The Pensacola journal., 1905-03-07
A COMPARISON OF
CONVICT SYSTEMS.
Jacksonville Times-Union.
4 !. 4 4 4. Z Z < !. Z

Occasionally the voice of the critic
who sees nothing but barbarity and
'the system of Siberia" in our convict
camps, is heard in the land, and his
ignorance deserves our notice because
his heart is good. Whatever may be
thought of his head If we could we
would ask him to inspect carefully q
model penitentiary in the East OF
West and then pay a visit to our
camps. Let him note the difference
of climate and remember that what
is death in the snow is healthful here;
that what would be pleasant during
a northern summer would be suffoca
ton here, and tnen we are ready to
proceed.
The most crushing confinement is
that of the solitary CELL Prisoners
an0 students of penology agree on
this. and there can be no doubt; let
us believe that the man becomes a
brute when segregated, and then we
must see that in body and mind he is
| happieSt when associated with his
fellows. The objection to fellowship
Is that the young and weak are made
more corrupt by evil associates; in
our system these are reduced to a
minimum by constant supervision ana
by healthful work in the open air
| where the labor requires little con-
centration and confinement.
Give any convict the choice between
sedentary labor in room and open
air work; which would be your choice
Even where the work is in the phos-
phate mines the bad air and seclusion
from the sun mark notable advan-
tage over the conditions surrounding
free workers in other mines, because
the phosphate is never mined at great
depths. Where the work is to stroll
through pine forest and cut the
trees or collect the sap the conditions
are ideal for health of body and mind.
The state looks carefully over her
wards-the food is better than that of
the average day laborer throughout
the country, and far better than that
OF the European peasant. Usually
pay is given for additional labor.
There remains but one other consid-
eration-convict labor should not
compete with free labor That of the
Florida convict enters into compeIi-
ton no more than does that of the
convict in the closed shops of other
sections; there the product is sold
and every shoe, or harness, or suit
OF clothes supplies a need of the mar
ket. Here the product of convict la
Dor is thing largely set apart, an in
dustry by itself. We cannot see a
difference in principle
The charge usually made is that
every opportunity is offered for tyr
amy ana oppression. We answer that
every possible safeguard is thrown
around the convict The contractor
Is liable under special statutes for
lack OF food or clothing, for cruelty or
llltreatment, and he gives bond for
his due observance OF the law. 1t is
especially provided that only contrac-
tors OF good character shall be given
authority over the convicts. and the
state has special official to watch
the camps. The legislature takes an
interest in the subject and always ap-
points committees to investigate.
Ii remains that we must Judge bv
the fruits. To these We appeal. ask
ing that our critics gather evidence at
first hand before executing Judgment
We challenge any state or country to
SHOW better system than that of
Florida. We do not believe that any
system could give Oetter results.