Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-09-21
Printing by the Deaf and Dumb.
CoIIJMRUs. ONO. Sept. 10, 1868.


Mr.. EDITOR: Allow me, in behalf of
large class of workingmen in the State of
Ohio, and in behalf Of numerous class OF
unfortunates, for whom the warmest SYM
pathies of a generous public should ever
be invoked, To call the attention, through
your columns, of the people of Ohio to a
system of injustice to the workingmen,
and ofdownright tinhumanity and enduring
injury to the unfOrtunates above alluded
to, namely, the Deaf and Dumb now, and
hereafter, to become inmates of the Asy-
lum in this State. / refer to the law OF
1867, authorizing the State and other print
ing to be done at the Deaf and Dumb Asy-
lum.
| propose to show, Mr.. Editor, in the
first place, that the law is clearly uncon-
stitutional, and, in the second place, chat,
were it not unconstitutional the executing
of such work at an Asylum supported and
fostered bv the State, is calculated to work
mischief to large, intelligent and deserv-
ing class of the citizens of the State, the
employing and employed printers; and
that it is simply perversion of the objects
for which the institution was founded, to
instruct the unfortunate pupil in the mys-
teries of an art at which, after being thrown
upon their own resources. they Will be ut
terly unable to gain livelihood.
AS to the constitutionality of the law
| will simply quote from the Constitution OF
the SCaLG as IL 1tOt0 TcduSs stuu lCofluS bAO
reader to draw his own inference:
| "ART1cLE XIV. Sec. 2. The printing of
the laws, journals, bills, legislative docu-
ments and papers for each branch of the
| General Assembly, with the printing re-
uuired for the Executive and other depart
ments of State, shall be let, on contract, to the
louest responsible bidder, by such executive
! officers, aud in such manner; as shall be
prescribed by law"
tlo uuofotfor, will readily
be seen that the law OF 1867 cannot consti-
tutionaly be carried into effect, but admit
| ting that it were constitutional, that the
constitution contained no clause with
(which it confiicted, and that the public
and other printing could be successfully
done at the institution, which seems to be
/ the prevailing idea of the presentsuperyisor,
as he has already taken the military steps,
does it stand to reason that it is either
a policy for the great State of Ohio, or JUS
tice to the industry, intelligence and en-
.erprise of its citizens, for it to enter into
competition with the struggling artiz IN or
timid capitalist. / think not, Mr.. Editor,
and think, too, that when State attempts
to compete, through its superior advan-
tages, with private enterprise, twill eventu-
ally rebound to its own loss and discom-
future; by driving into other States and
territories that capital and enterprise
which should be invested within her own
borders. --.... .r. -s-s o..i5
And now, let us look for moment at
the benefit to be derived by the unfortunate
pupil from knowledge of the art of print
ing. Take boy, with all his senses unim-
paired, and of more than average intelli-
1 gence, and it requires from five to seven
years of an apprenticeship to fit him for
the responsibilities he must assume on en-
tering printing office as full fledged
s.jour." If it takes from five to seven years
in such case, how long an apprenticeship
must be required of the mute? Surely, at
least from two to three years must be add
ed to his term on account of his intirmity:
thus making the mute labor for the great
and generous (?) State of Ohio, which
"holds his welfare most at heart" the pc
riod of from eight to nine years TO acquire
knowledge of that which cannot but un-
fit him for all the realities of after life.
speak from the book, when L say that il
will entirely unfit him for making living
after he leaves the Asylum (and he cannot
always remain there) for aud others have
had some experience with Deaf and Dumt
printers, and have never yet, through the
course of twenty years travel, fonnd ont
capable of earning his living at the bus
iness-they are all wanderers, depending
upon the charity of the craft for a days
work, and are only tolerated in a printing
office through the promptings OF charity
1t is simply impossible, as every printe
well knows, for a mute to "hold case
permanently in any office. Such being un
deniably the case, it behooves the public a
well as the parents and relatives of thi
unfortunate class to frown down the at
tempt of a few short-sighted or designin;
demagooues, who. for "fat" place in thei
I''second childhood" would forever con
demn to penury and want, the mute.
"TYPo."