Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-22
HAPPY
OVER REFORMS,
SAYS WELTNER
Declares Changes Since Grand
Jury Inquiry Have Made
Prisoners New Men.

A new era has owned for convicts
Of Fulton County, declares Philip
Wcltncr, former secretary of the
Prison Reform Association and pres
ent Chief County Probation Officer.
Talking to a Sunday American re-
porter Saturday, Mr. Weltner had an
eloquent word for the changes in the
county convict system, brought about
by the recent Grand Jury investiga-
ton and the appointment of c. II,
Girardeau as Warden.
u consider the outcome Of the
Grand Jury investigation, with all
that has followed 1t, q great vindi
cation of human rights" he said,
even though the human involved be
clothed in stripes"
And then he recounted a few of the
changes effected in the management
OF convicts, particularly at the Ad-
amsville white camp, and promised
the early adoption Of the honor sys-
TEN among prisoners, together with
other reforms.
THE convicts in the white camps
are happy" he declared.
"As happy as7 they could be under
the circumstances, perhaps" suggest
ed the interviewer.
'No; they are actually happy over
the changes" he declared.
Before February / the men in the
Adamsville camp were chained at
night, each one fastened to a long
gang chain that ran from end to end
OF the sleeping quarters. At dinner
time they were assembled and chained
to the gang chain again--ganged to-
gether like monkeys or lower ami
mails.
The gang chain at night has been
done away with. During the noon
meal, as things are now. the men sit
down wherever they happen to be, and
eat in contentment, without being
forced to listen to the clank Of chains.
Only one man in the camp is shackled.
Prisoers Trust Warden.
Before the new management took
hold, TRUSTEES were few, but a new
tone pervades the place now. The
men are happy, they trust heir War
den and are trusted in turn.
81 saw two convicts more than 200
feet away from the camp on a recent
visit, without anyone keeping them
under surveillance while they were at
their tasks. Only one man has ss
capped since February I, and an In
Vestigation showed that he made a
getaway with the knowledge of a
guard, who has been discharged.
What has been done there will be
done everywhere The character of
the new Warden, Judge Girardeau,
guarantees that much. These changes
will be brought about as fast as feast
BILE.
Last Sunday 7 had the pleasure of
visiting most of the camps with War
den Girardeau and his son, assisting
them in conducting religious services.
Among other things that made me
happy was his expression that he was
their legal parent, and would do for
them what would be to their highest
interests.
more Reforms Coming"
This is a spirit that has made great
wardens in the past, a spirit that has
made lyman of Colorado a great fig
ure in penal affairs. What Warden
Girardeau proposes to do has been
done under Governor West OF Cob
RADIO, and by the warden In charge of
New York's model penitentlary at
Great Meadow.
THE coming months will witness
the elimination of the strap, for the
application of milder yet more effec-
tual means OF punishment such as
graduation of ConVcts a fairer appii-
cation of the parole law, administra-
ton Of debts and credits provided
for in the good time law. the proposed
honor camp the payment of a small
wage Under the old system, it paid
a convict to do as little as he could.
Under the new system. it will pay him
to do as much as he can. Just there
is a difference
II consider the outcome Of the
Grand Jury investigation. with all
that has followed, a great vindication
of human rights, even If the human
i mi