The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-02-21

informed upon these matters in all
their details as to be able to influence
intelligently the minds of the people
generally, and especially the minds of
legislators, governors and judges in di-
rections which shall promise and secure
better results in dealing with crime,
than any which have been realized here.
A prison reform society does not nee
essarily seek to overturn the criminal
code: certainly not to elevate the Of
fender of laws above the honest man I
and useful citizen, as is sometimes
claimed by those who, ignorantly pre-
JUDGED against the efforts made to
remedy existing evils, would have us
believe.
1t is one of the healthy signs of the
times that the attention of so many in
telligent men and women has been at
tracted and is being given to these sui
jects, and to the practical solutions OF
the important problems suggested by
them. and to facts relating to the work
that has actually been accomplished.
The almost universal prejudice which
seems to regard the convict as wretch,
forever outside the pale of citizenship
or brotherhood, is, alike senseless, in
human and unchristian.
AN unreasoning de pair of the con
Wet is as foolish as unfounded conf
dence in him.
Whether or not the convict can be
restored to his lost manhood is purely
question of facts, to be determined by
, evidence in individual cases. The fact
that he can be and has been is demon
D strated in numerous cases. we'll at
: tested and beyond dispute.
2 Probably one prominent reason why
r more has not been accomplished, why
|. more men have not been reclaimed from
q a vicious source Of life to true man
: hood and citizenship, is because OF mex
4 perienced and incapable men in charge
l. in not few cases brutal, profane anc
?, abusive in their treatment of the prls
t, oners. with no thought of any ratlona
J. attempt to reclaim them, but only t'
l. them in subjection and, III respons'
" to vicious public sentiment, to max
IS the prison pay.
p Cases are not lacking where tn
d known moral character, the languag
used and the acts of violence or inlqult
IT. committed by men in position as officer
70 or guards in some of our prisons wonl
,e better entitle them to place benin
n: the bars, than large percentage OF Tn
We men over whom they are placed an
w. whose welfare and future character
9n are largely dependent upon them.
The sanitary condition and regui;
he tions of many of our prisons are bad
of the extreme, and health and life eve
ut are seriously jeopardized.
he Convicts are sent to prison to be CO.
ur fined for specified terms, perhaps
he hard labor, but there is no statu
he which provides that any convict ho'
nd ever vicious or unmanageable, may
M killed or his health or comfort lmperll'
he by noxious air. tainted food or brut
treatment, or his moral senslbllltl
es-' shocked by language vulgar, profa
the and abusive, which even he would
or condescend to use.
old Probably no one questions that t
rn- law and it's execution should be strl
mi perhaps severe, in its attitude iowa
it's habitual, professional or incorriga'
axe offenders unsafe or despers
i'm men whose incarceration either perm
otis nently or for a long term of years, wo'
rit seem to be a boon to society on
as score Of safety.
The broad question of prison dis
nen pline involves many and intricate G.
xe ditions and requirements; how to ma
low prison life a means of elevating
,uld convict while netting out to him
1859 measure of retributive justice for
now misdeeds; how to preserve the bala
, to between the deterrent and the reforl
9 is tory influence of the prison upon tn
rom lncarcerated in it.
n to Wise legislation is needed in orde
so, meet properly all the requirements
the case. DR.. Wines, late secretar.
ghly the national prison association, 81