The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-21
Where the Fault Lies.

1t shows that the total number of arrests
for the year was 1908 The total of the
police force is 1.145 men. In view of the
fact that there is all immense difference in
the moral qualities of the various police
precints, it is possible that the average num-
Der of arrests in some portions of the city,
per policeman. is not far from 100. This is
certainly all enormous number. Yet. not
withstanding the fact that L have not been
able to see the police reports OF the twin
cities firmly believe. that from all &C
counts, the arrests made in Minneapolis
and St. Paul, are. in proportion. not very
far below those of Chicago. The fact of
SO many arrests being made will perhaps
suggest at once to many people that the pO-
lice forces of tho Sc cities are more active
and thorough in the ei fOrmance Of their
duties than the police in other communities.
Such a conclusion. however, will require
ether data than tn, Sc which refer to the
amount of wOlk done. The merits of the
above mentioned arrests will depend very
largely ON their necessity. 1t appears from
the report that of the total 46. sos, Is S63
were discharged at the police courts. This
is one third of the number of arrests made.
1t is further shown that one half of the PEG
whiIe | 657 were held on criminal charges.
In brief, of the whole number arrested,
one half were found not guilty of enough
to warrant a fine or binding over to the
grand jury; one third were discharged one
tenth were taken to the county hospital.
Erring WOman'S Refuge or the Washing
tOnian Home. thus leaving only about one
Ihirteth who were held Oh criminal charges.
This showing is certainly not good one.
There must be bad judgment involved
in the police management when nearly one
half of the arrests are those of people
against whom no offenSe is found. Such result
is in the nature IF All outrage on the public;
one man OF every two is found to be innO-
cent. In many instances. prisoners
ar bound over, without doubt. for
trivial offenseS and sent to Jail to await
action of the grand jury. where they often
remain for weeks before they are re ex-
amined. The unavoidable consequences
are. that the jails are crowded with the &C
cess of juvenile and other alleged offenders.
who are contaminated by their confinement
and who. if not criminally inclined before
their incarceration, are very apt to become
so during it. They become acquainted
with criminals of all descriptions during
their sOjOurn there; and the teachings.
stories of adventures. ETC.. which they are
compelled to listen to, change the whole
current of their thoughts and turn their flu.
ture lives into different channel.
The fault lies in the bad management
and Judgment Of those who are intruSted
with the responsibilities of making and car
rying out OF the laws. they cause the crinl-
inal classes to increase instead of diminish
Here manv will ask. how is it possible to
arrive at this cOncuSOn?" There are many
ways of answering this question. The
strongest answer that | can possibly make
is, to Danish the one great cause that leads
to most OF these arrests namely. the saloon.
This is the great evil. Notwithstanding the
fact that the salOonkeeper, by paying high
license, helps to swell the Golfers of the
state. for. where is the money coming from
to pay the license? 1t is the hard working
man, who. after returning from his work,
pays for the same. This is not the end yet,
but as soon as he has filled himself up to
such an extent that he cannot be held re
spOnSible for his actions guardian of the
peace. who is generally to be found about
saloons. will appear and arrest him for
buying, what is sanctioned by the law to be
sold. How long will this nation endure
this tremendous drain of the morals of hui
manity through this traffic. and still give
these moral wrecks their powerful agency
in steering the ship of state when all the
manhood has through this agency been con-
verted into gigantic powers for evil? How
long will the nation endure the drain of all
that is good. without being wrecked and
wret ked through wOuld-be philanthropy
and neglect of Christian duty? No wonder
some inspired writer tells us that gold is
the root OF all evil, and that Mammon was
singled out as the least of the spirits that
fell from heaven, when in this nineteenth
century. with all the light and knowledge
on the subject. Christians are willing to
sell all that is good. pure and elevating
even home itself. and through this national
mint convert all into revenue. The gov
eminent finds it needful to make most
stringent laws to protect the Indian from
the whisky bOttle-shOuld not our govern