The Forrest City times., 1895-01-18

AS our governments, ndtloHtbs eA"sS ~oe hhe nicipal, rest upon the ballot it is of the nign- est importance that this ballot should be in- telligent we'll as honest. But much Of the good results from an intelligent and honest ballot must be lost until the primary elections are also legalized and made pure.
 While elections are indispensable to free in- stitutions they are also expensive necessities To save as much of this expense as possible, consistent with safety and purity. recommend the consolidation of our state and national and municipal elections so that they will all fall on the same day.
 LAW AND LYNcHING.
 While the laws of Arkansas are believed to be as well executed as those Of any other state in the union, yet lynching by mobs has oc- cured six times within the past two years. Only four of the participants, three negroes and one white man have been convicted and punished. The fault lies with the officers of the law, and the situation calls loudly for remedial legislation.
 To take human life, even by the regular course at law is demoralizing. for when the state takes a life, which none but the Creator can give. the lesson 1t teaches is that human life is not as sacred as we might otherwise sup pose and as a civilized people should regard it. But for irresponsible mobs to take the life of their fellow man, and go unwhipped of justice, is demoralizing even to debauchery, and is to let loose on the community blind, unreason- ing force, which is dangerous to every best in- terest of society. Any remedy must begin with the sherifs.
 The essential and controlling element of a mob is cowardice, which. sheltering itself un- der the protection of a crowd and the excite ment of the hour, gives vent to its murderous proclivities (for it is none the less murderous and none the less cowardly because public sen timent lends it temporary sanction).
 II it were known that the sheriff has every incentive, as well of interest as of duty, to de- fend his pIisccer to the last extremity, cow ardice would quail before the danger and we would have no mob murders. Accordingly, I recommend that it be made the imperative duty of the governor to summarily remove from office any sheriff who allows prisoner in his custody to be taken from him by a mob. Since writing this I see Gov. Jones of Ala bama, has made the same recommendation. That 1t should have been suggested by the ex. perience of both of us adds strength to the ar gument Surely, no patriotic citizen of our state desires that Arkansas shall take a backward step in the great march of civilization. The na tional government has attested the high char acter of our laws by enacting them in body for the government of one of the territories Let our state now take the lead In suppressing mob murders
 PENITENTIARY.
 Although the new penitentary system is merely experimental and has had a trial un. der very adverse circumstances, enough is known of the results to vindicate it's vast su- perority over the old regime.
 That in a christian and civilized community convicts, however criminal, should be turned over to the tender mercies of selfshness which was interested in securing from the prisoner the greatest possible amount of work with the least possible amount of expense thus offering a premium upon cruelty, should result in such horrors as that of Coal Hill and others of less notoriety was to be expected and was disgrace that no amount of maudln sentiment or false notions ot economy could hide. Nor was it a matter of surprise there fore. that the convcts were turned over to the state by the late lessees in a state Of rags and filth and the prison itself in condition of di- liquidation and so filthy as to menace the health of the entire city.
 It required several thousand dollars of the appropriation to clean up the premises clothe the prisoners and repair the penitentiary. The convicts were turned over to the state so late in the season of 1893 that we found difi- culty in hiring them out. We have tried three experiments. one of farming on shares one of hiring the convicts for work in coal mines and one of hiring the convicts to work in coal mines, farm and railroad work. While our eighteen months work will yield profit to the state over and above the amount appropriated yet the share crop experiment has proven the
 
 of cotton. AS result of our experiments I would recommend that the state purchase a farm near the city, of about 5000 acres, upon which to work those convicts who are fitted for no other than farm work, and upon which to produce all the provisions necessary for tho maintenance of all the state institu tions in- cluding the pententiary itself; that certain long-term prisoners be worked inside the walls making clothing boots and shoes and hats for all state institutions, and that the remaining prisoners be worked either on public highways in coal mines or on railroads. In this way the penitentiary may be made profitable But no system will prove very successful under the present law, which divides responsibility among so many as to destroy well nigh all re. spousibiity.
 All success Of any plan which may be adopt. ed will depend upon the superintendent and financial agent. To require the governor at- torney general and secretary of state to look after the details in the management of such an institution, is to require them to do work which is neither profitable nor practicable. If the financial agent and the superintendent are not practical business men of experience in handling large affairs, failure will be the nec- essary result. The selection of these officers should be taken from an irresponsible board and given to responsible governor. and to render his responsibility complete he should have the power Of summary removal. As to whether the superintendent has faithfully dis. charged his duty, or the financial agent has conducted the large purchases and sales necss- sary for such an institution iudicously. it is impossible for me to decide for the very reason that my other duties forbid the necessary su. pervision. The General Assembly must inves. tigate this through its appropriate committees The damage done by the recent cyclone will appear in the report of the Superintendent
 CONVICT FARM.
 The foulest blot upon the fair name of o,r state is the convict farm under existing laws Men are tried for trivial ofenses a single of. fepse multiplied into several in order to pile up costs and fees, and the convict sentenced to state Of worse than slavery for an indefinite period in nearly every instance far beyond