New Ulm review., 1917-08-22
PRISON REFORM IS
HOBBY OF RANDALL
FORMER ATTORNEY OF NEW ULM
DISCUSSES PROGRESS OF
sgaar WORK.
HERE WITH FAMILY PAYING 4
VISIT TO oLD-TIME FRIENDS
IN CITY.

mo man who has ever become in
terested in prison reform can become
tired of the work, said Frank l.. Randall
of st. Cloud to the Review. "It is a
great work, and just in it's infancy" he
continued. "Only "a few states have
taken up the movement, and Minnesota
is yet far in the Lead
Mr.. Randall, who was once resident
OF this city, where he practiced law for
several years, has had many years
experience in prison work. For thirteen
years he was superintendent of the
Minnesota State Reformatory at St.
Cloud, where he worked out a number
OF lasting reforms, which have had much
to do with turning out from that in
stitution a large number of really re-
formed young men. His success at St.
Cloud attracted prison officials in other
states, and few years ago he was chosen
warden of the Massachusetts, state prison,
which position he was compelled to
relinquish owing to failing health.
Movement is Growing.
'sThe spirit of reform in the prison
work of Massachusetts, is growing very
rapidly" said Mr.. Randall, 'but con-
ditions in the east are far different from
those in the west and middle west. When
the prisons we're established in that
state, it was in the days of ox-team
transportation, and distance counted for
much. AS a result every county has a
jail to which prisoners are sentenced,
often for long terms. These are under
the jurisdiction OF the sheriff. With the
political influence of these officials is
"a problem to change thesa conditions.
OF course all states have county jails
where prisoners are held pending trial
or for short sentences for minor
crimes or misdemeanors, but in Masss-
chusetts it is different. A jail sentence
there may be for a serious crime, and
the prisoner is kept in idleness, and when
he is released nothing has been accom-
plished toward turning out a better
man than when he entered. You can
never reform criminal by keeping him
in idleness.
There are twenty prisons in Massa-
chusetts to which criminals are sentenced.
But the reform movement is working
fine down there and the time will come
when there will be great advancement
in the plan of caring for the prisoners.
In the three years that I was at the
head of the prison was under three
governors. All were interested in the
work we were accomplishing. just be-
fore was compelled to give up the work
a bill that had helped to prepare was
passed by the legislature, which is a
long step in advance, and I was very
sorry when the doctors definitely de-
cided that must quit.
''The work is going on nicely under my
successor, who m secured as my deputy
from Illinois"
Visiting Former Home.
Mr.. Randall, accompanied by Mrs.
Randall and their daughter, Miss
Katherine, and Mrs. Randall's mother,
Mrs. C. H. Ross of Minneapolis, arrived
Wednesday by automobile, and are
quartered at the Dakota Hotel. They
spent the week visiting old-time friends
in this city and vicinity. They will.go
to Fort Ridgely today to attend the fifty
fifth celebration of the Indian battle at.
the fort, after which they may return
for more extended visit. Mr.. Randall's
father, the late B. H. Randall, was
territorial pioneer and was stationed at
the fort for many years.
Mr.. Randall was law partner here
of former Governor John Lind, the
firm name being Lind & Randall.