The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-09-24


OF the 500 odd convicts, now at work in
the hosiery mill In chair and table
factory to be established In the prison
walls under the direct personal super
vision of the directors, the State to
buy the material and the machinery,
manufacture the tables and chairs,
and making of a contract with A. ID.
Martin. of Frankfort. KY. to sell the
product. was the tentative decision
reached by the board of directors of
the State Penitentiary and Governor
Blease in long conference today in
the Governors office.
MIR. Martin will simply enter into a
contract with the penitentary to sell
the manufactured goods at a profit,
which will guarantee the State at
least 60 cents per day for each con-
vict empolyed. and to give bond for
this purpose. Details of the propo-
sition were gone over by the peni-
tentiary board at session lasting
late into the aftefr oon.
IL Is estimated that 1t will cost the
state about $4,000 to buy the neces-
sary machinery and material. Before
deciding what building within the
prison grounds to use for the new fac
tory. the State board OF health will
be consulted. The hosiery mill con-
tract expires November 1, and it is
the intention To rush the plans to
complete the chair factory as soon as
possible.
Governor Blease late this afternoon
gave out the following statement on
the disposal OF the convicts:
THE board of directors had a very
pleasant meeting in my office this
morning. and I think one which will
result In good for the State, and will
be along proper lines in handling the
convicts In a humane and practical
manner.
Il cannot give you the details, but
the idea is when the hosiery mill is
abolished. for the State itself to begin
the manufacture of chairs, tables, etc.
inside of the prison. There Is no manu-
featuring enterprise I'm this State. or
nearer here than Pittsburg, with
which this class of work will bring
the convicts in conflict. The hours Of
labor will not be over eight or possi-
bly, nine hours. five days In the week
and half days work on Saturday.
The pay per convict will be more
than that now being received for the
hosiery mill contract. OF course, this
Is only I'm the rough. The State board
Of health will be consulted in regard
to the proposition So far as the health
OF the convicts is concerned, and the
board OF directors themselves will go
over the situation very closely before
they enter into any contract
Il am pleased to say that we had
an exceptionally pleasant meeting,
and L think the board OF directors
and myself more thoroughly under
stand each other than we have ever
heretofore, and 1 hope that there will
not be the slightest friction between
us in the future.
IL am very glad to see that Judge
Shipp has started out on the right
read. In my recent interview L said
j hoped the judges would adopt this
Plan and IL would solve this convict
question. am pleased that Judge
Shipp Is getting i'm line, and l hope
the other judges will do likewise.
lin fact. Section 1O4. Volume of
the Code, provides: That I'm every
case In which Imprisonment is pro-
vided for any crime all able-bodied
male convicts shall be sentenced to
hard labor on the public works of
the county without regard To- the
lenGth OF sentence
This Act was amended at the ses-
sion of 1912. page 90. by taking out
the county of Clarendon from the ex-
ceptions, ana that Act now applies To
every county I'm South Carolina, except
the county Of Greenville Why il is
excepted. do not know. Therefore.
III the judges will all follow the
pam written and printed law as laid
down I'm these two sections, convicts i'm
the future will he placed ON
the public works of the county. pro-
Nided the county wants them, with
out any friction on the part Of the
board OF directors or anybody else.
and az this Act provides that the
Judges shalt | presume they will
You might say 1t is "A violent pre-
sumption, In view of an interview
,DIi1h 4 ,r.,r. .-,.. A.