The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-19
REFORM WORKS AT
WISCONSIN PRISON
Preacher-Warden Opens First
Convict Camp Under the
Honor System.
PLEADS FOR NEW LAWS
Daniel Woodward Tells What
He Has Accomplished
In Three Years.

WAuPuN, Wis. July 1S.-rhis has been
red letter week at the Wisconsin state
Prison. of which the Rev. Daniel Wood.
ward is warden.
Tho first convict camp Of me ins.,tu-
ton was established At Tavche.dah. a
small town twenty-five miles from the
prison. on Tuesday. There the mon will
be employed In the erection Of the now
Reformatory for Women. Tho same day
a camp began the construction Of tho
Waupun- Chester road
Mr.. woodward has the distinction Of be-
Ing tho FIRST clergyman in the United
States. and 80 far as IL known IN tho
world. 70 be appointed warden of q State
or national pcnitentiary He entered upon
tho duties Of his Office three years ago
With the idea that tho business Of the
penitentisry Is FIRST to make men and
women better by restoring IN them con-
fdence and self-respectt
Born In 1854, he became an elder In the
Methodist Episcopal Church in 1895. In
1910 he left the Methodist ministry and
became pastor OF the omro wis, Congre-
gational Church.
On March s. 1911. he was appointed
member OF tho State Board OF Control Of
Wisconsin. Upon tho resignation Of
Warden Henry Town. July II, 1911, he
was appointed acting warden Of the Wis
consin State Prison. and In November OF
the same year he resigned from the state
Board OF Control and accepted the ap-
pointment as warden. which position he
1''' -''' p'e'o-
Prison Reform His Ain.
Ut. to-. 80. 49,. .
io' Nou " s"ps
'ahoh III tho oirection OF prison REFORM
ana his boast 70 that there has not boon
serious infraction OF rules since tho
honor .v.te,n was besun twentv- s,~ht
,~o,,..
,r,'
Inc prison mas an average OF ABOUT 'oo
inmates. When Mr.. Woodward became
warden he took the position that tho nrst
business of the institution was 10 protocs
soc,.ty and ..co,d ~ NAP. ma, .rd
1900
women Oy reestaohshinS tner seit-ro-
spect
With the above ideals in mind we have
abolished the practice OF hair clipping OK
cept for sanitary purposes" eays the
warden. The state Board OF Control
has pursued the practice OF contracting for
only wholesome articles OF food and the
prison administration has insisted upon
contractors furnishing tho goods as speci-
fed. We have also insisted upon the food
being properly cooked and served. believ-
ing mat good wholesome food is among
the hrst considerations In preserving the
unnecessary dissatisfaction on the part OF
'"o '''''"'e''
AAAfttor - yabr.rx
With,n tho past three years hve nun
dred collars worth OF DOCKS mas been
added 10 the prison library. making
library OF more than three thousand vol
umes, with also monthly SUBSCRIPTION or
three hundred copies OF the standard mag
azlnes. Inc school year has been IN
creased from six months 10 eight months.
A correspondence course OF study Is
granted 10 any inmate who desires to take
one. we also nave oand or rorty pieces
ana full orchestra
Wlthln the same PERIOD OF ume inc
honor system has been placed In opera
ton. inmates are taken into tho prison
park Tor exercise ara VISIT one another
sunday AFTERNOON. The baseball game has
been placed In successful operation as
monday and holiday diversion.
AS a still further indication OF CO.
$50 10 700 men have been In line or march
within hfty-hve seconds after tho or
der is given on ran IN To any think
ing person Is is perfectly apparent that
nothing short OF good discipline and ful:
cooperation will place that number OF
men IN marching line, with every man
In his place, within that length OF time.
Honor system works.
"rbe honor sv.ten ba. hem IN oner,-
tion Tor more than two year. dnrin~
which time there has nor hem a violation
hy az ,ttemn,ad sscane Tba wan wbn
have been nIaced on their honor leays tha
lneututlon uhsuaroeu at CLOCK IN ths
elsewhere outside the walls all day and
return unguarded at 7 or 8 o'clock in the
evening
I'VE need three additional laws IN wis
consn.
First, We need tthe habituai criminal
act to care properly for the individual
who as a result OF an inherited tendency
or early environment has made crime
his lifes business. II this person is a de-
fective. IN protection TO society and the
best interest OF the man he should be Sc
curely housed In some place of detention
until competent judges pronounce him
safe to be permitted his freedom to choose
his course In life.
'Tn my Judgment when person has
served three or more terms he should not
he discharged from prison until some au-
thorized body has decided 4 is TO the In
terest OF both society and the prison TO