The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1901-10-03

WITHIN the past six eight months The MIR
RoR has received number of letters from kind
hearted, humanely disposed people who anxious
to do something to aid the unfortunate, and who
express desire to share in the work of reforming
criminals. The trouble seems to be that they do
not know just what to do, but the cry invariably u.s.
Il wish [ could do something to help If these
people are really sincere in what they say-and we
have every reason to believe that they are-it is
quite within their power to do great deal Of good.
For one thing, they can notify the state agent at
St. Paul that they have no objection to employing
men who have been in state prison, that they
willing to assist the state agent in finding employ
ment for such men.
While he is in prison the convict must work out
his salvation; he accept little assistance
from the friendly disposed, other than moral sup
port But when he is discharged he must either
work steal in order to live. Thanks to the
influence of certain far-sighted men, parole laws
have been passed in most of the states of the union
and the idea that society will be benefited by the
reformation than the exterminaton-of
those who have sinned against it's laws has gained
ground. The purpose of the parole law is to retain
hold on the prisoner until he has accustomed him
self to the change in his surroundings and environ
ment, and has cultivated the habit of working think
ing and doing for himself along right lines In other
words, until he has become or less sef-relian
The law has been proven success, but it would be
greater success il more people would lend their
assistance to it's operation. The most practicable
way in which the average man or woman can help
convcts to become reputable members of society is
to aid the proper authorities in finding work for
them upon their discharge from prison.
AS general proposition it is safe to say that
you cant keep a good down.; that
convict-or anyone else, for that matter-who is
really anxious to live right will live right without
outside help, and, if need be, against big odds.
But there are many men discharged from prisons in
this country each year who while they want to live
honest lives and keep out of trouble in the future
still need guidance in order to do so. They crave
|companionship, and consequently drift back in
voluntarily to their old associates and old of
living they free from the restraint Of
authority be truth of the matter is that they have
been looked after for long that they unable to
| think clearly for themselves, and need guiding
hand until the ''newness of the world wears off If
such men were provided with work at once large
percentage of them would become honest citizens;
if such men left prson-where, mind you, they have
learned to consider work as almost second nature
to find some regular occupation awaiting them, the
state would save much money in the end That the
ment of the state agent part of whose duty it is to
find work for discharged prisoners. And here the
state welcomes private cooperation.
| The reformation of criminals is not a question
of philanthropy something to become hysterica
overt is purely matter of business requiring
business tact and judgment, all successful prison
men" have long since found out.
| To return to original proposition, the way
to really benefit the prisoner, and society at the
same time, is to find work for him to do upon his
discharge from prison. And here it may be we'll to
note that the who are in need Of the most
assistance usually those with little business
training education. The educated mantle one
with trade business profession to fall back on
almost invariably starts out in the world with some
definite plan for the future and therefore is not so
likely to fall into evil ways the who does not
know what is going to become of him. The man
who is purposelessly going out west up north, or
down south, any other old place that is long
distance away, is the who is apt to drift back
into evil ways if he is not put to work at once Of
course some of these cannot be reclaimed-they
pride themselves not working while "on the out
side"-but many of them can, and are each year. and
to help in putting them the right path is noble
work.