The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-05
PUT THEM ON THE
PUBLIC ROADS

In view of the state wide discus
sions upon the problem of working
the convicts it seems remarkable
that there has been so little said
about working them on the public
highways. There is decided object
ion in the minds of many people
against leasing them to the turpen-
tine men, The onl ypoint in favor
of this system is the revenue which
the state derives from 1t. 1t seems
to sentimental minds that there is
relic of barbarism in the custom.
1t certainly is shirking of respon-
sibility on the part of the state, in
stead of assuming that criminal is
an unfortunate who should be en-
couraged and helped to reformation
and a better life. Few will attempt
to argue that term of one, three
or five years in a turpentine camp
elevates the moral standard of the
convict, makes a better man of him,
or qualities him for more useful
citizenship. And yet all will adj
nit that moral improvement and
greater economical capability ought
to be the first consideration in our
dealings with the criminal classes.
Is it fair that the state shirks this
responsibility, as is the case when
the criminal is leased to the high
est bidder?
Just now a wave unusual inter-
est in the matter of public road i'm
provement is sweeping the country
from end to end Men of all classes
and conditions are waking up to
the financial and ethical advantage
of improved and beautified roads all
over the United States. Outside of
the stupendous problems growing
out of the present war the problem
of improved public roads is COM
handing the attention of greater
number of Americans than any 9TH
er. And the tide has just begun to
set this way. 1t will grow by what
it feeds upon. The children are now
born who will see this country a
complete network of paved road
ways second to nine now in exist
ence on the globe.
Just here is daylight ahead for
men now in prison stripes and in
turpentine camps. Expert road
builders will be in great demand.
The occupation will be both honor
able and lucrative. The man who
today is wasting his latent capa-
bility and his time in turpentine
camp may become an expert while
doing camp penance for wrong
act, and thus for the remainder of
his life be useful and an honored
citizen. Would such an achieve
ment be possible for him under the
system which prevails in Florida to-
day? Gould the skill acquired in a
turpentine camp ever lift him
above the level of the common la
borer? Is there anything in the
life of the leased convictin a tur-
pentine camp to awaken desire for
good citizenship? II not, are we not
guilty of gross injustice to the
men who are thus situated in our
good state?
OF course, no one would argue that
every turpentine camp convict, I'M
der the most favorable conditions,
would become proficient road
builder; but it is a safe proposition
that as road builders, under capa-
Bile direction, every one of them
would be worth as much to the state
as the state is now receiving under
the existing system, while the
chances for moral improvement in
the men themselves would be ma.
terially increased, and the improved
roads would add greatly to the many
existing attractions-Or Orlando Sem
tinel.