the twin hells(两个地狱)-第31章
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visit to his brothers while I was at the prison。 Reader； is it not a sad
thought that these four young men； brothers； should spend ten of the best
years of their lives in a prison？ Surely the way of the transgressor is hard。
Young man； you who have as yet never been an inmate of a prison；
imagine； if possible； the loneliness experienced as one spends his days；
weeks； months and years behind these frowning prison walls； shut up the
greatest portion of the time in these small cells that I have described in this
chapter。 If you do not wish a life of this nature； shun the company of
wicked and vicious associates； and strive with all your power to resist the
tempter in whatever form he may approach you。 It is not force he employs
to drag you down to the plane of the convict； but he causes the sweet song
of the syren to ring in your ear； and in this manner allures you away from
the right； and gently leads you down the pathway that ends in a felon cell；
disgrace and death。
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CHAPTER XV
THE WORK OF THE CONVICT
It is a great blessing to the convict that he can have the privilege of
working。 When prisons were first started in this country it was thought
best to keep the prisoner in solitary confinement； have him visited daily by
a spiritual teacher； place the Bible and other good books in his hands； and
in this manner reform him； and send him out into the world a better man
than he was on entering the prison。 The； great penal institution of Auburn；
New York； was for a time conducted in this manner。 The plan； at first
thought to be a good one； had to be abandoned。 The criminal could not
endure solitary confinement。 HE MUST HAVE WORK。 Many of them
became insane； while still others died for want of the open air； out…door
exercise； and some diversion for the mind。
In all the penitentiaries of the country； at the present time； convicts are
required to perform some kind of useful labor。 That is one point of the
prison question that is； doubtless； forever settled。 All prison men agree that
the convict must perform some kind of work。 Labor to the prisoners means
health of body and mind。 Solitary confinement means the reverse。 But
what kind of labor the prisoner should perform； and what should be done
with the results of his labor； is one of the most difficult questions to
decide。
All the prisoners of the Missouri penitentiary are let out to contractors；
with the exception of those needed to do the work about the prison。 The
work consists chiefly of making saddle…trees and shoes。 Several large
three…story buildings are used in furnishing room for the convicts while at
labor。 Those contractors who have been at the prison for some time have
grown rich。 They get their men for forty…five cents a day； on an average。
They have their choice of prisoners as they come in。 Those convicts
designated scrubs； do the work for the State。 The contractors are charged
with controlling the prison。 If one of the officials； in the discharge of his
duty； happens to do anything displeasing to the contractors； they combine
against him and have him removed。 They are charged with using their
combined political influence； and even money； to carry their points。 We
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have been told by some of the leading men of the State that it was a
notorious fact that the penitentiary was controlled by a political ring； a set
of jobbers； and this ring was largely influenced by the contractors。 The
contract system is wrong； and should not have a place in any of the penal
institutions of the country。
The contractor assigns the task。 The prisoner must perform that task or
be punished。 If an avaricious contractor； in his desire to make money；
places too great a task upon the prisoner； who is there to take the prisoner's
part and shield him from abuse？ Fully nine…tenths of the punishments
inflicted is the result of the reports and complaints of the contractors。 See
how unjust and how hard this contract system is upon many of the
prisoners！ Two convicts enter the same day。 In outward appearance they
are strong； healthy men。 The same task is assigned them。 One of them
being adapted to that line of work； and skilled； performs his task with ease；
while the other； equally industrious； cannot get through with his。 He is
reported for shirking。 He states his inability to do the amount of work
assigned him。 The contractor or his foreman makes a different report。 The
assertions of the convict amount to but little； as against the statements of
the rich and influential contractor。 He is punished and returned to his work。
A second time he tries； again fails； and is reported as before。 This being
the second offense the prisoner is subjected to a more severe punishment。
This brutal treatment is continued until the officer； growing weary with
inflicting punishment upon the poor wretch； concludes he is unable to
perform the task assigned him。 If this contract system is to continue in
Missouri； there should be some one whose duty it is to see that the
prisoner is humanely treated； and not let a brutal officer decide； who is in
league with the contractors。 I have it from the lips of a prison official who
has been connected with the prison for thirty…six years； that the treatment
some of the prisoners receive because of the avariciousness of the
contractors； is simply heartrending。
After all； is not this contract system a regular jobbing business？ If
these men can employ the prisoners and pay forty…five cents a day for
them； and make money and grow rich； why cannot the State work the
convicts and save all these profits？ Competent men can be secured as
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superintendents to carry on this work。 Some will say； that it will open up
too many avenues to jobbery； that the superintendents will get to stealing
from the State； and in the end the State will not get as much benefit as
under the present system。 This seems like begging the question。 If these
superintendents； after a time； become thieves； treat them as thieves； and
give them a term in the penitentiary。 This kind of medicine will soon cure
all cases of jobbery。 Again； prisoners should be assigned tasks according
to their ability。 All men are not alike equally skilled in the same kind of
labor。 All these things should be taken into account。 No prisoner should be
forced to carry a burden that is oppressive； in order to fill the coffers of
avaricious contractors。 Again； I ask that there be some humane person；
whose duty it is to see that these helpless men； whose lips are sealed； are
not oppressed by this damnable contract system。 Let us treat these
unfortunate men humanely； and never forget that； if stern justice was
meted out to those who had the control of convicts； as officers； guards； or
contractors； many of them would be doing service for the State； clad in a
suit of stripes。 The penitentiary of Missouri is self…supporting； with the
exception of the officer's pay…roll。 At each session of the Legislature； an
appropriation of 140；000 is made for this purpose。 There are over one
hundred officers on the pay…roll。 The records show that it requires nearly a
quarter of a million dollars annually to pay the expenses of this institution。
Crime is an expensive luxury！
During the past two years 347；000 have been paid into the treasury as
the earnings of the prison。 The goods manufactured are sold chiefly in the
State of Missouri。 This brings convict labor； which is very cheap； into
competition with the labor of the poor； but honest man on the outside。 The
average labor value of the convict is forty…five cents a day。 How is it
possible for laboring men on the outside； who have families depending
upon them； to support themselves and families on an amount； that will
enable business men； for whom they work； to engage in business and
compete with this cheap convict labor？ This is the great argument against
convict labor。 The convict must be given work or he will become insane。
To bring this cheap labor into conflict with the toil of honest but poor men
on the outside； is unjust and cruel。 What to do with convict labor is one of
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the unsolved problems。 It is a subject that will furnish ample scope for the
thinking mind。
The prisoner is worked on an average of nine hours each day。 He goes
about his labor in silence。 It is against the regulations for him to exchange
a word or a knowing glance with a fellow…workman。 When visitors pass
through the workshops he is not permitted to lift his eyes from his work to
look at them。 An officer； perched upon a raised seat； who commands a
view of the entire work…room； is constantly on the watch to see that no
rule or regulation is violated。 The convict cannot take a drink of water； or
go from one part of the room to another in the discharge of his duties
without permission from the officer。 The prisoner is always conscious of
being watched。 This feeling is no small factor in making the life of a
prisoner almost unbearable。 Nearly all of the inmates work in shops； and
all the exercise they receive in the open air is what they get in going to and
from their meals and cells。 I
