The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-10-31

a mythical bird said to live in Arabia, but
wait! we find him again in the role OF
United States prisoner; will wonders never
cease! here he is as barber. Stevenson is
the poorest of rOmancists. as compared with
Tammany. DR.. Jeykil and Mr.. Hyde are
not to be thought OF at the side of Tam
many'S Phoenix.
The great mistake good many writer's
make, not only in The MIRROR but other
papers. is, that they do not give proper
credit to the articles. if they happen to
know the writer. Phoenix is only name.
Id there was anything in my article worth
moments thought. it was there. no matter
who wrote it. Il there was nothing in it,
it was surely not worth the great strug-
gle Tammany went through to answer it.
Let us see about the unreliability of the
evidence. Tammany argues that as l am
United States prisoner and cannot be
worked on the contract l cannot have any
interest in the matter. This is very true;
personally it is a matter of indifference to
me what system prevails. 1 have worked
for the state while the contract system
was in vogue and | am working for the
state now and no matter what system
comes in the future Twill still work for the
state, SO it must be plain to all unprecedented
observer that do not advocate any system
from personal motives.
Tamlmany says that If there is an avo-
cation where business must be strictly at
tended to, it is that of barber" This as
applied to me when | first came here and
started to learn the trade. is correct enough;
but do not hesitate to say. that at the
present moment l can perform the opera
ton with bandage over my eyes. IL
Tammany knows no more about the con-
tract system than he does about barbering.
there is back seat awaiting him. Ac-
cOrding to him. there is no chance to eX-
change gossip between the barber and the
victim. because the moment the barber
comes into the shop he is under the vigilant
eye of the guard. Now l know that to
answer this l must admit that l have
broken the rules and talked to the men.
Tammany would have taken a mean ad-
vantage of me here only that knowing so
much about me, he knows that l would not
| hesitate one moment were it necessary; but
it is not. Every one who has read the two
articles will admit that the writer who
signs himself Texas, and l are OF the same
opinion on the contract system. l must
adopt Tammany'S method here and use the
individual instead of the writer. Texas
worked under the contract system four
| times as long as Tammany and longer than
any man in the prison except three, and in
the position that he now holds it would be
impossible for sane man not to know the
opinions of the majority of the convicts on
all matters relating to the prison.
Texas says: "What l have written has
been from personal knowledge OF the con-
tract system in all its phases" Now, if
you are looking for the man who has OBJ
served the contract system the longest. and
if length of time is the only sign OF the re.
liability of evidence, you must certainly be
pleased with Texas.
why l have taken up the subject, so l will
give my reasons. Observer, the only
writer who was defending the contract sys-
TEN at the time, ceased writing on it two
| months ago, but from week to week the
prosecution kept up the fire and were hav-
ing things all their own way. so made the
attempt to draw out new argument on the
subject or else throw cold water on the
writer's That have failed in both is plain
to be seen. l have drawn out no new ar
guments, and Oh the other hand it was as
useless as Throwing water Oh a duck;' for,
| Ike GOldsmith's schOOlmaster:
Though beaten he could argue still
1t was rather laughable to hear our friend
| talking about United States prisoners being
permitted to share in ''Our earnings" when
we consider that the United States prison.
ers board is paid. that there is surplus
over and above his maintenance. that helps
to support Tannnany who earned only forty
five cents a day, which is not nearly enough
to support him; and. besides all this, the
United States prisoner works in some po-
sition that did he not fill, must necessarily
be filled by some man who otherwise would
be earning forty-tive cents from the con-
tractors. There is an opening here for
TaDmany to ask: ''Who pays the United
States prisoners board?" But will wait UNI
til he commences that ''easily demolished"
expedition that he talks about. before
answering any of my own arguments.
It seems strange to me that one who