The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-06-19
SENATOR Smith
DEFENDS STATE
Says White People of Georgia.
With Few Exceptions,
Law Abiding.
TRADE on PEONAGE
Is NOT WARRANTED
Explains i'm Detail the So Called
"Peonage" System in
the State.

WASHINGTON. June ls--A protest
against holding up the 'pconage cases.
a. an indictment against the state 81
Georgia was voiced Tonight hy former
Senator Hoke Smith 10 an address be-
fore the Georgia society ~ Washington.
You know ard should lst lf be kaown. %
be said, that. With fare exceptions. the
white people ~ Georgia are hw-nhidlnr
citlzena and treat negroes Just and Klnd-
~. and that the wholesale trade upun
the subject ~ peenage' which has re-
Gently found is way into the press of
the country, is unWarranted and unius.
tifahle
Unfortunately IN an tire states there
occur. nov and then. crimes which shock
fhe public sense. hat this gives warrant
10 no one % indulge IN generai candefu-
nation q thaA state" Mr. smith SAID
the fGblie generally also should ~ IN
formed that the nezro who confessed col
The murders ca the Jasper county farm
and the white man who vas CHARGED vita
directing the murders had both been
promptly convicted.
lie explained r. detail the so-oaHea
'peunaEe# system ~ whsah a Waite
farmer might pay fiaes imposed an ~.
grpes and then reQnira kas &mxter Is wnfh
fer him nntn reimbursement had been
made.
Declaring that he dld not conaons
2eouage. ar. smith pointed oat that the
practice permitted the farmer 20 secure
: needed iaborer and the convicted
criminal 70 escape the disgrace &C work
ms 81 the chain gang" Dwsnm his term
as governor. he said. he did not hear of
= single ease q peonage
"a would not for a moment have yon
DO otherwise than conds mn taWiessness
wherever found.F the ape aker continued.
'and cur influence she "a always -
Gixea Tor equality ~ treatment Ia courts
without regard 70 race.
It should he sald to the credit 81
Georgia that despite the opinion u ths
contrary. which - seemingly held ~ IN
informed people throughout TIE country.
very few cases. even u technical peon-
age. have been found In Georria
During ts~ war labor became very
scarce and ia a number IL instances.
farmers paid the fines ~ convicted orlm-
inala and took the latter % their farms
20 work for them UNTIL ~ their labor.
these conxicts had repaid the.r fines
Legally, ~ course there was nc way
that the farmer could compel these men.
although convicted criminals, 70 remain
On the farm and work eat the amount /
q the nnes and ~. unless he exercised
some Kind o. control over the negro. he
would have lost his services. a. vel e.
The money which the farmer paid out
ia bis behalf When the farmer So that
there was 40 other way % prevent the
nekro from leaving bis farm. despite ths
obligation owed him. be apparently ia
some instances uniawfuIiy restralnea |
him.
This undue exercise ~ controi ovsx
negro lahorer was umitca 10 negroes VIE /
had been legally convicted &c crimes ana
who were paid cut ~ farmers and given 1
an opportunity 10 repay these finas Is 7
labor On the farms That theae sArsa- |
era. ia Some instances exercised control I
ever negroes % prevent thslr escape Is |
probably true. u Is also probably true
that thin restraints vas greater than ne
az allowed but neither the control n0r
the service were as sewers a. that which /
nould have been placed uron. these ns-
srcea had not their fines been paid ana
bad they not in this way. been saved i
service a. criminals IN county ohaln
gangs.
n would be sad 20 see legislation Is i
Georgia which would forbid the payment
q fines fur criminals aud con.vacfa ~
criminals % work cat a4nfames Ia rri.
vats employment ~ those whs pay thels
Tines.
lie Rad In Georgia for q bong time
shat was known az the convict
lease system. Nearly al q the GRIM
mails convicted IN cur cogrts we're leased /
aut e owusI. - coal mines. roct quar-
ries. ttupentine farms. and to large farm
ars. They were held Ia extreme SERVE
Iude ~ the iessecs. state guards enfare-
ng the discipline
The system vas broken up during the
tsrst year - my service a. Governor. and
an pieasaa o. state that I actively con-
towards breaking Ia upw