Bisbee daily review., 1913-02-23


 House of Representatives, First Leg
 isiature of the State of Arizosa: Gentlemen:
 Your petitioners. the undersigned citizens and residents of the town of Florence, Pinal county. Arizota. have fer ten months past been silent vic Iims Of the governors misconceptions of prison reform. We have endured in silence the outrageous indienitles and annoyances this co-called prison re- form has inflicted on us as a whole. in the hope that our chief executive might after little experience realize that his present ultra-reform ideas are both impractical and dangercas and adopt prison reform policy based on common sense and sanity; but in this hope We have been disappointed and can no longer in justice to ourselves and families endure without vigorous protest this probably we'll meant, but idiotio prison reform policy which has become to the safety and the social, moral and financial welfare of the community.
 Ever since Miss Kate Bernard set the example of riding down our main street in a buggy wi:h murderer Louis V. Eytinge. stopping in front of Joe Days ice cream parior and enjoying an icecream soda with her convict escort, eonvicts have been running at large on our streets in citizens dress with no mark or badge on them by which they might be recognized as | cenvicts. They mix and mingle with our youth at will. and this of course. has tendency to impress upon the youthful mind that convicts are not such bad fellows" after all, and that punishment for crime in this state does not amount. to anything more 1 than requiring the offenders to caT at | the prison for their meals and lodg- ing. We are taxed to build and main 1 tain reform school upon the theory that 1t is unwIse and un-Christian- Ike 10 incarcerate juvenile offenders against the law in the state prison with the adult criminals because the degrading influence which association with the adult criminals would have upon the impressionable minds of the young. Are the criminally inclined law defying youth of this community to be exposed to it merely to gratify the governors lust for notoriety as the originator of startling stunts of re- form.
 Many of these conyicts at liberty under the so-called "honor systems" are neatly dressed, we'll educated, in- teresting conversationalists, prepos- sessing fin appearance and would ex- perience no difficulty in imposing their company upon inexperienced and unsuspecting young girls; hence. eaUre FlFk AL would be justified for this reason alone, if there were not an hundred others. in demanding of the state that it keep it's convicts on the prison premises under the eyes of guards.
 These "honor convicts" in citizen dress, not only make themselves q home on our streets, but invade placss of public amusement and seat thea selves among our wives and daBh- ters who suppose they are strangers visiting our town. They compete with our skilled labor in bidding on york, and being fed and housed by the tate, they can underbid our workmei and still make money.
 The prison management also com petes with our merchants ip selling groceries, etc.
 In view of the foregoing facts many others not enumerated herdn We re- spectfully request the enactment of such laws as will positively prevent eonviets from running at large uEon the streets fthis or anI other town that will place limitations upon the power or the governor and effectuslly estop him from engangering the homes, peace, safety a1d prosperity Of this or any other community.
 If there should be any doubt as to the existence of the facts herein set forth we respectfully ask an inyesti- gating committee composed of sena- tors and epresensatives be appointed and sent here to look into the situa- tion.
 Respectfully submitted.
 \. V. PRICE.
 C. D. REPPY.
 ED. DIVINE,
 J. C. HARRIS. and ninety
 four other business men and
 residents of Florence.
 The following communication from the mayor and the members of the board of aldermen of Florence is at tached to the petition:
 c the mcmEcFS Q fkfc 0CHaAC
 House of Representatives of the
 First Legislature of tHe State of
 Arizona:
 Gentlemen:-We, the undersigned mayor and common council Of the town of Florence. Pinsl county. Ari- zona, being familiar with 'he context of the petition hereto attached dS hereby signify our approval of the same. and believe that the eitizehs of this town have ample reason to oo- feet to the conditions as herein eN- pressed and hereby join III requesting the legislature to instigate an :nvesti- gstion of the situation and to enaet such laws as requested by the petf- tioners.
 THOMAS wEEDIN, Mayor. d;
 C. F. POWELL.
 CLAUDE R. MICHEA,
 q KIr4TING