The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-02-29
TERMS, eMonths Piftycts.

some other articles for his personal
comfort. When given pecuniary
interest in the products Of his labor,
the convict performs his work much
more willingly and with desire to
do it as well as he can in order that
he may increase his earning capac-
ity. The monotony of prison life
becomes less tedious and the restric-
tions of discipline less noticeable,
for the prison itself becomes hive
of industry, where each has his
work to perform and does it will
ingly-willingly because it is his
own work and because by demon
strating his ability to make good in
prison, he is paving the way for an
early release on parole and chance
to make good outside.
That the system in Minnesota is
remunerative and self-supporting no
one can deny. After paying the
state IS cents per day for each con-
vict employed, and giving the con-
vict in the way of earnings an av-
verage of nearly 25 cents day,
making total labor cost Of nearly
sl.0O per day, the twine plant still
shows an annual profit, varying from
100000 to 100000. This labor
cost according to the United States
commissioner of labor, is as high as,
if not higher than, it is in outside
factories. and with prices which
bring the state the profits mentioned
above, there can be no claim of un-
1 fair competition.
The two industries in operation
at the Minnesota state prison were
selected with view of avoiding un-
fair competition with free labor, by
adopting such as were not in opera
ton in this state. In the twiDe
plant, the competition OF convict la
Dor is very small because the labor
). cost in The manufacture of binding
twine is only small part of the to-
tai cost. However, a twine plant is
not an ideal prison industry because
of the large amount OF money per
capita required, and for the further
reason that it does not provide a
trade which any considerable per-
centage of the prisoners can learn
with profit or as an aid when re-
leased from prison. There are other
reasons, however, in favor of it
which we, in Minnesota, think more
: than counterbalance any objections
that can possibly be urged against it.
d The farm machinery industry is
much better adapted to the require
ments in this regard for it supplies
. five distinctive trades at which the
, prisoners may easily earn an honest
. living on their release, and yet they
do not compete with the free labor
! of the state, for there are no other
, manufacturers Of farm machinery in
. Minnesota. The machines are sold
! to the dealers of the state, who in
: turn sell them at reasonable profit
: to the farmers of the state. This
: Isystem has proven itself to be for
! the best interests of all concerned.
The convict is given an opportunity
! to learn useful trade under compe-
!, tent and experienced instructors
: and he IS allowed to share in his
earning capacity The stale realizes
! an annual profit. which with that OF
) the twine plant, makes the institu-
: ton self-supporting. The imple-
ment trade is not taken away from
!. the local dealer by direct-sell;ng TO
the farmers, but instead he is given
! the agency for the machines and al
! allowed reasonable profit on all ma
5 chimes he sells. And the farmer
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