The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-11
MOVER DEFENDS HIS ACTS.
Writes 20 Representative Howard
About Suspension of Guards.

WASHINGTON, Jan lot became known
here to-day that Representative Howard
OF Georgia has not given up his intention
OF submitting to Congress resolution
calling for a special investigation OF the
administration OF the Atlanta Federal
penitentiary.
Senator La Toilette OF Wisconsin to-day
informed Mr. Howard that ne would
support any resolution that might he
offered authorizing any inquiry into condi-
tons in the Atlanta prison.
More than fifty members OF Congress
have offered their support to such a reso-
lution.' said Representative Howard
tonight. Il shall not relax in my fight
for better conditions in the Atlanta prison.
The Department OF Justice has a man on
the ground, but who II Is ] don't know.
II he does not get all the evidence and
make an honest report OF conditions will
take the matter further" =
One man told Mr.. Howard to-day that
in a letter "A friend in Atlanta had written
him to the effect that great quantities of
fresh beef. vegetables. eggs, good milk
and other foods were now daily being
bought for the prison commissary. Mr.
Towards informant said that this was
the first time since the last Investigation
OF the prison that sufficient good food had
been taken into the prison to feed the con-
victs properly.
They are having Christmas dinner
every day was his crisp description Of
affairs at the penitentiary since the in
vestigation has been advocated
Representative Howard to-day received
a copy OF a letter written by Warden
Meyer to a member OF Congress In which
he stated that the discharge OF seven
convict guards was not due 10 the food
mutiny last October but resulted from
an investigation brought about by Guard
Evans.
Warden Meyer explained to the dis
charged guards that he had proof that
they had encouraged the mutiny. The
Meyer letter follows:
THE most recent investigation OF my
administration was conducted by rep
resentative of the Department of JUS
tice. This investigation was based upon
a lot Of charges rejecting upon my hon
esty as well as my ability as warden. and
the charges were undoubtedly the result
Of a conspiracy or understanding on the
part of several guards and one employee.
Of which Mr.. William y. Mcclure was
one.
"One of the charges made against me
at that time was that i am discrimi-
mating against the officers and employees
appointed from the South. This was go
Overwhelmingly disproved by the records
of the Department Of Justice. as well
as my own records, that ! hoped this
matter had been permanently settled. In
his letter to you. however, MT. Mcclure
again attempts to imply unfairness and
prejudice on my part by saying that six
OF the seven suspended indefinitely are
Georg1ans.
I'm order to convince you that location
has absolutely nothing to do with their
suspension / advise you that before their
suspension was determined upon ] called
into council with me five of the highest
and best officers of the penitentiary. three
OF whom are Georgians and one other has
been residing In Georgia for more than
ten years. and II was the unanimous vote
OF the council that the good Of the ser
vice and safety of the institution required
that all OF the guards be Immediately sep
arated from the service.
Immediately after that Investigation
was concluded ] requested the separation
from the service those who were found
to be inimical to the prison and disloyal
to the warden. but no action was taken
at that time These guards and the time
keeper evidently made the mistake OF be-
lieving that tho matter would go nc
further and took advantage OF that belief
to become perniciously active In attempt
ing 10 destroy the discipline OF the insti-
tuition.
"In order to preserve the rights of
these guards and the timekeeper, which
would probably have been forfeited had
they been dismissed. l indefinitely sus-
pended them from the service. II upon
investi gation that may be ordered II
should appear that their suspension was
not fully justified I shall be perfectly
, willing to have them reinstated.'