Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-24
CONVICT MUT|NY
REACHES DEADLOCK
Workers BarTicaded in Kan
sas Mines Telephone New
T UItimatum to Authorities.
By the Associated Press.

LANSING, Kans., June 24.-EX
tensive demands for better conditions
at the State penitentiary here today
superseded the convict ultimatum-
no cigarettes, no coal-that precipi-
tated a mutiny Tuesday in which 32S
prisoners barricaded themselves and
IA captive guards in the institution
coal mine.
The new ultimatum, telephoned
from the 720-foot level of the mine to
the State Prison Board assembled
. here to investigate the fourth mutiny
in three decades, resulted in a dead
lock. Although the mutineers had
T.. been in the mine more than 60 hours,
they remained defiant when advised
to surrender If they wished their de-
ma hdS given serious consideration.
The uItimatum specified speeding
of consideration of parole applications;
second and third term convicts to re-
ceive the same consideration as first
termerss removal of the warden from
parole hearings and elimination of his
recommendations; full credit for time
in other in stitutions when transferred;
additional deductions of sentences for
good behavior; more privileges for
miners; bet ter food; no punishment
for strikers and a written reply to
the demands.
\ Spokesman i'm High Spirits.
An unide utilized spokesman for the
convicts laughed and gave evidence
of being in high spirits after the de-
mands had been read to G.. S. Huff
man of Topeka, vice chairman Of the
board.
come up right now if you want to-"
Huffman told the spokesman.
"Well YOU can get us up If you
want to-" the convict replied.
He laughed as he granted Huff
mans request to talk to John Has
let, captive niue pit boss. Haslet
said "he was as well as could be eX-
pected."
Haslet did not mention food, al.
though prison officials believed the
one meal sent down shortly before the
convicts blocked the cage at IL O'Clock
Tuesday morning. would have been
exhausted within two days. So far
as was known 80 bushels of oats in.
tended for the IL mine mules was the
only possible source of food in the
dungeon, darkened when. the electric
lights We're cut off.
After the board considered the de-
mands, a statement was issued. say
ing no comment would be made at
that time.
IL Lu0T6 Is airy llIlIIS III tic IulcS
governing the management of the
State penitentiary which should be
changed for the bettermerft of the con-
dition of the inma ties of the institu
ton, the board will go into the mat
ter in an impartial way" the state
ment concluded.
- Way Open to Surrender.
Prison authorities instructed guards
that If the men wished to surrender
during the night, measures would
be taken to accommodate them.
Huffman told the captain of the
guards that should the convicts
wish to reopen negotiations to call
him at any hour. He Indicated the
board would not make any conces-
sion.
While a similar mutirfy last July
lasted SO hours, before the e'hunger
cure" caused 300 convict miners to
surrender. and the record 3S-hour
strike IN 1900 ended in the same man.
ner, there was nothing to indicate
the men were weakening today.
Wives of the guards continued to
express anxiety over inability to get
food to their husbands, but fears for
the safety of the captives we're allay-
ed when Haslet assured Huffman his
companions were unframed.