Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-11-07
PRISON WARDEN
LONG ASTUDENT
OF HUMANLIFE
John Francies Will Address
Chamber of Commerce
Next Tuesday Noon


An interesting meeting of the Har-
risburg Chamber of Commerce will
take place in the Penn-Harris ball
room next Tuesday at noon. when
Joh Francies. warden of the Western
Penitentiary of Pennsylvania, will
make an address.
Mr.. Francies is the sponsor in
pennsylvania for the penal farm
idea, and at his suggestion, a recent
legislature authorized the erection on
5000 acres of beautiful lands in the
Nittany Valley, center county, of a
penal institution. which will be a
model for the rest Of the world. AS
the champion of modern and humane
prison methods. Mr.. Francies' address
Is expected to be of great interest to
Harrisburgers.
John Francies was born in Alle-
gheny City. educated in the public
schools ad Western University. In
his youth he was employed as a ma
chinist at the Allegheny plant of the
Pittsburgh Locomotive Works. From
1891 until 1902 he held a position in
eAe department. Oh HuDDC WOTkS, OF
Allegheny City. Mr.. Francies was a
deep student. applying his leisure
hours to study. From 1903 to 1905
Mr.. Francies represented his district
in the Legislature. He was one of
the most popular members OF the
House and sponsored much important
legislation. During his tenure of Of
flee he acquired the warm friendship
of almost every legislator and attache
of the state government, and as the
years rolled by their friendships have
intensified. While a member of the
House, Mr. Francies had an ardent
admirer and supported in the person
of Governor Pennypacker. They re-
mained staunch friends until the
death of the distinguished statesman
and Jurist few years ago.
In 1905 Mr.. Francies was appointed
Postmaster of Allegheny City by
President Roosevelt. He resigned
that position in 1907 to become super
intendent of the Claim Department
of the Philadelphia Company, a re-
sponsible and highly lucrative office
which he held until 1909. when he was
elected warden af the Western Peni-
tentiary of Pennsylvania. which posi-
tion he now holds.
Mr.. Francies is a lifelong student
of human nature, therefore, he is
eminently adapted for his intricate
work which deals with the analyzing
of mankind's weakness and prescrib-
ing antidotes for the peculiar aber-
rations and abnormalties of his
wards. The advent of Mr.. Francies
in penology was attended by the first
comprehensive step in prison reform
throughout the United States. When
only one month in office he discover
ed that the fundamental principles
of the prison system not only in
Pennsylvania, but throughout the
United States were defective. There
appeared to be but one basic principle
OF the state prison-to lock a man up
and keep him isolated from tho world
until the law unlocked the door. I'm
mediate steps were taken by Mr..
Ffancies to alleviate the misery and
suffering of his wards. He went be-
fore the Legislature at joint meet
ing of the House of Representatives
narrowing facts connected with the
system of the institution which he in
herited. He appeared before the Leg
islature In support of q bill which he
had carefully drawn, providing for
the erection of a new penitentiary on
a large tract OF lard surrounded by
nature. with atmospheric and other
advantages that would prove condu-
Give to the health and moral better
ment of the inmates. So comprehen-
sive and convincing were his state
ments that a modern new penitenti-
ary that promises to be a model for
the whole world is being erected on
a tract of 5000 acres in beautiful Nit
tany Valley, in Center county. This
Institution will supplant the old East
ern State Penitentiary at Philadel-
phia and the Western Penitentiary.
Pittsburgh. 1t is the aim of Warden
Francies that the new institution
will be self-sustaining. Agriculture
Ia already being pursued along extern
sive lines by the inmates. stock rails
ing on a large scale is also being car
ried on, while hundreds of men have
found healthful outdoor employment
at work on the construction of new
buildings.
The new prison and penal farm
ideas are by no means the only inno-
Yations that were made by Mr.. Fran
cics since he assumed the duties of
warden. In fact, the entire system of
discipline has been changed marked
ly. The inmates are governed, fed,
clothed and ministered to in accord
ance with the best judgment of hu-