The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-03-13
HON. 4. h. SANDERS IN
CHARGE OF PENITENTIARY
Has Matured Plans for Humanizins
Treatment Accorded the COnricts.
Will Institute the Merit System.

Columbia, March Hon. A. X. San
ders, of Hagood, Sumter county, to-
day took charge of the South Caro-
lima State penitentiary, succeeding
Col. D. J. Griffith, who has served as
superintendent for the past IS years.
Mr.. Sanders was elected superlntend-
ent by the legislature at its recent
session. Col. Griffith did not offer
for reelection.
At the time of his election, Mr..
Sanders was member of the house
of representatives from Sumter coun-
ty. He entered politics in 1888, when
he was first elected to the house from
Sumter. He has been prominently
identified with public affairs since that
time. In 1899 he was elected as one
Of the directors of the State peniten-
tiary, and continued in. that position
for 16 years during IA of which he
served as chairman Of the board. In
1914 he again offered for the position
of member of the house from Sum-
ter county and was elected. In 1915
he was reelected.
Mr.. Sanders is 56 years of age. He
is a graduate of the Carolina Military
institute, CT Charlotte, \. &, and has
made farming his life work.
It was stated at the penitentiary to-
day that Capt. William II. Sondley
would be continued as captain of the
guard, which position he has held
under Col Griffith Mr.. P. H. Lesesno
will be succeeded as bookkeeper by
MIR. L. L. Bultman, Of Columbia The
appointment of five new guards was
announced.
1t was stated that the merit system
Of dealing with prisoners will be in
stituted.
Superintendent Sanders has care
fully matured plans for humanizing
as far as possible the treatment ac-
! corded the conyicts. What he consid-
, ers one of the most important fea-
lures of changes which he will u1l-
dertake is the plan of rewarding
prisoners who prove themselves
! trustworthy with certain liberties not
inconsistent with prison management.
Mr. Sanders during the past Is
years has been a member of and
| chairman of the board of directors OF
the State penitentiary. In that ca
pacity he has made frequent trips OF
inspection through prisons in other
States, making close study Of their
methods. Many of the modern fea-
lures Of the work attempted in other
States will be undertaken by the new
superintendent.
Mr.. Sanders made it clear that IN
his opinion changes which he propos-
es must be made gradually, but he is
confident that this State can ultimate
ly have a prison routine and disci-
pine in accord with the experiences
of other States. which involve no un-
reasonably strict discipline of the
men.
Under the present system in the
penitentiary," said Superintendent
Sanders today, "but little distinction
! is made between prisoners who have
! proved themselves trustworthy and
those whose records are bad. 1 think
We ought, as far as possible, to pro-
vide some rewards for the better
: Glass; Mr.. Sanders mentioned two
or three privileges which he thought
might reasonably be extended the
men under his charge, but did not
wish them to be made public until
they had been given the sanction OF
the board of directors. AQl of the
plans which Superintendent Sanders
has matured will he submitted to the
board for it's approval before being
instituted in the prison management
One very interesting feature of the
change which the new official will u1l-
dertake to bring about relates to the