St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-15
CLEANED AT SALTWATER.
Sensational Story of Convict Contract
Labor
BEING CARRIED ON STILL
In Spite of the New Law---Warden St0r
dock Explains the
Natter.

UilTeSH6T COlupdiiy Ill OiiC VI 1iiO piioOH
shops hunted up GLOBE reporter
Wednesday night in order that the
GLOBE might ''expose" certain alleged
nefariOus deeds being practiced up
there in violation of law and against
the dignity of labor. He said that the
discharge of citizen laborers last Satur-
day night was in part explained by the
hitherto carefully concealed fact that
the recent law relating to convict con-
tract labor was being constantly but
Systematically violated by the thresher
company and those in authority at the
prison; that large numbers of convicts
were daily employed in the shops.
regularly doing work in which they
were more and more made to supplant
the tree laborers employed there; that
last Wednesday, on the arrival, little
earlier than was expected; of the legiS-
lative party from st. Paul, the prisoners
thus employed in the shops were quietly
hustled back to their cells, so that when
the visitors were at last within, every
thing appeared in proper form. This
statement was repeated on the streets,
and In some quarters believed. A
GLOBE reporter yesterday told Warden
Stordock of the story. and the letter
said: ut is untrue. Two convicts are
engaged in running elevators IN the
shops. ] put them there as
A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE
to, us, and because the men were used
to that work, and desired the exercise.
In the blacksmith shop are two con-
victs. put them there to attend to the
constant demand by those working at
the excavation to have their iron bars
and tools sharpened and repaired.
These tools all belong to the thresher
company. and in return for them. and
for the use of the company's forge and
machinery, these two men are allowed
to do work for the company when not
otherwise needed. Four convicts are
engaged in the fire room of the com
pany. The latter furnishes the prison
with steam heat, but the men they had
to fire did not seem to understand how
to give the cell room steady, uniform
heat. These convictS did understand
the business, and so l put them there.
Three Or four cOnvicts, in all about a
dozen, are similarly engaged to pro-
mote our comfort and convenience, and
while working for us they incidentally
accommodate the company. OF course
the thresher company does not pay any
thing for this convict labor. AS for the
convicts being hurried into the cell
room Wednesday, told Deputy Westby
and others Tuesday that on the occasion
of the st. Paul visit everything should
wear its everyday appearance, and ev-
erything did, except that, the visitors ar
irving rather late. and we wishing to
get the prisoners dinner out of the way
as early as possible, the convicts in the
prison tailor shop, shoe shop, etc. were
called in at II O'Clock to eat their dill
ner, and | suppose the few | have NEIL
toned as being in the cOmpany's shops
came in also. Why, the ShOyeling crew
been there then except that we dO not
send them out at all on stormy days."
HERE AND THERE.
General interest in the coming mu-
steal convention, closing with concert
at the opera house Thursday evening,
is constantly on the increase, and both
financially and otherwise the success of
the enterprise is so assured that the Oc-
casion will be one of the most notable
musical events in the history of the
city. DanZ's full orchestra and chorus
of $50 voices will be features OF the COIL
cert.
Miss Mary E. Titcomb., twenty-seven
years of age, living with her pSrentS Oh
North Fourth street, was yesterday eX-
amined in probate court by Drs. Pratt
and 7. g. Clark. adjudged insane and
committed to the Rochester asylum.
Her malady assumes the form Of re-
ligious mania.
Alex johnson returned yesterday from
Holdridge, Neb., where he was called
last week by the reported fatal illness
Of his brother Frank. The latter, how
ever, had very slight attack of paral-
ysis and has now recovered.
President Powell will call the potato
starch convention to recOnvene next
Saturday, when certain objections
found to exist among the farmers
against the contract as submitted to
them will be removed if possible.
Members of the Norwegian Ski club
will contest in a run on the Mulberry
street hill, at O'Clock this afternoon,
for three prizes of IS, $40 and SIS, re-
SpectiYely.