The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-08-28
Convict Labor.

The story that comes from Pales-
tine of the cold blooded murder of
convict, Thursday evening, will arouse
indignation throughout the state.
Such things have occurred often be-
fore, and because of REPETITION it is the |
iliore outrageous. For years these
poor men have been treated as brutes, |
and the same agencies, now governing
for the state, as were in charge of con-
victs before resumption took place in
duces, probably, the belief on the part
of guards that the regime of the past
is the approved p liey for this day and
time. Such being the case, these con-
tinued cold biooded takings of life
may not b3 wondered at. This con-
vict who was shot at Palestine be-
longed to what is known as convict
train" on the railway. Large squads
Of couvicts are moved on the convic
trains from point to point on the rail-
way, where work is necessary, and are
employed upon the road beds by the
| railway company. Contracts were
made for these conVicts prior to the
resumption of the penitentiaries by
the state, and the periot Of time for
which they were hired is now but
two-ffths gone. They were hired for
a term of five years. contracts being
m ade in the fall of 1882. Subsequent
to several contracts of this nature be-
ing made the legislature passed the
bill of resumption, which took in
hand the penitentiaries and all con-
victs not so leased to planters, compa-
MES and corporations. 1t is presum-
ed, therefore, that the squad of con-
victS being used by the International
railway company belongs to it under
the contract of 1882. Be this as it
may question considered now, is
the taking of life, dear human life,
without provocation. The railway
train conveying the convicts,
it is told, had just entered the yards
of the company at Palestine. when
one of the convicts leaped from it and
attempted to make his escape. There
was no effort made to catch him, and
it is said his capture could have been
easily accomplished, but instead dead
| ly weapons were Immediately leveled
upon him aud he was shot down in
cold blood. Then came the greater
outrage against humanity in the fact,
that while the poor man lay PROSTATE
probably in death, another brutal
guard discharged the contents OF his
well loaded shotgun into his body
Such scenes were unknown in Texas
until the brutal lease system was inau.
gurated. system which disgraced the
state, and which Will continue to dis.
/ grace it as long as the remnant of it
lasts. Because of it probably a thou
sand unarmed, unprotected men have
been killed or MANNED. The bodies OF
dead men, taken away by these brutal
methods. lie scattered along the rail.
way lines and in the wood camps OF
eastern Texas, on plantations and
elsewhere. No wonder a sensitive
man would rather die than 60 to the
penitentiary. From Palestine, not
long ago, came another sickening story
of poor fellow who sought ease and
eternal rest beneath the grinding
wheels of a passing railway
train. He could not en-.
dure life, precariously granted
him by brutal guards. He preferred
to die, andhe did die to protect him.
self against the 1nhuman practices OF
state agents. The convict system and
the establishment of penitentiaries
were never instituted that cruelties
and fortunes might be dealt out te
man. Criminal laws are instituted
for the protection of communities, az
warning to others, not that the whiI
and the shotgun may be deXtrously
used on convicted men. These inhu
manities are shame and a disgrace
to Texas; and the people of the state
should rise up in Indignation and
put an end to them, before {
Butler comes to the front and draws
away a veil that may expose another
Tewksbury horror. A good work
was begun when the legislature, an
tagonlzed by powerful agencies, agar
took under the wings of the state it,
unprotected herd of convicts, but {
good purpose was defeated when the
very agencies that opposed resump
ton were entrusted with the manage.
! ment of convicts under resumption
Had the penitentiaries and convictI
been turned over to competent men
, pledged to the successes Of resump
tion, men not trained in bruta
school for years, the result would hav,
, been different. A good law was de
feated, and hence we hear of thes,
recurring scenes of shame, that maxi
, mems blood curdle with fierce indig
nation. 1t is not the fault of tn,
companies nor the individuals who EN-
, ploy convicts that they are mistreat
ed; the blame, and it is akin to crime
rests on state officials. We have
heard of an eminently good and kline
man who employs convicts within
the walls of one of the penitentiaries
but he has been opposed by the off.
GERS, and has been able TO carry out
his enterprise only under bitter oppo
sition. The Dallas Herald may now
say THE STATESMAN is in revolt
against democracy, because at this
juncture it appeals to the people OF
Texas in behalf of humanity. Let it
say so, and keep its peace with its
master and oppose God.
The DeIhr0nement of MOIOch.
The veto of the franchise bill by the
house of lords has raised the question