The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-10-27
ATTENTION, woRKINaMEN!
The Public Buildings Of the United
States Being Constructed by
Convict Labor Under a Re-
publican Administration
Convict Labor Brought into COMPETE
ton with Honest Labor on the
Public Works.


| desire through your columns to ad
dress few words to the sober reflection
of the workiugmeu of Illinois and the
country, and especially to those who follow
the trade OF stonecutting. with view of
enabling them 10 determine what action
in the approaching Presidential Election
their best interests, and their duty TO their
country dictates tLem to take, ana [ am
prompted to do this by reading an article
from Republican paper, stating that the
election of General Hancock would be the
ruin OF stonecutters, masons. etc,
The workingmen have a common cause,
[ address myself especially to the stone
cutters, because learned that trade when
a boy, and have followed the use of the
"mallet and chiser' for livelihood, and
feel myself better qualified with matters
bearing upon its lwelibeing and prospect
ty in which | am hcartilylinterested.
| believe | can truthtuliy say. that | am
as we'll known, if not better known, TO the
body of stOnecutters in the United States
than any other man in them. | was
superintendent of the stonccutting at the
Rock Island Arsenal. for nearly twelve
years. and for several years was elected
to the Board of Aldermen from the third
ward of SAID city; during my superinten-
deuce OF said stonecuttlng, | employed
and had under me many thousands OF
stonecutters; the number employed at
times during this period frequently ex-
ceeded thousand men. L was also super
interdent of the stone work OF the old
Custom House. and Merchant's Exch auge
at St Louis and more recently have been
connected with the stone work on
81. johns College, and the National
. o;fy Of u
Letters in my possession from Col, d.
w. E.agler, COMMANDING officer al the
arsenal, and from the lion w. 2. Butler,
ex mayor of the city OF Rock Island, aud
formerly lieutenant OF ordnance al the
arsenal, while General Rodman was in
cJlnmaIG; from the Hon. Josiah Dent,
torn erly connected with tho work a the
old custom house and Merchants Elk
change at St Louis, as president OF tho
company which had the contracts for
said works, aud now one Of the Commis-
sioners OF the District OF Coium bia, as
well as from others-bear testimony to
the fact that my duties were performed
faithfully and capably. while / believe thas
| have the respect and esteem OF every
mechanic and laboring man who worked
under me, and that there is not ono OF
them who will not chccrfu!ly say that he
was always justly and fairly ueated by
me; these facts | mention simply by way
of introduction, 10 order that II any of the
men who have worked under me, should
read tins letter, they will know who the
writer IS.
During the time have been in Wash
ington. ] have closely observed the nIan-'
ner 10 which stonccutters are treated
upon the public works, under this Repub-
lican administration, and now propose to
inform the stonecutters OF the country of
the facts, who will then be enabled TO say.
whether the ruin" OF the trade about
which the Republicans seems to be so ten
DERBY sensitive, and which they say is TO
follow the election of General Hancock.
has not been already accomplished By the
acts and policy Of Republican admins
tration, as nearly as it is possible to do it.
The public works going on at present in
w ashington, consist principally OF the new
state, war and navy department buildings,
and the Washington National Monument
Stonecutters, ID the cant phrase of the
trade. denominate job where it is In
possible for them to earn fair wages,
as '-siaug hter- house" and the con
ditions under which the work
is done at the Monument en-
titles it pre- eminently to this distinction.
The work is done by the piece, and a man.
unless favored one. ao1th stones selected,
cannot average more than from 81 SO to
81 90 per day. Should q foot of rough
occur on the bed or joint, there is nothing
extra allowed. 4 number of these men
have worked for me, and l know them to
be No. | stoneeutters, yet their utmost
efforts do not avail to earn 81 80 per day.
Thus advantages are taken of the stone
cutters by this liberal and bene6cient
Republican Administration, that a
private employer would scorn to do: lack
of private employment enables it to be
done.
The Hon. Mr.. Murch. Of Maine. pro-
cured EN- ployment, at this work, for seve-
raj stonecutters from Maine, excellent
workmen, and they left in disgust. after
finding the iiliberai terms of their employ
nent, not being able to make wages.
The work on the State. War and Navy
Department buildings furnishes another
instance oil the soiicitous regard and fost-
eriug caro- of this Republican administra-
ton, for the comfort and we'll being of the
honest stonecutters of this country, IN the
fact. which | assert, upon personal knowl
edge. having been there aud saw the
matter in operation; that the stone used
in its construction is quarried By convicts
from the cuarries near Richmond, Virgin
ia. and is cut by conVictS at the same
place, and boxed aud shipped to Wash
ington ready to be set in the building
Stonecutters, think of thatl Working
men. think of it! One of your greatest
grievances has been the introduction OF
convict labor into the markets OF trade to
your disadvantage.
Just how Geperal Hancock can imp prove
upon these methods, to the disadvantage
and ruin" of the trade, is question that
/ think it will puzzle stonecutters to answer.
The working men of this country can
never and will never consent that their
honest labor shall be brought iato compe-
tition with the dishonest labor of the scum
aud outcasts of society collected in our
peniteniiGries, and any party which, directly
or indirectly. aids and abets, sanctions OF
permits, this to be done will meet with
their indignation at the polls. Remember
that here, in the capital of the Nation, a
Republican administration has permitted
and allowed this rank offence against the
stonecutters. and through them against
the entire body Of the honest workingme
of the nation, to be perpetrated,
Let it be resented in the most afiicaeious
way at the polls in Noyembe by the elec-
ton of General Hancock. The workings
men have been called upon time AID
again, to elect Statesmen" so-calied, and
speculative politicians. now let them try
the manly straightforward soldier, Han.
cock. and it all signs and Indications Of
..ls a ~ Il