Delaware City press. (Delaware City, Del.) 1913-19??, 1913-10-31

SNLrY<C<c< -dL HCxxA GHJ CLAz[XGANU /ZkGH WHO
entered element that was unthought of former
~. This new element has to do with the reclama-
ton Of the convets the development of their moral
-7nses and their ultimate return to the world
abiding citizens, rather than as human derelicts,
sssfS ~ As slsfgss y tor any -eflrs
ther 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 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 selfrespect.
In working out this new idea, especially with
the view to the reformation of the convcts old
ideas of prison regulations necessarily have disap-
peared and the whole system of discipline has been
revoutionized. 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 of the first states TO adopt the
new idea. New Jersey began experiments along
the 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 lines. Several
other states have fallen in line, each working
possibly In different way, but toward the
general end.
Illinois is the latest state to make begin
ming in this work. Aeforce of nearly one hun
bred convicts recently taken from the peni-
Tertiary at Joli& and placed at work the
the 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 developed on the
part of the people to overdo the idea of giving
the convicts greater liberty and pleasure
plan to give the conyicts automobile ride
and theater party in a nearby city was pro-
posed to the authorities, but Governor Dunno
vetoed this program and let it be understood that
while 1t is planned to give the convcts 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 a penalty for in
fraction of the states laws must not be forgot
ten and the must be made to realize that
punishment awaits such violations of the stat
utes.
The working of convlcts upon the roads in
Colorado made possible only a few years
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
convicts.
The honor system adopted simultaneously
with the placing of the convcts on the roads
in Colorado. All Of the convicts were not
turned loose from the penitentary without
guards, but a certain percentage of the prison.
ers including those having the best prison rec.
ords, taken from the penitentiary first as
an experiment. AS the success of the experi.
ment seemed evident to the authorities, the num-
Der of honor increased and more
than SO per cent. of the convicts were finally
removed from the prison and placed in the road
camps
Warden lyman and other prison authorities de.
clare the experiment has been more sue.
cessful than they anticipated
During the last three years we have had more
than thousand individual prisoners In the
sonvict camps" says the warden. These men,