The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-04-01
the table given below:
CONVICT LABOR.

1ue lhUOIlu8 uCu anu lHuuobAldl S'oSoSo
of this State have just cause of COM
plant in the farming out of convict labor.
The man, or the two or three men, who
have control of that labor, possess an ad-
vantage over all the other citizens of the
State. When a contractor can be sure Of
steady labor, sufficiently skilled to do his
contract work, and can have it at one
third or one.half less than the wages paid
to honest laborers, it follows as certainty
that he can underhid every other contractor
who is not thus situated. He can underbid
fully one-half of the amount which the
proportion of labor bears to the total of
the contract, and yet have good margin
of profit.
1t is equally unjust to the honest laborer
the law-abldiDg man, who is seeking en-
ployment, who needs it to support himself
and family, but who has to compete in both
labor and price with convicted criminals.
At present there is comparative dull
ness in all kinds Of contracting and build
iug there is, therefore, close 6guring and
sharp competition in bidding for contract
work.
The advantages, as before stated, are all
on the side of the ones who possess the
cheapest reliable labor Those who would
give employment to the laborer and the
mechanic honest citizens who possess good
hearts, good trades, and good intentions.
are underbid, and those to whom they
would give employment are supplanted by
convicts.
The State, instead of giving encourage
meut to its true and law-abiding citizens,
indirectly serves to deprive them of an
honest livelihood by permitting the use Of
the convict labor in the hands of certain
ring
1t is time the injustice was done away
1t is species of monopoly, which, to the
state, will prove penny wise and pound
foolish.
The true policy of the state is to pro
tect and cherish the interests and welfar
of those who are honest and industrious
The mere saving in expense to the state b
the farming out of convict labor is q
nothing compared with the interests an
the patriotic sentiments of those who's
labor and frugality are the foundation c
all material progress, and the basis upo
which all wealth is accumulated. TIL
state needs good citizens, honest men, il
dustrous mechanics and artzans-it j
hnpp,upg tranlfh IN =.
against the services of these classes tn
enforced labor of thieves vagabonds an
criminals.
The new penitentiary at Chester in th
state, 50 far as possible to do so, is to /
built by convict labor. The contractor
for the court house building of Henri
county, it is understood, will do the sam
thing. There are other and similar il
stances which could be named. Of VIII;
consequence is it to talk about the hare
ness Of the times, of the necessity of q
accommodating themselves to circuu
stances, of living within their means, an
of being law-abiding citizens and reac
to repress any and every symptom of tn
bulance and disorder, when the sta
itself becomes, indirectly at least, part
to the very causes which are liable
produce disquiet and unrest, possibl
violence and lawessness, among its ow
citizens.
The people have a right to expect be
ter things, they have right to all Il
protection and encouragement in behalf {
labor and laboriUg interests which a gre
state can bestow without Infringement upc
the rights of others. They certainly ha,
right to expect that the state will not |
found among those who would redut
honest labor to starvation prices by de
grading competition with the scum an
tIth OF society which is annually gathere
into tie state penitentiary.