The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-07-13

that effect
The question of road work and chaln-
gangs is now being discussed IN our cum
tv as ii was never discussed peIore'
hans not another place could De IvHi'"
where the county cfc!1sdng system coula
no observed under circumstances more
favorable TO itself than here. We have
splendid equipments, humane and compe-
tent managers. and a citizenship "hicH
leans toward mercy and the better moran
atmosphere OF course this mahaecricn'
keeps in mind that work is essential tor
good results, but there Is no oVel
ing of criminals and no cruelty
With all of this in its favor, II mas
grown to be a heated question as TO
whether 1t is best to have these gangs Ia
counties outside of large cities camping
from settlement to settlement and WolK-
ing from road to road. few IN lheir
warmth Of argument are loud IN pro-
claiming that these gangs invite fanillar-
ity Of crime to such an extent lhal they
are creating more criminals rather lHdI
reforming those already convicted be
this as it may, l risk the assertion WIZ
confidence that these gangs or TINS sys-
tenn should be entirely separated from
the politics of the counties. Whether the
state should take charge OF all tneSe
gangs and work the roads ACCORDING,
hesitate to assert. but sure politics should
be eliminated from them entirely or they
should go glimmering by some other sFS-
tenn OF punishment
To make intelligent what l mean, L re-
peat that it has been tried in our county
under the most favorable circumstances
and wrongs, grievous wrongs in connec-
Nth n dpVplODpd through
the matter We have had a management
of this system here by men above reproach
both for integrity and competency. They
have performed their work faithfully and
conscientiously, but the greed OF some
communities to secure the services OF the
gangs in their neighborhoods have threat
ened a political upheaval against the
managers to accomplish their end. This
is the burning evil Of the systern-it pros
titutes politics and intimidates good and
efficient officials.
AS / write, the county's ordinary. that
good and efficient w M. Ragsdale, Is
lying at deaths door-befOre this IS read
he viii be dead IN all probability, While
he managed this changing system there
were those VINO abused his management
and strove to intimidate him into work
ing where they would have him work.
management was taken from his control
and put where 1t Is today, when, TO- and
behold. now they are just as bitter
against the new management as they
were against the old and threaten a pc
Utica! upheaval that will upset the county
If they are not allowed to dictate
But this abuse Of the management OF
the chaingang Is not all that I object "a
or that is objected to by others. If this
abuse by old soreheads and grumbers
was all there was IN it 7 should never
have written this letrgr The depreciation
of great principles Is in IT and the prosu-
tuition of the ballot. For instance,
community gathers to the call or agita
ton or some old grumbler and tells these
managers that their votes are for sale,
and that the price OF their support is 10
have the changing move into their set
Element and make them good roads How
is this for principle and how Is 1t for In
limitation? And how IS this for the treat
ment of faithful and efficient officers?
1.-THE election is on" say they, and You
must do as we say or we will throw our
whole strength 10 the other side.
This Is a sample of what the changing
has bread in our county. The simple bar
ter and sale of suffrage ard the forcing
of good men to trade the trust of The
people or be defeated a the polls at the
next election. This is notorious in oiF
county. and surely it is enough 70 cause
every thoughtful citizen to demand That
the chaingan be either abolished or sep
arated from these political threats
Outside Of this political aspect / shall
remark upon another feature. II is
question with me If these chaingangs
are not the most formidable influence we
have at affecting the moral sentiment Of
the children of the country whore these
gangs become familiar, and I doubt if ever
the thought Of crime and criminals strike
them with the same horror again. The
gang camps with their strange and weird
songs have a peculiar fascination for
young children The child forgets the
crime and the chains lose their horror
as they listen to- these songs and feast
upon the excitement Of the crowd At
a certain church. not so long ago, the
good church people put the little girls
out to beg TO raise money for some pur-
pose. One little girl was so persistent
that a bad boy said she was cheeky"
She inquired the meaning of the word
and was informed that the word was
slang" but in the talk she learned that
an overabupdancc of what was known
as "cheel' might prove 10 be naughty il
not criminal. Anyhow she was led to
remark that crime was not such a bad
thing. for said she. the changing
has been working and camping near cur
house and they are not near SO bad as
once thought they we're
OF course there is not much danger Of
little girls becoming injured by contact
with these criminals, but it might affect
little boys-especialIy negro boys. But, 10
return to politics, no good man set
Of men-such men as have managed the
changing system of our county for years
should have TO suffer the embarrassment
of such as 7 have limited, and no bad
men or man should have the power to
accept such polluted propositions. thus
holding himself in office by trading on The
trust of the people and prostitutine our
great American ballot to a thing of In
fanny
I hope that those grumblers, or who
ever they may be- that go about stirring
up county strife against measures and
men by bowling that I'VE will get YOU
at the next election and words to that
effect. will consider the matters I have
mentioned. If l have not made it plain.
study out the thing for yourselves-read
between the lines, and then decide with
me to let the gangs go if we cannot
correct these evils and remove the system
entirely from political favoritism or in,
Limitations.
Brown and [ hoped to spend the Fourth