The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-09-05
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The GOVERNOR AND
THE LEASE SYSTEM.
Lakeland News.
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We devote in this issue of the News
considerable space to tho address OF
Governor Gilchrist, delivered before
the National Prison Association, in
reference TO the prison conditions in
Florida.
The governor sets forth in detail
the operations of the lease system in
Florida or rather the manner in which
the system is designed to operate
we admit that he makes out a ve1y
IalT case for the system, and if, in all
respects, or even in its general ope-
ratlons, it were half as good as he
makes II sound, We would have no
void Of criticism for it. But grant
ing perfect sincerity on the part Of
the governor, whom we know to be
kindly and big hearted man, we must
take issue with him as TO the status
( Of the system, viewed from a moral
and humanitarian standpoint.
! We believe that no person familiar
with prison conditions in Florida will
| seriously contend that even half the
! provisions made for the humane
! treatment Of the prisoners are carried
out. But even if there were no com
plant on this sCOTe-eVCn if from
every camp of Florida there did not
come the damning evidence of gross
cruelty and a barbarOus disregard for
every consideration except to coin
/ the greatest number of dollars in the
shortest time from human misfortune
we would be unalterably opposed to
/ the system
| The governor complains that some
Of the newspapers are too polite to
place the responsibility for abuses
which occur, to place blame where it
| belongs, preferring instead to bring
la general indictment against the
whole lease system, thereby doing
gross injustice 10 the state, etc"
| To the first count the News pleads
not guilty. Repeatedly it has called
attention to specific instances "
abuse under the system, and its con
victions are never huShed by polite
considerations.
| To the second count the News does
plead guilty 1t brings a general lit
diCtment against theS~hOle lease syS-
TEN, before God and the bar of just
ice:
Because. It has been tried and
found wanting.
| Because. The experience of other
states has condemned it, and one BY
ona they have discarded II, until
Florida stands almost alone in cling
ing to it.
Because, The dying GrOans OF us
victims and the walls Of agony from
bruised and bleeding humanity form
a chorus that gives the lie to the
contention that it is humane IN its
| operations
Because, It's usufTUCt IS not f0T the
lbeneft Of all the people, but goes IN
large part TO build fortunes for raw
ored contractors.
Because, It has absolutely nothing
to commend it except that it produces
revenue, and the same argument
could be used in favor of the saloon
and tue bawGy house
/ Because, The state has no morn
fright 10 deIegate to others the pun
iishueDt or care OF It's criminals
which should be regarded as the
states own sacred duty.
/ Because, The state has no night 70
engage in the slave trade for profit.
RaaaI Sc. The lease system is wrong
in theory and vicious in practice; 1t
! is q5horrent to every sentiment OF
humanity. gives unlimited OpDOrtun-
itv for graft and TTuptiOn, and its
daily ODeratiOns are marEed with the
cruelty which only greed can dictate
If it is an Injustice to the state TO
/ publish these things. then the sOone'
( the state puts itself in position
/ where such publications viii be IN
necessary the better. fostering
sore is not made well simply by Gov
cring il I'D or hiding it from view.