The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-01-13

g. 1T. II . gloomy place. with anu.
quated seats and tables" says Black
mar in referring to the dining room
"A change would be conducive to
health and digestion.
which are essential items in CONSIDER
ing any body Of laborera.
The kitchen utensils are old ana
need renewing" says Blackmar.
The chapel Is a gloomy place. 1t
ought to be made bright and cheerful.
for here 1t Is that prisoners come. Tor
instruction, religious worship, enter
tainments and moving pictures. The
walls are covered with grotesque pic
lures. There is nothing in the sur
roundinGs to elevate the ideals OF the
people. There ought. to be one cheer
full place in the penitentiary where
the people behind the walls might
meet with uplift."
The brick plant and farm are all
right Blackmar found, although there
is great opportunity for further agri-
cultural development OF the sou.
Many improvements have been MADE
on the farm in the last few months
ana the efforts to increase stock rails
ing and breeding II commended.
Better Prison School
A better and more systematic edu-
cational effort should be made. says
Biackmar. At present school meets
in the prison dining room. the chapel
or in the work shops. Blackmar
would have a separate school build
ing. He would also provide trades
school, which he believes would DO
self supporting.
Professor Blackmar points to the fact
that the old methods Of furnishing
prisoners have been abolished. But the
prison expert IL not satisfied and his re-
port to Governor Hodges urges scten-
tile study Of the individual cases In
melting out punishment.
ITO shut people away day after day
from light and air, feeding them ON
bread and water 10 simply to detertor-
ate the system and break down the
mind" he says. IF, as have stated.
of the 700 odd prisoners. nearly all OF
the punishment falls upon about %. l
would suggest that prison physicians
make q careful note Of this and in
quire into the mental condition of these
people who receive repeated punish
Need Beds, Light, Sunshine.
Better surroundings for the men dur
ing their hours of labor and rest are
il largely Impossible with the present
dilapidated plant.
Sanitation in general, q comfortable
bed. fresh air. places where prisoners
can have q good, recuperating sleep.
an opportunity for sunlight and air,
vestment and anything in the peniten-
tiary which detracts from the conser-
walton of this labor power is a waste
that may overcome" says the report.
Urging that the individual cases be
given greater care and more earnest
down In the issuance Of paroles and
study the cases of the men brought
back for parole violations.
The Parole System.
There are many men better Off
when released from the penitentiary
and society il better" says Dlackmar.
lust an many men are better on when
In the penitentiary; and society IL bet
on G to Sss haze sts hs there The Some
are the fret to violate q parole, some
are Of diseased minds; and I would
suggest that the prison physician make
. -careful- mental examination OF .each
man before he is paroled." :
Based on his findings at Lansing.
Hodges four plans for the betterment
Of the prison. although he recommends
but two Of them. ess.s ~ 7
Offers Four Solutions.
First-A system Of general improve
Second-Putting in new machinery
and buildings where needed, renovat-
ing and overhauling the old plant on
its present site.
Third-Drafting Of plans for the
building Of an entirely new prison 80
far as hospitals, cell houses, adminis-
tration building, laundry, dining room:
chapel and school house are concern
ed; on a new site on the prison farm
near Lansing. and leaving the present
enclosure for work shops.
interior OF the state and selling or
leasing the 1000 acre farm which the
state owns.
Only the second and third PROPOSE
tions are urged in the Blackmar re-
port. The expert opposes the first
modern prison plant, which would be
impossible under a policy Of repairs
and spasmodic improvement. As for
the fourth plan. Professor Blackmar
believes that the present location OF
more nearly the crime center Of the
state. As a further objection, he
urges that the state needs its Lansing
coal mines to supply fuel for-the state
institution.
Look Ahead Is Years.
''In considering any radical change
at the penitentiary," says Blackmar,
.''One 0nOul0 look anoaQ 10F 20 ye0Tt
at least and consider whether the
prison population Is to be greatly in
creased during that period or not: OF
whether the parole system should be
so extended that a larger proportion OF
the prisoners shall be found working
under independent direction and
whether those remaining there shall
continue in the same pursuits, mining
coal. manufacturing Irvine and in
agriculture as at present, or whether 9
larger number Of thes. shall be shifted
to agriculture"
Professor Blackmar then points to
the possibilities OF a dry Missouri, ma
tional prohibition and a lessening OF
the crime wave; offset, perhaps, by
increased population in Kansas towns
and the creation of greater crime CEN
tiers. In view Of these uncertainties
Blackmar would leave the prison al
Lansing.
Clean. Sanitary Cell Houses.