The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-29

THE INVESTIGATING ConHAA AA1H1'
The Glob e has brought about the
object at which it aimed in securing an
investigation into the conduct Of the
state prison at saltwater Gov. Clough,
who resisted to the last the evidence
laid before him and who still pretends
to regard it as insufficient, has been
compelled to yield to the overwhelming
public sentiment of the people of Min
nesota and appoint a committee OF in
yestigation. We hold it to the high
credit of this community that, from
the moment that these disclosures
were made, it became impossible to
let them rest or drift with simple de-
NAL on the part of those interested or
responsible. Republican newspapers,
except those of the baser sort, have,
one by~one, swung into line and de-
manded that the cloud upon the honor
of the state and it's prison administra-
ton be lifted
The committee named yesterday by
Gov Clough consists of three men Of
of them have sat upon the bench, and
all enjoy the confidence of the coTnmu-
nifty. Judge Flandrau is a man whose
ability, earnestness of purpose and sim
cerity of conviction none can question.
The second member Of the committee,
Mr. b. F. Farmer, of Spring Valley, Is
a leading banker and business man.
He bears an irreproachable reputa-
ton and possesses, it is said by those
who know him best. the energetic dis
position and judicial mind that will fit
him for the important post to which
he has been assigned. Judge Kitchell,
of Minneapolis, is the senior member
of one of the leading law firms of that
city, and man of the highest reputa-
ton for fairness and courage. The
G. 10 approves heartily of the COM
mission as constituted, and is suffi-
GENTLY rewarded for it's labor in the
cause of humanity by having brought
about an inquiry into the present
methods and conduct of the state
prison
What the people ask and expect of
this commission is an inquiry as COM
prehensiVe thorough, searching and
determined as it can be made There
can be no haste, no Impotence of de-
tail, no slurring over of minor Incl
dents. This investigation differs from
most in that it will require the widest
admission of testimony and the mi
nutest exploration of the evil. Some
men are willing to talk largely on the
subject whose evidence, when dissect-
ed, will not be found valuable. Men
who know much and feel much are
unwilling to talk for several reasons.
Many of them have a reasonable fear
of consequences. Many OF them hest
tate about performing even a duty
when it brings back upon a life which
they are striving to make honorable
the old faint of the prison. Yet the
work must be done, and it ought to be
done once for all. Let US have no
halfway measures, no covering over
or eXtenuation of any act, no hesita-
ton about putting the prison admins
tration of the state of Minnesota upon
q basis where no voice can be raised
and no question asked concerning it
hereafter. For nearly ten years these
complaints of brutality have spread
themselves over the community No
investigation of them has been salts
factory or final. Such STRINGS of the
surface of this pool as were made
sent out only few faint ripples that
broke upon rock-bound shores of par
tisan Indifference and prepossession
and subsidized into mere fiecks Of foam.
We think that we need not adjure a
commission composed of gentlemen
such as those who have been named
to lay aside every thought and every
inclination except the desire to serve
the people of this state and the cause
Of humanity. Every reader Of the
C 10 be, who is sufficiently familiar
with it TO have fathomed it's purposes
and its aspiration to do good work,