The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-03-07

In another column Of the AsyocArn wil
Be found an appeal from the Union Coope,
Of Chicago, 70 their brethren throughout III
state who have heretofore neglected 10 ..so
teiate themselves with protectivs aasocia
ton, to occupy such position no longer, bu
at once make their influence felt in the riRh
direction by unity Of effort In removing
that worse than curse --RRs1rEsriARr La
Bon.
j We are glad that ths class, which Of al
Others are most interested in its suppression
lave Ars length awakened 10 sense Of Their
duties, and are now determined to take thu
proper steps to effect its removal. Th,
principle involved has been 20 often referred
to, that It seems almost work Of ssperoga.
ton to do so again. But when We inform
our readers that skilled, honest and intalli.
gent workmen, who have families dependent
on them for support, Garnet earn BY ten
hours labor, more than $l,S0 per day,
through IT, operations, we feel we have been
derehet in our duty in not bringing the scb-
ect more frequently before their attention.
We do not believe there is an employer
in the country, who, when the question
is presented IN the proper hght-that
Lthhss-lafsr Of me c60vics-skhe lam break
er--is employed as means crush the
claims and deprive the abiding citizen Of
his rights, who viii refuse to raise bis voice
in protest against its continuance while II
is question in which his personal inGerest
As well as his sense OF right is Involved. No
honest manufacturer, under such carcum-
stances, can compete, or expect 10 compete,
with tas products Of prison labor, because
in many instances the prices paid for labor
performed often equals the price at which
the production Of the convict can be par
chased
Let US refer to case liz point A few
months ago Mr.. sAldwin, agent for the peni.
tertiary lessee, advertised that be could ua-
dsrseH any cigar maker in market fifty per
cent. and he was very logical in his argu-
ment Il am enabled to do 90" he said,
sbecause the labor by which they are made
costs only nominal sum, while other man
ufActurers are compelled to pay from $500
to s. 80 per day for the same amount Of
work" Now, that statement contained the
truth in nutshell, w'-ile it displayed in a
very eminent degree, the rank injustice Of
the system complsilsd Of
To the objection 50 often urged that the
state cannot afford to keep the convicts in
idleness we answer: their services may be
employed in thousand channels which viii
not dirsctly injure the skilled mechanic. At
the mex session Of the New York legislature
a bill will be introduced prohibiting the
practice Of mechanical arts at Slng Sing, TO
the pecuniarv loss Of the state and the det-i-
ment Of workingmen, and there is no reason
way similar enactment should not be pass
ed in Illinois. Eat should it, upon investi-
cation, be found impracticabls to employ
our criminals at other than mechanical oc-
clpa tons, we insist, it ID the duty Of the
state to suppor. them in idIeness rather than
It should be enriched one dollar at the ex-
pense Of honest men.
Cndr these circumstances we are pleased
to announce that determined effort is now
being made to bring this subject more pro-
mineHty before the public. Les petitions
be circulated in every counting room and
workshop in the state. Let the aid OF the
daily press be invoked to give them public
ty, 90 that their merits may be shOroue.
understood let the members Of those trades
r:,uss interested 10 the issue, act As though
success depended on their indiudGAi sS Sss. :,
and we believe that 10000 signatures can
be procured before the legislature convenes.
If this is accomplished cur word for 1t, that
body win find ways and means to provide an
efficient remedy for this growing evil.