The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15
CONNECTS REVOLT
 PROVES VALUE OF
 "HONOR SYSTEM
Oklahoma Penitentiary Warden Will Continue to Use Gentle Reforma-
 tory Measures on Prisoners

mere Will be no curtailing of privileges to oonvicts in the Oklahoma penitentiarv as result of the recent riot in which seven men, including three prison officials ana three escaping prisoners, were killed. says McAlester, Okla. special to the New York World. Instead of being dis mayed in his policy of leniepcv toward honor men," Warden R ". Dick is more than ever convinced that there is justice in his management of the peni. tentiary. ,
 Some people have contended that the trusty system is a failure and cite the trouble we have just had as an evidence or their assertion" said Warden Dick.
 TO my mind it was the supreme test Of our system of discipline and the result has made me more firmly convinced than ever that the system is right. Not only did the trusties aid the prison officials in their attempt to recapture the three fugi- tlves, but assistance was also given by the men from the cells, ard while the prison doors stood wide open for a period or several minutes in the midst of ex- oltement, not a man, outside the three. tried to escape. It was the acid test that the right kind of treatment will prove mat all men can be reached, and when the time comes will show their apprecia- ton and loyalty
 We are going on the theory that a man even though @ convict, is still A human being, subject to the same Influences as those on the outside. and that the hope or a reward is a gerater influence than the fear of punishment.
 There are perhaps 25, not more than . S0, out of 1500 prisoners who would take a chance and try to escare by any means @ oh ha Ter cent are moral perverts, or moral freaks, who are not responsible The other 70 or 80 per cent are men who. by reason of certain weaknesses or environ ments, have fallen, but who, with proper treatment can be reformed
 We are going to enlarge on our present pian We are now erecting a separate building for trusties entirely outside the prison walls, and as soon as we get that completed we will separate the trusties rom the cell men, apply reforming in huences, and never send a man back to the cell room unless he betrays his trust"
 Warden Dick boasts that the Oklahoma penitentiary has more trusties than any tther penal institution in the world. The number of prisoners run from. 400 to 1900 and the trusties number iron. 400 to 800 None of the prisoners eXceLs the abso- lutely irresponsible are kept continuously in their cells. They are allowed to con-
 
 or with visitors, when out in the rotunda or prison yards and they are encouraged Tn their desire for popular pastimes, such as playing cards or checkers or engaging m athletic sports. In tle spring and summer months baseball is popular recreation, and frequently the warden hlmself consents to umpire d game be- tween rival teams.
 warden Dick abolished the striped uni forms shortly after the prison was estab- llshed in McAlester. And even confine- ment in the dark cell, which has been the most dreaded form of punishment ever applied in the Oklahoma prison, has been done away with
 When the new trusty building is com. pleted 1t will be equipped with rooms to sleep in instead of cells and supplied with moderate rlans of amusement a reading room gymnasium and everything calcu- 'ated to make the place comfortable and eieVatlng. A night school. in which near " l5O men are receiving training, is now oeing operated in the prison but the fa-. ciiities for educating ifff1erate convictsN will be materially increased within the next few months.