davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09

He is Elected President of the National
Prison Congress.

The National Prison Congress which
was in session at Austin. Texas, De.
cember End to 9th, elected the follow
ing officers for the ensuing year: presi-
dent, Henry Wolfer of Saltwater; first
vice president, Philip H. Doran OF
Cleveland; second vice president, Wal
ter n. Thayer of New York; third vice
president, P Hoyt of Colorado; secre-
tary, 7. B. Patton of Pennsylvania.
The honor thus conferred upon
Warden Wolfer as a successor to
position sought and held by such men
as f. c. Wines, and Ex-President
Hayes, is one that any man may justly
be proud of. We venture to prophecy
that Warden Wolfer in his quiet and
unobtrusive way will fill the post in a
manner to bring credit to himself and
the illustrious names that preceded
him in the executive duties of the
National Prison Congress.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09
What Is Your Time Worth?"


Some weeks ago we wrote an edi-
torial on the above subject that was
inspired by pithy letter we noticed in
Charles Austin Bates Criticisms for
October. THE MIRROR of that date
having come to the notice of Mr.. F. 3.
Stevens, who was the author of the
letter to Nh. Bates, he found time to
drop us note regarding it which we
duly appreciate, and publish herewith,
as it contains good sound sense and
comes from level-headed man of
large business interests:
Detroit. Mich, Nov %, 1897.
Editor PRISON MIRROR,
saltwater, MIMI,
Dear Sir:-I have a copy of your
paper under date of Oct 2Sth, which |
received some time ago, and which |
put in my pocket awaiting a convent
ent season to look it over.
| have read your paper over and find
that you publish very attractive little
sheet. 1t certainly reflects great credit
upon the Editor and Publishers, and
hope, therefore, that the publication
may be continued indefinitely.
| enclose one dollar for my subscrip-
ton, together with my good wishes for
your success.
Your editorial "What is Your Time
WORTH" which was inspired by letter
from me ordering a desk clock, is very
good. | had no thought when writing
the letter beyond provoking smile,
and of course my statement as to the
value of my time was largely over
drawn, still, you have hit the key note
of the whole matter.
Nothing is accomplished without
close application and hard work; the
greater the application, the harder the
work-the better the result.
l presume any man who looks at
both sides of the question can realize
the fact that many another man has
realized this too, but not until too late,
still, there is always time for i'm
provement so long as there is hope and
courage in the human breast.
We are good deal like chips thrown
into the Stream-sOme of us float along
with the current, others become lodged
in the boys and grasses. 1t requires a
watchful eye and constant effort to
avoid the breakers. With kind re-
CARDS, am.
Yours truly,
F. B. STEVENS.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09
TO INMATES.

For the information of new arrivals and all
others desiring to send THE MIRROR to friends
we wish to say that the privilege will be granted
by complying with the following rules: Write
out your own name, register and cell number
and send to this offit with name and address
of person to whom paper is to be sent. All
papers must be kept clean and folded in the
same manner as it is when you receive it and
placed in your door every Friday night. All in
mates are requested to comply with this order
whether sending out a copy or not.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09

The Minneapolis Journal is to give
midwinter excursion to California
and Mexico with unusual privileges
and at rate that is cheaper than to
stay at home. The excursion will leave
Minneapolis union depot on January
29th. The cost of the entire trip includ-
ing meals and berths will be 1925.
Stop-over privilege is allowed at any
time or place. We are sorry to add
that the only part of the excursion the
editor can enjoy will be ''stop-over "
at Saltwater until the return of the
gala party.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09

handing good salaried position,
while the other is drug upon the
market.
Verbose sympathy, to a man strug
Cling with the adversities of life,
accomplishes about the same amount
of good as the boy did who tried to put
out the flames in a burning dwelling
by blowing water upon it through
quill.
The stern realities OF life, behind
prison walls, recall in most vivid
manner what one really loses by fol-
lowing his chimerical ideas on how to
get rich suddenly.
If individuals possessed all the bad
habits which their enemies charge
them with, they would soon have to
put on a night shift in order to make
presentable appearance.
Where there is smoke it is presumed
fire exists. With the gOssiper, mere
suspicion is equivalent to ones guilt.
Our conscience is to us what the in
dictator is to a steam engine. If its
warnings are not needed, bad results
are sure to follow.
JASPER.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09
Movements of Our Population.

School attendance, 1873.
Patients undergoing treatment in
hospital, s.
Prison population Dec. 9: Males,
500; females, 10; total, $40.
Prisoners received during the week
ending Dec. 8, 5; Discharged, 3.
Grade standing Dec. g.: First
grade, 372; second grade, 1872; third
grade, 6.
Prisoners received during the week:
Charles Dixon, Polk Co., robbery
second degree, twelve years.
William Jones, Clay Co., assault
second degree, two years and six
months.
Ed. Sheehan, Polk Co., grand larceny
second degree, two years.
Transfers from St. Cloud reformatory:
E. J. Simpson. Polk Co., grand lar
ceny second degree, reformatory plan.
F. B. Walker, Hennepin Co., grand
larceny second degree, reformatory plan.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09

A special meeting of the Board of
PardOns was held in st. Paul on Mon
day to consider the case of 2. J. Berg
strom, ex-register of deeds of st. Louis
county who had been sentenced to
serve one year here and pay a fine Of
$500 for applying to his own use fees
that should have been credited to the
county. The pardon was granted, and
the fine was reduced to $500. The evil
dence adduced in favor of the pardon
was to the effect that there was no
criminal intent on his part.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09

You never hear of printer being a
bold, bad highwayman. The comp,
when in "hard lines," does not feel
"justified' in smuggling" man.
No diagram goes with the above
nothing but malIet and a shooting
stick.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09


CLEANED from dime novels, may just as
we'll fill his upper story with sand.
The result is about the same; but the
"sand" might inspire a courageous
action.
Policemen may be an absolute neces-
sity to enforce the law; but when they
try to force the law into the heads of
their victims with the aid of loaded
billy, their proper place is on the stone
pile where their pounding propen-
sites can be given full swing.
\ good constitution is necessary to a
man in prison, especially so when he
has ten years sentence to digest.
When a city grants license to Mr..
Bugjuice to sell Mr.. Jaggs an article,
and he purchases more than he can
carry, is it considered diplomacy or
''hOnest business" principles to fine him
for purchasing a legitimate article?
The man who imagines that he is
being prosecuted to death by others, is
pursuing mighty rocky course. If
you think others are SO mean and
contemplate, undoubtedly you will
continue having such imbecile i'm
pressions.
An ungovernable temper is difficult
thing to control. Some try to gain the
mastery by putting a "brldle'' on their
tongue, but they invariably fail on
account of not grasping the reins with
firm hand.
Self-respect is an ornament to man
that needs no other establishment to
win the esteem of others. The dude
who handles gold-headed cane and is
respondent with diamonds, but lacks
self respect, is like peacock. He at
tracts only passing glance on account
of his plumage
AS the small plant is nourished from
Seeding to massive oak tree, so it
is with bad habits. The longer they
are allowed to grow the harder will
they be to uproot.
Courage to say NO at the right time
not only saves considerable trouble
and anxiety, but, when compared to
one without the moral stamina to say
either yes or no. we find the one com.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09
CHURCH NOTICE.

Services in the Prison Chapel at 500 O'Clock
every Sunday morning. Protestant and
Catholic services every alternate Sunday.
chaplainS.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09

Warden Wolfer, and President
O'Brien of the Board of Managers,
will be home sometime today, as they
are to be present at the regular monthly
meeting of the Board to be held to-.
morrow.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09

w. II. Skiff and J. S. Coster, who
were in the city doing business in the
hOrse-fesh line with H. c. Farmer,
were callers here Monday, accompa-
MED by Mr.. Farmer.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09
Local,
r1SOnetteS Lucid
Logical.

]. H. Murphy of Winona was a visi.
tor here the past week.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09

An orchestra is being organized in
this prison, but sad, and strange, to
relate, among all the select criminals
here "bass violi' man can not be
found.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09

PRISON OFFICIALS.
MANAGERS.
JAS. S. O'BRIEN, President saltwater
EDWIN DUNN, EyOta
b. F. NELSON Minneapolis
+. w. TEMPLE, Blue Earth City
RESIDENT OFFICIALS.
HENRY WOLFER, Warden
+. H. LEMON, = Deputy Warden
GEO. BIXBY, Clerk
B. j. MERRILL, Physician
MISS MARY MCKINNEY, Matron.
j. 81. ALBERT, Protestant Chaplain
CHARLES CORCORAN Catholic Chaplain
PRISON AGENT,
r. A. WHITTIER st. Paul.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09

If the socialists and followers of the
other ''ists' and "isms' who are trying
to reform the world would start in upon
strong moral foundation for their
own guidance they would readily dis
cover that an earnest moral honesty is
the real missing link to a happy, pros
porous world Many man who would
not stoop to openly and feloniously
filching a penny from his fellowman,
lies awake nights devising schemes to
honestly" steal that same penny I'M
der the guise Of business" scheme.
And such men consider themselves the
cream of the truly good.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09

The most positive proof of general
business revival throughout the coun-
try may be CLEANED from the report of
the international Cigarmakers' Union.
The st. Paul branch of the Union re-
ports every member working. Only
one out-of-work benefit had to be paid
in November and that was to non
resident who was sick and unable to
work. When business is brisk in the
cigar line, it is certainty that it must
be in other trades, else people would
not have money to burn in the weed.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09
Written for The Prison Mirror.
Photographed Philosophy.

The man who believes that he is
being immensely benefited by storing
in his head such knowledge as is
CLEANED from dime novels, may just as
we'll fill his upper story with sand.
The result is about the same; but the
''sand' might inspire a courageous
action.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-12-09

handing good salaried position
while the other is a drug upon the
market.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-26
AN INVESTIGATION ASKED FOR.

We are glad that the city council.
at its meeting Tuesday evening. adopt
ed the resolution of Councilman Lloyd.
which is as follows:
Whereas. There have been runors
to the effect that bribery was resorted
to in the securing Of the sprfnl1ling
contract. let to J. II. Griffin bv this
council. thus Involving the honor and
integrity of the members: therefore.
Resolved. That the county attorney
Of Salt Lake county be requested 10
efnpanel grand Jury for the purpose
of investigating the charges referred
to.
In the same line was Councilman
Buckles resolution directing the city
recorder to request Police and Fire
Commissioner Grant to appear before
the council and explain statement.
reliably attributed to him. that the ap-
pointment of another member of the
police and fire commission was secured
by using improper and unlawful means.
This also was adopted but not unani-
mouslv.
What VIII be the result of the adop-
ton of these resolutions can not now
Grant will comply with the request,
but if he made the statement attributed
to him he should comply with it, or
better still. present the evidence he
may have to the county attorney. In
the Griffin case the county attorney
VIII probably comply with the councils
request, especially if there is anything
tangible about the charges.
1t is high time that the various
charges about crookedness and corrup-
ton here and there in the city govern
ment were investigated. that the people
may know whether they are true or
not. Those who make them should be
willing to stand by them and present
any evidence they may have to the
courts If they have no evidence. but
make the charges from spite or per
sonad pique, then they should be pro
ceeded against criminally. For months
past the atmosphere has been sur
charged with rumors of crookedness or
corruption of one kind or another in the
city government. but they We're not in
such definite form that anything could
De oone Win F1asah' IL is seaman 10
the whole community When these ru-
mors are floating around and are
neither substantiated nor stopped. They
breed suspicion everywhere until the
people scarcely know whom to believe
honest.
The city council has taken a proper
course. and it should not let the passing
of a resolution be the end of the mat
ter.
Since the above was written we I'M
derstand that Commissioner Grant has
explained to the police and fire commits
sion that the statement attributed to
him was only made as a joke among
friends. 1t was a very poor joke. and
it was in exceedingly bad taste
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-26

SO we would not be SO much troubled
with their abundance as with their
scarcity. The demands of commerce
would take the supply and ask for
n1oreD
That is a sensible and proper view to
take OF the matter But contrast it
With this other view on the same page,
and in the same column. but in a diff
ferent article:
1t is evident that the government
shou4d take I'D the task Immediately of
preventing their further spread. and of
externiinating this dangerous pest. The
duty is that of the federal government.
because it claims Jurisdiction over all
navigable streams. They are its prop
erty. In taking them to be its property,
it assumed the duty of keeping them in
coTNl5tion for the use of the Deopie.
Every day that this duty is neglected
KS performance becomes more difficult.
The wind that pushed out of the upper
river the fields of the plant now visible
at Jacksonville did a good work for the
navigation OF the river but the benefit
will be only temporary. The plant has
such immense powers of propagation
that in a few days the places left va
can. will be filled again. And this ben
cit to the upper river is at the cost OIL
Jacksonville, whose water front is
packed with the unmanageable stuff,
and which NAV find ON its hands vast
quantities OF decaying vegetable mat
ter that may be dangerous to the health
of its people.
Every influence should be brought to
bear on congress as soon as ii, reassem-
'oles to induce it to act promptly.
1t may be that the water hyacinths
viii prove valuable to the people of
Florida; if III is a good food for cattle
and good fertilizer. it certainly
should prove of much value to the
state. In this state the California clover
used to be considered a pest and a
nuisance. but it is so considered no
longer, it having been found that it
makes first-class hay when properly
cured. and that there is nothing like
it for taking the salaratus out of the
ground
While it is the province Of the federal
government to keen the navigaible riy-
ers clear. still the people of Florida in
troduced the water hyacinth into the
waters of that state. aand it is their
duty to do something to clear them of
it, They are entirely too ready and
anxious to appeal to the general gov
eminent to do that which they them
selves should do.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-26
SURPRISING HooDLuMs.

Professor Eliot Norton, of Harvard,
does not devote all OF his attention to
the study of Dante and the editing of
the letters and literary remains of his
friend. the late James Russell Lowell;
he also finds time to study social ques-
tons and ponder on the problems that
are of every day interest to the people.
At the annual dinner of the Sander
son academy held at Ashfield, Mass,
one day last week Professor Norton
presided. He took as the subject of his
remarks the suppression of the village
hoodlum and loafer. He was of the
opinion that in every community there
should be formed organizations that
should crystalize the best moral senti-
ment of the towns and villages and
bring it to the active support of the
officers of the law. Among other things
he said:
From all sides we hear complaints
Of the spirit of lawlessness in the ris-
ing generation. And there can be no
doubt that the greater independence
now allowed to the youth of both
sexes than was the case in the past is
often abused, and trends in many cases
to degenerate into willful self assertion,
Indifference TO the rights and interests
of others and resistance to authority
of whatever nature. The spirit of law
lessness develops rapidly into the spirit
of crime The idle loafer becomes the
rough, the rough the villain, the villain
the ruffian"
There is much truth in all this.
Whether the greater freedom allowed
to the youth of both sexes these days
is the chief cause Of the increase of
hoodlumism and the evils that grow
from it is not entirely a closed ques-
ton That it is the cause of much
of the increase of hoodlumism there
can be no doubt. Our American OPP
timism inclines parents to rely too
much on chance in the rearing of chill
dren, believing that all will eventually
come out right and as it should. Re-
lance on this has seemingly been JUS
titled, but now the bad fruit is making
it's appearance as we'll as the good. If
the twig grows straight without special
attention so will the tree, but the wise
one will see to it that the twig does
grow straight. But when parents have
done all they can and only failure has
attended their efforts what shall be
done then? Then reliance must be had
upon the officers of the law and the
moral support of the citizens should be
given them, for the law is the express
sion of the moral sentiment of the com
munity.
The worst habit that the youth of
either sex can contract is that of idle
ness and loafing, for IL is the mother
of all other bad habits. Anything that
viii tend to its extirpation should be
encouraged. There is no truer saying
than Satan finds some mischief still
for idle hands to do
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-26
1DAHo's INVALID LAWS.

The supreme court of Idaho has re-
fused to grant rehearing in the case
of the fee bill. This is the case wherein
certain laws of the state were declared
invalid because they were not passed
in conformity with the requirements of
the state constitution. In its decision
the court says:
The constitution requires certain
things to be done in connection with
the passage of any and all laws. 1t is
true that the doing of these things are
matters of procedure. But by what
right shall any one be permitted to
say that any of the things required by
the constitution to be done are insig-
nificant' and may therefore be omitted.
Has any one more right to say that,
one of the things required by the con-
stitution is insignificant" and may be
omitted than he has to say any other
thing required is insignificant" and
may therefore be omitted? If the right
to ignore one provision exists, the
right to ignore all exists. If the court
must wink at one violation of the con-
stitution, it must wink at other viola
tons of it, If the court must approve
one violation OF the constitution it
must to be consistent approve other
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-26
THE PIECE OF SILVER.


Tuesday silver made another low rec
ord, failing to 5l1k cents. Having reach
ed that low point. It is Impossible TO
say that it is the lowest point it will
reach. This low price means the closing
down of many mines in the west. and
the eventual killing Of its creates. in
dustry unless some governmental ac-
ton is taken looking to the restoration
Of free coinage. This killing of a great
INDUSTRY in turn means almost financial
rim for TIE west. But the west alone
Will not suffer as a consequence Of this
death of the silver mining industry. the
whole country will suffer. the same
as 1t suffered from the demonstration
or silver in 1873. Ever since that date
the nations financial system has been
more or less unsteady and unsatisfac-
tory and this fact was officially recos-
nlzed by President Mckinley when he
sent his special message to congress
asking for authority to appoint a com.
mission to investigate the currency
question. while the rankest and most
rad3cal opponents of free silver are
continually insisting that our CURRENCY
system is sadly in need of reform. saw
lnS there will be no permanent i'm
provement in the business of the conn
Try until this is done. They all see the
eVal OF the times. but do not see its
true cause. which is the refusal of the
government 90 restore silver, to its
proper place in our monetary systenn. to
the place it enjoyed until the enact
nlent OF the vicious law of Feb. u. 1873.
Inc low price of silver will worl1-to
She people of the silver producing
states, great and immediate evil. 1t
Wall throw thousands and thousands
OIL men out of employment, and greatly
diminish the resources OF their fani
lles- These men must seek new fields
Tor employment, when already the
country is glutted with men out of
employment The throwing thousands
and thousands OF miners out of en-
ployment viii deprive ether thousands
ana thousands of men and their fanli
mes OF a market for their products. The
owners of the mines Will suffer flnan
cially. but their loss will be as moth
ing compared with the losses of those
who are dependent upon the success
of the mines for their livelihood. In the
case of the closing down of the mines.
as in all like cases. it is the poor. those
who depend upon their daily labor for
their bread. who will suffer most. The
fall IN the price Of silver is a calamity,
yet there are those who rejoice in that
fall and who gloat ever the fact that
silver was never so low as now. The
price of silver may go lower and lower
still. but already 1T has reached a, point
SO low which has caused so much
misery that for it to go lower could
scarcely increase it. But this continual
going down of silver makes it more
and more certain that the people will
demand its restoration as money
metal.