The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-01-16

more closely together, keep Children
under proper supervision and guild
ance, promote health and assist in Sc.
curing wholesome recreation and en-
ployment, will have direct bearing
upon the lessening of distress. pow
erty and crime.
Two years ago the legislature
adopted an indetermindte sentence
law anu provided for parole board.
There was much opposition to -tnis
laE at first, but it has been found
RSs satisfactory il Its application
ana no one acquainted with its results
iii this state would advocateSa repeal.
The law itself should be changed in
only one particular so as to allow
tnE superintendent of the reforinatory
to be member of the board OF parole
in all reformatory cases, the warden
of the penitentiary to act as asmem-
Der of the board only in prison leases.
Under this law the average term of
the prisoner has been heightened
somewhat. The term Of the thorough
~. reformed offender has been short
hardened offender has been length
ened.
Our juvenile courts and probation
officers are entitled to more support
aEd cooperation in their work. 1t is
unnecessary for me to mention the
numerous cases in this state, where
the confidence reposed IN the erring
boy or girl and the helpful sugges-
tons of the probation officer have
checked an early start in career of
crime.
Perhaps there is no reform more
urgent today than the penal or work
house farm. In examining the records
Of our warehouses l have found cases
where men have been committed more
than thirty times. Whenever an Of
fender does not reform after working
ont two or three sentences In the
workhouse he should be sent to the re-
formatory or prison. All warehouses;
should be provided with large farm
or such other means of employment
for the inmates as will afford the least
competition with free labor. The en-
ployment of short term conyicts upon
farms has been proven an unqualified
success. In the case of large city
the produce could be either sold ON
the market or to other city or state
institutions. Every convict should be
permitted to earn fair wages. a por-
! ton of which should go to the main
tenance of the institution and the re-
mainder directly to the family or 9TH
er dependents. The neglect of the
city or state to provide compensation
| for its prisoners and to turn over a
sufficient amount of that compensa-
ton for the support of the family
surely is a policy best designated as
! penny wise and pound foolish
| Public Health.
] Minnesota is recognized as leader
! In the conservation movement The
greatest national and state gathering
! held for the purpose of conserving
| material and human resources haye
been held here. At all these meet
ings l have made special effort to
secure the consideration OF every Ques
tiOn connected with the conservation
of human life. 1t is sad reelection
upon the intelligence Of our age and
the integrity of our nation that, from
a public standpoint, less consideration
is given to the health of human beings
than to the health OF domestic ami
male.
According to the latest returns there
are l1,210 cases of tuberculosis in
Minnesota, with only 100 beds in the
state sanatorium, besides S95 beds in
private and special !. Institutions
About $500 young men; and women
die and approximately as many are
infected within our borders every
year. While it is true that at least
! two-thirds of these la,21o cases are
hopeless there is today an eDpor-
tunity to save the other one -third and
to prevent the infection off,, 500 more
cases every, year. 0 Exact figures can
not be given.
At the last regular session bill
was introduced providing FOR the es-
Enlistment by the state of one or
more sanatoriums In each COMPRESSION
al district. This bill passed the sen
ate without discussion, was reported
favorably by the house committee, but
was lost in the final scramble by the
adjournment of the house. It i'd true
chapter t347, permitting any county in
the state to establish a local sana-
torium was passed. but under that law
only two counties, st. Louis and Otter
Tail, have established sanatoriums.
Four or five other counties have ap-
propriated the maxiHnm amount al
lowed by this chapter, but this was
not sufficient and the project subse-
Guently abandoned. There is only one
solution and that is the appropriation
Of sufficient state aid to enable every
county in the state, II necessary. to
build a sanatorium, SO that every in
fictitious case can be isolated ana
every hopeful case afforded proper
treatment.
During my years of service -. goS-
ernor 1t has been my constant en-
deavor to study the needs Of the state
that might present them to you In
telligently and with personai knowl-
edge. These recommendations are