Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-03-04
MANY CHANGES AT PEN
TOF0LLOW APPOINTMENT
OF M|NTO AS WARDEN
Board Of Control Yesterday
Took Action Making Ap-
pOintment As Forecasted

As has been forecasted in the Cap.
ital Journal upon several occasions the
state board of control, in executive
session following the regular monthly
meeting, yesterday afternoon, elected
Harry P. Minto of this city warden of
the state penitentiary to succeed
Warden B. X. Lawson the change to
take effect May |. Mr.. Mimic is now
in the East studying prison conditions
in other states and preparing himself
for the management of the Oregon
prison for which, aside from the inner
details of supervision he is so well
equipped.
With the election of Harry Mimic
as warden of the penitentiary the ques-
tion of his policy in the conduct Of the
inner affairs Of the institution natur-
ally arises and, inasmuch as it has been
the openly expressed policy of the
board of control to give the heads of
institutions free hand in the choice
of their subordinates and to hold them
personally responsible for the conduct
Of the institution, it follows that Mr..
Mimic will select his own corps Of
under officials. While the employees of
the penitentiary, especially the force
of guards, are somewhat under sys-
TEN Of civil service and there will be
no changes in the rank and file of
the employees it is believed that Mr..
Mimic will want to have officers
directly under him whom he knows
perfectly and can trust absolutely in
the carrying out of any policy which
he may adopt.
Deputy Warden Big Job.
In this connection the most import
ant subordinate position which he vii
fill will be that Of deputy warden, tn,
position held by John Bengen for thu
past eight years. For this position
several eligibles have been prominently
speculated upon, among them beinl
Sheriff William Esch, Deputy Sheriff
Oscar Bowers, and James w. Lewis
Sheriff Esch has two years more of his
elective term to serve and Oscar Bow,
ers is his chief deputy and it is not
believed that the sheriff will resign
his present position to accept the
prison job. "Jom" Lewis, however
is not employed at present and, since
he is recognized as one of the most eff.
ficient police officers that has even
been on the force in Salem, which has
equipped him with most valuable
knowledge in the grading and hand.
ling Of criminals as class and is a
warm personal friend Of Mr.. Mimic,
his choice for the position would not
be at all surprising.
There are numerous other subordi-
nate positions at the prison at the dis.
posal of the head warden and it is be.
lieved by those who understand condi-
tions and associations that Walter
johnson, who has a reputation as a
fearless man and has achieved much
distinction in the running down and
capturing Of desperate criminals from
the penitentiary, will be given an i'm.
portant post, Mr. Minto also has many
friends already on the prison staff
whom he will retain, among them being
Deputy Warden Bcngen, Turnkey Hud.
dleston, Guard Fisher, and numerous
Others and few changes will be made
with the possible exception Of the sub.
ordinate officers who will come direct.
ly under Warden.elect Minto and up.
on whom he will look and depend for
the success Of his administration.
Other guards who will undoubtedly be
retained in their present positions Of
responsibility are Guards Elmer White,
Henry Rawson and Miles
olcott Opposed Change.
As has also been stated in the
journal Secretary of State Olcott was
opposed to making any change in
management of any state institution
wherein the present incumbent is
rendering satisfactory service but
Governor Withycombe, while praising
the services Of Colonel lawson very
highly, deemed the change necessary in
view Of the prospective change in the
policy Of conducting the affairs Of the
institution. Following the meeting and
election Governor Withycombe, in an.
nouncing the change, gave out n
statement in which he praised the
qualifications of Mr.. Mimic very
highly, stating that, in his estimation,
based upon many years Of personal
acquaintance with him and his record,
Mr. Mimic is one Of the best trained
Officers in the state Of Oregon, II not
the Pacific Northwest and that he fay-