Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-04-29
SYSTEM
And PRISONERS
Hon. R. s. Lewis, Chairman Of the
Board Of Control, Reviews the
Situation.

luc lOflOW llS ditlCAc HUN thC pun
of Hon. n. s. Lewis, chairman of tho
board of control, discusses the honor
system. and gives many good rea-
sons for endorsing It. The article APP
pearedsin the recent issue of the Re-
tlector, the publication at the State
prison. this city:
Editor of The RefectOr.-ln ans
wer to your inquiry. as to my views
on the Honor System now in prac-
tice, and as applied directly to the
inmates of our State A'Penitentiary.
my opinion is not based on an AGA.
demic viewpoint, but rather from prac
Ftical experience gained In dealing
with all classes of men under various
conditions. ''\'G&' :;.,l5
heartily endorse the liberal Hon
or System, as now practiced by War
den Talcott, and fully believe that 1t
will result in establishing a code OF
honor between the inmates and Off
GERS, which. will not be easily discard
ed by discharged inmates when they
again come in contact with the gen.
eral public. In my judgments Is diff
ficult for any man, whether he Is an
inmate of a penal institution or en-.
gagged in the usual pursuits of life, to
become trustworthy to a high degree,
unless he has a reasonable, assurance
that he is trusted, and that he has tho
confidence, of his assOcia' es or those
having supervision over him.
System OF Conduct. US y.
The average man. taking uD his
residence in q new or strange com
munity, IL OF normal intellect, i'm
mediately adopts a system, of con
duct which will give him credible
standing in that community. without
which he can be of. little or no value
to himself or those. dependent upon
him. What is true with reference to
the man who is. not under restraint,
is also true Of the inmate, providing
the latter has 4 reasonable and fair
opportunity to assist in developing
such a condition for himself. which
would entitle hin to the, confidence OF
those having supervision over him.
Such a desirable condition, however,
cannot be brought about unless che
Warden can take a personal interest
in the welfare Of the individual in
mates, aud 50 far as possible the
Warden should overlook the reason
for which his ward has been placed
In his charge. '..
&.~ Punishment Incidental. Is.
The object in committing a man
to the penitentiary should not be for
punishment alone. The punishment
cannot be avoided, ..by reason of the
confinement, so far as practicable, 1t
should he incidental only. 49,
The real object in committing
a MAI to the .p%enitentiary
is, or should be, to safeguard society
and to give the man a true. prospectus
of his duty to himself and to society,
so that when he is discharged he can
be of some actual benefit both to- him
self, and to the community at large.
In my Judgment, this condition can
oe best brought about, If the warden
can impress on the minds and hearts
Of those in his, charge that he has
q personal interest in their future
welfare, and that he sympathizes
with them in their troubles, and that
he is willing to render all the assist.
ance possible. He must demonstrate
his sincerity by friendly suggestions,
and by giving them an opportunity
to prove that they are worthy of such
treatment, and that the are capable
of being helped and that under no
conditions or circumstances will they
impose upon or betray this confidence
When such a relation Is established
between the Warden and the individ-
ual inmates of a penal institution,
their combined influence for helpful.
ness to the inmates rs q whole can
not be Overestimated.
Every inmate who honestly desires
to better his condition is interested
in the conduct Of his fellow prisoners
to the extent that he does not want
any of his privileges abused, and he
does not want 1t proved by their acts
that they cannot be safely trusted, as
in such an event the warden is sure
to tighten up. the lines, and restrict
privileges in order TO protect himself
from public criticism. Every intention
al or thOughtless violation, or abuse
of privileges extended by, the warden
can only result in producing a condi.
ton, which of a necessity will pre-.
vent the inmates, to a modified degree
from demonstrating their desire to be.
come, instead ,Qf,. burden on society,
self supporting and useful citizens.
A very important Illustration Of q
practical and a liberal Honor System
is the fact that this, is the only rec.