Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-01-23
D0hAGHEY FREES
$50 C0hVlCTS AS
BLOW AT LEASING
AkanSaS Governor RebukeS
People for Failure to Wipe
Out the System

LITTLE ROCk- Ark. Dec. E.-Cov,
Dc naghey OF Arkansas has pardoned
SO prisoners sentenced to the State
II nitentiary and laas ed out to contrac-
tors and - county coaTiCts as a Low
II the convic1 lease system.
Three convict camps . in different
l'sIts OF the State. where the prison
efs are working for contractors, viii
be wiped out by the Governor action.
None of the prisoners was held Tor 4
felony. A majority OF the prisoners
l:Obably will be set free today. and
within the next two days all viii be
at liberty. This is said TO be record
exploitation Of the pardoning power.
In explaining his action GOV. Doh
aghey issued the following statement.
which will be presented to the State
Legislature:
Il have consistently fought the con-
Wet lease system since have been in
public Office" he says. IN every pub
&c speech | have denounced it.
las a member of the Penitentiary
BOARD I have opposed it in every in
stance where it was at issue. Time
after time | have pleaded with the
Legislature to abolish il, but despite
ny appeals for relief and the repeat
ed protests of the people of this State
and the representatives Of the Peni-
Tertiary and the messages transmit
ted by the Governor to the past two
General Assemblies, all in condemna-
ton of this cruel penitentiary and
county farm lease system, no adequate
relief has been given.
Subject Abused, He Declared.
THE subject has been grossly neg
lected by the General Assembly, part
L. due to confusion of ideas as to
what plan is best to adopt and partly
due to a disposition by some to let
the matter remain as it is, with the
statement that the penitentiary was
not designed for Sunday school.
In answer to such a statement LET
me say, nor was it designed for re-
Vengeful hell The abuse of power
shown by a few individuals acting as
justices of the peace in some towns in
Arkansas, as is made plain by the rec
or6s, is enough to stagger into amaze
meTt those who have given the matter
attention. =. II.
Since the adjournment of the last
Legislature without taking action on
the subject / have had in mind to find
some measure of remedy for the evil.
But because of conditions which would
disarrange matters so that
the subject would have been hidden in
a fog of confusion, l have been forced
to delay action until this time, when
all legitimate objections may be over
come and relief had"
Cites 10 Reasons for Action. - .-- i
Gov. Donaghey cities 10 instances
which led him to strike blow at the
convict lease system. The first is a
case in which two negroes were SEN
fenced to serve Sc and IS years, re-
for forging orders for Is
quarts of whisky. Another cites an
instance in which a young white boy
vas compelled to work in the hot sun
while he had a burning fever on him,
" it'll the result that he died.
In conclusion the Governor said: 4
my principal reason for discharging
the large number at this time Is to
b, eak I'D forever the convict lease sys-
tenn in Arksansas. | would be untrue
to my convictions and, as see ii, IN
true to the States best interests If !
did not do everything in my power to
bring about this result"