The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-10-24
Rara Avis.

ture, it appears as if that body had been too
premature in the action they have taken in
the matter, inasmuch as the evidence of the
defense is not all in. The most important,
and by far the most convincing of the numer
Gus witnesses on that side of the case has
just left the stand, and it is safe to say that
if the legislature had been i'm possession of
the incontrovertibe facts as given by him
in the issue of THE MIRROR of Oct. 10,
its action would have been quite different,
and we would still be busly employed under
the best system the world has ever seen.
Thackery has we'll said that The advice of
the fellow who knows how it is himself is
not to be despsed or ignored" and AS this
particular witness seems to know all about
it. the next Legislature would do we'll to
heed his admonition and make haste to re-
store to us the dearly beloved system of
which we were SO ruthlessly dispossessed.
But to be serious let us see who our re
liable witness is. what his relations are to
the subject in regard to which he processes
to be so well posted, how he is interested in
it, and how he happens to be possessed of
so much valuable information. He needs
no introduction to the regular readers of
THE MIRROR as he is well and hope favor
ably known to them by his frequent and
valued contributions to our little paper over
the nom de plume of Phoenix. or as our ex-
editor has tittingly dubbed him the Com
bative Ph9niX." and like the true son of
Mars that he is, nothing pleases him SO well
as to be engaged in controversy. Being a
fellOw-tOwnSman of mine, | hold him in
the highest regard. and that this feeling is
reciprOcated is proven by the fact of his
late anxious attempt to convince me of the
error Of my way of thinking in regard to
the contract system.
That he is original. goes without saying,
and is indicated to a certain extent even by
his choice Of nom de plume: no ordinary,
everyday name would suit him, nor would
he be content with one that was used in the
days OF chvalry, but he needs must 20
back and pluck from heather mythology the
name of one of it's most revered deties
whose biography | find on referring to nv
encyclopedia is as follows: "PhRniX-ThiS
is mythical bird, said to live in Arabia,
and resembling all eagle. with wings partly
red and partly golden. On arriving at the
age of 500 years, it built a funeral pile of
wood ami aromatic gums, and lighting it by
the tanning OF its wings, was consumed to
dSlleS, Out vi WHICH arose new phoenix.
The fathers OF the church employed the
myth to illustrate the resurrection"
Now then. is it any wonder that there
are so few among us who dare cope with so
formidable an adversary? l frankly confess
that l am unequal to the task. and it is with
much fear and trembling that | venture
even to critcse him. And now for his TO-
latiOn to the contract system and how he IS
affected by it. Phoenix is United States
prisoner, and there is a law of the United
States which prohibits any warden. agent.
or official of any state prison etc., where
criminals Of the United States may be in
generated, to hire or contract out the labor
OF said prisoners. The penalty for viola
ton of which is imprisonment for mot less
than one or more than three wears. or a
fine OF not less than five hundred nor more
than one thousand dollars. for each Otfense."
In consequence of this law Phoenix is de-
barred from participating in any manner
III the LABOR ne most loves. and must fain
content himself in the performance of such
duties as do not conflict with the law.
Now, such being the case why does he
interest himself so anXiously in the res
toratlOn OF system. under which. be lie ever
50 willing, he is prohibited from workingo
Is it because of a desire to benefit such of
his fellOW-cOnvictS who have, during their
sojOurn here. been necessarily working m.
der it, who are loud in their condemnation
OF 1t, and who comprise, at least three
fourths OF our population? 1t seems not.
as he by no means reflects their views. Can
1t be possible that he has allowed himself to
be influenced by mercenary considerations?
Although prevented from participating in
cur labOrs it has been customary to allow
United States prisoners all equal share of
our earnings. If there be any among us
VINO entertain such ideas, | am not of their
NUMBER as am too well acquainted with
MS generous disposition to believe that he
would permit himself to be guided bv anv
such motive. What then is his raa.nn Cor