The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1903-09-02
PIunkett.
Atlanta Constitution.

"Crime is monster" sayeth the
poet. with which it is not we'll to
grow familiar" or words to that ef-
fect.
The question of road work and
chaingangs is now being discussed
in our country as it was never dis
cussed before. Perhaps not anoth-
er place could-be found where the
country chaingang system could
be observed under circumstances
more favorable to itself than here.
We have splendid equipments. hu-
name and competent managers,
and a citizenship which leans to-
ward mercy and the better moral at
mosphere. OF course this manage
ment keeps in mind that work is
essential for good results, but there
is no working of criminals
and no cruelty
With all of this in it's favor, it
has grown to be heated question
as to whether it is best to have
these gangs in counties outside of
large cities camping from settle
ment to settlement and working
from road to road. A few in their
warmth of argument are cloud" in
proclaiming that these gangs in
vite familiarity of crime to such an
extent that they are creating more
criminals rather than reforming
those already convicted. Be this
as it may, 1 risk the assertion with
confidence that these gangs or this
system should be entirely separa-
ted from the politics of the coun-
ties. Whether the state should
take charge of all these gangs and
work the roads according. I hesi-
tate to assert, but sure politics
should be eliminated from them en-
tirely or they should go glimmer-
ing by some other system of pun
ishment.
To make intelligent what 1 mean
1 repeat that it has been tried in
our county under the most favora-
BILE circumstance and wrongs,
grievous wrongs in connection with
politics have developed through
the matter. We have had man.
agement of this system here by
men above reproach both fer in
tegrity 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 threatened a
political upheaval against the man.
ayers to accomplish their end. This
is the burning evil of the system
it prostitutes politics and intimi-
dates good and efficient officials.
AS write, the county's ordinary,
that good and efficient w. M. Rags
dale, is lying at deaths door-be-
fore this is read he will be dead in
all probability. While he managed
this chaingang system there were
those who abused his management
and strove to intimidate him into
working where they would have
him work. This was pushed to
such extent that the management
was taken from his control and
put whore it is today, when, 10, and
behold, now they are just as bitter
against the new management as
they were against the old and
threaten political upheaval that
will upset the county if they are
not allowed to dictate.
But this abuse of the manage
ment of the ohaingaug is not all
object to or that is objected TO
by others If this abuse by old
soreheads and grumblers was all
there was in it / should never have
written this letter. The degreda-
tion of great principles is in it and
the prostitution of the ballot. For
instance, a community gathers to
the call or agitation of some old
grumbler and tells these managers
that their votes are for sale, and
that the price of their support is
to have the ohaingang move into
their settlement and make them
good roads. How is this for prin-
oiple and how is it for intimida-
ton? And how is this for the
treatment 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
to the other side"