Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-14
NOT A LABOR UNION.
A Convict's Mistake Caused by Labels
Used on Prison-Made Goods.
AN OLD PATRIOTIC TRADEMARK
Clung to, Not for Deception, but for Its
Good Influence.
HOW PEN INMATES ARE TREATED

porter was assigned to investigate the mat
ter. A call was first made at the home of
Mr.. George A. Kelly, President Of the Board
of Inspectors. Mr.. Kelly was not well
enough posted on the arrangements between
Lang s. Shepard and Warden Wright to
talk about that feature of the prisoners
complaint, but he answered some of the
charges of Partially and neglect.
'Msny of the charges" began Mr.. Kelly,
care absolutely false-without any founda-
ton whatever. The prisoners in the West
ern Penitentiary are served with greater
variety of food than those in any other
prison in the country. Our prisoners are
all working people, and they are given
print bill of fare, but we do everything
possible to provide nutritious food, and to
serve it in a way that will prevent sick
ness"
In regard to statement of the disgruntled
convict that where men take sick during the
day and the physician has already made his
morning rounds, the sick man has the
alternative OF continuing at work or
languishing in a cell until the next day, Mr..
Kelly said the hospital steward is physi-
clan, and he attends to all sick prisoners
between the visits OF the regular physician.
SAVING THE STATE MONEY.
Gas for prisoners working on the new
wing" continued Mr.. Kelly. "of course
they have been put to work there. There is
nothing else for them to do, and If we can
save money to the State by working the
prisoners, cannot see why we are not justi-
fed in doing so. We have more men now
than we have cells, but when the new wing
is completed we will be able to adopt War
den Wright's plan, and enter upon sys-
tenn that will make it matter of import
ance for a prisoner to deserve the best grade,
and the one evil with which all crowded
prisons are troubled will be wiped out
Mr.. Kelly laugh d at the idea of Warden
Wright dischargIng prisoner on his own
responsibility and then proceeded to state
how carefully each mans record is consid-
cred be ore he is released. mo man can
be discharged" said he Except upon the
recommendation OF our Board and the ap-
proval of the Governor. The Board Of In
spectors holds special meeting every month
previous to its regular meeting. The num-
bers of all prisoners whose time is about to
expire are placed in my hands, and their
records, covering the entire period of their
incarceration, are placed in the hands Of the
Secretary. These records include memo
randum of all infractions OF the rules,
such as refusal to work, insolence
to officers, spelling work Intentionally, or
fighting, that have been reported to the
Warden or Deputy Warden, from time to
time, by the keepers. As President of the
Board I call out, say No. 'S507.' By re-
ferring to the records, the Secretary finds he
has a clear record. Without further dis
cussion we recommend that the prisoner be
given the benefit of the Communication. The
next man is $780, He is charged with
fighting We make a diligent inquiry into
all the conditions and circumstances of the
case and the general character of the man.
Perhaps he has been in the prison 10 or II
years, and the fight may have hap
pened five or six years ago. If
the man has behaved himself since
that time, the chances are favorable that
we would not take more than five days
from him, although the law would permit |
greater severity. We always take the most
lenient view OF the law possible"
THE WORK OF PRISONERS.
Warden Wright was seen at the peni-
Tertiary. He had seen the convict's COM
plaint No firm, he said, has the contract |
for making brooms in the prison. The |
plant is owned BY the institution, and the |
product is sold, not to one firm, but to several |
firms.
Warden Wright described the manner in
which the institution is conducted, as fol-
lows: "The State puts mp our buildings
and appropriates certain insufficient sum
for salaries of officers. The various counties
In the district put up the remainder OF the
money necessary 70 ain.ain 1;, .he
earnings of the men. Since 1926 prisoners
nave been sentenced to labor. We have al
ways endeayored to fnd labor least competi-
i've of all other for our men to do. We Sc
cured the industries, and have appropriated
the earnings to plants. AS g result, instead
Of letting out the contract to outside firms,
and furnishing the labor, US formerly, we
OWN our own plants and sell the product
1.-THE idea that we hoodwink the public
On the brooms is most absurd. We stamp
Ill our goods convict made and the
labels placed on them by Lang & Shepard
are not used to deceive the public. Many
years ago, before labor organizations were
known, William Mardoff started q
broom factory. He adopted the Union
shield as a trademark, and christened his
factory after his trademark. The Oldest
housewife will remember the Union
brooms. Some years later Lang & Co. sue
,eeded William Wardoff, but continued to
make Union brooms. Lang q Shepard
have since taken charge Of the business
They cling to the old name and trademark,
md stamp all their goods with both. There
Is no attempt at an evasion OF the law.
There is none intended. Neither do they
intend to convey the idea that the goods are
made by organized labor"
TASKS OF THE coNyIcrs.
-,..-s -. ~.
N the froom factory beiup too great. War
len Wright says the days work is based on
what the average man will do in
'ix hours. 1t takes some of the men
'even hours to do the work, but the
w arden thinks ii there was enough
work on hand to make overtime possible,
nanv of them would complete their tasks
. - - 60. Tho cood oomnla;roJ
" muen iees time' e ,oou oon nP.atneu
/