davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1913-12-11

tCuIO1SIuS are IOuHO SlOc Uy Sluc
with advanced conditions. Prisoners
often distrust their officials when
the latter's only fault may he the
path and obllgatian to obey regula-
tions long out of date. The prison
er sees the better way and. as rule,
Will not listen to reason. The Off
cial knows 1t too, but is not free to
walk in it. From this condition of
affairs comes that great antagonism
between prisoners and officials which
exists in all prisons. The warden
to do good must bridge the gulf
which separates the prisoner and
himself. He must be the example
and precept of right. He will not
delay action until all difficulties are
removed, but is prompt to seize
every opportunity as it offers itself.
He walks where others creep, and
sees the end where others grope.
While sedulous to avoid favoritism,
he takes into consideration the per-
sonal equation" of each man, and
gives him the Interpretation of the
law best suited to the case as it may
be. In his system of discipline,
there is as little as possible of the
merely mechanical and whatever
may be allowed of individual con-
sideration. This is not more human
than expedient; for most of the men
are quick to perceive the proper
means to deserve good treatment,
and, instead of sinking into lethargy
and Indifference, are aroused to do
what in them lies to meet the war;
den half way. Frequently, though,
regardless of the work of such Off
cials. in this great human body,
there are developed ideas unfair,
and we will find prisoners who will
resist all efforts of the officials III this
direction. They do not mean to,
but the world has treated them Dad
ly, and they can not help it, Kind
ness is winning them, though where,
cruelty would never affect them
Punishment and abuse may stir
and arouse man so that he will
tight with desperation born of de-
spair, but more often he sinks into a
state of mind, sullen, revengeful and
heartless-a condition fatal to refor-
nation, and dangerous to society.
Method, discipline, authority, are
fine things. aud will accomplish
much, but with prisoner you can
not force his soul against itself.
You must lead him up and ont of
himself; you cannot curse him into
better man. The supreme object
of imprisonment should be to in
spire the prisoner to do his best
when more than his best is needed.
The fight to extirpate the old sys-
tenn is steadily going on, and will
eventually succeed. The evils of
the contract-labor system are al
ready becoming known, and it will
be blotted out of existence, and
when that system has become
thing of the past, an immense step
in all other features of jail ameliora-
ton will have been taken. The
next step will involve the entire
principle of prison punishments as
a determent of crime and means
of making better men of prisoners.
The state will then not take revenge
upon the criminal. will not annlhi-
late his self-respect or crush out
whatever manhood he has in him
Good Words.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1913-12-11
PRISON JOURNALISM
ON THE INCREASE
Many New Publications Are Being Added
to the List. Prison Journalism Covers
Field of Endedvor That is Necessarily
Restricted.

Concerning prison journalism
Lend-A-Hand has the following
pertinent and pointed observations:
Prison papers, like others, are
supposed to be published for the
benefit of humanity in general and
the prisoners in particular, and to
do justice to both is not always an
easy matter There are many things
which, perforce. must be left unsaid
and oftimes, through preju dice, the
wrong construction is placed on
what is said. If we touch on poll
tics our fingers are liable to become
filthy from growing evil. Should
we praise the management of the
prison for improvements they have
made and humane treatment accord
ed the inmates, the men inside call
us suckers and those outside say
we do it because we have to, neither
one of which is correct. Our posi-
ton is one of trust, and we write
and print for cause few men can
understand until they have been in
our position. This is a community
of its own. We have desirable and
undesirable; intelligepts and igno-
rants; sane and insane: good citizens
and bad; religious and non religious;
honest and dishonest; hypocrites and
open CONFERENCE.-The as you have
in the town in which you live.
In the penitentiaries of six states
are published periodicals that are of
great value in the fight for the under
dog. Prisoners do not ask for
maudlin sympathy or sentiment of
the sloppy variety, and there is no
class of people on earth who turn
ON that sort of rot quicker than a
prisoner. Most of us realize that
society must have some method of
dealing with and controlling its re-
fractory brother-some place to keep
him within bounds-hence jails and
peniteEtiaries. In the past, vindic-
tive punishment and inhuman treat
ment has been meted out regardless
of future effects in retaliation upon
society. This was all wrong, and
no one knew ii better than the vic
tim. 1t is the purpose of changing
or correcting this erroneous method
that prison papers are published,
and in consequence thereof many
changes have been and are being
made that may be credited to the
efforts of such, periodicals as Lend
A-Hand, of Oregon; Reflector, of
North Dakota; Monitor, of Texas;
MIRROR. of Minnesota; News, of
OHIO; and Good Words, of Georgia.
To the above list THE MIRROR
would add the Bulletin, of Kansas;
The Better Citizen, of New Jersey;
and judging from the first copy cf
Our Dope Book, of Washington, it
will take high stand for the better
ment of humanity.
The other prison publications are
devoted to stories. rehash of the
news of the day, local items, selec-
tions from other papers, and base
ball.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23
Nesv Zealand Mines Coal
And LOsve,y Cost to The PEOPLE
BY JUDsoN KING.

first the entire output was taken by
the railroads and other government
institutions Next retail depots were
opened mp in the principal cities. and
coal was sold 10 the people AT around
s. per Ton where the trust had been
charging from So TO $l3. The private
companies lowered prices. and the
market remained at this point until
last year
Beyond question the state coal
mines have proved OF vast benefit 10
the people of New Zealand Prices
have been kept at a little below the
going rates In Australia and undue
eXtortion has been prevented. They
have been we'll managed and have re-
turned neat cash profit TO the gov
eminent Money has been saved TO
the state railroads which has been
distributed among the people in the
form or reduced passenger and freight
rates. They have supplied cheaper
coal to the public schools and other
public Institutions The total pro
duction has been 20S7 900 tons 10
1912. The total for the nation for
this period was about $1,000 900 tons.
In 1912 the total sales OF the state
mines and depots amounted TO 81 ,096.-
eco
Miners are paid the union scale.
There have been no strikes The
miners live in good houses built by
the state and surrounded with ample
yards for garden patches.
All mining in New Zealand is strict
ly regulated From 1900 TO 1910 the
average annual fatality rate from ac-
cidents in coal mines was only LA
per | 900 men employed. The rate in
the United States for the same period
was 3.5S, and 22,l94 men were killed.
This means that 1855 OF these lives
would have been saved had the
United States protected coal miners
as we'll as does New Zealand.
The New Zealand government went
into the coal business not TO substi-
tute state monopoly for private owner
ship, but to regulate private monopoly
by competition. Ii has succeeded only
partially. Rapacity has been checked,
but coal is still high-too high. say
the people. The state mines have not
reduced prices as much as was ex-
pected. Especially Is this true or
Ignite, brown and other Goals used by
The working classes.
The reason for this partial failure
lies IN the one word-transportatio
The government does not own its own
GOLFERS. but must depend upon the
shipping ring TO carry its coal TO
market The rates are high, and in
ten years the government has had to
pay 100000 for this service. Re-
Gently the price has been raised and
the people are now demanding that
the state transport its coal in its own
ships.
Right here is where Senator Poin-
dexter's plan overtops New Zealand.
He proposes that Uncle Sam own and
operate the railroads and ships neces-
sary 10 deliver government mined
Alaska coal direct TO the docks OF
American ports.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23
Burying Beetle at Work

found "A dead robin in the thicker
OF laurel scrubs near the gate this
morning and all day have vainly en-
deavored 10 imagine the cause OF Its
death There were no signs OF vio-
lence upon its body. Its feathers
practically unruffled Had IT been the
cat, surely she would have eaten II.
Can IL have been old age? Can birds
ever grow old?
have said no word Of ii to Georg-
ina.
But this evening, | went out to
examine it again, curious in my mind
TO learn the cause of its death. |
approached il with no thought of eau
ton and for moment was surprised
TO find that il had shifted from the
position in which | had seen IL last
As | stopped down TO look at II more
closely. discovered that the earth
and had scratched away at each side
OF it's body Then | guessed what
was happening. The sexton-beetle
was doing his work and taking up
a position as near as ! dared. | wait
ed and watched the burial OF one OF
Gods creatures over which no ser
vice was, read other than by the voice
OF Nature. Never have ! attended a
more solemn or inspiring burial be-
fore. II was as though God himself.
who counts the sparrows when they
fall had lent his hand 10 the spade
10 consecrate this little creature TO
the earth
There Is nothing very beautiful
about the burying- with it's
large head by means OF which 1t
scoops out the ground beneath the
body II inters. Its brown wings, the
orange colored spots and bands upon
the abdomen make it in no way re-
markable Only the stag-beetle
amongst its kind seem beautiful to
me. But the sexton is surely the
most interesting OF these insects you
may come across.
with the utmost care, working In
cessantly and methodically. the mold
was slowly scooped away from under
the robins body. Almost impercep-
tibly II was lowered below the level
of the ground. When | left them,
their excavations were almost half an
inch deep. The little robin was sink
ing 10 its last rest.-From The
Open Window" by f. Temple Thurs
ton, published by Appletons.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23
From Another Point of We've

buzzess
We have
spectacle citizens to make up two jury lists
Inc feow with the crouch has just returned from his vacation
vice is concerned, the city, also. is or
Dewolf Hopper discovered this field seemingly
of
he
is a same to We o
wal we ask 20
other words before vice will it will call the police
incidentally will
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23

For the past 10 years the New Lea
land government has successfully OF
Grated TWO state-oWned coal mines IN
addition TO supplying its own needs.
IL has sold coal directly 10 the people
i'm competition with "A coal trust
This is exactly what the PoindeNter
Alaskan coal bill proposes that Uncle
Sam shall do for the people OF the
United states. The conditions IN both
cases are so strikingly similar that II
Is worth while telling you the Ne"
Zealand story.
The nation OF New Zealand consists
OF three large islands. covering a dis
lance. from north 70 south, OF about
,000 miles The coal deposits are
located on the west coast OF the mid
die island and are shut on by high
mountain range Transportation Is all
by water The main shipping point
is Westport where the government
has built harbor
Up 10 1903 coal production was
wholly in private hands The newt
able coal ring as monopolies are
known there-made it's appearance
and, in combination with the ship
ping ring" controlled the market eX-
actly as does the railroad-coal COM
bine In Pennsylvania. Prices were
kept up 10 the level OF coal imported
from Australia, I 300 miles away. The
government was paying high prices TO
run its railroads The people were
paying from so 80 10 $1,000 per ton
retail and in some cases much higher.
Presently prolonged strikes In the
Australian mines threatened short
age from that source. and the New
Zealand combine prepared TO charge
famine prices and reap harvest. But
the enterprisiug gentlemen managing
this business deal quickly found that
they had people and a peoples gov
eminent TO reckon with.
The people OF New Zealand reason
ed the situation out about like this
The coal ring proposes 10 rob us.
We can't AFFORD II, and, besides, only
fools or impotents will consent TO be
robbed We have abundant coal on our
state lands. II Is our coal. Our gov
eminent is maintained TO do some
thing besides collect taxes and look
wise. II is our government. We own
and operate railroads: why not coal
So they told their government to
get into the coal business and do il
quick
The government, then under the
leadership of the famous premier.
Richard Seldom. who had started in
life as miner, did act quickly. The
passed a law authorizing
two state coal mines. incidentally
the coal barons were quietly given TO
understand that II they attempted to-
pull of their deal before the state
mines could be gotten into operation,
the government. acting under the
right Of eminent domain. would prob
ably take over their mines and relieve
distress
The ring surrendered, but the gov
eminent went straight ahead with its
mines. They opened In 1904. and al
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23
Keep Tour Record Clean
BY BERToN sRALEY.

So live. my son that when you start
fight Of any kind
Your enemies can never find
A crooked action on your part
So live that they may freely roam
Into your past. and snoop about.
And comb IL with a fine tooth comb,
And never dig a blame thing out
That's mean or fraudulent or vile.
Though every man is sure to make
Many an error and mistake,
II you have lived upon the square
You still can make your fight and smile
And never worry, fret or care
How much your foes may try to cast
The calcium glare upon your past.
But IL you haven't played the game
Your foes will find your hidden shame
And you get the bitter blame,
And get II good;
And though your fight be just and right
Good night!
And so it's simple business sense,
Although temptation may be keen
| SAY IT'S SIMPLE BUSINESS SENSE,
TO KEEP YOUR RECORD CLEAN!
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23
BIZ OLSON GARDNER.

WASHINGTON. Aug 23.-The next
big job which the administration Will
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23

etsNON NOu Sltpb, anu Wis
bursed by Senator Fletcher as special
disburser for the agricultural depart
ment, large number OF people went
10 Europe 10 study rural credits.
They paraded of the steamer at New
York only few days ago. They have
been in Washington renting headquar-
ters in which 10 assemble their ideas
and typewrite their valued data.
But what's the use? ID. u. Fletcher
has written the bill and introduced IL
and made speech on 1t in the senate.
ID. l.. Fletcher, although chairman or
the commission, did not accompany IL
TO Europe.
The Fletcher bill apparently is based
on the report OF Myron I. Herrick.
former ambassador TO France made TO
President Taft Herrick was chairman
OF the National Bankers association
committee which was sent 10 Paris TO
study rural credits He was also au-
thorized as special envoy OF President
Taft 10 study rural credits. In his dual
capacity he studied and reported on
rural credits. Now ID. L. Fletcher. a
Democrat, accepts the recommends.
lions OF the Republican Taft-Herrick-
Bankers association promoters OF ru-
raj credit and puts In a bill which
would establish central bank into
which the mortgage money OF the
farmers could be dumped and would
authorize its deposit as reserves"
in the New York banks. These New
York banks are great on getting peo-
pies reserves. They like TO spec
ulate with them.
But when panic comes they hold
a meeting OF the clearing house com
mittee and say the reserves must be
locked up and the public must do bus
mess on clearing house certificates.
Official statistics show that the
farmers of the country do business on
borrowed capital each year amounting
TO $4,000, 100000, on which the inter.
est is 100000 900 annually. Here is
a stake worthy The solicitous atten.
ton even OF Wall-st.
The provinciality OF some OF our
southern congressman Is sometimes
almost beyond belief. An instance of
this was seen when the woman's suf-
frage committee was having a hearing
before Chairman Henry's rules com.
mittee, and Representative Hardwick,
of Georgia, asked Jane Adams II she
did not know that in all matters of
the electoral franchises the states
alone had dealt with the matter: that
Congress never had ben aswed to do
SO. Miss Adams mentioned the fact
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23

Egypt is solely a producer OF raw
material Its entire needs OF manu-.
featured goods and prepared material
are met from abroad Raw cotton
represents four-nfths of the total value
OF its exports and cotton and seed
four-sevenths OF the remainder. The
public debt of Egypt amounts to $500.
34.014. and is almost wholly foreign
holding.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23

unuti TAME ID W nc
rural credits legis-
lation. President
Wilson has official
" announced this
fact. This gives
significance TO a
bill introduced by
Senator Duncan u.
Fletcher recently
providing for rural
credits.
Ii Is somewhat
remarkable that
Senator Fletcher
should have intro
duced this bill
without waiting for
the report of the
rural credits COM
mission OF which
he is chairman. At
a cost of s25, 900,
appropriated b Y
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23

The farmer in great need or extra
hands at haying time finally asked S.
Warren, who was accounted the town
fool, If he could help him out.
"What1l you pay?" asked 81. "I'll
pay what you're worth answered the
farmer. 81 scratched his head min
ute, then announced decisively, "Ill
be darned II I'll work for that"
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23

Miss Amy Berntsen, daughter or
the Danish prime minister. has served
three years apprenticeship as join
err She began her studies In an in
stitute where she learned carving or
various kinds. One Of the first pieces
of work which she finished. a small
box. was purchased by the dowager
empress OF Russia.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23

The shades of the builders OF the
pyramids might have been interested
onlookers at the sight Of iron Orders
weighing forty-six tons each going up
nineteen stories to the top or build
ing being erected in New York city.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23

East Africa has come forward with
a new wood suitable for lead pencils
at time when the supply OF Ameri-
can cedar. so largely employed for
that purpose, is approaching exhaus-
ton.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23

Mlnnesota's iron ranges are pro-
ducing more ore than all the other
states combined. last years figures
being almost 62.5 per cent OF the total
output OF the country.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23

New Jersey mas paid it's first PEN
sions to widowed mothers, under the
new law The amounts varied from
s14 month, paid to widow with two
children, TO $50 month paid to wo-
man mill operative who was maintain
ing her six little ones on her scanty
wages.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23
KNO WLEDGE rs POWER WE
INVITE YOUTODAY TO KNO WLEDGE!

N knowledge power
tits moving force upon the individual Deepen
fat
It's a force that controls destiny o nations
foresight be paid more glowing COM
pmen present day pointing finger to the puo
school
Whether magnificent the city erects for IT'S Central
High the country Crossroads the purpose
Of those who the battle of the revolution being maintained just
the the webeng faithfully preserved
knowledge power!
By this standard do we operation public schools
citizenship coming develop the force which we must
rely for place and prestige
By smallest nations become the strongest
standard could the biggest of nations become
people slaves and its lands and
a waste.
The engine great agent civilization off by it.
roundhouse resistance and not force simply taking up
great amount OF
is a dead load and a force.
burning and registering
hundred pounds is still no service and in the
Its power hand upon which wait
which an advanced had o wait
Its real power the hand that along
the hand of the fireman who it water and feeds Its
fire with coal.
in ENGINEER-he hand that the throttle
the hand guided by knowledge-and KNOWLEDGE is POWER
We marvel electricity.
We marvel BEEN DONE with electricity and the
brain of man power the real force
Electricity is only agent conveying mans knowledge
pencil hand child OF service mankind and
the mark the wall paper or white enamel
decorations.
In the of president of would become
history guided knowledge its marks
meaning declaration policy of
reliance the country neither its its navy Wien
dignity at stake but in the direction of its forces by
PREPARED for directing them for restraining them wisdom
which knowledge becomes happily power for
universally proclaimed will worldwide brother
hood andth grandest triumph of knowledge
There whom hear
had the opportunity had for education
And how often hear these saddes of words
compelled short the
ambition pointed and have behed them stop when
maybe only rung the ladders toph impossible for
lack Of preparation and lack of knowledge
In knowledge there strength
this educational number
today young schools of for making the
trade
are born equal equal footing gTapng
the benefit of school education.
school completed the seed learning generally has
owed the university and the training school
turn for development
yield
the field results and the third
turn still better results
The represents individ
the has taken n hand for training
The field that ntuned weeds and its state becomes
than unproductve
opd there stands time the golden and the field has done
service to mankind
How much would you possess of the power of knowledge
The matter of reaching the summit ambition depends entirely
you may proceed The Times
contains advantageous for in this
The schools that invite all voraby and esab
the development moldng
Make decision today and let that decision be that the land shall
\ yield and not 60 to weeds
golden grain equipment
4 service to and country and prosperity.
The desire for knowledge and the knowledge the finest
part Of patriotism.