The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-10
COMMITTEE HEARS
REPORTS ON CONVICT
PROBLEM OF STATE
Executive Committee of the
Convict Improvement As
sOciatiOn Meets in
Montgomery

Montgomery. september 9-tSpeclal.)
Prominent men from all parts of the
state gathered in Montgomery today to
committee of the Alabama Convict I'M
provement association, which met at
the Exchange hotel The principal bus
mess before the COMMITTEES was the
consideration of reports from nearly all
the counties in the state on the con-
Wet prblem and the unanimous opinion
was that Alabama is soon ito take n
foremost rank among southern states
in solving this important question
Every speaker who addressed the
meeting commended the Birmingham
Age Herald for the stand that paper
has taken with reference to taking the
convicts out of the mines and putting
them to work al some occupation which
will benefit the general public.
State Senator Robert Moulthrop of
Eufaula, president of the association,
presided over the meeting and intro
duced the speakers. In his address be-
fore the committee, Senator Moulthrop
told of his efforts to have a measure
passed in the last legislature to nave
the convicts taken out of the mines.
He said the bill would have passed but
for the dilatory action of the house
committee, the measure having pre-
viously passed the senate.
Senator Moulthrop praised DR.. J. i.
Fowler, superintendent of the state
tubercular hospital at Wetumpka for
the humane treatment which he has ac-
corded the convicts under his care. The
speakers address was received with
great enthusiasm on the part of those
present.
One of the speeches OF the day was
delivered by John w. ONeill of Bir-
mingham. secretary of the association.
Mr.. ONeill told of the method of hand
ling convicts which obtained in Birs
mingham, of the efforts of the best
people of the city to obtain needed
reforms with reference to the treat
ment of convicts, and gave fulsome
praise to The Age Herald for the crea-
ton of a favorable sentiment looking
to a reform of the state convict sys-
tenn.
Other speakers were Capt John Craft
of Mobile, president of the Alabama Good
Roads association; DR.. II. p. Bowling CT
y
catur and others.
Mr.. Craft read report from II. =.
Stringer, superintendent of convicts IN
Dallas county, to the effect that convict
Ia Dor on the roads of that county he'd
proved a great success and strongly rec
ommending the plan proposed by the as
sociation.
DR.. Dowlns spoke on the sentimental
and economical side of the question. He
claimed that 30 per cent of the convicts
who had worked on the public roads and
served their terms We're now good cit:-
zens.
Dir. Cary was former chaplain of the
Banner mines and he described in graphic
terms many of the serious accidents
which had taken place at that mine
An effort was made to adopt a resolu-
tin calling upon the candidates for gov
ernor to express their views on the ques-
ton of taxing the convicts out of .he
mines. and while the resolution was not
adopted, it was agreed that a resolution
would be adopted at another meeting of
the association calling upon the candi-
dates for the legislature to express their
views on the question.
A number of ladies were present at the
meeting today. ard they showed their
deep interest in the movement.
The ladies were all Montgomery club
women, who take a deep and broad in
terest in all questions of civic improve
ment and 1t is expected that their Ell
forts will prove of lasting benefit in
bringing about the reform of the convict
situation
The next regular meeting of the asso-
citation Will be held in Mobile, proba bly
during the week of the Alabama Good
Roads association. and indications are
that many hundred delegates will attend
the meeting. The association convened at
noon today, and remained In session the
entire afternoon.