davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1922-08-13

The fundamental evil In the
present prison regime Ii that the
institution II under the absolute
control Of office holders and
politicians who, even II they had
the inclination, have not the time
% concern themselves with prison
affairs.
Attorney General Daugherty.
for example, who II vested by
law with almost absolute power
Of control over Federal prisons.
has probably never seen one of
these institutions. He has what
might be called the power Of
lifs and death over the thou
sands Of inmates. and yet what
does he know. what can he know
Of his own knowledge, Of the
prisons In which they are con-
fined. the conditions that exist
there. and the many evils and
abuses of which they are the
suffering victimsf
He has TO rely absolutely upon
what In furnished him In the
way of information by his sub
crdinates, who, \. like himself.
derive their information from
still other subordinates who may,
perhaps, be thriving on. and
possibly the direct beneficiaries
Of. the conditions which cry for
correction.
LEAyENwORTH SHAKE-UP.
The drug traffic is one Of the
most pernicious and shameless
evils OF our prison system.
It could not exist without
official connivancc, and for this
reason n not suppressed. In
certain Instances the most sensa-
ticnal disclosures have been made
Of the traffic in dope" organ
The Washington times., 1922-08-13
Asks KATHLEEN NORRIS

keep books, to spend money wisely.
to care for themselves when moth
erhood comes, to care for their new
babiesf
Imagine the agonies that you
and I would have been saved few
years ago might we have carried
the precious, bewildering creatures
TO some womanly, motheriy heart
and learned that the little rash
was only teeth and that he was
screaming because his tiny bands
were too tightf
And imagine the companionship.
the laughter. the shared interests
and labors, the talks over dish
pans and darning. the wonderful
fellowship that for generations we
have been envying the men4 DO
you realize that It Is all there. ana
that year after year we sv on like
blind women. pushing It aside ond
cropping for card clubs. for literary
clubs, for every club except the one
that we really need7
DAYS FREE FOR GROWTH.
But to so back. Mrs. Smith
and Mrs. Baker have had to rise
early this morning to get their
own little homes IN order and get
away. But they know that the
next two days win be utterly free,
with others in the cooperative
group caring for their children
those days.
Mrs. Smith means to 20 and
spend n long day In the city,
shopping. and see her mother. But
Mrs. Bakers mother 10 here in
the Community House--one of tho
many elderly women who are
thankful to God for this oppor-
tunity for usefulness and compan-
ionship--and Mrs. Baker n study.
Ing medicine In a college that ts
especially arranged to sccommo-
date women whe have only four
days q week free, .
80. an she watches a desen chill.
dren scrsmb,ins ecstaticaliy over
the slides and swings. she studies.
Now and then there n a splinter,
no~ and then . brief quarrel. but
The Washington times., 1922-08-13
Are We Women Necessarily Insane? %

Imagine q community composed
Of hundreds Of such men. We
would say that they were insane,
wouldn't wef And that they did
not know how to pull together7
But In actual fact no men would
ever conduct their business that
way. Granted that the stock was
priceless. still they would select
two or three trustworthy members
Of their number, build a large hay
barn. a large sleeping shed, fence
off a few acres, turn their stock
in together, and be free--70 per
cent of them-to go on about other
matters. r
Do you suppose for one instant
that IL one hundred men had--let's
say Tin this baby-poor-nation) one
hundred and nifty children to raise
that they would have one hundred
kitchens, one hundred dining
rooms. one hundred front yards
and porches and play rooms, ones
hundred bathrooms, and one hun
dred solitary, Imprisoned guardians
Of those children7
THE LIONS IN OUR WAY.
No, men have learned the secret
Of cooperation. No man would
spend his life alone, tied to a gas
stove and to two restless, captive
babies. He would combine with
other guardians; ages ago he
would have simplified. and ampli-
fled. his life.
Four women can take as good
care Of fifteen children as ten
women can. And as far as the
children go, we all know how won
derfully good they are the minute
they have other children with
whom to play.
Why don't we women see it7
Why don't we try it--maks the
Inevitable mistakes. and blunder
somehow out OF this present
ridiculous and impracticabie ar.
rangement into some more logical
way Of livinsf
Wen. there are great objections
Tho usual lions I'm Tire vay.
The Washington times., 1922-08-13

have also seen the toughest speci-
mems OF bad men" softened and
made gentle by a kind word and
the touch OF a friendly hand.
Upon this point ! can admit
no possibility OF a doubt as to the
saner and more human method OF
dealing with the prison popula-
ton.
KNOWN By NUMBER.
In hedging q prison about With
stern and repressive rules to re-
enforce the intimidation Of the
frowning walls. every effort seem
ingiy is made to exclude the human
element in the fraternity Of pris.
oners and In the autocratic reia-
ton assumed toward them by their
keepers. The guard and the in.
mate cease to be human beings
when they meet IN prison. The
one becomes n domineerfng petty
official and the other a cowering
convict. The rules enforce this
relation. they absolutely forbid
any intimacy with the human
touch in II between them.
The guard looks down upon the
convict he now has at his mercy.
who has ceased TO be a man and
is known only by HIS number,
while. little as the guard may sur.
pect II, the prisoner looks Gown
on him as being even lower than
an inmate! I have a thousand
times had this borne in upon me
touching the relations OF the guard
and the prisoners in his custody.
Not until the prison problem. In
all Of Its various phases, is recoe.
nized as national instead Of
local can II be dealt with in n
The Washington times., 1922-08-13

In the first place, what would
become of our honest
Second, wouldn't It be much
more expensive?
Third, excuse me from having
other women run my children!
Fourth, my husband wouldn't
like It. He says that women
always fight when they get to-
gether.
There are other objections. too.
but these are the main ones.
And they are all made of air!
WE ARE LOSING OUR HOMES.
About homes-where are they
now?
Where are the women Of moder-
ate means whose lives are not
made an actual burden by the
claims of delicious babyhood. by
the servant, food and divorce prob
lems, by bills that are too heavy,
by the octopus of beds unmade
and buttons missing. laundry to
assert. marketing to do. telephone
and doors to answer, toys to pick
up, pudding dishes to butter and
peas to SHELF
We have to face. the horrid
truth--the American bone is NOT
a success.
Partly because OF our extrava-
gance, partly because Of our irreli-
gious irresponsibility. partly -
thank God-because we have SO
little real poverty, and no grind
ing need that sends our girls
thankfully into other women's
nurseries and kitchens to slave.
we are losing our homes. Co
operation might save them.
As for expense-ask any man II
feeding fifteen babies In one
establishment costs more than
half Of the expense Of feeding
fifteen babies In ten separate
establishments.
And having other women run"
your children. What about their
school teachers untried young
girls. for the most part-don't
thsy run themf what about the
The Washington times., 1922-08-13

moats and portculiises. There are
nations in the world today whose
women are not allowed to walk
unveiled in the streets, because
their husbands don't like II. The
men dine at court dinners, travel,
meet attractive women-yes. But
the women remain at home.
watched by colored eunuchs.
Your husband and mine win fight
every innovation untfl the las.
The Washington times., 1922-08-13

made in q spirit Of human kind
ness and even-handed Justice.
PRISON PARLIAMENT.
I wsuId have the great body Of
prisoners compose . parliament es
tablIshed for sclfrule and for the
promotion Of fhe welfare and com.
mon interest Of all. A code Of by.
laws and regulations would have
to be adopted subject. Of course.
to the approval of the governing
body Of the institution.
An executive council consisting
Of inmate members should be Gre
ated having power to hold daily
sessions to receive suggestions.
to hear and determine complaints
subject to appeal to the governing
board, and to have general super!V
vision and direction Of affairs with
In the prison. Minor bodies for
special service OF whatever nature
could be provided for as the situa.
ton might require.
Limited space prevents further
amplification Of my idea Of prison
management. but ] have n pro-
found conviction that IL is funda.
mentally sound and practical-so
sound and practical that I chal.
Iengc the powers that control our
prisons TO give me the opportu-
nifty 10 put Il TO the test In any
prison In this country.
should guarantee greatly to
improve the morale OF the prison
the first week, 10 reduce the prac-
tice Of misunderstanding habits,
increase the efficiency Of the serv.
Ice, reduce materially the expense
Of maintenance, and return the I'm
mates 10 society I'm . different
spirit and apprceiably nearer re-,
Mobilization than Is now done, or
possible TO be done, under tho pre-
vailing system.
should expect no remunerk-
ton for my service. but should
regard II as a contribution to
society in return for my education
In and graduation from one of its
chief penal institutions.
In concluding this series of ar.
ticles cannot refrain from ex-
pressing to my readers the con-
viction that the economic and
social ideals which I hold-ideals
which have sustained me invio-
late in every hour of darkness and
trial-would. IL once realized, not
only reform tho prison and mit'.
gate fits evils. but would absolute
ly abolish that grim and menacing
survival Of the dark ages.
The End.
tCopyright. 1882. by Bell Syndicate. Ino
The Washington times., 1922-08-13

under control Of petty officials and
each is an autocrat In his own
sphere. There is often clash of
authority. but In final test they
all stick together for their mutual
protection. And Il should be re-
membered that not one word in
the way OF q report or q COM
plant In regard to what goes on
Is permitted to be sent out by the
inmate while he is behind the walls.
II the prisons were scientifically
organised and humanely conducted.
prisoners would be systematically
assigned to useful tasks and paid
accordingly. instead Of being rob-
bed by the state and their families
allowed to suffer penury and want.
What possible excuse or Justifica-
ton can there be for the state
robbing a helpless prisoner Of his
labor and subjecting his family to
starvation7
In . great many cases the
prisoner himself was guilty Of no
crime against society such as that
which society pcspctsates upon him
and his offspring.
1 marvel at the incredible
stupidity that blinds men in con-
troll of prisons to thesredeeming
power OF kindness as q substi.
tute for the destructive power Of
brutality.
Every instinct Of our nature pro-
tests against cruelty to the help
less and dcfenscIess, yet Of alI
places where II is most needed
mercy Is least practiced In the
treatment Of convicts.
I have seen men Of mid temper
and gentle disposition made sullen
and vicious by harshness, and I
The Washington times., 1922-08-13

the prison clean and keeping out
dope" would be chosen by the
inmates from their own ranks.
A. prcviousIy ststcd. any honest
warden would admit that 10 per
cent Of the prison population con-
sists Of decent, dependable men,
and with this for . foundation I
would proceed TO build up the
superstructurc Of the prisons
self.determination. \
8. Wholesome. nourishing food
10 the vital element in the susie
nance Of physical life. and in prison
is even more imperatiyeiyl neces-
sary than in any other place.
save q hospitsi. The Federal
Government makes sufficient al
lowance for this purpose, but there
is q wide space between the treas
ury from which the money 10
drawn to the table upon which the
food is served. and In the present
process the food deteriorates
sadly in various ways before 1t
reaches the convicts.
The matter Of feeding the pris.
oners should have the most care
ful and thorough supervision Of
the officiating board, who could.
without doubt, devise method Of
having the food furnished that
the Government pays for free from
graft and pecuiation and cooked
and served in q clean, decent and
appetizing manner.
4. The Industrial life Of the prison
should be organized and systems-
tixed under the direction Of the
board, supplemented and in cooper
alton with a subordinate body chos-
on by the convicts of the prison.
II might be necessary TO employ a
few experts. or specialists. from
the outside, but nearly all the
= minor official positions in the
offices. shops. yards. cell houses
and about the grounds and walls
could and should be filled by the
inmates.
would have an the prisoners
congregated to hear the announce
ment of the proposed change, in
viting their suggestions and APP
peaiing for their cooperation and
support. This would be a direct
appeal to their honor and their self
respeot. as well as their intelligent
self-interest, and there would be
few indeed who would fail to re-
spond with gladness Of heart. An
overwhelming majority would give
eager acclaim to the new adven-
ture, especially IL the proposal
were submitted and the appeal
The Washington times., 1922-08-13

there are other women about to
comfort and pacify.
When young Mrs. Sartori, who
is foreign born and doesn't quite
grasp the, American plan. has
something to say to Mrs. Sadler's
little boy, It is old Mrs. Potter
who says quietly:
I'VE never take up the chill
dren's quarrels. Mrs. sartori."
Mrs. Sartori is reproved, Of
course. but not more than your
SON and mine will be. a hundred
times. when they go into business.
Mrs Sartori has the choice Of
withdrawing her children and find.
ing herself the next morning
caught in the old frantic round OF
duties. with two fretful babies
under her feet, or OF swallowing
her pride ana feeling her sous
stretch just little more toward
service and sense. =
And then 9 o'clock comes, and
pleasantly weary after the long
day Of companionship and singing
and talking and reading and sew
Ing. the women scatter. and the
little cars rattle toward the little
homes.
IF WE WOULD WAKE UPi
Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Baker have
cold meat and salad and hot choco.
late and half OF yesterdays pud.
ding for supper, but the creatures
are 80 contrary. and 90 interested
in what the girls have to say about
the day, and 80 sure that a pretty,
rested. gocd-natured wife viii meet
each Of them for luncheon and the
matinee tomorrow, that they say
they actually like the new way Of
doingi
tcopyrisht. isss, by The Republic
syndieats.)
This n enc Of series Of Woman
10 Woman Talks on present day
family and social problems that
Mrs. Ncrris, Americas best loved
and most popular woman writer,
h writing especially for The wash
inrtcn Times. Another talk Win
be printed next Sunday.
The Washington times., 1922-08-13

moment and then veer around and
begin to tell other men how re-
markable his wife Ia.
Besides. this is OUR JOB.
But I do not see America with
out separate homes and gardens, a
separate poor mans rice pudding
for my husband, and q separate
cherry pie for yours. do
visualize something like this-and
I think that IL just the beginning
Of the dream might come true, I
would be perfectly willing to die
content.
I see hundreds Of little homes
and living in them the Smiths.
Browns. Robinsons. Bakers. Adams
and Davises. It is Monday morn
ing. Mrs. Smith drives out Of her
pretty yard and picks up the
Brown and Robinson children.
Their mothers are free today, free
for any work or play they select.
Mrs. Smith drives to a big building
once an almost unused school,
perhaps, and here she meets Mrs.
Baker. with the Adams and Davis
children.
FEMININE COOPERATION.
Inside are big. bright rooms, nurs-
cry, refectory, kitchen. Other
women and other babies are already
here. Some OF the babies play,
some have maps and bottles, and
some have lessons For mothers
are teachers here. as mothers
ought always to be. Three or four
women are already making the
apple sauce and cookies and soup
and minced carrots and whole
wheat bread sandwiches for lunch.
There Is an office. and a secretary
who takes charge Of meals and
other routine.
And there Ia. Of course. a man.
ager. an older woman,
Our sons, when they go into Of
fices after college, learn respect
and diligence and efficiency from
older men and are not Inundated.
They must be silent. be subordi-
nate. be useful Why, net our
daughters7 Why shouldn't young
women learn from oidi learn 10
The Washington times., 1922-08-13
By KATHLEEN NORRIS:

No man would spend his
life alone, tied to q gas
stove and to two restless,
captive babies. He would
combine with other guar
dians; ages ago he would
have simplified, and am,
plified, his life.
y \ 4
We have to face the
horrid truth-the Amer.
ican home is NOT a sue
cess. Partly because Of
our extravaganza, partly
because Of our irreligious
irresponsibility, we are
losing our homes. Coop
Grafton might save them.
Our sons, when they 60
Into offices, learn respect
end diligence and eff
cheney from older men and
are not humiliated. They
must be silent, be subordi-
The Washington times., 1922-08-13
ARTICLE K
HOW WOULD MANAGE THE PRISON.
BY EUGENE v. DEBS

|IvI service regulations have little efficacy under
corrupt political system The farccal nature of civil
service rule it applies to the selection of minor
officials guards Federal prisons reflected in the
low character the ignorance, brutality and general unfit
Of Of these functonares who obtain and hold
their tenure through political "pull."
The prison warden his guards except for
specific fragrant misconduct and the immunity they thus
enjoy is virtual license them bully and ntimidate
the prisoners.
The Washington times., 1922-08-13

nurses we hire, foreigners, 90 per
cent Of them-don't they run
thema The real truth is. In answer
to this question; I'm an undis-
ciplined woman; I can't keep the
peace with other womenr'
Lastly. our husbands wouldn't
like n. They think they wouldn't.
They have brought down from the
middle ages some feudal idea OF
separate castles. shut Of with
The Washington times., 1922-08-13
JGENE v. DEBS I'm CONCLUDING INSIDE PRISON WALLS"
ISSUES CHALLENGE TO POWERS CONTROLLING w. S. PRISOr

who had been exposed was to clap
me In Leavenworth prison, along
with the rest of their victims. but
they soon found that I and my
associates were sure of our facts
and that we courted- the most
searching inquiry.
WRITTEN RULES.
Some of the prison rules must
have been inspired, IL not written,
by such humorists as Artemus
Ward and Mark Twain. or such
satirists as Bernard Shaw and
Henry l.. Mencken. here allude
to the rules OF Atlanta prison. but
there Is little difference. II any. be-
tween these and the regulations
that obtain in other penitentiaries,
For instance, one rule says:
S"You must not try to escape"
This naive Injunction, issued In
the shadow Of the cold steel which
bars every door and window In
every building within the tower
ing walled Enclosures. surmounted
by sharpshooters. would seem to
be trifle superfluous.
Another rule, to which reference
has already been made, provides
that inmates are expected to
"Cheerfully obey all rules" Com.
ment is unnecessary.
Still another forbids an inmate to
approach an officer. in addressing
him. within six feet Of his august
presence.
you must uncover your head
in respectful manner and touch
your hat or cap. II out Of doors.
In addressing or being addressed
by an officer or guard" But he
keeps his hat on his sovereign
head. I wonder what Lincoln
would have thought Of that ruler
The prisoner who makes the mis-
take Of getting into the wrong cell
may be punished under the pro-
vision Of another rule.
Personally. I not infrequentiy
found myself violating the impor-
tant rule that my shirt had to be
.buttoned at the band. Most of the
time there was no button at the
hand.
II seems strange to me that
pockets were allowed in jumpers
or overafls. for a specific rule for
bids prisoners from putting their
hands IN their pockets.
Prisoners are required to rinse
out their mouths and keep their
lips and tongues free from tobacco
stains. This rule might be ex-
tended 20 the outsider
whistIing or singing h violation
Of another rule--and NO wonder,
for what business has song to be
heard In dungcons
FAMILIES IN WANT.
In the prisons present raw,
haphazard. utterly unscientifIc
state Of management almost every
thing is dcne IN a wrong, fruitless,
wasteful way. There is little
method and no system.
There are, in fact. in every prison
a dozen or more little prisons, and
the inmate is subject to the regula-
tions of them all, and not In
frequently these regulations are in
conflict. On q number Of occasions
found myself violating the rules
Of one Of these prisons while en-
deavoring to obey tho rules Of an
other.
The various departments are
The Washington times., 1922-08-13

comprenensiVo ana etrective man
ner.
Scientific experts would find In
the prison problem field Of op-
portunity for service second 10
none In value and importance 20
society. Plans could be formu-
lated upon q nationwide scale for
the development Of tho country's
resources, Tor the opening Of high
ways. the reclaiming Of swamp
lands and desert wastes, and the
construction Of public works Of all
kinds 10 absorb the labor Of every
prison inmate In . useful and CON.
structiye way. Then he could be
rernunerated for his services NJ
the prevailing rate Of wages, with.
out coming into demoraIixing com.
petition with his fellow-worIxer In
the outer world.
This would at once create an
incentive to the prisoner to do
his best. to look up and to feel
he was having a fair chance to re.
trieve himself. His wages would
meanwhile support his family and
educate his children instead of al.
lowing them. as now, in penrry
and under ostracism. to become a
charge upon the community.
But what could be done under
rational control 70 correct the.
abuses and improve the conditions
of the prison as II exists today?
Very much indeed could be done
were II not for the organised op-
position Of the prison power itself
to any radical departure from the
present corrupt. inefficient and ex-
travagant system. Men whose DO
sitions are at stake do not look with
friendly eyes upon such a change
a. 10 contemplated In this proposal.
Thomas Mott Osborne IL intensely
unpopular among certain prison
officials Of high and low degree,
for they see In his plan OF prison
management the abolition Of the
corruptfng and grating n,isrule Of
which many Of them are the
bcneficiaries.
REroEM PROGRAM.
Coming directly to the question
Of improving the prison as It exists
today. I would make these changes,
I. I would take II completely out
Of the hands Of politicians and place
IL under the absolute control Of a
board or commission consisting Of
resident men and women of the
highest character. the humanest
impulses and the most efficient
qualifications for their task.
The board or commission should
have complete and final authority
over the prison, full power Of
pardon, parole and Communication.
and In every way charged with the
responsibility to the state or the
community for the management Of
the prison.
.. In the next place. would
have the prison population organ
ized upon basis OF mutuality OF
interest and seif-government. I
would forthwith remove every gun
and club from within tho walls
and dismiss every guard. At At
lanta prison, for example. there
are about 125 guards maintained
at an enormous expense and the
prison could be managed far bet
ter without them.
The most efficient guards and
only the ones interested In making
The Washington times., 1922-08-13
PRISONERS ROBBED
AS THEIR FAMILIES
WAIT AND STARVE

Redeeming Power OF Kindness as SubStt
tute for the Brutalizing Power of Cruelty.
Human Element Actually Applied in Atlanta
and Its Amazing Results Direct Appeal to !.
Honor Would BE Accepted by Inmates.