The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-08-29
Convict Labor.

Convict Labor.
The committee appointed by the last
legislature to examine and report On the
feasibility Of employing the convicts at
Saltwater in manufacturing binding twine
have reported adversely. the cost of the
plant necessary for making the twine, and
obtaining the raw material. which would
state. putting the matter out of the ques
ton entirely. Enforced idleness. for
while longer, is likely to be part-being
not the least part ether-Of the punish
business may be hatched. whose product
shall not find a counterpart outside of the
prison walls, and thus be brought in direct
competition thereto, when thrown for sale
upon the market.
1t makes one tired to think it possible
that men chosen. for their supposed wisdom
and ability as senators and representatives
of the great state of Minnesota, can sit. in
august body assembled. at the Capitol. as
has been done. and with Judgment and
fOrethOught. Danish any business from our
prisons that can be successfully performed
ible excuse. that no business should there
be carried On, which is performed outside,
because their products in the market will
come in direct competition with each
other.
Men reasoning thus would confine the
business houses of community and state
to one of kind; would uphold and sustain
the very order of things sought in the for
nation OF trusts so earnestly condemned
everywhere: would give one man the mo-
nopoly of his products. and allow and pay
him what his educated seltishness might
demand for them.
What every business place needs. to call
out the skill and energies of its mechanics,
and thereby have better and cheaper man
ufactures. is competition. What every
community needs. to get the best products
of the world at the smallest outlay, is hon
est competition among its traders. What
every professional man needs. to energiZe
and call out his best efforts and talent
powers. is competition. Competition is
the motive power of the worlds progress.
and keeps it advancing in intelligent ac-
tivties: and this effort of the legislature to
hunt for some business for the states
prison convicts. that shall have no counter
part outside the prison walls was useless
and foolish undertaking.
The question ought not to be. what can
be done in the prison that shall not inter-
fere with. or be like any other business
outside, but what business enterprises can
the cOnvictS be employed in. that shall pay
the largest part possible of the PRISONS nec-
essary expenditures. Prisons are a neces-
sity forced on the state by that class of
individuals. who must not be allowed to
roam at large. because they have. by their
actions. put themselves beyond the pale OF
good society. and would be a continued
menace to its good order: and it would
seem that common sense and common
justice should demand that these culprtS
be not allowed to live in idlenesS, and be a
tax and burden upon the orderly people Of
the state during their enforced prison life.
when they could be made to pay nearly. if
not quite all. their living expenses by work
ing at some lucrative business: and any
man, or class of men, who should oppose
any MEANS that can be protitably carried
on in the prison. whereby the health of the
convicts would be made better. and the ex-
penses of the prisons reduced. because, for
sooth, he. or they. may be engaged in. or
might want to conduct that same business
outside, shows such a disposition of su-
preme selfishness and such total indiffer-
ence to the best interests of all the state,
that their opinions should not be needed
nor their opposition tolerated
Mirror.