Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-08-27
CONVICT LABOR.
A CONVENTION OF MANUFACTURERS DIS
CUSS REMEDIES FOR THE EVIL.
Correspondence from Prison WaNdsnS in tn
Gus StatsS-Ths Trades Particularly AZ
fsCted-The Present System
t DeplOred.


prominent manufacturers from all over the
country assembled here to-day in response
to call issued last July by Mr.. w. T.
Lewis, q prominent manufacturer of Ra-
cine, Wis. Mr.. Lewis has for long time
had under consideration the subject of con-
vict labor. The objects of the conyen-
tion were to consider means of abolishing
the present system of convict labor and de-
vising means of employing prisoners con-
fined in the penitentiaries.
Communications from the wardens of
penitentiaries in various States, in answer
to circular
ASKING FOR INFORMATION
rs to employment of convicts, were read
From the reports it seemed rs though the
boot and shoe, wagon making and stock
ing manufacturing interests were mostly
interested in the prison labor question:.
In Florida the cOnvictS are let out to
contractors for naval stores. In Tennes-
see 19, 600 vehicles are made at rate of
wages averaging thirty-tive cents per day
In Louisiana the prisoners are employed
on leveeS, being let out to contractors who
pay all expenses and relieve the State of
cost. The wardens of various prisons
differed in their opinions on the subject of
the damage done to honest labor by the
convict system, but
THE WEIGHT OF OPINION
seemed to be expressed by one of the war
dens, who said:
81 can conceive of no branch of labor
which is performed by conyicts at wages
of from ten to sixty cents per day, that
cannot be performed by honest working
men and pays them ten times the wages. y
The chairman read paper in which the
subject of prison labor in all its aspects was
treated. He said it was impossible TO COM
pete with convict labor under the present
system. He thought it might be Il good
idea to adopt n suggestion offered him by
a prominent manufacturer, who said con-
yictS should be confined as they are at
present, but all machinery should be taken
out, leaving the cOnvicts to manufacture
goods on
THE OLD SYSTEM.
That idea will encourage honest young
men to learn trades. Another idea, and
the speakers favorite one, was to put the
prisoners at work in improving and macad-
amizing the public roads. The Chairman
finished rs follows:
81 trust that you will appoint commit
tee to draft n constitution and bylaws for
IN association which shall have for
its object the abolition of the present sys-
TEN and the substitution of system which
shall be of public benefit us well as en-
plOying unfortunate cOnyictS, and equally
distributing the burden of their mainte-
nance upon the entire public
An adjournment was then had until
afternoon, when Geo. $. Rcdiicld, of the
National Tubular Axle Company, of Me
KeeSpOrt, Pa, addressed the Convention.
BY vote the Association was named the
National Anti-COnvict Contract ASSOCia-
tiOn. The
OBJECT OF THE ASSOCIATION
was defined to be the thorough inveStiga-
tion Of the subject of convict labor for the
purpose of discovering and securing the
adoption of that method of employing
prison population in the various States
which shall be least burdenSome and
oppressive to free labor and the manutac-
turing interests of the country, all proper
conditions considered. The annual dues
were fixed at so for manufacturers, fifty
cents for labOrcrS and mechanics, and 81
for any body of workmen TO be represented
by one delegate. {. T. Lewis, OF Racine,
Wis, was elected President and Christie
pher Holz, of Chicago, First Vice PrcSi-
dent.