The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-03-02
The LIMIT REACHED
rpI1EI AND INHUMAN TREAT
MENT OF PRISONERS.
The Good Roads Management DIS
credit to the Parish
and City.

"
hun,ane-it is to give the prisoners ex-
ercse by being worked reasonably and
Instead of being sent to the
penitentiary the convicted in the District
Court for misdemeanors, have been con-
signed to work on the public roads. AMI
persons convicted in the City Court, OF
infractions of city ordinances or tor
some offenses over which the City Court
has jurisdiction, have also been consign-
ed to work on the public roads.
1t is true that in instances men have
been tried, convicted and sentenced, al
most in a breath, to thirty, sixty. one
hundred and more days and have found
themselves in the convict camp before
realizing fully their predicament, but in
these cases the convicted, with few ex-
ceptions, have been negroes, or white
men Of no means, and therefore friend
less, as they we're powerless to secure
legal defense However, the Caucas-
ian's present aim is to emphasize the
fact that the cruel and inhuman treat
ment is not warranted by any eonstruc-
tion of law, nor can be cruel treatment
of any prisoner white or black, be JUS
tilted on any plea whatsoever. 1t is adj
mitted that in some instances the discip-
line Of the camp must be maintained,
but never at the risk of life, nor in the
treatment such as has been experienced
by a negro whose eye was part
ly destroyed by the outrageous cruelty
of the guard and the chastisement he
received. At best, this mans offense
would have been fully expiated by a
nominal or moderate fine or limited
working days on the road, but he laugh
ed in the face of the Court, which was
construed as a contempt, and he was
awarded altogether $4,000, or as many
days. o.- IN
The case of c. w. Smith, white
man, is one of reproacl, and of dis
credit. He was taken to the hospital,
and so serious has been his condition
that his recovery has been in doubt. His
#offense consisted in his use of vile lam
guage at the depot, He is a railroad
man, had been on spree. He reached
the train as it was going off. He be-
came abusive when he was arrested
He was fined 5000 and costs Or as
many days. ~
We have heard of the Russians crit
city, OF the Russians Siberia, and have
raised our hands in horror, but right
here i'll our very midst, in the sound oi
church bells, almost in the reach of tht
sanctuary Of justice, men, convicted fol
some trivial offense have been Russian
Iized. and, yet, seemingly, the manage
ment Of the Good Roads have been ig
norant of these cruelties, but If they hay'
been cognizant Of these mistreatment
they have failed to suggest or to appl,
| the censure which in such cases shoult
have been dictated in the spirit OF hu
1 -
nanity.
In these cases. as in others to whicl
the Caucasian has directed attention
there is no opportunity for the dema
lgogual plea Of politics or for tn
nnouthing of the n,audlin sentimentality
which is the shelter and the shield Q
some men, in their attempt at justifca
.ltion of any act which decent law-abid
ling, moral citizens would condem
4 lunhesitatingly, but unfortunately qu
Ietiy, conservatively, uncompromisingl.
i The limit il, this Good Roads scanda
| as in others, has been reached. TIL
tpeople can no longer be indifferen
nor shirk responsibility. For the SAX
lof humanity at least. the convict eamf
and all the connections leading to
should be suppressed. Better have Il
.ljaii filed with men. who must be kel
iii idleness, for violations of some or
nances or for some trivial offense, tha
/, lmoltinue longer the system Of roat
, working BY cnvicts, which is a disgra.
to civilized and Christian conHnunit
ii Ii is not the intent of the law to q
Ipress OF mistreat, and while the la
] providing for the trials OF such cas-
and their disposition may be good, Il
manner and the system of their oper
|tion, and their enforcement If a traves
ION justice had better be abolished
However, the people will have the kir
and the quality OF justice they want
will approve indirectly by silence or i
action. If they viii moi corlienn,
1 thunder tones, the evil practices Of 3
I6cials or those entrusted with authoril
To use a trite expression, it is u
Ito the Police Jury to investigate the
onghly and in,partially the whole pr
ceeiings. from the first convictions
I THE courts, The trials. the treatment q
5lthe whole condition of tie system Will
= Iis r<proach oa self-respecting CO..
unflaity Lei no man be white -washe
II b..s Il 10 euiI1y mai,