The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-01
A STATES PITIABLE CONDI-
TI0N.

A STATES PITIABLE CONDI-
TION.
In all the states where the lease
system has been tried with state con-
victs there is now violentagitation of
the questions involved. and an earnest
desire is going up everywhere for
states to assume direct control of con-
victs. In Tennessee, where the lease
system has been in force for a
good many years, the legislature
In response to public demand is con-
sidering the question, and If resump-
ton does not follow this year 1t GER
tainly will next. So the agitation
goes In other states, and not one of |
all of them would for moment sub
NIT to such a proposition rs is now
before the Texas legislature-the
holding of convicts, especially at %
cents per month, for period of fif-
teen years. No state would for mo-
ment ia, orably consider plan
Of establishing faN ored indiviC-
ual slave owners on terms
ten times as advantageous
In financial point of view as the
purchase, years ago, of able bodied
Africans from the slave dealers.
Whether the result be good or bad, as
concerns the state or the convicts, the
moral obligation assumed in the con-
viction of these criminals is that they
besubject to the state and not slaves OF
lessees. In New York the public in
dignation against the lease system
assumes somewhat the appearance of
violence. Searching investiga-
ton, not the report of a
committee made after q
flourish of trumpetS announc-
ing visitation and in great measure
on hearsay, Gas brought 10 Light the
inwsrdness of the private manage
ment OF public prisons and prisoners
The New York Star says:
1t has brought To light "A condition
of things III one ri the great prisons
of the state which would disgrace
tribe of sIyages. The facts elected
by the committee at Sing Sing last
Friday and Saturday are revolving
and frightful enough to I'LL the state
with Indignation, and create an over
whelming public sentiment against
the system which inspires and re-
quires such brutality. For it was
there shown that the bottom factor
In the whole prison management
and discipline is this contract labor
system. 1t is this syst IN that over
works the prisoners; that Furnishes
them for failing to perform their
tasks by depriving them of food, con-
fRing them in dungeons, dOusing
them with cold water, beating them
with the paddle; that refuses proper
medical care and degrades the service
of religion into a mockery; that
breaks down strong men and uses up
the delicate and infirm; that has
made scores OF men insane, and sent
still more to the grave. The prison
officials are merely tools of this sys-
tenn, and appear to be in colluSion
with, if not in the paid service of.
the contractors
So much has been demon
strated And yet the whole truth
Is not known. The frantic eff
foIts OF the Sing Sing officials to
prevent a thorough inspection of the
prison and conceal its condition
amount to confession that still
more damaging facts are concealed
from public knowledge. Had the dis
closures of those days gone to the
state unchallenged, nothing could
have prevented demand for the i'm
mediate abrogation of the contract
labor system and a total change of
ncaSlaen management which the legisl L
nc would not care to resist. To
break the force of those damning rev.
elations and turn the current of public
sympathy, the warden appears to have
res0rted TO desperate device. On
Sunday morning he sent to the prison
dungeon four men who had testified
before the committee, though the
witnesses had been assured immunity
and testified under the pledge of pro-
lection. His act was IN insult To the
committee, defiance of the legisla-
ture and an Outrage on the men, who
were ut his mercy. They were kept
In close confinement On Monday
NlCAA III tiAt otlOU lOI
their release, and, on being refused,
stopped work, just as the warden
expected and was morally certain they
would d. This was apparently just
what he wanted, and he rushed TO the
telegraph and flashed thb news of his
prison rtvolt over the state! There
was no revolt; there was merely the
silent protest of outraged men against
N ha haI DOM. 4 haf a.,
for telling the truth to the committee.
under the solemn pledge of protec-
. tion. All the revolt there was or is
the warden instigated for a transpar-
ent purpose. His conflicting dis
patches, telling one story to Chair
man Reyes, another 10 Superinten-
dent Baker. and still others to differ
ent parties, stamp his state
ments ut their true value.
He Gisowns any purpose of
Furnishing the prisoners who testi-
fed; but he confesses to n plan TO
send ali these prisoners to Clinton.
which the men regard as severe
punishment, something rs the Rus
slams look on exile TO the mines OF
Siberia And he does this in the face
OF the promise given by the committe
that these witnesses. should not be
punished. The rushing of secret
agents to Albany; the conferences
between Superintendent Baker and
prison agents and contractors, and
their private interviews with menu
bers of the legislature; the flashy
and utterly groundless resolutions
sprung on the sSsen bly and thrust
into the senate; the high-handed eff
forts to create the impression that the
whole Investigation was started by
Tammany for political ends. and the
scream against 4 general Jail delivery,
as though anybody wants or even
dreams Of such thing-all are parts
Of the conspiracy of the prison ring
TO protect themselves and keep their
rich places. The whole scheme is so
transparent that anybody with an eye
70 the truth can see through the tissue
OF lies to the central purpose.
We present this extract to show
70 what point priS prison man
agement in New York has gone.
Il Is picture which the STATESMAN
would never see drawn in Texas. and
yet three thousand convlcts sold
into servitude for fifteen years
a fair beginning for