The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-29
Remove Poor Prisoners from Dark Mines and | ut Them
 te Work In Sunshine
IS THE IDEAL PLAN FOR
 IMPROVING HIGHWAYS
Men of Prominent Mercantile Firms Are Practically Unanimous In De- mand That Candidates Shall
 Pledge Themselves.

The fight for good roads in Jefferson county Is one that will not stop until the people of the county see that their de- mands are carried out. Such a unani- nous array of opinion would make it seem that the vote at the May primary will be unanimous for placing convicts on the roads.
 Business men stand as a unit on the proposition. It was yesterday indorsed by such men as Colman Blach. Hugo Marx, E. B. Norton, c. B. Mcvay, Marcus Well, T. c. King. H. J. Porter and Leo Loeb.
 Blach Wants convlcts.
 T consider the proposition of putting convicts on the roads one which means upbuilding. instead of tearing down. said Colman Blach of J. Blach & Sons. By all means I favor removing the dis eased humanity from dark prisons and musty mines, giving them the bright light of day. both for encouragement and health. and to make it more forcible. believe the roads of our county would be greatly improved at much loss cost.
 At one time I favored the state using its convicts in conjunction with the gov ernment to build the canal. I know what convict labor means, but more than all else I favof the plan for its outdoor ben efts."
 Marx Thinks 1t Ideal Plan.
 Put the convicts on the roads at all costs" said Hugo Marx of the Ferd Marx store. T cannot express myself strongly enough in favor of the idea. It has de- veloped that the plan is the only model and ideal one for the situation. We all know how badly the roads need improve ment, we know what the convicts have done in the past, we know how success fully they are used in other counties, and we think that no matter what the cost to get the camps in running order. it should be spent immediately, and the convicts should be at work on our roads within a month";
 We have seen them use thousands of dollars of our money each year for 15 years, and we haven't good roads yet. Let lHen1 give conNlctS d trldl. lHe DuslHeSs men should demand it.''
 For Humanitarian Reasons.
 E. B. Norton is iii a position to speak authoritatively on the subject. q have already made up my mind" he said, "that I will not vote for any man who does not openly favor working the convicts on the roads.
 ''In the name of humanity I do not see why any commissioner can vote to put the unfortunate diseased lower strata of our social life under the ground to dig in the dark, in filth and to be degraded by cor poration prisons. Our laws are expected to act as preventatives and correctives, but here we have a practice that turns out twice as positive a case of crimnality as goes into it.
 Sunshine, fresh air and work for the community in which he lives, beautifyinG his county, is the best medicine for these criminals that one could prescribe I am heartily in favor of your campaign and hope to see, it carried out"
 Mcvay Would Use Convcts.
 c. B. Mcvay of the Amzi Golden Go said: When we want to correct plant life we do not stick 1t in dark corner but for business reasons I can see nc other way to improve our roads quickly and practically except with convicts.
 'I think if the Board of Revenue would consider the proposition and study it as seen in other counties, they would fall head over ears to correct themselves.
 ''As a merchant in the very cloest touch with the farmer, I know we have bad roads in Jefferson county. They are con- stantly complaining. When you stop to consider what a loss to the farmer it is to make two hauls on a poor road where one would do on good road, you can see that they are losing days work at present in every week."
 Marcus Well of M. Well & Co.,, said: Generally speaking, I know convicts are good workmen. I know to what uses they were put in Louisiana and I approve the plan. The sooner it is adopted the better
 q favor the idea" said T. c. King, Good roads are the principal cause of prosperity in most communities, and the convict labor is the most practical for us at this time."
 Cites Augusta Roads.
 "As a native of Augusta, Ga" said H. J. Porter. q could not help but favor convict labor. Why. those roads are the best in the south. They bring hundreds of northerners south every year, and are theSgreatest argument I can think of.
 'They are perfectly beautiful, smooth, wide highways. The convicts are used almost exclusively. There are no ire quent escapes, and the community is inn proved so far as criminal records show. The stories that country people would live in horror of their lives is false.
 Tt is hardly point to be argued in my opinion. The necessity in Jefferson