Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-12-03
PRISON REFORM
IOWA PRISON SETTING RECORD
SELDOM EouALED IN SUCH
INSTITUTIONS.
SYSTEM ATTRACTS NOTICE
Other Reformatories Are Copying the
Plan With Large Degree Of Sue
sass-The Honor System 10 Being
Given q Thorough Workout. 81

| Des MOines.--It is not generally
known, but 1t is true, that Iowa has a
penal institution at Anamosa that is
making a record for perfection of
discipline that far surpasses anything
generally supposed to be possible. and
tits beginning to attract the attention
OF the world. During considerable
period othe past year, and probably
the record is being kept up. the num-
Der Of prisoners reported for. disci-
pline against whom some accusations
lad been made for infraction Of pris-
on rules, averaged only about . per
cent. That comes near to being the
perfection Of discipline within an in
stitution Of the kind.
This fact was brought out in an In
teresting way at the last quarterly
conference of the board Of control
Chairman McConlogue had referred to
the very Interesting statements made
by the warden OF the Georgia prison,
in an address at the American Prison
congress, and especially to the plan
Of starting all prisoners in without de-
graduation and only placing them in
lower grades when they have COM
PEELED such action by their own con-
duct.
Warden McClaughry, of Anamosa,
who was associated with the warden
at Atlanta, Ca, was asked to tell
something Of the plan, and he disclos-
ed, in a modest way, that the plan
followed in Georgia was taken there
by him and installed.
It was while he was in charge OF
the Wisconsin prison at Waupun that
Warden McClaughry first put into eff
feet, against much opposition. the
system of treating the newly arrived
convict as IL he was of course model
prisoner and starting him as a first
grader only to be reduced when he
has broken the rules. The old sys-
tenn is to start every prisoner in as
II he was of course the very worst Of
the lot and treat him as a dangerous
man, placing him in stripes or checks
and giving him humiliating work IL
possible to start with.
Mr.. McClaughry related that It was
at the American Prison congress in
1900 that he read q paper presenting
to that body his ideas of discipline
and contending for the honor system.
Every warden present without excep-
ton condemned it at that time, and
all thought the new prisoner should
be made to feel the grind for six
months or more regardless OF what
he did. The idea presented by Nc
Claughry was SO contrary to all ac-
cepted custom for centuries that he
got small hearing.
When he went to Atlanta he imme-
diately put in the system and carried
out for the six years he was there.
When he went to the Anamosa re-
formatory he inaugurated the system
there for the first time In that insti-
tuition and 1t has been followed ever
since. No prisoner is degraded I'M
less it is for something he does after
reaching the prison. One may enter
the prison as first grader and re-
main such to the end OF his term. AS
result of this system Mr.. McClaugh-
ry said that the number of reports
for infraction Of rules had been re-
duced to per cent, which is as near
perfection as ever win be attained in
any penal institution.
The system is being followed now
in number of prisons with success.
For sergeant-at-Arms epga
John F. Offill is asking the support
Of the newly elected members OF the
house for the position of sergeant-at.
arms of the Thirty-sixth assembly. He
held that position two years ago and
is now asking a second term. Mr..
Offill. was representative from Jasper
county in the Thirtieth. Thirty-frst
and Thirty-second assemblies. He is
an old soldier. ItI
One Democratic Senator Returned.
Senator ". ]. Schrup of Dubuque
has a unique claim to distinction as
a result of the late election. He Is the
only democratic senator who was a
candidate for reelection who was
successful.
49, tie !ad
| Would Be Sergeant at Arms. A,S
Hon. John Offill, former member OF
the Iowa general assembly from JAS
per county, will be candidate for SER
geant-at-arms in the house at the
coming legislative session. position
which he held two years ago.
Mr.. Offill is a veteran of the civil
war, lifelong republican and has
been actively engaged in public affairs
for many years. He has already re-
ceived many assurances OF support,
especially from members OF the last
general assembly.
investigate EpiIeptic Colonies.
Members Of the Board OF Control
are making further investigation into
a. y ~ nks Il