Evening star., 1929-12-20

The mutiny at Auburn Prison, in New
York, involving several deaths and COM
ing as a climax to series of such
affairs in various parts Of the country,
brings forth expressions OF deep concern
and many suggestions, including the
return to more severe discipline, better
accommodations for criminals and seq
regation of hardened characters from
other prisoners.
The New York Sun points out that in
this mutiny apparently score Of con-
victS were active promoters of and par
Elephants in the outbreak; that 1.-The
other 1880 inmates of the prison appear
to have behaved themselves with as
much self-restraint as could be expected
of the onlookers at a riot. Not
all convictS plot to escape" continues
the Sun, though practically all would
escape if the way were clear. The pro-
portion of plotters may or may not be
larger than it once was, but there was
never time when any penal institution
did not shelter inmates who spent their
time trying to devise means to get out.
No matter how luxurious a prison may
be made, there will never be one in
which all the inmates will be happy and
content to stay"
Emphasizing the "hopelessness of
these attempts to escape" the Boston
Transcript reviews the present discus
sion as to "inadequacy and indecency
in the accommodations. lack
Of steady employment, longer
sentences and the failure to segregate
'lifers' and long-term prisoners where
they may be better guarded. The series
of outbreaks" continues the Transcript,
"haS directed attention to these things.
Out of it may come better public un-
derstanding of the whole question OF
the treatment of prisoners in manner
to preserve order within prison walls
while making punishment adequate from
the standpoint of the protection of So
ciety"
when the inmates Of penitentiarieS
are of the new type of criminal" ac-
cording to the Fort Worth Record
Telegram, "the resultant effect on obso-
lete systems may be expected. There
are very many more--and better
brains and much more of ruthless
desperateneSS confined within peniten-
tiary walls today than ever before. To
control them and to some degree inject
the element of reform into such mass
requires a governing body equally ad-
vanced in the science Of human nature.
Such timber is not available for the
purely political administrations Of State
penitentiarieS."
X X **
"Three points stand out distinctly"
in the opinion of the Schenectady Ga
zette. First, the States position that
there can be no compromise, no dealing
with criminals, is the only tenable one.
The slightest concession to men who
have broken the law and who for
moment hold the upper hand danger
OuSly WeakenS the whole structure OF
law and order" Second, poor food,
overcrowding, needless exactions" which
breed the discomfort that causes out
breaks" Third, that the State should
consider the need of Segregating hard
ened criminals from the younger and
less serious offenders" The Gazette
also gives attention to the Importance
of State troopers in filling gap in the
law-enforcement agencies, and pays q
tribute in connection with the Auburn
break that they have given further
evidence of their value"
The incident Of one State trooper in
spires the enthusiasm of the Grand
Rapids Press, when 1t says: THE con-
victs, seeing all doors opened ahead of
them in accordance with the warden'S
orders, step out into the prison hall to
face a solitary State trooper, who, look
ing into the barrels Of those murderers'
guns, calmly tosses tear bomb into
their midst and leads an attack which
frees the warden and breaks the mutiny
Presumably that trooper will receive the
reward he deserves. Looking death
coolly in the face-without any fanfare
of bands and patriotism, and without
the strength of numbers, but simply as
a matter Of duty--is, Just as the warden
humbly commented, astounding brav-
cry"
X \ 4
The need Of segregation for those ac-
Gus ed of major crimes Is viewed as an
outstanding feature by the Pittsburgh
Post Gazette, the Akron Beacon Journal |
and the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. The