The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-28
Gov. Gordon on the Convicts.


Some weeks ago a correspondent Of the
New York World, John C. Klein, visited
Georgia, and sent that paper soma highly
colored stories about the treatment Of con-
vic.s in this state. As Georgia is a
southern state the republican press
seized upon the opportunity thus presented
to viciously assail he-. Tls petition of the
women convicts at the Bolton camp, near
Atlanta, was commented upon unfairly
under such headlines as the following: "A
Whipping Boss for Womea,n etc. The
Chicago teT-Ocedn's comment caused a
citizen OF Illinois to write letter to Gov.
Gordo1, in which the writer was pleased TO
be sarcastic at the expense of what he
termed the BLASTED Chi yalry of Georgia"
The letter of the Illinois man was
answered, and he was given some informa-
ton relative TO the convict system of
Georgia that, it is hoped, VIII let little
right into his darkened mind with regard TO
it. He was told that the whipping bosses
were officers of the state, and were ap-
pointed for the purpose of preserving order.
He was also informed that this Bolton
whipping boss, whom he seemed to regard
as a monster of cruelty, was appointed on
the petition of the women coavicts, who
thought their condition would be more
tolerable if some oae were in authority
over them. This Illinois man was also in
formed that there was only one whits
woman in the penitentisry, and that she
was from Illinois. rSt, is to be presumed
that this information had quieting effect
on the Illinois man, as nothing further has
been heard from him.
Commenting on the information fur
nished to the Illinois man, however, the
Boston Herald. which is usually fair to the
south, says: Gov. Gordon, of Georgia,
doesn't share the opinion of many people as
to the convict LABOR system Of that state
Instead of the convicts who are leased dur
ing their sentence being subjected to all
the moral and physical tortures that have
been imputed to the system. Gov. Gordon,
says unhesitatingly, and without fear of
contradiction, that in no prison in the ca
tire union can there be found set of con-
victs who are happier, healthier physically,
better morally. and generally in more sat
isfacJory condition than those of Georgia.
This is very different conclusion from
that which has been reached by those who
have carefully examined the matter. Is it
possible that Gov. Gordon doesn't know
what he is talking aboutF
1t is quite safe to say that the governor
knows what he is talking about He is
thoroughly acquainted with the conyic {
system of the state. and is much better pre-
pared to speak of it iutelligenuy than any
correspondent who surreptitiously visits the
convict camps and interviews convicts can
possibly be. What the governor says can
be depended upon as being true. 1t will be
generally admitted that there are few con-
victs in Georgia or elsewhere who can be
relied upon to give an honest statement re-
specting their condition. Let the Herald
interview some Of the Massachusetts, con-
victs relative to their treatment by the
prison officials if it wants to kno Y how I'M
reliable the statements of convicts are.
Gov. Gordon keeps watchful eye on the
convict camps, and, while he may not ap-
prove of the lease system, he is prepared to
say that the Georgia convicts ara as we'll
treated as those of any other state He
would not hesitate to have the convict
camps visited by an unbiased commission
and the condition of the convicts compared
with that of the convicts of any state whose
convicts are confined in prisons.