Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1934-03-08
WARDEN PRESTON u. THOMAS -l
ADDRESSES ROTARY MEETING


lips referred to him as being the
best head of any penal institution
: in the United States. If there were
those present to hear Warder
Thomas, who hadn't already fell
about it just as Mr.. Phillips did
they changed their minds when the
speaker had concluded his address
Warden Thomas has strong per-
sonality and possesses the wit of a
Will Rogers, and throughout his
address was punctured with clever
wit and interesting stories, to Ii
Illustrate the many excellent points
he brought out.
/ Mr.. Thomas has been warden OF
the Ohio penitentiary for the past
21 years. He stated that he had
often been asked how he stood the
worry his place would naturally
subject him to. He replied that he
didn't worry-that he let the 4,3OO
prisoners do the worrying as to
when they get out; and others wor-
ry as to when he (Thomas) was GO
to get out Not only did he speak
of the prisoners under his care, but
dwelt at length on those persons
who come to visit the big prison !;
those who give him advice, etc. He
related that one time a man who
was visiting the penitentiary had
his pockets picked. and he immed-
lately went to the 4 warden and ac-
cused him of harboring den Of
thieves He said that it is impos-
sible to run lit to- suit everybody
that even the inmates find fault
with it and want to get out. He
spoke of the "Sob Sister, and
"Gush Brother" stuff he meets
with; and also the opposite ex-
treme-the hard boiled who feel
that prisoners should be given
dread, water and hell"-that they
accuse him Of feeding prisoners
too well. Warden Thomas stated
that they give the prisoners good,
plain food, and that it costs for
each little less than sc per meal
-14c per day. He stated that he
was criticised in having picture
shows, ball games, etc.,-that since
they were so we'll treated they
would want to come back to prison
after they had served their SEN
tence
The warden said that it is the
loss of liberty that is the real pun
ishment. He said the wall about
the prison is for two purposes, to
keep the prisoners within, and to
keep others, such as narcotic ped
dlers, bootleggers, and those who
would slip firearms to the prison
ers, without.
No Politics
OF politics, he said that he meets
the politician who has the idea that
the penitentiary should be run po-
litically. Mr.. Thomas stated that
SO long as he occupies the position
he now does, there will be no poll
stitution.
Segregation Urged
The warden believes that In or
der to get the best. results there
should be classification and segre-
cation of all prisoners. He refer
red to New York state as having
such an arrange11eaY. Mr.. Thomas
said that in Ohio the better ele-
ment is sent to London prison
farm, and the remainder, including
the very worst type of criminals,
are together. >Prisiners he stated
are as a class strong in passion, but
with a weakness to . resist. Some
prisoners have been out and in as
many as ten times. Here the war
den spoke of the colored man who
had been out and ain,l and who told
Mr.. Thomas that he could "resist
everything but temptation" The
unfit as he termed them, are those
of the class of prigoner-criminals
who all the time they are in prison
are constantly planning some crime
to commit when they get out. This
is the class that should be segre-
gated; they must be constantly
watched, since they are always
and are constant
menace to the prisoners who really
have a desire to do what is right.
1t is a shame to allow the better
class of prisoners to be associated
with the dangerous element, said
the speaker.
Honor System
Of the honor system, Mr.. Thomas
said that since he had been warden,
he had permitted 1000 prisoners
to go home to see their sick people,
or because of death, and that never
had one failed to return. He spoke
of honor prisoners who are working
at the Ohio State University; about
the state house; in offices, and
many other places of trust. These
prisoners violated a law and were
sent to prison for so-caIled small
crimes. This class must have work
to do, or they go crazy. The pris-
on, Warden Thomas mentioned,
provides work, education, which is
largely by correspondence schools,
and religion.
The human minds, the speaker
stated, can be likened to moving
picture reels, and many put on the
wrong reel. He said few of us
would want to have all of the
thoughts we have, unreeled to the
world-we would be ashamed Of
them. He said we must try to get