Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-31
UNJUST GUARDS
DISCHARGE
IS ASKED
Men and Religion Forward Move
ment Points Out 0isgraces
in Convict Camps,
Continued from Page /.

repent of what he has done. Nor
will il improve his mind and engender
In him spirit and desire to do bet
ter. 1t viii not make him a better
ci:izen the day ne gets out Of prison
than lie was the day he went in. on
the contrary as citizen. ne VIII
emerge much poorer citizen than
when he went in.
When a little child does wrong in
this day and age de we thrash 1t
within an inch Of It's life? or do we
teach the child that what it has done
is wrong. and show it why and how
II is wrong: and point out the way
% what is right?
And when the child does not
proft by what has been told it time
after time, 10 we then abuse 1t? or
do We have the child tested to ascer-
tain Just wherein its mentality is eff
ficient and deficient and then in
struct it. or care for 1t accordingly?
Why Not Lift Them PIP?
Why isn't a grown man or woman
entitled to the same consideration?
WHY don't We perfect a system in
This state whereby men and women
who have committed crimes may be
tested out and taught and encouraged
and educated and built mentally,
morally and physically so that when
they are turned out upon the world
they will be fitted to take up some
useful work In the world. instead OF
being dragged further down the
scale?
What we want IN Georgia, and
everywhere else. is not model prison
ers, but betters citizens
Depend upon it, we are not get
ting better citizens by permitting our
law to sanction such barbarous
practice as logging.
We are not even getting model
prisoners. The prisoners under the
nogging system have everything to
drag them down and nothing to hold
them up, not only while they are in
prison, but after they go out again
10 face the world
Does the ignominy of stripes. the
impressing upon man Of the utter
disgrace and humility Of his position
in prison have tendency to make
him act or feel any the better as a
man than he was before he entered
prison and after he committed the
crime that sent him there?
The Way to Accomplish.
Il am firm believer in discipline
believe men and women convicted
Of crime should be disciplined strict
" Their attractions of the rules
should be punished by the withhold
ing of their privileges, such as smok-
inc, visiting, leisure reading and the
Ike. They should hep laced upon
their individual honor to some ex-
tent also
Thereby things would be ac-
complished with the fiogging strap.
Il believe we are about to be rid
Of the logging system in this State
II is high time, too. l believe the
grand jury wants and viii have
thorough investigation OF what has
been going on. No one Is more pleas
ed with this prospect than myself,
believe the practise will be stamped
out as the result of disclosures made
and those that probably viii be made
by the investigation. Certainly the
disclosures form an ideal basis for
night to eliminate legalized flgging
from Georgia.
Il hope the newspapers will take
It up and hght It out They can force
the changing OF the law, and | will
do all | can to nelp. as will every
right-thnking citizen IN the state OF
Georgia"
Unbearable in Camps.
Here follows. in full, the report OF
the Men and Religion Forward Move
ment to the Fulton County Commits
sioners.
we take the liberty OF pointing
out certain evils existing IN the con
Wet camps OF Fulton County, with the
confident belief that you will apply
the remedy
The night boxes for human refuse
stand in the aisles Of the bunkhouses
throughout the night and remain until
The men are taken to work. At times
the odor from these boxes, especially
at the morning meal it unbearable.
Observance Of the Prison Commission
rules would remove this disgusting
state Of AFFAIRS
The men battle in hogsheads cut
In TWO on the average Of i've men to
The tub, with no change OF water. and
without towels. No care is taken 10
have diseased convicts battle in sep
srate vessels
Prisoners are allowed TO write bu,
one letter a month. no matter what
their conduct may have been.
Their food though sufficient II
quantity, Is poorly prepared and with
little variety, This results in the mer
buying food privileges which amount,
10 nothing more than petty graft FOL
the recipients OF the money
Sleeping Quarters cramped.