El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-02-23
Keeping ConvictS in Cages Like Animals p.,ss.s.
Inhun1an, Unnecessary, Says Government
Southern Convict Camp and Proves That the
Quarters Good Food and
Plenty of Water Is Better Plan
~
Rene Bache

, fare was replaced. at lower cost, BY a
diversified and scientifically balSn need
diet, making for additional bodily
vigor and more cOntented mind. Food
was provided and served according to
diet tables furnished by the public
health service-plenty OF II, and OF
first rate quality. It cost 175s cents
a day for each convict fed-against
p cents at other camps
Unlimited running water was furn-
ished taking the place OF the ordin-
airy water tOting"), and the sani-
tary conyeniences, including disposal
Of garbage, were of the best Taking
all things together. the cost Of run
ming the honor camp" was slightly
greater than that of conducting an
ordinary convict camp OF the Georgia
pattern. but this was fully made Up
by the increased efficiency OF the
working force. This govern nent ex-
pertinent represents an entirely new
departure. Similar methods have
never been applied IN the convict
camps Of the south or elsewhere. The
results demonstrate conclusivsly that
there is no true basis for the belief
that evil doors even negro crimlnais)
are amenable only to the discipline CT
the lock, the shackle and the lash.
The problem Of dealing with con-
victed criminals is one Of rhe most
difficult that civilization has had to
tackle Enforced idleness demoral-
ICES them. The treadmiu represent.
ing labor that goes for nothfnS)
brutalizes them. and has been aban-
doned as out OF date Leasing item
to contractors "a system under which
they are sold for a term OF months OF
years to the highest bidder) IS slave
dealing pure and simple.
Solution in Prospect.
Apparently. the solution Of the
in he -Trar- -
convicted malefactors exclusively in
service Of the state. or for the bene-
fit OF its civil subdivisions. A move
ment IN this direction Is rapidly
spr reading, and before very long the
idea will undoubtedly be adopted eT-
erywhere in this country.
There are many activities that IN
vite the employment Of conyicts for
the public service Road making II
one of them Likewise bridge con-
struction and the erection OF build
ings- Their labor may be utilized in
making furniture and other neces-
sary things for asylums. hospitals,
schools and other public buildings.
As yet the problem is only partly
solved. the main difficulty being tc
find enough work Of a public service
character for the evil doors TO do.
The female cOnvicts are commonly
employed as cooks in iails and asy-
lums; also to make clothing for the
inmates But for them, as well as
for the men, there is not sufficient
useful employment, unless their labor
be sold outside
This situation has given rise to the
practice Of leasing" convicts to in
dustrial concerns at 50 much Fer heal
tt is a system productive Of many
abuses. and. as a substitute for II,
many prisons contract with ulanufac-
turers to furnish certain products by
the piece"-the price being always
much less than would be raid for ths
same things made by free labor.
Change Is Being Made.
But a change. though slow, IL BE-
ing steadily and surely accomplished.
The idea that the only proper em-
ployment for convicts is in the PUB
lie service IS gaining ground in one
state after another. and laws are be-
ing framed and passed to carry il
into effect Even the farming OF srate
owned tracts by prisoners IS recog-
nized as economically CnWise has
much as il is competition Injurious
to the citizen farmer.
The reform viii certainly come
about. and in the meantime the fed
eral government. by its recent expert
ment in Georgia. has offered a DEM
onstration that ought to lend import
ant help toward a final solution of
the convict problem