The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-10
Right Must Prevail

A determined effort is Delng MADE
to force the convicts of jefferson
county back to the mines.
This has been apparent for some
time. Large interests, private and
public, have seemingly been at work
to bring about that end. In fact be-
fore the convicts were put on the
roads an inspired" circular was dis
tributed over the county, particularly
in the rural sections, decrying the
new system. The circular was largely
made up of misstatements, financial
and otherwise, and was direct appeal
to prejudice and passion rather than
to the sound judgment of the people.
But the convicts were put on the
roads and from all accounts they are
well fed, we'll clothed and humanely
treated. 1t is also stated that they
are doing excellent work at compare
| lively small cost. Just as the sys-
tenn is getting we'll under way, the
governor issues an edict to have the
chains removed from the convicts, and
the board of inspectors of convicts
and the state prison inspector adopt
a stringent set of rules and regula-
tions that take much of the power of
handling the convicts out of the hands
of the board of revenue and add much
to the cost of maintenance. So far as
the shackles and humane treatment of
the convicts are concerned The Age
Herald has always advocated the
abolishment of the one and the adop-
tion of the other; but is it not passing
strange that neither the edict of the
governor nor the new rules and regu-
lations were promulgated until after
the jefferson county convicts had been
put on the roads?
1t is in keeping with the line of
progression to remove the chains, and
accord the convicts the most humane
treatment, but should the motive be-
hind it have for its purpose a desire
to drive the county back to the mine
system, which is Alabama's outstand-
ing disgrace. 1t is retrogression and it
is for the citizens of the county and
state to say that this shall not be done
There is absolutely no comparison be-
tween working convict in Gods SUM-
shine, or Gods snow for that matter,
and dark and dangerous mine.
The board of revenue kept faith
with the voters of jefferson county
when they removed the convicts out
of the mines. The voters of Jeffer-
son county should and will uphold the
board in keeping them out.
The lust for a dollar doubtless
prompted the issuance of the circular.
The loss of small revenue to the
state from the convicts of jefferson
county has brought about the un-
precedented and remarkable desire on
the part of the governor and the state
board to better the condition of the
county convicts.
The members of the board of reve-
nue. state they will obey the law. They
have asked an investigation by the
board of convict inspectors of the
county convict camp. They started
out with the intention and determine
tion to give the system of working
the convicts on the roads thorough
test, and, though the edict of the gov
evnor will call for additional guards
and the rules of the convict board an
additional expense, they are deter
mined to defeat the ends of selfish
interests and the convicts will be kept
on the roads.
| After all it is but question of dol
lars against right and humanity, and
right and humanity will prevail.
| @-------------------------
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