The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-12-17
THE UNFORTUNATE'S
RIGHT TO A LIVING
Why Not Allow Him to Re-
main in Your Employ?
Why Should There be Discrimination Made
So Long As the Man Who Has Been
Unfortunate Proves Honest? In
Every Sense a Man.
By II. S. Med.

In using the word unfortunate
to represent the prisoner one must
bear in mind that the word in it's
true meaning is not an exact repre-
sentation: H wever, one cannot be-
come prisoner unless he has been
unfortunate and, therefore, "unfor-
tunate" will I'll the deficiency and
supply the word for the occasion.
Often we hear the expression,
There goes an unfortunate man."
Rarely, however, is it an ex- prisoner
to whom it alludes. When we hear
an ex-prisoner spoken of it inyari-
ably is in such words as 'ex-con,"
ex-thiet" or ex-bure lar" There
Is also present tinge of sarcasm
and loathing. The cold shoulder is
everywhere in evidence and he does
not have the chance to make good
that he is entitled to. Every man
was created by the same Divine
Master. who, when he created man,
gave him the right to earn his own
living. The world owes every man
a living" who is willing to toll earn
estly and faithfully, and when the
unfortunate man whose work is per-
formed satisfactorily, is discharged
because some sneak of blackmailer
informs his employer that the man
is an ex-prlsoner. an injustice has
been done, not only to the unfor-
tunate one and those dependent up
on him. but to society at large. Also
this injustice may be the proverbial
straw that breaks the calnel's back
and the man, loosing courage aud
hope, may return to crime as a last
chance of earning livelihood.
Why should there be dscrimina-
tion made so long as the man who
has been unfortunate proves honest,
industrious and faithful to his OBJ
legations? Why not give him
chance to earn the living which the
world owes him? He is more than
likely to prove his worthiness if he
can obtain proper chance to do so.
What employer would look down
on his own brother or his own son
were that son or brother unfortunate
in that he had fallen into evil ways
and been gathered in by the web of
the law? OF course there are ex-
ceptlons to all things, but the ma
jority of men will hold out their
hand to their brother or their son
and aid him to rise again, and these
same men would be indignant to
hear that their sou or brother had
been discarged because be was found
to be an ex-prisoner. and yet many
OF them have no qualms about dis
charging an unfortunate man. They
seem to look upon him as something
unique, something to be stunned.
The fact of the matter is that the
unfortunate is no different from
their own son or brother in many
respects: In most cases he is a man
SO long as he is looked upon as a
man; he is somebody's brother or
somebody's son; he is endowed with
the same manly principles and de-
sire of fellowship; in fact we can
find no better words for the occasion
than to say that he is prodigal
son but in all other respects he has
a striking resemblance TO your son
Or your brother!"
Why not allow him to remain in
your employ so long as he is honest
and faithful in his duties? Put your
self in his place and see If you can
find any reason why he should be
denied the chance to rehabilitate
himself among his fellow-men. Mr..
Employer, just suppose you were
this man whom you have just dis
charged; try and think the same
thoughts that the unfortunate is
thinking. We will give you a few
of them: He is wondering if he
will ever have chance to earn an
honest living again; he is wondering
why the hand of every man seems
turned against him; he is wondering
if it is worth while to struggle on
against the seemingly endless dis
and, if be is a man of
strong purpose he will surmount the
difficulty and come out " ith flying
colors, but, if he is man who is
easily discouraged you will more
than likely hear that he is in prison
again. and, perhaps, you will say:
l knew he couldn't be trusted"