The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-10-19
The Record OF CLEVELAND as to Labor.
In the Democratic platform, adopted at
Chicago. occurs the following:


In the Democratic platform, adopted at
Chicago, occurs the following:
We denounce the Mckinley tariff law, en-
acted by the Fifty-trst Congress and
we promise It's repeal as one or the beneHcent
results that will follow the action OF the peo-
pie in entrusting power to the Democratic
party.
The ifty-first section OF the present Re-
publican tariff, known as the Mcktnly
law, provides as follows:
Section 81. That all goods. wares articles of
merchandise, manufactured wholly or in part
in any foreign country by convict labor shall
not be entitled TO entry at any or the ports OF
the United States. and the importation there
OF is hereby prohibited. and the secretary of
the treasury is authorized to prescribe such
regulations az may b. necessary for the en-
forcement OF this provision.
Under the direction of this statute, no
article Is admitted into this country with
out sworn statement from the shipper
and the importer that 1t is not the product
of convict labor. This is part of the law
which the Democratic platform declares
will be repealed in case power is entrusted
to the Democratic party.
If it is argued that the Democratic attack
upon the Mckinley law is not aimed at
this particular section, the answer is that
Mr. Cleveland, as President of the United
States, has already committed himself TO
the policy OF employing convictS IN gov
eminent works. ana of deriving govern
ment revenue from their labor IN direct
competition with free labor.
Not only would Mr.. Cleveland admit the
product of foreign convict labor, but he
would employ all the cOnvicts in federal
prisons in industrial pursuits, and would
have the government make money out or
their work.
In his annual message, dated December
6, 1886, Mr.. Cleveland referring TO the
construction of pcnltentiaries for the con-
finemept of all prisoners convicted and
sentenced in the United States courts,
says:
Upon consideration of this subject it might
be wise to erect moro than one of these insti-
buttons located at such places as would best
subserve the purposes of business and econ
omy in transportation. The considerable cost
OF maintaining these convicts, as at preacnt in
state institutions, would be saved by the
adoption of the plan proposed, and by employ
ing them in the manufacture of such articles
as were needed for use by the government,
quite large pccuniary benefit would be real
lied in partial return for our outlay.
Not only by this ugly recommendation,
but by actually twice preventing the full
enactment OF anti-cOnvict labor laws has
Mr.. Cleveland demonstrated his desire to
utilize prison labor in competition with
the labor of treemen. In 1885, and again
In 1888, he killed by ''pocket vetoes," acts
of Congress- fOrbddirg the use, by the
government, of the product of convict la
| Dor. This law became operative only
when Cleveland was defeated. and Gen.
! Harrison became President Then IL was
| promptly signed.
The following is an itemized record Of
! Cleveland's acts in opposition to labor re-
! forms:
While governor of New York:
He vetoed the bill establishing department
| of labor and making the secretary of said de-
partment n cabinet officer.
He vetoed the mechanics lien law bill, max
ing the wages OF workingmen engaged in the
construction OF buildings hrst mortgage on
/ the property.
He vetoed the life and limb BILL making en-
ployers responsible for accidents happening
| from imperfect machinery or inferior con-
struction OF buildings.
lie vetoed the tenement house cigar bill. for
| bidding the manufacture OF cigars In tene-
mcnt houses.
lie vetoed the bill compelling the elevated
roads OF New YORK City to charge only cents
fare.
lie vetoed the printers BILL requiring all
state printing to be done by union working
men.
He vetoed the bill making ten hours legal
days work for all street car employees.
lie vetoed the bill abolisbing convict labor
in prisons. although this proposition when
submitted to the popular will of the people
was carried by majority OF GO,OOO.
He vetoed the hld-labor law providing for
the inspection OF factories where children
were employed and prohibiting the employ
ment OF children under IL years OF age.
IIe signed the bill compelling the stationary
engineers of New York City to pay tax OF 81
per year to the police pension fund or be de-
barred from following their vocation.
lie signed the bill reducing the fees OF the
New York harbor pilots, which bill benefited
ONLY the foreign steamship monopolies.
While President Of the United States:
He killed by a pocket veto" the arbitration
bill, compelling the reference 10 impartial ar
biters OF labor controversies in certain con-
tingencies
He killed by pocket veto" the anti-con-
Wet labor bill OF 1856. and also that of 1888 for
bidding the use by government officials of
any merchandise the product of convict labor
And, in his message OF 1886, he recommended
4 MI NJ n fad ,vfc IN
manufacturing pursuits in federal prisons
and the use by the government OF tho product
of their labor.