Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-17
STATE TO MAKE FIGHT AGAINST
FORT MADISON PER.
sEcuroRs.
CONTEST IN PROPER SHAPE
FOR STATE INTERFERENCE
Citizens Of Fort Madison Not Believed
TO 30 in Sympathy With Efforts Of
City Observation-Disclosures Has Sent
No Skilled Labor Outside Of Prison
Prison Reforms At stake.

Special to imes-Republican.
Des Moines. June l7.-The state OF
Iowa will now take hand in the effort
being made at Fort Madison to dis
credit and hinder the good work being
done with the prisoners at Yhe state
penitentiary. The fight has fini " come
around to a proper shape for state in
reference.
Warden ]. c. Sanders attended the
conference at the state house yesterday.
Followine his arrest at Fort Madison
for violation of new city ordinance ne
had the case continued for a few days.
The latter part OF the week 1T will De
taken up.
The warden was arrested for nom
compliance with an ordinance winch
undertakes to forbid any one from the
prison being seen in Fort Madison at
anv place at any time, of course ex-
emptine those on state business in
charge of guard. The ordinance
authorizes the summary arrest of any
convict found anywhere in the CITY,
with or without guard. ana deh'ery
of such convict to the warden. 1t also
makes it misdemeanor Tor any one
to permit a convict to so into the city
of Fort Madison. This la1ter was
aimed directly at the warden.
What really happened was that d
squad Of convicts was sent to certain
cherry orchard in the city to engage IN
picking cherries. The owner OF tne
orchard had employed women ana
children and they had picked all the
cherries that could conveniently pc
reached, and they did noc care to go 10
the tops Of the trees. He engaged the
men to do this work. Payment was on
the shares plan. AS a result warrant
was sent to the penitentiary for the
warden accusing him of violating the
ordinance by permitting this occur
renee.
Citizens Want Help.
DO all the people, or any consider
able number of the people. living IN
Fort Madison uphold the CITY autnor-
tiles In this course?" was asked yester-
day of the warden.
"The answer to that is easy. If they
did. how could place so many men at
work in the city.
1t is claimed as an excuse that the
ordinance was passed to protect the
union labor of the city.
II made an agreement with the peo-
pie and with the board long ago." said
the warden, mot to send any skilled
labor into the city. have many OPP
portunities to send painters and masons
and others to work in the city. 1 refuse
all such opportunities. 1t is only rough
labor l permit the men to do. These
men were picking cherries, on shares.
The cherries would go to the stores of
the prison and the men would be paid.
1 have a squad Of men out six miles in
the country today picking cherries. We
expect to have several hundred gallons
put away for pies next winter. This is
work for the state. It seems to me 1T is
the states fight and not mine"
The attorney general will go. or send
a man, to fight the case and see whether
or not the town of Fort Madison can
defy the state and hamper good work.
The real fight is one Of reactionar1es
against any modern methods in prison
work Warden Sanders has had fight
on his hands. in or out Of the prison,
every day since he became warden. and
appears to be good for still more fight
ing if necessary.