Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-09-12

sicners down. We have reduced the
number to six and that ought to pc
more than we need There would be
something radiolly wrong with prison
morale and prison management II -
men out Of total Of zoo At one and
the same time deserved. or were given
solitary confinement.
You wardens and guards now nave
an unusual opportunity to do some-
thing for those less fortunate than
yourselves. By broadening your SYM
pathies and doing your utmost to intel
Hgently carry out the spirit OF the new
regulations you will render q service
to humanity. The time has come Tor
us all to discard our old tdeass ana
prejudices and work for the new order.
look to you wardens and guards 20
give genuine cooperation.
Chaplain, Parole 01csrs ana Dog
Under the guidance Of our chaplain
you prisoners will b given ample op-
portunity to study and to At your
selves for a better position in the COM
munity than any that you previously
have held. You will find Mr.. Clifford
eager to help. competent and friendly.
He, knows human nature even better
thar you do, and can understand your
problems and your needs. Our parole
wonderful work for his brother men.
You can trust Mr.. Fish implicitly.
When the time comes however and you
want friend who cannot speak. but
who will understand. sympathixe and
comfort you, confide your thoughts to
one who never yet betrayed his
! friends, tho collie dog.
The Farm
want to see the agricultural work
OF this institution expanded. There
should be many more men living and
working % the farm and the farm it.
self should be increased in area and
productivsness. Work at the farm
should be given as q reward. and not
less THAI 80 men at all times should
be employed there. Reasonably good
results are accomplished now but
there Is ample room for improvement
] do not think there has been real CO.
operation between the officers at the
prison and those Mt the farm. 1t is
time now to have 1t. Through my ef-
forts certain improvements have been,
and more are to be made in living
conditions at the farm which in the
past has been neglected. l want to
impress upon officials and prisoners
alike that agriculture is one Of the
most vital and useful parts Of our
work.
silence ana Fay for Work
The adjustment of silence at meals
will mean much to you. Do not abuse
your new privileges. Striped uniforms
and the ball and chain have gone
never to return. I hope that silence
has accompanied It, The system Of
paying you for your work is a wonder
ful step In advance; you no longer are
bondmen Of the State. you are wage
earners. A man who Is compelled to
work without pay il little better than
a slave. 1t largely depends upon you
II the pay system is to be made per-
manent. Hereafter we do not propose
to turn man out into the world with
q cheap suit Of clothes and the paltry
sum of IS in his pocket. We want to
build up fund for you to enable you
to care for yourselves honestly and
deccntly until proper employment can
be found. Your dependents at home,
as well as the commissioners and N.Y.
self look to you ito make good" We
have taken this matter into our own
hands and are determined to give it m
honest trial. If it succeeds we shall
ask Legislative authority for it's con-
tinuance.
would like to see band organized
here. and a prison newspaper started.
These would help pass the dreary DAYS
AID build up wholesome community
spirit. Moreover l believe that the
restoration of full citizenship should
Ibe the reward given to every prisoner
whose record entities him to regain
that great privilege.
No "Polities"
One thing / would have you clearly
understand, and that is that the man.
agement of this prison is above and
beyond all political or personal influ-
ences. This Is unusual. for politics
today hampers prison work i'm many
states. Those Of us at the head of
this institution recognize no such thing
as political or personal pull" for we
regard such methods as old-fashioned
and unws4thy. As long as the present
Governor and commissioners have
anything to say about it every issue
that is raised here will be settled up-
on its merits.
want You men to feel in your
hearts that there is place in the
world for you. good place, IL you will
but strive to attain 1t. This prison is
not society's scrap heap" it is its
repair shop" l want you to see a
rainbow Of promise lowering over
these walls bringing hope into your
hearts. and giving assurance to you of
brighter days to come after the clouds
have melted away.
II l have aided in bringing about a
change in the physical. moral and
spiritual atmosphere of this institu-
ton l shall consider it as one of the
chief and most worthy accomplish
ments Of my administration. l ear
nestly want to help each and every
man in this place
To the People Of Maine. to the War
dens. Guards and all those who have
IN charge the lives and welfare OF
these zoo human beings. Z say Let
him who is without sin cast the first
stone.''
In his eloquent opening Mr.. HIGH
born paid high tribute to Governor
Haxte. as 1.-THE moving genius" in
this splendid undertaking to make
Names prison "the best place of its
kind in all the country" to enable the
inmates to 60 back into the world
better equipped to Withstand tempta-
ton; to make our penOlogy a human
proposition, "refOrmatory not defor-
matoi.'. constructive not destructive"
and he appeaietf-to the inmates to 50
make use of their privileges tina,
prison reform may not be "slaugh-
tered in the house Of it's friends" 30
to the undertaking these lines quoted
by the speaker may be fltly applied:
Free 10 Asthma and
Hay Fever Sufferers