The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-27
CONVICT LABOR.
Prominent Manufacturers Discuss the Ques.
tion and Seek Solution of 1t.

Prominent Manufacturers Discuss the Ques-
tion and Seek a Solution of It,
CHICAGO. Aug ga number Of prominent
Manufacturers from all over the country assem-
bled here to-day. in response to call issued last
July by Mr. W. T. Lewis, prominent manufact-
urer of Racine Wis. Mr.. Lewis has for along time
had under consideration the subject of convict
labor. The objects of the convention were to
consider means of abolishing the present system
Of convict labor and devising means OF employ
Ing the prisoners confined in the penitentiaries.
The meeting was called to order with about
twenty five manufacturers present Mr. Lewis
was elected. chairman, and Mr.. Kinney, of Wi
mona, MINI, secretary Communications from
Wardens Of the penitentiaries in various
States, in answer TO circular asking
for information as TO the employment and con-
dition of the convicts, were read. From the re-
ports it seemed as though the boot and shoe,
wagon-making aud stocking manufacturing in
terests were mostly interested in the prison
labor question. In Florida the convicts are let
out to the contractors for naval stores. In Ten
nessee 10000 vehicles are manufactured, at a
rate of wages averaging IS cents per day. In
prisoners
levees. being lee out to contractors who pay all
expenses and gelieve the State of all cost The
wardens of various peEitentiaries 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 wardens who said: II can conceive of
no branch of labor which is performed by con-
victs at wages of from 15 to go cents per day
that cannot be performed by honest working
men and pay them ten times the wages"
m car a n al ir MI IN
ufacturer said that his men had been out on
strike and had returned Far from feeling any
exultation over the affair." said the writer I'VE
all sympathiZe with our men and appreciate their
struggles against poverty and almost starvation.
but what can we do when we have to compete
with convict labor, which costs from Il to 20
cents day, and how can we live and pay So per
dayP
Reports from the warden of the pententiary
at Auburn, n. Y, went to show that the State
account system had been successful in his pris
on. He said that the boots and shoes manu-
factured in the prison were in demand on the
market and had never been sold below the mar
ket price of honest-labor goods.
The chairman read paper in which the sub
ject Of prison labor in all its aspects treated
He said that it was impossible to compete with
convict labor under the present system He
thought it might be a good idea to adopt sug-
geston offered him by a prominent manufact-
urer who said that convicts should be confined,
as they are at present, but that all machinery
should 5e taken out, leaving convicts to manu-
facture goods on the s'old system" That idea
would encourage honest young men to learn
trades. Another idea, and the speakers favor
ite one, was to put the prisoners at work in i'm
proving the public roads. The chairman finished
his address as follows:
"T trust that you will appoint committees to
draft a constitution and bylaws for an assoca-
tion which shall have for its object tho abolition
of the present system and the substitution of
system which shall be of public benefit as well
as employing the unfortunate copvcts and
equally distributing the burden of maintenance
upon the entire public
At the afternoon session George S. Redfeld.
of the National Tubular Axle Company. of Nc
Keesport. Pa, addressed the convention.
By vote the association was named the Ma
tional Anticonvct Contract Association. The
object of the association was defined to be the
thorough investigation of the subject of convict
labor, for the purpose of discovering and secur-
ing adoption Of that method Of employing prison
population IN the various States which shall be
least burdensome and oppressive to free labor
and the manufacturing interests of the country,
all proper conditions considered The annual
dues were fixed at $40 for manufacturers, so
cents for laborers and mechanics, and So for any
body Of wcrkmen to be represented by one dele.
gate.
g. r. Lewis of Racine, was unanimously
elected president; Christopher Holtz, of Chicago
hrst vice-president. The following were elected
State vice-presidents Iowa +. j. Upton Ken
tucky, w. u NoDes; lnuIana, -. Otudeoaker;
Wisconsin, Charles L. Bradley Missouri, j. O.
Berge; Minnesota, a. IL Kinney; Michigan, j. H.
Whitney
The executive committee was authorized to
appoint tile ce-presidents for the other States
A congressional enactment prohibiting the sale
Of convict labor goods outside of the State in
which manufactured was indorsed by the con-
vention Resolutions were also passed asking
that the government be required to withdraw
federal prisoners from State prisons worked
upon the contract system, and that the purchase
Of prison labor products for government use be
made illegal.
F. A. Flower, George Redhcld, G. Studebaker
and a. G. Wright were appointed committee
20 formulate method of mploying convict labor
less oppressive to the industrial interests of the
country than the present system. They were
instructed to report before January, 1887.