The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-05-16
,rinteDceut OF the peniCentiary.

SW This letter follows the report of the
#State board OF health condemning the
II hosiery mill and recommending jha1
II it be abolished. and the con cts en-
ployed therein given outdoor work
&The tubercular conditions at the peni'
#Jentary are the basis for the recon-
Slnendation.
D mot only are the inmates made tc
ksuffer," writes the governor, "but
when one with this disease leaves
there and goes out into the world, he
spreads the disease among our citiz-
enship and thereby causes the inno-
cent to suffer"
Coz. BIease's Letter.
Governor Blease's letter in full, Civ
Aen to the press and mailed out this
katternocn, is as follows:
columbia, S. c., May II, 1911.
*'To the Board Of Directors of the
State Penitentiary, and Col. D. J. Crit
fifth, Observation-Disclosures In
vew of the report made to YOU by the
State board of health, through its
chairman, in regard to the serious
and dangerous conditions at the State
penitent;ary, I respectfully request
that you meet at your very earliest
convenience and declare absolutely
null and void the contract for furnish
ing labor to the hosiery mill, within
the walls Of the penitentiary, as the
operation Of the mill is nuisance and
destructive of the health and lives OF
the opera as it is now conducted.
Wants Building Removed.
st also beg of you to compel the
immediate removal of all Of the ma
.ohinery in said mill, and that the
building either be torn away, or If ad-
-7ised by the proper competent auth
critics, that it be thoroughly fumigat-
led, in order to remove from it and
from within the walls OF the lnstltu-
ton all traces of that most dreadful
and loathsome disease, tuberculosis.
You may be threatened with law
suit. In my opinion, there is no dan
ger. The State can take care of her
self, and you have the legal right, fand
it is your moral duty,) to bring to an
end any contract the conditions OF
which cause and maintain a nuisance,
and in my opinion, the courts would
not force you to fulfill an agreement
that produces disease and causes
death, but, On the contrary, would
sustain your refusal when the cause
is shown them.
"Gentlemen, one mans life is worth
more than all the money the hosiery
mill will ever make for South Caro-
Ina. It may be said wait until the
legislature meets but this should not
be. We have a right to punisl for
crime; We have a right to correct, but
We have absolutely no right in the
Sight of man or God to shachle human
beings and force them to work in
places where their health is endan-
gereJ. and where often death is the
result. Already too many graves nave
been flied by the bones and flesh OF
our people to make money for outsad-
ers. Not only are the inmates made
to suffer, but when one with this dis
paase leaves there and goes. out into
the State he spreads the disease
among our citizenship, and thereby
causes the innocent to suffer.
VIII Act if Board Doesn't.
"I beg of you, gentlemen, to give
this your immediate consid Grafton and
not to permit any other individual to
suffer because Of having to work IN
;tlais nuisance and abominable filth. No
Excuse will! be accepted by the peo-
pie of South Carolina if it is cont1nu-
ed. The time for action has come and
YOU are the ones to act; so please pro-
ceed to act, like men, your part. II
YOU do not give relief, I will.
every respectfully,
<lSigned) "Cole. L. 6lease'
"Gavarnor"