The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1931-08-06
POllyannaism


Polyannaism
nOLLYANNAISM, or the rare faculty of seeing the
and famines, is the last trait which America could
be accused of right now.
However, there are few persons left who see
something besides gloom. Recently farmer in this
community threshed heavy yields of oats and barley
He told about it in and added that the corn crop
looks Darn Good" He didn't say word about low
prices but seemed pleased with his lot AS one editor
remarked lately "Times tough but still
ing three squares day, driving the old and living
in the same house."
Prices are low but they have been lower, business
is Slow collections poor and all that but they
could be Taxes high but think what we get
for them.
Every time there is a crop failure elsewhere,
prices must improve that much We are sorry for the
unfortunates yet glad for the raise in prices
We haven't been eaten out by the grasshoppers, we
finally got the much needed rain hail and windstorms
have passed US up, and someday will come in
and pay bill we had charged off the books Then
we will know the worlds all right.
@ : @
Prison Problems
THAT the Wickersham commission was bit too
human in its report on the Minnesota prison con-
ditions is candid opinion after weighing its
report and the reply of j. ]. Sullivan warden.
At least Sullivan has an undeniabe recommends
ton for his methods in the fact that prison riots are
unknown in Minnesota and seldom hear of Jail
breaks or even attempts at Jail breaking.
1t seems logical that two things might cause pris-
on riots Too much eniency or too little Minnesota
seems to have followed middle course.
Although we have had the privilege of meet
ing Mr.. Sullivan, take it from newspaper inter-
views we have read that he knows his business This
is indicated by the fact that his charges seem to feel
ne knows his business pretty thoroughly too
Sullivan points out that the men who reach his
establishment not the average human beings Us
ually they not the milder type of criminals
for most of the minor offenders in this state are sent
to other institutions.
IF you had fellow who tried to beat the brains
out of guard with iron rod and came within an
ace of doing it, would you administer some severe
punishment" Sullivan says in interview. We be-
ieve we would Not inhuman punishment such as our
highly scrupuous forefathers resorted to with their
stocks and racks but severe enough punishment to
make them consider carefully before they became un
ruly again.
There to be merit also in his theory that
prisoners not allowed to talk too much will not be
stirring up riots. Of there are all kinds of
prisoners and they have to be handled differently but
Mr. Sullivan is in position to know that as well as
his crticizers.
After the report published, naturally Gov
ernor Olson checked up it but will be surprised
it he makes any radical recommendations. AS coun
~ attorney IN MlnnesOtas most populOus county, he
knows something of warden's problems.
Cap0ne and Justice
S6@A PONE seeks to change plea, Lawyer says
leniency was promised AL" says headline
The next day it's "Capone Plea Changed, trial
ordered-in surprise move" subhead on story
from Washington says Agreements like one with
Capone common"
All of which leads to the query, "Who runs this
country?" Has not democracy been carried beyond
the realm its founders anticipated when a man Of
Capones character may seek punishment at bargain
counter?
Anyone who will visit federal courtroom when
liquor cases are being heard will minor offender
after minor offender sentenced heavily with hardly
moments consideraton-scores of them in halliday
before single judge.
But when man like Capone, linked with every
crime of Importance committed in Chicago for years.
including such atrocities the Valentines day murd
en- despite the fact that he in Florida at the time
comes to trial. every possible lane and bypah of court
procedure is thrown open to him. His staff of at
torneys may bargain for him, delay action and prac
tically pick the men who will hear the case.
True they say the bargain made to secure
quick punishment though would be inadequate
because of the danger that jury would set the man
free. With 5000 counts listed in the governments
complaint, is that not indictment Of our jury
system?
Perhaps it is Chicagos problem but it seems more
like Americas when consider the galleys Of friend
" interviews and life stories which have been printed
building up the beer king as moneyed genius mis-
guided to be sure, but more less nations hero
What effect can we expect on younger America? How
can we correlate this with "Justice for ALI"