The Glenwood post., 1925-01-08
lyman COMES BACK
At GOvfNoR SWEET
(continuer from page l.,

the sixteen years I have been warden,
and I do not fear to ask for state
ments from any ex-prisoners who con-
Quoted themselves according to the
rules of the prison.
"The Colorado state penitentiary is
conducted humanely and with the pur-
pose Of building men and character.
There have been no floggings, no use
of hose, nor any other forms OF tor
ture since 1 became warden. Eighteen
months ago I showed Governor Sweet
the paddle which we use in spanking
prisoners who are guilty of assault to
kill. This spanking is never done with
out the consent Of the board of cor
rections, and only in the presence of
the prison physician. The punishment
is more humiliating than it is phys
ically painful, and amounts to no
more than a spanking boy may re-
ceive from his own father
"My deputy warden was stabbed by
two convicts and his life was saved
only by the quick action of Sergeant
Hunt Of the Denver police force, who
was passing through the prison at the
time.
"Governor Sweet evidently believes
that prisoners should run the prison.
The people must know that there are
more than 200 desperate criminals
within the walls who must be held un-
der control, yet we do not resort to any
physical punishment except the spank
ing which is rarely done and, as 1
have already stated, always with the
permission of the board Of corrections.
"The people of Colorado have spent
several million dollars on their peni
tentiary, besides millions of dollars
for police, courts, sheriffs and district
attorneys to convict, sentence and
confine criminals for the protection of
the public, During my sixteen years
as warden I have been frequently ac-
cused of too great kniency and Of
treating the prisoners as guests of the
state, but Governor Sweet is the first
to accuse me of being unjust to them.
81 have served under six governors
all of whom with the exception of
Sweet, made careful inquiry into the
operation of the prison. They not only
refused to listen to silly charges, but
commended my work. The Colorado
penitentiary was the first to abolish
stripes except as punishment for Sc.
rious infractions of the rules.
~ wish the public to know that
every act of mine is subject to the in
spection and sanction of the state
board of corrections, composed of
Charles j. Moynihan of Montrose,
Frank s. Hoag of Pueblo, and Mrs.
Helen Grenfell Of Denver L take my
orders from this board, and I am sub.
ject to it.
Governor Sweet invited Thomas
Mott Osborne to come out here to in.
vestigate the penitentiary. 1 refused
Osborne permission to enter the walls
OF the prison. He and I have never
agreed on prison management.
1.-The report of the investigation of
the Colorado prison was made by two
coiFge professors who have no prac.
teal knowledge of prison management.
The report, therefore, Is of no value
to the state.
'Convicts have been released against
my wishes, and more, 1 understand,
are to be released in the near future.
expect some of them will be ready "a
suostantiate charges against me if the
governor calls on them.
"This investigation is most WELCOME
10 me- 1t will give me an opportunity
to clear my good name. The people
of Colorado have intrusted to nv care
one of the largest institutions. and 7
wish to assure them that am not in
the slightest degree guilty of violation
or the confidence they have imposed
m me. / have continually had tn
right fake prison organizations, shyster
lawyers and Others desiring to prey on
this institution and its inmates. have
refused steadfastly to sanction sthe
turning out of any criminals whom I
Knew to be dangerous to society. 7
nave refused to show any favoritism. -