the twin hells(两个地狱)-第43章
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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。 It is this sameness of work； this daily and
hourly going over the same routine； this monotonous labor； this being
surrounded by hundreds of busy fellow…workmen； and not permitted to
exchange a word with any of them； that makes the life of a prisoner to be
so much dreaded。 Young man； as you read these lines； it is impossible for
you to conceive the misery that accompanies this kind of a monotonous
life。
In order to know all that it means； you must pass through it； as I have
done。 Things are entirely different with you。 While you are at work on the
outside of prisons； you can carry on conversation with those about you and
thus pass the time in a pleasant manner。 After the day's work is over； if you
so desire； you can spend an hour or so with friends。 Not so with the
criminal。 After his day's work； done in silence； is past； he is locked up in
his solitary cell to spend the evening as best he can。
There is no one to watch you constantly while at your daily toil； to see
that you do not violate some insignificant rule or regulation。 When you
desire a holiday； and wish to take a stroll out into the woods； to look upon
the beautiful flowers or admire nature in all her loveliness； to inhale the
pure； fresh airwhich is a stranger to packed workshopsto revel in the
genial sunlight； there is no one to forbid you。 You are a free man。
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Oh； what a wonderful difference between the laboring man who is free；
and him who is forced to work； clad in the habiliments of disgrace！ He
who penned these lines has had to toil as a convict in the coal mines of the
Kansas penitentiary； eight hundred feet below the surface； lying stretched
out on his side； and he knows what he is talking about when he says； he
would rather die and be laid away in his grave than to spend five years as a
convict。
Young man； think of these things when you are tempted to do those
things that will send you to a felon's cell。 Of course； it is no intention of
yours ever to become an inmate of a prison。 Permit one who has had
experience； to tell you that it is one of the easiest things in the world to get
into a prison； and that when once in； it is difficult to secure your liberty；
until Time turns the bolt and lets you out； or in other words； until you
serve out your term。 May you never yield to a temptation that will make
you a prisoner。
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CHAPTER XVI
THE MISSOURI PRISONERS
The Missouri pe
