The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-10-21
THE PURPOSE OF INTRA-
MURAL JOURNALISM
The Object, Methods and Policy Involving
the Reproduction Of the Ideals and
Theories Of Inmate Contributors to
Disseminate Their Views and Theories
as ii Relates to Their Retirement and
the Enlightenment Of the Great Outside.
From the o. =. Neacs

field. Every book. magazine or
periodical is designed to appeal to a
certain patronage, for particlar
purpose or purposes. 1t stands for
something, exists for some specific
purpose. Newspaper publications
are intended primarily. for the
collection and dissemination of news;
but there are many publications in
newspaper form, such as trade and
technical papers, which meet the
wants of particular classes only. 1t
is difficult to draw a definite line be-
tween the newspaper and the mag
azine. because they merge into each
other by almost insensible gradations.
The prison press. which has sprung
into existence during the past few
years, occupies a field by itself.
Not entirely newspaper, not en-
tirely magazine, it's position is
somewhat anomalous. What then, is
the reason for it's existence? For
what does it stand?
The prison press is the medium
by means of which the inmates of
reforlnatories and penal institutions
find expression of their thoughts,
desires and achievements. Situated
within the world of active life, but
isolated from it by walls and bars,
is the world of the condemned.
Outside those walls, the tide of life
moves in it's full strength; but with
in is silence. What manner of men
are confined inside these gloomy
piles of msonary? The public knows
US as criminals, and so we are; but
we are more than that. No mans
life can be adequately measured by
any single act. whether that act may
be good or wicked, for life is the
total of all ones acts and, therefore,
can never be entirely good, or en-
tirely evil.
The criminal part of us--that side
of our natures for which we are
undergoing punishment-needs no
medium of expression to make itself
known to the public. The news
papers of the outer world have
attended to that. 1t is in making
known to the public the more worthy
part existing in all of us that the
prison press fulfills it's most import
ant function.
Much of the opposition that is en-
countered by any kind of innovation
in prison management, tending to.
ward betterment of conditions, is
due to public lack of knowledge as
to existing conditions. A crime is
committed and someone is arrested
and put on trial for the offense.
All the details of that crime are
made known to the public, but the
man himself is subordinated to the
deed. The details of his past life
which, in the aggregate, may counter
balance the evil, are not dwelt upon.
The result, so far as the public is
concerned, is mental impression of
crime only, unsoftened by any re-
deeming features.
This, then, is the field of the prison
press. to draw pictures true to life
of conditions inside prison walls
and of those who dwell there. If
properly fulfilled. this purpose is
of mutual benefit to the public and
the prisoner. The public is interested
in knowing the prisoner exactly as
he is, for only in the light of this
information can correct judgment
be formed concerning treatment of
the delinquent. The prisoner, on
the other hand, is equally interested,
for public opinion must in the end
be the governing factor IN penal
affairs.
A prison paper, to be successful,