Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-11-13
TROUBLE BRE WING
At STATE PRISON
OVER FLAX PLANT
DepOsed Superintendent Re.
fused Admission to Prison
Upon His Return There

Troubles at the prison have assumed
various and many aspects. The latest
yesterday was about l clock when
Superintendent Crawford of the flax
plant, who had been requested by the
governor to hand in his resignation as
of December first, and who supposing
he was still on the job, returned to the
prison and was informed by the guard
at the turkeys gate that he was
persona non grata,' and that he
could not enter.
1t is alleged by those supposed to
know, that when Warden Murphy was
told by phone of the action of the gov
ernor he at once demanded the remov-
al of Crawford without delay To this
demand the governor gave ear and
Crawford was saved the trouble of
writing out a resignation, as his con-
nection with the flax industry ceased
right then and there.
Mr.. Crawford alleges that while he
was at the state house at the request
of the governor that Warden Murphy
or someone under his orders entered
his office which was open and removed
al liiC lCbAbIs pdp0Ia llOHl HIS uCoh
depositing them in the warden s office
Among these were letters and papers
of a private character, but these were
later given to him. The keys to desks
and such, which were on a key ring
left in the desk when he went down
town were removed and his private
keys handed him.
Up to the Governor
Al H. L..
promised by the board Of control had
mot been allowed, the governor said
he personally felt Crawford had not
made good and was not entitled to
| it. This morning after session Of the
board of tax commissioners the govern
or invited the other members of the
board of control into his private of
flee and asked their opinion as to al
lowing the bonus. Secretary Olcott and
State Treasurer Kay took the ground
that the matter was entirely in the
hands of the governor, and that they
had nothing to do with the prison or
he flax plant, both having been turn
ed over to the governor at his request
by the legislature. The governor called
Crawford into his office told him he
would consult Secretary Goodin as to
the bonus and let him know his decis
ion soon.
One OF the claims made by those op.
posed to Mr.. Crawford is that he stir
red up trouble and that the plant Yves
endangered by his factions. Backing
this statement they refer to a letter
found on the floor of the flax plant
November 8 bearing no date, and un-
signed. The letter follows;
A Threatening Letter
Crawford-There is a maH in the
hole back in the bull pen, Mike An
derson. He has been in there for 30
uays on bread and water. This man is
an old man, 55 years old. This is the
first time he has ever been in any trou-
BILE. He has been here over 3 years and
never been reported for breaking a
rule prior to that time There is no
reason for such a hard punishment ~
80 days on bread and water, that is too
much for any man. Some of the men
here are quite aroused over this deal.
You had better do something
"Some of the men decided that now
is the proper time to let this be known
and have decided that if the man is
not turned out of the hole to set fire
to the flax plant. These men are de-
termined to 90 the limit. You can see
what a fire in the flax plant would do
for you. You had better take the mar
ter up with the governor. We don t
think he wants to see this place atiro
too near primary. These men are go-
ing to try to do all the damage posi-
BILE iF Murphy continues his favOrit-
ism by furnishing one man and letting
another 90 for the same offense. If a
man is a stool pigeon he can do any
thing and Murphy caters to stool pig /
cons. Too much favoriusm is Murphys |
trouple, He is trying to make stool pig /
cons OF the men. Some men he repri- /
mands for an offense and others he |
Furnishes severely. 1t must stop This
man must be released from the hole, |
if not the flax mill will be burned up. /
You know there is men here who would
do anything. You take this up with the |
governor. No flax-no job for you. Re
member tell the governor that Mike
Anderson must be turned ont Of the
hole or the flax plant goes.
(Signed) Enough Said.
Mr.. Crawford turned this letter ov-
pr to the warden as sOon as found. Ii
will be seen from it that Crawford had
lothing to do with the matter and that
he convict who wrote il simply took
hat means of getting the matter he /
,ore the governor. If Mike Anderson
vas lin the hole'' he was placed there
~ the warden S orders, net by those
# Crawford.
Such is the situation, but it may
hange any time, but until it does
jrawford seems to be at least making
rood as-the goat He has earned a
Donus in that capacity.
he Salem folks to come across the river