New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-29
LdBOR MOVEMENTS.

KNIGHTS OF ST. CR1SPIN-CONYICT LABOR.
The large hall of Cooper Institute was densely
filed evening at the mass-meeng of the Knights OF
St. Crispin by enthusiastic assembly of workingmeni
few women also present. The object OF the as
sembage take action in opposition to the prison
contract system Of labor by which shoemakers II was
charged suffer than any other trade, and to listen
to speeches by prominent members OF the workngmen
organizations. At Mr.. Wells nominated for Chairman
Mr.. Thomas W. Fencer. who was elected. After thank
ing meeting their choice of him. he alluded 10 the
question OF the evening Convict labor is brought lDto
competition with honest industry, he said. and he
thought it should longer be borne. bill which meets
all that the workingmen demand is now before the
Legislature 1t passed the Assembly but Will be
killed the Senate, as the last one was. for 1t s not the
first which has met that fate Two years ago sim
lar measure killed In the Senate. We must make
ourselves felt and demand the passage OF the bill FRO
longed applause He read the statements OF Dr Wines
OF Association, and Others admitting the evils
of the contract system but asking for better Al men
tion OF the of O. Wehouse misses and deTislye
lently the whole prison system, by which, he said the
by felon tremendous applause and the state Is taxed
$4,000 year support Contractors can buy convict
aSC5 iG han wee ca to sell for He showed how
enormously rich contractors for such labor always grow
and in conclusion contrastcd te expenses 10
Of the Massachusetts PRISONS where the contract system
exist and the York State PRISONS much TO
and three secretaries was then read and adopted
Mr.. Bradshaw read the following resolutions:
Gently framed certain the condition Of a
Of labor and prehed the same to the Legislature for consider
Ws@ II. promises made BY Of the members Of .h. box
would to have been made only be broken aud
ebspcs & STAT. by feFuatpg the use Of son i.bo
which passed will benefit all classes Of society but more
RESOLVED That the present system prison labor
furious to us q. worshgmen ct
We demand thai the shall be and forever aboe''e
passed b TIE Assembly n entirety :,
feat Sy candidate l ccs who Ss placed
b sv of the eIs,ne po factions who sba 80 Ear forget oar in
tens or ignore rights AS by not exceeding 10 our just demand h
Resooe committee ofhree be appointed whose duty ,ba
be prepare record Of The names Of the members Of the senate Sd
Assembly who shan vote ior OF gsost The DILL and nav. NJ o.
places where throughout the city aud State that
again present themselves candidates for SURFACES
The reading OF the resolutions followed by enthu-
siastic cheering, and they were unanimously adopted
Mr. Bradshaw described the difficulties OF shoemakers
in contending against felon competition and said that
its effect was to increase the number of criminals ZAP
pause So poor we that IL is pToverbia now that
Mr. Nelson W Young President Of the workngmens
Union, said We must not 90 to the Legislature and say
passage this bill, the syeophanc words, as in
duty bound" but we must demand o., our rights 3;
he hegsSSre TO place criminal labor in competition
with us The prisons manufacture "shoernakers." so
convicts Applause. We would not complain If they
paid we are for we only ask what IS fair II is
said that the abolition of prison labor will entail add
tonal expense Now the prisons not sefsustanlng
they would be II the contractors had to pay more
The chief objection brought by opponents is the
ground Of humanity. What will the poor wretches
do" they ask, :" II don't teach them trades ~
And somehow they teach only the shoemaker's
trade Applause voice, "Thats so."l 1t Is wonder
fu how humane these officers These criminals must
be provided for at the expense OF honest is their
humane doctrine. Such hnInnnity Is hypocrisy. APP
plause If convict labor abolished additional taxa
alton would not be Necessary but little more honesty
would be- Laughter In CONCLUSION he showed now
much politics had to do with the question: and conrasted
the salary police clerks 5000 for lS2 days with that
OF pssteref at Is q day or y ;S5 year
Mr.. Michael c. Murphy. MI, Drury, and others ad-
dressed the assemDlage before the adjournment
RESULT OF DEMONSTRATION BY STRIKERS.
AT $3.50 yesterday afternoon a gang of work
men on strike the stoneyard of Messrs Beers
Gill, of Keepst and Wythe.ave, Brooklyn, to
force the employed TO quit work. The foreman Of
the yard Richard Frederick, attempted to argue with
them but they drove him into the office, when us lie
states he took pistol 10 frghten them with, aud went
off, and the ball struck young man employed in the
yard named Michael Murphy, III the right leg. Frederick
arrested by officer OF the Forty nth Precinct and
held TO await examination,