Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-03-23
HUMANE PUNISHMENT
TO SUPPLANT STRAP
FOR UNRULY CONVCTS
Outcome OF Meeting of County
Commissioners And Wardens
In Atlanta
RAY AND ANsLEY ATTEND
Two Important Resolutions Are
Adopted-More Than 300
Attend Meeting

j. B. Ansley, of Amerlcus, VINO
was elected secretary Of the County
Commissioners and Wardens from
the various counties Of the state
which met in Atlanta yesterday for
the purpose of advising with the pris-
on commission on rules to be used
as substitute for the employment
of corporal punishment, returned to
his home today. Chairman Neill A
Ray, of the Sumter county commits
sioners, also attended the meeting.
Mr.. Ansley tells the Times-Re-
corder that two important resolutions
were adopted, which sounded the
keynote of the meeting, one of which
is Withdrawing privileges Of receiv-
ing mail and visitors from prisoners
who disobey rules of convict camps,
giving the wardens the right to
/ shackle, chain and handcuff the pris-
oner's hands and feet for the pur-
pose of confinement and to fasten
their hands above their heads while
they are compelled to stand upright.
The rule was passed unanimously by
than 800 wardens and commission
ers attending the meeting.
Judge ]. A. Laing, of Dawson,
chairman of the Terrell county board
of commissioners was selected chair
man of the meeting.
In his keynote address Judge
Laing told the convention that the
body gathered for the exercise of
wisdom and some sound conclusion
was in many respects superior to the
legislature itself, in that the county
commissioners represent millions and
millions of wealth of Georgia, that
it is upon them to wisely eXpend
the greater part of the tax money
paid by the people More impor-
tant, though he said, is the fact
that the proper enforcement and ad-
ministration of law is equally impor-
tant with the making of law, and it
develops upon the county commits
sioners and wardens TO meet that
duty.
''The future of the entire convict
system of the state, in my opinion,
is involved in the question which
! brings us here and, unless we can
devise aaproper way to meet a new
condition, or prevail upon the au-
thorities to re-establishs the old order
of things for handling convicts that
system is in dire danger of tottering
to fall. This is the first opopr-
tunity the county authorities have
had to gather together and discuss
what | believe is at the moment the
states most vital matter"
a.
Moore, of Chatham, to get the con-
vention organized, one commission
er and one warden from each coun-
ty was selected as a committee from
the convention to confer with the
members of the prison commission.
AS a substitute for the rule here
tofore in existence, authorizing
corporal punishment in extreme
cases and which was abolished by
executive order, the convention
adopted the following proposal of the
prison commission, to be submitted
to Governor Hardwick for his i'm
mediate approval.
"As a substitute for former para
graphs 8 and of rule IL:
"They (the county wardens) shah
safely keep all prisoners submitted
to their charge, rigidly enforce dis
cipline by the use of such humane
modes of punishment as will best
enforce submission to the authorities
and compel and induce the perform
ance of good and faithful labor dur
ing work hours, such as solitary con-
/ finement, restriction of diet, restrlc-
tion of privileges of receiving vlsl-
tors, and other privileges usually ac-
corded first class prisoners, using
shac1les and chains and handcuff-
/ ing their hands and feet, in an ele-
waited position above their heads,
while they are compelled to stand
in an upright position, and such 9TH
er mode of punishment as will sug-
gest itself to the warden in charge
! and is suitable to the situation.
Adopt Davis Resolution.
The resolution offered by Judge
Davis of Polk, was offered Just be-
fore adjournment and adopted. 1t
follows:
sResolved, That we regret that
/ Governor Hardwick has deprived the
convict wardens Of the right to use
the strap as a last resort on con-
victs that will not work nor com
ply with the rules governing camps.
eve dcplorc his action in so doing
without letting a test case be made
as was requested by the prison com
mission. and having the constitution
al question involved settled once for
all
Many convicts would never be in
| the chaingang or the penitentiary
| if they had been willing to work and
make an honest living. With many
Of them, no doubt, their parents
spared the rod and spoiled the child.
We can not understand why convicts
should be put upon pinnacle above
our children in the home and in the
school.
MANY convicts are better clothed
and fed and taken care of in con-
| vict camps than they have ever been
before in their lives. 1t is true they
have to work, or have been work
ing, but now they cannot be forced
to work.
I'm our opinion a great many
counties will speedily turn back to