The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-01-01
THE
INNOCENT ONES
Chaplain Harmon Allen Of the Kansas
State Prison, PertinentIy Presents a
Common Sense View Of Society's Way
Of Furnishing the InnOcents.
A NEW YEAR THOUGHT

A man committed an offense
against the state and was arrested,
tried, convicted and sent to the
penitentiary. The people in that
particular community were unani-
nous in their Judgment that the
man should be punished. The
Judge gave him a sharp lecture,
bringing to mind the Nervousness of
his crime. The court room was
crowded and the entire audience
sanctioned what the Judge said.
In few days the sheriff started
with the man to the penitentiary.
A wife and four children were at
the depot to bid the husband and
father goodbye. Heaven alone
knows what the mother and child
rem suffered. The man also wept
bitter tears. Even the sheriff felt
lump in his throat as he witnessed
this touching scene.
On arriving at the prison the
man was soon dressed inn and
commenced his sentence. Sitting
in his cell alone that memorable
first night. he nused thus to him
self: j have a fairly comfort
able bed, am we'll warmed and
have enough to eat. My work is
not hard, and really lny con-
dition is not half so lamentabIe
as that of Mary and the children.
True enough the man is being
punished. The way of the trans
gressor is hard;" but how about
the punishment of that defenseless
mother and children? They have
committed no crime, are worthy of
no censure-but how great is their
suffering! Winter is coming on;
the children have neither shoes nor
clothingi All are scantily clad to
face the biting frosts of the winter
months. The father represented
their food and raiment, but he is in
prison. While he sleeps in warm
bed, and has food and raiment, the
family suffer for these necessary
comforts.
Innocent Ones Suffer
Why should the state cause these
innocent ones to suffer a greater
punishment than the one who vio-
lated the majesty Of the law? Should
not the great wealthy state be
father to these defenseless ones?
We need one more law on our
statute books providing support to
families thus left destitute.
But some one Immediately replies,
taxes are already too high; we can
not take on such expense" But
listen brother, there is another side
to this. Let us follow this case of
Mary and the children little fur
ther. Soon the mother by force of
circumstances is compelled to put
little Johnnie out as bread win
ner for. the family. He Is tender
lad :of:a aazeE: SUMMERS, and thus
far is well trained. His work takes
him among an classes: Of 'men and
boys The. pool. hall :habit is
learned; gambling is before him all
the time, and little Johnnie is no
longer the fine lad he once was.
Men and children tease him about
his fathers wrongdoing, until he
gives up in despair, thinking it is
no use to try, He is finally led in
to crime, and is arrested. The
state that considered it too expen-
,ive to care for this family, will
spend all kinds of money to prose
cute Johnnie, and send him to the
penitentiary to be kept by the state
with his father. Poor economy,
and poor judgement!
How clear it is, then, that in our
efforts to enforce the law we pun
sh the innocent ones rather than
,he guilty. Consistency, thou art
Bulletin.