The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-11-01


entered an element that unthought of former
y. This new element has to do with the recama-
ton OF the convicts. the development of their moral
senses and their ultimate return to the world as
iaWabiding citizens. rather than human derelicts
made unfit through their prison life for any fur.
Their attempt to lead honest existence
The new 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, tho freedom from the restraint of prison
walls and the different character of discipline that
makes 1t possible for him to regain his self-respect
In working out this new idea, especially with
the view to the reformation OF the convicts old
ideas OF prison regulations necessarily have dsap-
peared and the whole system Of discipline has been
rev0iationized 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
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 same
general end.
Illinois is the latest state to make a begin
ming In this work. force of nearly one hun
dred convictg recently taken from the peni-
roads. Armed guards were dispensed with and
the placed upon their honor The
convcts pledged themselves to make effort
to escape and the authorities are relying upon
their keeping this promise.
In this tendency 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
while it is planned to give the convcts greater
freedom than they have been accustomed to
within the prison walls and to aid hem 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
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 convicts on the roads
in Colorado. All OF the convicts were not
turned loose from the penentiary without
guards. but certain percentage OF the prison
ers, incluulng those having the best prison rec
ords, were taken from the penitentiary first as
experiment. AS the success Of the expert
ment seemed evident to the authorities. the num-
Der Of honor men 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 even more sue
cessfu than they anticipated
During the last three years We have had more
than one thousand individual prisoners in the
convict camps" says the warden These men,