The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-13
POLITICS IN THE PRISON
IF GOV. VAN SAINT HAS HIS WAY
1T WILL SOON MAKE ITS
APPEARANCE
WOULD GUST WARDEN REEVE
Governors Friends Have Given 1t
Cut That the General Must Make
Way for Henry VOL
fer's Return.

Gov. Van SAINT has made up his mind
to show Warden c. Nee. Reeve that q
new executive presides over the state
The governor likes former Warden VOL
fer and is worried about the fact that
he isn't glued to a fat seat and a fat
salary, and doesn't hesitate to show II
either.
Yesterday, shortly after the noon hour
Edward w. Wing. Frank Temple, B. F.
Nelson, A. c. Weiss and Roscoe II. Bron-
son, all of the prison board, called on the
governor and held protracted confer
ence with them. 1t so happened that for
mer Warden Wolfer dropped in and
Joined the conference, and it also hap
pened that they all came out smiling.
Mr.. Bronson is the new member of the
board, having been appointed by the gov
ernor Friday. There are now three Re
publicans on the board and two Demo-
Gratis. The board has the elective power
as far as a warden is concerned and
the governor bore this in mind when he
appointed the new member. Hence the
conference yesterday and likewise the
appearance of Mr.. Wolfer. Hence, too,
the smiling faces. 1t is all fixed"
Private Secretary Jamison said after
the conference yesterday that the MEM
bers OF the board merely came to make
q friendly call
When the state prison was placed I'M
der the management of board Of five,
following disclosures of acknowledgement
and incompetency in the direction of
the Saltwater institution, 1t was the
profession of the Republican legislature
which created the board that the man
agement of the institution was thus to
be taken out of partisan politics. and
for a time the appearance, at least, of
non-partisanship, was maintained.
The prison board went out Of the state
to bring to the head of the institution
Albert Garvin, a man of wide experience
In prison management, who remained
without objection until he resigned to
accept what promised to be a more con-
genial position as chief of the st. Paul
police department under Mayor Wright.
Then the board, still maintaining the
color at least, of non-partisanship, went
to Detroit. Mich, and took from the
house of correction there, a veteran dis
clplinarian in the person of Henry Wolf
er, who remained at the head Of the Still
water prison until he resigned about
year ago to accept a lucrative position
with large manufacturing concern in
this city.
He was succeeded by Gen. G. McC.
Reeve, who in a long military expert
ence, had demonstrated his ability as a
dlsclphnar1an, and who, in Manila, had
gained some experience in prison man.
agement that stood him in good stead,
while his former business connections
In Minneapolis had led along lines which
peculiarly fitted him for the diversified
lines of Industry carried on in the prison
That the present non-partisan basis,
however, is likely to be abandoned, is
apparent Gov. Van SAINTS close poIiti-
cal friends have given it out that Ward
en- Reeve is to go" and that Mr. Woifer
will return to his former position How
much delay in the accomplishment Of
his purpose, Gov. Van SAINT will brook.
remains to develop. The members Of the
board deny that they took any action in
the premises yesterday, but Gen. Reeve
asked last night concerning the latter.
said:
I have not resigned, nor have I been
asked to, and have no intention of re-
signing unless 1 am asked
During Gen. Reeves incumbency as
warden, ne has not made a single change
IN the prison force for political reasons.
The former clerk, George Bixby, upon
resigning to take position in the Indian
territory, was succeeded by a brother
1n-law of the warden, the place being
TO a large extent confidential one.
In its annual report, which has Just
come from the printer, the prison board
says:
GSL. OHdTleS MCC. Reeve was NOV.
10 unanimously elected as the successor
OF Henry Wolfer and entered Upon the
performance of his duties Dec 1, 1899.
The reputation of Gen. Reeve as a dis
ciplinarian, his well known business abiI-
1ty ard integrity recommended him to
US as man well qualified to perform
the duties of that position. We are well
satisfied that the results prove the Wis
dom Of our selection. Many Of the i'm
rnfn 70 ~, IT.
were urged and inaugurated by him. The
discipline among officers has never. been
better. Every inmate of the prison I'M
derstands that he is treated with equal
and exact Justice, and without favor1t-
ism, and we believe, as heretofore, there
is a continued feeling that they are not
forever outcasts, but may look toward
the future with hope To this is due in
large measure the fact that 50 few pris-
oners have been in the third grade and
in confinement, yet discipline and o.der
among prisoners have never been better.