The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-13
PRISONERS ASK SILK UNDERWEAR
That Is One of Demands in SitdOWn Strike at
 Penitentiary

Lansing, KanS., June 13-(UP)- Approximately 400 prisoners at the Kansas State penitentiary began sitdown strike in the prison mine today, demanding among other things, the privilege of wearing silk underwear.
 Warden M. F. Amrine said he would not yield to the strikers de- mands. We are prepared for any emergency" he said. The prison arsenal is supplied with gas and machine guns. The strike started when the prisoners went into the mine this morning. The men marched into | the pits, mine superintendent Bob Murray said, and when they got be- low ground laughed at their guards and refused to work until the war den acceded to these demands: 1. The right to wear silk under wear purchased with their own funds.
 2. The right to sell coal over certain minimum to spectators for credit cards good at the prison com- missary.
 3. Freedom of the cell house in the evening from to p. m. in- stead of confinement in individual cells.
 4. Right to take sandwiches and other food into their cells. Prepared For It
 "This demonstration was bound to come and we are prepared to cope with it." Amrine said.
 T took over this job with the idea of giving control of this prison back to the officials of the State of Kansas and I intend to do 1t.
 "I have advised the leaders of the sitdown strike that they must go back to work immediately or suf- fer the consequences"
 The strike climaxed a 30-day pe- riod of rigorous discipline that was put into effect at the prison when Warden Amrine took over juriSdic- tion of the institution. He was called from federal service in New Orlenas to deal with what was regarde das 8 dangerous situation at the prison here.
 In the prison mine where the sit- down strike was called today Am- rine said two 10-gallon stills had been found.
 The last previous trouble at the prison was on Jan. 20, 1888, when one convict was shot to death and two were wounded seriously in an attempted break. Five others sur rendered.
 Amrine put into effect his rule against silk underwear last Satur- day.
 Such wearing apparel" he said, sis entirely out of place in prison, whether 1t is purchased by the prisoner himself or by the state. It encourages perversion."
 The ruling was received by the convicts with mutterings and threats.
 Refused To Work
 Yesterday when they went to the mine they refused uO go to work until the warden had agreed to re- ceive a written petition in which they set forth their four demands.
 Amrine said he would consider | ttlc pCtAtluAl, W&AANkA AAS 0kA JSSec4 day, ruling last night that he would refuse to modify any of the orders except the one pertaining to silk underwear.
 This regulation he agreed te amend to permit those convicts now wearing silks beneath theii rough prison garb to wear out the garments they now possess. No ad- ditioual silk underwear could bt purchased or brought into the pri- son, he declared.
 Amrine was not prepared to dis close just what coarse he would pursue to break the strike. He said 1t involved only the miners, numbering about 400. and had not spread to other sections of the prison which has q total of lS4o | inmates