The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-05
MONEY ARGUMENT USED BY GOVERNOR
 WHO WOULD KEEP
 CONNECTS IN MINES
Continued from Page one,

It's convicts and for these two reasons there should be a change in the sys- tenn. believe that it should not be the sole purpose of the state to em- ploy its convicts for profit but the practical side of administering the con- vict system must not be lost sight of. The safety and physical comforts of the prisoners must be provided the sanitary laws must be observed and the future of the convict after he leaves his prison should give the state con cern. The criminal has been consigned to the care of the state to serve in pun ishment for the violation of its laws. Labor should be demanded of him in such a manner as will inculcate steady and industrious habits, while servitude Is brought home to the lawbreaker as a due reward for his own action. These ideas should be accomplished within the best ability of each administration without producing a drain upon the general finances of the state which are drawn from the people for the pro- lection and maintenance of its instl- tutions.
 Net Revenue Argument
 "I do not believe 1t wrong to use the convicts in such way that it will return profit to the state, if due regard is given to the welfare of the con victs; neither do I believe that the CnOuknlluI clllZenS or AldDdIQd through emotion will take the position that the state should not receive any net rev emu from the use of its convicts if the treatment accorded to such convicts is not more severe In the way of task and labor than is performed by the most industrious free laborer
 "To make any radical change in our manner of handling convicts will entail upon the state a great expense and with deficit of two and one-half million dollars we are not In posi- tion to consider additional obligS tions cf the magnitude that would necessar- fly be incurred by proposed changes.
 "In addition to this there has been no clearly thought out plan and wo cannot afford to make experiments. The business of this state Is depressed, none of the industries are paying re- turns upon the investment. The agri- cultural interests by force of ne- cessity are endeavorIng to bring about diversification of their products and for several years at least during this transition period the returns from their efforts will not be large.
 These matters are stated for the purpose of bringing to your attention the fact that we cannot expect larger revenue from taxation because there will be no tendency toward an increase in values and we should be slow to bring about change In any depart ment whereby the demands upon the treasury will be increased.
 '"The fact must not be forgotten that convicts will not be contented and hap py at any class of work and their com plaints must of necessity to some ex- tent be discounted. large majority of the convicts are negroes, many of them desperate characters. They are. however entitled to as good treatment as their nature and conduct will per nit and 1t is my purpose to see that this character of treatment Is received by them wherever they may be em- ployed. Those in charge of the con victs must refrain from any cruel treatment, either by word or action, but such corrective methods will be observed and insisted upon as neces sary to command obedience on the part of the convict to those in charge of him"