The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-12-16
FACTS vs.. THEORY IN.
PRISON MANAGEMENT
Superintendent A. K. Sanders ReDlies to Crit.
icisms by State Welfare Board Of the
State Penitentiary

Editor Daily Item:
1 have received the report on the
state penitentiary made by the
State Board of Public Welfare and
after. a careful persual I come to
the conclusion that it was. so un-
fair and unjust to me in some par
ticulars that 1.feel from a sense OF
duty which I owe the people OF
South Carolina that I must make
a reply in order that they may
judge whether or not I have been
recreants to the duties and; respon-
sibilities that are vested in me. In
discussing. the issue. that has been
raised shall endeavor to do SO in
a calm, quiet. dispassionate, and
truthful way, and let the chips fall
where they may.
shall take them up in the or
der in which they appear in the
report.
I have nothing to did with the
manner in which the superintend-
ent and board of directors are Sc
lected. The present conditions
have prevailed ever since I: have
known the penitentiary and have
never heard any complaint until
the smelling COMMITTEES experts
from Chicago came along and
made their. Recommendation. which
the Board OF Public Welfare now
renews. II there is to be a
change it must be done by. 1egis-
lativesenactment.
The state farms were bought go
odd years ago. During the adj
painistfation of Col. Neal, then SUI
perintendent Of: the 2 penitentiary.
the Reid farm was. added to the
DeSaussure. They were then op-
Grated under separate heads. Coz.
Meals administration lasted Cor
eight years and he was succeeded
by Col. d. j. Griffith who operated
them under the same plans for
eighteen years. T. succeeded Col.
Griffith six years ago and continued
the same policies which I thought
were to the best interests Of the
state. To put both farms Under
a central head, 4 can't see where
1t would add to the efficiency and
It WOULD certainly add to the cost
of Cooperation. The state farms are
great assets to the state, and until
the boil weevil made their appear
ance were sources Of great .reEe-
nue.
AS a matter of fact, all the
money it took to operate the pen
ftentiasy for several years came
from the farms. It must not be
forgotten that the penitentiary he's
not cost the state dollar in
years and is still self-supprotinng.
The farms have been :managed
by good experienced men and the
states interests have been careful
ly guarded. Both Of the manag-
ers are high class men,, experience
ed farmers ana excellent handlers
Of prison labor and would be hard
to inpove on. The recommends
ton made by the Board OF Public
Welfare regarding che farms was
first made by the smelling COM
mitfee."
Under the head CONDITIONS of
Buildings" do not feel that I am
responsible in any way for the ply
steal conditions Of the present
buildings or for the lack. of. new
ones. The Board Of Public Wei
fare says: 1T has been the custom
Of the institution to erect new
building whenever a new phase
OF life, or industry arose." I do
not know Of any buildings that
have been erected in the last. thirty
years except during the admins
tration Of Col Griffith. He had
erected the present administration
building. cell block and the Grif-
fifth hospital. These were all.
erected out of the net earnings Of
the penitentiary and, did not cost
the taxpayers anything. At that
time it was not required of the
superintendent to deposit all
moneys he might receive in the
state treasury; but he could use
the money for anything that he
saw proper in the way of permaa-
nent improvements.
If the legislature has ever ap-
propriated dollar for new
buildings at the penitentiary I do
not know Of it. If the present
buildings are out of date and do
not meet modern requirements, L
feel that the state is responsible
for conditions and not I.
l endorse fully what the Board
of Public Welfare had to say in
regard to the women's quarters.
If anyone will take the trouble to
examine my reports to the legisla-
ture, they viii find that I have also
condemned them. I have paid
special attention to this depart
ment and have done everything
in my power to improve conditions.
As far as it could be done; I be-
lieve I have brought about many
changes For the better. I am sure
conditions are much better than
when I took charge of the peni-
tentiary
As to the ...holocaustn is true