The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-08-27
MODEL PRISON OF
THE WIDE WORLD
Says Major McClaughry of
Fort Leavenworth
The Second Oldest Prison Warden Of The
World Is Surprised At The Cheer
fuIness Of The Inmates. The
Officers Deserve Praise.

Major r. w. McClaughry, former
ly warden of the Federal prison at
Leavenworth. Kansas. and one OF
best known prison men" in the
world. paid the Mirror office visit
Monday on his tour of inspection of
the different departments of our in
stitution, accompanied by Warden
Wolfer.
AS soon as we learned that it was
the well known prison man" we
went contrary to all rules and be-
seeched to be allowed to interview
him for write-up for the Mirror.
1t was granted, and for the second
time in our life we faced a warden
of a penal institution; but we were
not so nervous as we were the first
time. When we stated our mission
to the Major, who is suffering from
a severe cold, he informed us he
would do what he could for us.
Our first question to him was why
he resigned from prison work. My
boy, l am past seventy-fve years of
age and have been in this work
since August 1, 1874, and thought
| was entitled to parole, or better
still, an honorable discharge. |
first entered prison work at
the Illinois state prison at Joliet on
August 1, 1874, when 1t wasn't
much of a prison, and l have been
in the work continually up to the
time of my resigning from the Fed
eral prison at Leavenworth last
year. The gentleman who accepted
the wardenship of the Federal pris-
on, Mr.. Thomas w. Morgan, is get
ting along fine, and l am glad of
it,"
After talking of his early days
when he went through the Civil
war and came out with the rank of
major, of which he is justly proud,
he said: You have today the mod
ell prison of the world, and much
credit is due your Warden, your
State and the Board of Control, for
it embodies the very latest and best
ideas as to sanitation, light and ven
tilation known, besides being alb.
solutely freproof. 1t is humanely
managed and 1t is self-supporting,
and | stand quoted as saying it is
the model pathological institution of
the world, and you, together with
the rest of the inmates here, should
congratulate yourselves that as it
was so willed you should spend
some Of your time in prison, that
you were sentenced TO the Mime
sofa State Prison instead of several
others l could name; also | was sur
prised to see the cheerfulness that
prevails, both in the yards and the
shops of the men confined. This
general uplifting of atmosphere is
going to be great help to the men
when they again 90 forth out in the
wide world.
In regard to your picture shows
and Saturday afternoon ball games,
| heartily endorse. and l lay much
of this recreation to the contented
looks of the inmates"
Yes, he said: Il do advocate
wages paid to all prisoners for work
performed. and 1T will come before
long.
When the bread winner of a
family Is convicted in the courts
and sent to prison to pay the
penalty, his wife and children are
left helpless. The scientists are
taxed to provide the most improved
facilities for guarding his welfare.
The food he is given is always
wholesome and scrupnlously clean.
The task of the management is to
provide tasks for him that will fit
him to battle with the world when
he energies. But not one thought
does the government give to the de-
spondant wife and the daughters
who may be entering womanhood
and who until the head of the family
came into contact with the law may
never have had to struggle for a
livelihood. Work should be provid-
ed in the prison walls for all pris-
oners So that they can earn some
thing. The earnings of course
should not go to them. The earn
ings should be cared for by govern
ment officials, and form fund that
should go toward the support of the
families of the men. Thus while the
man was serving his time he would
know that the fruits of his toll were
going to provide for his family, de-