8 Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, Saturday, July 30, 1949
Oregon State Penitentiary at the end of State street (not
showing latest construction still under way.) Featured in
William Warren's story below.
TRIP THROUGH THE 'BIG HOUSE'
Dramatic Contrast Found
InState 'Pen' Here
By WILLIAM WARREN
(United Prau SUff Correspondent)
Hope and despair back to back.
In this room above the reception hall called the "chapel," the
chance for a new start in life: education.
Pass through the door. and. in that room, just a partition away,
the end of an
William Warrea
old life: execu-
tinn. t
As we tour1
the Oregon
state peniten
tiary, the first
room we come
to after leaving
the warden's
office is known
as the "chapel,"
although no
services are held
thpre
You climb a flight of stairs
and find yourself in scnooi.
This is the room where prison
inmates may study everything
from grammar school first grade
nhinets to typing ana dook
keeping. Then through the door
and
You are in the death cell
Antnallv. it is a death room
enclosing the death cell. The
steel cage at the one side Is the
Dlace where the condemnea man
is to spend his last night on
parth. In the rest of tne room
are his guards. The chaplain is
with him.
If he behaves, the door to
his cell is not locked. He can
roam the room, take a final bath
In the little shower room.
At the hour of execution he
Is blindfolded and led into the
gas chamber, a 12-sided steel
structure with sealed glass win
dows. The condemned man is
strapped to a steel chair with
a honevcomb-like seat,
Sixteen one - ounce cyanide
capsules are released by a lever
from a trap into a stone Jar of
acid beneath the chair, and in
a matter of moments he is dead.
Just beyond that partition, other
inmates are getting the educa
tion that can mean a new start.
'..That is the most dramatic con
trast in the big house known
to the inmates as "the joint."
It is a well-run institution,
despite antiquity of some of its
buildings, with George Alex
ander as warden, at the top;
Gene Halley at deputy warden,
and Joe Murray as chief clerk.
All told the prison staff numbers
147.
The population of the prison
varies some going in, some
out, On the day of our visit
It totals 1,347 inmates 1,217
men and 22 women in the pris
on proper and 108 men at the
prison farm annex
The effort is made to keep as
many men employed as possi
blc in work and out of mis
chief. Many work in the flax
mill, others cut wood for fuel
Elsewhere arc jobs in the ma
chine shop, carpentry shop, tai
lor shop where prison outfits
and guard uniforms are made
laundry, lime plant and barber
shop. Not to mention the vast
mess hall, the spotless kitchen
and the spic and span bakery.
Our guide is obliging Roy
Higgs, captain of the guards
He worked 32 years at North
Dakota state prison before com
ing to the Oregon pen 10 years
ago.
As the stata Brows, rnnrlit Inns
become more crowded at the
prison.
This is beine relieved some
what by construction of a new
block of 4on roil Th off, ,,-
ture, expected to be occupied
EVANGELISTIC
TABERNACLE
ASSEMBLY OF GOD
13 th and Ferry
mnm
Rev. Walter S.
Frederick, Pastor
Sunday Services
July 31
9:45 a.m. Sunday School
"A Bible Class for Everyone"
11:00 Sermon
"BLESSING WITHOUT
EFFORT"
6:30 Youth Groups Meet
7:45 p.m. Evangelistic Rally
Sermon "Guilty But Honest"
Sat., 7:15 p.m. Radio Broad
cast over KSLM
A Cordial Invitation to All
by the first of the year, has ex
tra tough steel bars in front of
the cells bars virtually saw
prooi.
The steel walls of each cell
are painted white. Each cell
has a single bunk, toilet, run
ning water, shelf, and built-in
collapsible steel table and chair
Prison officials believe the sin
gle cells will eliminate some of
the problems that lead to un
rest and riot.
in the present main cell
structure, the south wing, or
"A" block, is 22 cells long and
three tiers high on each of two
corridors. Each cell has two
Dunks.
The north wing, or "B" hlnrk
is likewise 22 double cells long
on eacn oi the two corridors,
but four tiers high. At the end
of the corridor is the printing
shop, where the prison mag
azine, "Shadows," is put out.
The shop also produces forms
ana receipts used by the prison
Through the tunnel to "C"
block 20 cells long and four
tiers high. Here's a cell whose
inmates are doing advanced
work in the prison school. Books
on their bench include "A
Treasury of Great Poems," "A
Smattering of Ignorance" by Os
car Levant, "Fables for Our
Time" by James Thurber and
"Personality in Handwriting."
in me Dasement of "C" block
is the bull pen. Correction
cells, prison officials call them
It's the place where the unruly
"lies iiiusi wait out tneir punish
ment for infraction of the regu
lations escape, riot, knifing
alone. They Bet two mpnlc a
day; of the same food as served
in the mess hall.
Upstairs again, and through
the passageway to the hnilri-
ing housing the mess hall. It
seats 1,280 at a time.
Uesirios being used as a dinlnu
room, it also is the place where
cnurcn services are held. Mo
vies arc shown Saturday after
noons for the men and Saturday
evenings for the women. On
me stage you see the instru
ments of the prison band, the
iiuaitmns wno can tnemselvcs
"Stars and Stripes."
ihe men line ud and en tn
the steam tables for their plentl-
im enow. Each can have all
he wants.
Here's a typical midweek
day's menu: Breakfast hot
cakes, farina with milk, peach
jam, butter, coffee. Dinner
beef stew, steamed cabbage,
green beans, pickled beets and
green onions. Supper boiled
navy beans, macaroni, creamed
corn, raisin and carrot salad,
pudding.
Sunday dinner will probably
include hamburger patties. Sup
per will feature split pea soup
ana cum Deans.
This food is prepared in the
shiny kitchen, where the equip
ment includes four steam cook
ers, each with a capacity of 150
gallons, and a row of ranges
with grid tops for frying.
From the kitchen we take an
elevator to the next floor. Here's
the hospital.
The inmate patients sun
bathe twice a day on that ver
anda. The wards are airy. The
dental department includes two
chairs and lab where "falsies
are made for those inmates
needing plates.
There are two surgical rooms,
one for minor surgery and first
aid, the other for major opera
tions. On this floor also are a
medical lab, drug room and
barbershop. The big room at
the end holds cots for overflow
trusties and also houses the pris
on library.
And in the basement of this
same building is the bakery
which turns out 600 loaves of
bread a day and an assortment
of pastry.
Back toward the warden's of
fice,, we wait for a matron to
escort us up to the women's
ward.
On the floor above the main
offices, there's the restaurant,
which looks more like a tea
room, with its red-top tables,
than a prison mess hall. The
sewing room is here and a rec
reation room, with piano and or
gan and radio. Also on this
floor the the kitchens where the
girls cook their own grub to
their own taste.
On the next floor are the
cells, with one to four women
in each. A few are in for life;
the most for much shorter terms.
As we start to leave, we notice
the new wall now being built
It is 24 feet high and made of
concrete and steel. It will be
tougher for the boys to get out,
and at the same time the wall
will increase the recreation area
by about double, to lessen their
desire to flee.
Back to the warden's office,
then, and a look at the wares
the inmates have made and are
offering for sale to visitors from
outside. Everything from wal
lets to model ships prices up
to $100. The money Is held for
the men until their release.
The feeling you have as you
leave the prison at the end of
State street is that here, despite
the antiquity of some of its
parts, is an amazingly well-run
institution.
Warden Alexander and his
men and matrons, you are satis
fied, are doing a smooth, effi
cient job.
Want to make new potatoes
look and taste awfully good?
Boil them in their skins, using
a small amount of salted water,
then peel. Douse them with but
ter or margarine and sprinkle
with finely chopped chives and
paprika.
Look Out for Gyps, Legion
Warns as Convention Nears
If any person approaches you during the Oregon state Amer
ican Legion convention here next week, demand to see his cre
dentials John Kerrick, general chairman, warned Saturday.
The world is full of cheap racketeers, and unauthorized solid
tors who specialize in gypping convention crowds are no excep
tion, he explains.
All duly authorized solicitors
and salesmen will have proper
identification from Onas Olson,
the convention executive secre
tary, and anyone wishing infor
mation may call headquarters,
2-3071, or inquire at the main
headquarters tent to be set up
on the courthouse lawn Monday
morning.
Kerrick also reminds the gen
eral public that they may regis
ter for the convention and re
ceive an official souvenir pro
gram, badge, and other courtesy
cards for the registration fee of
$3. All registrations are being
taken at headquarters, located
in the Senator hotel lobby until
it moves to the tent.
All pre-registrants are urged
to pick up their kits, consisting
of a badge, program, etc., at
headquarters as soon as possible.
Kenneth' Saurage in
McMinnville Hospital
Grand Ronde, July 30 Ken
neth Saurage is in the McMinn-
iville hospital with injuries re
ceived when the bicycle he was
riding collided with an auto
mobile driven by Delmar M.
Johnson, Camas, Wash. He was
taken to the hospital by am
bulance. He received two broken
shoulders, broken collar bone,
broken nose, face lacerations,
possible brain concussion and
lost several teeth. He is the son
of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Saurage
and was graduated this spring
from the Grand Ronde grade
school.
In 1696 a tax based on the
number of windows in a dwell
ing was passed in England, ac
cording to the Encyclopedia
Britannica.
Britain now has complete gov
ernment control over its textile
industry. '
Key Figrure John Mora
gon, once a close friend of
Maj. Gen. Harry Vaughan, the
president's military aide, talks
with reporters following his
secret session with the senate
investigating subcommittee in
Washington. Maragon, who
looms as a key fugure in the
senate investigation of "five
per centers," has demanded a
full public hearing. (Acme
Telephoto)
Hubbard Rebekahs
Seat New Warden
Hubbard Thalia Rebekah
lodge met with Mrs. Ella Beck
er, NG, presiding. At the pre
vious meeting the lodge voted
to join the other women's or
ganizations In Hubbard in ask
ing that the 'city council be ap
pointed as a permanent commit
tee to take care of the cemetery.
Visiting reports were given
by Rev. and Mrs. Franklin But
ler and Mrs. Stella Kromling.
A report on condition of Mrs.
Grace Carmaer's mother was
also given.
Resignation of Mrs. Joe de
Guire as warden was accepted.
Mrs. E. C. Boyd, appointed to
replace her, was installed by
Mrs. John Morrison, district dep.
uty president, assisted by depu
ty grand marshal, Mrs. George
Zeek. Refreshments were served
by Mrs. C. R. Duncan and Mrs.
Edward Schoor.
SAVE! WItn
Block Construction
Drive that Extra
"Mast Profitable Mile"
to
PUMIUTE WEST SALEM
or Phone 2-5643
HEAR
"Has Christ the Answer?"
11:00 A. M.
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH
1230 South Liberty Street
"The Crime of Being Christian"
7:30 P.M.
DR. VICTOR HUGO SWORD, Guest Preacher
Missionary to India - Friend of Gandhi - Adviser to
Indian Government - Adviser to Foreign Students
University pastor, Assam, India
First Presbyterian
Church
Chemeketa at Winter
10:55 Morning Worship,
"riiAl'NKaS A IN II
HOLINESS"
Sermon by
Br. Chester W. Hamblin
The choir, directed by
Virginia Ward Elliott,
will sing
ir: - - i.
1 iiia"Wi"miaiiwm" Ijl
' ' -I - . I I S?5--
111 ""
I
The dignity and honor of funeral
service are dependent upon loy
alty to the ideals of Public Service.
We fulfill the needs of humanity
by serving each individual family
to the best of our ability.
Clough-Barrick
Co.
205 So. Church St.
Ph.3-9139 Established 1878
The Pioneer Funeral Home
This little boy is practicing the best of all social traits as he
reaches out a helping hand to his timid companion. As he grows
older, he is apt to learn that cooperation and mutual helpfulness
are the basis of human happiness and human progress.
People who live for themselves alone, who have no concern for
the welfare of others, can never achieve life's highest purposes nor
realize its fullest joys. These are reserved for the people who
have helping hands.
The Bible teaches us to love our fellow-men, to share their
burdens, enter into their joys and sorrows, and help them over the
rough and difficult places of life. When we do this we emulate
the character and spirit of God himself the spirit of love and
helpfulness.
Worshipful hearts and helping hands! These are the teach
ings of the Church the precepts of God. The world would be
much happier and much brighter if all of us would practice them.
o::".ppor' the o,." rwe: -r,5.wiy
sakeZ,'l 2 ForhfcX , ore: '(i T1?
communi... sal. . us
and Z," Chu" ilself una,in- I V' lhe
-m a reorf - io on moral
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Cmriiht Ulf. EL X. Kilitir. tttiibvrt. Tt.
This Series of Ads Is Being Published Each Week Under the Auspices of the American Bible Society and the Salem Ministerial Association, and ll
Being Sponsored by the Following Individuals and Business Establishments:
CAPITAL DRUG STORE
Prescriptions, Drugs, Sundries
R. L. ELFSTROM CO.
Furniture and Paint
ROBERTS BROS.
Department Store
BISHOP'S
Men's & Boys' Clothing
SALEM HOME FURNITURE CO.
137 South Commercial
SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
r Mvitkl0