The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-07-29
FROM MARYLAND.
BALrrMoRE, July Is, 1871.
TO the EaitOr q the woRKnenAn's ADvooASn.
CONVICT LABOR.

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On Friday evening there was Q large
and enthusiastic meeting of the work
ingmen of this city held at Metropolitan
Hall, West Baltimore street, under the
auspices of the State Grand Lodge Of
the Order Of St. CrisPin, in opposition
to convict labor in the Maryland pene-
Tertiary.
The meeting was called to order by
Mr.. J. c. Bransby. Grand s. x. of St
q. l.. K. 0. ). c.; Mr.. Stephen Hodg.
kins, of the same order. acting as sec
rotary. On taking the chsir Mr.. Brans
BY explained the object Of the meeting,
and gave history of convict labor in
the Maryland penitentiary as at present
conducted. He said that q firm known
as Reed, Jones q Co., hailing from Gin.
cinnati, o had entered into a contract
with the directors Of that institution
they had put up forty horse engine
and were arranging fifteen hundred
dollars worth of machinery for the
manufacture of shoes. They now en-
ployed sixty convicts, and, if necessary
would increase the number to three
hundred.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Bransby't
remarks, he introduced Mr.. James Nc.
Cogan, of the fourteenth ward, Demo
cratic candidate for the Legislature
who spoke at some length upon the
question Of convict labor. In the course
OF bis remarks he drew a vivid picture
Of the outlawed man, who had commit
ted crime against his fellow man, against
his State, and against his God, and rid
lculed the idea of bringing the labor Of
such a man in competition with the hon
est mechanic who respects his fellows
loves his State and fears his God.
Mr.. James Mill, a member of the K
.. ). o., next addressed the meeting in
a lengthy and profound argument
against convict labo". 1T would be
better" said Mr.. Mill, far better fol
the workingman 10 lie taxed to the full
amount for The support of the convicts,
and keep them in idlencss, than to al
low them To work at any mechanical
pursuit" He said that the practice OF
hiring out the labor Of prisoners would
soon bring down the honest mechanic
to the level Of the convict. 1t would Sc
lower his wages end dag abe him to
such degree that lie would be found in
the haunts Of vice and crime, and instead
of lessening crime. iL would have a ten
dency to iii our prisons. 1.-The battle,
said Mr.. Mill, "must be fought at the
ballot box, and no man must be sent tC
the Legislature who is not pledged &c
vote against convict labor in every shape
and form. The workingmen hold the
balance of power in the city, and al
that was necessary was to work as mer
aud the desired end could be accom-
plished."
Mr.. John Travers, a printer, of the
tenth ward, and a candidate for thu
Legislature, was called upon by the
chair, and responded in a neat little
speech, in which be promised, should
the opportunity be afforded him, tc
do all in his power to aid the working
men in carrying out their plans
Capt John Torsh, a member Of th,
city council from the tenth ward, being
called upon, said lie was opposed t
convict labor, and, as a member of tn,
municipal government, he was in favol
of putting every male convict in thu
Maryland penetentiary to work outside
the walls.
The meeting was further addressed
by B. ]. Murphy and others, after which
the following
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS
were unanimously adopted.
1.-The preamble and resolutions declare
that the workingmen of Baltimore fee
the necessity of doing something tc
check the growing influence of convict
labor in competing with the honest la
Dor OF the country, aud condemn its
present position and aspect, and de-
mand redress that the "workingmeu
will not support any candidate in the
coming election who does not give us
sufficient guarantees or pledges that
they will use their earnest ende avors to
secure the probition of convict labor IN
the state of Maryland, when it comes
in competitor with the honest industry
Of the country; and that the st. Girls.
pins will use their utmost influence to
induce others to act with them"
Their was much spirit and animation
manifested, the speakers being frequent.
ly applauded during their remarks, and
it was evident that those present were
determined to carry out their plans.
THE CRIsPINs LOCKOUT.
The lockout, at the firm of Dalsher-
mers & Sons, manufacturers, still con-
tinue. There is nothing of any impor-
lance going on among the other trades
of the city.
AN ALLEGED POISONING CASE.
All this city and its surroundings
have been greatly excited for several
days past, over events which have Just
been developed in an aristocratic quar-
ter. The daIlies have literally bathed
in this last sensation, and specialized
and theorized until what at first ap-
peared t. be a medium sized mound,
has grown TO be a mountain of formid.
able diminsions. One of the accounts
begins While our people were read.
ing, with feelings of horror, the details
of the poisoning case in Connecticut,
Marshall I. Gray and Deputy Marshall
Jacob Frey were busy at work securing
proof which goes to show that in one Of
the most aristocratic localities of Bal.
timore, in one of its most beautiful
homes, and in family distinguished
alike for its culture aud high social
position two men have been willfully
poisoned, the one dying in four days
from the time he drank the fatal por-
ton, and the other languishing on the
| brink of tho Orava for savorol daua hrt