The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-28
SENTIMENT OF ALABAMA PRESS.

SENTIMENT OF ALABAMA PRESS.
 The Alabama legislature, Governor Brandon and the convict board have objected to the publicity given by the press to the Banner mine episode and the charge has been made that the mutiny was the result of press agita- ton against leasing of convicts Al though information that has leaked out from the prison camps has indicated very different cause for the out break, the official attitude has not changed,
 As to the legislative resolution pledging the "moral and financial sup port'' of Alabama to Governor Bran don and the convict department, the kGadsden Times-News exclaims: "Was ever such affrontery, such shameless and insultingly presumptuous trans gression of the bounds of duty and de- cency, as that which the people of the state of Alabama have been forced to bear at the hands of their legislature?" The Dothan Eagle, on the other hand, attacks certain portions of the press as making statements concerning con- vict conditions which The Eagle says cannot be proved. The Eagle appears to believe that the outcry is against flogging, whereas, in reality, it is against the entire convict lease sys- tenn, and against such administration of the convict department as confirms prisoners in their criminality, rather than seeks to prepare them better for the freedom to which most of them will return.
 In similar vein the DeKalb County Herald remarks: of the convicts are to run things to suit themselves why not do away with the|guards, the boss es and other things which might not meet with their approval? Discipline must be maintained, and if harsh measures are necessary, we believe in giving the prisoners what they de- serve" There is no disposition to disagree with the conclusion of the Herald, but if the bad administration is responsible for the unrest, then no punishment of convicts alone will atone for the administrative injustice fundamental to the entire situation. The Selma Times-J ournal has the bet ter view when 1t says of the Banner punishment: ''It is a reflection on the intelligence of those in authority as we'll as a brutal exhibition of power. 1 Nobody condones offenses committed | by convicts, but there is grave public aconcern regarding the objectionable conditions that lead to and promote such offenses.
 The statement of the Troy Messep- ger that convicts "are under the direct charge of the state and are looked after carefully, as any one who knows can tell you," overlooks the official and condemnatory report of the legis- lative committee of the last legislature, which found conditions extremely bad and demanding a correction they have not yet had. A sensible view is that of the Florence Times: ''There are other methods of punishing recalcitrants that are more suited to this enhght- ened age, methods which would prob ably be more effective in the long Eun." Among the papers that believe that the method of punishment was justifiable are the Montgomery Time ], the Gadsden Journal, and, by imp!i- cation, the Brewton Standard, while the Anniston Star, on the contrary, i3 convinced that Alabama moves back, not few paces but a good maa years in the eyes of the world" Prom inent among the newspapers that have severely criticized the lease system are the Birmingham Post, the Birming ham News, The Mobile News-Item, the Andalusia Star, the Montgomery Journal and the Mobile Register.
 The question of flogging, however, obscures the main issue, which is that of convict leasing, and the efficient, intelligent, modern and humane ad- ministration of the entire convict de partment. The whole executive and legislative attitude towards the pur- pose and conduct of penal institutions must be revised before the prison sys- tenn of Alabama can receive the entire approval of an enlightened public opinion, either in this state or else where.
 It Is evident that with all her prac- tise Europe has learned that in tle