The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-21
A CASH NEXUS FOR CRIME
By SHELBY NJ. HARRISON

1EXclusiVe Service THE SURVEY
 Press Bureau.0
 A boy in Anniston, Alabama, tres passed upon the railroad tracks. He was arrested; sentenced to SO days hard labor, and leased out to a coal operator He was totally inexperienced in coal mining, unused to it's dangers, and was at work only a few days when he met with an accident which result cd in the amputation of one of his legs. He will hobhle around the rest of his life on one Ieg-a cripple for life for trespassing, thing that hundreds of people do from year to year unmolested.
 Last April s, 123 negro convicts worK- ing in the Banner mine operated at the time by the Pratt Consolidated Coal company, were, instantly killed by an explosion. Seventy-two Of the convicts were from Jefferson county, in which Birmingham is located; and 21 out of the 72, or 30 per cent, were convicted of offenses so minor that their sen tences aside from cost, did not exceed 20 days.
 Coal mining is one of the two most hazardous occupations chat today en- rolls any very large number of work CTS. And coal mining where the dan ger of inexperienced workers injuring themselves is exceedingly great where the opportunities for those who already are murderers to injure or kill their fellow workers is also exceedingly great -- coal mining, an occupation ranking among the two most deadly even where free labor is employed-tha Is the occupation to which Alabama hires out 90 per cent of her state and county conviets, whether they be trivial misdemeanants or criminals of the low est order.
 The Alabama convict labor system embraces state convicts, county con- victs and county prisoners. During the last five years the numEer of state con- victs has averaged abvut 2500 per year and of county convicts in all counties about 700. Both state and county con- victs who are able must work and their labor brings into the Alabama state treasury above S400.000 annually and into the county treasury nearly $l00,- 900.
 Except for several hundred conviets in the penitentiary at Wetumpka and at the state farm and factory at Speig- ner, the labor of convicts both state and county is contracted out. The men go not only to the coal mines, but to sawmills, private farms, stove foun- dry and turpentine camps. only tho most able bodied are sent to the mines. In round numbers 1900 convict miners
 
 panies.
 For the non performance of tasks, ex- cept under good excuse, corporal pun ishment may be inflicted in the form of whipping. The victim is made to lie down and l5 lashes over a back covered with but one garment may be, and usually are, administered. Many stories are told about the Birmingham district where at least half of all the convicts work. For example, Pig Ford half witted negro, is alleged to have been whipped and kicked te death several years ago by warden of county convicts. It developed a' the trial Of the warden that Ford was h cocaine fiend and that the habit had destroyed his mind, a condition wllicf the heavy handed penal machinery ol the state had not been deft enough tc discover The man should have beer sent to an institution for defectives The state was as blind in its punish incnt as the deputy wao beat him.
 am convinced, however. that flag rant abuse is the exception rather thai the rule in prison camps. But thos' exceptions show the serious possibilities of tho logging system The world experience is that il is too great strain on human nature to vest bruta powcr over other mems bodies i'll an, group of officials.
 More questionable perhaps than tin methods employed to force unpaid mel To do a dav's work is the effect of thu system upon outside flee labor. Fret wages are kept down by this compleiol,