The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-02-28
THE PENITENTIARY MANAGE
MENT

treatment VI tuc pIloOucIS al Tie Gil
tertiary. The discussion has been
called forth by orders recently issued
by Marshal Ireland to the Warden to
be more severe and strict with the in
mates of the place, among other things
to cut off the daily newspapers which
have hitherto been sent to some of the
convicts. The Marshal's course would
have occasioned little or no comment,
were it not for the too apparent fact
that the only motive in the intensified
rigor of the rules is to give play to the
cruel vindictiveness of the Marshal
himself. 1t is pure, unadulterated
meanness that actuates the official.
When he assumed charge of the Peni-
Tertiary he had a vein of humanity
and decency in his organization, but
through the eoadings of malicious
newspapers, and the promptings of
vindictive, heartless men before whom
he stands in such mortal fear, what
ever was good and humane in him
seems to have vanished, and he
has become the soulless but plant
tool of those whose hearts are
bad through aud through. His in
creased harshness has developed and
grown from a wicked desire and dis
position to be cruel to Mormons who
are forced into his custody. When he
took charge of the Pen. and
there were no Mormon inmates.
the prisoners were treated as
if they were human beings. Their
food was better and more wholesome
than it has since been; they were per
mitted to purchase articles that would
add to their comfort; newspapers, books
and periodicals were publicly solicited
for them. and freely admitted; the
rules were no more strict than was alb
solutely necessary to insure safety and
proper discipline, and favors were fire.
quently granted to individuals. When
the Mormons began to be sent in, the
rules began to grow more rigid, and
the treatment of the prisoners
more cruel and inhuman. The
non Mormon convicts complained
bitterly of the change which was so pro-
nounced; they thought it wrong that
unnecessary severity should be exer
cised on account of class of prisoners
who were in no respect offensive or
dangerous, and who were rather
Strapofb apd on assistance IN Tho on
thorities than danger. From the time
the Mormons entered, things have been
growing worse and worse, until to day
the poor inmates of the institution are
permitted to enjoy none of the rights
or privileges of men except those abso-
lutely necessary to their existence, as
air, water and meagre diet. They do
not now have to skim the maggots from
their soup, nor scrape the Larvae from
their beef as they did last summer, but
for this relief the unfortunate prisoners
are probably under obligations to the
season rather than to the Marshal. In
all other respects the Marshal makes |
life at the Pen as oppressive and horrible |
as his base heart knows how; and all |
because he wants to inflict punishment |
upon Mormons, to whom a few years |
ago he was toadying after the manner
of the craven sycophant. Then he was
begging for Mormon trade and money;
now he is getting his living from an
other source.
Marshal Ireland is so narrow of mind |
and so contemplate of soul, that he
seems incapable of understanding that |
modern civilization demands that pris
oners be treated as if they were human
beings, and not as depraved beasts, un-
worthy to live; that the custodian's /
duties do not include greater strictness
andamore severity of discipline than are
necessary to the holding of his wards
and the causing of them to realize that
they are enduring punishment for Of
lenses committed. He has no right to
be brutal or inhuman, and whenever he
is so he offends society and violates
rules which civilization has framed for
The government of prisons in this age.
When he spreads before convicts fou,
and unwholesome food he commits an
offense that only the wicked and heart
iess would be guilty of. When he in
fliets unnecessary punishment and i'm
poses uncalled for hardships, he dis
graces his Office and offends the better
sentiment of the times. The HERALD
dares make the assertion without
fear of contradiction, that in all these
United States there is not penitenti-
airy that is more VilelY conducted than
that under the charge of Marshal Ire
land. 1t IS a disgrace to the nation
which maintains and controls the filthy
institution. and it is stain upon the
boosted civilization of the country that
so vile a den, SO cruelty managed. is
found in the land.
We presume that Ireland will now be
more cruel and brutal than ever in the
treatment of the men who are so unfor-
nate as 10 fall under his power. When in.