The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-01-17

every prisoner the state if he wills. and is
responsible only to the people of the STATE for his
acts. The wisdom of centerng in one erson this
important prerogative is que ,tioned by many, and
by limited number it thought the pardonlng
power should not exist at ali. My own judg-
ment is that it should exist and that its proper
Judgment with the chief executive officer of the
state. But am convinced from brief experience
in its exercise that in justice both to the governor
and the applicant for pardon an advisory board of
pardons should be created and established by law,
to whom all applicants tor pardon should be re-
ferred, and whose duty it should be after due in
vestigation and consideration pass upon the
merits OF each application and report their find
ings and recommendations to the governor for his
use and guidance. The applicat. ons for pardon in
this state already numerous and the duties
Of the governor so exacting in other directions
that he cannot find the time necessary to give them
the patient and careful Investigation demanded
by the merest considerat ons OF Juice. In COM
mon fairness to the prisoner, at any rate, this
should be done. And to the end that the governor
may be rel eyed as fully possible from respOn-
sibility in exercising the pardoning power, the
board should be entirely free, both in its creation
and tenure of Office from obligations or RESPONSE
chief justice of the supreme court ght very ap.
propriately name the members to constitute the
board from persons minated for the positions by
the judges of the district courts. 1t is important
that this board, If created, shall be indepen-
dent Of political Influences possible, and semi
judicial in character do not think any state or
judicial officer any officer connected with any
of the prisons Of the state. should be eligible to
appointment on it. The freer it be made from
political, partisan outside offc influences the
better, my judgment. But these matters
of detail which l shall discuss. The main
thing the creation of the board.
GOV. MERRIAM.
A matter of grave importance to the people of
our state is the method of managing penal in
situations, and the employment Of our convict la
bor
In dealing with this subject it is required of you.
as lovers of humanity. and duty you owe to
the depraved and crimnaIly disposed of our race.
that the laws you enact shall be grounded on those
principles of philanthropy that unoerlie and
ever broadening and lettering our civilization.
The convict is in reality the ward Of the state,
and it is manifestly much your duty to consider
his material and moral welfare. as 1T is your prov
nce to deal with those issues, il lnection with
his management and employ that affect the peo-
pie of state and the industries with which they
are concerned
Idleness. ever and in all cases to be condemned.
and never failing to be the precursor of evil re-
suits, moral, mental and physical, IS to the crmi
nal condition that only develops his unlawful
tendencies.
1t is crime to enforce idleness upon the crimi.
n al whom the law depr.ves of his liberty, and it is
equally as unjust to the citizenship of state to
provide tor his employment of such character,
and in such manner. as shall adversely affect the
ndustr es that the 10 mt product private en-.
terpr Sc and capital. and of honest free and un.
tramelled labor.
very serious problem here confronts YOU and
in its solution you will have earned the thanks of
all those interested in the cause of labor and in
our industries, and be entitled to receive the
plaudits of those who are more especially study.
ing to improve the moral and material welfare of
the criminal class.