The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-09-12
A PROPHECY
Time viii Surely Bring Many Changes
in the Administration Of the
Criminal Laws Of Georgia.

the nighttime, and not thought it was
grand? Did you ever stop to think
that that wonderful mechanism, the
rails on which it ran, the cars it pull
ed, We're, after all, only a stick and a
stone, put together by the brain of
man. The dreams of yesterday drive
the giant engines of today, and the
: accomplished realities of invention
cutrun the expectations of prophet
and seer. Have patience therefore
with prophecy of what changes time
will bring in the administration of the
criminal laws of the state Of Georgia.
First, The county convict camps
will give place to larger state camps.
j This will be done so as to carry out
the building of great state highways,
the dredging of our rivers and pre-
venting their overflow. But one Of
the by-products Of the. change will be
that instead of thirty dollar guard
and underpaid warden, men OF fine
grain will be employed, who under
stand the man under the uniform of
shame, who will be an inspiration to
him to rise as on a stepping stone
from his dead criminal self to a noble
manhood. The official Of the new
type will believe that in reforming
the man you protect society, and they
| will lend the prisoner every encour-
agement to achieve his redemption.
Second, The state will provide an
! institution where those prisoners,
twenty-five years and under, may be
confined, who have never learned a
trade in which they could earn a
livelihood. The products of the in
stitution need not interfere with the
products of free labor, inasmuch as
the manufactured articles can be used
exclusively by the state.
Third, 1t will be the rule in both
the state camps and the penitentiary
to allow men with families certain
allowance which will be paid their
| wives, so that the innocent will not
suffer because of guilt in another. The
law has long been such that property
could not be conf1scated because Of
| crime But, despite. this fact, the
state confiscates all poor man has,
the money value of his labor. This
system works a diabolical hardship
on their families, and opens wide the
door of temptation to the wife who
is left to support children, and has
no means for doing SO. What is viz
tue worth, when the hunger Of those
they love remains unsatisfied! The
actual facts would strike horror to
the souls of thinking men.
Fourth, The distinction between fell
ony and misdemeanor will be abol-
ished. and so will the stipulated pun
ishment now melted out with each
particular offense. Punishment VIII
become incident to correction, where
it naturally belongs. A child Is pun
ished to make it better What logl-
cal reason is there for treating diff
ferently an adult offender? And what
is more, he will be deprived of his
liberty not for two years, nor four
years, nor ten years, but until he can
satisfactorily show that he VIII
thenceforth live peaceable, upright,
honorable life. Does 1t not strike
Won as unreasonable to PREJUDICE the
gravity of any particular crime by as
signing to it a specified period OF con-
Anement. without knowing the oppor-
tunities the offender had for knowing
hotter and without consulting his
previous character, and motives for
committing the crime. If ne Is con.
yicted. he ought to be given that
treatment which will leave him Mt
to live among his fellows, and not a
source of contagion for everybody
unon whom he may exercise an IN
fuence. If necessary, lock MIN up
and keep him locked up, until ne may
have achieved his redemption, but
lock him up under influences which
make it possible. Keep him there
for life If he cannot change his heart.
Why turn a wolf loose to STAY Wnom
he will!
Fifth, The new type of prison Of
fetal will make the men under MIN
understand that their release Will de-
pend entirely upon themselves. he
will keep a daily record of the CON
duct of each man, and each one OF
| the prisoners will have right to con-
sult that record and talk the matter
lover with him. Within certain re-
strictions. to prevent abuse, each
prisoner will have the privilege Oh
petitioning the Board of State Com
missioners for a parole. 1t is for this
/ hoard to determine whether reforma-
! tion has taken place, and every pris-
oner must stand on his record the
rules he must have observed will not
he the easy rules, the Joy OF the OLD
rounder. but requirements which
when fulfilled, will make 1t evident
that the prisoner is equipped for an
honest and useful career. He VIII De
very chary about committing a SUD-
seouent offense, because subsequent
misconduct will for all practical pur-
noses prevent his being released a
second time without exceptional CIT
eumgtances to demonstrate his re-
form. ,.-,o.,
sixth. The Board of Commissioners
will have authority to inspect every
In