The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1901-03-01
ABOUT The STATE coRVIcrs.

2 To The Editor 80 the Banner.
/ For the past few weeks there has
been much excitement in certain cir
clee over the leasing of the state cap-
I victs. There has also been some talk
I'm newspapers and in public places
which suggests things not very nice to
think about, and which imputes to
certain officials of the state conduct
that is scandalOuS, if not worse, in the
making Of these convict leases.
As 10 these scandalous charges. they
may he inventions. or they may con-
F tain some elemeu, Of truth. or we
may conclude that the presence Of so
much smoke Indicates the proximity
. 81 ar lea-: some Gr~. There iS no pur-
pose Of discussing tbeu here. This
branch of the matter may be dis
. missed with the statement that it
would bee strange indeed if Florida's
method Of treating and dealing with
her convictS does not produce and de.
veloP corruption As well as cruelty-if
bribery and barbarity do not GO hand
in hand in this matter.
The MAN purpose of this article is
To call public attention TO good OPP
portunity. The present situation
gives our people the chance to rid
/ themselves of the entire convict lease
| system. Now Is the time to get upon
the statute books law which shall
/ forbid the hiring, leasing or working
! Of these unfortunates by private i'll
/ dividuals or corporations. Are you,
the reader of this, ia favor ol con-
unuauce of this mode of dealing with
thc states prisoners" A. "a Christian,
a. o. citizen, are You willing t. con>igu
these helpless and frirndless wretch,~.
year after year, 70 mcrci,e-~ ANA un-
pItviug greed:
no you not know that there Is uot a
mU,a within the limits of Florida
which cannot hoas; of treatment
equally a. good, ana il many respects
more humane. than that suffered hy
these condemned creatures"
You have all heard the stories that
come up from phosphate mine and
turpentine farm, and are told in the
streets. i'm the shop or oilice-whereve
men meet. These stories, truc as they
are, terrible rs they are in their telling,
give but a momentary and inadequate
view Of the truth
What are the good and humane
people doing. IN this situation:
Viii the good women of this land
remain longer silent and inactive
while barbarities Incredible and indie
-cribable are done at our very door
and that, too. under the authority and
sanction Of law
The legislature convenes in April.
II YOU have any influence see that it
j. exerted i'm urging your representa- /
tive. your senator. to vote for and !
have passed such measures as will put |
at an end the present diSgraceful sys-
TEN Make it impossible to lease or |
hire these convicts.
Ii Will Toe time enough To consider |
what i to be done with the convicts /
after We have definitely broken up the |
system of hiring them to men whose /
interest il L. e. work them all that |
flesh and blood viii stand and to /
spend the minimum amouptn caring /
for them. There are plenty of prac- /
ti-aU.e ways 90 managing the states /
prisoners. Lamaue ia method and I'M .
expensive in practice.
Now. while those vino hope 10 make !
large profits ont of this traffic are !
holding conferences in secret, making |
deals sending their attorneys and |
emisSarie> 70 the capital Of the state, !
and busying themselves in abusing |
one another and the state officials, F!
why not have an organization of those /
who want this thing stopped, who be-
lieve that orr growing state does not |
need money badly enough TO eXtort it .
from q vicious system Of slavery and /
h.rl,.~fr. who arr. willing to work for {;