The sun., 1916-12-13
sing Sing INMATES
CHEER NEW WARDEN
william H. Meyer Allays the
Fears Of 1900 Men on First
Day in Prison.
~BETTERMENTS IN SIGHT
Mutual Welfare League and
Other Humane Features
to Be Retained.
IN SIGHT

ycBt0TuAN " w Httk ttIUcs s"Es ~
assured the men he Will retain the
Mutual Welfare League as an organisa-
ton no long az he IL satisfied II will prove
factor for good and the league pledged
him It's support In every fair policy.
with a speech In the mess hail the
warden won the prisoners at their first
meeting. His talk. based on square deal
Ing. stilled the fear and apprehension
that threatened to disrupt the discipline
OF the prison. Those who for weeks had
been advocating an uprising AZ a protest
against his succession Of Thomas Mott
Osborne were d~lssuaded from their plAas.
They promised their fellow convicts they
would restrain themselves 70 long as
Warden Meyer holds to the programme
ne outlined.
y Don't get nervous" Warden Meyer
told them. nothing In going TO be torn
up. There Is no question OF n squarc
deal from me 20 long as I get II from
you. ] am here to protect your interests
and the interests Of the state. I'm 60
ing to stand by the Mutual Welfare
League so long as II stands by me. I
believe II IL doing good work and I'm
solng to stand by It until the contrary
10 proved"
Respect sapersedes Fear.
With the departure OF fear came one
q respect. Of awe. As Mr.. Meyer stood
before them In all his bulk. an embodi-
msnt Of drmness. they realised he was
net a man to be fooled or trified with.
Il came TO them. as some Of them told
reporters afterward. that he will be
swift and severe In punishment to those
who lnfract his rules.
Within n few hours OF his arrival the
new warden had completed a tour OF
observation. This frst usual inspection
OF the workings Of Sing Sing with James
". Carter. Prison Superintendent, as his
guide. brought before him many oppor-
tunities for improvement OF conditions.
He and his superior are convinced that
Sing Sing. while reformed In its hu-
mane aspects. has been permitted to
deteriorate physically. The primary
step Of Warden Meyer will be to clean
the place thoroughly. Fresh paint IL to
Ne applied to the delapidated old cell
block. all the cells are TO be repainted.
in roof refined and prvper sanitation to
BE- installed as far as possible. This
Measure will be In advance Of the build
iss Of the projected new cell house.
other Repairs to Ne Made.
The stables we're found to he in a vile
condition. the p,ssery nlthy. the power
plants ramshackle n the shops dismal.
30 far a fresh paint. soap. prison ma
terial and convict labor will remedy
those defects the cure will be applied.
In the mess hall. where for genera
lions the men have been feeding from
desklike boards while sitting on stools
he will endeayor to ave dining tables
and chairs. George w. kirchwey. while
de facto warden. started this reform
Meyer will try to carry 1t through.
The inaugural reform Of Meyer was to
order the removal Of the door Of Sing
Sings single dark cell.
Yesterday when the warden arrived
with Supt. Carter they learned hat one
Of the convicts was away at the funera
Of one of his parents. lie had received
this privilege directly from Gov. Whit.
man. T. NJ. Osborne. az warden. fire..
auently permitted men to 20 home FOR
such funerals. Carter thai
hereafter the practice will be discon.
tinued.
One of the early steps contemplated
by the warden Is the removal OF Warden
Osborne's favorites from positions OF
favor. Tho men who enjoyed sinecures
for many months will be sent back "a
shops. And this measure will not shock
the prison because the convicts for q
long time rave rallied at this favoritism
The warden n Supt. Carter arrived al
Ossining at 10 $50 o'clock yesterda,
morning. When Meyer reached the
prison Calvin Derrick. who has beer
acting warden since the retirement Of
Osborne. automatically became deputy
lie led Meyer to his desk, where among
the pile OF let. ers were many OF con
r~atulation from former inmate. Of Al
ANITA penitcntlary. where for twelve
years Meyer was In charge.
In the tour OF observation tho superin'
tendent and warden reached the mes,
ball ~ ~ L. ~Rsl-
with the convicts. was received In ST.
lcnce by the 1900 men until he said tn,
Mutual Welfare League would be re
iained. Then there was a tumult tha
could be heard on the hill outside tn,
prison. Meyer had not intended to talk
but the superintendent introduction
forced him.
LeaRse Pledges Cooperation.
No demonstration greeted him whel
he stepped upon a table. Grimly tn
men heard him through, When he hat
concluded his short talk several OF tn
officers OF The league stepped fOrwar'
and promised their cooperation Will
the applause rang out. Afterward tn
convicts who represent the better ele
ment in Sing\ Sing. men like Georg
Hodson. sergeant-at-arms of the league
were interviewed by the warden.
When he returned to his office he me
reporters who asked his Impressions
Sing Sing deserves IA better nam
than 1t has" he said. IL have foun
conditions good In many rcspects--wit
chance for Improvement. For one thin
the cell block and the shops can be mad
brighter and cleaner. There Is no Ell
cuse for adding TO the natural gloom q
those places. ..
AS soon a, I find the men can b