St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-24
THE MINNEAPOLIS pOsTOFFICE.
Protests From Democrats and Work
ingmen ApainsI Convict Labor.


If public sentiment is to be considered.
the government authorities at Washington in
receiving proposals for the stOne-work for
the superstructure of the Minneapolis post
Office, will not consider bids coming from
firms which employ convict labor. At the
last meeting of the Trades and Labor
assembly Con Delvan, Thomas McVeigh.
and John Mccarthy were appointed as a
committee to secure expressions from lead
ing Democrats. In response the fol-
lowing letters were forwarded to Wash
ington:
Hon. Daniel Manning, Secretary of the
TreaSury-Sir: AT the request of the trades
unions of this city address you upon the
subject of contracts about to be let for the
construction of the Minneapolis postoffice
building, and request that so far as lies
within your power, and is consistent with
your official duty, you prevent the work from
being done by contractors who propose to
use the product of prison labor. This is q
matter concerning which our working men
have justly deep feeling. 1t is not merely
the loss of employment, though such in
these times of depression is q most serious
consideration, but that they who have lived
honestly, who have borne their tull part in
maintaining the integrity of society, who
have themselves and families to support,
should be brought into immediate competiti-
AlOn Will supported puDllc taxes
III penal servltude, and farmed out by the
state at nominal rates to favored political
contractors is reflection Notifying in the
extreme.
Those chiefly interested in this subject
know that use of material wrought by con-
vict labor in public works was initiated under
Repuolcan rule, and have hailed Democratic
success as the harbinger of better things.
If, under the laws, this hope may have its
fruition. the result will challenge the thankful
so ion Of -
CHER element OF American prosperity the
welfsre of the working men. l am very
respectfully yours, EUGENE NJ WILSON
Minneapolis, Jan. 16.
Hon. Daniel Manning, Secretary of the
Treasury: Dear Sir; Having learned that
the proposals for building the new postofice
in this city will be opened on the 2Oth instant
and that among the several competitors will
be parties who employ convict labor / most
earnestly and respectfully suggest that il is
not calculated to promote the best interest of
the party to allow labor of this kind to come
into competition with honest labor of the
country on government buildings. This mat
ter was one of the issues against the Repub-
lican party, and now that we hold the reins
of government it would seem inconsistent to
foster and perpetuate monopolies of this
kind The trades aud labor classes of this
section of the country have made most en-
phatic demonstrations against convict labor,
and are now awaiting with the most intense
interest the action Of your department.. am
very respectfully yours, M. w. GLENN.
Minneapolis, Jan. l6.
OTHER DOCUMENTS.
Ex-MayOr A. A. Ames also wrote an en-
phatic protest, a copy of which cannot be
obtained, as the original was forwarded TO
Washington, to the effect that the people of
Minneapolis and Minnesota will look with
strong disfavor, amounting to Indignation,
upon the letting Of the work tn contractors
who employ convict labor The Demo
cratic party is the peoples party, and as
Such Is bound to conserve their interests.
The employment of convict labor is a relict
or Republicanism that should be abolished
as soon as possible. In addition to these
letters coming from prominent and infiu-
entail Democrats, the following resolutions
passed by the Stonecutters' union of Mime
apolis were telegraphed Wednesday night.
and also mailed to President Cleveland:
In view Of the contingency Of the employ