The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-13
MORE IMPORTANT TO THE STATE
THAN REFORMATION OF
CRIMINALS.
MINNEsoTA,s PROUD RECON.
Fewer COnvlcts in Proportion Than
Several Other States Have
Minneapolis Matters.

under the auspices Of the Hennepln
County Prison association.
DR.. D. N. Beach, in opening the meet
ing, mentioned the propriety of differ
ent churches laying aside all differences
and considering the larger platform
upon which all could stand, the tran
scendence of love in action, and the
splendor of practical work done In fol-
lowing Christ.
Judge A. A. Young, president OF the
Hennepin County Prison association, In
opening, called attention to the work
the association was doing. he
dwelt upon the social ostracism that re-
suited from incarceration for criminal
acts. Such a person should be given
opportunity to come back to the world
and regain his former position. People
were ready to admit that he had ex-
plated his crime, but would not forget
that he had been incarcerated Inc
office of the association is to assist
such unfortunates so that they do not
return to a life Of crime. To properly
effect this the cooperation of citizens
is necessary. In addition to thus pro-
tecting the character of persons releas-
ed from penal institutions, it has the
further object of assisting men ana
women to lead better lives. This Is
very difficult to do unless the sym
pathy of society is extended. 1t must
have public appreciation and sent-
ment, financial and friendly aid. MI.
Young called attention to another I'M
pcrtant measure, that of lessenlng
crime. This, he said. was of great I'M
portance. 1t involved the looking after
chiIdren-to save them from crime. 10
save children from crime he consider
ed as of greater importance to the
state than to save such as have al
ready committed crime. Relief must
be found further back than that. IL
must be a restraint in the criminal
charac ter.
Sunt. Brown, Of the state training
school at Red Wing. was the next
speaker. 1T is quite necessary, ne
said. "in order to succeed in any en-
terprise that those to whom that en-
terprise belongs shall become inter
ested Children who are committed
tc our training schools are indeed un,
fortunate, because they have lackeo
home training. Charles Lamb mas salo
that some children are not brougnt
up but dragged up. They are brought
IN under conditions of moral sur
roundings that are dangerous. Mr.:
Brown then described the workings or
the training school at Red Wing, IN
different buildings, and how the chill
dren were occupied in various branches
of industry. The influence was most
healthful one he urged, and, When the
time came to leave, the chlldren were
equipped to enter upon free lie.
He said that but one girl out of, the
forty-five that had graduated had
gone to the bad, after released from
the school and still under the guar
dianship of the state, while twenty
out of 700 boys had done likewise. He
did not believe that more than per
cent of the graduates had spent time
in Jail Mr.. Brown entered vigorous
protest against the practice OF send,
ing children to the workhouse, 81
letting them stay up to six months IN
Jail.
Rev. II. H. Hart, of the state board
of charities and corrections, believed
that Minnesota was greatly favored In
matters criminal. Il had less than one
third as many inmates in it's penal in
stitutions as California, while Kansas
had so per cent more. This, he believ-
u.
lation of Minnesota was made up OF
inte ligent people fl ON other states, and
the class of fore, gners that were educat-
ed before coming to American shores.
He stated that the state was also FUR
Their favored by the policy of such a
school as that at Owatonna, which was
organized for the purpose or receiving
such children as had no home, or
moor home, and would be neglected by
The 1pojSll-
ture had provided for the securing OF
better homes for such unfortunate chill
dren. and there were two agents con-
tinually engaged in looking after this
branch of the school. The speaker
recognized the fact that an institution
was not a place for a child, but that IN
the home alone could it be properly
developed and brought back to normal
conditions. Through these agencies
many destitute children were placed
directly in homes, and did not have to
go to the institution. He believed that
the system of probation as adopted in
other states, and to which end bill
in the legislature was defeated last
winter. would be a matter of economy
to the state, at the same time that the
stigma of having been an inmate OF
anv institution would be removed.
George D. Holt, of the Hennep1n
County Prison association, spoke in
place of Supt. Merrill, Of Owatonna, the
later being unavoidably detained from
being present. He also spoke OF the
work that was being done by the school
at Owatonna.
DR.. Marion D. Shutter, of the Church
of the Redeemer, said some very per-
tirent things in the closing address.
In following up the line of thought laid
out by DR.. Beach, he said that he hoped
he some day could stand upon that
platform and preach, he being sure that
nothing would be said to offend. He
believed that his own congregation
would profit by occasionally listening
| tn an orthodox minister He stated
that he had in the liberal churches
fnnnd men who were bigots-liberal
| bioots He recognized that there were
MANY broad-minded people In the Or
thodox churches. He believed that the
neonIe of the different denominations
| would some day grow so tall as 10 see
| over the wall that separated them; and
| then taller so that they could grasp
each others hands, and finally so tall
| that they could step over the wall, and
| not find themselves in strange terri
tory. This would be done along lines
of practical work.
1--WE speak with just pride Of our
CITY" he said, land it seems tmposs1-
BILE that here acriminal population could
| be raised. But this is possible In other
| cities. Some might say that l cast re-
proach upon our fair city, when 1 say
| that there exist germs here that will
develop into a plague spot like Lon
| don. l believe that unless we take to
| the hard work before us we shall share
| the fate of these other Cities" Mr..
| Shutter further stated that per cent
| of the population of Minneapolis were
| paupers, and under the constant care