The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-10-01
Noe long since. at the suggestion Q

Not long since, at the suggestion OF
friends of w. H. Harrison, of the town
of Randall, his name was announced
in the TELEGRAPH as candidate for
member of the state legislature. Since
then his name has been mentioned as a
candidate for the Office in papers out
side the county. One Of these favorable
notices of Mr.. Harrison is published
below:
william III. Harrison, of Randall,
has yielded to the urgent solicitations
of his friends, and has become candi-
date for the Assembly from Kenosha
county. Now, although the Gazette is
published in Illinois, it has large mum.
Der of readers in southern Wisconsin, a
great majority who are neighbors and
friends of Mr.. Harrison; hence it is
eminently proper that we should voice
the sentiment of the people of Randall
in particular. He is an intelligent,
prosperous and progressive farmer;
his character is irreproachable, his in
tegrity is unquestioned, and he is pos
sessed of marked ability in diverse di-
rections. In short. he is a man of
sterling qualities and sound judgment,
and we'll worthy to occupy seat
among the lawmakers of Wisconsin.
In addition to Mr.. Harrison's pure
record as civilian is his record as a
gallant soldier. Actuated by spirit
of manly loyalty and burning patriot
ism, he joined the ranks of the heroes
and followed the victorious banner in
its triumphal march through the
haunts of treason. "o'
"In view.of all these facts, we cheer
fully lend our influence to the promo
ti0n of Mr.. Harrison's interests, and
we bespeak for him hearty support
in the Convention"
| The Geneva Herald has an editorial
equally complimentary to Mr.. W. FL.
Harrison as the one above from the
Richmond Gazette.
In the second resolution of the So
called Labor Party, adopted at their
convention at Neenah on the 10th ult.,
they demand that " the present system
of imported, contract, prison and child
labor shall be abolished These items
are separated by punctuation, and
must consequently be considered sepa-
rately, and we would like an explana-
tion of just what is meant by this dec
laration.
If they would abolish all imported
labor, weTmust shut off all immigra
ton, except for those who are able to
live without labor, or support in idle
ness those who are able and willing,
but not allowed to labor. What else
does this item mean, and what have
our adopted citizens to say in regard
to the immigration of their friends?
They demand to abolish contract"
labor. What better method of per-
forming certain labor than by contract,
wherein no after dispute need arise in
regard to compensation, provided the
work is completed according to con-
tract? Buildings are erected, bridges
constructed and railroads built by con-
tract, and we would be pleased to listen
to any better system which can be
adopted.
They would abolish "prison" labor.
In the state prison at Waupun,
exclusive of servants and common
laborers of all work, there are between
200 and 800 productive laborers, and at
the House of Correction in Milwaukee
something less-perhaps $50 to 500, all
told, at both prisons. What shall be
done with these prisoners? Shall they
be kept In solitary confinement and
supported in idleness at the expense of
honest labor, or be made to assist in
paying their own way? 1t is not prob
able that 400 or 500 unskilled laborers
will revolutionize the mechanical
trades of the state. AT Waupun the
prisoners are engaged in the manufac-
ture of shoes, and at Milwaukee in the
manufacture of chairs of various kinds.
If the products Of their labor are made
to compete with honest free toll, then
these branches may suffer; but if the
state has control of the sales, goods of
equal quality should not be put upon
the market to under-sell other manu-.
facturers.
We have heard much said in regard
to abolishing prison labor, but have as
yet failed to hear of any plausible
method of employing the prisoners.
Humanity, alone, would forbid con-
slant solitary confinement. It's suf-
ficient tax upon honest labor to defray
the expense of their conviction and
punishment, without supporting them
in idleness. We would not place our
selves upon record as opposing any
substitution for the present system,
but ask for some feasible plan to re-
lieve the tax-paying community of the