Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-31
1shingtOn Correspondence.

honest man pulling against hard fate ana
willing to do his part for the support OF the
Government by the payment OF taxes ana
asking for little help so that he might
meet his obligations and hold up his head
among his honest neighbors II he had been
as handy with his pen as the forger at Camp
Dressler he might have worked his way out
of his troubles by his wits. The difference,
however, Is that the convicts In Alabama are
not fed on poached eggs and beefsteak. There
Is fearful inequality in moral measure
ments, an awful waste of maudin sentiment
upon the criminal classes among the people
and pitiful lack of human sympathy often
times with those who keep the soul white In
famishing bodice.
THE honest farmers of the country will
i work themselves out of their present dis
tress and there is really no reason why
they should not have beefsteak and poached
eggs of their very own and for themselves
II they would plant as they would eat.
farmer Of Georgia, where, according to Sem
ator Hoke Smith, the present condition is
desperate, has learned the lesson OF self
support, which is worth all the crazy legis-
lation that could be drafted. He writes to
a seedhouse In Atlanta:
Il made some corn, about enough to do
me It'll May Saved some fodder and pea
vine hay Have three hogs to kill, few
chickens and some turnips and collards
growing in my garden, and small potato
patch. Have always planted about all
could tend in cotton til this year, when a
Government agent got me to plant some
corn and peas. My supply merchant says
he can't let me have no more credit or run
me next year, and 1t looks like have done
got as far as can CO."
THE beauty Of this farmers situation is
i that with his hogs and chickens and
corn and collards and peas and potatoes,
he will not have very much use for sup
ply merchant next year. He will be In
position rather OF selling bacon and eggs
for the upkeep of the poor convicts of Camp
Dressler and other like places where Justice
Is tampered with mince pie and sweet bis
cults. What these deserving men at these
camps do to make themselves useful while
they are living on the fat Of the land Is not
quite clear from the report of the visitor
who shared their happy living almost as II
he were one of them. They are not driven
to DEATH" because they do the driving, and
they keep regular hours as they are
uuired to stay within bounds after supper
and cannot go to the clubs and moving
picture shows and other places of moral
enlightenment Their time Is taken up,
partly at least, in building good roads, and
to this extent they may be regarded
useful members of society.
TNXACTLY upon what theory discrimina-
IL tions are made between the convicts in
the main prison has not been clearly stated,
but determinations are made Burglars and
pickpockets are never sent to Camp Dresser;
but among the choice company there is
boss forger, who might be called something
of a pickpocket, and man who committed
the rather light offense of killing his wife.
In the heart of the latter, possibly, there are
moments when his mind goes back to the
days when he was a hero Of the mushy sort
of human animals who kept his cell filled
with flowers out of sympathy for him In his
distress, but without thought Of the un-
marked grave out there in village or city
cemetery. RANDALL.