The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
Darkest Russia Is Sunlight Compared With Alabama Convict's Life" Says
 MT. Fies
TELLS EXPERIENCE AS SUPERINTENDENT
 OF BANNER MINES
Problem Has But One Real Phase and That Is Humanitarian Phase" Cruelty of the Pit
 Bosses
By MRS. SIDNEY NJ. ULLskAN SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT

SOSAAh NACh DEA n At
 Much is being said in connection with the convict in the mines of Alabama. but no stronger plea for their release could be made than this article from the pen of a man who has worked in the behalf of the prisoner for years. MT. sMilton H. Fies tells of his bitter experience as super intendent for the state at Banner mines in the following statement:
 There is no question ofSgreater import to the people of Alabama than that which concerns the attitude of the state toward it's convicts. This question is intensely vital for the reason that it's effect is dual, reaching both the convicts and thousands of the wage-earners of the state. It seems to me that for years our state officials in their attitude toward the convict ques- ton. have forgotten that a governments s prime duty is one of service; they have been neglectful of the fact that the very object and main purpose of our govern ment is to obtain the greatest good to the greatest number; they have lost sight of the fact that 1t never was intended that our government assume the role of an avenger toward those unfortunates, who are classed as convicts, and that it is foreign to the ideals/of democracy to use the con victs for its aggrandizement at the sacri- flee of the convict and the wage-eaner.
 Possibly my very short and bitter ex- perience as superintendent for the state at Banner mines for six months may be of some service in aiding, in small way, toward the solution of this problem I hox ,,,l,- the reason that have been trying to for get them.
 Nothing But Humanitarian Phase
 "There Is but one real phase to this subject, and that phase is the humani- tarian phase. The whole question is: Is it right for our state to place convicts in mines under dangerous conditions, against their will, without proper attention and without even human sympathy? Can the treatment such as is accorded these un- fortunate creatures ever be conducive to their good or act an agency toward the diminution of crime? Isn't 1t true that the life of a convict, under such condi- tions hardens him toward all society and more especially toward the state-toward which all men should look. with sense of security and reverence?
 Just few words as to the treatment of convicts at Banner:
 First, their duty or task is excessive and unreasonable. A frst-class convict loads 10 tons of coal. cleans it as best he can. squares up the face of his working place, takes Up all bottom coal left by the machine. sets all timbers and drills all holes. In addition to this he must handle and properly place the rock in the seam, which is known as the middle man. and which varies from 10 to "A inches in thick ness. At Banner the state furnishes coal f. O. b. railroad cars This sort of con- tract, under normal conditions would en- tail washer loss conservatively esti- mated at 15 per cent. But this loss the convict stands. In other words, the mine scales are so adjusted by increasing the tare weight of the mine car to compensate for this loss. Or to put it more plainly instead of actually loading 10 tons the convict loads 111s tons to take care of the washer loss. besides doing the other enumerated before.
 "In addition to compensatihg for washer loss there is a rigorous slate docket sys- tenn, and if convict loads more than the permitted quantity of slate he is whipped for it.
 When I was at Banner the convicts went 10 WOrk rom 10 a. m. and over half of them stayed in the mines until after p. m.
 Work of Pit Bosses
 "In the mines there was a pit boss in charge of each entrya Each pit boss had charge of the convicts on his entry From my observation 1t seemed that the state officials made a careful study of the low est character In the state and picked out the worst of these characters for pit bosses. These pit bosses wrote up the convicts for whipping by the. warden. If, In their opinion. the warden was slack in his duty. they never railed to add to the warden's punishment. From what could judge the pit bosses never took the trouble to search for an excuse to beat a convict. I remember on one .c- casion. about the time I was ready to leave Banner. that pit boss knocked ne- gro down with wrench and shot at him. This occurred in the mines. I was in- formed that if I reported the matter all the foremen and pit bosses would quit. However. did report the matter to the