Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-08-22
FRIDAY, AUGUST az, 1913.
coNvIcTs FOR THE ROADS
Governor Blease Wants to Abolish
State Farms.

Governor Blease on Wednesday af-
ternoon gave out the following state
ment embodying his view OF the best
disposition Of the Hosiery mill con-
vlcts: .... ..,
II have received an invitation to
meet the directors OF the state peniten-
tiary, on Wednesday. the 9th OF Au-
gust, for the purpose OF discussing
what to do with the convicts that are
in the hosiery mill when 1t is abolish
ed.
II do not consider 1t a very serious
or a very grave question, nor do con-
slider 1t one which should give the au-
thorities the least bit Of trouble.
when l was a member of the house
of representatives, February II, 1899, ]
made the following remarks: I wish
to be put on record, relative to the
leasing Of convicts for farm purposes.
in conflict with farmers OF the state.
The system Is wrong. / will simply
make my motion so as to go on record
as against the leasing Of convicts for
farm purposes ! have neevr believed
in the state running farm in opposi-
tion to the tax-paying farmers or our
state, and / see no reason to change my
views. =,
81 am in favor of discontinuing all
work on the state farms, except the
reformatory In Lexington, where plen-
ty OF stun can be raised to run sucn
convicts as should be kept In the peni-
tentiary. Then, I am in favor, OF course
of closing the hosiery mill, In fact i
think / remember having made some
little fight to have 1t closed: Then, l
favor the placing OF all able -oooleo
convicts throughout the entire state
upon the public roads. Let the Judges
ar = khA fNrt
gang where there are chain gangs
Where ther care none. let them go to
the penitentiary, and let the peniten-
tiar yauthorities lease them TO those
counties who want them, making the
counties responsible for their humane
treatment, and for any loss that the
state might sustain by escapes. Or
course, there are some dangerous pris-
oners who will possibly have to be Kept
In the penitentiary. They can be easi1
ly handle dand properly cared for. J.
have never believed, nor do now be-
lieve, in keeping the penitentiary Tor
a money making institution. l have
never been one Of those who believe In
making none yout of the unfortunate
human beings. Therefore, most posi-.
lively favor the placing Of convicts
upon the public highways.
There Is no question before TINS
country, unelss Ii be Christianity, that
Is ahead of good roads. and good roads
will help Christianity. II we have good
roads we will have better attendance at
the churches and at the schools. II we
have good roads it will increase the
value of the farms, because they will
put them nearer to the towns-in the
length of time. If we have good roads
IL will bring the farms closer to the
towns and cities They will save the
wear and tear to the wagons, automo-
biles and other vehicles and machin-
cry. They will save the strength ana
lives of our mules and horses. There
is so much that could be said for good
roads, and has been said, that there is
no use to continue It here; but, we can
have better schools, better churches
better attendance at both; better mar
kets and better everything, Ii we have
better roads The convicts are not eX-
pected to preach or to teach; therefore,
what Is better than letting them work
the roads. This shall be the course l
shall advise the directors OF the peni-
tentiary to take. This shall be what l
will recommend to the general assem-
bly,. OF course, do not know what
they are going to do; all can do Is to
express my own opinion, as have been
invited to meet them for that purpose.
"If the board of directors, or the
legislature, or both, should disagree
with me in my view-which 1t would
not at all surprise me II they do, judg-
ing from the past-then l submit that
there is still no serious danger In ref
erence to what we should do with our
convicts. We can put them to making
harness, making shoes, or we can es-
tablish some kind Of woodworking
business-making spokes and handles,
or baskets-in fact, there are numer-
Gus occupations that could be agreed
upon and carried on within the walls
of the penitentiar to take care of every
convict who may be sent there, or pos
sibly, l might say, who may be left
there, II the others are given out and
put on the public highways, which oc-
cupations will not be detrimental to
their health - 49, -