The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-28
COOSA DEPUTY ARRESTED;
 W.. REESE TALKS OF PEONAGE

This -.as the reply:
 .'Thc government is not at liberty to give in detail the instances of this kind, but 1t can be said that intimidation both of witnesses and grand jurors have been going on in connection with these peonage cases
 E, Contract Labor Law.
 Continuing the interview MT. Reese said. .
 .The contract labor law which has just been declared unconstitutional by Judge Jones, Tn an elaborate and weii-conslder- ed opinion upon that subject, was passed for the protection of landlords in the cot ton growing belt. The tenants or crop ners who rented the lands from these isndlords. usually entered into contract far year. These tenants or croppers are people of little means. are ignorant. shiftless and unreliable as general thing; and in order to secure the rigid enforcement of their contracts with their landlords. this contract labor law was passed. This law provides that after the written contract is signed. the tenant can not leave the premises without just ex- cuse unless with the consent of the land lord and that he cannot obtain employ ment of a similar nature from another person without notifying such other per- son of the existing contract with his iand- lord.
 7'Tt is a matter of common knowledge, that under this statute. the laborer or renter has not been guilty of any criminal act in thus leaving or abandoning the premises. He has simply preached a contract which creates the relation of debtor and creditor Under this statute the creditor commands the debtor on peril ot hard labor not to work at his accustomed vocation for any one else during the term of that contract.
 ."Under another statute. it is provided that If the laborer or renter informs the person of whom he seeks employment of the existing contract, the latter shall in- c1r heavy pains and penalties if he em- ploys him without obtaining the first em- ployer's permission. This Is tantamount to saying that if man breaks a contract with his creditor. he shall not work at his accustomed vocation for others with out the permission of the creditor"
 Criticises Newspapers.
 "The only obstacle which the prosecu- tion has encountered looking to a success full termination of these violations of law" he said, has been the attempt on the part of the press in certain portions of Alabama and the South to mislead the public into the belief that these prose- cutions are carried on for political effect rather than for the good and welfare of the country at large.
 "There Is a healthy public sentiment on the part of the good and Godfearlng people of this State which Is actuated by an earnest desire to put an end to these miserable outrages.
 r"Snce it is a fact that the grand jury which instituted these Investigations is composed largely of Democrats and alto gether of Southern men, since the Judge of this court Is a Democrat and South ern man, since the gentlemen in the Dis trict Attorneys office are all Southern men, and since the juries which are to finally try and determine these cases are Democratic and Southern men, there is no foundation in fact for the hue and cry that politics has instigated these prosecutions.
 Justice of Peace System.
 Discussing the laws of Alabama and the powers of justices of the peace. MT Reese said:
 Under the law as it now exists in Ala bama, justices of the peace have the pow ! CT to sentence in certain criminal cases | prisoners to hard labor. There is no pro vision in the statute law of this State re l quiring such justices to make a repor | of such convicts to the hard labor agent O 1 the county. and there Is no record kep either by the State Board of Convict In l spectors or by the hard labor agent O. | the county, of such prisoners. These pris oners are frequently turned over to th' | farmers to work out their sentence with out commitment papers. and without go ing through any formallty other than thu sentence of the justice court.
 | "A justice court is not court of record | in Alabama, and the way to remedy sucl | evils as these would be to pass such law as would prohibit any man from be | Ing sentenced to hard labor except by court of record. The Legislature should also provide a law placing county con victs under the direct supervision of the | State Board of Convict Inspectors. Al | the law now exists that Board has nc jurisdiction over county convicts.'' | The trial of the cases against the three Cosbys charged with peonage and con. spiracy will begin in the Federal Court Tuesday morning. The jury has been all ready drawn.