The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-08-27
LABOR IN PRISONS.
CONTRACT SYSTEM,
An Association Formed to Lessen the Evils
of Competition with Legitimate Manu-
faSturers- The Testimony Of Prison
Wardens ON the Subject,

CHICAGO, August ga number oi
prominent manufacturers from all over
the country assembled hero to-day in re-
spOnse to call issued last July by Mr.
W, T, Lewis, q prominent manufacturer
Of Racine, Wis. Mr., Lewis has for a long
time had under consideration the subject
Of convict labor The objects Of the con-
vention were to consider the means ol
aboltshing the present system OF convict
labor and devisiHg means OF employing
prisoners confined in the penltentlary,
Communications from wardeus Of penl'
tent,arles in various States in answer to a
circular asking for information as to the
employment OF convicts were read. From
the reports 1t seemed as though the
boot and shoe, wagon making and stock
ing manufacturing interests We're mostly
interested in the prison labor question,
In Florida the Convicts are lot out to con-
tractors for naval stores
In Tennessee 10, 600 vehicles are made at
rate Of wages averaging 30 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
all 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: NJ eau conceive Of no
branch OF labor which Is performed by
conViCts at wages OF from 10 to 60 cents
per day that could he performed by honest
workingmen and pay them ten times the
wages"
The chairman read q paper In which
the subject OF prison labor in all Its
aspects was treated. lie said 1t was I'm.
possible to compete with convict labor
under the present system. He thought it
might be good idea to adopt a sugges.
tion offered him by O prominent manu-
taCturer who said ConviCts should be con-
fined as they are at present, but all ma.
chinery 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 favor
ite one, was to put the prisoners at work
In improving and matchmaking the pub.
liz roads. The chairman finished as fol-.
lows: II trust that you will appoint a
committee 10 draft q constitution and by.
laws for an association which shall have
for Its object the abolition OF the present
system and the substitution OF a system
which shall be OF public benefit as well as
employing unfortunate conVicts and
equally distributing the burden OF main
tenanCe upon the entire public"
By vote the association was named the
National Anti.ConviCt Contract AssoCia.
tion. The object Of the association was
defined to be the thorough investigation
Of the subject OF convict labor for the pur.
pose Of discovering and securing the adOp.
tion OF that method OF employing the
prison population In the various States
which shall be the least burdensome and
oppressive TO free labor and the manu-.
featuring interests OF the country, all
proper conditions considered. Tho an.
nual dues were fixed al $40 for manuiac.
turers, fifty cents for laborers and
mechanics and S. for any body Of work
men to be represented by one delegate.
Q. I. Lewis, OF Racine, Wis, Was elected
President, and Christopher Holz, Chicago,
First Vice President. The convention
then adjourned.