The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-04
OSBORNE TO FIGHT
FOR SING SING JOB
Declares Old Grating Ring at
Prison and Politicians
Oppose Him.

Thomas Mott osborne. warden at Sins
sing. has accepted the challenge OF his
poltr..al enemies and will fight. he
.,,s, to the end. II know that | will
nave to fight not only for my job but
also for my political life.' he said yes
,erday afternoon at a meeting Of the
National Committee on Prisons and
Prison Labor. which was held at
Heather Dell. the home Of Adolph
Levisohn at Ardsley. n. Y.
THE old system was rotten from top
10 bottom he said. The keepers
brought in drugs and whiskey, and 1t
would be- bought by any of the pris~
orers. The corruption extended from
the keepers to the very top. Keepers
went about the prison with a bottle over
their nccks and fed the whisky to the
prisoners by means OF a rubber tube
stuck through the bars. There was cor
ruption all around them and there was
no possible chance OF "A man lea wing the
prison Of this kind without being more
corrupted than when he came in.
The old grating ring at Sing Sing
still exists to a measure. and this and
political forces are working to under
mine me and secure my removal. We
are eliminating this grating ring, but
Il is taking time and patience"
Il know that | will have to light for
my political life Mr.. Osborne said with
much force. II knew this when | took
the job. but ! am ready and the fight IL
on. | have not made any criticism Of
my superior in public. OF course. some
Of this feeling referred to in the papers
this morning has some truth. My criti-
cism IL that transfers to other prisons
should not be made arbitrarily. but
should be left to the discretion of the
warden. Sing Sing is all upset and none
knows who will be in the next draft.
One man, a prisoner of whom | am
proud. came up to me this morning and
said. Never mind. warden, I will be In
the next draft because they know I am a
friend of yours. ! will go ard who
knows maybe we will have a league
there sometime too.
This may be "A challenge" the war
den said with feeling. Il am ready. I
have no intention OF r%esigning. I am
ers behind me. ! want you to try to get
public opinion behind me to combat the
political influence"
MIR. Osborne also took a fling at the
newspapers. saying that they have mis-
construed and misquoted him. He said
he hoped that the public would not take
its ideas about Sing Sing from the
newspapers.
Before the meeting of the committee
Mr.. Lewisohr entertained at luncheon
t~wenty-four guests at his summer home
The meeting was held on the broad
yeranda and was attended by about 800
Several members of the Columbia Uni.
versity faculty. members of the commit.
tee and Interested In prison reform, wer.
present and an important movement was
launched which II successful will link
the university closely with the prison re-
form work. The plan calls for the es.
Establishment at Columbia of a department
Of penal science under the department Of
political science. In such a department
opportunity would be given for lecture
work and research work in the local an
State prisons. a committee consistins
of Mr.. Osborne, Prof. J. c. Egbert, Dear
Frederick T.. Goethe. Prof. George W
Kirchwey and others was appointed I,
put the matter before the Columbia Uni
versity authorities.
Among those present were Borough
President and Mrs. Marks. COMMISSIONS
Katharine II. Davis. Commissioner anc
Mrs. Adamson, Mr.. and Mrs. Theodor,
Rousseau. Jerome Greene. Mr.. and Mrs
William II. Childs, DIR. Hastings II. Hart
Joseph Fl. Wise. Prof. Samuel McCun,
Lindsay OF Columbia University anc
Miss Lindsay. Bernard II. Ridder. Prof
George w. Kirchwey. Mr.. and Mrs. Ar
mold Bremen. Mr.. and Mrs. Walston Hi
Brown. T.. stage Within. George Gordon
Battle, Charles Henry Davis and Collii
Lovely.