Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-11
OPINION DIFFERS
AS To WELT ARE Of
FLORIDA S C0NV|CTS

TALLAHASSEE, Fla, Sept. T.
There is a difference of opinion
among the state prison inspectors of
Florida, both as to the humaneness
of the new method of punishment
and the effect of the solitary con-
finement cell on the prisoners, put
into effect since the state legisla-
ture this year abolished the lash.
This is disclosed in replies from the
inspectors to the query sent out on
August 10 by the commissioner of
agriculture asking the inspectors for
results of their genera observation
OF the prison camps now as com.
pared with the old regime of whip
ping convicts.
Contrary Opinions Given
Two of the inspectors, S. A. Ogii-
vie and &. S. Dickson, who have been
employed since the new law became
effective, express themselves as be-
lleving the solitary confinement
method of punishment is more hui
name than the lash, and declare that
conditions are gradually improving
since they began work. T. B. Johns,
who has been inspecting camps for
the last two and one-half years, both
under the old law and the new, does
not consider the present method as
humane as the whip, but asserts the
general morale of the prisoners in
his territory is about on a par with
the previous method of punishment.
j, o. Gates, who also has worked
under both laws, reported that he
believed the present method more
humane to the individual prisoner,
but said the prisoners have less re-
gard for punishment and show a
stubborn attitude with reference to
control He considered the morale
now not so good as before.
Prison Physicians Report
DR.. r. A. Willis, state prison physi-
clan, who has covered every state
road camp for convicts in the state
periodically for the last fifteen years,
reported that my observation Of
the prison camps at this TIME, as
compared with the old regime of
whipping convicts, is that the con-
victs, especially the white prisoners.
do not show the respect they should
to the visiting state officials or the
convict captains and guards, as they
used to when the leather was used.
From a sanitary standpoint the con-
dition of the camps is about the
same as before, and generally speak
ing, the prisoners are getting along
fine"
He believed that ''the present
method is better and more humane
than the old, provided the prison
captains are inhumane or brutes, so
to speak; but on the other hand. IL
a captain is a good judge of human
nature and knows how to control
and manage men, 1 believe the old
method is the best system"
DR.. Willis said he had gone into
the confinement cells at the varl-
Gus camps, and had observed that all
except about three camps had cells
built according to the specifications
laid down by the board OF commits
sioners Of state institutions, and my
opinion, in general way, is that
the cells are well ventilated and
about as cool and sanitary as any
buildings they have around these
camps
Not Working to Capacity
eff any method of punishment is
to be use," he reported, my opin-
ION is LndC IHlS ulOuS Is AAA41AetAtN'
and is about as light as any punish
ment could be made that would get
any results at all. I do not believe
that a mans health would be in
iured in any way whatever from
being confined in one of these cells
for a reasonable period of time. How
ever, if he sticks out for a very
long period of time, naturally on &C
count of being Oh a restricted diet,
he will become weak, and then aft
err he comes out, possibly will take
several days to recuperate and be
of any service again.
'My opinion in observing the pris-
oners at the various camps of the
state road department is that the
white men are doing about 60 per
cent of the work they should do from
a physical standpoint, and the col
ored men on an average are doing
about IS or 20 per cent of the work
they are physically capacitated to
do DR.. Willis concluded.