The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1908-08-06
OF CITIZENS
Georgia Convict Lease System Is
DenOuncea.
BIG MEETING AT THE GRAND

RESOLUTIONS Adopted by Rising Vote
Asking Immediate Termination OF
the Ubiquitous Convict Lease sys
TEN Of Georgia
Atlanta, Aug. 4.-By a rising vote
200 men, women and children gain
ered az the Grand, In mass meeting
Sunday afternoon, set their stamp OF
approval on a set OF resolutions which
memorialized the legislature to end at
onee the convict lease system in the
state Of Georgia, and pledged the sup
port of loyal citizens to any solution
That might be decided upon to rid
the state OF this evil.
The resolutions were offered and
adopted after the meeting had been
duly organized, and stirring address
es had been made by Representative
w. A. Covington, Of Colquitt coun-
ty; Hon. E. ". Carter of Atlanta, and
Representative Seaborn Wright, of
Floyd.
@ &AO @AS -
that were adopted at the meeting:
whereas, the convict lease system
OF the state OF Georgia has during its
forty years Of existence been charac-
terized by barbarous treatment Of
those under sentence Of law:
Whereas, it has been established by
evidence given under oath that the
state has been subjected for many
years to q monstrous system OF COT
ruptioR and graft;
Whereas, the good name Of the com
monwealth has been blackened by the
recent ~reccuntal before the joint leg
isIative committee of this ghastlY REQ
ord Of horrors and Of crimes done
by public offc1als and employees, and
by testimony under oRth that these
officials and employees we're suhstdiz-
ed and bTtSed by those whose fortunes
have been fattened by the barter OF
human beings.
Now, therefore, be It
Resolved by the psopie Of Atlanta
and Fulton county, In mass meeting
assembled, That, In the am Of hui
mainly, we aenounce the present con-
Wet lease law OF Georgia. It Is a
crime against God, a blot on the c4Vf1i
zation Of the south, and its re-enact-
ment In any form whatever would be
a disgrace to the state.
We are u~nalterably opposed to any
kind of bill whatever that will contin-
ue in any form the convict lease sys-
tenn, and demand that it be abolished
Immediately.
Georgia pays tax on 500, 900, 900,
and the claim that she cannot raise a
comparatively small amount to finance
the convict question is a travesty up
on the facts.
We have full confidence in our cno-
sen lawmakers to devise Ways and
mean to end this nideous horror, and
we do earnestly urge the honorable
senate and house Of representatives to
take whatever steps may be necessary
to accomplish this end. We pledge
them our hearty and unanimous sup
port in whatever steps may be neces-
sary in achieving this end-wnether
the same involves the issue of bonds
for the 'purposeA or the increase OF
the borrowing power of the state, or
such other means as may be deemed
most desirable.
Resolved further, That we join
hands with u sister towns and coun
ties throughout the state which are
already moving in protest against this
iniQuitous system, and earnestly urge
each city and county in the state
which has not already taken such
action to act with promptness and Wig.
or. Let the governor. and legisla.
ture rest assured that we will stand
behind them and aid them in blotting
out this stain of forty years standing
upon Jul good name.