The Washington times., 1924-06-21
HONOR system.
SUCCEEDS IN
FLORIDA
Prison Farm Experiment Is
Reported Making New
Men of Convicts
BY GEORGE d. TYSON,
International NewE-Seryice. !

International News Service.
STATE PRISON FARM. RAJ
FORD, Fla, June DIDO criminals
so,called vicious ones, many of
whom have been sentenced to
terms OF life imprisonment--have a
conscience or sense OF honor?
]. s. Bitch, superintendent Of
the prison farm here and man
who has dealt with law violators
for many years, replies to this
question with an emphasized yves"
And his answer was drawn from
an experience with the institution
here lasting over a period of years.
Scattered over $4,000 acres Of
rolling, flower bedecked land here
road AL OF Florida'a criminals,
with nothing to prevent their whole
sale escape except the barrier OF
their conscienceS and sense OF
honor. No grim walls keep them
from the outside world; no armed
guards, with finger on the trigger,
watch their every movement; no
manacles and iron chains impede
their movements.
They literally are free-free to
come and go as they please over
the $4,000 acres of land, with very
few restrictions. Six days in each
week they work. On the seventh,
like the average man enjoying free
dom, they attend religious services
and rest.
MOsS Are Life TERRIERS.
Three.fourths of these prisoners
h are "life-termers," yet their con-
sciences restrain them from at
tempting to shirk rne debt which
law has said they must pay for
the protection of society. They
are divided into squads Of fifteen
or twenty, some Of them feeding
the 600 head of hogs; some caring
for more than 5000 hens; others
milking and feeding the 1900 head
of cattle, while the remainder work
in the fields.
The groups are under the direc-
ton OF u foreman" who instructs
them as to their work and sees
that they do it. The ''foremen" are
prisoners themselves.
The use Of the leather strap is
practically q forgotten means Of
punishment. The prisoners are
their, own keepers,
Only eight names appear in the
institutions payroll, and one OF
these is the superintendent. 1t is
almost self-sustaining.
When a prisoner overrides the
dictates of his conscience here and
attempts to escape, he usually is
trailed by members Of the squad
with which he was working.
Few Attempt to Escape.
Only seventeen prisoners have at
[ tempted to escape since January 1.
OF this number eight were recap
tured. The superintendent said that
during this same period fifty-seven
prisoners escaped from the Florida
chain gangs where guards are used.
On the farm is a dairy, poultry
plant, a vineyard. a sawmill, an
apiary, an ice and cold storage
plant, blacksmith shop, a tannery
and shoe factory, grist and rice
mill and a cooperage plant.
These are outstanding industries
that occupy the time of those Eris-
oners who do not work in the
fields.
About $4,000 acres Of the farm
have been fenced, and 1000 of
these are under cultivation.
All State prisoners are sent here
first before beginning any duty
after being sentenced to serve a
term of Imprisonment for violation
Of Florida's laws.
Escaped Prisoners Recaptured.
During 1923 only twelve men es-
capped from the farm, and seven
were recaptured.
The honor system was 1nagu-
rated here six years ago, when Su.
q perintendent Bitch took charge.
Prior to that time the "gun and
guard" rule was in vogue.
1.-THE honor. plan has worked out
beyond our fondest expectations, I"
he said.
The farm bears the appearance
of a modern thriving little city.
Dormitories for the prisoners are
modern in every respect. A new
cement hospital now is under con-
struction.
Workers on the farm report for
duty shortly after sunrise and la.
Dor until almost dark. At noon they
are given one hour and a half for
lunch. Each Saturday night they
meet for one joint entertainment in
the form of picture show, min.
strel or vaudeville, or a general
''get-together" social assembly.
I Prisoners here send and receive
their mail without it being subject
ed to censorship. Special times
have been set aside for visitors
who call regularly.
Many of the younger men spend
their Sundays with sweethearts
: who come out to see them.
System Reforms Many.
FLORIDA, through this honor sys.
! tenn" said Superintendent Bitch,
els teaching her prisoners, thrift,
economy, respect for law, cleanli.
ness and Goodness, thereby turn
ing them back to society better
men and women than they were
when sentenced. Ard large per.
centage of them have gone forth
and now are respected citizens in
their communities and are making
good in every way.
"AI of this is done--the farm
operated, the prisoners handled
with only eight men on the pay
roll. It costs less TO maintain pris-
oners in Florida than in any other
State In the Union.
THE system Is good. Appeal to
a mans honor. even though he be
a prisoner, and you appeal to that
thing-and often to that thing
alone-which will make him a bet
"a