The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-11-07
STATE CONFERENCE OF
COR DIRECTIONS AND
CHARITIES.

|
THE fourth annual convention of the
State Board of Corrections and Charities
which closed it's sessions Oct. 31st, was
more largely attended than any pre-
vious meeting, which is evidence of the
increasing interest manifested in cor
rectional and charitable work. Among
the number present from abroad and
whose attendance greatly enhanced the
interest of the meeting were Rev.
Frederick H. Wines, L. L. D., of ILL.,, a
prominent writer and lecturer on crime,
poverty and insanity, Hon. Ernest
Bicknell, secretary of the Board of Cor
rections and Charities of Indiana, and
Prof. O. n. Wright, inspector Of chart
ties for Wisconsin. Many excellent
papers were read which were followed
by general discussion. DR.. Wines and
Mr.. Bicknell were earnest in praise of
the work done here, Mr.. Bicknell's Ian
guage being as follows:
"In Indiana, when we want to adopt
some progressive method, we look to
Minnesota for an example. AS an in
stance of this, when we wanted to re-
form our prison methods we sent the
wardens of our two state prisons to
saltwater to inspect the Minnesota in
stitution. At the last session of our
legislature we procured the introduce
ton of bill for state school. mod
eled after the one at Owatonna, which
| had visited Unfortunately for the
state the bill failed to pass, but the
instance shows how Minnesota is re-
garded in these matters. And | know
that in other states they look in the
same way upon Minnesota. And. by
the way continued Mr.. Blcknell.
"When we younger secretaries want to
know what to do we consult Secretary
Hart, of Minnesota. | know that he is
universally regarded throughout the
country as one of the ablest and most
progressive men in this work that we
have in the United States
DIR. Wines was equally emphatic in
commentator of the state institutions.
Miss Grace Johnston, the "prisoners'
friend,' read paper advocating the
organization of a Prisoners Aid Society,
from which we quote the following ex-
tract:
cat no time in his life does a con-
vlcted man so sorely need the sympa-
thy and the help of his fellow men as
when. the law being satisfied, he re-
turns to the freedom of the outside
world. The potentialities of his being
render him an object worthy OF con-
sideration at such time. A harsh act,
an unkind word, an unjust suspicion
and the black devils may take posses
sion of his soul again, to the harm of
Others and the detriment of himself
A prisoners aid society, with ramifi-
cations extending throughout the state,
composed of influential men and
women, could do grand and noble
work in arousing and educating public
interest and sentiment, and in conjunc-
ton with the state agent, who should
be the secretary of such an organiza-
ton, could so extend and strengthen
the work for the individual men and
women as to render vastly more effect
i've and permanent the work already
so nobly begun by the state. The OBJ
Jects for which it should exist, as I
shall give them, express it's need, and
urge upon you the completion of an
organization that shall meet such need.
SO truly humanitarian is such work,
and so essentially Christian, that it
should require but whisper of it's
need to rally to it's support the best ele-
ment of society and of the church every
where. Such an organization should
extend throughout the state, with GEN.
trail bureau at the state capitol. Itshould
cooperate with the authorities of the
public prisons in finding employment
for discharged prisoners and exercising
friendly supervision over them. 1t
should encourage discharged prisoners
to lead upright lives and to take their
place in the community as respectable
citizens. 1t should secure correspond
ents in each county Of the state, who
shall undertake to cooperate with the
prison agent for the purposes already
named. 1t should enlist the co-opera-
ton of religious, charitable and philan-
thropic organizations. It should arouse
and direct a just and wholesome feeling
in the community toward discharged
prisoners. 1t should provide good ad-
ministrations of prisons, jails, lockups