New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-12
(ONVICTSUNTTE
TO AID OSBORNE
IN PRISON CRISIS
Unfit at pivotal Point"
Warden Declares at Meet
ing in Sing Sing.
NFWLEAGUE ELECTION
TO BE HELD TO-DAY
Three More Inmates Called by
Grand Jury-Inquiry May
Last Two More Weeks.

-. Sings sixteen hundred convicts
- Thomas Mott Osborne explain
a,i.,n conditions yesterday. and as one
Aselared their intention Of stand
80 BY him in what he described as the
an;vo,al point" in prison reform in
New York.
nv, have now reached that stage"
Ia ,bs warden, where, if those who
with US ( prison reform triumph,
:. ran revolutionize prison work in
ar,.yics II We lose, the work Of reform
:, 60, hack years. The question. there
Gov. Is whether or not you men are
roinr to stand with US, or il you are
soipr TO do things that will jeopardize
.la suecess Of the movement"
NJ Osborne had previously de-
..-ibss III. events Of the last week, in
ending his experience before the grand
iury IN Westchester, and assured the
wan that whatever happened, he would
tisk By Them to the last. But he said
all must help
The meeting was called preliminary
70 holding another election for dele
r,t.s 70 the Mutual Welfare League,
the warden explaining why he had set
aside the recent election. He expressed
regret that It should have been neces-
,,ry 10 do so, but he was emphatic in
saving that unless things were done
right they would have 20 be done all
over again
LITER Makes a Speech
There Is no doubt in the mind of
any of YOU he said, that in holding
tina caucus that was held the rules were
rolsted."
you should know" ne went on, shat
the eyes Of the prison world and of all
who are interested in prison work are
on Sing Sing and the work we are
doing here. Those in charge Of other
Institutions are sending their men here
to see what is being done
When the warden concluded, a vet
eran lfer, more than sixty years OF
age. who had served time in several
prisons, but who has the confidence
and respect of his associates, ad-
dressed the men, telling them that any
one among them who sought 70 make
trout was working against all OF
them.
~ do not believe" said he. that you
want to do anything that will bring
q II va I'd Il
irving us q chance 10 live like men,
even though we are in prison-giving
Us something more than a miserable
existence. Therefore, / do not believe
that any men were in plot TO use the
league as a means 10 escape"
50 saying he asked that all who
knew Of the plot TO seize the machinery
OF the league and use II as a means Of
escape TO stand up. None stood.
81 do not expect" said the warden,
"thst any man who was foolish enough
TO become mixed up in such scheme
would care 20 stand up here and declare
himself. The man who did such thing
vas q fool, but not quite fool enough
70 admit that ne did anything calcu-
lated to jeopardise everything"
League to Vote To-day.
The warden then told the men that
they might hold their election to-day.
III there be any among you who OBJ
Jet 70 holding an election on Sunday,
he told them, remember the better the
Gay the better the deed and act &C
eordingly.'
Before leaving the chapel the warden
.old the men that he would do what he
could 20 prevent the publication Of the
rsmes Of the men in prison IN con-
nection with prison work.
81 know how you feel about it. he
said, "but there are some things that
The warden cannot always do
After the meeting Mr.. Osborne went
70 Albany, where he spoke last night.
This afternoon he will speak IN Man
haitian Casino.
District Attorney Frederick Z. Weeks
vent 70 Poughkeepsie yesterday, where
be conferred with Justice Charles Nor
ehauser in the matter Of Warden Us
BONE refusing 20 reveal the cOnhd-
snees reposed in him by prisoners.
Inquiry to Go Two Weeks More.
In bis absence Assistant District At
iorney Fallon was in charge Of the in
qgiry, which Il IS now declared will take
a. least TWO weeks more 70 complete.
During the morning three cOnvicts
whom Fallon sought 20 take from the
PRISON late Friday night were produced
b Principal Keeper Fred Z. Dorner.
according 20 the story told in White
P.sns the warden on one occasion
Fhtn knitting class was in his Office
gave these eonvicts grapejuice, ice
cream and cake.
In tn Westchester Court House yes
,erday opinion agreed with that of Mr..
Osborne, expressed In The Tribune
Yesterday, that the grand jury would
indiet, but not for the serious offence