, 1875-08-15
THE s1oNE-curTERs ON CONVICT LABOR.

THE ST0ME-CuTTERS On COhWCl ARooh'
70 the Editor Of 7ns CHICAGO Tribune:
Chicago, Aug 14.-As every good citizen must
have much faith and confidence IN the interest
the press is ever ready to offer Tor and IN a1d OF
the public welfare we, as an association CON-
posed OF honorable aud law-abidng citizens,
have seen best to offer the following card and
resolutions to the public, as expressive OF their
sentiments again6: the influence and power
brought to boar against our best interests, and
va would ask the influence OF the press to assist
ue in our strenuous efforts to maiutain on
rights and legitimate influence. We desire to
draw the attention Of the public through the
columns of your paper to some facts IN conneo-
ton with the building trades, but more especial
ly the cut-stone business as it at present e11sts
and is carried Oh in and around Chicago. For
six years prior to 1872 stone-cutting was consid-
cred the leading branch OF the building indus
tries Of the city, when mechanics recelved fair
wages, and contractors good returns on their in-
yestments. During the excitement Of 1879. low
ever, thousands Of workmen of various classes
and conditions came to Chicago, many
from curiosity to see the Ereat-
est ruins Of modern times bnt the
majority we're induced to leave comfortable
other countries, through promises held out, both
by the press and private individuals, Of steady
employment for years, and wages far in advance
Of ANYTHING they ever received before. The
consequence vas, that the labor market was at
that time flooded to such III extent that it has
never fully recovered its equilibrium, and to-day
etone-cutters arc working for little better than
an unskilled laborer's wages, and cannot receive
the miserable pittance when it ia duo.
1t is notorious fact that d great
number Of the cnt-stone contractors OF the
CITY are at the present time far behind with
their pay-rolls, aud it has become common e1-
preston with the men on the street, Have you
been paid ret 7" and the answer as q rule is
mo" The etone-cutters are aware that tho
unsettled condition OF the money market for the
past two years may have much to do with this
state Of affairs, but they consider the con-
tractors themselves responsible in great meas
ure for many Of the existing evils, Tor the fol-
lowing reaaous:
Frss-Tbe season after the fire many OF
them invested in real eetate, taking part
money aud part real estate for their work.
This was right and proper while they took no
more than they could carry without impoverishing
their business OF encroaching upon their pay
rolls. Unfortunately. such WAS not the case,
for to-day We find many Of them without any
ready money OF their own wherewith to settle
their labor account in the event Of their being
unable to draw semi-mouthly upon their work,
but with ample real estate upon their hands,
at least upon 1ne'I WIVES nauoe. .,. A..
oecond-Ine nnneaithy cou'pet!1lon tnas Aas
existed and stlli ensta among , nne conslacIors CON-
mas caused recRiessuess ~ ueaAp6 mlul opeoe. =.
iators IN pua!aines Malcn. ~ san ~ 'eaes, 40
surprising. tne5 saAo "I1n "..u 10 "AaG Iii
staholns; ol coutse' sua' naaa pa5naeea ~ ~
% maae ~ .ue W. nt ptvs4 'a.1 11nos, - ,aSs
eusle 10 " fao-o ~ n..,se a;t1,ar
u tne tlne sPecueo. ~ .aoa "J saus, s.' :.
on tho part OF the contf8ctot OF ploplieeo1, "
should be deferred, the embarrassment. as
rule, falls upon the workingmen, for, in conse-
nnanca al a protective union among the quarry
,rar +hav ara aunnosed to eettle tl,eir store &C.
4 s' - 1a 40 ~ otea mcnt1, .vhathar tha atono
counts at 1east ouce ioon'1' "ne@'el Ano 8''no"
cutters are PAID or not. .-
In addition to the evils enumerated, toe jour
peymau etone-cutterB OF Chicago have another
and more dangerous antagonist to encounter in
tbe ahano ~ fnnvict lahor. Far a number Of
.'ao, 49, ~ ~ ~ pan;tantisrv Comrniaa;orera have
81 uast 49,, .au 80 a ~ t,;rn;sh;na cnt.ornna for
hao al thGy coaso 10 N 'u.nsniok ~ .. ~
the State-Aouse at Sprlnghlela nut 1nat oelns
completed they are now directing their attention to
the Chicapo market and it appears they have
800 ,r;th Toora tI,nn ordinary anccass for in the
. n'et .a VIZ I1o.I t 49, Lars roco;vad contracta
past mouIA a4oue lucy Aos9 f4 5aE non
for cut-stone TO the amount Oh at 4eAsI v9o'ueo.
two Of these contracts Having come from pafue6
Who above all others, ought to show good e1-
o,unfa in nnho]dinr The dignity OF free labor and
--ato,+;r7 fha r;o6te nf avery law-abidiup citi-