St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-11-17
PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

FOOAlS ATT AlNos
Arp Writes Of Making Senator's and
Running the State.
Board OF Pardons Needed-Bul Would
Have . Reformatory for Boys II He
Had His Way and Many Othsr
Needed Things.
Our State Legislature will not have
much to do with national politics. 1t
can't coin money nor pass tariff bill.
It can elect United States Senator. and
will have several good men to choose
from. However they may differ on the
silver question, the people of Georgia
have confidence in their integrity and
will acouiesce in whate YER choice may
be made. II . choice cannot be made.
then there are some outsiders equally
capable and honest, upon whom all
could agree.
There is Fleming du Bignon, of Savan-
nah, whom We all would delight to
honor, and who would make an Apollo
in the Senate chamber, and there is the
speaker, Charles Crisp, who has proved
himself worthy OF the highest honors
that the State or tho nation can bestow.
and there is Mr.. Blount, a statesman
tried and true. So we need not give
ourselves any great concern about .
Senator to succeed the lamented Col
quit. There was = time when Georgia
boasted OF seven living and notable
statesmen whose names and fame were
national. They were Toombs, Stephens.
Cobb, Ben Hill, johnson, jenkins and
Brown. For years we have been lament
ing that this generation has not pro-
duced their equal, but of late the talents
OF our rising men have been looming
up, and We can now name seven who
though not as brilliant and eloquent.
are as safe in counsel and IS sincere in
patriotism as those who have gone be-
fore.
But our next Legislature will have
enough to do in looking after State
affairs. Some things have got to be
done, and good many things left un-
done. There has got to be . reforma-
tory for young criminals. Any further
neglect of providing such an institution
will be shameful, disgraceful. iuhuman.
1t will cost money, Of course. So does
the lunatic asylum. We can't afford to
destroy the lads under sixteen years Of
ago by putting them in the chaingang
with confirmed and desperate criminals.
There is An orphanage At Clinton, s. c..
where the little waits are taken and
schooled and trained to useful occupa-
tions, and almost without exception
they have proved to be good men and
good women. and are doing we'll in the
world. We sent two little boys there
yesterday from our town. 1t is noble
charity, and had rather stand before
my Maker at the judgment with DR..
Jacobs record than that Of president
or king. And just so the State can
make good citizens Of these lads who
are more to be pitied than orphans, for
they have been led astray by bad ex-
ample or dire distress. There is no need
to argue the question. The argument
has long since been exhausted. Some
years ago Mrs. Lou Gordon visited the
reformatory at Elmira, n. T., and ever
since her impressive letter was pub
ished have felt that our own great
State was SHINING against heaven in
not providing a similar institution.
In this connection we would also urge
upon the Legislature the necessity Of .
board Of pardons. No need to say the
governor can attend to this. He can
not. When some friend Of the convict
interests himself and gets the judge and
the solicitor and come OF the jury to
sign . petition, the governor takes the
papers and considers the case as con-
siderately As his time will permit, but
he cannot investigate thoroughly. But
who lends an ear to the poor fellow who
has no friends? What time has the
commissioner to listen? Is there ab.
solutely no hope for arepentant man who
for years and years has worked in chains.
and is to work on and on . prisoner
without hope? I believe in my heart
that there are many negroes and some
whites in the chaingangs who, while
they deserved their sentence, now de.
servo . pardon. / believe that board
Of pardons should investigate every con-
viction. and it may prove what John
Howard found to be true, that there
were some convicts who should not
have been convicted. A friendless
prisoner, whether white or black, with
10 money and no influential friends, does
not have fair chance with the power
Of the State against him. The solicitors
reputation IL 1t stake. and 30 is his fee.
His small salary Of S2a5 is not enough
to keep him out Of temptation. It would
be better to pay him $1,000 > year and
no perquisites-no insolvent list fol
him and the sheriff to divide out oi
fines and forfeitures.
And there is another matter concern
ing the courts that demands immediate
attention. The Supreme Court, with
three judges, cannot do tho increased
and increasing work that 10 put upon
them. 1t is simply An outrage to re-
ouire them to do it-720 cases in eleven
months. There is no court in the
United States that has such . burden.
That they cannot do justice to the cases
IL Just Is impossible - 1t is for farmer
to run . fve-mule crop with three; he
is bound to get in the grass. Some
folks will say, IF they don't like their
job, let them resign, and some will say,
"Who are to be the other two? Has the
fling got them picked out?" Those are
childish objections. An honest voter
will rise above such spiteful feelings.
Let 10 do right though the heavens
fall. The Supreme Court is NO ring,
nor il the legislature, nor is this . par
tisan measure. It is - much . duty
and . protection to tho Populist and the
Republican IS the Democrat. White
and black are al interested in the per.
lection of this high tribunal. It has