Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-20

aud through the public prints of the
whole United States, TO employ every un.
employ d skilled stonecuLter In the ate
OF Texas at regular wages prevailing for
the kind OF work performed by such
skilled workmen az shown by the prices
paid on other buildings where they and
others had boon and were employed. In
the sixth place, there are not enough men
among all the 2 800 convcts Ia Texas
penitentiarles who are skilled stonecut.
tiers TO furnish stone for one OF the great
! columns OF the new capitol az fast as 10
would be needed, let alone on the whole
structure. Lastly, Mr.. Wllke, the man
actually Ia charge of the construction, Is
a skilled stOnecutter himself, and Is On
posed, both in principle and as matter
OF policy, 10 employing convicts on that
great work, The facts, therefore, are all
against this charge Of employing con.
vlctg.
OF the 2900 convIcts In Texas about $50
are employed at Huntsvilla in the shops
aud make all the clothes and shoes, bed
oil &, etc, used by all the cnnylcts i'm the
state, besides making furniture, wagons,
engines. etc. This kind OF work Is nee.
tssary from the standpoint OF phlIan.
thropy and craftsmanship, outside OF the
question OF mere labor, as 1t serves TO
teach the coDyicts some useful trade, thus
Offering 10 them every inducement 10 be-
come useful citizens, and TO make good
living wnen liberated, The vast majority
81 those 80 taught In our prisons become
honest, good citizens after serving their
terms III prison. AT Rask, where are dc.
yelopod tho iron Industries OF East Texas,
ABOUT QUO convicts are employed, run
nlng amsltlng works, the blast
furnaces, getting out wood and burn
ing charcoal, and running the wood, fur
nlture, and blacksmith shops. without
the development OF this vast iron interest
by the state hundreds Who now earn an
honest living by their free labor would
be without employment On the state
convict farm about 200 are employed in
cultlvating the place, raising produce for
the penltentiaries; aud all 0f the female
convlcts, numbering about $50, arc on
farm and prison kept for them alone.
rms leaves balance OF about HOO or
lsOO, who are hired out on railroads, va
rlouS plantations, etc, and who are well
cared for aud watched over. They are
all well aud comfortably clothed, fed on
good, wholesome food Ia abundance, ana
are as contented as any men could
possibly be who are restrained OF their
liberty,
AS for the objections to the system by
so-called labor organizations, they de-
serve no consideration unless they have
more foundation than those raised about
the convict system In Texas interfering
with honest labor. In spite OF
the liberal offer OF the capitol
syndicate to employ every skilled
stonecutter in Texas, the so-cailea
labor associations hampered the work,
hedged the contractor round about with
difficulties, or ordered strikes, issued cir
GUAR 10 every town, city and state and
sent them to foreign countries, misrepre.
srnting the work, until they succeeded In
preventing thousands OF their fellow.
citizens who really wish to make an
houest living from going to work.
rhe Organization leaders know
That the contractors OF sulh
100 are under heavy bonds 70 perform
lhe work IN such time, and these osten-
si1le efforts TO aid tle ''p0nr, down |
trodden workmen" are ia realty the only
methods used by uuscrupulous leaders 10 |
Induce tnese same contractors TO buy |
them (the leaders) OF In order that labor |
may 60 ahead on the contract. This is