The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-11-03
TO the Editor of The Age-Herald:

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
In view of the fact that the land con-
gress will meet In Birmingham next
week, at which meeting all things per-
tanning to the improvement Of lands and
the betterment of the condition of our
land owners and farmers will be consd-
cred and discussed, l desire to submit a
subject matter of grave importance, viz;
The question of more and better farm
labor.
We must admit that it matters not what
business or vocation we follow, we are
fed and clothed from the products of the
farm, we are compelled to draw of life
afresf every day from mother earth
Were the harvest to cease and mother
earth refuse to give forth her bounties,
the whirling spindles and flying shuttles
of our manufactures would be stopped,
our ships would rot by the wharves, our
great railroad trains would freeze to the
track, our iron and steel industries would
cease to belch forth their steam of prog
ress, and our banks and bankers would
have no demand for discounts or ex-
changes. 1t is not my purpose to critieise
The present or the past administration Of
the state of Alabama. [ believe that what
has been done in the past was what was
deemed to be best, but because the con-
vict system was right In 1900 is no reason
why it should be right in 1918 and 1914
This is a progressive age, an age of
advancement in thought along all lines,
and it seems to me that it Is our duty
to keep up with the times, and make I'M
provements upon the methods of the past.
1t is very often asserted that this is a
money loving age as well as one or
progress: this may be true, some OF US
love money for the good it may enable us
10 aecol plish in the world. others may
love ii for the power 1t will give them
z<~sIt with all this ! am inclined to believt
that the principle promulgated in Genesis
the first book of the book OF books. Am
my brothers keel err Is sinking deeper
in the hearts and souls OF our men OF TO-
day than ever before.
The Fatherhood of God and the broth
erhood of mon is daily drawing us closer
and closer together, and with this ieei'
ing in our hearts comes the desire FOL
the betterment of our felloWman, ane
selfshness sinks into oblivion and VIII
this state of heart and conscience, We
must turn to those unfortunate ones
who are paying the penalty for mis-
deeds / do not wish to be mlsunder
stood in this matter, or to convey tho
idea that the convict should not be pun
5shed. but rather that his punishment
should be sure and in proportion to tho
violation of the law, but | would, II L
be possible (and l believe 1t isl, throw
around him such influences and sucl
! environments, If you please, as woult
help lift him up and improve his MIRA
condition l would reform him insteaC
of making his moral condition worse
than before his conviction and sentence
I would land I believe it possible), make
of him such citizen as can and will, aftel
serving out his time, go back into th'
channels of trade, labor and CONNER
that he filled before committing the of
Tense against the law for which he wa'
convicted and sentenced. No doubt many
will inquire how this can be done.
would suggest this solution of the prob
lem:
l. Remove him from the foothghts o
contamination and Generalization.
.. Place him under the dome Of heaV
en-, where he will breath the fresh All
of the section i'm which he lived.
Q. Keep around him and near about hin
the influence Of home and his home PEG