The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-07

The question of convict labor, it's prop
err use and the method in which 1t should
be treated, is one of no little Importance.
The argument against the convict labor is
about as follows:
It is the exclusive employment by
government of labor saving machine III
competition with certain portion of citi
zens who have no such advantage. The
state prison turned into mechanical IN
stitute is, in effect, labor-saving machine
for the cost of the labor is the cost OF
mere substances; hence the state can Wen
afford to sell articles of prison manufac-
ture at prices which overmaster anu rum
the labor of the honest craftsman. mus
ia the free citizens vocation inter
fered with by degrading rivalry Inc
cardinal object of government is the equal
protection of all citizens; yet this OBJECT is
opposed by the convict labor system Tor
the moment the prisoner is set to work. ana
the products of his labor sold, some lnno-
cent citizen is unequally and oppresslVeiy
burdened. If this citizen is driven to Tor
sake his own overstocked calling, and en-
cage in some other, he not only loses the
money value of his skill in the surrendered
calling. but his competition in the new
branch to which he resorts will operate IN
iuriously to those already engaged IN 1t. IL
the equal rights of one citizen be trampied
ON by our state prison system, there Is
ground to require a reformation OF It, Ii
the profits of any class of laborers or OF
tradesmen are diminished, though but ID
the proportion of mill on the dollar they
have right to demand redress, for 1t IS
grave wrong to injure them to any extent
whatever by the means used for the pun
ishment of malefactors. Government mas
no right to set up labor-saving machine
and to enter into competition with any Cit
zen or any class of its citizens in airy pur
suit of industry.
That the argument is good one, Ie"
people will deny, the only question lies IL
the remedy Many have been proposed
but most of them are bad. One propose
is made that the convict should be KEEP
i
order to be more than mere place OF pun
ishment, must be in the nature OF fe1or
matory. Most of the convicts are In 1or
stated period, he it long or Short ana
contemplation of the fact that at the enS
of that period they will be once more 1re'
to mingle among us, is enough to show tn
necessity of teaching them some traa
which will enable them to earn an hones
living when they get out it they are St
dismissed: and many of them are so dis
posed. Besides it is much easier to teacl
q busy man habits of honesty, than an ldf
one.
Another remedy that they be taken ava
from the shoe trade, for instance, and pu
at some other. say stone cutting IS peg
cling of the question. 1t releases the shoe
makers, but burdens the stone cutters DC
il convicts are put to work on roads an
public improvements, the same 1n]ustlc
works, but in greater degree, for
throws out of employment the class OF me
who are least able to stand the day laboI
ers, who receive but little pay, and haV
no capital in the shape of skill to hei
them.
The argument is made that they shoui
be set at some work not generally done
this country, should be taught some trad
not practiced among us. In that way
Injustice would be done to the hone
workman, while 1t would be the means
introducing among us crafts not now pra
ticed This is undoubtedly better rem
DIV, but the trouble in it. lies in the Ia
that it is not wholly Practicable That
could be done to limited extent there
is no doubt; but the fact remains that Il
law OF supply and demand sees to it til
if there IS but little supply of any artic
there is also but a small demand. Hen
it would be impossible to keep all the co
victs employed.
The best remedy seems to be that t
above should be applied as far as possln
and for the rest they be employed IN
same manner as now; but that TINS dih
ence be regarded in the manner OF dlsp
ing of their works That instead OF usl
the labor which costs only board
clothes, to undersell honest and paid lap
that the goods manufactured by convi
be sold at the same prices as those OF otl
manufacturers That if this is rendel
impossible by reason of close competlt
they be sold in open market to the high
bidder in such manner as to secure g
prices for them.
Something must be done, that Is cert
and it must be effectual.
A correspondent sends to the Bos