Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 194, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1913 — NEW TREATMENT FOR CRIMINALS [ARTICLE]

NEW TREATMENT FOR CRIMINALS

Warden J. L Codding Io Tell Dow He Doodles Prisoners. ■ ) METHODS ARE VERY HUB.

Kansas Penitentiary Known All Over the Nation for Its Advanced Methods—Has Been Glv* • en Many Write-Ups. Kansas leads the nation in- some respects, and one of them is the method of dealing with its criminals, a method largely due to the wise plans of Warden J. K. Codding, who - is to speak at the coming Lincoln Chautauqua. Recently there occurred at the Kansas penitentiary an incident that is almost unbelievable. Several of the prison buildings burned and the walls of the prison were endangered. Nightcame on and the lighting system was out of order, affording the best possible chance for escape. But not one prisoner even made so much as a demonstration. Instead, they went to work with a will, acting as firemen, and by their efforts some of the buildings were saved. A number of the convicts proved themselves real heroes. The time came when the honor system and methods of Warden Codding were put to a severe test, and they stdod the test admirably. As one of the leading lawyers of his state, and as a capable business man, some time before this Mr. Codding had been urged to take charge of the penitentiary for a few weeks until the governor could find some one to put in that place. Mr. Codding has been there ever since and has made a record that has attracted attention all over the country. Under his management, the prisoners are given three square meals a day, instead of soup; they play ball every day after dinner and are made to feel that they are men, not criminals. As special law enforcement attorney for the State Temperance union, Mt. Codding did such thorough work that thirty-five law defying countleg were forced to obey the law, and all but a dozen out of three hundred cases prosecuted resulted in victories tor Codding and his followers.