The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-12-17

sue &uocn CITY - HAc MI uOuuuui tnlngw
uncertain" But 20 In the
action Of the workingmen of this city.
Nothing has ruffied the usual routine
of our trades unions since the election,
until within the past few days, and
now oil is hurry and excitement It
is usual, at this season Of the year, for
the Legislature Of this State 70 visit
the public institutions, 10 see and hear
Of the workings thereof This annual |
visit TO the Work House, in this coun. |
~. has created all the stir among the
workingmen. 1t ha- been usual in the
past-to send prisoners TO the work
house for term not exceeding ninety
days, and it has also been usual to have
the labor Of the work house contracted
for-lately the labor of the work house
was contracted for by j. ID. Hearne IL
Co., for the making Of shoes, and by
Miles Greenwood for the making Of
small castings. hardware, DC.
During the visit Of the Legislature.
after dining and wineing at the public
expense, the fact leaked ont TO the pub
lie, through the pen Of reporter, that
a plan was on foot to have prisoners
sent to the work house for terms not
exceeding three years-the reason Civ
en- for this change being that prisoner
could not become q skilled shoemaker
or meulder in ninety days, but that they
could in three years. This was to be
done not in the interest Of the country,
but in the interest of the contractors,
the labor being contracted for, for a
period Of FIVE years. As soon as these
facts came to the knowledge of our
Labor Assembly, committee was ap-
pointed to take the matter into consid-
GRAFTON. and after q spirited debate, the
following resolutions were unanimously
adopted, and were published in all our
daily papers:
CINCINNATI, Dec. IL, 1870
To the Officers Of the Cincinnati Labor Assem-.
I bly,:
u We, your Committee on Convict Labor, 20
the history Of the Public Work-hOuse convicts
and the proposed changes in the laws giving
the Judge Of the Police Court power TO send
prisoners to the city and county work houses
for the term OF three years instead Of one year
az at present, beg leave 10 state that We have
carefully aud seriously considered all the acts
r connected Herewith, and have concluded 10
offer the following the result Of our delibera.
, tions, with the recommendation that they be
} adopted BY your Assembly, together with such
} other suggestions az the Assembly may see prop
er to attach thereto:
, WHkRKAs. On Monday, November 20, 1870
Mr.. John T. Bell, President Of the Board Of
} Directors Of the County and City Work house
| informed the public through the city press thai
J the said Board Of Directors were preparing
bills for the consideration or the Legislature OF
Ohio to Increas the terms Of imprisonment TO
l three years, thereby enabling them, the Direc-
! tors, to furnish skilled convict labor for Miles
! GrsenWoods machine, blacksmith and moldng
r ing shops, W. G. Rogers shoe shop, and other,
thus enabling said Directors to undersell she
honest industry OF the country, compelling q
reduction Of the price of labor, and its conse-
quent increase Of poverty and crime; therefore,
, be it
Resolved, That the aforesaid scheme of the
Board Of Directors Of the said WOrk-house in
our opinion il worthy Of the palmiest days OF
human slavery, and that such persons Who 50
far forget what is due to humanity are unfit for
the honorable position they occupy, and
We demand that they be Immediately removed
by the public authorities, ami their places filed
with men who viii not alloW themselves TO be
used BY SPECTATORS who seek TO increase their
wealth through the misfortunes and crimes OF
others.
Resolved, That the members Of the Ohio
Legislature be requested to treat the proposed
bills OF said Directors with the merited con-
tempt such infamous schemes deserve
Resolved, That We will hold all State officers.
members OF the Legislature and local officers to
strict accountability, and will reward them
accordingly when they solicit our SURFACES
Resolved, That we tender our thanks to
Messrs. Yeatman, Lord and others for the manly
stand they have taken in defense Of common
justice aud humanity.
Resolved, That general meeting Of all the
industrial unions be held ut No. 90 West Fifth
street, on Monday, December Ig, 1870, 70 take
such action on this subject as they may deem
advisable.
| ISigned] WmLrAM SATFm.
JAMES SIXTH,
G. H LUcKKR,
4 M DoLAN,
EN- DAVIS
The passage and publication ofthese
resolutions caused quaking among
the "dry bOnes," as they well know
from experience that the workingmen
of this city, when thoroughly aroused,
make short work of those whom they
are convinced are working against
their interest. They are rushing into
sprint" to define their positions, but
the definitions are not satisfactory, and
our meeting on the 10th will insist on
plain, unvanished statements from
them, or they may as well get ready to
stand from under.
Trade in all branches continues verv
dull-thousands of idle men in the
streets-perhaps the following short
extract, from this mornings paper, will
explain the reason OF it: In the open
market money commands IL per cent !,
and on the street outside parties are
compelled to pay 1t and l. for short
accommodations"
AILcH JAY DoUBLE- You.