East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-11-25
HONOR SYSTEM IS
SUCCESS IN STATES
CONVICTS ARE USED TO REPAIR
ROADS AND PLAN PROVES
BENEFICIAL.

NEW YORK, Nov 25.-The prac-
ttce of putt ng convicts on their hon
or, especially prisoners who are at
work constructing or repairing high
ways, has been started in several states
and is meeting with much success, ac-
cording to reports received by the Ma
tional Committee on Prison Labor.
North Dakota, oregon, New Jersey,
Michigan Ohio, and Colorado are am
ong the states where the honor sys-
tenn has been developed to its highest
degree
Under the laws OF North Dakota.
the board of control may employ con-
victs on the public highways, their ex-
penses TO be paid by the respective
counties in which they work. The law
stipulates that the prisoners perform
their duties under the supervision of
skilled laborers, who are as guards;
but, so far us possible, the law de-
clares, the convicts are to be placed
on their honor.
Another feature of North Dako ta's
prison laws is worded as follows:
Each short time convict worked up,
on said state roads shall receive a
credit upon his time of 10 days for
each 80 days that he shall faithfully
and diligently work upon said state
roads. and in case of convicts serving
life sentences. such privileges shall be
given them as in the judgment of the
warden is proper. but in case that any
convict fails to do faithful and eff
cient work or attempts to escape, he
shall forfeit all or as many OF said
credits as in the judgment OF the war;
den shall be proper"
OF 2T5 convicts who were worked
under the honor system in Ohio, on
ly 1S-less than seven per cent-at-
tempted to escape, according to the
report of Warden Preston T. Thom-
as of the Ohio State Penitentiary.
While these men were thus employed
there was no barrier except their own
honor between them and freedom. OF
the Is men who broke faith, all but
seven were caught and returned to
| the prison. so that the percentage OF
those who failed to serve their fun
sentences was only two and half.
| This record, says Warden Thomas,
compares favorabl with trusts In the
outside world.
Also in Michigan, where all persons
convicted of drunkenness of vagrancy
are sentenced to work on the roads
instead of to Jail the practice OF
trusting prisoners has been found sue.
: cessful. Not only that. but, accord
, ing TO w. NJ. Bryant, good roads com.
/ missioner of Michigan. the sentenc
: ing of convlcts to work on the high.
9 ways tends to eliminate much petty
crime.
1t was in Colorado. under Wardei
7 Thomas ]. lynn, that tho honor sys
tenn was first employed among prIs
! oners at work on the highways an,
4 II is In that state and Oregon that tn,
system has been most extensively de
1 veloped. Governor West, of Oregon
. in n statement to the national com
mittee on prison labor concerning tn,
honor system among prisoners at worl
on the roads. said:
"Our road gangs are made up o
" from Is to 25 men, with a free maj
IS foreman. who lives and works witt
his crew. His word is law in camp
and his report as to conduct of tn
prisoners carries great weight with tn,
; prison officials. 1t Is most essential
therefore that great care be exercised
in the selection of these foremen. w
have had unexpected success In tn
J operation of our road gangs. Som