Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1886-09-02

4 uonh Associaion Eormed-Prohtbitory
Legislation Demanded.
| CHICAGO, Aug. PA number of prom
inent manufacturers from all over the
country gathered at eleven O'Clock yester-
day morning In club room of the Grand
Pacific Hotel. The assembly was in re-
sponse TO "A call issued last last July by
Mr. W. Il. Lewis, prominent
wagon and carriage manufacturer of
Racine. Wis. Mr.. Lewis has for "A long
time had under consideration the sub
! iect OF convict labor and it's ravages in
the field occupied by honest working men.
The ojects OF the convention were TO con-
slider means OF abolishing the present sys-
tenn of convict labor and devising means
OF employing the prisoners confined in the
penitentiary. The meeting was called to
order at 1l:l5 o'clock, with about two
dozen manufacturers present. Mr.. Lewis
was elected chairman and Mr.. Kinney. OF
| Winona, Mimi. secretary.
Communications from wardens of the
penitentiaries in the various States, in an
swer TO n circular asking for information
as to the employment and condition of
the convicts, were read. From the
reports u seemed as though the boot
| and shoe wagon-making and stocking
msnufa curing interests were mostly
| interested in the prison labor ques-
ton. In Florida the convicts are let out
TO the contractors for naval stores In
Tennessee 10000 vehicles are manu-.
featured at IA rate OF wages averaging
thirty-tive cents per day. In Louisiana
the prisoners are EMPLOYED on the
ievees, being let out TO contractors.
who pay all 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
20 be Expressed by one of the wardcns,
Who said: II can conceive OF no branch OF
labor which is performed by convicts at
wages oil irom 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 IL was impossible for
manufacturers employing free labor to
compete with the contract-convict system.
At present convIcts are making goods
equal to those made by honest tradesmen
Tor sometimes onetenth the price. This
brought about the degrade sion of honest
toll, and honest tocrs were 10th to learn
a trade that opened no hope to future adj
vancement.
The committee on organization, Sc
lected at the morning session, reported
"a
! and bylaws were adopted. The organiAt.
| ton will be known the National Anti.
Convict Contract Association. Its object
shall he the thorough investigation of tho
subject OF convict labor, for the pur.
| pose oi discovering and securing the
adoption of that method OF EMPLOYING
prison population in the various states i'm
manner which shall he least burdensome
and oppressive to free labor and the mau.
To- -. -
annual membership fec was fixed at ten
dollars for manufacturers and fifty cents
Tor laborers and mechanics. Labor organ.
izations can be admitted, and are entitled
TO one delegate on the payment OF five
dollars. state organizations will also be
formed with the same object in view.
The election OF officers for the organiza-
ton resulted as follows: President, w. T.
Lewis, Racine, Wis. secretary and treas.
urer, George 5. Redtied, Chicago Exccu.
tive Committee, Charles II. Deere Moline;
J. w. Hinton, Winona; George Curtis,
Clinton, la; Mr.. Berky, Grand Rapids;
Stephen Bull, Racine; ColonelJ. \. Sexton,
Chicago; j. l.. Smyser Louisville. Eight
vlce-Dresidents were also chosen.
w. Z. Nones submitted "a resolution in
structing the executive committee to in
| quire into the constitutionality of "A law TO
he passed by Congress prohibiting the sale
| III goods the product OF convict labor
| outside of the State in which man
ufactured, and, no constitutional oh.
I lections being found. that they be in.
structed to procure the passage OF such a
| law by Congress. This was adopted and
the secretary was instructed to issue a
circular calling upon manufacturers to
| join the association. Another resolution
| passed was to the effect that the associn-
tion iavors the esta blishment OF one or
| more federal prisons, not upon the con
| trnct-abor system, in order TO withdraw
from State prisons the federal prisoners
now confined in them who are largely
worked upon the contract system, and to
| give the influence of the Federal Govern
ment TO better system of prison labor.
A committee OF five was appointed to
formulate a method of employing convict
labor, taking the place of the contract
ana lease system, which should he
less oppressive to the labor and Industries
OF this country, the committee TO report
before January ], 1887 to enable tho
members OF the association to present
their plan or plans TO the various state
| Legislatures.
Finally the association adopted a reso-
luton urgently requesting Congress to
prohibit by law the purchasing of any
goods produced in whole or part by con
vtct labor, for use in any OF the Govern.
ment departments. The meeting then adj
| journed sine die