St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-08-27
HE CONVICT CURSE.
TIL T
L Wisconsin Manufacturer Inaugurates a
Movement Destroy With Peniten-
tiary Labor.
Ee is Seconded in His Efforts by Winona
Capitalist and People From All
Sections.
The Humorist of the Estelline Bell
D1sposes of His Paper and
Escapes.
A PugilIst Who Was Too Handy With
His Fists in Trouble at
Hudson.
Convict Labor.

CHICAGO, Aug. GA number of prom
ment manufacturers from all over the coun-
Try assembled here to-day in response to a
sall issued last July by Mr. w. L. Lewis of
Racine, Wis Mr.. Lewis has for a long
time had under consideration the subject of
convict labor. The object of the conven-
lion is to consider means to abolish the
present system of convict labor and devils
ing means OF employing the prisoners con-
fined 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, Mimi, secretary. Communications
from wardens Of the prisons in the various
states i'll answer to circular
ASKING FOR INFORMATION
as to the employment and condition of the
convictS were read. From the reports it
seemed as though the boot and shoe, the
wagon making and stocking manufacture
ing interests were mostly interested in the
prison labor question. In Louisiana the
prisoners are employed on the leyees, be-
ing let out to contractors, who pay all ex-
penses, and relieve the ttate of all costs.
The wardens of the various prisons diff
fered in their opinions on the subject of the
damage done to honest labor by the convict
system, but the weight. of the opinion
seemed TO be expressed by one OF the war
denS. who said:
Il can conceive of no branch of
labor which is performed by convicts
st wages from fifteen to sixty cents
day that cannot be performed by hon
est worlingmen and pay them ten times
the wages
A communication from st. Louis chair
manufacturer said that the men had been
out on a strike and returned. Far from
feeling any eXultation over the affair."" said
the writer 1--WE all
SYMPATuIZE WITH OUR MEN
and appreciate their struggles against pov-
erty and almost starvation, put what can
we dc when We have to compete with con-
Wet labor, which costs from IA to 20 cents
a day, and how can we live and pay 50 per
day? Reports from the warden of the
prison at Auburn, n. Y, went to show that
the state account system had been success
full in his prison. He said that the boots
and shoes manufactured in the
prison were in demand OH the
market and had never been sold
below the market price of honest labor
goods. The chairman read a paper in
which the subject of prison labor in all it's
aspects was treated. He said it was I'M
possible to compete with convict labor I'M
der the present system. He thought 1t
might be a good idea to adopt a suggestion
offered him by prominent manufacturer,
who said that convctS should be confined
as they are at present, but that all ma
chinery should be taken out, leaving the
convicts to manufacture goods on ''the old
system" That idea would encourage hon
est young men to learn trades Another
idea, and the speakers favorite one, was
to put the prisoners at work in improving
and macadamiZng the public roads. The
chairman finished his address as follows:
Il trust that you will appoint committee to
draft q constitution and bylaws for an associa-
ton which shall have for its object the abolition
of the present system and the substitution of
a system which shall be Of public benefit as
well as employing the unfortunate convict
and equally distributing the burden Of main
tenance upon the entire public"
An adjournment was then taken until
afternoon. At the afternoon session George
S. Redfeld Of the National Tubular Axle
company of McKeeSport Pa, addressed the
convention.
BY vote the association was named the
National Anti-Convct Contract association.
The object Of the ASSOCIATION was defined to
be thorough investigation of the subjects of
convict labor. for the purpose OF discerning
and securing the adoption of that method
of employing prison population in the vari-
GUS states which shall be least hindelsome
and oppressive to free labor and the manu-
featuring interests of the country, all proper
conditions considered. The annual dues
were fixed at SO for manufacturers, SO
cents for laborers and mechanics and SIS for
any body of workmen to be represented by
one delegate. G. 7. Lewis of Racine Wis,
was unanimously elected president, Chris
tOpher Holz of Chicago, first vice president.
The following were elected
STATE VICE PRESIDENTS:
Iowa. 2. j. Upton; Kentucky, Charles L.
Bradley; Missouri. c. Berge; Minnesota,
H NJ. Kinney: Michigan, j. II. Whitney.
The executive committee was authorized to
appoint the vice presidents for the
other states. A congressional enactment
prohibiting the sale of convict labor goods
outside of the state in which manufactured
was Endorsed by the convention. Resolu-
tons were also passed asking that the gov
eminent be required to withdraw federal
the contract system, and that the purchase
of prison labor products for government
use be made Illegal. z. A. Flower, George
I. Redtield, c.. Studebaker. II. G. Wright
and G. Ii. Lee were appointed committee
TO formulate a method of employing convict
labor less oppressive to the industrial in
terests of the country than the present sys-
tenn. They were instructed to report be-
fore January, 1887. The convention then
adjourned