The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1913-09-18
MUST KEEP TWO
OBJECTS IN VIEW
Punishment Of Wrongdoers and the Re-
. cIamation Of Evil Ways. The States
Duty is not a Hidden Mystery. The
Care of Prisoners is a Difficult Prob
lem, but not UnsoIvahIe.

The following editorial is printed
from the New York Sun. The de-
mand for prison reform set forth
by the Sun is not radical; more
of conservatism and respectable
reaction. The San Francisco Bull
letin has been the foremost expon-
ent for prison reform in California,
and the Suns plea is almost par
allel with the Bulletin.
Whenever experience has been
needed it has come to be recognized
that in its treatment of law break
ers society must keep two objects
in view. One is punishment of
the wrongdoer, embodied in the
form of reprimand, fine, or i'm
prisonment. The other is his re-
clamation from evil ways and resto-
ration to usefulness in the commun-
ity, the establishment of health, the
correction of wrong ideas, the
rousing of self-respect. A prison
devoted only to the detention OF
malefactOrs is no better than
bedlam given over solely to the
restrain of bad men. Despite the
sentimentality of some sapless pris-
on reformers. intelligence supports
the foundations on which they erect
their foolishness.
Probation systems, children's
courts, reductions Of sentence for
good conduct, distinctive uniforms
and special privileges for good be-
havior are all expressions of the re-
constructive spirit. To save men,
not simply to crafty humane feel
ing, but for economic gain; to lessen
the amount of human wastage, to de-
crease the cost of taxpayers, these
are practical purposes, not poetic
dreams, To their accomplishment
scientific penology is devoted, but it
does not count taking men out of
cesspools as within it's province. 1t
assumes that the state will not put
men In cesspools.
What the state should do is not
hidden in mystery. Its first obliga-
tion is to house all prisoners in de-
cency. Each should receive such
medical and surgical treatment as
his condition requirers. Each
should have any tuition he may need
to put him on the level of common
school graduate. Each should have
employment suited to his strength.
Here is a problem difficult, but not
unsolvable. Great public works,
such as highways and canals, IRA
cation and drainage projects, these
are appropriate and proper fields
for prison labor, for by its plans de-
sirable but commercially too ex-
pensive or not sufficiently remun-
erative to be carried forward come
within the range of possibilities. |
And every device of amusement and |
recreation that may awaken or sus-
tain honor in these men should be
utilized for the severely utitilitarian
purpose of relieving the taxpayers
of burden and setting their char
ges up in self-respecting efficiency.
That much may be accomplished
in this direction is not Utopian
speculation. The record of actual
proved success is available for any
man who cares to read it. 1t does
not, indeed, point to the immediate
elimination of all criminals. 1t is
not a story of unvarying attain
ment of ideas. But it comprises a
history damning without even faint
praise the system thai makes pris-
on place simply of bars and
bolts, be they ever so secure