El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-06-04
ARE PAROLED CONVICTS IN SLAVERY?
ANYHOW. TEXAS LAW IS FAR TOO LAX

ASTOUNDING statement about the Texas parole sys-
n TEN was made by Gov " P Hobby recently when the
governor testified before the Blue Ridge farm nvestigat
ing committee that IN reports paroled
have been received in Is years and that certain Of
the cOn7s paroled to farmers and others may be
existing IN sei-savery Perhaps that is extreme pic
ture. psroed convict hardly would exist status
Of slavery for years without raising outcy sufficient to
attract attention
But the governors statement at least shows that the
Of paroled convics has been very cresly kept
and that the axty which has existed has made gross
abuses possible The mind dwels the possibility OF
abuses in connection with certain other revelations recently
made concerning the prison system in Texas revelation
concerning brutal lahngs and other varied forms Of in
human treatment
The records regarding the disposition Of many pa1Oled
onvicts appear quite vague Others lacking altogether
This is not reflection upon the ability desire Of
the present board Of pardon advisers to give good service
to the state and to do justice to the convcts In its
nual to the governor for the year ending December
81 1918 the board called attention the deficiency the
law governing the granting Of paroles The board has op
posed uniformly the granting paroles the app
can't had served less than half Of the sentence imposed
where the sentence Tor five years less The board
also has opposed the granting Of paroles to who have
long terms to and who have served only short time
When application for parole comes before the board
there Is always the possibility Of underlying selfish
motive MaHy times the motive has been disclosed The
board throws light on the subject as follows
The object On asking palole for convict has been TO
obtain able bodied who capable Of rendering good
service either farm laborers mechanics at
paratively speaking low compensation The longer the
term convict has to serve the more desirable he IS to
the applicant for parole.
eve had frequent letters from under parole
stating that they overworked and asking
that they be returned to the pentenary If they cannot
be paroled to else granted pardon Some
claim they paid for their service agreed upon
Others that they not given sufficient food How much
Truth there may be in these complaints have not been
IN position 70 determine There have been several where
the party parog the prisoner has ceased exercise
troll Of the convict and this fact has 10 light BY
mere accident
It IS assumed the the board has been unable TO
determine the truth alty Of the complaints is that It
has had adequate travelling fund and consequently
~ -a=-mAs
understood that this handicap has been is about to
be- and that closer inquiry into complaints VIII
be made henceforth.
However the board has evidently been at pains
examine the sstus Of parod for the Tenort states
"On December 81, 1918 there were according to the
Ioe % Of whom paroled pnor the time you be-
governor OF these %, the Oldest parole IS dated
November 15 1905 Thers appear TO be paroles granted
under the administration Of Gov S " 7. Lanham, st
existing; during the term Of Gov. T NJ Campbell;
z during the Of Gov O. B. Colquitt and "A during
record TO the contrary but that these have been in
service in cases for many years for very small
consideration, IN some cases low So a month.
eThe monthly report that is required to be made By
each paroed not made to the board Of pardon ad
vsers but sometimes It is made to the executive office and
sometimes to the prison commission Unless paroed
commits violation Of the law commits breach
Of his parole but little attention given him Consequently
It IS not known where many Of these under
whose they may Il under that anyone Without
very close and careful surveillance Of the who
paroled their condition may become that would almost
amount TO slavery
Clearly this a very imperfect system Il has two
dsagTeeabe phases One is that convict may become
almost the slave Of who his parole The
other that convict serving life sentence for murder