The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-01-11

Industries that are the joint product OF prva6e
enterprise and capital and Of honest, free and I'M
trammeled labor.
The speaker then went over the his
tory of the employment Of convict labor
in this states history which the recent
discussion of the subject has made ia
miliar-and went on to say:
Il Is maintained that the state can utilize the
labor of its convicts In such manner as viii prac-
tically prevent 1t from coming into competition
with free labor and that II can do so without en-.
failing any financial loss upon the people. The
issue Is still an untried one and II Is for you to
decide as TO the best and most practical manner
of dlsposng Of IL so that It viii bring about the
desired results II possible to the great individual
and state interests involved. Unless you supple
ment or change the existing law In regard TO this
matter It will be necessary TO at once make prep
arations 10 carry IL into operation. Under the
present statutes the state prison and It's manage
ment are controlled bya board OF inspectors con-
sisting Of three members and warden desig-
mated by the executive. This plan Of management
seemed to satisfactorily All all requirements UNI
der the system Of contracting the labor OF the
convicts Now, however, that IL has been deter
mined upon by the state TO employ the convicts
upon its own account, which will involve the han
ding Of large sums of money, the purchase of
materials and machinery, and the sale of manu-.
featured articles and goods of various kinds, IL
| tirey different method.
The state Is about &c engage In business opera
TONS procedure that is at the best questionable,
| and unless proper safeguards are interposed one
| that is fraught with danger. Great care should
| be taken not only to prevent the venture from
being an unfortunate one, entailng financial loss
upon the people, but also so to regulate it that
neither capital or labor shall have cause for COM
plant.
1 would suggest that a joint committee be ap-
pointed from the senate and house of representa-
/ tiyes to consider this important and perplexing
problem, and TO report to you the result of their
/ Investigations.
It would be WELL In my opinion, TO have bill
| introduced, increasing the number OF the board
| inspectors to five members, and giving to such
board authority to select a warden, and, IL neces-
| sary superintendent and such other officers as,
In its Judgment may be necessary to conduct in the
best possible and most busness-iike manner, the
operations determined upon under the present
/ ent law or such notifications thereof as you may
deem 1t wise to make.
The advantage OF this plan OF providing for the
| control and management Of the state prison over
| the one now In operation under existing law, Is
| manifest; for under 1t you would have respon-
proper administration of its affairs and in the Sc
lection of warden and other officers: and, further,
the whole matter would then be entirely removed
from the field of politics.
It would, in my Judgment, be mistake to
make very considerable purchases OF machinery
| to commence with. In this matter the board
| requirements developed.
The present warden, who has given consider
able attention and thought TO this subject, az
| sures me that large number Of the prisoners can
| be Iempioy<d for some time to come fabout the
penitentiary, In finishing work already contem
| plated; and that by sending some Of those who
| are well behaved 10 the refoFmatory at st. Cloud
| which viii be In readiness in the spring. he can al
| trifing expense provide sufficient machinery Il
employ the remaining prisoners in manufacturing
| few simple articles and at q fair margin Of
| profit until such time as the permanent arrange
ments determined upon can be entered into
II this plan was adopted the board of Inspector
would have ample time to take advantage OF thu
experience gained In other and older states In tht
employment Of convict labor on state account,
and would, no doubt, be able to avail itself o.
much profitable information.
practicability Of this plan, IL it be practicable
could be demonstrated within the next two years
and without the expenditure of any considerable
amount of money, which should in any case b
avoided until the experiment has been amply
tried and proven feasible.
1t may be that after serious thought and DELHI
Grafton, and after considering such recommends
tons as may be embodied in any report to yol
from the board Of inspectors 1t shall be deemet
wise to proceed no further with the arrangement
now contemplated but rather to annul the pres
emit law and TO return to the system of letting thu
labor of the convicts. II you so decide, ask yol
to remember that cur industries are not devel
oped as they are in some Of the older states wher
convict labor is let; that in the main they are 10
Gated in territory adjacent to the penitentiary
causing the competition between free and convic
labor to be more keenly felt, and that 1t Is you
| duty to establish proper safeguards.