The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-09-18

patton. Tomorrow" said Governor
Hatfield. "25 prisoners will come to
my office to have'a talk with me be-
fore going out on the roads to work.
believe that with proper are of the
men and their quarters, their health
can be conserved; their mental atti-
tude is improved by contemplation or
the open, and the work itself will be
beneficial to the state" ..|
Number of Prisoners.
The report OF Captain Bloyd show
cd 1926 prisoners in the penitenti-
airy, OF which number Al were fe-
males, 90 were in tho hospital, II
working on the farm, rs on the state
roads and SIG working on contract
labor in the ~pcnitentiary shops. The
female convicts do light work on con-
tract also, such as trimming shirts
and pants. They have u task" to
make each day, also, but rarely make
il. They are not punished for this.
however. The women's quarters, like
those Of the men, are scrupulot1sly
clean and very comfortable. includ-
ing their kitchen, dining-room, sleep
ing quarters, etc.
The dining-room for the men is u.
huge, airy hall, we'll lighted and at
tractivc. The white %convicts have
enc entrance and the negroes anoth-
er. In the kitchen when | made my
visit were huge Kettles in which were
cooking u stw, potatoes, beets, cab
bage. The bread is light and whole
scmc. The men are given all they
desire. Their food includes corn on
the cob and all kinds OF vegetables
and fruits grown on the farm. Fac
ing the men at table is a large
blackboard, on which are posted bull
letins of the war, the ball scores or
other items Of news which might in
terest the prisoners. Services arc
held every Sunday in the large chap
81, and once a month the Catholic
convicts attend mass in the small
chapel, which has an altar. A Ii
brary is at the disposal Of all the con-
victs, with a system for the loaning
out OF the books which may be re-
moved for u period of one week. A
night school is maintained, where con-
victs are taught each evening from
{. till Q o'clock. Attendance is not
compulsory, but many take advan-
tage Of this opportunity to improve
their minds.
The Governors Reforms.
With this survey OF the penitenti-
airy and the conditions attaining
there. the reader will observe that in
the matter of corporal punishment
alone, is there the basis for any con-
flict with the sentiment which has
grown in this country for that treat
mant Of convicts which 1t is believed
can transform the prison term of the
convict into a possibility for the bet
termcnt Of his future life and his
usefulness as a citizen. That Gov
ernor Hatfield sees these possibilities
there is no doubt; nor is there any
doubt that the same broad spirit of
reform which he is extending to the
penitentiary he is likewise extending
to the other institutions Of the state
where it is indicated.
"At the penitentiary," said the
governor, IT have given orders for
the abolition of all forms of corporal
punishment, including the elimina-
tion Of the bull rings, hangers and
the padding machine as we'll as
all the dungeon cells. 1t is my idea
that the inmates of the penitentiary
who violate the rules OF the institu-
tion should be punished by solitary
confinement and a reduction of the
good time earned.
II have also instructed the warden
that any convicts who perpetrate
criminal acts should be made to an
in the criminal courts of Mar
shall county and it is my plan that
the inmates OF the institution be Inn
pressed with the fact that they shall
be amenable to criminal prosecution.
Trying Out the Honor System.
We IRE now working more than