The Mena weekly star., 1911-01-19
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE
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we are confronted is: Can we abol-
ish the convict lease system and make
the penitentiary self-supporting'
The majority OF the present board con-
tend that we cannot. This conten-
ton Is not without reasons which gp-
pear fair. Nor is intended here to
convey the idea that any one support
ine the lease system is insincere in
his approval Of IL. But believe that
the convict lease system is not only a
crime that we are committing against
downfallen humanity. but also. from
an economic viewpoint. ii is an error,
and that any process OF reasoning TO
the contrary is founded on false
basis.
The experience OF the board since
became a member of il is as follows:
When we took charge Of the peniten'
tiary two years ago, and before we
could make move to earn anything
for its maintenance. we found II was
in debt in the sum of about $i30,000.
Ninety-nine thousand dollrrs was APP
propriated by the Legislature out Of
the general revenue fund for the pay
ment In part Of that debt. The bal
ance remaining unpaid was left TO the
board to work out. The first year.
1909, we bought supplies on credit,
paying what our creditors chose to
charge us. and we not only paid the
debt TO which we fell heir. but made
enough money over and above oil ex-
penses to pay $50, 900 OF the state s
farm debt, and turned back into the
general revenue fund $50, 900. For
the past year we win do equally as
well II not better. The greater part
AZ this money was earned on the state
larm. OF course those opposed TO my
idea will contend otherwise, but here
are the facts: We have on the state
farm 2,700 acres of open land. Our
firss cotton crop and the seed from
the same brought us SIPS, 900. The
cotton and the seed produced on the
same land for the past year at the
time OF writing ia harvested and is
worth on the current market 100000
So we will be able to pay $30, 900 more
on the farm debt and turn back into
the states general fund another
$50, 900. Now, anyone who knows
anything about farm work or manage
ment knows that 2,700 acres Of land
can be cultivated with 800 convicts. oil
less than ten acres to the man. II
would be a reflection on the MANAGE
ment Of any board. superintendent OF
warden Of the penitentiary to main
tain that this cannot be done. Then
this lard, cultivated by force of less
than one-third of the ops convicts un-
der the control Of the penitentiary
board, has earned for the past two
years more than half Of all the rev
enue that the penitentiary has re
ceived. Hence. we see that under
present conditions, which are exceed
inely bad. as will be noted later. SOC
men are not only making a support
for themselves, and paying the cast
dividend before noted, but they are, In
addition. supporting over $50 Other
convicts who are working for contrac'
tors. No doubt the opposition to this
statement will produce ready statistics
to show the contrary. but statistics
are worthless in the face of facts
Why shouldn't convicts make more
than support Most of the farmers
Of the state are making a large profi
on their labor when applied to theil
farms. Another argument agains
working ell the convicts for the state
Ii that the farm is not large enough
Then we should rent land until we car
get enough cleared on the farm.
we can produce $50 worth Of cottoI
and seed on an acre of rented land, /
will pay to give So or So for the rem
OF it pay better than working convictl
for contractors
The penitentiary. with its ops con
victs now in charge of the board, ans
about 100 more working on the road
Of Pulaski county. Is an institution
that will continue to grow in spite 0
our endeavors to reduce *. 1t is will
us for all time to come. II shout,
have a permanent home. We shout,
act with more stability concerning it
Our policy should not be one practicet
by uncivilized people. nor one il
which inhuman treatment by irrespon
sible parties can be employed. II W,
are going into the slave traffic, will
our victims bound in chains an,
guarded by guns. just for the mone1
there is in it. let us SC arrange il tina
we win reap the reward. AS il stands
the state commits the crime and doe