The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-28
PRESS OF MINNESOTA TALKS.
SEEMS TO BE OVERWHELM-
ING.
AN INVESTIGATION is WANTED.
That Things Should Be
Looked Into.

warmly SeCOHulLS the G l y u t loi Gall
ing attention in vigorous fashion to the
cruelty in the Minnesota state prison
at Saltwater. Some of these comments
are given below:
Already the machinery is in motion to
administer thick coat Of whitewash to
Deputy Warden Lemon. Let them go ahead
and do it. Let them make him out much
malgned man. 1t was done once before and
truth was crushed to- earth but 1t has risen
again redoubled in energy, force, vitality,
and ability to eXonorate or condemn. Crush
it again; whitewash it: do it by all means.
Let every one give these men all the rope
they want to whitewash Lemon. By all
means let that be the verdict Of the prison
board-which by the way is a part and parcel
OF the prison management-lf that be their
inclination. When that is done then in quick
succession will follow series of events that
will show to the world the power of truth to
vindicate, to punish. The inclination is to
whitewash and by all means let 1t be done
1t Will be the undoing of all connected with
it. Little does the prison management know
what is before them. Little do they know
OF the powerful remedy about to be applied
1t will not be applied until after the white
washing Is done. Five hundred newspapers
are watching events at the prison. Five
hundred newspapers are today prepared to
tell the truth when it shall appear. The
greatest dailies on the continent are watching
and investigating. Their agents on the
ground and their work is most thorough The
small factor in the sensation that will fol-
low in the wake of their labor.
Many have an erroneous idea that because
Lemon is a Mason that he will be white
washed. This idea is freely quoted on the
streets Nothing is farther from the truth.
Masonry will not shield Lemon. 1t will see
square deal, that is all, Prominent Masons
have in times past Investigated the acts of
former misdeeds at the prison, committed
by men who were Masons and they were not
eXonorated Masonry does not shield crime.
That Is mistaken idea. 1t will hang a
Guiteau or Hayward, and it will not shield
Lemon at this tfme.-Daily Times, Saltwater.
Serious charges have been preferred against
the management of the states prison at Still
water 1t is claimed that Deputy Warden
Lemon has been guilty of the most barbar-
Gus cruelty. 1t is also said that he has tied
prisoners up by the hands and beaten them
into 1nsensibil1ty throwing others down
stairs. and then striking them over the head
with heavy stick, and that the victim was
difgured for life. The stories have been float
ing around the state for the past three or four
years, but, as they were told by ex-convicts
but little attention was paid to them. Now
That they have appeared in the public press
Warden Wolfer has promptly asked an inves-
tigation. The Journal-Press is pleased TO
state that no man in charge of penal iRSti-
tuition has a greater degree of the public
confidence than Warden Wolfer, and we have
no doubt that an investigation will sustain
the general belief concerning him. But we
do not believe that the investigation should be
made by the states prison board. AS mat
ter Of fact the board is under Indictment
along with the rest of the management. If
the prisoners at Saltwater have been abused
one-tenth as severely as is now charged. the
whole management should be fired, including
the members of the board. For most of the
members of that board have a high re-
gard, but 1t would be manifestly improper
for them to presume to investigate these
charges for the purpose of satisfying the pub
lie fasity of the same. They might as we'll
be investigated by Warden WoIfer.
The public have the right to know the whole
truth in regard to this matter, and a thor
ough investigation should be made by men
of high standing and those wholly disnter-
ested The state board of corrections and
charities might do, or perhaps commission
appointed by Gov. Clough, of prominent men
of all parties, would be better.-St Cloud
Journal-Press.
The st. Paul Globe makes some very
serious charges in regard to the cruelty with
which prisoners at the state prison at Still
water have been treated by Deputy Warden
Lemon, and even claims that
killed by blow at his hands. We realize
that in running state prison the officers
in charge are not dealing with a Sunday
school. but there have been so many stories
afoat in regard to the brutal and cruel
acts of Lemon, there may be something in
these. Warden Wolfer has asked for an in
vestigaton and one should be made. 1t
should not be made by the board of man
ayers either. Inasmuch as the legislature
is not in session, the governor ought to
appoint commission of well known citizens
of the state to look into this matter, so that
the public would have confidence in the re-
port first, because the witnesses are not
always trustworthy, and secondly, because
prisoners, who liable to be
subjected to further cruelty are intimidated
from telling the truth. There are so many
stories told of Lemons acts that they ought
to be looked into, and looked into thorough
ly.-Fergus Falls Journal.
Nothing short of thorough and impair
tial investigation of the alleged cruelties at
the saltwater prison Will SATISFY bdnz the people
body to do it, for already enough members
of that body have declared the charges to
be groundless or exaggerated to indicate
partially that will not do the subject JUS
tice Nor will the citizens OF the state be
satisfied with committee whose prejudices
are the other way. What is wanted is an
open, honest and thorough inquiry-with
nothing to conceal or exaggerate-and when
this has been made, then report to sustain
the facts, and punish the guilty if there are
any.
The Pioneer Press of today publishes a
whitewashing denial of the charges pub
a trustee and we presume he believes what
he says but being a. manager he is only
present on occasions when his coming is eX-
| pected, everything is made to appear at its
best and the most rigid surveillance is main
tanned to prevent complaint by employe or
prisoner.
and is freed from the rigid discipline and
tyranny that prevails there must be put upon
the stand. The Review publishes an inter
view with Mr.. A. B. Ewing. OF this city,
for more than year guard VI Saltwater,
who not oniy confirms the crueities charged,
but gives additional incidents in keeping
with what has already been puDllshed. we
have no doubt Of the truth of what he says,
| for he has ever since his separation from
the prison, asserted and maintained his con-
viction, from practical knowledge, OF the
reign of cruelty partially and injustice in
| prison Observation-Disclosures Review.
AS a rule the evidence of discharged con-
yicts and discharged guards is not taken
! the truth the whole truth and nothing but
the truth and the alleged sensation sprung
this morning by the G be, relative to the
MANAGEMENT of the state prison, Will attract
pause for an instant and consider the kind
! of men the warden and assistants are obliged
to deal with all the, time, they cannot but
| admit that the officials are haoie to be called
on at any moment to queh riot. There are
reckless, desperate men confined in the
| prison here that care very little for life, and
| but for the strict discipline enforced there
would be serious trouble most OF the time.
ment adopted and carried out by Warden,
! Wolfer, Deputy Warden Lemon and guards,
| there is little danger, We are fully convinced
! that the Minnesota state prison is conducted
! on strictly business principles and at the
same time in just and human manner. Dis
| charged convicts and discharged guards are
! very liable to exaggeratef statements, to say
| the least The people OF saltwater, lrreSpec-
| tive of politics or religion, who are cognizant
| of the workings of the prison, know that the
| Minnesota state prison stands near the head
! for discipline and good oBder. The men
sentenced to hard labor by the courts. They
| are well fed, comfortably clothed, and are
! not overworked. AS an evidence of the lat
ter, it is only necessary to say that the men