Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-03
The Legislature Should Reform
GeOrgia's Whole Penitentiary
SYSTEM

The Georgia Legislature when it in June should
under very serious advement only the question of abolish
ing the whipping post Georgia penenay system but the
further reformation of the system along other lines.
The Georgian thinks rather certainty that the whip
ping post will be definitely and specifically ouawed in this
State-both wisdom and Justice demand that.
This relic of the dscreded and discarded old lease system
must gothe people do not desire that the State conc shall
be handled like vicious animals!
1t will be argued by loose thinking people that the
whipping of certain classes Of convicshe hardened
so these people will call them necessary They will these
hardened ones not be controlled otherwise.
That is ancient falacy exploded often and utterly
that listened to with scant patience by enlightened prison
workers and observers of prison conditions nowadays
Instead of holding convict face to face with the WHIP
PING POST incentive to good conduct will be found
upon trial. to be much successful plan hold him face
to face with SUBSTANTIAL REWARD.
And to this end nothing far has found light
of experience other States work well the ndeterm
nate sentence
Georgia will say her convicts and ALL eff you
have and show yourselves worthy will your
surely and Enthusiastically rather than If you don't behave
and show yourselves worthy will beat you with strap
will be found that the promise Of reward effective
produces lasting results for good than does the threat
punishment.
Under the old order of things upon by
the authorities of the State of chattean actual
ASSET, from material standpoint
As matter of fact convict is emphatic LIABII
ITY, and he should be treated such.
Under the old lease system longer convict was kept
in prison and the frequently he returned
worth dollars and cents to the lessee and the
Under such mistaken system of handling convict,
evtaby the reformation and correction the hayward
lost sight of all but entirely and became question get
ting maximum amount of labor and profit during
his period of incarceration THE MORE REASONS AND
EXCUSES THAT COULD BE FOUND FOR Furnishing HIM
FOR MISCONDUCT THE MORE CERTAIN 1T BECAME
THAT EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY NEVER WOULD REACH
HIM AND THAT THE FULL TERM OF HIS SENTENCE
MUST BE SERVED!
Suppose Georgia permitted her judges convic
to indetermnate ermsto to convict for instance You
must not less than two than five years
medatey beginning THAT sentence there would be
opened to the convict involved THE DOOR OF HOPE
The promise of substantial reward for good conduct and
worthy example would be definite and precise and under
merit system of daily accounting convict would be
possible to appeal constantly and contnuousynot only
better nature but to his of material profit TO
HIM by of rightly conducting himself
The responsibility upon State preserve peace good
order its citizens far reaching and involves
than the PUNISHMENT of persons
crime.
When State takes criminal and makes of him.
through sensible and humane prison SYSTEM man incapable
of future crime then the State has rendered greater service
to the people than when merely Furnishes him for nac
ton Of the law and leaves him apt everor even as
apt as before-to commit crime again
And so, while the whipping post MUST GO in Georgia
recent horrible and dgacefu stories of abuse msapped
authority in that direction have made the going little more
speedy than otherwise might have been perhaps will not
do for the Legislature to stop there and with the
idea that the last shred and patch of the old system is no
Progressive legislation in the matter prison control and
operation must be enacted.
Hereafter the idea REFORM in Georgia convict camps
must take high precedence the idea of PUNISHMENT
The sincere making should be the primary
purpose of the convict system of Georgia
The basic idea very simple If your boy does something
wrong is not nearly much that you wish PUNISH him
for what he has done as that wish HE MAY NEVER
WRONG AGAIN