Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-12
PRISON CONTRACT LABOR
The brotherhood of Calvary 4EpiscoDal
Church Discuss the subject--The Argu-
u,euts of Prominent Men, ...,--s

The brotherhood of Calvary Episcopal
Church Discuss the subject-The Argu-
nrents of Prominent Men. 'E
The Brotherhood of Calvary Episcopal
Church of East Liberty met last night IN
their rooms back of the church and INDUCED
in discussion on prison Contract Labor"
The brotherhood is an organization Con-
nected with the church, and many we'll
known citizens of the Episcopal and other
denominations in the East Liberty Valley are
numbered among its members. They meet
about once a month, and have literary exer-
cises which are both entertaining and instruc-
tive.
At the meeting last evening Prof Charles A.
Riddle, principal of the Minersville school,
opened the discussion on prison labor. He
began by euIogizing labor in general and said
it was dignifed by the Introduction of indus
trial schools in the foremost seats of learning
in the country. He said it was unjust to bring
pauper or convict labor into competition with
honest labor, thereby putting premium on
crime. He argued that the employment of
convict labor by contract was creating one evil
for the abolition of another 1t was necessary,
though, to employ the inmates of penal institu-
tions at something. If the people legislated
against their employment, they made paupers
and imbeciles whose lives were ended in few
years by death, caused by solitary confinement.
He said that within a radius of ten miles OF
the P1ttsburg Postoffice, there were 1000
prisoners lying in idleness. Within the same
radius are miles of streets that are in horrible
condition. Prison labor could be put at work
cleaning and repairing these streets He said
the convicts would not compete with any
honest labor, as some of the streets are never
cleaned anyway.
Mr.. James Brown, of Howe, Brown & Co.,
iron manufacturers, said the present system of
convict labor drives good honest labor and
capital out of business. He cited cases where
manufacturers in Ohio had refused to hire con-
vict labor, were ruined by their competitors
who did. The latter could get the convicts for
about 25 cents per day, while the honest manu-
facturer had to pay six or seven times
that amount. The convicts gradually become
so skilled that they could do the work so well
that thousands of mechanics were driven into
other industries. He said the man who would
employ convict labor became a slave driver,
and sank in the estimation of his fellow man.
Each year, he said, the Surplus of labor is
growing larger in this country, and the en-
ployment OF convicts is one reason for It.
Joseph MCDOWELL, the hardware merchant,
told how a certain firm in Sandusky, O., were
making jack planes by convict labor He said
the employment of convicts in this line all
over the country had driven all the honest
plane manufacturers out of the business, ex-
cept those who made the finest grades. He said
he would make the convicts build wharves,
streets, etc. Thereby they would be paying
bv reducing taxation.
Reuben Miller, of Miller, Metcalf & Parkin
said it was absolutely necessary To have the
convicts employed at some kind of labor to
keep them from sinking to the level of the
brute. He said idleness demoralized them
physically and morally, and it was dangerous
TO keep the men unemployed. He wanted the
whipping post re-established for wife beaters
and for any one convicted of breach of trust.
He thought the best thing the convicts could
be put at would be breaking stone on the
streets. The stone could be used to improve
the roadways. ...
H E. Collins said that society had to make
criminals support themselves, but, no matter
what small amount of work they did, they COM
peted with Somebody. There are certain kinds
of work the State has to do, and they could be
put at these. There would then be a saving of
taxes. and that is what supports the convicts.
He said in other States they have magnificent
roads made by convicts, and there was no rea-
son why the plan should not work in this
State.
Mr.. Mcclure, the new assistant rector of the
contract was no better than the employment of
coolie labor. The honest mechanic had been
protected against the latter, and there was no
reason why he should not be protected against
the former.
Messrs. Mosley. August Frazier and D. P.
Little also spoke against contract labor. Mr..
Frazier said a brick yard could be run on every
square, from the mud on the streets in East
Liberty. He thought the convicts could be
engaged cleaning away this mud.
John Garner, of Carnegie, Phipps e. Co.,
closed the discussion with few well-chosen
remarks.