The National tribune., 1892-09-15
A CRYING SHAME,

The Federation of Labor going for the pres
ent convict system OF the District. Nr. Searle,
who edits one OF the papers which IS the &C
know led ged organ of tho Federation, says of
this abnse," that il has been discussed in Ia
Dor organizations for many months, and they
have arrived Mt a conclusion that something
must be donO III the matter. menace OF this
kind coming from the workingmen of the Dis
trict of Columbia, who have no vote, may not
exert the influence it would if it came from
some of the labor organizations outside OF
Washington; but at the same time 10 demands
tho earnest aud careful consideration OF per-
sous in power, if one half Of the evils claimed
exist Ar. Searle says:
"In the face of the approaching National
election. when hundreds of thousands of Amer
lean workngmen will be called upon to de-
post their ballots for either the other of
the Presidential candidates and whiIe the
echoes Of the rife-shots which caused death
and destruction III Tennessee and New York
are still reverbcrating and re-echoiBg in our
ears. let Us panss for q moment and look az q
state of atfaiT5 hTch exists az hOms-in Wash
iEstoH, tie Capital City Of the American Ma
ton. Every day in this city labor is being
degraded and imposed upon by the IN Ameri-
form of Government which exists here.
This imposition consists of placing upon our
stFests gangs of work men clad in the striped
garb OF conyicts, who are engaged on work
which should fall 10 the lot OF honest working
men, and would. were it not for the unhoiy
zeal of the trium virate which governs the Dis
trict.
at is q wei-known and disgracerul fact that
the prisoners sent to the Workhouss from the
Police Court-nos for crime in thu proper
sense, but for misdemcanors and violation OF
petty District ordinanees-are compelled 70 don
striped uniforms similar 10 those worn by con-
victs Of high degree in the several State peni-
tentiaries, and while clad in such costume are
compelled TO go out and toll upon the public
thoroughfars5, doing work which should be
done by our laborers, and presenting TO the
public gazs q disgraceful and demoraiizing
picture. In the first place. these EIen are not
convicts and cannot By law be compel led TO
wear conyicts' garb; secondly, according TO
the great preponderance OF sentiment AZ ex-
pressed by press, pulpit, and the individual
public voice. it is wrong, unfair, uni ust to en-
ter such labor into competition with that OF
honest, sober, and industrious wage workers;
while, thirdly, it is a rank disgrace to our
great Nation to present in the very shadow OF
the Capitol dome such pictures as can be sesn
daily near the II street terminus Of the Column
bia street car line, where gang OF WOrkhouse
prisoners are engaged in cutting through
new avenue; across the branch near Anaeostis !;
about the markets ION market day, and elsa
where about our pretty city. In addition scan
dalous charges ara being circulated concerning
this work, and laborers are being forced to the
wall every day.
Danish striped prison labor from our streets
and city, should be the war cry of every
workinsman's organization in the city. Look
at the bloodshed caused by convict labor in tina
mines Of Tennessee and notice how the con-
Wet system has been denounced almost unani-
mousy by the press Of the country. In the
Southern States tbs system has been abolished,
to 60 into effect very soon, but here in Wash
ington it ia still openly maintained In defiance
to decency and prscept.
IF the Commissioners will not abolish ths
obnoxious system, carry the matter TO Presi-
dent Harrison. He cannot afford to go before
hundreds Of thousands of American working
men and ask their suffrages while Workhouss
prisoners, in the stripe garb Of convietz are do
ing Government work at the worry door of the
White House, and hundreds Of unemployed
workingmen are parading our streets in quest
Of work, while their families are suffering for
bread"
Several prominent members of labor organi-
cations say that they have no doubt that Cen
Harrison will abolish this system of convict
labor in the District of Columbia a. soon as is
Is called to his attention. Not one man in .
thousand In the District knew that this sys-
tom was practicsd here, and yet it has been 60
ing on for years. 1t should be abolished by
Executive order, for little else mas any effect
here in Washington.