Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-19

Ii is definitely established that the
Atlanta Federal Prison will be the OBJ
ssct Of investigation by the United
States Department OF Justice, as a
result Of the revelations by Julian
Hawthorne, the novelist, and DR.. w.
] Morton, his friend and fellow pris
Oper.
Almost with their frst breath after
their release from the penitentiary
Wednesday they charged criminal
economy in feeding the prisoners,
cruel treatment for minor offenses
an underground hole" IN which pris-
oners ara confined for little or moth
ing, and a general policy of repres-
sion at the prison.
Already the story has gone from
end to end of the country. In In
jianapolls. where Warden W. H. Moy-
pr, Of the Atlanta prison, is attend
ing the Prison Congress, it inspired a
hurried telegram from the Warden to
Attorney General McReynolds in
Washington, setting forth Haw-
rhorne's charges and demanding an
investigation In Washington it stir
red the Department of Justice to the
immediate decision OF an investiga-
lion. In Atlanta it has stirred the
public and attracted at once the at
e0tfon OF CONGRESSMAN William Schley
Howard.
Howard to Push Inquiry.
q am going TO start an investiga-
,ian Of the Atlanta Federal Prison
from top to bottom" said Mr. How
ell. 81 know that what these two men
have said is true in part if not alto
gether"
The Congressman will make a per
sonal inspection of the prison imme-
oately before requesting any official
investigation of conditions by the de-
partment at Washington.
The story Of the two noted prison
ers came as a distinct shock to At
Ianta, where the Federal Prison was
generally acclaimed the model prison
Of the United States. Not before has
breath Of suspicion been cast in its
direction The baseball league with
in the walls, the prison paper. the
frequent concerts, the music at meals,
al were held up as evidence that here
was an unusual prison.
"Ail these things impress the pub
lie" said Hawthorne, upon his re-
lease, while beneath the surface
there is an atmosphere of repression
nd a n
that brings about a sure physical de-
terioratiOn among the men
Gives Average Prison Meal.
The average prison menu outlined
by Congressman Howard, who is
prone to believe in Hawthorne's
charges, is as follows:
Breakfast-Irish potatoes, bread,
butter and black coffee.
Dinner-BOiled beef (abOut three
times a week., baked potatoes or
cabbage and bread. Sometimes string
beans are served instead of one of
the other vegetables, but never but
one vegetable.
Supper-Hot rolls and syrup or one
third Of a pie.
Anyone can see that this is not by
any means sufficient for a man who
has to engage the greater pant Of the
day in manual labor" said Mr.. How
ard ANY man who has to put UP
with this sort and amount of food
viii suffer an impairment Of health.
"One reads much of the cleanliness
of the prison, of baseball games, of
prison newspa pers," he continued.
But know that playing baseball and
editing a newspaper on an empty
stomach is small enjoyment even for
3 man who is detained against his
will"
The Congressman also declared that
he knew something of the use of the
mole" or chamber for solitary con-
fnement, Of which Hawthorne and
Or. Morton talked.
Denied and Corroborated.
- am familiar with the methods
used in regard to the hole or soil
tary confinement also" he said. To
what extent solitary confinement Is