The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-03
Atlanta Citizens In Mass Meel- ing DenOuncs Convict Sv-
 tem of the State z.
STRONG RESOLUTIONS
 ADOPTED BY THE PEOPLE
Investigation of Convict Camps During Present Session of Legislature Has Aroused Public to Ne
 cessity for Action.

Atlanta, August 2.-(Special )-By a ris- i ing vote 20O0 people present at the Grand
 opera house this afternoon to enter pro- test against the convict lease system of the state, Atlanta today set her stamp of approval upon the immediate termination of the lease system. Addresses were made by Seaborn Wright. representative of Floyd county; by E. V. Carter of Att lanta, and by Judge Covington of the house of representatives Tn referring to the prison commission. Seaborn Wright called it that monumental fraud the prison commission All three speeches were in denunciation of the system and calling for it's immediate end Goyernor smith was present but did not speak. Ihe resolutions suggest the issuance of bonds to put an end to the system.
 Atlanta, August With tales of cruelty to convicts. stories of graft in convict camps throughout the state and particu- larly in the vicinity of Atlanta, the spe- cial Investigating commission of the Geor- gia legislature will resume session tomor- row to find, If 1t can, where and when cruelty and graft originated. The Georgia
 state legislature which appointed this committee will adjourn in 10 days Be- Tore that time 1t wants a bill to relieve the convict lease system in the state.
 but there is not the slightest indication that the special committee VIII have dug every snake from under a rock before ad- Journment takes place. There have been
 tales of whippings in convict camps tales or the killing of convicts, of poor food, of no housing in winter when men were forced to eat under trees without shelter during the hard months of the year. but the stories are by no means complete. and It Is expected that many prominent citizens of the state, members of this and'frmer legislatures, will be called up- on to relate what they know of the
 'chain gang" and it's treatment by lessees.
 Chief Warden To Talk.
 One of the men most prominently men, tioned in the evidence has been Jake K Moore. formerly chief warden of the Georgia penitentiary system He will appear before the Investigating committee tomorrow. Charges of all kinds have been made against him on the witness stand in the investigation, and he has prepared an elaborate defense His coun- sel will declare he cannot be impeached as he has never been an officer of the state. never having been required to take an oath of office, and never working under an act making appropriation for his cffce.
 His counsel will assert that in allow ing Moore to discharge duties which should have been discharged by the prison committee, the commission was violating the law.
 The evidence during the past week has been to the effect that Moore was nf1lx nh. -,..f4- camps regularly. There has been testl- mony that the wardens have accepted money from the 1essees of convicts. Moore was in the court room Saturday with out the knowledge of the Investigating committee until toward the close, when he made a statement he was ready to take the stand
 Other leading witnesses including Dr. w. B. Hamby, partner of Moore in the brokerage business, and Col James w. English, Jr., will also be heard this week.
 Later the prison commission will be heard in it's own defense. In the mean time the auditing of the books of the state prison commission is progressing
 A mass meeting of citizens was held today in this city to consider the con vict lease system Governor Smith was among the listeners to speeches made condemnng the law which permits the sending of convicts to various contrac- tors. Gov.-Elect Joseph M. Brown sent letter which was read at the meet ing.
 Resolutions Adopted.
 The resolutions adopted urge each city and county in the state to protest against the "iniquitous lease system which has during its 40 years of existence been characterized by barbarous treatment of those under sentence of law" Reciting that it has been established by evidence given under oath that the state has been subjected for many years to a mon- strous system of corruption and graft and the good name of the state black ened by the recountal of horrors and crimes done by public officials and em- ployes. and by testimony that these off, cials and employees were subsidized and bribed by those whose fortunes have been fattened by the barter of human beings" the resolutions continue
 Resolved, That in the name of human ity we denounce the present convict lease law of Georgia. It is a crime against God, blot on the civilization of the south, and it's re-enactment In any form would be disgrace to the state.
 'We are unalterably opposed to any kind of bill whatever that will aoontinue in any form the convict lease system day beyond the legal termination of the present lease, an~ we do earnestly urge the honorable senate and house of rep to take whatever steps may be necessary to accomplish this end" -~~~~>~->~~~->>> ->>>->~-~~~~-~~--~~~~-~~ sympathy in evidence by, the farmers of Walker.
 The negro. Campbell. who was import ed from the west to fire up race antagon- ism, Is said to have been one of the principal speakers at Jasper. and there Is a general feeling of disapproval of the