The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-05-17
BLEASE TO TAKE ACTION.
WILL CLOSE PENITENTIARY UO.
SlERY MILL IMNIEDI NTEIN.
Governor States that He Rcoards
board of Health's Report as Vim
ucation Of his Position as Regards
Pcnitcntiary Investigation DE-
clares there is no Fear of Suit for
Violation of Contract.

| lOlatlOn OF Contract,
columbia, May l2.-"I consider the
Pcnitentiary report Of the State board
OF health to be a complete vindcation
OF my position on the subject Of the
investigation of the Penitentiary con-
ditions," was the statement made
last night by Governor Blease to
representative of The News and Cour-
ier. Governor Blease when interview
ed' was sitting on the balcony Of the
headquarters Of the Schultznfest, en-
Joying brief rest from the excite
ment Of the evening He seemed to
endorse the report heartily in all of
its details.
In explaining the position he had
taken in the matter Of the Peniten
| tiary investigation, Governor Blease
said that during the last session of
the Legislature he had received
large number of petitions for par
dons, in which a doctors certificate
was given showing that the person in
whose favor the petition was made
had contracted tuberculosis in the
Pcnitentiary.
He said that from this he could
draw but two conclusions The first
was that false reports were being
made out at the prison; the other that
| conditions existing there were such
that an immediate change was de-
manded. In regard to the first, Coz
ernor Blease said:
I never for moment considered
tie first rs being possible. l know
DR.. Butler, the prison physician, to be
highly honorable man, and a man
who would not for an instant give
a false medical certificate. l wish it
to be very clearly understood. that
nothing l have said or done in the
matter has been intended to cast the
least reflection upon the integrity Of
DR.. Butler, for whom have the high
est personal regard.
Il conclude, therefore, that the la
Dor conditions in the Penitentiary must
be most deplorable, and / knew that
all Of the trouble lay in the hosiery
mill. Why, it seemed to me to be
| the worst form Of barbartiy to con-
fine men in p place whore thev wcro
subjected 70 conditions Nn.cn would
cause them 10 contrac, most loath-
some disease.
~ first ! thought To- have n meas
ure introduced at the last session Of
the Legislature to abolish the hosiery
mill. Upon second thought decided
that it would be better to have
thorough investigation of conditions,
and to introduce the measure at the
mkt session.
| Many of the friends Of Col. Grit
fifth, the prison superintendent, criti-
cised me severely for instigating this
investigation, alleging that 1 intend
ed to reflect upon Col. Griffith's abil-
| ity. However, L considered these
charges as so far from the truth and
as so unfounded that I did not take
the trouble to reply to them. And
now the report has vindicated my po-
sition in the natter
| When asked whether or not he
would do anything in the matter be-
fore the convening Of the Legisla-
ture next February, Governor Blease
said
AS soon as l arrive in Columbia,
| | shall write to Col. Griffith request
ing him to shut down the hosiery mill
| Immediately. No man in this State, |
no matter whether he be a criminal
| or the worst possible type, shall be
compelled to work in a place where
| he is exposed to fatal diesease. Be
fore l allow this to take place, I'll
| rather free every prisoner in the Pen
| itentiary"
Governor Blease was most emphatic !
IN declaring that the contract Of the
state with Capt. j. NJ. Griffith, of CO.
umbia, for convict labor in the no.
siery mill for the next five years, |
| cannot be alleged as an excuse for
continuing the operation of the mill. |
The State cannot be sued for
breaking this contract, in the first
place, because a private person or
| corporation cannot bring suit against |
| the sovereign State. And, anyway. |
even if the state could be sued, it |
would be shown that since to carry
out the contract would be a public
nuisance and would mean great detri-
mont to the citizens Of the state. the
state WOuld be iustified in nnllifying |