The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-08-22
CIT is NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND"
Saltwater Mimi, Wednesday, Aug 20, 1888.

has introduced bill having for it's object
the prevention of the importation OF goods
made by convict labor. from one state into
another. Among its supporters and uppo-
nents are numbered both democrats and
republicans. Now. such a state of affairs
being known to exist. the quest on natural
~ arises: Are the wOrkingmen justified in
demanding that some modification be made
In the present system OF manufacturing and
dispOsing of the products of convict laber?
The last legislature that convened at the
state capitol proved by their action that
they were of that belief. and who among
us9will have the hardihoOd to say them
nay. TO discuss this question intellgently
In all its bearings. person must needs have
access to official documents, such as annual
reports. etc., OF this and similar institutions
so that no reckless assertions need be made
which could be readily cOnfuted. Situated
as we are, it is difficult, if not impossible to
get at them, so we are obliged to cOntine
ourselves to facts CLEANED from newspapers
and practical experience as acquired by our
personal relation to the subject under dis
cuSSiOn.
In the latest communication of l.. NJ,
which appeared in the last issue OF The
MIRROR. land since l began this artlcle)
he produces all array of figures and facts,
from an official source. which go far to
sustain him in the attitude he has assumed
on this question. OF the three members of
our community who have given their views
upon this subject. two OF them a.. NJ. and
G, E. have cOntended that there is some
thing radically wrong in the system which
has so long prevailed here, while the third
(Observer) in his Defense of the Contract
System" lauds its working to the very skies,
and makes gloomy and direful predictions
of what will be the condition of things in
general, in case the system for which he is
so enthusiastic, is supplanted by another.
Were he paid advocate (and | don't pre-
tend to say he is) he could not be more in
earnest than he apparently is, and for one
ain at a loss to account for his action in
viz: Not from conviction, but merely to
invite discussion" l don't criticise Obser-
yer because it has become fashionable. nor
because, like the gentleman at DOnnybrOok.
he has given general invite for somebody
Ito tread on the tail of his coat" but be-
cause believe he is on the wrong side of
this question by reason of lack of knOwl-
edge that can only be gained by personal
experience and opportunity of studying the
workings of his favOrite system in all its
various Details If he wishes to be con-
vinced of the ERRONEOUS impressions which
seem to have taken so strong grip upon
him. all that it is necessary for him to do
is to cross the ''dead line" ii. e., the line di-
viding those in the state service from those
employed by cOntract), and take position
among those who honestly differ from him,
and | venture to assert that in one short
week contract time) all his rOSe-cOlored
views will have vanished as mist before the
rising sun. Instead of making converts to
the views he now holds, he would become
a convert tO<he doctrine of 1.-The greatest
good to the greatest number" and would
with renewed zeal, and with his happy
faculty of convincing. hasten to inform. his
former proselytes that he had at last found
the true faith.
will in the near future explain why l
said that under certain circumstances
would say ''let the contract system con-
tinue," and why l unite with those who
oppose the present condition of things.
TAMMANY.