simultaneously
with the placing Of the cony1cts on the ROADS
in Colorado All Of the convicts were not
tnrned loose from the penitentiary without
guards but certain percentage of the prison
ers. including those having the best prison rec
ords were taken from the penitentiary first as
an experiment AS the success OF the expert
mant seemed evident to the authorities, the num-
her Of 'qhonor" men was Increased and more
than so per cent of the convcts were finally
removed from the prison and placed in the road
camps
Warden lyman and other prison authorities de-
clare the experiment has been even more sue
cessfu than they anticipated
Dnuringe the last three years We have had more
.,sn one thousand individual prisoners in the
u -,t camps says the warden These men,