Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1913-10-31

sSTE~S@c% ~7@ WCX01 IN CElzEUO4LUZzZGHEL4%G
entered element that was unthought of former
~ This element has to do with the reclama-
ton of the convcts the development of their moral
senses and their ultimate return to the world as
iawabiding citizens, rather than human derelcts
made unit, 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 lfe the freedom from the restraint of prison
walls and the different character of discipline that
makes 1t possible for him to regain his selfrespect
In working out this 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
revoiutionized. The honor system has taken the
place or 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 a 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 new lines Several
other states have fallen in line each working
possibly in a different way but toward the same
general end
Illinois is the latest state to make begin.
ming in this work. force of nearly one hun.
dred convicts was recently taken from the peni-
Tertiary at Joliet and placed at work on the
roads Armed guards dispensed with and
the men were placed upon their honor The
convicts pledged themselves to make no effort
10 escape and the authorities are relying upon
their keeping this promise
IN THIS case tendency developed on the
part OF tne people to overdo the idea of giving
the convcts greater liberty and pleasure A
plan to give the convicts an automobile ride
and theater party in a nearby CITY was nro-
posed TO the authorities but Governor Dunno
veloed tnis program and let it be understood that
Wnlie 1t is planned to give the convicts greater
freedom than they have been accustomed to
WITHIN the prison walls and to aid them in get.
ung better view OF life the fact that thew
move oeen sentenced to pay penalty for in
traction OF the states laws must not be forgot
Yen ana the men must be made to realize that
punishment awaits such violations of the stat
utes. ~
Inc working of convcts upon the roads in
COLORADO was made possible only few years
ago by act of the legislature. The system has
Deeh generally adopted throughout the state
during the past two or three wears the var;ous
counues cooperating with the state in the i'm
proVement of the highways. The result is seen
convcts - W
The honor system was adopted simultaneously
WIN the placing of the convcts on the roads
IN Colorado, All of the eonvcts were NOT
turned loose from the penitentiary without
guards but certain percentage OF the prison
ers, including those having the best prison rec
oros' were taken from the penitentiarv first nc
gu e@peflment AS the success of the experi-
hent seemed evident to the authorities the num
per OF honor" was increased and mora
lnan oUs per cent of the convicts were finally
removed from the prison aAd placed in the road
camps ~ ING ioau
warden lyman and other prison authorities de-
clare the experiment has been even rnoro go
cessful than they anticipated
turing the last three years we have had ro
nan one thousand Individual prisoners in the
'fs' says the warden. These men,