Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-31
UNJUST GUARDS
D|SCH Ar GE
IS ASKED
Men and Religion Forward Move
ment Points Out Disgraces
in Convict Camps.

ubtS IGailV and menidilA anu SioH
sulIen, you are accomplishing moth
ing in the world bu, the absolute
brdtalization II that man.
Such treatment will make no mar
repent OF what he has done MOI
u a.. improve his mind and engendei
in him spirit and desire 10 do bet
ter II viii not make him a better
cIlzen the day ne gets ont Of prison
than he vas the day he went in. or
the contrary. az citizen, he viii
emerge much poorer citizen thar
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 1t has done
is wrong and show 1t why and how
IL is wrong and point out the way
20 what Is right?
And when the child does not
profit BY what has been told II time
after time. DO we then abuse 1t? Or
do we have the child tested to ascer-
tain lust wherein its mentality is ef-
fcient and deficient and then In
struct IT. or care for IL accordingly?
Why Uot Life Them Up7
WHY isn't a grown man or woman
entitled to the same consideration
why don't we perfect 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 VIII 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 1t, we are not get
Ting better citizens by permitting our
law TO sanction such bsrbarous
practice as fiogging.
1--WE are not even getting model
prisoners. The prisoners under the
fiogging 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
to face the world.
Does the ignominy of stripes, the
impressing upon man OF the utter
disgrace and humility OF his position
In prison have a 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
Is Their attractions of the rules
should he punished by the withhold
ing OF their privileges, such as smok
ln~, visiting. leisure, reading and the
like They should be placed upon
their individual honor to some ex-
tent also.
Thereby things would be sc-
complished with the convict that
never has been and never will he ae-
complished with the tiogging strap
Il believe we are about to be rid
OF the flogging system in this State
1t is high time. too. | believe the
Grand Jury want and will have a
thorough investigation of what has
been going on. No one is more pleas
ed with this prospect than myself.
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 fol
a fight to eliminate legalized fioggins
from Georgia
Il hope the newspapers will take
Il up and fight II out. They can force
he changing OF the law. and | will
do all can to help. as will every
right thinking 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
sinners.
we take the liberty OF pointing
out certain evils existing In the con
Wet camps Of Fulton County. with the
confident belief that you viii apply
,he remedy
The night boxes for human refuse
stand In the aisies OF the clubhouse.
throughout the night and remain unit
The men are taken 20 work, Al time,
the odor from these boxes. especially
AT the morning meal II unbearable
Observance Of the Prison Commission
rules would remove this disgustin,
state OF affairs
The men battle IN hogsheads Gu
In TWO, on the average OF Ave men &
the rub, With no change OF water. ant
without towels. No care is taken L
have diseased conyicts battle in sep
arate vessels
Prisoners are allowed 10 write bu
one letter a month. no matter wha
their conduct may have been.
Their food though sufficient il
quantity. is poorly prepared and viii
little variety. This results in the me,
buying food privileges, which amount
to nothing more than petty eras, .,