The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-21
PRISON LEGISLATION.
Tammany's Closing Article on the
Prison Labor Problem.

Prison Labor Problem.
The senate committee on prison labor
have reported favorably on bill, which, if
passed, will result in a return to the con-
tract system. 1t fixes the minimum price
at which the labor of the convict may be
let, at 40 cents per day. If this bill passes
it will be done in violation Of the Republi-
can party promises; it will be done against
the advice of the late governor and present
Executive; ii will be done in spite of the
protests of the labor organizations and the
manufacturers of the country. and it will
be done in spite of the fact that the reform
atory feature of prison confinement is al
most entirely eliminated when the cOnvicts
are sold to a contractor who has no other
interest in them except to get the largest
amount of money possible out of Them"
The foregoing is the substance of all edi-
torial that appeared in late issue of the
Minneapolis Journal. one of the most in
huential organs of that progressive oty.
The passage of such a method means that
the places that knew us 50 long, will soon
know us again and that numerous persons
will have to vacate III order to make room
for lis; it will mean that the state desires to
make no truce with the ''enemles of so
ciety," and that it proposes to continue on
in the good old way of making men better;
it will mean sad farewell to hopes that we
have entertained of being afforded Oppor-
tunities of acquiring trade or education.
The reduction in our wages will mean that
the state has been receiving too much for
our services, and will not only tend to de-
grade us still further in our own estimation.
but will make the competition with out
side labor still more severe. The
opinion that prevailed here-and it is still
prevalent-when the contract system was
abolished. was that the state would establish
a system of prison labor other than that
which the people had SO sweepingly con-
denned Many of us were of the opinion
that the state would adopt some system
whereby it could retain sole control OF its
cOnvicts, and make some endeavOr to Grad
icate their vicious instincts. We thought
that the advice and opinions of men who
have devoted years of their lives to a study
of the criminal class, would have their due
weight as should certainly be the case.
One of the gentlemen to whom l have ref
erence; and whose fame as penOlOgist is
national, is Mr.. w. Nj. F. Round, who. in
a recent address delivered at Plymouth
Church. Brooklyn, had this to say on the
subject: There is no successful prison
work unless men are sent where they will
not harm the community. The Elmlra re-
formatory is the model on which all state
prisons should be patented. Those sent
there are kept until they show evidence of
real reform. They are studied mentally,
spiritually and physically. and new
character is built up. and one by one is re-
leased on parole until he shows that he can
be free absolutely. The result is that 81
and fraction per cent. have been returned
to honest self-suppOrting manhood. against
II or 1S per cent. in the old prison system.
The whole system should be shaped on the
Elmira system. There are just two ways
to get rid of the criminal classeS-tO kill or
REFORM This ought surely to be good
evidence. The same opinion is held by a
vast majority of those who have made the
criminal subject fer study.
But let us return to a consideration of
this bill which has been reported favorably
by the senate prison committee. The ques-
ton is will it pass? If its fate could be
decided by the voice of those here-whom
it so nearly concerns-it would not stand
the ghost OF chance; if it were submitted
to direct vote of the people of the state
Judging from the general tone of the press,
it would be buried beyond resurrection.
But will it pass the senate, that body in
which the bill abOlshing the contract sys-