The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-27
PRISON LABOR DISCUSSED
IMPORTANT MEETING OF MANU-
FACTURERS AT CHICAGO
To Consider Means for AbOlishing
the Present System OF Con-
Wet Labor.


July by Mr.. T. w. Lewis, a prominent
manufacturer OF Racine, Wis. MI.
Lewis has for long time had under
consideration the subject OF convict
labor. The objects OF the convention
were to consider means OF aD plisbing
the present system CT convict labor,
and devising means OF employing the
prisoners confined in the penitent a.
iies.
The meeting was called to order
with about twenty-five manufacturers
present. Mr. Lewis was elected chair
man and Mr.. Kinney, OF Winona,
Mimi, secretary.
Communications from wardens OF
the penitentiaries in the various
States, in answer TO a circular asking
for information as to the employment
and condition of the convicts, were
read.
From the reports il seemed az
though the boot and shoe, wagon
manufacturing and stocking manu-
featuring interests were most inter
ested in the prison labor question. In
Florida the conviCts are let out to the
contractors for naval stores. In Ten
nessee l9,0O0vehicles are manufactured
at rate averaging 50 cents per day.
In Louisiana the prisoners are EN-
p'oyed on the lev6e, being let TO the
contractors who pay all expenses apd
relieve the State of oil cost.
The wardens OF the various peni-
tentiaries 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, al can conceive OF no branch
OF labor which is performed by con-
vic's at wages of from ID cents to %
cents per day that cannot be performed
by honest woIkingmen and pay them
ten times the wages"
A communication from st. Louis
chair manufacturer said that the men
had been out on strike and returned.
Ear from feeling any exulta6on over
the affair" seid the writer, we all SYM
pathize 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 IA to
20 cents day, and how can we live
and pay 81 per dsyW
Reports from the warden Of the pen
itentiary at Auburn, N. Y, went to
show that the State convict system
had been successful in bis prison. he
raid that the Boots and shoes manu-
fsclured in the prison were in demand
on the market and had never beer
sold below the market price Of homes
labor goods.
The chairman read paper in which
the subject of prison labor in all it
aspects was treated. He taid that i
was impossible to compete with con
vict laoor under the present system
He thought it might be good ides Il
adopt suggestion offered him by
prominent manufacturer, who saiC
that convicrs should be confined a
they are at present, but that all ma
chiDery shonld be taken out, leaving
the convicts to manufacture goods OF
the "old syetem." That idea woul,
encourage honest young men to lear
trades. Another idea, and the speak
er's favorite, was to put the prisoner
at work in improving the public reads
The chairman finished his address q
follows: ~ trust that you will ar
point committees to draft a constitu
ton and bylaws for an association
which shall have for its object tn
abolition OF the present system an
the substitution OF system whic
shall be OF public benefit IS well a
employing the unfortunate conviC
and equally distributing the burde
of maintenance upon the entire world.
An adjournment was then take
until afternoon, when George S. Roc
field, OF the National Tabular Con
pany OF McKeesport, Pa, addrese
the convention.
The ass pciation was named the M
tional Aid Convict Association. Th
object of the associations was define
to be thorough investigation OF th
subject OF convict labor, for the pu
pose OF discovering and securing tn
adoption of that method of employin
prison population in the various State
which shall be least burdeneome an
oppressive to free labor and the mani
featuring interests OF the country-a
proper conditions considered. TIL
annual dues were fixed at $40 fC
manufactures, 80 cents for laborel
and mechanics, and 50 for any body I
workmen 10 be represented by or
delegate. @. T. Lewis, Of Racine, WI
unanimously elected president; Chril
topher Hollis, OF Chicago, fist vic
president. The following were electe
State vice presidents. Iowa, F.
UPTON; kentucky, W. O, Nones; IL
diana, @. Studebaker; Wisconsin
Chas. T. Bradley; Missouri, J, @. Be
ger; Minnesota, II, M. Kinney; MiCl
ipan, ]. II. Whitney.
The Executive Committee was a,
: thorized 10 appoint the vice pres
dents for the other States.
A Congressional enactment prohiI
iting the sale of convict labor goo'
! outside of the Slate in which man
! lactured was Endorsed by the CONVEX
ton.
Resolutions were also passed sskiI
, that the government be required
.. withdraw Federal prisoners from Sta
! prisons worked upon tho contract sy
TEN, and that the purchase of prise
! labor products for government use
l made illegal.
f. A. Flower, Geo. 8, Redfeld,
Studebaker, H.C. Wright and Oh. Il
were appointed committee to form
) late a method OF employing convi
: labor less oppressive to the industri
!. interests OF the country than the pre-
! ent system. They we're instructed
report before January, 1887.
The convention then adjourned.
! RAISED the Boycott.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, August 26,-Tl
; aoc;aliata and anarchiets OF this ci