New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-28
ABOLISH PRISON LABOR COyTRACTS
LETTER FROM woRKINGMAN.-A CURE FOR LABOR
TROUBLES SUGGESTED.
To fbe Pdifor oT IN, Trtbuus

LETTER FROM A woRKINGMAN.-A CURE FOR LABOR
TROUBLES SUGGESTED.
TO the FditOr Of The TrtbHHe.
SIR: The labor question is at present recely-
ing siderable attention, much, indeed, that Con-
gressona committee has been taking the opinions of
citizens for the purpose OF devisng some
for the better employment Of the working classes
/ have watched the workings % that commlItee and
have read all The published testimony that have seen
but have he name OF oae who Is, in the COM
mon accep alton Of the term, a workiDgman Though
OF the ideas expressed very good IN the MAN,
Still in humble opinion they have scered wide OF the
actual requirements OF the skilled workmen OF the
Northern Safes AT least.
In my opinion, 1t IA Just as much OF heresy TO
imagine that work can he manufactured by legisla-
tive enaCtmrn; that money can; the facts are that
asked 10 supply for the market any article
OF trade. unless there demand for that article. In
kinds otbusness the boot and shoe trade for n
stance, it is dan, il is MT only In certain
tiles but the from the Atlantic to the Mlsss
siypi, from Montreal Mason and DixOn's Line. The
labor OF , branch must therefore, of necessity go I'M
employed Now what the remedy, or what can he
done give work TO almost all classes OF mechanics
now out OF employment Ny answer Is. that there
is no one thing that the Legislatures OF. the
several States could do that would have so
beneficial an effect the disseminating OF
prison contracts lam a shoemaker by trade ana WORK
II,
branch of business than 10 any other. was first I'M
pressed with the necessity for the abolition Of prison
after reading The statement that no less than
s3i 100000 worth OF boots ana shoes had been manu-
featured the several state Prisons dud
OF this Union for the fiscal year endiuE June 80
enough employed every lnN-Jbidtug = Oemakfr
out of work during that time. Then was confirmed IN
the opinion hen lead casual ld-blt, published III
nearly every paper one might pes NO. that IN Trenton
y j. one Of the small States OF our Union, there we've
making 1900 pairs Of shoes per week. In manulactuI-
Ing Establishments TINS work Is usually done IN What Is
known as teams OF five Think OF h!-ihls weekly
pronuct would give employment TO snch team
1879 day.; In Other Woros' wOuIo give sehny
work to tnirty-twO such teams, more shOemaktis
tnan are to-day out OF employment IN lohI os!te
Aud this rs not all the only Persns Who are bene'.d
Other skilled abOrers are injured 90 An alarming ex
tent. am told that there ia scarcely common chain
time was "A driving industry with orr blacksmhs When
think Of the brkns. chains. haness soyesNeaFlbg'
uphul-lcrfug, etc, etc. throw nwaDidtIg shoe
makers bucksmi h. cOopers cab net-mnkes aud others
iegmate AUOr, With wives aud ntle ones asking
Tor even tn scauy necessities II hie II Is appalling.
Ana who Is bcuchicdG few contractors IN each STATE
am oath 10 oclrye That any sovereign STARE on inls
Jnou cannot take OF its awess class without TAX
Ing bread and butter from these industrious men
and then fumiie- who do, and Will sill continue 10,
neither do / deem 4 necessary TO form any
new political party. an thht can pe uohe Tor
e,rned an he done through tie present parties. IL
Ems - least 10 me- that th- great stop be
eotnp. he'd N inis way W"rkingDeD can be appointed
without rc.ad To political iut. 10 attend primaries anu
nominating conventions when candidates ior eith'
hrnucD OF lie l. gSlaims be cbo-tn, % sec 10 Ii
that said candidates pledge themselves To DO all IN their
power abolish the present system OF contract prison
ian.r N bth candidates will pledge themselves,
lei wnrkiuceu 30 sofia vote for the one that does.
AID II neither vi the run AN Independent chdnatr
an ts ,ssue alone voting tho al the ticket III ndi
ytduni dcte In opinion there IL little
Of this alternative ne theFe u no Sass Oh our leo"
ctIzen vno vaicu the straws OF pubic opinion more
closely than your so-cAi.cd politicians IL they know
thai the wurkIngnen ae IN real earnest tal ths in-
- s NOT ,,r.Lgd by a class Of disappointed wouldDe
statesmen the solid front presented Will command re-
sps - -. "o'hH"N'