The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-09-05

IL
report would do more for the benfit of
prisoners than generation has accom-
plished. Now who urged Congress to make
the appropriation for the collecting and
printing of that report? The cOnvct-labor
agitatOrs. What is the conclusion of the
United States Labor Bureau. based upon
the facts it collected? That the complaints
against the contract system were juStifable,
and that it should be abolished. 1t further
says that much credit should be given the
persons that have agitated this question, be-
cause they have been the means of bringing
before the people OF every state and the
United States government, the conditions of
our prisons through this labor subject. and
that complete revolution will be the re-
suit, to the benefit greatly of the prisoners
themselves and society upon the whole.
Yet one of our number has the audacty to
enroll them as cranks, and possesses such
shallow wisdom. as not to know that our
present condition is but a natural one to
pass through before we can ever reach the
hoped for result. IT the people of the state
age now compelled to bear the burden of
oar weight. it will be by that means that
we can get their ear. Dollars and cents al
ways command authority. and now is the
time for us to bend all our energies to make
brave fight, to fire the columns of THE
MIRROR with the brands of Justice and
then see what orr next Legislature will do.
See if it will regrant, to the octopus now
within these walls. the power to again
crush, for long period of years, the spirit
and individual life out of the criminal wards
of the state. To see any one using the
columns of our paper, in support OF the
contract system. and at the same time de-
nOunce those who have brought about this
OH r,t firio ho;,
our enemies. as well as the agitators of the
question as ''cranks." and that the scheme
is unpracticable, visionary, and without the
ghost OF show OF success, causes my blood
to boil with indignation. l think the article
by Observer in the last issue is the most
demOgOgicial and shameless article ever
written by the pen OF prisoner. Only the
strongest influence has SO far prevented me
from turning it inside out and holding it
up that you might see its true inwardness
in THE MIRROR. | hope to see no more
such sugar coated pills administered to re-
store our enemy that we have now got
down. but by no means dead. Let's lump
on it and see if we can't come out on top.
We may have to pass through hardship, all
persons do before they win a good cause
Have we the will power?
~
Here is what l want to see: at least
three industries established here, such as
requires most work and least material and
but little and inexpensive machinery. The
three best would be toys, harness and
brushes. Then each man must learn one
OF the trades. AS soon as he has done this
he can share in his earnings. Compel him
While here to acquire all education. keep
him here until he is thoroughly reformed.
under no circumstance should he be dis
charged unless there is certainty he will
enter an honorable life, reward his good
conduct. his cleanliness OF person and cell.
teach him total abstinence, give him daily
religious instruction, impress upon him
lessons III the economical methods of learn
ing, give him tine option between the tobac-
co issued to him and its equivalent in cash
credit to hi, account. If The MIRROR
and its contributors will work and fight for
this end the result cannot be estimated
~
The Episcopal services, held in the chapel
here recently, reminded me that during a
hVe months confinement in the Hennepin
county Jail. but one minister addressed the
inmates, and he was all EpiscopaIian.
This may seem strange when the number
OF ministers in Minneapolis is considered.
also that there was confined in the iail
during that time from 40 to so prisoners. A
band OF young men and women members
or the Episcopal church, visited us and held
relgious services every Sunday afternoon,
and was the only church organization that
mlnlstered to the prisoners, and they al
ways brought a large bundle of papers
along for distribution. l.. M.