The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1919-10-17
THE TRUTH ABOUT
OUR PRISONS in
RECENT YEARS
Morrow's Statements Re-
futed by the Records and
by the Evidence of a
Prominent Woman Critic.

asylums have been very badly manag-
ed, Here is what he said in recent
! speech:
"For the past eight years, Ken
lucky has been chained and dis
graced by the political control Of
its charitable and penal institu-
tons. Against this outrage on the
helpless and defenseless inmates of
these institutions the best minds
Of Kentucky have protested for
years. This system Of political
control has been denounced by
every meeting of physicians and
i by repeated resolutions of the AS
ISOLATED Woman's Clubs in Ken
lucky, and against il every right
thinking man and every humani-
tartan has registered his protest"
In order to get correct idea of the
kind of a campaign Morrow is making.
let's go back nearly eight years for a
start. He names that period because
| 1t reaches back 20 the close of the last
Republican administration.
(Kentucky's penal institutions COM
prise two penitentiaries and a reform
school, with total population OF $500
1 to 10000
| Prison Reforms.
Seven years and four months ago
Gov. McCreary's administration took
charge OF these institutions
| The first important reform was abol-
i ishing the whipping Of prisoners, which,
had been the chief mode of punishment
| for 100 years.
Part of the earnings of prisoners
were paid to their families and them
selves under law that had not before
been put into effect
| Night schools were established In
the prisons with 1000 to 1900 pupils.
whose interest was accentuated by
prizes and personal attention from the
higher officials.
Prison guards were dismissed for
being under the influence of liquor
either on or off duty
Guards were no longer permitted to
swear at prisoners or abuse them. Only
in clear cases of self defense were they
authorized to strike a prisoner.
Employees prohibited from contrib
uting to campaign funds or interfering
| in elections.
| Diseased prisoners separated from
the others and given special treatment.
Better food furnished and greater
cleanliness required.
| Close supervision OF paroled men,
finding employment and encouraging
them to lead correct lives and pro-
tecting them when imposed upon by
employers.
Prisoners warned against employing
/ attorneys when seeking paroles. thus
stopping a practice that had been
much abused. Wardens and guards
were instructed to search for cases of
ignorant and helpless men deserving
consideration for parole and many
such were found.
The vast amount of food, clothing,
etc. required for the institutions were
bought quarterly under competitive
bidding after advertising the lettings,
open to everybody, with samples sub
mitted and the stock required to come
up to sample. No favoritism was shown
in making purchases. The lowest bid
der for the quality desired got the con-
tract in every instance.
The practice Of buying fresh meat
from Chicago packers was abandoned
in favor of buying cattle from Ken
lucky farmers and Strengthening It,
using prison labor for the work, and
saving large sum OF money annually,
in addition to getting better meat.
Changed the methods of buying coal
so as to save thousands of dollars each
year
Every reference to politics was re-
buked when made by persons pleading
for paroles.
Upon recommendation of the Prison
Commission the Legislature of 1914
authorized renting farms near the
prisons and securing option to pur-
chase IL futupe Legislature consid-
cred 1t advisable after trial. At Frank
fort 465 acre farm was rented and
successfully operated, furnishing enor-
nous quantities of food products and
pasturage for cows and beef cattle,
hogs and sheep. At Eddyville the same
course was successfully employed.
AT the Reform School motherly
woman, experienced as a nurse and
housekeeper, was made assistant Su-
perintendent and did great work in
many ways 70 rthe unfortunate boys
and girls there. Industrial plants were
established to teach trades. A modern
dairy was built and the children were
given milk instead OF coffee. Their
food was improved, new hospital was
built, and conditions generally bet
tered.
In the penitentiaries some labor con-
tracts had been let during Gov. Aug
ustus e. Wilson's administration for
eight years, extending entirely through
the McCreary administration. with no
chance to change them. but on one
contract that expired near the close,
new contractors were induced to come
in on contract for two years, thus
bringing some much needed competi-
ton into the prison.
Wonder what more Mr.. Morrow
could do under existing laws than has
been done by the Democrats7 We chal-
lenge him to show a single act OF that
board that was not above suspicion |
and that was not actuated by the best
motives and without a thought OF pol
itics.
Mrs. Beauohamp's Verdict.
1t Is well known fact that Mrs.
Francis q. Beauchamp, Of Paris, KY.
who has national reputation as w.
G. T. U. lecturer, and as leader in
women's clubs and kindred orRaniza-
lions has devoted years to prison work
and study. She has visited prisoners
In many States and 10 unusually we'll