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

1--WE believe that while the reformation
of the prisoner may not be the primary
purpose of the criminal code, which
seeks rather the repression ana sup
preston of crime, nevertheless when
the court has pronounced its sentence,
and the lock is turned upon the con- !
Wet, the prison which does not supply |
to him while in custody the opportunity,
the motive and means of reformation,
is not administered in the interests of
good government.
I'VE shall never have satisfactory
prisons until divorce shall be effected
between prison managementand practl-
cal politics. and until the public shall
accept the great truth that it may cost
money to make good men out OF bad
men, but that men are worth to the
nation more than dollars and must not
be sacrificed to Them
/ We must all agree that educational
and moral agencies are essential to the
elevation of human kind to its highest
level, These cannot be omitted from
the daily routine Of prison life and
should be provided for.
The mind of the prisoner, no less than
his hands, should be educated and occu-
pied: his thoughts should be diverted
from criminal channels, ambition should
be stimulated a better hope set before
him, the degrading aspects and the alb
solute unprofitableneSs of a criminal
career impressed upon him, ana he
should be taught a trade and quallfled
to earn an honest living when he is re-
turned to free life again.
These suggestions are no more IN the
interest Of the prisoner than they are
= of the community at large your IN
y terest and mine And have we not {
, RIGHT to expect and even to demand
of our legislature faithful and persist
: ent consideration of all these matters
, and wise and prompt action by which
d to introduce the needed means int
y active service.
i I might 60 into numerous matter
O incident to this Sublect--the causes O
e crime, the construction of prisons, tn
Q amount and kinds of labor to be don
by prisoners, the food to be furnished
"a discipline in general and iii cases 9
re- emergency, etc, but not at the presel
" time. will, however, refer yer
rs briefly to one other matter of lmpor
ID ance second to none other.
ID Perhaps-yes, probably-one OF tt
re most critical periods of the convict
ID life is the moment OF his diScharg
rs when. having served the time OF h
sentence and paid the legal penalties
d his crime, relieved of his prison gal
in and clothed again as man, the prise
n. door is opened and he is free to
out into the world. 1t is cold Worl
N yerv cold. and to none more so tn;
at to the man with the mark OF t
tie nrison upon him. AS we'll might it
W. the mark of Cain, for though unseen
he the multitudes whom he meets, he h
ed a kind of consciousness THAI it is SO
tai by every man, woman and child WI
les whom he comes in contact. Natul
mo differ. Some are sensitive in the {
not treme and others bold and compa
lively careless of the world or what
the world thinks: but all feel it more
let, less.
ard Asa rule these men are poor, a
BILE leave the prison with little more tn
ate the cheap and insufficient clothing p
ma vided by the contractor and five-o
uld lar bill.
the Put yourself in his place. w
children kindred, he has or had. II
sci may or may not know of him, he
ON them.
axe Has he friend on earth to whom
the can go? What can he do for livil
the Who will employ him? When? Whe
his He is just in the condition to yield
nee the suggestions of desperation or
ma spair, or to the willy temptations OF
nose would-be friend, who comes in 81
lust in time to lead him to the sal
" to and it's questionable attractions,
s of sticks by him until his money and
v of wits are gone; and he awakes to m
avs: ure of gloom worse even than ever