The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1886-09-02
CONVICT LABOR.

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tional Association Formed-ProhibItory
Legislation Demanded.
CHICAGO, Aug. 27.-A number OF prom.
inent manufacturers from all over the
country gathered Mt eleven O'Clock yeG.o--
day morning in club-room of the Grand
Pacific Hotel. The assembly was in re-
Spouse to call issued last last July by
Mr.. w. T. Lewis, u prominent
wagon and carriage manufacturer of
Racine. Wis. Mr. Lewis has for n long
time had under consideration the sub
iect OF convict labor and its ravages in
the field occupied by honest working men.
The oleots OF the convention were to con.
slider means OF abolishing the present sys-
tenn Of convict labor and devising menna
oil employing the prisoners confined IN the
penitentiary The meeting was called to
order at ll:15 o'clock with about two
dozen manufacturers present. Mr.. Lewis
was elected chairman and Mr.. Kinney, OF
Winona, MINI. secretary
Communicat ions from wardens of the
penitenthiries in the various States, in an
swer to II circular asking for Information
MS to the employment aud condition of
the convict, were read. From the
reports II seemed ms though the boot
and shoe, wagon-making aud stocking
manufacturing interests were mostly
interested in the prisou-labor qucs.
ton. In Florida the oonyicts are let out
to the contractors for naval stores. In
Tennessee 1900 vehicles are manu-.
featured at IL rate Of wages averaging
thirty.fve cents per day, In Louisiana
the prisoners are employed on the
levecs being let out to contractors,
who pay MI expenses and relieve the
state OF all cost except the apprehension
and conviction Of The convicts The
wardens OF the various prisons differed in
their opinions ON the subject OF the dam
age done to honest labor by the convict
system, but the weight OF opinion seems
to be expressed by one OF the wardcns,
who said II can conceive of no brunch OF
labor which is performed by convicts Mt
wages Of from fifteen to sixty cents per
day that can not be performed by honest
working men and pay them ten times the
wages
The chairman said it was impossible for
manufacturers employing free labor to
compete with the contractconviet system
AT present convicts are making goods
equal to those made by honest trndesmcn
Tor sometimes one-tenth the price. This
brought about the degradation of honest
toll, and honest toicrs were 10th To learn
a trade that opened no hope to future ad.
vancement.
The committee on organization Sc.
leeted at the morning session, reported |
after the noon recess. and constitution /
and bylaws were adopted Tho orranra.
ton will be known rs the National Anti |
Convict Contract Association Its object |
shall be the thorough investigation OF tho |
subject OF convict labor, for the pur
pose OF discovering and securing the .
OF that method of employ wing
prison populn tion in the various States in
n manner which shall be least burtlcnsonie
and oppressive to free labor and the man-
interests OF the country. Tho
annual membership fee WIS fixed at ten
dollars Tor manufacturers and fifty cents
Tor laborers and mechanics. Labor organ.
nations can be admitted, and are entitled
10 one delegate on the payment OF five
dollars, State organizations will also be
ormed with the same object in view
The election OF officers for tho organiEa.
ion resulted rs follows: President, w. T.
lewis, Racine, Wis; secretary and treas.
irer, George $. Rcdfeld, Chicago Execu.
i've Committee, Charles II. Deere. Moline;
!. w. Hinton, Winona: George Curtis,
linton, Ia; Mr.. Berky, Grand Rapids;
stephen Bull, Racine; ColonelJ. A. sexton.
'hicago ]. L. Smyser, Louisville. Eight
ice presidents were also chosen. +
w. c. Nones submitted resolution in
trneting the executive committee to in.
Iuire into the constitutonaity of a law to
'e passed by Congress prohibiting the sale
i goods the product OF convict labor
outside OF the State in which man.
iactured, and, no constitutional OBJ.
aCtlOns beinU found that They ba IN ! {
tructed to procure the passage OF such
NV by Congress. This was adopted, and
he secretary was instructed to issue a
lreular calling upon manufacturers TO
'in the association. Another resolution
assed was to the effect TINT the assoria.
ion favors the establishment OF one or !
lore federal prisons, not upon the con. ]
ract-labor system in order to Withdraw !
ON state prisons the federal prisoners
ow confined in them who are largely
orked upon the contract system, and To
i've the influence Of the Federal Govern
tent to a better system Of prison labor.
a committee oil five was appointed to 7
Emulate method Of employing convict
Ibor, taking the place of the contract
nd lease system, which should be
IS oppressive to the labor and industries I
this country, the COMMITTEES to report
'fore January J., 1887, to enable tho '
embers oil the association to present {
leir plan or plans to the various State
legislatures
Finally the association adopted n reso- ?
ton urgently requesting Congress to L
'ohibit by law tlia purchasing OF any
pods, produced in whole or part by con y
ct labor, for use in any Of the Govern
ent departments. The meeting then ad-