West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1894-03-22

but, that whereas, ndv,ces from
Labor Assemblies in the States OF
Pennsylvania and Ohio, were to the
effect that the laboring people OF
those two States did not approve Of
the manufacture OF hollow ware at
the West Virginia Peniteptiary. IL
was the duty of the committee TO
protest against the manufacture of
". 10 protest, not in the name Of
West Virginia. but in the name
OF OHIO and Pennsylvania. Holy
Moses has che time come that
West Virginia, in her infancy, must
be called upon to protect the great
States Of Pennsylvania and Ohio in
the prime OF their manhood /?
Let us figure just moment. The
gentleman from Ohio, il he wants
any number of convicts, wants one
hundred now, and that number to
be increased to two hundred and
nifty at an early date. For fear Of
driving some ''good citizen mad, :"
we will figure at so cents per day
instead of AZ. We will figure also
on basis OF twenty five days per
month, and the minimum number
OF convicts, first. We have fifty
dollars day, one thousand two
hundred and fifty dollars month,
and fifteen thousand dollars year.
AT the maximum number of con
vlcts we would have an income of
tbirty-seyen thousand five hundred
dollars per annum from the hollow
ware business alone.
This sum of money would be
equivalent to just that amount Of
money in the Treasury of the State.
Putting it there would not cost the
State anything, would not cost any
citizen Of the State anything, would
not take a penny out of the pocket
OF any laboring man in the State.
nor divert. one from the pocket of
any laboring man in the State.
This sum. insignificant in the esti-
nation of the editors of the Jour-
nal and the editor Of the Free Press,
must and will go to swell the funds
in the treasury of some other State.
unless the hollow ware industry, or
some other industry is admitted to
the prison.
$50 a little slow" in admitting
the hollow Ware industry to the
prison. not upon the merits of the
industry, but because the promoter
OF the business is from Ohio" or
some other State.
Time after time the Directors
have advertised for bids for convict
labor without result. No West
Virginian is willing to risk his cap
ltal in manufacturing at the prison,
because of the eternal cry against
convict labor. Our own citizens
are discouraged the moment their
attention is directed towards utiliz-
ing convict labor, and the moment
the stanger sets his foot upon West
Virginia soil with q view to manu-
manufacturing any article with con-
Wet labor, 1T makes to difference
what, the hue and cry is at once
raised against HIM.
1t takes no wisdom to see that
the necessary result of this constant
hue and cry against convict labor.
is forcing down the price of convict
labor. and shutting out com petition.
The price of convict labor is forced
down to the lowest notch, and after
joining in the hue and cry against
it, the Journal and Free Press cry
W" ~ WIG oHOhico VI OleiT QeSD1lf,
1--WE can't beat it down any lower,
1t is enough to drive a good citizen
mad"
$50 little slow in hiring con.
vets" because it is a great pleasure
to the average citizen to contribute
portion of his daily bread to the
support Of the CRIMINALS of the
State, while he (the citizen) han.
dies his pick and shovel, and the
criminals eat three meals day at
the expense Of the tax payers, and
bask first in sunshine and then in
the shade, from early morn until
close of day in idleness.
"Go slow in hiring convicts to
contractors from Ohio" because no
West Virginia contractor wants
them. In fact, why not take the
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