New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-17
CHILDREN IN GEORGIA CHAIN-GANGs.

CHILDREN IN GEORGIA CHAIN-GANGS
SHOCKING ABUSE THAT a RECENT reform
MOVEMENT FAILED TO ABOLISH.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir In a former letter to you concerning phase
OF Georgia penoloEy mentioned the agitation then
taking place here for State Reformatory for chill
dren 1t may be Of interest to YOU to know that
the movement that "roared so loud and hundred
in the index" came finally 10 nothing. IN spite OF
the fact that il was conducted conscentiously and
with enthusiasm by the best men and women Of
Georgia. Frequent committees appeared befor" tho
State Legislature and explained the humane feat
ures Of such institution. They did not fail 20 en-
large also upon the economy Of the project showing
how much more expensive it IS to educate criminals
than to reform culprits adducing facts about one
particular family Of children in Atlanta which it
has already cost Georgia many thousands Of dollars
merely TO prosecute and punish. Notwithstanding
the unanswerable arguments for every side Of the
bin. when it presented for action IT was mys-
teriousy tabled.
The general system OF chan-gangs now In opera
ton in this State Is not well known far from home
To those who come in contact with it some feat
ures are regarded with especial horror The degrade
ton OF the children arousing the most passionate
QUERY.
The city stockade OF Atlanta Is a sufficient object
lesson and this place has been described by one
Of the most conscientious Of the Police Commission
crs as the most degrading form of imprisonment
in the world" Here received the short-term
prisoners, and every month average Of fifteen
children. from seven TO sixteen years OF age. are
conhned-chained to men Of the vlest most loaih-
some description. In this companionship the chill
dren soon learn every form Of vice. Many Of these
little ones not depraVed at first. having been
sentenced for offences trivial that i: seems in
credible that anything more than reprimand
should have been administered by the judge
In the recent general discussion of the whole mat
ter many Judges smoke Of this. alleging in excuse
that they are allowed 10 discretionary powers II
the accusation against the child Is proven they
nave no alternative, the sentence and destination
beng the same for chilli or adult for misdcmeanors
Of ike character Some cases in point are a. fol-
lows: seven-year-old negro boy sentenced
TO thirty days in the city stockade for torurlng
a dog. Another child Of equally tender age was sent
up for several months for stealing a newspaper
Others-mere babies-are arrested for rock fights"
breaking windows etc. through the whole well
known list of strect-arab mlsdeeds.
Even in the State penitentiarlcs (Which also oper-
ate prisoners In chain-gangs combining them In
stockade) there children only nine or ten years
old who have been put there on sentences OF sew
eral years duration. for larceny Of wearing APP
parel or other small thefts.
OF course, most If these delHquents are the negro
children who skuk their young lives out in the
street until plunged into the chan-Rangs to be edu-
Gated in the higher arts OF burglary and worse
crimes but not infrequently white boys Of respect
able parentage come under the same awful blight:
Ex-Governor Northen. in his plea for action in the
matter Of State Reformatory relates how on one
occasion he watched the prisoners taken from the
city 10 the county jail for the night. They were all
negroes but one; that "A small white boy,
not more than eleven years old. He had the chain
authorized by law around his little wrist. lie was
neatly dressed and showed in his whole appearance
the Watchfl mothers care yet this boy, for
trivial misdemeanor compelled to spend the
night with thieves and worse, awaiting the morning
for his trial. scared with a memory that will last
all his life.
This is the system that has just taken a new lease
OF existence: arrangement that educatcs tn .so
children in the highest arts Of crime manufacturing
irredeemabe feons and maifactors out Of thought
less or irresponsible offenders.
The reasons calling for action against these penal
customs are cOgent enough preservation OF civil
Institutions the duties and obligations OF civilization
and hlmanity the common brotherhood Of man
The desire. too. to have Georgia stand well before
the Nation ought to be potent with the men VINO
rule the State. Unfortunately. owing, perhaIS To
the Populist accession. these southern states nave
their laws made for them by men who are ignorant
the higher interests Of States ana conmuniti9s
and In these matters tho cry Of economy is the
shlbboleth as shionable here in ofer political
circles. a -
Atlanta, Ga. March 4. 1880