Weekly journal-miner., 1915-04-14
BIRCH TELLS OF HIS
 VISIT TO STATE PRISON
(From Sundays DailY)

(From Sundays Daily)
 Robert Birch has just returned from trip to the southern part of the state, during which he visited the pen itentiary at Florence. Tt was really remarkable to note the influence ex- ercised over the prisoners by Warden Sims and Parole Clerk Sanders" he said.
 'Tn most places of that kind the in mates are kept in subjection through fear, but kindness as a policy certain ly seems a success to a marked de gree Of course discipline is en- forced, as any infracture of it is felt by the offender, but there are no harsh, brutal measures employed as ill other like institutions. For instance I noticed one man in the dungeon and inquiry of him disclosed the fact that he was unable to get along with the guard, by his own confession practic- ally admitting that he was in the wrong. The dungeon Is not similar to the places which have made beasts out of men, for instead of being a hole of absolute darkness 1t is so a. ranged that light penetrates it. The mu-derers are all in death cells, and not at liberty around the yard, as is the popular supposition. There is one thing, however, which 1 believe should be changed. The death row is right next to the execution room, and if any men are ever hanged the remain der of them, although not actual wit nesses to the occurrence, could hear everything that was taking place.
 q was taken through the prison and shown every possible courtesy by both the warden and the parole clerk One thing particularly impressed it. self upon my mind - the uniform courtesy existing between the officials and the men. It was Good morning, Mir. Sims, and in response, Good morning, Mir. Jones' or whatever the name of the man might happen to be, not Good morning, Number 9o' At dinner time I watched the men file in the dining room every one taking his place without any noise or demonstra- ton of any kind. The food was plain but substantial although there was nothing fancy about it. There was an absence of that low, discontented growl which was markedly in evi dence when I visited San Quentin prison in California number of years ago. In direct contrast also to most prisons is the way the inmates are garbed, their clothing being a radical departure from the old stripes.
 "I asked the courtesy of being per mitted to talk to one of the prisoners from this county. Warden Sims sent for the man and he was brought to that officials office. He then left, re- Now you two men can have your chat to yourselves The man had the talk with was Frank Spence. a well known veteran of this section. | who looked much better than when I l last saw him.
 "A number of prisoners were taken out to work on a bridge across the Gila and they went to their tasks, it | seemed to mo, very gladly, embracing the opportunity to be out in the open and indulge in manual labor.
 "A spirit of 'hclpfulness on the part of the officials and cooperation on the part of the prisoners, is the dominant note in the conduct of the prison. l talked personally to many of the men and not one of them complained of their treatment, but to the contrary spoke words of praise for the men who arc entrusted with their care and It is needless to say was agrccably surprised"