New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-11


continue TO stand by me and will do
my best for YOU.
81 want every man who is going 10
stand by me 10 hold up his hand,' she
concluded IN ringing tones.
There was no exchange OF glances
among the roomful OF prisoners.
About one man IN every three held up
his hand without hesitation. The rest
sat immovable. There was applause
as the Commissioner retired.
Dr. Davis went 70 the warden's Office.
where she met delegation Of six pris-
oners from the "Old prison" Earlier IN
the dag she had examined a similar
committee from the west prison
Five out Of the six said that the
methods Of Warden Hayes were al the
bottom Of the trouble He wasn't hui
man" as one prisoner expressed IT, All
FIVE said that he would listen 20 no
complaints with serious attention, but
treated them with levity. Commissioner
Davis said that she could sympathize
with him, for she herself had a well
developed sense Of humOr.
when you ben without even bread
or water for twenty-four hours and ask
the warden What about something 10
eat and he says. The express didn't
come in to-day and you get nothing,
protested one Of the prisoners, that
ain't no humor. He hasn't got no sense
of humor, the warden amt. lie hates
himself"
The one man who had nothing iii 70
say Of the warden was an unctuous
negro with ingratiating manners and a
prominent gold tooth.
Il always praises the bridge what
carries me acrost," he began. in an
oratorical manner. IAN ] rot nothin'
but good 70 say Of the warden an the
keepers They always treated me 20
lite. as man 20 man. The other night /
was IN the mess hall, wnen two or three
bowls begin 20 fy When the fourth
few ! few with T.. Right I'd 20 my cell
! few. an started 20 read book. There
was lot of hootin' an ycllin' az ]
couldn't take no interest IN that book.
seems Ike. so ! just climb into bed an
pull the blankets over my head
IF you hadn't Of come over. Com
missioner" said the prisoner who ac-
cused the warden OF hating nlmselt.
1--WE wouldn't Of ate yet. lie wouldn OF
give US nOthin' 20 eat for week. II !
was runnin' this place I'd lot cveryb by
out for breakfast. no matter li they
yelled all night. Each keeper has got
five bullets IN his gun, an II any
trouble started I'd let EN- cut loose.
81 can't say that ! would have dealt
any differently with you than the war
den has done" said Or. Davis. 81 have
studied institutions all over the c9un
try and think he handled he SITUATION
we'll"
Well" said the prisoner, you can
bet speak from experience 100. We
served time IN jails all over the coun
try. and there's no tougher boss any
where than Warden Hayes. You can
bet / speak from experience.
One prisoner who was examined
described himself as a business man
and college graduate. lie thought
there was a widespread feeling against
the warden and some keepers. None
Of those called by DR.. Davis would
mention names when critlcisng a
keeper or telling Of another prisoner $
experiences. As one put 10: I'VE got
four months and some days 20 60 yet
and | amt going TO get IN Dutch.
An instance Of alleged abuse OF a
prisoner by a keeper was told o. ny
one of the delegation. lie could look
from his cell IN the "old prison INTO
the "west prison" and see n. ne sara
According TO his story, man was
clinpinR 10 the bars OF his cell and
complaining that he was too SICK 10
take out his bucket. The keeper
knocked him down and began TO beat
him, paying no attention 70 ms en-
treaties 10 call the warden or doc
tor.
All Of those Intercepted said that
neither politics nor the drug crusade
entered into the trouble m the least.
The drug crusade seemed 20 amuse
one Of them. who announced that those
who wanted drugs still got them.
There are 10000 ways Of getting the
stuff IL you want IT," he said.
Calls and entreaties which were dI-
rcctcd 10 the Commissioner as she
made her way through the corridors
show how difficult is her task OF get
ting 70 the true lnwardness of the sit
uation and suggest that possibly the
convicts have decided that they can
work" the new Commissioner and get
rid Of an unpopular warden.
Give US water For Gods sake give
Us water" came an agOnlzed and oft
repeated shout from an upper tier Of
the punishment section.
I'VE got plenty Of water: don't let
him kid you. lady" came from another
prisoner on a lower tier.
Hands beckoned on all sides. beseech
ing the Commissioner 20 grant an in
terview. The personal interview, Or.
Davis said recently. had proved unsat-
isfactory In most cases there is no
valid complaint. the prisoner being
merely DESTROYS Of convincing her that
he was unjustly convicted.
Among those IN the punishment cells
whom Commissioner Davis saw ycster-
day was Frank Tannenbaum. the |.
". W. agitator. He was working IN
the brush shop when trouble occurred
and made fiery speech melting his
"brothers" not TO return TO work. lie
told Commissioner Davis that he had
No psrse.si $500. a. - 80.