The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-18

We extend to Modern Thought" hearty
welcome and wish it success.
POwderly's Scheme for Regulating
Convict Labor.
In letter of April 5th, General Master
Workman Powderly expresses himself on
the convict labor question as follows:
[ believe that an investigation will show
that our prisons and penitentiaries contain
as much talent as the house of representa-
tiveS of the state, and while it would not do
to turn the cOnvictS into legislators, it would
be eminently proper to drill and educate
them SO that they would be more amenable to
law and its influences when they leave priS-
OnS Mr.. Warner argues that the workhOuSe
is the only successful place to compete
against the Standard Oil Company but he
does not state what influence the pernicious
actions Of the Standard Oil Company had
in filling the warehouses and prisons. 1t
was unfair competition Oh the part of the
Standard Oil Company and kindred con-
Germs that drove other corporations with
less capital out of the business; then. I'M
able to pay fair rate OF wages, they cut
down the compensation OF their wOrkmen.
Then followed suspension from work on
the part of the wOlkingman and bank
luPCCN Ou Vic pau VI tllC GULL pCCilOlo. i utu
followed crime and then the prison.
After that came the letting of the labor
of the convicts, not to the highest bidder,
but to some favOrite in the employ, posi-
bly, of the Standard Oil Company, or some
such agency. After that came the throw
ing of the products of the prisons Oh the
markets at very low figure and then hon
est manufacturers were forced to cut wages,
for no matter though prison labor be only
the drop in the bucket that many claim it
to be, it must be remembered that it is the
lowest rate of wages paid that regulates the
price, and not the highest.
If the labor of cOnvictS will not be let for
lower prices than those paid to honest la
Dor on the outside, then we will have no
objections to offer, but it is impossible to
maintain fair rate of compensation when
certain article can be thrown on the mar
ket at a smaller price than the wares of
honest men can be obtained for.
1t all the criminals were employed on
state or national work. improving waste
places, making habitable certain localities.
retaining waste lands, etc.. there would
be plenty to do for all our criminals, and
they would not be doing work that would
interfere with tradesmen or labOrers in
cities or towns, and if they were permitted
to occupy the lands they reclaimed, instead
of allowing some shark to mOnOpOliZe them
for speculative purposes they could lay
claim to something they could call their
own after serving out their time.
1t was not that prisons should earn divi-
dends for contractors that they were
erected.
Here is the aim of the Knights of Labor
regarding cOnvictS: DO not keep criminals
in idleness, but do not throw their labor on
the market for a less price than that paid
to honest labor: reform the imprisoned as
we'll as punish them give them work for
the brain to do as well as the hands; teach
them how to be Christians while teaching
them how to work; take what is given to
the contractor OF their earnings, and give
it to themselves when they leave the prison
or allow their earnings to go to the support
of their families, if they have any, instead
of throwing these families on the charities
of the town, while the prison contractor
reaps reward from the crime that causes
him to wish that the crop of criminals may
grow larger.
If little more of the sentiment and at
tention now given to the prisoners by 'phil-
anthrOpiStS" and specialists were bestowed
upon the already stricken workmen who
are now being driven towards the prison; if
the same desire were manifested to keep
honest wOrkmen employed at remunerative
wages that is shown to make cOnvictS bene-
fetal to contractors we would have fewer
prisoners, and the majority of criminals in
habiting prisons would. in all probability,
do the first hard days work of their lives,
after being locked up.