The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-27
LET THERE BE LIGHT.

LET THERE BE LIGHT.
There is no man in the state of Min
nesota, with natural human instincts
not deadened by personal or party OBJ
ligation who does not demand today
that the condition of affairs in the
state prison at Saltwater should be
open to the bright light of day. If
there were needed confirmation that
things are desperately wrong there, if
the evidence presented to the public and
supported by sworn statements were
not sufficient, it would be enough to call
for a searching investigation by impair
tiaI persons to read or hear some of
the comments made by men>w have
their share of responsibility for such
abuses as may be found to exist. We
say that it is a shame to the state of
Minnesota when, from the highest to
the lowest official place within it's
borders, there should be public Of
fetal in any way connected with the
administration Of the present system
who does not meet such revelations as
these half way with an earnest demand
that the lights be turned on.
Instead Of that, the people Of the
state will learn, not with surprise, per
haps, but certainly with Indignation,
that the governor, upon whom rests
properly the initiative, has dared to
hold lightly and carelessIy accusations
that reflect upon the honor of Mime
sofa and upon the common humanity
of its people. With jaunty air and in
different tone, he does admit that an
investigation is proper, but he is con-
vtnced that nothing will come of it.
Why is he so convinced? What reason
has he in him for that faith, if there
be not somewhere a determination to
smother the facts or to reach conclu-
sions at variance with them? How can
any man, whatever his views and what
ever his prepossessions, say publicly at
this time what a properly constituted
inquiry will disclose? The best that
he can do the least that he can do,
that which official dignity and his cath
of office require of him, is to hold him
self, with free and open mind, ready
to accept or reject testimony impair
TALLY, and to do justice, whomever it
may help or hurt.
We have, again, an interview pub
lished with one member of the board
Of prison managers, who is represent
ed as saying: "The stories of brutal
treatment Of convicts sat the state
prison are entirely false" The MAX
ing Of such a statement. as that brands
the utterer as unfaitfiful to his trust.
How does he know whether charges
preferred are false or true? He may
have his opinion about it, he may be
sure that, as far as events that have
come under his notice are concerned,
there were no wrongs, but what pre-
tensions to omniscience does he lay
claim to when, in advance of any in
Vestigation, at the first blush, without
consultation or inquiry, he expresses
his disbelief of charges that are
supported by the evidence of the rec
ords and testified to solemnly under
oath? What fitness is there in such a
man to take part in any investiga-
ton ordered? The meanest criminal
put on trial for life or liberty has a
right to demand an unprejudiced jury.
| Would any judge in the land permit a
man to pass into the jury box who
stated to the court that the prisoner
at the bar was absolutely innocent? A
similar statement is reported of an
other member of the board, although
we fail to find, in published inter-
view with him, any corroboration of
| the twist given to his words by the
| newspaper correspondent
What all these facts amount to, how
! ever, is to enforce the neces-
sity Of fair tribunal and
an impartial investigation. Shall
we have it? Can we have it? Is the
state of Minnesota so tied down to a
certain set of men, good, bad and in
different, but all bound together as
parts of a machine, that the cry of
the injured and oppressed must rise
forever without remedy? Are these
poor creatures in the state penitentfary,
/ who dare not for their lives tell what
happens within those walls, to be tried
before judges who don the black cap
when the first word of testimony is
spoken? Are they, who dare not
/ speak out the truth without some guar
antee of future protection, to be left
always to such tender mercies as they
have found in the past?
We demand, in the name of this state,
in the name of justice, in the name of
! ordinary decency and humanity, an in
vestigation of the conduct of the state
prison at Saltwater by a body of COM
petent and fair-minded men; men who
! are not prejudiced either for or against
! the administration Of which Warden
Wolfer is the head; men who have not
declared their opinions in advance;