The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-07
Take Notice. LeUisiatOrS!


And by no means lose sight of the cues
ton prOpounded before the conference of
the prison committee. by the Hon. Frank
Seare. a few DAYS ago. in substance, as
follows: do not forget the convict. He
should receive 4 part OF his earnings as the
reward for good BEHAVIOR
The gentleman who uttered these santi-
mentS. is to be commended for his impair
tial attitude in this prison question.
And will not you. the eg;slatOrs of this,
in many respects advanced state of Mime
sofa, follow the suggestion thus presented,
or must this state fall into the groove pre-
pared by some of the other states?
Because few of the sister states prac-
tice collision with contractors, and suffer
their cOnvicts to perform outrageous tasks
tasks, which experts alone can accomplish
with any degree of regularity: end these
only, after long and arduous practice-and
severely punish any of them who may be
sent in by the officers of the aforesaid con-
tractors for non accomplishment of task;
because all this is done in other states:
would you have it done here. in Minnesota?
And because other states work the life
fguratively speaking for few, but liter
ally for the majority OF the states out of a
convict, and at the expiration of his SEN
tence send the survivor out into the world
clothed in five dollar suit. and with but
five or perhaps ten dollars. does it behOove
you to have Minnesota act in a like man
ner?
The convict has offended the laws of the
state. That is admitted. But is this
reason why he should be furnished by the
state-as he certainly is, at the present
time, by more than one state-all the re-
Quirements for making him misanthrOpe.
and an habitual criminal?
How could any man feel. Oh being dis.
charged from prison, after years of hard
and faithful labor-labor. by which some
One if not more persons became wealthy
clothed in a suit of the lowest grade of
goods. and with only five, or. say, even
ten dollars. wherewith to pay the fare from
the prison city. pay board and meet other
expenses until employment can be obtained?
The sole object state can have in dis
charging its cOnvicts in this manner, is
economy. Upon little reflection. how
ever. it will be seen that there is no econ.
Ony IN such methods. The amount saved
at the expense Of the released cony ct, is
again cAptHOcO Ill VIC police, UGttcClV0,
and judicial departments for the additional
work caused directly by these defective
methods of treating convicts.
Reform cannot be pumped into a man.
No matter what the prison surroundings
the work, treatment, etc.-may be-, no
reform can be effected without the individ-
ua's consent; viz: his firm resolution to pur-
sue in honorable ways. Now, in view of this,
how can the state expect a man. worked
for all he was worth during the period of
his imprisonment. and sent out into the
harsh, friendless world with paltry sum.
under such circumstances to make the
above good Observation-Disclosures it be during
or after, his Imprisonment?
Pay the convict fair percentage of his
earnings. and you have taken the right
step toward effecting the results that Min
nesota wishes to produce. By thus doing.
you give him an incentive to good behavior.
his nOblest qualities are exercised and be-
come predominant, and thus you have that
state of feeling. which brings forth in him
the good resolution essential to any MANS
reformation. When his time expires. he
is handed snug little sum. which enables
him to prosecute his search for work. The
state has set the example: that faithful
work is rewarded; and he needs the exam
pie. G. M. M.