Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-08-20


state eight dollars Worthwhile out at the prison
we are paying out between thirty-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 scarehead story-this most rash act of the
governor in releasing scotfree, a convicted MUIR
derer who hadn't been outside of prison walls or
beyond the fire of dozen rif1emen for years. The
governors closest advisers deplored what he had
done, and the opposition newspapers limited that
the chief executive must be either insane or secret
Iy conniving. At the very best, the opposition
boldly declared, the governor was sorely tempting
the convict-donating him money, provisions and
the use of two of the states horses, and, thus
equipped sending him off alone into the wilder
ness.
The week wore around-and Anderson
hack with the team to his lifetime prison cell.
Arizona which has a larger proportionate prison
populatiou than any other state In the Union had
learned its first lesson in the application of the
radical and bold honor system among conyicts.
Lesson number two was not long in following.
another Arizona state prison inmate, convicted
forger was released ION 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
resDonsibility-but before the month came to
end Row J. Meyers had voluntarily returned to his
rrtson cell A banker friend of the governor
was still critical of the prison honor sys-
tenn" so when a certain convicted forger was dis
charged after his prison term, the banker sent
him . bin for a 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
aboe shops in the state prison at Salem had out
of-4ate equipment So the governor called up the
nrfson one day and requested that certain life
tar7ner he sent down to his office, without guard.
Tho warden at first protested, but the convict
cor,a The governor merely talked with him for
fav minutes then sent the convict out to see the
town for an hour At the third visit the governor
explained why he wanted to get acquainted The
prisoner was given money to go to Portland ana
buv new shoe-shop machinery in the name of the
state It was Rose Festival week in the oregon
METROPOLIS and the city crowded with visitors
But NO 1915" completed the business and re
turned to his lifetime prison cell.
The honor system" has probably never had
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 over 1,O0O lndlVlduaI
prisoners in the convict camps. These men, with
out guards-soue so. 100 and even 800 miles away
from the prfson-have created national repua-
ton for LOYALTY Less than enc per cent have VIC
lated their pledges by successful escape
Just outside of Canon City, where one would