much in sympathy with the "reformers," not
because they were "reformers," but because they were
females (he was very fond of the opposite sex), and said: "There
at least is one publisher who has the nerve to tell the truth." "Well," he
drawled, "that is only a little weekly and is not in sympathy
with the reform movement." "No, you are right," I
answered, "it never was, and never will be in sympathy with
liars, hypocrites and murderers." I sat down and sent the
publisher my check and asked to be notified when to renew, and
as long as I live I shall continue to subscribe for this noble
paper. Now naturally my reader will say, "If these people
are so destructive to prison discipline, why does the warden
permit them to come?" I will tell you why. This gang of
fakirs consists of about three fake preachers or self-constituted
evangelists, and seven or eight women. They commenced to come
to the prison several years ago, but under Warden Beem-
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er's administration
they were much restricted. When Warden Smith took office this gang held free
sway and high carnival at the pen. Services over with they went to the officers'
dining room and were fed. From there they would go to the cell houses and
unrestricted visit from cell to cell. Is it a wonder that the prison
was full of "dope"? And did the prisoners appreciate these
women? Some much preferred after a week's hard work to take a rest
on Sunday afternoon. Others were much pleased to see these women
come around, not because they were soul savers, but because they
were women. I will give you an illustration. I passed one of these
women on a gallery. She was a woman of forty-five or fifty, no spring
chicken by any means, yet she was dressed like a seventeen-year-old.
She was reading to a young man, a recent arrival, about the prodigal
son and the fatted calf. Was he interested? Yes, in a way; but as
he listened to her reading I noticed his eyes
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