The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1922-04-14
FLoRIDA's PRISON FARM

more the appearance of a great plan
tation than a prison, and the thought
constantly recurs that Florida S
prisoners are more fortunate and en-
joy more of the comforts, and even
Injuries, of life than the average
honest working man.
There are beautiful lawns and
many flowers"
There are no armed guards.
There is a fine dairy, and the stock
n it are high-grade Jerseys.
There is a great poultry yard, hatch
ing out an average of $50 chicks per
day
There is a saw mill, an ice plant
and an electric, power plant.
There is a great apiary, which pro-
duces quantities of the finest honey,
and a well-equipped sugar mill.
OF the quarters the writer says:
Each of the buildings has a wide
hallway, on one side of which is a
dormitory and on the other dining
room At the rear of the hall is a
large room equipped with laboratories,
shower baths and tubs. l have not
mentioned cells, for there are no
cells. The inmates sleep in clean
white beds placed in rows in large
rooms. One is reminded of hospital
wards when looking into the dormi-
tories at Raiford."
And so on, for several columns in
the same enthusiastic strain.
II asked Mr.. Bitch (the warden)
if many prisoners escaped. Without
moments hesitation he replied. No,
this year our record is clear. During
the last two years the percentage of
escapes has been very SMALL
Indeed, why should the average
man sent up from the Florida courts
attempt to escape from such COM
forts and happy surroundings? Prob
ably very few of them were so well
provided for before they were sent
to prison.
If the knowledge of these ideal con-
ditions at the prison farm becomes
general it is feared that many poor
devils who are having a hard time
in the struggle for existence will de-
liberately break into prison.-Tampa
Times.
We take it that the above is said in
a spirit of irony.
But why should not those in prison
bonds be treated kindly and humane
ly?
Being denied their liberty; deprived
of the privilege of being with their
friends and loved ones; stripped of
the earnings of their daily toll; wear
ing prison stripes and feeling their
degradation, it occurs to US is punish
ment enough
Give me liberty or give me DEATH"
shouted Patrick Henry.
We share the feeling of the great
Virginian. We would prefer oblivion
rather than degradation.
Just why throughout all the ages
of the past the majority of men seem
ed to have rejoiced in the cruel modes
of punishment is something we can
not understand.
To read of the revolving acts of
cruelty inflicted upon those charged
with crime that blurs and blackens
the pages of history is enough to make
ones heart weep blood
And oftimes, more's the pity, these
horrible deeds were done in the name
of religion
Molten lead was poured down the
Threats of some; the bones of others
were crushed in vices; the bodies of
some were torn apart by oxen pull
ing in opposite directions; the eyes
of some were plucked out; the tongues
of others pulled out by the roots; wo-
men were .disembowled.
The very domain of hell itself saam-
ed to have been searched in order to
discover the most cruel and debasing
modes of torture.
Human nature seemed to have been
robbed of all conscience and all pity;
the he art of the world seemed to have
been ealloused and its soul rotted with
iniqui. Y.
And yet these shocking deeds in
many instances were done after the
Christian era by those processing
Christianity and who reverently knelt
at its altar
We rejoice that these times have
passed and we feel that the Raiford
farm stands as monument to what
took place at Calvary
We must believe that pardon and
forgiveness are the predominating and
cardinal virtues of our holy religion
Christ preached and practiced par