Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-10-04
SHOULD WARDEN HELlSTROM
RESIGN,

+. 0. Hellstrom, the president ward.
en Of the state penitentiary, Is the
democratic candidate for governor of
North Dakota, and just now he is
touring the state in the interests of
his candidacy. He Is said to be bas-
ing his candidacy Oh the record he
has made while he has had charge or
the chief penal institution of the state.
During his absence the institution,
which was placed under his personal
charge when he was given the ap-
pointment as warden. is being neglect
ed. When he overlook the institution
he could not help but know that the
statute specifically stated that the
warden should not have any other oc-
cupation. This part of the law means
that the N-.:Ien should remain con-
stantly and personally in charge; he
should devote his entire time to the
institution, and if he has in this pres.
ent campaign decided to enter the 20,
litical contest as a candidate for gov
ernOr, or for any other Office he
should have resigned the stewardship
which Governor E'urke rendered him
nearly six years ago. If, however, he
continues in the race. and while he
Is on the campaign stump, he should
make some attempt to refute the ugly
rumors that are being scattered broad
cast over the state regarding the pres
ent condition 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 institution are at the present
time practically masters OF the situa.
ton at Ne %penitentiary. He should
convince the people that it is untrue
that some Of the older guards have
resigned lately because they consid.
cred their life and body in danger if
they remained there longer, because
they were not now permitted to on.
troll the conduct of men who have
been sentenced TO confinement for
having committed murder, daring rob-
berries, and other heinous crimes. and
because. the management of the insti-
tuition constantly favors the inmates
In place OF supporting the guards in
the performance Of their daily duties.
Warden Hellstrom should deny, if he
can, the fact that inmates maintain
an organization of their own that has
become so strong that they have even
gone beyond the control of the warden
and his management. He should
deny that fights and dangerous as.
sau,ts constantly occur among the in
mates, and that often times inmates
are seriously injured, as was the case
last winer when Convict Robinson
had secretly hidden a sharp knife
upon his person with which he nearly
decapitated Convict Conroy. He
should also deny the fact that he as.
sisted Convict Wooden in securing a
patent In which he assumed a person.
al interest, and afterwards became
personally active III helping Wooden
secure q pardon, when the record
shows that Wooden was one OF the
most desperate characters that was
ever committed to the institution. He
should also deny that US warden and
q member Of the parole board he dis
regarded tile statute iii permitting d
parOle to be granted to a man from
the western part Of the state who had
been convicted Of rape, and who now
holds q position In a business estab.
lishment here in Bismarck, and who
enjoys the same social freedom as
do the best moral and most law abid.
ing citizens of the city. when the law
states that he shall remain confined
TIL no has completed the sentence
passed by tho court. IIe should also
deny that when the four convicts
made their escape over the east wall
few months ago that the guard form.
cry stationed there had been removed
BY the honor system for some time,