The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-14
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III. seen the prisoners fed have watched them at labor have observed them on Sunday, have examined the members or the state boards, the wardens convict guards the chaplains, have talked With the convicts while under sentence, have had before us those who had served and completed their sentences. Every phase of convict life in Alabama has been con sidered Endeavor has been made tol leave nothing relating to it untouched unnoticed.
 The laws of other states have been looked into and in some instances we have personally observed their operation This subject was approached with an open mind. After consideration we nave been forced to the conclusion that the convict lease system of Alabama IS relic of barbarian, a species of human slavery, a crime against humanity. We do not advocate the pampering of prs oners and are not seeking to prepare for them bed of roses. They should be punished severely; they should De made to work: their fate should De an example to others We have no legal or moral right after they sentenced to add thereto ''cruel and unusual pun ishment" A sentence to hard labor should not impliedly include deprivatlon or nourishment, an absence of God sun light the breaking of bones, the maim- ing of limbs the dsfigurement of per sons. the loss of life itself. Lessees should not have the authority after jury and judge have acted to add punishment which no court could in the first instance have imposed
 Two boys were arrested for stealing a ride on train, tried, convicted ana sentenced for short time. The second day in the mine an explosion snuf1ed out their lives. investigation ascertalned that they were Kentucky youths of good repute and family, on foolish escapade'
 fan put untrained inexperienced. short-term convicts at extra hazardous work where life may pay the forfeit is almost judi cal murder Farmers sons tlllers oi the soil bred in the bone to the open life; mountaineers, lovers of nature used to Gods country, we found them in the bowels of the earth, going in hours be- fore the sun rose and coming out hours after it set. The imposition or tasks from 10 to IA tons of coal a day required, and from one to four tons added to guard against rock in the coal. the enforcement of these tasks by brutal treatment, so brutal that in some instances brought to the committees attention, the skin was literally beaten from the back, caus- ing scars that will be carrl9d 10 the grave, i'll prepared and insufficient food, their burial in roughly constructed boxes made from lumber taken from old houses at a cost not exceeding $2.50 a funeral, are all Illustrations of mans inhuman- ity to man.
 It may be said that we mention eX- ceptional cases We found them Of gen era1 occurrence. We know these condl- lions exist because we saw them and have had evidence of them. Instances could be multiplied except for lack or space in this report
 Under normal conditions the convict would not perform average work, yet we find under this driving slavery sys- ten where the free miner mines two tons the convict produces four. The con vict should not be allowed to choose his work, but without experience, knowl- edge aptitude or training he should not be forced to take his life in his hands by engaging in labor dangerous to even those who are trained and experienced in such work on account of falling rock explosives unsupported roofs, gas ana dust explosions.
 Our courts have decided that one can contract against his own negligence and where the convict is working under control of the lessee the latter Is liable for injuries received through his negh- gence or wanton or wilful acts We ma that under the late leases of the state. they are so worded that the convict Is under the control of the state and when < maimed or injured has no remedy, how ' ever great may be the negligence, or however wilful or wanton may be the act causing his injury. The state has, there fore, become not only q partner, but dlso protector of these iniquities.
 TYhe condition of the eonvicts in the turpentine and lumber camps of the state is as bad, if not worse, than in the nlines. They are made frequently to rise at in the morning day in and day out, walk five or six miles to work, toll all day long, with insufficient water and food, 1ii the heat of the sum- until darkness comes, and then forced to walk into camp for their supper.
 The system is wrong. It is indefensi- ble. The more studies it the greater his horror, but as dark as this phase Of the picture is, it does not compare With the more dangerous feature of setting a prisoner to a task of this kind beca use of one mistake. and have him come out in after years with bitter enmity and ha- tired toward mankind. This is the class of man most dangerous to society. He cares for nothing now. He has under gone the most excruciating pain the hard est toll, the deepest humiliation. He has been driven like the beasts of the field by heartless task masters Instead Of society in the form of laws having pro tected herself from one considered an of fender she has multiplied and turned loose upon her own head. tke dangers she U is seeking to avoid.
 The Commercial Side
 It has been too much the policy of this state to look upon the commercial side of convict life. Each successive admin | istraton has done all in it's power to in crease the earnings of the convict de- partment. The humanitarian side of the question has been entirely lost sight of. We believe, however, that the convict p system now in vogue in Alabama has not been a success for the state, even from a commercial standpoint. The last annual report of the board showed earnings of something over s300,000, but there are many items of expense which properly should be charged against the system which do not appear. The average life of a convict sentenced to work in the mines is seven years. The effect of the system is to make, by the process of death, long, term convicts into short-term ones.
 It is unfair competition to the employ CTS of free labor, and to free labor It has been brought to our attention that the state of Alabama under recent leases re- ceives 65 cents ton for coal delivered on the cars exclusive of all washer charges and of all rock. In other words, 65 cents a ton for lock and key job. !" It costs the employer of free labor, min ing coal under the same conditions, from