The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-10-09
Press Comment

Bismarck Tribune: f. o. Hellstrom,
the present warden of the state PEN
ttentiary, is the democratic candidate
for governor of North Dakota, and just
now he is touring the state In the IN
~terests of his candidacy. He is said to
be bastng his candidacy on the record
he has made while he has had charge
of the chief penal institution of the
state. During his absence the institu-
ton, which was placed under his per-
sonal charge when he was given the
appointment as warden, is being
neglected. When he overlook the in
stitution he could not help but know
that the statute specifically stated that
the warden should not have any other
occupation. This part of the law means
that the warden should remain con-
stantly m personally in charge; he
should devote his entire time to the
institution, n If he has in this pres
ent campaign decided to enter the po-
ltical contest as a candidate for gov
erhor, or for any other office he should
have resigned the stewardship which
Governor Burke rendered him nearly
six years ago il, however, he con-
tinues in the race, land while he is on
the campaign stump, he should make
some attempt to refute the ugly rumors
that are being scattered over
the state regarding the present con-
dition of the institution he is supposed
to protect in the interests Of the people
Of the state. He should stamp out the
report that the inmates of the institu-
tion are at the present time practically
masters of the situation at the peniten-
tiary. lie should convince the people
that IL is untrue that some of the older
guards have resigned lately because
they considered their life and body in
danger II they remained there longer,
/ becauSe they we're not now permitted
to control the onduc of men who AVE
been sentenced to confinement for hay-
ing committed murder, daring robber-
les, and other heinous crimes, n be-
L nnITGn fhn - = a ~ ~ - Tho inutSttT-
ton constantly favors the inmates in
place of supporting the guards in the
performance of their daily duties. War
den Hellstrom should deny, If he can,
the fact that inmate maintain an or
ganization of their w that has be-
come so strong that they have even
gone beyond the control of the warden
and his management. He should deny
that tights and dangerous assaults con-
stantly occur among the inmates, and
that often times inmates are seriously
injured, as was the cas- last winter
when Convict Robinson had secretely
hidden a sharp knife upon his person
with which he nearly decapitated Con-
Wet Conroy. He hould also deny the
fact that he assisted Convict Wooden
in securing a patent in which he as
sumed a personal interest, and after
wards became personally active in
helping Wooden secure a pardon, when
the record shows that Wooden was one
of the most desperate characters that
Il w e9 WI ~ Ill NAOAAs
He should also deny that as warden and
a membe of the parole board he dis
regarded the statute in permitting a
parole to be granted to a man from
the western part of the state who had
been convicted of rape, and who now
holds a position in a business estab-
lishment here in Bismarck, and who
enjoys the same social freedom as do
the best moral and most law abiding
citizens of the city,, when the law states
that he shall remain confined till he has
completed the sentence passed by the
court. He should also deny that when
the our ~conyicts made their escape
over the east wall a few months age
that the guard formerly stationed there
had been removed by the honor system
for some time, and that the convicts
through their organization had plan
ned a general outbreak by having the
four men who went over the wall open
the gate. He hould deny that frequet-
ly when guards attempt to enforce
If 1t is dipleasing to them the guards
have been court martialed by a convict
court, with Murderer Noah as the judge
and Bank Robber Conroy as the pros.
ecutor. He should deny that meetings
of the convicts are permitted weekly
to occur in the palatial auditorium
room, and that on these occasions nc
/ guards are allowed admittance, thuE
giving the conyicts who are member
of this inside organization an excellent
opportunity to plot all manner of dia'
bolical plans, maybe of cap or dep.
relations even worse. He should stamI
out the rumors that he institution
since the alleged honor system hal
been in vogue, as far as the conduct O
the inmates is concerned, has beeom,
something appalling. The Tribune hai
no objections to Mr.. Hellstrom be
coming a candidate for governor, o
for taking part as he may see fit ii
the campaign, as an Individual citizen
but as warden of the p~enitentiary, an'
intrusted with the most important an,
most difficult of all state Institution
to manage, he should remain faithful
to the trust placed in him by the gov
ernor, and that his resignation shout,
have been in effect before he entere,