The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-22
PRISONERS WEAR
SOLDIERS BLUE
RETIRED OFFICER SAYS UNIFORM
OF ARMY rs PRosTITUTED.
Asserts Desperate Convicts Dragging
Ball and Chain and Wearing Regula-
ton Suits Create Erroneous Impress
sion Of All Men in the Ranks in Minds
of Visitors at Fort Smelling

The problem Of caring for general
prisoners or convicts, is q serious one
at Fort Smelling. Over sixty prisoners
are confined there. Visitors frequently
see men in the uniform Of soldiers at
work under guard, and some Of the
dismal sight has caused strangers to
frequently exclaim that the treatment
of the men by their officers must be
very severe, and to make other erro-
neous remarks which show their igno-
rance of things military.
~, AS a matter of fact, these men are
not soldiers, but convicts, sentenced to
Of crimes, equal in military ethics to
the felonies Of criminal law. Chief
among these, of course, Is the crime of
desertion, which is q most serious one
in military law, exposing the offender to
Imprisonment for q long term Of years,
but usually only to term about equal
to an enlistment; but there are some
crimes, actual felonies by any standard
of law, and among them are some very
desperate characters. -.
These men are in status exactly
like that of convict at a penitentiary,
the only difference between them and
other convicts being that they come
from the army instead Of civil life.
che military service there are bound to
be some criminals from time to time;
and it is to the credit Of the army, not
It's discredit, that these criminals are
caught and punished.
Provides No Prison.
The United States government does
not provide any prison for these crimi-
mails, who are therefore confined at vari-
ous military noets 1asi for hot
purpose. Fort Smelling is one of these
posts; in consequence of which the
guards there continually perform the
same duty as the regular guards of a
federal penitentiary, without any spe-
cial notice being taken of this trying
whatever labor there is to do about the
fort, hence they are sometimes in evi.
dence to visitors. -:
The government provides a very suit
able uniform for convicts from civil
life. There are two classes Of that uni
form, one Of neutral gray, the other
Of stripes, which indicate desperate
such uniform for these military con-
victs; in consequence of which there is
no mark by which visitor can distin-
guish them from honorable soldiers, as
the authorities are compelled to issue
soldiers uniform to them in order to
prevent suffering and relieve destitu-
''Uniform Is Prostituted.''
"This practice, brought about by econ.
omy, is without doubt a great detri'
ment to the military service,' asserts a
retired army officer, "since it gives Wis
itors poor idea Of the discipline OF
the soldiers to see SO many men in con
fnement, and some in chains, wearing
the uniform.
eff the government expects soldiers
to respect their uniform, SO badge Of
an honorable calling, and to take pride
in it, continued the officer, "the gov
eminent should not prostitute that uni
form by giving it to convicts servins
sentence for crime. 1t is enough t!
make any soldier ashamed of his uni
form to see it used in that way. No
ought such characters to be confined a
post guardhouses, where they come con
tinually in contact with soldiers OF
guard and otherwise.
"Such contact cannot in any way b.
beneficial to the soldiers, and canno
tend to reform the convicts. The,
should be segregated, and placed unde
penal discipline,' Of a reformatory ma
ture. But, above all things, they shoul,,
not be clothed in military uniform, al
F.. lowed almost free association wit
young soldiers, and so placed as t.
create continually false impression upo1
the thousands Of visitors from all owe
the country who frequent such arm.
posts as Fort Snelling.'