The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-03-30
Uncle Sam Goes on Record in
Favor of Much Discussed
System.
Government Highway and Health Elk
perts See Big Benefit to Men So
Employed, as Well A. to
the Public.

DankS OF tue ONCE VI puUilt iouuo u
the department of agriculture and DR..
w. f. Draper of the public health
service recently elaborated on bull
| letin which set forth the ideas of the
government experts on the subject.
"This may sound like an old story
said Mr.. Pennybacker, chief of the d.
vision of road economics, in discussing
the interest taken by his office in the
subject, "and it is fundamentally, but
until recently it's most important and
promising angles have been lost to
sight.
Employing convicts on open-air
work is by no means radical depar-
ture from established methods-from
long-estaDlished methods, l may say.
| There are numerous references In his
tory to the employment of prisoners on
the public works Of the ancient king
doms and almost invariably these
works were performed in the open air.
In fact, the practice of indoor labor is
of comparatively modern origin, and
dates back no further than the devel-
opment of the workhouse In the six
teenth century, while the penitentiary,
as it is now known is product OF the
nineteenth century.
'In America perhaps the earliest
record of the employment Of prisoners
on public works is to be found In an
enactment of the Virginia colonial as
sembly Of 1853 1 might trace the his
tory of convict labor throughout the
ensuing years to the present and the
facts would prove that outdoor labor
Of many forms has been widely agi-
tated for convicts at all times In the
life of this country.
Objections Are Overcome.
$50 you see we are not setting forth
an original idea. Yet, when we recon-
mend the utilization of prison labor
to maintain and improve the road sys-
TENS of the country, we do say that
If road work by convict labor Is I'M
dertaken with proper attention to al
OF Its possibilities, the results will
succeed in quelling the many objec
tons that economists and criminolo
gists are raising everywhere. Oul
scheme has, of course, its objection
able features, but a full consideration
of its advantages and drawbacks seen
to show that such employment nigh
be provided for at least part Of thu
prisoners in all the states with gOot
results
II think that the advantage which
carries the greatest force Is that roat
work Is undoubtedly more healthfu
than any form of employment provided
in a prison shop. Hard manual labor
in close touch with fresh air and sun
shine, Is universally recognized al
most beneficial, while continuous dwell
Ing within doors is a most unnatura
effect upon any of the states prison
ers. Prison statistics show that ma
jority of prison inmates are of the la
boring class and their habits of lif
kept them out of doors. This bein'
the case, outdoor work would ma
terially fit them to take their place II
the world at their release and RESUME
their former occupation.
Free Labor Not Affected.
"Prison officials favor road work TO
the reason that it removes the convic
as far as possible from competition
with free labor, and this is a most i'm
portant point. No matter what forr
Of employment is adopted for prison
ers, unless it be entirely unproductivt
it is true that the interests Of free Ia
Dor are affected to a greater or les
extent, and this, obviously, Is not fai
condition to impose upon the law-abit
ing citizen body. But road work, bein
| lie only, enriches no private employe
to the injury of the free laborer, nor
its product placed on sale in compel
ton with that Of free labor. What
more, the convict is not depriving tn
free laborer of work, since much Of tn
/, road work performed by convicts coul
l not be undertaken at all, for financis
l | reasons, II it were necessary to en-
ploy free labor.
! AS now practiced in a number {
: states, work with the road camp Is r.
. served as a reward for prisoners WI
l have proved their merit and good II
= tention In confinement. BY doing ava
: with all marks of degradation, such {
r stripes and chains aud shaven head
and by granting a degree of freedo
9 as the ability to use 1t Is manifesto
b the publicity Of the convicts positic
q on the roads Is transformed from
, mark Of disgrace to an acknowled
ment of the confidence of his keeper
Such practice in self-restraint an
proper living under the guidance Of II
camp fits him to live a life of simil'
e oircumspection after his discharge. A
: prison officials who have followed tn
system declare that this is the actu
effect on prisoners who have been rot
q workers. AS q useful factor in pen
discipline, it's merit is being all t.
tardily conceded"