The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1913-09-08
The Honor System.

content"
The Honor System.
The honor system, according to War
den Allen, will some day be in vogue
in every prison in America. He put
it in force when the first gang of con-
victs was sent out on road work near
Dixon under the new state convict lab
or law that went into effect July l..
They will be employed on road con-
struction in Lee county until Deem
Der 1 and the warden declared the hon
or system is to be used entirely during
the ninety day period.
There is not gun in the camp" said
the warden. "Of course, the men I
send out on the road work are among
the best prisoners and I would not be
afraid to send them without guards to
China, but I believe there are several
score more like them in the prison
workshops. They know they'll get a
i chance at outside work if they are
good and they are being good Gov
ernor Dunno has agreed to commute
the sentence of every convict employ
ed with the road gangs ten days for
each thirty days he is employed.
Not Reformer.
The new warden SHES at the sug,
gestion that he is a "reformer" APP
I,o ,.r;11 ,o o1o
ed with the "tyros," who enthuse over |
their appointment to wardenships, an
nounce the adoption of reform policies
and subsequently abandon them. AL
len knew all about the prison life when
he took the job. His father was war
den of the same prison when the pre-
sent warden was boy, and there are
"iifers" here who recall the youngster
in knickerbOckers. One or two of the
TRUSTEES still call him eddie
The Punishment of the silence rule"
was only one of number. of changes
Warden Allen has wrought in his up
were abolished and solid prison gray
substituted. Only escaped convicts
who have been returned and those
who have violated their paroles are
by clothing from the
others. They wear cross-bar suits of
black and white.
Have Baseball Games.
Baseball behind the great white
washed walls was one of the innova-
ions that has attracted most atten-
ion among visitors to Joliet, and
)ennant race is on that would do cred
t to any of the big leagues. Each de-
)artment of the prison has team and
here are twelve of them in the league.
The broom factory team now leads by
scant margin of four games over the
cam from the tannery, chiefly by
eason of the prowess of one Red"
Jonnors who is the Walter Johnson of
he prison and whose victories are
nore numerous than his aliases-and
hat is going some. RED is doing
hort "bit" for taking money from the
yrong pocket-another mans = and
,hen he gets out he says he's going to
hange his name and try to connect
nth some professional team.
The baseball diamond is laid out in
ide the walls and one hour each day
devoted to the sport. Convicts who
pend the time wrestling or boxing.
here is nothing to curb the roofing
{ the fans but the high walls and
gid rule against profanity, and when
)nvicts' fans can be heard for several
locks.
Warden Allen the Umpire.
Warden Allen umpires most of the
INES himself. He is probably the
asst disputed umpire in the world.
hen he is too busy to do the umpir
G Warden Allen assigns a deputy or
guard to held the indicator. A new
amond is being constructed outside
g walls for the TRUSTEES. II
Warden Allen also has adopted the
licy of spending so much time every
y going about the prison shops and
ctories where he mingles with the
IN. The convicts have come to look
on him as a friend and adviser and
they feel they have a crouch or a
*" regarding their life in the prison
courts criticism from them direct.
We are NOT conducting a pleasure