The Elbert County tribune., 1914-08-21
6aYWTcHN7

state eight dollars month-while out at the prison
we are paying out between thrty.fve and forty
dollars month for another team to replace them
Arrangements were soon completed Anderson
was provided with ticket to go as far as he could
by train. Then he given money to buy gro
ceries. for he was starting on weeks journey out
across the lonely desert and up into the Wild rough
foothills at the edge Of the timbered mountains.
% 1t WAS not long before the newspapers got hold
of this scare-head story-this most rash of the
governor in releasing scot-free> "a convicted mur
derer who hadn't been outside Of prison walls OF
beyond the fire of dozen rfemen for years The
governors closest advisers deplored what he had
done. and the opposition newspapers limited that
the chief executive must be either insane
ly conniying At the very best, the opposition
boldly declared. the governor sorely tempting
the convict-donating him money. provisions. and
the of two of the states horses. and, thus
equipped, sending him of alone into the wilder
The week wore around-and Anderson came
back with the team to his lifetime prison cell
Arizona which has larger proportonate prison
population than any other state In the Union. had
learned its first lesson In the application of the
yadical and bold honor system" among convcts.
Lesson number two not long in following
Another Arizona state prison inmate. convicted
forger, was released ON his honor for months
time and given enough money to carry him to
Washington. d. c.. that he might file patents for
several OF his inventions. The governor assumed
responsbty-but before the month to
end Roy j. Meyers had voluntarily returned to his
prison cell banker friend of the governor
was still critical OF the prison honor sys-
tem.' when certain convicted forger dis
charged after his prison term. the banker sent
him bill for formerly forged check. The next
mail brought back currency to the amount.
One might add instances from other reform
state prisons that have adopted the honor sys-
tenn" In Oregon. Governor West learned that the
shoe shops in the state prison at Salem had out
of-date equipment. So the governor called up the
prison one day and requested that certain life
termer be sent down to his office. without guard
The warden at first protested but the convict
came The governor merely talked with him for
few minutes. then sent the convict out to the
town for hour. At the third visit the governor
explained why he wanted to get acquainted The
prisoner given money to to Portland and
buy new shoe-shop machinery In the name of the
state. II was Rose Festival week In the Oregon
metropolis and the city crowded with visitors
But No 36l5" completed the business and
turned to his lifetime prison cell
The honor system has probably never had a
more thorough and satisfactory test than at the
Colorado state prison. in Canon City under War
den Thomas j. lyman. During the past three
wears this prison has had 1000 individual
prisoners In the convict camps These men, with
out guards-some so. 100 and even 800 miles away
from the prison--have created national reputa
ton for loyalty. Less than one per cent have vio
lated their pledges by successful escape.
just outside OF Canon City. where one would