The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-18

tained as superintendent of the Jefferson county system, including those who have ta- ken consistent and intelligent interest in prison improvements; @ because of the be- lief of the state administration that am capable of handling the situation here mod. ernly and competently, and, (3) because of my belief that there is field here, difficult, of course but worthy of the best efforts of practical and progressive director.
 You who know considerable about my rep utation for feeding the prisoners in Birming ham will give no cFedence to the reflections on the food served here. Frankly, the issue is not equal to that served by me in Jeffer. son county, for there are preventing oh. stacles. assure you, however, that the food is wholesome, we'll balanced scientifi. cally, generous in quantity and excelIently prepared.
 Structurally and in detailed equipment kllby Prison occupies a prominent and? grat- flying place among the penitentiaries of the nation. It is one of Montgomery's show places. Visitors come here from all parts of America and go away profuse in their praise of the accommodations furnished the men at this camp. I consider Kilby Prison one of Alabama's best advertising mediums for the advanced social convictions of our citizenship. I admit cheerfully that it is a man maj s size job to measure up to the standard that has been established here by vision, hard work and intelligence. The men are well clad, excellently housed, substantially fed and every possible provision is made for their physical well-being. They are treated hu- namely, to say the least, and in various ways l have tried to develop an atmosphere that will permit some happiness--as much as humans will help themselves to find, under encouragement, in imprisonment. l am filled with sympathy for them, for, in the laggre- gate, they are manly and deserving.
 l make no pretense that the operations here are perfect. l know of improvements that can be made and which, in my opinion will be made gradually as time passes. At the same time denounce with all the vehe. by the recent criticism of the institution.
 We who have our heart in the task of i'm proving conditions for those who come to the penltentiary have grave reason to deplore the publication of statements calculated to irn- pair the morale and foster discontent. It seems to me we deserve candor and co-opera- tlon. l suggest this because Kilbys Prison is an open book to those seeking the truth and who sincerely desire to lend practical assistance. It is my ambition to make this tne foremost reconstruction camp in the United States. 1t is therefore unfortunate that in the midst of present efforts, we are the victims of tendency to attack every thing, whether good or bad, in general cam paign of warfare against the administration This IS an unworthy policy, for 1t iiHjures those who are helpless in circumstances over which they have little or no control, and who in the nature of things, are subject to moods and obsessions. They should not be made the football of politics,
 I assure you, who know me, that since l left the home nest I have not altered my attitude toward those in trouble nor has my disposition to help them been lessened. am sure there is general appreciation of the difficulties attending the direction of place Of this kind where we have a certain percent age-snaall, l am glad to say--of those who are almost incorrigible and who respond so reluctantly to kindness These include the mentally deficient who are. perhaps, most to be pltied, and yet are a stupendous prob lem.
 You will be glad to know that the strap has no place in my program of discipline and that results have proven it serves no last ing good purpose. Not only this, but have strong convictions regarding the rightful at titude of my official force toward the men. They should be firm, necessarily, in the en- torcement of prison rules, but l require that they be considerate and just.
 ] look forward to the time when. as flea. ture of the discipline. there will be some form oi compulsory education. In the direction of mental improvement the library, installed by the department last summer, has been mo- ticeably effective.
 have thus taken you into my confidence in some detail because I want you to know that, though absent from you in body, feel responsible to you in spirit and that my knowledge of your faith and support is q constant source of strength to me.
 JOHN $. HARRIS,
 Warden Kilby Prison. Montgomery, Ala March l5, 1924.