The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-19
port from the county commissioners

port from the county commissioners
and does all the investigating for the
county. That as yet they have not
been able to get the full cooperation OF
more than three of the local organiZa-
tions, the st. Vincent De Paul, Ladies
Aid and the county commissioners.
Mrs. Phoebe Mcmillan, of Minneapo-
lis, read a paper on How to Help the
Poor Without PauperiZing Them she
spoke in behalf Of the unemployed poor
and not for those already paupers who
through the hard times have been un-
able to secure employment She said
that In supplying these first their rel
atives should he appealed to or thrir
church. Failing here, the friend or ac-
qusintant shGLlc be called upon, ard
lastly public charity. She said that the
only way to do this work and not have
it result in moral depreciation is to DO it
in the spirit of the friendly visitor. To
come as friend ready to tide them
over the present emergency and said
thac they should be impressed with the
fact that children should not be sent
TO the agencies for provision. That the
children should be kept away from
all panperising influence SO far as pos
sible. Mrs. Mcmillan warned her hear
ers to be cons1derate Of the feelings
Of the people whose miSfortunes should
not be published. Dr. Morgan followed
this paper with the remark with a few
words on what he considered the heart
lessneSs of giving out information to
the reporters and the public press
about such cases. Mr.. Jackson spoke
Of the provident fund, which he con-
sidered the best agency to preserve the
selI-respect of the people and which
teaches them to save their money when
they have work. He thought this
scheme, as taken up by ST. Paul, a
good one to be adopted by the state,
and that branch stations might be es-
tablished, and called attention to the
provident fund of indianapolis, which
has secured $4,000 which has resulted
in the great falling off Of the number
of applications for relief Reports
from Albert Lea, Anoka, Austin,
Brainerd, Crookston, Faribault, Hast
ings and Mankato will be heard this
morning.
WORK OF PRISON ASSOCIATION.
The Minnesota Prison association
met in the left parlor with the presI-
dent, Hon. L. F. Hubbard, of Red
Wing. The work Of the association
was outlined by H. H. Hart, of st.
Paul, who said that the nature Of the
work is the seeking Of employment or
suitable nature for the released pris-
oners where they will be surrounded
with proper influences
F. A. Whittier, of MINNEAPOLIS. state
agent OF the state prison and state re-
tormatory, made an address in which,
after outlining the work Of a state
agent and the opposition he meets In
different communities, said that every
prisoner on release should be furnished
with steady employment. In regard to
paroled prisoners he said they are still
prisoners in the eyes of the law.
In his parole agreement the prisoner
agrees to abstain from the use Of intoxicating
liquor, to remain where he is sent, to alb
stain from vicious association not to attend
public gatherings, such as saloons or dances
and to spend his evenings at home as much
as possible; and to conduct himself in all
things as an honest and law-abiding ciu-
zen. The state agent should have the power
TO return promptly to the prison or reforma-
tory, any one, on parole, who has violated
those simple conditions. He should, in no
case, wait for an actual crime or misde-
meanor to be committed before his return
if he is satisfied that the prisoner is violating
any OF the simple conditions that are re-
quired of him. l would say that the prisoner
might be returned to prison, if in the opinion
OF the agent, supported, of course, by such
outside advice and assistance as he is able to
get, ne should at any time consider society in
the least endangered by the mans liberia
tion.'
Regarding their employment he said: "My
own opinion is, that in nearly all cases,
whether the prisoner be paroled or dis
charged it is best that his employer and i'm
mediate associates have knowledge of his i'm
pr1sonment. This is absolutely essential in
paroled men. The fact that he has been in
prison will follow him, and if for a time he
succeeds in hiding this, it may, after he be-
comes well established, then become known
and be much, more detrimental to him than
if it had been known previously
tinued:
1.-The state agent is often called upon TO de-
fend himself against the charge made by the
uncharitable, that he is befriending the Grim
mai. His defense must be that one who has
been in prison Is entitled to fair and equal
chance with others to assume the obliga-
tions and responsibilities of good citizenship.
The material help that these men need
When discharged from the prison reform
atory is very little, as the state generously
provides them with money upon their dis
charge. The average amount paid being about
800. In many cases, l think that is alto
gether too much 1t is not an uncommon
thing to see men come from prison, and with
the money so generously paid them by the
state, they, in their first hours of liberty.
will commence season of debauchery On
the other hand, there are many deserving
cases, especially short time men, where the
amount of money is too little.
From my experience, I cannot approve of
a system where the amount of good conduct
earnings is determined by the length of his
term Of Imprisonment, but think that the
amount paid should be measured by his needs
and conduct upon the outside, subsequent to
his release, and hope in the near future to
see legislation looking to that end
In conclusion. let me say, to the char
itabiy disposed who are looking to help these
men, that they can best do so by helping the
state agent. 1t becomes his duty to inform
himself upon their needs and requirements,
and if the public will support him by the
help that l have indicated that he needs
much can be accomplished.
ITO the people of this conference of cor
rection and charities the paroled and dis
charged prisoner particularly appeals, for as
the prison doors open and he again steps
forth to breathe the air of freedom the
work of correction in his behalf is still in
complete, and the work of charity but Just
begun
OBJECTS TO REFORMATORIES.
This paper was followed by a series
of questions about the work, and a
general discussion. Prof Folwell of
the state university, caused something
of a sensation during the session by
saying that he only had a few words
to say, as he wanted to catch train.
but that he had something on his mind
which he wished to express, and that
was that he had made a visit to the
reformatory in ST. Cloud, and that al
though previous to that he had been
in favor of the reformatory system he
now thought that it should be wiped
from the face of the earth. That he
objected to the walls, guards, bars and
cells, which made the place little less
than a prison. and advocated the doing
away Of all that and of allowing all the
inmates free access to each others
company. Prof. Folwell's remarks
brought about a somewhat excited dis
cussion, the general tenor of which
was that each inmate of the reform
atory is sent there for felony as much
as those sent to prison; that they are
all guilty of crime, and that there is
no difference between 1t and the prison.
The discussion following Mr. Whittier's
paper was to the effect that the prison.
ers in the reformatory should be sorted
more, and that by transferring them
from one institution to another their