River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-07-15
PRISON REFORM
BY Mrs. J. S. Wadsworth
Continued from last week,

has been a gamer. The earnings
at Saltwater have never been
greater than the past two years
The past two years they did over
100000 worth of business at a
ct profit t % tn e state of over
$500, 900.
Her chief industries are farm
machinery and Irvine At Waupun
they manufacture Irvine. paper and
furniture besides working men on
the highways.
All reforms cited shows the
spirit Of the age. and have proved
a blessing where-eyer tried.
Now the civilized world must do
away with capital punishment.
Wisconsin as a state never permit
ted it. Minnesota hia S abolished
IT, and New York is working to
get rid Of it, Soon other states
will follow. Three persons paid
the death penalty at Sing Sing
February. All went to their death
without a tremor, but each left
letter urging the abolition Of
such a law.
The effect Of an execution with
in the prison walls is Terrible.
especially 50 on people who are
mentally unsound. II the state
itarliaons q person for murder i
should never set the example by
taking life. Capital punishment
was first instituted as a deterant
but it has long since been sascer-
tanned that it does not SO act be-
cause a person committing a muir
der never thinks of the punish
ment at the time, hence the law
has failed in its purpose. | re-
Gently visited the new prison at
Saltwater and found 1T beauti-
ful institutions. Surely the Mime
sofa State prison stands as
monument to Ex-Warden Wolfer
who for twenty years toned in
the interest of unfortunate beings.
AS you enter it's doors, no e.
pressive feeling comes over y o. Il.
1t is all light and sunshine. every
thing is scrupulously clean, every
color harmonious and every ap-
pointment perfect.
There are 1924 cells for men all
light and airy. In this respect no
home can compare with it. Each
cell is complete in every detail.
Fine bed, toilet case, lavatory toll
ct articles, stool. chair, electric
light and a shelf that serves as a
writing desk or as a table for the
Sunday evening meal. The food
is Of excellent quality and plenty
of it. Every other day the war
den allows the prisoners to talk
during the noon hour. All eat In
the same room. There are no ta-
bles but individual desks. There
is a place for the orchestra t o
sit and every Sunday and holidays
they have music during the noon
meal. After dinner they are taken
into the yard or rather on TO the
ball grounds where they can yell
AMI whoop to their hearts content.
The rest of the time silence reigns
supreme. Not a sound is heard
except that from work going on.
The rules are strick but humane
Every new person en- term G
the prison is put in thei second
clasi. If in six months he earns
SO out of 81 credits he s. aid
yanced to first grade. If he fails
he must remain in the second
grade for another six months or
he might even fall to third grade
A man who falls to the o we st
grade is not necessarily bad
man. The slightest infraction IS
thu rules may put him rnere. The
follc Wing are some OF the rules.
So ii you or l could always keep
;hcm
Cell clothing and body kept neat
and clean.
Bed must be made neatly and care
fully.
Must not stare at visitors.
No fooling or gazing about h e
room.
Get to work promptly.
Must not talk from cell to cell.
Walk erect, eyes to the front.
While in the chapel sit with arms
folded and pay strick attention to
the service.
There are about fifty of these
rules for the prisoners to observe.
/ asked the present warden, Mr..
Reed. how the Minnesota pris o n
ranks with others in the u. s,
or even in the worlds His an
swer was, II have visited prisons
in Japan, China, Europe and t n
U. S., and find that this is t h e
k~vS VT g., I'll 49, boo.,4--