CONVICT LABOE FOE EOAD WOEK. 61 



penal institutions. Under no other system of discipline would it have 

 been possible to have employed such large numbers of convicts in 

 this way. But aside from these alleged economic advantages very 

 Uttle can be said in favor of the chain gang and the system of dis- 

 cipline which alone renders it possible. It comprises no conscious 

 reformative measures, and except for the fact that it provides com- 

 pulsory and regular outdoor labor for a class of individuals who are 

 habitually averse to it, it can show no reformative results. It entails 

 the exposure of the convicts, subjects them to unnecessarily severe 

 punishments, and, except in the South, is not tolerated by pubUc 

 sentiment. The economic advantages in the form of the road work 

 performed which are urged ia justification of the discipline are 

 doubtful, but this phase of the problem has been taken up in detail 

 under the topic of economics. The modified forms of the guard sys- 

 tem practiced in New York, New Jersey, and Utah are not open to 

 such serious objections, but except for the fact that the guards in 

 these States are armed either with concealed or exposed weapons, the 

 discipline in these States embodies many of the characteristics of the 

 honor system. 



The honor system, discriminately appHed, is shown by the statis- 

 tics given above to be fully as effective as the guard system in pre- 

 venting the escape of the convicts worked under it; and from the 

 standpoint of the peace and security of the community, the escaped 

 "honor convict" is likely to be less dangerous than the prisoners 

 who escape from a guarded camp, for the very reason that the 

 former is presumably of higher moral character than the latter. 



Judged upon an economic basis, the honor system should result in 

 some lowering of cost, although part of the saving through dispensing 

 with guards is expended in supplying the convicts with conven- 

 iences and comforts not usually furnished under the guard system. 

 Furthermore, the honor convicts may be more efficiently distributed 

 than is practicable under the guard system. 



The selection of prisoners for such employment under the honor 

 system is a task requiring the greatest judgment and care, as well 

 as experience in the study of criminal character. Full consideration 

 should be given to the history of the individual prisoner prior to con- 

 viction, his habits and associates, the character of his offense, the 

 circumstances suiTounding its commission, and his traits of character 

 as observed during the probationary term of close confinement, 

 which should not only be long enough to make an intelligent choice 

 possible, but also to impress upon the convict the necessity of sub- 

 ordinating his will and desires to those of others. 



No hard and fast rules can ho giv(in to gov<^rn the selection of 

 lionor men. A few prison officials believe that it is safe to trust only 

 prisoners with roiativc^ly short teiTns, arguing that the temptation 



