A number of petitions have recently come before me for pardon of prisoners in the State Prison where a pardon would have been granted except for the fact the prisoner is in Grade C, or plain B. I have established a rule, and propose to adhere to it, that I will not grant a pardon to any man unless he is in Grade A or in Grade B plus. We are offering to prisoners every possible inducement to climb into these upper grades. In the first place, the State pays the prisoner more money who works in the upper grades; in the second place, you wear more attractive clothes; in the third place, you are allowed more privileges, and in the fourth place, you stand an infinitely better chance of receiving a pardon when your case comes on for consideration. If, in the face of all these inducements to be good prisoners, to obey the rules and regulations of the Prison, to be courteous and considerate of officials and all fellow prisoners, a prisoner persistently refuses to take advantage of these opportunities when the conclusion is irresistible that if turned out he would not make a good citizen, but would be a menace to the peace and order of any community in which he might live.

I am asking the Superintendent of the State Prison to have copies of this notice read to all prisoners, and posted in the Central Prison, and in all farms and camps where State prisoners reside.