The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-08-20
Grading and ParOlinD.

L learn through TIE articles copied III IHE
MIRROR from the daily press that the Board
of Corrections and Charities has recon-
mended that the grading and parole systems
be established in this prison. But THE
MIRROR and the country press have refrain
ed from commenting upon the matter
Now. l know nothing about the views of
those in charge of the prison on this sub
ject. That is none of my business and cuts
no figure in what wish to say in ventilat
ing my own views.
In the first place, what is prison for?
What is the states object in building and
maintaining prisons? The best jurlsts and
thinkers of the age tell us that it is to pro
tect society and punish criminals. That
being true. would not the plan that comes
nearest accomplishing these two objects be
the proper one to adopt? l think so. And
l think this plan is the combination of the
grading and parole systems. Of course the
plan would not help man who is deter
mined to live and die criminal, but linked
with the lndeterminate sentence, it would
be better for society. Anyone who has had
experience knows that three fourths of the
men in prison are not criminal at heart. but
have become such from early environments
and the weakness of flesh. They lean upon
others, many of them and are led astray 1t
is this class of men that the parole would
help. 1t would hold them in check and at
the same time hold them up. am led bv
observation to believe that the first thirty
days after one is released from prison de-
cides his fate-whether he will 90 back to
crime or not. | do not mean that he will
go back in that time, but that he sOws the
seed for the harvest later on Here the
parole would be a great help in starting
him in the right course.
II you were to canvass the different pris-
ons of the country [ believe Won would find
three. fourths of the inmates opposed to the
parole and grading systems. AS to the first
they would say. Oh. when l 90 out of pris-
on l want to go as free man. But look
at it from different standpoint. If they
would stop to think. they would know that
there is no one on the outside free from the
law and public opinion, or the society in
which they move. The honest and noble
live on plane above the law. So may pa
rolled prisoners if they do as we'll as three
fourths of them resolve upon before leaving
prison. A man may live above his parole.
1t will not interfere with any freedom that
leads to a good life. If you ask how it will
help man, | will tell YOU. In the first
place. it will keep him from spending the
money that the warden gives him on leav.
ing the prison, before he is out week. as
so many do. Then. again. it will keep him
from going right back to the old evil assOci-
atiOnS that were the prime cause of his fall.
He will be under the eyes of a number of
the leading men of the state. and if he acts
the man they will befrend him. If he has
any energy and self respect in his make, up,
he is sure to get to the top. He would be
stimulated to do well for their sake as we'll
as for his own, for it i, only the basest of
scOundrels that will betray the confidence
of those who have or are try ing to befrend
them.
AS to the grading system, many will say
Oh. to get into the first grade you would
have to be hypocrte and toady. That is
mistake. Prison officials who are Judges
of human nature hate that class of men Just
as everybody else does. Water will seek
its level and sooner or later the two faced
man will be found out. | find after several
years here that the best thing for any man
to do is to attend strictly to his own bust
ness as it is defined by the rules and regula.
tons. If he does not get to the front in
the end by so doing. / am greatly mistaken.
| am sure that nine out of ten men will, and
those who do not will have the consolation
of knowing that it was not their own fault. |
1t will make every tub stand on its own bot |
tom, and those who do right will not be held
down to the level of those who persist in
being tough" TEXAS.
We never thought of an appropriate name
for the people who recite Il am not Mad"
1.-THE WOOing of Henry the "" and 1.-THE
Bells of ShandOn" until year ago; and |
now. having philOlOgically deliberated on
A., l,0.x I<A A.