Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-01-14
THE STATE PRISON.

inhuman and brutal system of con-
yict leasing have waged an uncompro-
missing war for prison reform in this
State. In the beginning the progress
was slow, and it was difficult to make
the public believe the actual realities
of the CHASTITY institution.
But step by step the movement pro
crossed, the lessee influence weakened,
and the power of the ring decreased,
until finally by repeated official inves-
LEGATIONS and revelations of the inside
workings of the infamous system, the
people of the State realized its true
character and in their Constitutional
Convention declared that it shall cease
to exist on December 31st, 1894.
The duty devolves upon this Legisla-
ture to put new system into success
full operation under the general plan
contained in the ordinance of the
convention and specially recon-
mended by Governor Stone in his re-
cent message.
This reform could not ne made I'M
der more favorable auspices than at
present, and could not be placed in
better hands than the present legisla-
ture and ADMINISTRATION. Governor
Stone is ardently and strongly in sym
pathy with the work of the convention.
Lieutenant Governor Evans has always
been opposed to the leasing system and
is in line with the Governor in respect
to the general reform required by the
Convention.
Speaker Street has stood all the time
against the old ring and the lessee
power, and has constantly and uni
formly advocated the adjustment of
the leasing system.
In the Senate, among the prominent
supporters of the prison reform, are
Senator Dean, Senator billiard, Sena-
tor Sullivan, Senator Caruthers, Sena-
tor Williamson, and many others and,
the cause is as strongly represented in
the House.
To place the prison in a new and
eligible location and map out the new
plan upon which it is to be operated
in the future, requires care and circum-
spection and good judgment. Gov
ernor Stone has given the subject long
and careful thought, and his recon-
mendations in respect to it's location are
certainly entitled to the greatest con-
sideration.
A healthful location is one of the
most important essentials in any plan
proposed. A high, dry, healthy site,
with plenty of good pure water, free
dom from malaria, plenty of timber,
and good and easy drainage, are the
things to be first considered Then
everything that can be raised ON a
large farm should be produced-corn,
oats, hay, fodder, potatoes, peas, vege-
tables and various kinds of fruits
should be raised. Permanent and sub
stantial buildings should be built. All
these things can be accomplished on a
hill county tract of land, and they can
not be successfully carried out in the
delta. One overflow would give a set
back to the whole work, and possibly
give the apologists for the infamy of
convict leasing chance to get the con-
victs back into the old groove again.
The friends of this reform should
see that no such mistake is made in the
selection of location, and that all the
conditions for success will be assured
at the outset.
Enough land should be provided at
the start for all the needs of the whole
prison population, and the requirments
of the prison, And the necessary ap-
preparations should be made literally,
but, of course, with proper regard for
economy.
The location should not be far from
Jackson, for many reasons. The prison
shonld be easily within reach of the
Governor, and accessible to the Legis
lature. An immense amount of the
material in the old buildings could
then be used in erecting the new struc
lures. And during the process OF
making the change the labor of the
convicts can be better utilized.
Involved in the change necessarily
is the removal of the prison from Jack
son. 1t would be expensive, compli
Gated useless and wholly unwarranted
to have two prison establishments
Aside from the question of abolishing
the leasing system, the prison should
long ago have been taken out of Jack
son. 1t is an eye-sore to the town, and
it is not edifying or in good taste for
the State to keep the prison in the very
centre of the State Capitol. Moreover,
it is constant danger to the health of
the city.
When the State prison is established
on new and permanent basis, and
made what prison in Christian land
should be, the people of this State will
have cause for profound qualification
1t is matter for special pride to our
people that Mississippi is the first of
all the Southern States to abolish the
system of convict leasing.
-
1t is hoped the Legislature will show
itself in fTlll a.0nnoff with tho ConSti