Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-18
TEXAS DAILY PRESS LEAGUE
National Advertising Representatives
IdIeness Beeets Prison Madness


convicts in seven prisons in five American states
have staged costly revolts within prison walls since
the coming Of 1929. That in Colorado was the
bloodiest in the history Of the Centennial state.
There was a time when Thomas lyman was the war
den OF the Colorado prison. He served IS years. He
established the parole system and built a vast num-
Der Of highways with the aid Of convict labor.
He was thrown out by the politicians. They could
not handle him or use him. His theory Is that idle
ness Is the curse Of prison management: that 1t is
impossible to reform or reclaim men convicted OF
crime locked within their cells without daily labor
to keep their brains busy and their hands employ
ed.
There have been three costly and bloody riots in
New York In recent months, that at the Auburn pris-
on resulting In the loss OF nine lives. Seven desper-
ate convicts were shot 70 death by state troopers and
two prison guards we're slain before the rebellion
was quelled and hundreds Of convicts locked in dark
cells. Prison wardens in the state Of New York agree
with Thomas lyman OF Colorado.
Tdleness led to the revolts in the New York state
prisons. In addition TO this, the Baume law helped
along the cause Of the desperate. A fourth time Of
fender IN the state or New York is given a life SEN
tence. There Is no appeal or no parole under the
habltual criminal act. II he is idle he broods; II he
broods ne grows desperatel II he is In for life, life TO
him IS worthless: II there Is no hope he turns into a
mailman and he sows the seed Of revolt and pays
the penalty.
Texas has a prison problem. There are thousands
Of idle convicts-that is. they are idle for at least half
the year. Texas has an antiquated prison system.
Texas has prison farms scattered from the Gulf to
the Red river. There is no coordination. There IS
no compact system Of control. Now who are respon-
sible for the deplorable conditions which exist today?
Politicians primarily and the lawmakers who refuse
TO face the real problem and give to the people q
penitentiary system that will provide labor for the
hands OF convscts, keep their minds busy. and hold
out to them the promise Of parole some day II they
are deserving. work a reformation where 1t is pos
sible In order that those who truly repent may live
orderly lives after the day Of atonement has been put
behind them.
Texas has a prison location commission. There
are three reports ready for the governor. There viii
be a special session OF the legislature called in Janu-
ary. Twelve or the is members Of the prison location
commission favor a modern plan which viii provide
labor for convicts and afford them an opportunity Of
working out their salvation.
-Four members, the minority. will submit three re-
ports TO the governor. One minority report calls for
the rehabilitation Of the prison building at Hunts
vile. Another for q prison building or plant on the
Imperial prison farm while Rep. Harry Graves OF
Williamson county, who Is running alone, will fight
for the adoption Of the majority report and land
somewhere among the four dissenters when the gen.
erai legislative roundup under the big dome takes
place and before a final vote has been ordered.
It Is the consensus Of opinion that the senate will