The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-19
GEORGIA A MODEL
 STATE IN OPINION
 OF HOKE SMITH
Former Senator Resents Hold ing Up of the Peonage Cases as Indictment
 Against State
By Associated Press

Washington, June 1s.-A protest against holding up the "peonage cases' as an indictment against the state of Georgia was voiced tonight by former Senator Hoke Smith in an address before the Georgia so- ciety of Washington.
 You know and should let it be known" he said, that, with rare ex- captions. the white people of Geor- Igia are law-abiding citizens and treat negroes just and kindly, and that the wholesale tirade upon the subject of 'peonage' which has recently found it's way into the press of the coun- try, is unwarranted and unjustifiable. Unfortunately, in all the states there occur, now and then, crimes which shock the public sense, but this gives warrant to no one to in dulge in general condemnation of that state"
 The former senator said the public generally also should be informed eAAebs shC iAc6tO WIlO COHleSSSQ to Int murders on the Jasper county farm and the white man who was charged with directing the murders. had both been promptly convicted.
 Explains system
 He explained in detail the so-called "peonage" system by which white farmer might pay fines imposed on negroes and then require the latter to work for him until reimburse, ment had been made.
 Declaring that he did not condone peonage, he pointed out that the prac- tice permitted "the farmer to se- cure a needed laborer and the con- victed criminal to escape the dis grace of working on the chaingang."
 During his term as governor, MT. Smith said, he did not hear of sim gle case of peonage.
 T would not for moment have you do otherwise than to condemn lawlessness wherever found" the speaker continued. "and our influ- ence should always be given for equality of treatment in courts with out regard to race.
 Tt should be said to the credit of the state of Georgia that despte the opinion to the contrary which is seemingly held by uninformed people through the country, very few cases, even of technical peonage, have been found in Georgia.
 Control Necessary
 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 farms to work for them until by A. L Al T. T A their fines. Legally. of course, there was no way that the farmer could compel these men. although convict ed criminals, to remain on the farm and work out the amount of the fine: and so, unless he exercised some kind of control 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 farmer saw that there was no other way to prevent the negro from leaving his farm, despite the obligation owed him. he apparently, in some instances, unlawfully restrained him.
 "The undue exercise of control over negro laborers was limited to ne- groes who had been legally convict ed of crimes, and who were paid out by farmers and given an opportunity tO repay tHcSc lines py idbOl oh ~itS farms. That these farmers, in some instances, exercised control over ne groes to prevent their escape is probably true. It Is alec proboboly true that this restraint was greater than the law allowed. but neither the control nor the service were as se- we're as that which would have been placed upon these negroes had not their fines been paid and had they not, in this way, been saved service as criminals in county chaingangs.
 Should Re Forbidden
 'I would be glad to see legislation in Georgia which would forbid the payment of fines for criminals anu contracts by criminals to work out sentences in private employment by those who pay their fines.
 We had in Georgia for a long time what was known as the con vict lease system Nearly all of the criminals convicted in our courts were leased out to owners of coal mines, rock quarries. turpentine farms and to large farmers. They were held in extreme servitude by the state guards enforcing the dis 'cipline.
 .'The system was broken up dur ing the first year of my service as governor, and I am pleased to state that I actively contributed towards breaking it up."
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