Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-10-19

In the Democratic platform, adopted at
Chicago, occurs the following:
We denounce the Mckinley tariff law, en-
acted by the Fifty-tirst Congress and
we promise its repeal as one OF the beneticent
results that will follow the action of the peo-
pie in entrusting power to the Democratic
party.
The ffty-first section OF the present Re-
publican tariff, known as the McKinly
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 entry at any of 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 may be 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 it 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Will be repealed In case power is entrusted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 purity.
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 conyictS IN gov
ment revenue from their labor III direct
competition with free labor.
Not only would Mr.. Cleveland admit the
product of foreign convict labor, but he
would employ AL the convictS in federal
prisons in industrial pursuits. and would
have the government make money out of
their work.
In his annual message, dated December
6, 1886, Mr.. Cleveland, referring to the
construction Of penltentlarleS for the con-
finement OF all prisoners convicted and
sentenced in the United States courts,
says:
Upon consideration Of this subject it might
be wise to erect more than one of these insti
subserve the purposes Of business and econ
omy in transportation. The considerable cost
of maintaining these convictsI as at preaent 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 q large pecuniary 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 1886, and again
IN 1888. he killed by 'pOcket VetOeS," acts
| of Congress, forbidding 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 it was
| promptly signed.
The following is an itemized record of
Clev Glands acts in opposition to labor re-
| forms:
While governor of New York:
/ He vetoed the bill establishing de 3rtment
of labor and making the secretary of said de-
! partment a cabinet officer
He vetoed the mechanics lien law bill, max
! ing the wages of workingmen engaged in the
| construction OF buildings a first mortgage on
the property.
He vetoed the life and limb bill, making en-
}T1u
| from imperfect machinery or inferior con-
structiOn of buildings.
He vetoed the tenement house cigar bill, for
bidding the manufacture of cigars in tene-
ment houses.
He vetoed the bill compelling the elevated
roads Of New YORK City to charge only cents
| fare
He 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 employees.
He vetoed the bill abolishing convict labor
| in prisons although this proposition when
| submitted to the popular will OF the people
! was carried by majority of 60, 900.
/ He vetoed the child-labor law providing for
| the inspection Of factories where children
| were employed, and prohibiting the employ
ment of children under IA years of age.
He signed the bill compelling the stationary
engineers of New York City to pay tax Of s.
| per year to the police pension fund or be de-
barred from following their vocation.
| He 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 Il pocket veto" the arbitration
bill, compelling the reference to impartial ar
biters of labor controversies in certain con-
| tingencies.
He killed by pocket veto" the anti
Wet labor bill of 1886 and also that of 1888 for
bidding the by government officials OF
| any merchandise the product of convict labor:
And in his message of 1886, he recommended
the employment of all federal coavicts in
manufacturing pursuits in federal prisons
and the use by the government OF the product
! of their labor.