The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-01
OPPOsIN0 CONVICT LABOR.
New Jersey Mechanics Making their Alleged
Wrongs Political Issue.

In tho Grand Opera House, Newark. a
large mass meeting OF mechanics was held last
evening. undor the auspices Of the Hat Finish
ers Association OF Newark. to protest against
tho employment by contract Of conylct labor In
State prisons. Tho agitation was begun two
years ago. when II was proposed 10 man uiacturo
hats In tho State prison In Trenton. Tho Bay
State Shoe and Leather Company had boon
given contract permitting them To employ is5
convlcts In tho prison. tho company to pay tho
State ~ cents day for zach convict. The com
pany was thereby enabled 10 undcrsell outside
manufacturers. and the latter wore forced 10 re-
ducc the wages of their sk He'd employees until
they could not average Aboyo o. 10 go u week
Last winter In the New Jersey Lngslature
a bill known IA tho Inttcrs' and ShoemAkcrs'
hill I" was, Introduced by the Hon. William II.
Fodder OF NewaSk which was e abolish con
ieaied, Then bill was Introduced bv Mr.
foidrr prohibiting the manufacture Of hats IN
tho prison. and II became n law. similar bill
for The shoemAkers was passed by tho Assem-.
bly,. but y was defeated IN the SENATE. The hat
and tho shoemSE"rs about DO have ';Vuv. con.
tnued their agitation against convict labor over
since They have made II an Issue In tho pros.
tho Democrats Ind Republican yesiordhy pub.
ishod cards promising 4 elected 10 30 all IN
ali IpG cohyI pT" nboPT. 10Th The i"n Wn@m @ H. % Ted.
ler. " the Father Of the lintters' bill" accepted
No posS,mocrHHtlc nomigailon for Assembly from
quot ~ tho hattors and shoomakcrs.
Tho Grand Opera House WIS thrOngol with
hRttara. shocmHkcrs, jewellers. and other
tralesnon last night. Tho mocting was or
gnninod ut 4 O'Clock. The stage wns sot with
prison scene. and was crowded with politicians
and officers Of workingmrn'a HOcietios. !.
Bradley Ridge presided. and Patrick Melnguc
was srcrctnry. A letter of regret from Gov.
Mcclellan wns read. Tho Governor expressed
sympathy with tho movement.
Mi. George J. Ferry of Orange said that II
was not right that men who had spent four or
Ave years M apprentices. In order 10 master n
calling that would give them support for thair
families. should bc put In competition with con-
tract convict labor. New York IL making ~ 900
n day out Of prison labor. but thefo nrc thou
sands Of hatters and shoemhkors In that State
and Now Jersoy who on that nnc0uni are forced
20 90 home nightly and bee their children suffer
for wnnt ~ food.
Mr.. Joseph Doldrick the President of tho Hat
Makers Association ot the United States Alder
man btHlnsby Of Nowark. ox.Cy TroasuroT
Goo X. Gray of Newark, Joseph Atkinson. and
others niado Hpooches In favor Of AbOlishing
convict labor. and demanding that no moro
contracts Ia RiyOn out.
The following was adopted with choors:
RsJrd ny the MECHANICS OF the STATE 0f New Jersey
IN nasa meeting harmhlpd 40 hrwatk. n D tbs JlH
dnf " 90 iner iHfH that VIII not ~ the future sup
port Tor once any man that ~ 90 not igo himself H. use
bis influence Ani vote nf The abolition ~ all skilled labor
from the prsOn'and rr'ofmaori nsuuuonso the htato.