The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1901-06-06
THE LOBBYIST AND THE REFORMER.

X.
LYING before us on our desk is copy Of the
first issue of The PRISON MIRROR, dated August
TO- 1887 It contains, in addition to other interest
ing matter short correspondence between gentle
man of Newport, r. l., and H. D. Stordock, who
at that time warden of this institution The New
port gentleman applies to the warden to assuage
thirst for information. He wants to know some
thing of the life and habits of the inmates
of this prison, and also makes inquiry regarding
the disciplinary measures in vogue. "a reform
school for boys he writes 'is of my hobbies,
and find that no discipline is as efectual as the use
of the rod What applies to boys applies equally
we'll to men. 1 hope you agree with me in this"
The warden replied that he strongly dsapproved of
such methods.
It is interesting to note that the experience
thinking man has with penal Institutions the less
he believes in drastic measures, such as corporal
punishment, in governing the inmates, and the
greater is his faith in system of rewards in
centive to right living. Where the man with
hobby would say: "Here is a vicious character let
us beat the hide off him. the one to whom prison
management is a science says: "Hod on minute,
let us first see if we can't reform him. And then he
says to the man. 'You will be rewarded thus and 80
if you obey the rules laid down for your government
and accustom yourself to systematic life of hard
work IT, on the other hand, you fail to live up to
the rules you will be denied all privileges and will
be degraded in the bargain. It is astonishing how
successful the latter is. A will do his
work if he knows he is to be punished should he leave
it undone, but he will do better work, and put
heart into it, if he knows it will be appreciated and
that he will gain something besides immunity
from punishment by SO doing. Unconsciously he is
learning to take pride in his work. and therein lies
his salvation
Doubtless the Newport gentleman who wrote
Warden Stordock regarding his hobbies believed
himself to be Christian-a follower in the foot
steps of the Man of Sorrows, the Christ who died
convicted felon, yet found time amid the tortures
Of the most CHASTITY death human ingenuity could
devise intercede with his Maker for his Prosecutors
Doubtless the Newport gentleman of high
standing in his community, living within his
and owing no man; doubtless his dealings we're al
ways honorable to degree but nevertheless it was
hobby of his to fay his fallen brethren alive. It
was not hobby Of his to give them helping
hand, to show them way towards reformation and
more happy and useful existence, but rather to
compel them to drain the cup of degradation to it's
very dregs
It is the men who have taken up the manage
ment of prisons they would take up stock brok-
ing, dry goods or any other business who have dis
covered that the convict notwithstanding his past
contains some possibilities for good. 1t is these
men who inaugurated the parole system, the
grade and merit SYSTEM and who have compelled the
world to give the convict chance after his release
from prison It is these practical business men
who believe that to err is human to forgive divine
1t is the man with hobby who prefers the wisdom
of Solomon to the wisdom of Christ.
But after all has been said and done, the vital
point in solving the problem of reforming the prs
rests neither in the hands of the with the
hobby in the hands of his more intelligent and
humane brother, he who makes business of prison
management; it rests absolutely and entirely with
the prisoner himself True reformation-the fixed
and rigid purpose to do right for rights SAKE and to
continue doing so-must come from within. If the
trunk of the tree is rotten the grated branches will
surely die. It is true that encouragement and
healthy environment do much toward fostering the
growth of the desire to do right but it's ultimate
fruiton depends absolutely on the man himself. If
he is weak hearted he will lose the battles if he is
easily discouraged he will lose, but if his determine
ton is fixed and his goal set he will certainly win.
Looking at the matter from the most practical
point of view and putting all moral questions to one
side, itpays to do what is right-it pays in
prison.