Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1904-06-16
POLITICS AND TAg STATE pRIsoN.
Management OF Such nm institution
Should not Re Reserved as Place
far PARTY NnrgSe

should not Re Reserved as Place
for Party Workers.
The following strong plea for remov-
ing state prisons from politics was con-
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.
I'VE 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 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 il may, 1T is unQues-
tionably true that politics and the best
prison management are as antagonist
ic as oil and water. 1t is only neces-
sary to examine the 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 man has
played prominent part in the political
arena he Is not qualified to make q
good prison Official IL he knows the
business, If he has had experience in
1t, IL he is just as conservative, In
short If he is capable and efficient and
if the incubent Is lacking in these.
qualifications, he should by all means
receive the appointment But to APP
point 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 1t may be q
friendly act, Is detrimental TO the best
interests of society. / even question
il 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
misgoverned state institution. And in
competent men are sure TO be poor
managers. The prison has nothing
whatever to do with politics. If 1t 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, no
matter which party is in power.
The most perfect system ever de-
vised will fail If the party chosen to-
administer 1T Is incompetent. AS Or.
Wines said In our last congress: Re
formation Is not accomplished BY any
particular system. II 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 failure.
We make too much of the system and
too little of the man in our considera-
ton of the prison question" This is
equally true Of the business manage
ment of the institution. No system can
prevent mismanagementi 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 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 one else
to tell him how the institution should
be conducted is as certain to fail as
he would. be if he undertook the super
intendency 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.
BILE it Is not because he accomplished
anything, but because nothing unto
ward occurred during his term OF Office.
In short, prison official should first
of all be interested in his work; then
he should know his business in its
most minute details, and finally, he
should believe firmly in himself and in
the efficacy of the work he is engaged
In