Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-15
LEGISLATORS TO FIGHT
MOVE TO FLOG WOMEN


I'm the man that uses the leather"
he said. referring to the whip. i
have been here for about nine years,
and for the last three years have
been in charge of the convicts as
wardeu have handled them un-
der the rule which permitted Of them
being logged and under the new rule
which forbids il. and can tell you
there is no comparison in the be
havior of the convicts then and now.
The women dread the dungeon
until they have been down for their
first trip. but after that they do not
seem to mind it in the least"
Wehn asked how long fiogging had
been abolished at the camp, he said
that the practice was discon-
tinued last August Asked about the
cause. he replied Some fellow down
near Columbus got little too strong
with the leather and skinned some Of
the women up bit"
Thinks Whipping More Human.
He said further that in his Opin-
ion the whipping was more humane.
They were never whipped on the bare
flesh. he said and that while the
punishment was varied. according to
the offense committed. the fioggings
were seldom very severe.
The fact OF being whipped seems
to have a humilisting effect on the
women and they dread it, I believe,
as much on this account az any 9TH
er." he said
Guard j. G. Meadows. who has
been at the camp for three years,
said. Il don't see how we are go
ing to get along much longer unless
something is done. Things are get
ting SO that every lime we have TO
speak a word to the women, they
curse and abuse us until II is getting
unbearabl They know that we can
not do anything to them and they
are always ready to take advantage
OF the fact Whipping is, in my judg-
ment. the only way to restore order
Guard NJ j. Cook. who has been
at the camp for two years and has
served under the rules allowing
whipping, declares that there is no
in the general behavior
OF the camp then and now.
we can't get along without whip
ping them he said. They are much
more easily managed when they know
that unless they obey they will be
given a whipping.
We could begin to notice the diff
ference in their behavior and their
to work and obey the
rules very shortly after the whip
was abolished. Unless something is
done pretty soon to relieve the sit
uation all of the guards are going
ia quit We simply won't stand be-
ing in a position where these women
can 'bawl MS out and curse us at
will without having some means OF
furnishing them and restoring or
der"
Thinks Trouble Exaggerated.
Il never have been an advocate of
said Chairman Smith, Of
the County Commission. Il regard
our method Of treatmen. as much
more humane. wouldn't give my ap-
prevail to a return to whipping until
! had nade a most thorough inves-
tigation
q can't believe that the trouble out
there is as serious as represented. II
it is, the County Commission Ger
tainIy should have been notified.
There may have been a little trouble
in the last few weeks. but at the las
time ! made an inspection l was told
that the officials thought they could
enforce discipline very effectively
the use of the lash.
$50 far as the contention is con-
cerned that the dungeon is loss hu-
name. it must be taken into consid-
Grafton that at any time a woman sig
nihes her Willingness to obey the or
ders of the warden she is removed
from the dungeon. Thus the length
of the punishment depends entirely
on her. II she stays in it is purely
voluntary with her"
Power of Flose.ns Abused.
County Physician Mcdonald admit
ted that some OF the wardens about
the State had abIsed the power of
hogging the WON in their charge:
that they had dashed the women On
the bare flesh instead Of over the COZ
ering Of one gIrment as prescribed
in the rules. and that the system had
been prOducuv. Of cruelties in a TOW
instances. but he declared himself ae
favoring whipping rather than he
present dungeon methods.
Whipping he said. was more hu-
name than throwing a woman in he
dungeon for twelve. twenty-four or
Jhirty-siN hours.
The Legislature has got to cut out
politics and maud'in sentiment and
deal with this question sanely." was
the manner in which Secretary Yam
cey addressed himself to the subject.
He said hat the dungeon was prac-
tically without disciplinary effec on
the women prisoners after they had
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