Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-04-27

associates four hundred men, and guarantee
ing to said lessees the refusal OF all convict lauor
to be let Tor mining purposes. during the existence
OF said contract;'' and making eight hours u
days work, to be reported Tor lost time, anu
hours worked by the superintendent of the les
sees?
SiNth-lIow many men are employed, now, at
said mines, and what IL The gross aniuunt re-
ceiv.d for their wages; also gross expenses Of
same to tins date?
sevrnth-Was il ever sought to obtain the opin-
lon of the supreme court upon the legality Of
this inatterP
''Intex'' Will readily understand that It Is
not claimed as u right to PROFOUND these inter-
royatories, but as he occupies three columns In
the Inteiiigencer and still Keeps this con-
tract from rir,r, it only occurs to one with II
country education to lind cut what he wants to
know by asking questions. And now for the
financial view. Mr.. .'Iude1,' with the smile
oi an Euclid upon his coun!enahce. and tile
flourish of tt trumpeter in Il ssene in Gdipus,
with his pen says: IT'S money. my bsy-it's
money that TIN, thing brings, andl have i"und
it, md THAT the real tax PAYERS see H. aud
that .'hr who will omit the most important
feature in the discussion of u question. because
1t Will overthrow his little theories, ID either
personally riejuitced or an arrant demogogu-,'
aud that Those who howl so iDdustriously about
the rights OF honest industry should take this
into consideration" He further says: 1.-The
working of convicts at Montserrst. at Cedar
City, &c. outside OF the prison walls. neces-
States u large augmentation of the number of
Officers, increasing expenditures In salaries over
that of many previous years, and in this con-
nsctiou his tabuiariz,d statement shows the OK
lenditures in thi. behalf alone for 1877 over ls16
the sum Of So ia 50.
II II here .eni-I that working these men over
the state under IL loose contract is a source of
revenue, and if Index will eliminate from his
caleuiation. the entire work done by these men.
engaged in mining coal. from the work Of al
convicts working out Vi the walls of the prison,
be viii! nj once ste the iallacy Of his assertion.
His figures do not meet this cause, and if they
do. what Is the conclusion? Why. just simply
this: Get money. my boy. get money. 1t
matters not what capital you may sink for
others. and WHIST woe may lie entai!ed upon the
helpless, yet is money money money -.
And with his mind upon the money, /" and his
pen upon the paper. ''lndcx'' PUSHES from his
financial view into the midst OF the contest OF
Convict vs.. Fee Labor, in such = way rs TO
completely couIouud the Iutr,gues OF the dem
agogucs. and 10 silence the claIuor OF the press.
he seeks, gs all defenders oil the throne ure sup-
po ..i To do, SI'dryeye roces in Vuigun. am
biDHds, ami Rises 10 great philosophical con-
illusions, and pnrcnthctica!ly remarks, that one
contractor for convict labor inside the peniten,i-
AIRY, within The last two years, crushed out OF eI-
i,teEce every competitor III his trade within y
boundary OF SIX states. and has to-day the most
l extensive establishment and business in the
United States.
Now, Mr.. 'lndcN,' YOU approyIngly state
5 tho very case, from whence thi, clainUr is going
+ out against this very system of wrong, which il
now engaged In working at nominal prices, the
mur,icrer,, thieves and sccundrcls who have
t been sent to the prnit.ntiary. III crushing out o1
u existence "A fixed capital oil at least one million
B of dollars in this STATE; IN driving honest toilert
. from cur midst and bringing hollow checks ano
ragged Clothes upon those who remain.
II Being one OF those whose education leads hin
to know no difference between the rag and tn,
. robe, /" this system, which is now being defend
ed by ''lndex.' under q contract, and which II
8 monopoly %lhitseli. maize without an oppsrtu
Il nifty for competition. 1t Is here pronounced
a great wrong 10 miners Of this state. and a irau'
upon every dollar invested for mining purposes
Price i GO. set these low = priced men up a
e Montscrrat and drove away the little village O
e miners who had settled there 10 make their home
Ihry can dump Il portion of their men out Il
Lexington, Il few III Richmond, AT Camden
I. Huntsville. BevIcr. Macon City. Trenton, Cen
- traIla and along tie line oil the II K. & L. rail
N wav, and either drive away the entire mininI
'S population at thee places, or III Ike thtm worl
At starvation price,. II one man insid
the walls of the prison can crush GU
'e compe lilon In SIX st4.' i, and become mon
ID .'monsroI vt all h- surveys,' why can not thes
Formulate contractors InvnopOlize the business u
= one sta e. and dIcIa.e terms To- all capital AN
r Labor in similar business ? The conclusion i
inevitable, AID IL is hoped 'lndeI' may Ye
b. happy. Ii any enc OF the Elin;e, does nc
u seIicye ttAt this conclusion Is inevitable, IL
b III SIC LII Limsef
MEX Gloss his article With his ''humanita
rian vlew," and 10 show that h is u Teadih
'g man, quotes largely from the recent speech 9
ID Gov. AlvUri, Of New fJrk. Had ne quoted th
" opposite view, IN the special message Of Gov
e Robinson. he would, doubtless, have spoiled "A
both ''inieA' or Gov. AIvSrd could say or pc
'e on tie subject of convict labor. 'Inde1' says
"iVrCeGi Iiiene.s Will Impair the conficts
a. mind, " and Therefore he would preserves 1t b
be putting him at work at low wages; but he seeIL
Ut 10 forget that wh.le he IS preserving the cor
or vict's mimi he is painting hunger upon tt
ch checks OF women ami chlidren, and sowiug di:
D. trust throughout the state. We have also wi
messed one Humanitarian" scene some msRtt
pa l, ~ hcutNFiIaAt NlGhI auA0 AShS -
he snaok.. ami the rattle of mu.ketry, was hearc
u In the glare of that memorable night. the praye'
cr OF the helpless and the shricks CT the dying
OF Now, one word. at parting. to index ,
&c suspiciun is d.slsnei TO he fastened upon sn
se one; but the purpose oil this article IS 10 laGet
gu mistaken policy defended by him. II 1t be q
as law, and right. To hire these men. in the name
!" oil that is decent and Just. cancel, at once. tn
he contract, and advertise these men for hire. and
r. the state does not realize 800 900 more than "
nd be paid uuLrr the present contract. then fac
ami figures belle themselves. knowing the col
Oh uition of an inufrensiye, toiling people, who
IL rights tiav- been invaded, | can but i.sl inte
iIf cs,ea In their cause. lli-usage has aroused the
Indignation, and may carry thsn into eNcesse
.uh Now, let Us, rs u party, se 10 1t In time, anu
ia we fail.
y, Though with tardv step
nd Celestial Justice come. that step Is sure,
Un.rriug in her bolt, and where II falls
10 l',.rr,, ',rtII Ia. ,h. yy,in -