The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-08-27

tered only in the presence Of disinter-
ested citizens Of good repute VITO are
not connected in any way, directly or
indirectly, with the institution. The
people of the nation would be horri-
fed if they knew of the fearful bru-
tality practiced in our prisons-the
merciless whippins, the electric shocks
and other forms of shocking cruelty
Every chief executive should inform
himself of these things, that he may
remedy the appalling conditions. AS
can testify from experience, it is no
easy matter to secure the information.
1t can not be done by personal visits,
because on such visits everything will
be il the best of shape, and if the
prisoners are asked how they are
treated they will be afraid not to say
they are well treated, because of the
knowledge that if they state the facts
they will be visited with even more
cruel punishment by their keepers.
But the proper kind of Investigation,
in the right kind Of way, will bring
forth the facts, and the remedy can
be applied by just and fearless man.
Thousands of prisoners every day
are being released after service of the
full sentences imposed upon them. In
what condition are these men to re-
enter society and to take up again the
burdens and possibilities and priv
ileges of citizenship? What more i'm
portapt duty rests upon a chief exec
utive than that Of seeing to it that con-
fnement has tended to reform the pris-
oner rather than to make more
hardened criminal of him?
There are some protesting Christians
God save the mark!-down in my
State Wtfo condemn me for these ideas,
and who sneeringly ask if prisons are
to be made so attractive that they will
lure men into them. We can only pity
such beings, and pray God that His
all-encircling charity may in some
manner include them.
1 believe that prisoners, In healthy
and wholesome surroundings, ought
to be put to work at useful trades, or
taught useful trades when they do not
know Diem. In my State most of the
convicts are now worked on the roads.
This work, properly required, is neal
thy for the able-bodied, and benefits
! the people at large, But we have the
women and the weak-bodied also to
look after, and other suitable work
may be found for them.
And there is another matter wtaich
should be considered. In the majority
of cases the family of the prisoner suf.
fers more than the prisoner himself
1t seems to me that much of t-is suf,
fering could be relieved BY paying tc
the dependent family of prisoner q
small compensation for the prisoners
labor. In many instances in my State
the husband and father. is imprisoned
for crime, and his wife and little ones
are left at nome without any means
of support, suffering hards3ips and
privations, thrown absolutely on the
mercy of the world for the bread they
must have. Had there been system
of compensation to the family in South
Carolina while I was governor, it
would tave relieved me Of what felt
to be the necessity for taking action
in number of cases, where the hus-
band and father was sent home to save
his family from dire distress. We are
told by some that man should con-
slider mis- wife and children before he
commits a crime. That is true, but if
he does not, the fact of suffering wo-
men and children stares US in the face
innocent women and children suffer
ing for food and clothing. Of course
there are cases in which even their
appeals must be disregarded, in order
that society may be protected, and
charity, which too often is found want
ing, must be relied upon to put bread
in the mouths of babes crying because
they are hungry.
Still another matter which I have
urged is that we ought to discard the
system Of numbering prisoners-des-
| ignating them only by number. II
would have a much better effect In re-
claiming prisoners if their identity was
maintained, even though they occupy
prison cell, keeping constantly be-
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