The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-05
CONVICT LEASED LAROR.

CONVICT LEASED LABOR
The subject Of prison reform will no doubt be
thoroughly discussed during the present session Of
the Legislature. The convict lease system IS a bar
barous one and, In the hands Of the best men that
can he selected. IT, results will always be disls-
iron. II the state is financially unable TO destroy
the system az one blow, for the sake Of humanity,
let MS make q beginning In another direction. II
we are unable to provide workshops aud employ
mont within the walls for 500 conyicts, let MS pro
vide for 100 or 2Ol let us make ~ beginning, and
as our hunncial condition will warrant, let us add
10 It, lite Rock Democrat
In denouncng the convict lease system
as barbarous our esteemed contemporary
simply voices the sentiments OF nine
tenths Of the people of Arkansas. 1t is
barbarous and ought to be abolished and
the conyicts should either be worked in
body in making macadamized roads
or DO sent back TO the counties
where they were convicted there TO be
worked in that way. Some Of the leading
journals OF Mississippi are also urging for
reform in this direction. The CiiclasdU
| Messenger suggests that
All conyicis, sent mp Tor less term than ten
/ years IN the counties where they ate convicted.
should be- employed In making roctls under
! the supervision Of Road Commissioner Of the
county Il rightly says that the horrible stories Of
! the buulltcs ui the leasing systcm which have
| rachCd the public Gar have developed the demand
| Tor change aud in considering what disposition
] shall boz made NJ them. the questions arise, how
I Cd .f...I L. H.r|HH
committed humaucly treated made A. nearly sclf
sustaining ns possible. aud at tho same time COM
petition with honest labor De practically pre-,
vented und 10 finds the system Of wur.iug thcm-
! upon the county r,als comes nearer answer
Ing these questions aul meeting these o..
quir,mcus satisfactorily than any other
To the INT objection that may be- uH'cd. that many
counties WOULD not have force suihceu, To Justify
thv expense ut iuaugurhtug the system II replies.
that II could Doe met by authorizing such counties
10 contract with other counties where the system
may De iuauguraicd. To the second objection that
BE- would be- too expensive, u well tlys that u pri-
yutD individuals eau grow rich upon convict labor.
ihr counties should make II sclfsustniuing, The
Third objection that the presence IT these conyicts
un the county roads would probably tcrrorigc the
people resident on them. Is met by the statement
that large porrrutgo 1T the counties now have
convict camps aud Ia many Of thom the conyicis
ARE worked on the farm No are ordinary day la
hurn.
7hs jackson Nc,r Mais'ippidn 30 far in
doscs the petition Of The Chickdsar No
,-uger as to give II place in It's editorial col
umn-, and TO urge discussion Of the qucs-
ton 50 that when the Legislature meets il
may be prepared to deal with It intelli.
! gently 1t thinks that the demand for
this reform is moro urgent than ever rs
the present method Of managing the con-
vicls "by the Board Of Control while
probably the best they can do) is liable 10
the same abuses that characterized tho
| lease system" Ihe Brookhdrn Lsditr is
also In favor Of q measure Of reform, aud
urges the separation Of women aud boys Ia
rciormaiorics separate from the men con-
yicls This, too. We have no doubt would
be- approved boy The AolHgtr aud by m,
Noc M.igippiuu. TuE ArrE,L halls
these expressions Of opinion In favor OF
reform Ia the management Of pcnitcntary
runNicis ~ 20 many hnrbingers OF grow
ing public sentiment that will not permit
either in Arkansas or Mississippi the con.
iinuancc Of system attended with ~
much that Is horriying aud humiliatinp
Ia the good people oi those States. Ten.
ursscc, our contemporaries Of those State,
may be assured, b. keeping pace Will
them and will some day In the near iutup
be- one with thcm In sweeping the iniquity
cut ul existence