The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-06-23
STATE OF GEORGIA
DEFENDED BY SMITH

~ -" htuiSshohI against the
State of Georgia was voiced tonight
by former Senator Hoke Smith in an
address before the Georgia Society of
' Washington.
"You know and should let it be
known" he saad, ''that, with rare
exceptions, the white people of Geor-
gia are law abiding citizens and
treat negroes Just and kind, and
, that the wholesale trade upon the
subject of 'peenage' which has re-
Gently found fts way into the press
OF the countrysi is unwarranted and
uniustfiable.
unfortunately in all the States
there occur, now and then, crimes
which shock tie public sense, but
this gives warrant to no one to in
dulge in general condemnation of
, that State
Mr.. Smith said the public generally
also should be Informed that the ne
gro who confessed to the murders
on the Jasper county farm and the
white man who was charged with di-
recting the MURDERS, had both been
promptly convicted.
System Explained
He explained i'm detail the so-called
"peonage" system by which a white
, farmer might pay fines imposed on
negroe and then require the latter
to work for him until reimbursement
had been made
Declaring that he did not condone
peonage. Mr.. Smith pointed out that
the practice permitted 'sthe farmer to
secure needed laborer and the con-
vlcted criminal TO escape the disgrace
of working on the chain gang Dur
ing his term as Governor, he said, he
did not hear of single case of
peonage.
81 would not. for a moment have
you do otherwise than condemn law
lessness wherever found" the speak
er continued, "and our influence
should always be given for equality
Of treatment in courts without re-
gard to race.
Very Few Cases Found
1T should be said to the credit of
the state of Georgia that, despite the
opinion to the contrary, which is
seemingly held by uniformed people
throughout the country, very few
cases. even of technical peonage, have
been found in Georgia.
During the war labor became very
scarce, and in a number of instances
farmers paid the fines of convicted
criminals and took the latter to their
farm to work for them until, by their
labor, these convicts had repaid their
fines. Legally, of course, there was no
way that the farmer could compel
these men, although convicted crimi-
nails, to remain on the farm and worl,
out the amount of the fine, and so,
unless he exercised some kind of con-
troll over the negro he would have lost
his services, as well as the money
which the farmer had paid out in his
behalf. When the farmers say that
there is no other way to prevent the
negro from leaving his farm, despite
the obligation owed him, he apparent
ly, in some instances. unlawfuiiy re-
strained him.
1.-The undue exercise of control
over negro laborers was limited to
negroes who had been legally convic-
ted OF crimes and whc were paid out
by farmers and given an opportunity
to repay these fines by labor on the
farms. That these farmers, in some
instances, exercised control over ne
groes to prevent their escape is prob
ably true. 1t is also probably true
that this restraint was greater than
, the law allowed, but neither the con.
troll nor the service were as severe
as that which would have been plac.
ed upon these negroes had not Their
fines been paid and had they not, ir
this way, been saved service as crimi-
mails in county chain gangs.
"oaio uC Sidu W see leRlSlaClOT
in Georgia which would forbid the
payment of fines for criminals ano
contracts by criminals to work out
sentences in privatee employment by
those who pay their fines.
: eve had in Georgia for a Ions
time what was known as the convict
lease system Nearly all of the Grim
inals convicted in our courts were
leased out to owners of coal mines
rock quarries, turpentine farms anc
to large farmers. They were held ir
extreme servitude by the lessees
State guards enforcing the discipline
"The system was broken up durins
the first year of my service as Gov
ernor and I am pleased to state tha,
/ actively contributed toward break
ing it up"