New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-17

est kind of weather. BY the way, many
of these dock gang men are usea as
horses. They pull the carts themseIyHes
You can see any number OF men plohe"
down from this work.
"Oldtimers say the island is worse
now than it has ever been. That was
the reason of the recent riots. Spying
is stricter than ever. The stool-plgeon
system has spread to an astonishing
degree. One prisoner named Marshall
was supposed to be implicated in the
riots. He was released from the Isl.
and. but later was picked up, arrested
and imprisoned. Now he is under care
full watch.
dope is everywhere" The Tribune's
informant went on. 81 did not dream
there could be so much of it. Some
time ago the cells Of number OF men
were frisked. Even the knobs were
taken from the bedposts in the search
for dope. Last year there was man
in the prison known as the King OF the
Done Fiends' lie did about as much
to spread the evil as any one man ever
did.
Dope Fiends in the Making.
There's no question in my mind that
prison makes dope fiends out OF young
bows. It's too evident to dispute. VS.
itors bring dope and money in, and 1t
comes through the other channels by
which it usually reaches & prison"
There was considerable comment on
the mentality Of the guards. Some of
them were said 10 be men OF low men
tai equipment.
OBVIOUSLY, one of the worst things
is the placing of young boys with hard
ened offenders" continued the ex-prls-
oner, adding often they are in the
same cells.
Coming back 20 the hatred Of guards
for any attempt at reform, when the
pipe organ was given last year there
was all sorts Of scoffing and criticism
among the keepers. There was no mu-
sic once for five weeks. The attitude
toward visitors is we'll defined. When
ever one appears the word goes out
quickly 10 cover up. II ~ impossible
FOR a visitor to have any adequate idea
of what conditions really are. Visitors
never see all-or even half
This allegation was supplemented by
another statement, made by man, not
a former prisoner, but who had visited
the lsldnu. Even III tht PeiiOu VI o IL"
hours. he says. he saw many things
which could and should be easily
remedied.
"These things" he declared, were so
obvious that they would be apparent
even TO the most casual observer.
Necessarily, a lack Of cleanliness
and the consequent abundance Of dirt
il one of the first things that strikes
one. Everything is dirty-dirt that
can't be excused.
1.-THE men are insufficiently clothed.
Half OF them have no change of under
wear or outside clothing Miss Davis
in her speeches asserts that she has
10 market for her Industries, yet UNI
derwear is knitted on the island.
There is a $50, 900 industrial fund. Yet
she says she has no money with which
to buy material. The men work three
and three-quarter hours q day, three
men TO a shift, one and one-quarter
hours q day to each man. | can't see
why they should not have enough un-
derwear for the prisoners knitted on
the island.
THE system OF classification. or the
lack Of il, is ridiculous. II would not
be allowed in any other prison in the
country. Young boys are confined
with habitual criminals as clellmstes.
"The sanitation is horrible The
bucket system, OF course, obtains.
Many times the men do not get back
their own buckets, and those reeking
with disease are handed TO them. Many
of the buckets are broken or rusted.
There are . great many mental de-
fsetivss on the Island, particularly IN