The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-03-05

one WOUlU De 10 lul-
pose conditions that would make their
lot harder. l know the emotions of
shame and remorse, and the hungering
for something better, that rends the
hearts of the majority of those who
are committed to prison, and make it
my business to see that those who are
sent TO our camp are treated in a con-
siderate and humane manner, given
plenty of wholesome food, and pro-
vided with warm comfortable quarters
for rest and TepoSe. In these quarters
the whites and the blacks are entirely
separated, and are not corraled togeth-
er as has been falsely stated.
But the Breeze had started the bail
rolling, the Walton county commits
sioners wanted to work their cOnvicts
on the public roads, and an influential
citizen of their own county had ex-
pressed himself as DESTROYS of con-
tracing for their convict labor. The
sluice gates were open, the movement
had gained impetus. and something
had to be done. And so it happened
that on a bright SUNDAY morning
a committee of the County Commits
sioners of Walton county turned their
faces eastward and wendell their way
to the ubiquitous" camp at which
their poor unfortunate" were confin-
ed-on Sunday morning, when the
people of Walton county were gather
ed at their churches for worship, and
while the church bells Of classic De
Funlak Springs were calling men and
women away from the things of the
world. and closer to God, these repre-
sentative men slipped out from the
holy surroundings and hied them away
at the peoples expense, to look after
the peoples business. And what was
the result? They did what they
came to do, and what they wanted to
do. They found fault with everything
connected with the camp and made an
altogether adverse report. 1t has Of
ten been said that, bad as this Old
world is, and soaked as it is in sin and
error. it would be difficult to find any
thing that is altogether bad and to-
tally depraved; but the Committee
from Walton county decided that the
; convict camp of H. J. Brett d Co. IS
a notable and outrageous exception to
this general rule.
We felt that an injustice had been
, done us, and Immediately requested
: all the counties with which we had
contracts. to send like committees of
; investigation. The counties of Santa
Rosa, Holmes, Washington and Jack
son complied with this request, with
: the result that all of the COMMITTEES
, reported faYorably, and some Of them
very complimentary.
!, Walton county's committee report
!, ed that our stockade was located on
low. wet and unhealthy ground, but
r in the few days eapsing between the
: time of their visit and the visits OF
, the other four committees, this same
ground had, if we are to believe all
FIVE reports, grown to be elevated and
well drained The Breeze stated posi-
lively that the inmates of the camp
were given only Irish potatoes as food
for several days at a time, but when
these four unbiased committees came,
their most rigid private questioning
of the convicts themselves brought out
the fact that they had been abundant
" supplied with good, wholesome food
at all times since they had been confi1-
ed at the camp.
Two of these committees made writ
ten reports, and / have letters from
clerks of the two boards, all of which
; | here insert: