Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-01-26
NR. PENDLETON SPEAKS.

His Maiden Ut.trxnce In Congress Devoted
10 the Subjsc, OF 90 nvict Labor
Special telegram 10 he Sunday Register.
WASHINGTON, D. O.. January 25.-In
the debsts in the House Thursday on the
bill for the erection of United States
prisons and for the imprisonment Of United
States prisoners, Hon John o. Pendleton
made the following remarks upon the cub
ject Of convict labcr:
Mr.. Chairman, l move 10 strike out he
last word. Since | have been q member
of this House have rot trespsssed upon
its time TOR patience. represent district
wnere this question hae bssn bitterly con-
tested for the last eight or ten years, and
! know the sentiment of the lsboriDg
people of that district. Almoet upiver-
sally they are opposed to any
measure or 10 the enactment of any
laws which should be step in the direc.
tion or in any sense lock toward permit
ting convict labor TO come in the slightest
degree into competition with the honest
labor of the land. In that idea and in
that theory l am heartily in sympathy,
and propose here and elsewhere to be
found showing that sympathy by voice
and labor. Nov, when | was candidate
for Congress- in that district my friends
upon the other side OF the House de-
nounced NE ss an arietOcrst by birth and
feeling. Il was said that I could not look
upon TIRE interests Of labor with friendly
eye ncr hold out To honest labor q helping
hand. This was fglse, ard az this my trst
opportunity propose % show IL no heei-
tasiug lsBguage where stand.
An over that district pledged my cor
eiituents, the men who worked in rne iron
furnaces, the gentlemen who tOiled IN the
greet iron mills Of tie city of Wheeling,
thu honest citzs0 who mined our coal, ex-
cavated or tunnels, and Kept the wheels
OF our industry ia motion while they man
ufac.ured wealth for ell, that whenever
end wherever lad chance in the House
of Representatives 10 cast my vote III the
interest of honest labor es egainst convict
labor would cheerfully do 20, AID !
mean to keep my promise. What bonest
nen, Thas man wbo expecis u earn an
honest livelihood, and WHIST man who de-
sires to give his f,llow creatures en equal
chance ID the great struggle for existence
viii weh or dare 10 do Otherwise?
On this question, Mr.. Chairman, l desire
briefly, then, 10 state ny position. 1t 10
that favor every amendment Of tbis bill
tbs. restricts the competition of convicts
labor with honest labor. Go not want TO
be told that sixty five millions OF people
a ~ IN hair
thieves, their rascals, their jlil-birds, ont
laws and criminals for the purpose OF com
petition or with the idea that this unpaid
labor shall give us products tha. can be
cold cheaper than tbs manufactures OF our
paid labor.
why, the gentleman from New York
who has iust taken his sest Mr.. Lansing
has stated to this House that the great
State of New York expends the sum Of
S4OO 600 to prevent convict labor ftom COM
ing in compet:on with honegt labor.
ssy. sir, that the State Of New York ex-
pends that money mcrs honestly and TO
better purpose than nire-terths of the
money expended for governmental pur-
poses within that State. Thereby, that
State prevents the honest and toiling masses
of the lard from facing a competition with
the dishonest and unpaid labor. ltspsaks
in harmony with the civilization OF the
sge, and responds 20 the sentiment that the
protection Of the State so far az possible
should be drawn in favor OF the well-being
of It's hard-working poor, instead OF being
used asa ienorseless club to strike them
dawn or throw them 10 the rear in their
battle for Ut 9gfess, for education, for better
times. end for advancement in all the
high ways of life. Well done for New York;
would that West Virginia may do like
wise.
Mr.. LoDsing-Will the gentleman per
NIT me &c ask him question:
Mr. Pendleto2-Certain!y.
Mr.. L,nsing-do you know the product
ofthe manufacturing industries OF the
State Of New YORK; what they amount to
in the space Of one year!
Mr.. Pendletcn-I suppose Of course they
a1e the largest Of any State in the Union,
but The exact figures have not at hard,
although 1 should be very much obliged
to the gentleman fo' the information.
Mr.. Larsing-Six- hundred millions @,
NJ Psndleton-Then let me sek the
gentleman a question. How many con-
yicss have You in the prisons OF the State
of New York?
MIR. Lansi5g-A6out 1000.
Mr.. Peadletoa-Seven thoussnd men
when you would propose to employ at al
most no plice at all to enter into the gen
ersI labor market in order TO reducs the
nr;ce Of the honest labor Of this country.
TApu!ause. Is that your proposition?
Yop can not ard will rot believe in any
such doctrine. Would you have the State
deliberately make the poor poorer, end the
government that is for sll, attack or en-
deayor to destroy those least able to take
care of themeelvesp No, no!
Now, gentlemen, l am no demagogue
sithe, By race or tradition, and have no
love for communism, nihiliam, or soy
a her of the M merous isms that lesd ss.ray,
damn. tor'ure or betray .he untbiukipg
or the half-educsted, bat | do honestly
-ymva,hizs with the great bcnsat labor OF
he country in every Legitimate effort to
h,t.sr its condition or carry woik'ngmeo
Continued on Fourth Page.