The Brinkley argus., 1913-01-31
PRAISED BY MANY
LETTERS APPROVING HE WHOLESALE PARDONiNG OF CONNECTS POUR INTO
 OFFICE.
FROM PROMINENT PEOPLE
Governor Commended for Having Coursoe to strike Vital Blow at
 Convict Lease System.

Little Rock.-Letters whicL poure' into Governor Donaghey's office com
 mendiag his action in granting condl
 tional pardons 10 360 state convlct | in one day, in an effort to effectuall,
 break up the convict lease system Il l Arkansas, gave good indication o | the sensation which Governor Dona | ehev's action created throughout tn
 entire country.
 Most of the letters received by Gov ernor Donaghey came from Arkansa' 1 people but many Ie ters and telegram' came from other states, large mum Der from persons of national prom hence.
 A number of letters came from mem bers Of the General Assembly Wht pledged themselves to an effort TO re move the conditions which were re sponsihIe for the governors act
 Most of those who have expressed iheir opinions in letters and telegrams to Governor Donaehey have taken the position that his action requires great moral courage and have com ended him for taking decisive step bward the abolition of great wrong In the face of what he knew would be great adverse criticism of his act.
 T. J. Brogan, secretary of the Shelby county Miss. jury commissioners, lh d letter to the governor, declares that siberian prison methods should have no recognition in intelligent and pro eressive America "The infliction Of punishment to unfortunate offenders, so merciless in it's execution" he says, Heads us in many instances to believe that the penalties administered in the medieval dark ages are still alive and in operation, hanging on the verge of twentieth century civilization Be as- sured that, regardless of adverse criti cism, by this generous act, you are the great representative of all that is good and best in the hearts of man kind, and have made a name that will live as the great exponent of one of the greatest human virtues, mercy.
 E. Stagg Whitin. general secretary of the National Committee on Prison Labor, wrote
 Let me congratulate you upon your definite action in the abolition of the convict lenses following the meeting at Richmond. Your action more than anything else will tend to center the attention of the action upon the need of prison reforms and go far to effect the final abolition of the present slave system
 Eugene V. pebs, Socialist nominee for president in the recent national wrote the governor as fOi- lows: The human leeches and graft CTS, who prey upon the misfortunes and misery of their fellow beings, will no doubt condemn your acrion, but every decent citizen who knows any thing about the convict lease system will approve your action and admire the spirit which prompted it."
 Kate Barnard. commissioner of charities of Oklahoma wired the gov ernor from New York. as follows
 "1h he conyicl lease system perpetu- ptes human slavery and is accompani. od hy cruelties that would shame the inquisition. I therefore congratulate ,ou upon releasing helpless men from it Those who criticise you cannot honestly sav the Lords prayer
 Bishop w NJ. Brown, for years Epis- copal bishop of Arkansas wrote from G1licn O.. as follows "I honor you, as believe all right-thinking people mus. for the stand that you have talk on against the lease system, and fer this action in support of it."
 .Jndge Walter Malone, distineulshed inrlsi Of Memphis, wrote as follows:
 We are forever execrating the Rus sians. vixen the conditions in prisons all over the South are worse han those of Siberia. We are eternally de nouneing the Turks, when the atroci' ties right here under our own noses are worse than those in Turkey. The rardoring power in many cases has been turned into a political lever, and made in many instances a source of unholy gain to vultnre-like pardon a,. torneys. But in your case the pardon Is granted in the name of humanity and justice, and the mercy of Jesus Christ The people require d brave outspoken man like you to wake them up. They are lethargic. and must be reused 10 the enormty of the evil about us Yes. they must. they must be rous ed. V II is necessary to open their eyes that every man in prison be re leased. then. in Gods rame. open all the doors"
 Richard M Hurd, member Of the Prison Association Of New Yorl. said 'I have for years felt that this sys tenn should be abolished throughout the united States. and welcome such telling blow as you have struck in this manner"
 Charles F Crane. an attorney oi Shreveport La, writes as follows:
 "The world needs men Of your staml na and Kind. Men who can see. and seeing. not finch from duty. arer