The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-08-22
HENDERSON STILL
: IS PLACING MONEY
ABOVE HUMANITY
Another Mares Nest Found
by the Dollar-Grasping
Lessees of C0nyicts
SEE ONLY RUIN FOR
STATE BY ABOLITION
Have Even Fathomed Deep Laid Plan
of ProhibitionistS to Force the
Governor to Call an
Extra Session
Nv HIGH w. ROBERTS

Montgomery, August 21.-tSpecialD
suppose the legislature should pass
the Carmichael bill providing for the
abolition of the convict lease system
without companion bill providing for
nm approprintion by means of which
TO maintain the convictsf
"But I can't believe 1t possible" re-
piled Governor Henderson, 'fhat body
of men sincerely bent on insfituting
the proposed innovation. body of men
with the welfare of the state Mt heart
would take the one important step
without the other"
And vet the governor admitted that he
lad received no information leading him
to believe that the abolitonists have IN
mind an appropriation. Others nave
heard the report that no Appropriation
bill will be introduced.
In that event. what would the govern
ment do with 900 convicts returned to the
state by the Pratt Consolidated and the
Sloss- Sheffield companies at the eXpira-
lions of contracts a trifle more than a
year from the present date?
II can't answer that question, the
chief executive replied
Thinks Majority Sincere
While the governor is opposed to the
plan of the abolitionists, he does not
seriously regard the various rumors OF
a semi-sensational nature with which
the political atmosphere is charged.
1t is his opinion that the legislature is
sincere in it's proposed course of pro-
cedure, and as a result, will take steps
to make effective-to make possible-the
dream in which it INDUCES. He declares
that he does not think that the legisla-
ture is laying a trap from which MS
sole course in extrcating himself would
be the calling of an extra session, And
he declines to agree with the rather
generally admitted possibility, that the
abolitionists are more concerned with the
political than the humanitarian signifi-
canoe of their plan.
And yet it is true that no word re-
garding an appropriation bill for the
maintenance of convicts with which the
state will be surfeited by or before jan
uary l. 1915 has been spoken. And there
is no question but that without an APP
preparation, the plan of the abolitionists
will prove farcical.
So serious has become the situation,
indeed, that the friends of the anti
lease movement throughout the state,
are mystified. In the first place, the
Carmichael compromise for the Davis
bill is not thoroughly understood. There
are those who admit that its provision
for gradual abolition is wise. And
there are those who smile and wonder
why the direct result of the bill will be
the creation of political issues, necessi-
tating a renewal four years hence of the
agitation with which at present the state
Is concerned.
Pictures the Situation
SHOULD no appropriation bill be en-
acted" continued the governor, and
should certain corporations now leasing
convicts refuse to renew their contracts
when they expire in year or more, the
situation would be one of such serious
import that we can scarcely in the pres
ent moment, give it the attention it de-
serves
"At present our prisons are crowded