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


their details as to be able to influence
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 I
essarily seek to overturn the criminal !
code: certainly not to elevate the OF |
fender of laws above the honest man
and useful citizen, as is s"metlmes
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 sut-
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 confl-
dence in him.
1 Whether or not the convict can be
restored to his lost manhood is purely a
question of facts, 80 be determined by
evidence In Individual eases. The fact
that he can be and has been is demon
strated i'll numerous cases. well at
tested and beyond dispute.
Probably one prominent reason why
; more has not been accomplished, why
more men have not been reclaimed iron
vicious source of life to true man
hood and citizenship, is because OF mex
| perienced and incapable men in charge
in not a few cases brutal, profane an(
abusive in their treatment of the prlS
oners. with no thought of any ratlona
: ATTEMPT to reclaim them, but oniv L
: keep them in subsection and, in respons
v to a vicious public sentiment, to max
S the prison pay.
: Cases are not lacking where tn
4 known moral character. the languag
used and the acts of violence or inlqult
# committed by men in positionas officer
O or guards in some of our prisons Woul
e better entitle them to place benin
/: the bars. than large percentage OF tn
e men over whom they are placed an
v whose welfare and future character
N are largely dependent upon them.
The sanitary condition and reguI
,e lions of many of our prisons are bad
IF the extreme. and health and life eve
1T are seriously jeopardlzed.
1e Convicts are sent to prison to be co
,r fined for specified terms. perhaps
no hard labor. but there is no Statu
he which provides that amy convict ho'
I'd ever vicious or unmanageable, may
n killed or his health or comfort lmperil
he by noxious air, tainted food or bru|
treatment. or his moral senslbllitl
as- shocked by language vulgar, profa
he and abusive, which even he would II
or condescend to use.
I'D Probably no one questions that
rn- law and it's execution should be strl
nj perhaps severe, in its attitude towa
it's habituaI, professional or incorrlga
Ike offenders-those unsafe or desper;
M men whose incarceration either perm
its nently or for long term of years, Wo'
rit seem to be a boon to society on
as score of safety.
The broad question of prison dl'
len pline involves many and intricate
70 ditions and requirements; how to m;
low prison life means of elevating
uld convict while netting out to him
ose measure of retributive justice for
low misdeeds; how to preserve the bala
to between the deterrent and the refor
3 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
yhly the national prison association, s