davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-27
Editorial and Literary Department.

things in dish and exhibit them on
the table for MS To eat and sometimes
Nc don't even know what we are cat
ing. while at other times we can't cat
them because We don't like the navor
of these poor manglcd and stcwcd up
things. especially burnt bread. Now
isn't this cook the mcancHt and UNI
mcrciful thing you ever heard of: -
I!ERrIIA s. LANGLEY
2:O7 Floyd Avenue
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-27
TIL; HARVEST.

In the. field where pumpkins lay,
Yellow. yellow as gold.
Tolls the farmer day by day
While the nights are growing cold.
Amidst tho cutting of the corn.
Amidst the moving of the hay:
The farmer is up at early morn,
Toiling all the day.
And nj last all is over.
The harvest is brought in;
And the sweet scented clover,
Is thrown into the bin.
IRENE ROBERTSON.
29l5 Westham Avenue. South Richmond
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-27
PRIZE WINNERS OF THE WEEK.

Margorie Williams. Of Avon, Nelson
County, Va
Paul stuart Cole. of 1915 Fourth
Avenue, Highland Park. City.
bertha s. Langley, OF 2907 Floyd
Avenue. city.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-27

Loves School.
Dear Editor.-I am sepdinE a story and
drawing. which hope will escape tho waste
basket. School Will soon start. glad.
for love to go 10 school l have had
very busy summer. am.
Your loving member.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-27

NAMES OF BOYs IN FIGURES.
I. i. is, |, IA. II.
.. IA. :. IL, 10. Is. "a.
3. 10, !. ). IL.
i. |. -, >. ,. Is, 20.
>. is, /, 81, 10.
FRANK CUMAIINS.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-27
Thank. for the Glover.

Dear Editor.--i am still trying for a prize.
lncioscd Is story and drawing. which
hope 10 in print Sunday. Here is n four
leaf covcr-Good luck to you. Well. | must
close. Your member.
BERTHA LANGLEY.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-27
SIGHTSEEING rn,r.

KATHLEEN HALL.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-27
Highland Springs. Va.
Welcome Back Again.

Dear EditoT.-i arrived home Thursday
night. and. believe me, l was glad TO get
back To old Richmond and read tho Chill
dFen's Page ! went to school Monday. and
! am In the sixth grammar grade. Had a
good time on my vacation. swimming and
floating at Bath Beach. y. y I am sending
Enclosed puzzle and Il drawing, hoping tc
win prize soon.
From your old member
SAMUEL. l.. CARTlIRiGHT
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-27

Gro ybe contlnued)
VIRGINIA MARSHALL COLI
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-27
Puzzle Department

JuMnLIan NAMES or STATES.
l. Vrlgniai.
=. Enw Orky.
3. Amyrnlnd
4. Ed,awrac.
.. Nwc .Ircsy.
&. Lfordia.
SAMUEL L. CARTWRIGHT.
JtiMBLED NAMES or POETS,
|. AhkscDrcaSc.
.. Nwflogloel
3. Nynbo.
4. Nyntsneo.
;. AveraShe.
g. Rdro.
Z Brfea.
S. Lcbkc.
VIRGINIA DILI.ARD.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-27
NathalIe Va

Dear Editor,-Thanks very much for the
prlzo you sent me. It's fine. The war fever
got mo. TOO. so find lnclosed some scribblinr
on that subject. which present Is proving
so terrible and so comprehensive. It's hard
luck that they have been so proven by
bloodshed and death. Wishing you and ali
tho best or Wishes. l am. as ever,
Your member.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-27
Correspondence Column

Dear Ed nS,s am sensing story and
for love to go to school. i have had a
'o'' '0N'@ %xD i1STSs' y. ROACH.
Thanks hank r. Cor tho Clover; ,,.,n ,o ..
,ncioscd is story and drawing. which
bore 10 see in print MS sunday HSre ., is four
'' '"' BERTiiA LANGLEY.
s. 6 q isr ssxe , mot w W Sosso the
would write again. i won prize May, IL
Les but s'G have s"sa aeeo iSsn it $"
Will YOU please scnd II at once. | have
wrse % hs sco s sIan"s !"
VIII you please publish {, for mo- If you
10 try and send%in something nearly evc ry
week WIN you please tell us in your letter
why was club given this name. have
heard lot NJ our members ask this same
viii you please tell us, We'll mus, close
hoping TO get my prize soon.
N' '' ' SoRIHE FINK.
.i6 Rome Street. Petersburg, Va.
In Praise Of Members.
Dear Editor,-I am sending a heading for
send the second pnrt OF my story until
Van, to thank You te r' your Compliment on
my poem. "Wanderlust" think i, was
one OF the incest ever received: also Alvin
Hattorfs The story and poem by those
members were splendid, but hope the latter
Will pardon me IL disagree with him in
SAYING his best was in 1t. For my part.
cannot remember the name just now. hut
Will look II up some time. Dorothy Smiths
The Kittens Diary was so Interesting
Cats and dogs are my weak point. ]
glad Georgette Van Horn likes my letters.
though l am sure they not much. The
heading by Louise Willis was fine. Mem
hers. what do YOU think OF the In
we felt when brave Poinsett and those other
boys gave their lives for us. and other ma
lions must feel the same their dead.
Editor. II am ever lucky enough to win
another prize would like nice book OF
poetry or book like paradise Lost or
Dantc's Inferno etc. You know what 1
mean-somethinK nice. But please don't
fore have been dandy. | wear my medal on
my collar and every one wants know
what II Is, You can bot am proud OF H.
VIII close. wishing editor the best
timc possible her vacation.
Your member.
HARRY T. CHADWICK
Praises Pngc.
Dear Editor-l think the page wa. nnc
SunoaE l am sending in story called
The Girl the Dog and the OLD Woman"
Your now member.
EARL. WRIGHT.
'oi North Thirty-fourth Street City.
Sorry You Wore Disappointed.
Dear Editor.-I very disappointed at
not seeing my rabbit In print. but am going
to try again. nv YOU cay get mos,
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-31

never has been and never will be ac7
complished with the f1ogging strap
IT believe we arc about to be rid
OF the fiogging system in this state
II is high time, too. believe the
Grand Jury want and will have a
thorough investigation of what has
been going on No one 10 more pleas
ed with this prospect than myself I
believe the practice will be stamped
out as the result OF disclosures made
and those that probably will be made
by the investigation. Certainly the
disclosures form an ideal basis for
a fight to eliminate leSalized Jogging
from Georgia.
Il hope the newspapers viii take
it IN and fight It out. They can force
the changing OF the law. and ! will
do all can TO help. as will every
right thinking citizen IN che state OF
Georgia"
UnbearabIs in Camps.
Here follows. in full. the report of
the Men and Religion Forward Move
ment TO the Fulton County Commits
sloners;
I'VE take the liberty Of pointing
out certain evils existing in the con-
vict 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
al the morning meal 1t 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 eve men tc
the tub. with no change of water, and
without towels, No care lie taken tc
have diseased convicts battle in sep
Rrate vessels.
Prisoners are allowed to write bur
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 amounts
10 nothing more than petty graft fol
tho recipients OF the money
I'm most Of FIlton's seven camp,
the sleeping quarters are so crampec
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-31

An echo of the recent agitation that
has resulted in reforms at the Atlanta
Federal Prison is heard in an edito-
rial, under the caption, "Pampering
Prisoners" that appears in the Feb
ruary issue of Good Words, the
monthly paper published by the pris-
oners
The article is plea for better con-
ditions in prisons and the adjustment
Of certain features, especially the con-
Wet lease system that prevails in
some States, as the browning curse
Of the prison system"
1t appeals also to the people who
oppose all efforts to better prison con-
ditions and send the convicts out into
the world equipped to take up their
battle again with hope of success, in
stead of sending them out hardened
and depraved. with no thought other
than revenge on society for the indig-
mites they have suffered.
What Taxpayer Thinks.
1t bitterly inveighs against the tax
payers who are antagonistic TO re-
forms because they cost money and
would be "pampering the prisoners.
Ideas antagonistic to prison re-
FORM" says the editorial, ARE, for the
most part. advanced by demagogic
politicians, narrow minded journalists
and ieynnranf NJ xTiPinte nffIniaiS RIIt
regardless of their origin, these ideas
find fertile field in the mind of the
average taxpayer, who asks himself
why should he be taxed to keep vio-
lators of the laws of the land in COM
fort?
They decide with but little thought
that they should not be taxed, and
when a new and advanced idea for
the real reform of prison affairs is
mentioned they oppose it.
Here and there, but of the great
general public comparatively few, you
will find a man who will ask: What
are prisons for? Are they. for re-
vense or reformation? Are they for
the purpose of aiding fallen man or
for the purpose of damning him for
ever? Do they make worthy members
Of society, or enemies of law and or
der?
Ask No Luxuries.
This thoughtful man will consider
the enormous expense the State goes
to in protecting itself from the Grim
inal, and he usually decides that the
present system of handling the pris-
oner, in the majority of prisons, Is
radically wrong. But how can it be
remedied?
He certainly decides in this connec-
ton that men convicted of crime
should not be pampered and live ir
luxury, and from the prisoners stand
point Good Words can say that pris-
oners are the last people in the world
who wish to be pampered."
In its appeal for q change in the
viewpoint from which prisons are re-
earded by the average man, the arti-
Gle says:
Evil deeds committed by a nor
NAL man carry with them their own
immutable punishment, and the very
acme of suffering is often reached be-
fore the term in prison commences
even if it is in the worst of prisons.
Let our jails, then. be hospitals
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-31
One Benefit of the
Tariff.

The new tariff has the good effect
OF reducing the cost of syrup-one
step at least in the lowering of the
high cost Of living. There are a. good
many ways of using syrup and there
is place for 1t on every table at any
meal. Breakfast will be tastier and
more inviting with plenty of hot bis
cults, griddle cakes or mullins with
syrup. Syrup can be used on good
many desserts at dinner, and for sup
per with waffies or hot bread. Syrup
is fine food. 1t is good for old or
young-especially children who con-
ttnually crave sweets
The one best syrup is velva, in the
cans with the red or green labels.
Green Label Eelva is pure country
made ribbon can syrup without any-
thing added or taken away. Red La
bel Velva is the pure juice of the
cane modified in flavor by corn syrup
both are delicious and full of fine
flavor. Velva is lower in cost now
than ever, while other foods are Ell
Their higher in price or unchanged
Advt-
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-31

that the hunks are side by side, and in
Is an open violation of the prison rules
of the State
Except at Bellwood, a negro camp,
the prisoners at night are chained to
their hunks. despite the fact that the
buildings are lighted and guards are
continually on duty. on Sundays and
holidays the convicts are confined in
quarters chained to their hunks. Only
at the white camp and BeliWood are
they allowed the liberty of the build
ing.
When a guard marks convict for
the lash, the whipping boss asks no
questions, no investigation is made as
TO its necessity. the convict is given
no hearing This is the practice, in
violation of the explicit rule of the
state Prison Commission that the lash
should be used only as a last resort.
THE lash is the only method of dis
cipline resorted to, although the law
provides other means OF discipline, to-
wit: grades, merit marks and good
time. Every prisoner, good and bad,
is given good time. thus destroying
its value as an incentive to good
conduct The reason for this is THAI
whipping Is the warden's simplest re-
course. Other methods require study
forethought and the keeping of accu-
rate records.
Go to Freedom in Rags.
Although the rules are plain
| enough, convicts are seldom furnish
ed with suits of clothes on the eXpi-
ration of their sentences, They usual
i ly return to freedom in rags.
so little consideration is given the
| convict that there can never be any
| thing but III will between him and
| his keepers. which means Increased
expenditure in guarding. the degrade
ton OF prisoners and guards, and q
continual menace to the public, be
cause the prison camps as now ad-
ministered can only he schools of
| corruption.
In view Of the foregoing and the
encoura cement We have always re
ceived FROM your body in cur efforts
10 set before YOU what We deemed
for the county's welfare we submit
| the following suggestions to remedy
these evils;
"First-All county employees in
charge OF convicts whose conduct in
office has been unrea soning and bru-
tai should be removed.
Women Guards for Women.
"Second-The deputy and guards at
the women's camp on the almshouse
property should oe replaced by wom-
en-. in line with the program your
board has adopted for white female
| prisoners
''Third-lnasmuch as there are 500
| colored prisoners in this county. a
number almost equal to the inmates
OF the Federal Prison. there should be
l an honor camp for colored prisoners.
( promotion TO which will be AN addi
Z tlonsl incentive 60 the rest 10 keen
! within the rules and give their win.
ing, unstinted service.
'Four.h-Chsins should be abolish
ed both at night and by day So. too
1.-THE lash. All this is entirely feasible
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-31

have violated me la IN this or any
other case
Gross Examined by Webb.
| Chairman Webb here cross exam
ined the judge.
1T has been said that if Crawley
and McClelland had not pleaded
guilty you would have been heavier
on them? ?" he asked.
81 would have been, sir; It in the
usual custom" replied Judge Speer.
II merely wanted to be kind to the
two young men, to be merciful, ana
1t is this humane spirit on my part
that has been construed. as an usurpa-
ton. There are hundreds of good cit
liens in Georgia who owe their liber-
ty to me and have become the very
propagandis of the law"
The Judge was next asked about
the Talley & Hayward partnership.
az gave these young men some bust
ness. because Mr.. Talley was one OF
the best masters in the State" he re-
piled.
"why was this partnership dis
solved?''
Because they said had placed so
many restrictions on them they could
not make a living"
Did you ever discuss the lSaacs &
Hayward partnership before the for
mation?'
mo: at, at least. don't now recall
it. and | certainly did not discuss it
improperly"
ibid YOU ever see the contract"
81 do not know that there was one.
You say you did not sign any mil
night order?'"
mo: that was the talk of Craw-
ford and his railroad wreckers who
came down here"
rs 1t true that you rode free-your
horses. etc.-on the Central?"
81 rode free when everyone else
rode free"
"It is true you rode free after the
road was in the hands OF the receiv-
ers?'
yes; everyone did"
You did not say during this Cen
trail litigation, or before, that 1t was a
chance for a young man to make a
name for himself by wrecking this
line+"
That was a calumny started by
one of my bitterest enemies"
In reply to a question about i'm
| pounding of tie books in the Garter
case, Judge Speer said that he had
heard of 1saacs activity and merely
got the books where he could not set
at them.
The Judge was here asked about the
presence of Lewis influencing him. He
said Lewis had no fears for him.
At 1920 o'clock Judge Speer left
the stand. Judge Galloway gained
permission to file a brief covering
every case at the end of three weeks
Chairman Webb said: This will
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-31

when qualified men are put in charge
OF convlcts and proper facilities are
provided for their keep
'Fifth--In handling convicts, great
er emphasis should be placed on their
physical, mental and moral improve
ment. To this end the county should
employ someone charged with this
particular work. We believe this of
fetal should be the county superin-
tendent; It ought to fall to his as
sstants to execute the orders of your
board with respect to public improve
mentS."
Waters Invites Probe.
Tull G. Waters chairman of the
County Commissioners, said Satur-
day in entering a vigorous defense Of
the administration of Fulton County's
convict camps that he would court
the most thorough investigation not
only Of the Jogging system but of
every detail of county affairs
Personally said Mr.. Waters, 81
am in favor of a Grand Jury inves-
tigation of the whole flogging system
II there is any serious sentiment that
the convicts are created cruelty or
inhumanely ] believe ii will salts
fy the public that there has been a
lot of smoke and very little fire.
"Of course, that record of i52 fog
gings In two months in Fulton Coun-
ty looks big when II is read without
an investigation into the other facts
But when one considers that Fulton
County gets about one seventh of the
felony convicts of the State and has
probably from one fifteenth to one
twelfth Of all the convict camp pris-
oners in Georgia, this record does not
seem so enormous
Whlppinss Not Startling.
We have probably from 500 to 700
men in the camps in Fulton County
II does not appear to me that 1872
whippings is such a startling number
in space of two months And |
have very serious doubts that a Grand
Jury investigation would turn UP any
thing of account. | am, however in
favor of IL, so that the present wave
or criticism will be stilled"
Chairman Waters was asked II the
County Commission proposed to take
any notice of the agitation against
flogging in the convict camps.
Not, in any event, until the State
Prison Commission has finished with
its investigation he replied.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-31
UNJUST GUARDS
DISCHARGE
IS ASKED
Men and Religion Forward Move
ment Points Out Disgraces
in Convict Camps,


nhysically and mentally and grows
suljen. YOU are accomplishing moth
ing in the world but the absolute
EQUALIZATION of that man.
such treatment will make no man
repent OF what he has done. Nor
viii :, improve his mind and engender
In him spirit and desire to do bet
,sr II will not make him better
ririzen the dav he gets out Of prison
than he was the day he went in. on
The. contrary. az a citizen. he VIII
emerge much poorer citizen than
when he went in
when a little child does. wrong In
this day and age, de we thrash II
within an inch OF its life? or do we
teach the child that what It has done
Is wrong: and show 1t why and how
~ is wrong; and point out the way
20 what is right?
And when the child does not
profit by what has been told 1t time
after time. 40 we then abuse it7 or
do we have the child tested TO ascer-
tain lust wherein lts mentality is ef-
f,cient and 6eficient and then in
struct it. or care for 1t accordingly?
Why Uot Lift Them up7
WHY isn't 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 win be fitted 20 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
crs. but betters citizens.
Depend upon it. we are not get
ting better citizens by permitting our
law to sanction such barbarous
practice AS fogging
1--WE are not even getting model
prisoners. Tho prisoners under the
Jogging. 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 1gnominy OF stripes. the
impressing upon a man Of the utter
disgrace and humility of his position
IN prison have tendency 10 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 there7
The Way TO Accomplish,
I am a firm believer in discipline
] believe men and women convicted
of crime should be disciplined strict
ly. Their attractions OF the rules
should be punished by the withhold
ing OF their privileges. such as smok-
ing, visiting, leisure, reading and the
like They should he placed upon
their individual honor to some ex-
tent also.
Thereby things would be ac-
complished with the convict that
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-31
REFORM To FIT CONV|CTS
FOR USEFUL LIVES URGED
BY PRISON PAPER EDITOR

for human weakness and depravity
and send forth their patients strength
ened instead of weakened for the
further battle that awaits them.
Problem Is Complicated.
THE whole problem of prison pun
ishment is a complicated one, but the
sentence which Dante inscribes over
the gates of Hell-"All hope aban-
don, We who enter here!"-should not
be written over the doors of our pris-
ons This inscription can be left off
with 'palnpering prisoners
1.-THE idea prevails in most prisons
that they are for the purpose of pun
ishment and getting even, instead OF
retaining those unfortunates who
have fallen by the way; and with this
idea in the minds of prison officials
prisoners are not made useful mem
bers of society but are made con-
firmed and hardened criminals.
THE writer has no thought Of
'pampering' when he suggests that
prisons should be regarded as a place
for Withholding a man temporarily
from the companionship of evildoers
and from his own worse self. Why
should not the object of prisons be tc
preserve and build up rather than tc
destroy the prisoners manhood anc
self-respect; to teach him that po-
tentialities for good, are dormant and
may be awakened in him, and to af-
ford him every available means fol
hat lie y,;, nd Jauo1nrAtnarto
Give Convicts Fitting Work.
Instead of despair and resentment
as cell companions he should be given
rational hope for the future and intel
ligent interest in practical means fol
fehabilitating himself.
Then his hours of solitude will not
be spent in cursing his fate and plot
ting his revenge on his enemies-rea
or imaginary-but he will take stock
of his own instruments for useful CO.
operation with the worlds work, ii
polishing those he finds that he pos
sesses, and in acquiring such as wOulc
complete his equipment
Here the prison authorities car
come to his aid by supplying him
with work commensurate with anG
!! suitable to his special powers ant
proclivities. and paying him for his
work such wages as will give hin
heart to do it as we'll as he can, and
will leave a visible residue after tfrt
cost of mis- own support has been de-
frayed.
Reforms lnaugurated.
THE library should be arranged sc
as to furnish special books and courses
of reading in various branches Of
science and industry. He should have
substantial and palatable food, ant
the sanitary conditions should be Of
the best
Good Words also announces tha-
Warden Meyer has put into effect
several progressive ideas recently
among them being the granting to the
prisoners the privilege of spending
their Sunday afternoons in the yard
The day will be a prisoners day.
and a committee from cmong then
will have it in charge.
The granting of this privilege
which the prisoners have sought TO,
years, followed the circulating of g
petition, which was signed with but
eight exceptions, by all the men in
the prison.