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secured by Mr. Melick, some of national reputation. On June the second, 1912, William J. Bryan delivered his famous lecture "The Making of a Man." Other lecturers were Governor Metcalf, Doctor Bixby, William Maupin, Chief Justice Reese, Attorney Wolfenbarger, Colonel Presson, Mrs. Bessie Gerhart Morrison, Mrs. Leila English and Miss Richardson, known froth coast to coast as "the flag lady," Rev. F. L. Wharton of Pittsburg, Senator Burkett, Mrs. Jackson, President of the W. C. T. U., Mr. C. T. Bowers, Mr. F. E. Linch and many others.

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CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
THE WORD OF AN OUTCAST

Is there such a thing as honor among thieves? Indeed there is. Charles Reade in his famous book, "It is Never Too Late to Mend," speaks of a little girl who came to see a thief just captured. "Oh dear," she said, "I couldn't have told it from a man." And a thief, although a thief, is still a man. Overlooking the blunder that he has made; like any other man, he is sure to have honor within his heart. Well, who will believe a convicted felon? Who will believe in his word of honor? Read a little further into this chapter and you will know.

Everything moved along nicely at Lancaster. The boys had plenty of good and well prepared food; they had much music, many entertainments, and plenty of good reading matter. Hearth that formerly were filled with despair were now full of hope. Faces that used to look sad and gloomy were


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now smiling. All the way through the, boys were happy, in good spirits, and turning out more work than ever before. There was never even a semblance of a riot after Warden Melick took charge; and I believe that if one had been attempted, ninety-seven per cent of the inmates would have aided in putting it down. "There won't be an outbreak as long as Mr. Melick is warden," said a long time safe: blower to me. "The boys appreciate what he is doing for them, and will not impose upon him." And now came the honor system, something unknown in the Nebraska prison but applied in a few other prisons. Credit should be given to Thomas J. Tynan, warden of the Colorado prison, for being the first to use this method. Like the Nebraska warden, he feels that the prisoners are human beings and will respond to human treatment the same as other humans. The methods of Warden Tynan, of sending men unguarded to the road camps, which were also unguarded, are known the world over.

 
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Other wardens such as Robert B. Sims, of Arizona penitentiary, Warden Sanders of Iowa penitentiary, and Warden Codding of Kansas prison, have applied the honor system with much success. Governor West of Oregon takes a great interest in prison work, and the honor system is now used at the Oregon prison. From far away Hawaii, Governor Frear has just sent his private secretary, Mr. Norman Courtney, to investigate the methods used at the Oregon prison, with the result that before long the honor system will be introduced throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Warden William J. Homer of Great Meadows Prison at Comstock, New York, must also be added to this list. He has recently taken charge of the sixty mutinous convicts from Sing Sing, has put them on their honor and they are doing nicely. There were several idle men at Lancaster, and the farmers were clamoring for men. The prison planted a larger area in vegetables than ever before and a larger