The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-06-17
POLITICS AND THE STATE PRISON.
Management Of Such an Institution
Should not Be Reserved as a Place
for Party Workers.

TOT rarity workers.
The following strong plea for remOv-
ing state prisons from politics was ON
tanned in an address of Warden Henry
Wolfer of the Minnesota ~penitentiary
delivered at a meeting of the National
Prison Congress at Louisville in 1902:
we hear much nowadays about re-
moving the judiciary from the realm
OF politics, and | believe the consen-
sus of opinion is that it should be re-
moved. AS the prison. in a way, sup
plements the bench, it would seem a
necessary corallary that if one is re-
moved the other should be also. How
ever, be that as it may, it is unques-
tionably true that politics and the best
prison management are as antagonist
lc as oil and water. 1t is only eces-
sary to examine n records of such
institutions as are reserved as plumS
for Jealous party workers to prove the
truth OF this assertion. Of course it
does not follow that because a man has
played a prominent part in the political
arena he is not qualified to make a
good prison official. If he knows the
business, if he has had experience in
it, if he is just as conservative, in
short, if he is capable and efficient and
il he incubent is lacking in these
qualifications, he should by all means
receive the appointment. But to ap-
point a warden, deputy warden, or
even a subordinate official simply be-
cause he has been an active worker
during the doubtful moments of a po-
litical campaign, while it may be a
friendly act, is detrimental to the best
interests Of society. ! ven question
if it is good politics, for there is moth
ing the opposition relishes more than
the opportunity to attack the party in
power with a weapon furnished by a
misgoverned state institution. And in,
competent men are sur to be poor
managers. The prison has nothing
whatever to do with politics. If it is
properly managed it cannot possibly
be made an issue of the campaign, and
its management must work for the
best interests Of the whole state, nc
matter which party is in power.
The most perfect system ever de
vised will fail if the party chosen tC
administer it is incompetent. AS DR..
Wines said in our last congress: Re.
formation is not accomplished by any
particular system. 1t is accomplished
by the individual influence Of the per-
sons in charge of the prison. The right
man under any system will reform a
certain per cent. The wrong man UNI
der any system will make a failure.
make too much of the system and
too little of the man in u considera-
ton of the prison question" This is
equally true of the business manage
ment of the institution. No system can
prevent mismanagement if the man
ager is incompetent.
According to my notion there is no
room for the theOrist, the lobbyist or
the quasi-sentamental student of Grim
inology in the government of a prison.
1t is a business proposition and de-
mands practical men. The warden or
superintendent, in particular, should
be conversant with every detail OF
prison affairs. He shouldy be one who
started at the bottom of the ladder
and worked his way up through supe-
rior ability. A warden or higher Off
cial who has to rely on some n else
to tell him how the institution should
conducted is as certain to fail as
he would be if he undertook the super
Of a factory under like cir
cumstances. If his subordinates are
able men he may present the appear
ance of being the head of the institu-
ton. but his value is of the negative
quality. If he gets along without trou.
bic it is not because he accomplished
anything. but because nothing unto
occurred during his term of Office.
In short, a prison official should first
of all be interested in his work; then
should know his business in it's
most minute details, and finally, he
should believe firmly in himself and in
the efficacy of the work he is engaged
in"
nENIh RI E~YrANATE