St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-18
THE MoLDERs' STRIKE.
Labor Editor Globe.

LABOR EDITOR GlODe.
Please insert the following in your
Sunday issue of the 18th and oblige the
iron molders of st. Paul and Saltwater:
In the Saltwater News of Dec. Is ap-
peared an article stating that the strik-
ing molders had not returned to work
at the prison, but that a new force of
men had been secured and the shop was
running as usual. And now that the
thresher company has started the ball
rolling let the public know why we did
strike. The molders had some trouble
in the early part of last season owing to
a man they called their foreman, who
in reality was tool to cut down wages
and instruct convicts. But owing to
what he never learned he proved fail
ure at both, and finally got discharged.
Because of his notoriety in this section
he started for Tacoma, it being the
nearest possible place that he could get
employment in the foundry business.
The molders, however, adjusted their
grievances with the thresher company,
one of the conditions being that the
company would not work convicts at
moIders' work after the season. This
agreement was made by the company's
superintendent.
The season proved to be very short,
and the molders found work in other
towns during the summer and fall.
When they we're finally summoned
home to commence the present seasons
work, what was their surprise when
they found that the company broke
faith with them, utterly ignoring the
promise aboliShing convict molding.
The moIders, like men, refused to work
with convicts. The company, willing
to lose any amount rather than accede
to the just demands Of honest labor,
hired host of boys called apprentices.
What bright future for those boys
acquiring their education in peniten-
tiary-thelr teachers being convicts
paying the penalty for crimes ranging
from murder down to petit larceny.
And with feeling of pride l can say
that of all the convicts IN the state pen
itentiary not one of them previously be-
longed TO the holders trade.
The company also secured the Serv-
ices of a well-known foundry operator
of the Prison City.
The company has now one molder
who seems to be good enough to work
with convicts. He went back on the
brotherhood. His limit for working at
molding in the Northwest will be inside
the high walls, as no union establish
| ment will employ him.
The company certainly have the sat
| isfaction of not giving in to the mold
ers; the molders in their turn have the
satisfaction that the company is paying
for its fun.
Now some of our very charitbaly in
clined people say that convict is only
human like the rest of US. He is human,
| as far as likeness is concerned, but the
| majority of convicts do not come from
the hardworking class. On the contrary,
| they are people who will not work, but
violate all law human and divine.
Convicts are class of people who
really are not fit for freedom or citizen
ship, and, in order to protect society
these subjects are placed inside high
walls built by the taxpayers. Under
the present prison system they are sup
ported while in prison by a tax put on
honest labor, inasmuch as their work de-
| prives so many citizens of the means of
making living. In short, convict labor
takes the opportunity from the honest
law-abiding citizen and his children,
and gives it to convicts; thereby allow
ing the prison contractor an enormous