The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-29
A BLOW TO HONEST LABOR
SAME GASG THAT CONTROLS DEMO.
CRATIC CONVENTIONS IN SCHEME.
How Many WOrkmen Of Indianapolis
ID. +. kennedy's Views.

"a bicycle factory four stories high, 60
by 100 feet, Is being erected the grounds
of the northern prison. and Loo conVicts
will be employed at AZ cents a day manu-
used is first class in every particular. The
parties interested are ID. F. Allen and ID.
A. Coulter. of Frankfort. and w. d. Hutch
inson, Of Michigan City,.
The information which is of vital interest
to the trade, both manufacturer and en-
ploye engaged in the same line of busi-
ness, was foreshadowed a few weeks ago by
the reported filing of articles of Incorporation
with the Secretary of State. The stock
holders were those named above, and also
James Murdock, of Lafayette; Edward
Hawkins. of Indianapolis, and one w. C.
Smith, of the Ariel company. at Goshen.
and also of a company which did business
at Battle Creek, Mich. In addition there
is said to be several members OF the pres
ent State administration interested in the
concern. ST Sheerin. one of Murdock's CO.
workers in setting up things at conventions
and in shaping up schemes so that the labor
of political management may not be a labor
of love or principle alone. is also one of the
number.
The concern is strictly Democratic and is
in conformity with the practice Of De-
mocracy toward the free labor of the State.
The amount of capital that is to be en-
ployed is 100000. and, If under free condi-
tions. this would indicate reviving business
and all laboring men and skilled mechanics
would welcome it. But convict labor. that
of murderers, thieves. cut-throats. rapsts,
forgers and every other class of malefactors
who can be useful in the factory, is to be
used. The output of the factory is expected
picture is one that must grieve every hon
est friend of labor and incite every op-
ponent of contract labor in prisons to re-
newed antagonisms. The names of the
state officials who are interested are with
held owing to a fear at this juncture of the
political effect. Captain Allen, it Is true,
is a State officer, but he holds his office
by appointment from Governor Matthews.
with whom he is closely associated.
The terms Of the contract between the
company which was Incorporated as the
Allen Manufacturing Company and the
prison directors are not given out except
as to the amount that the company is to
pay for the labor of convicts. The officers
have been questioned but are reticent. The
first hundred men have been assigned to
kl~< ht,as <.f+ \,
Germ increases fifty more may be had at the
same price. This much is known about
the affair The prime mover in the scheme
is James Mprdock, who learned what enor-
nous profits there are in such enterprises
during his two terms as warden of the
prison. They were sufficient to induce him
to retire as candidate for further honors
of the kind. More could be made on the
outside.
The bicycle machinists Of this city are
receiving from s1.75 to s225 day. accord
ing to their ability A few receive 8 q
day, but these are chiefly engaged in maxi
ing tools with which the others work. The
Allen Manufacturing Company says that it
will employ skilled men for about one
third of the work. These will generally
have to be free men for several years
until, at least, the convicts become skilled
in the business. At the price paid the
company will have a great advantage over
the manufacturers of Indiana, and their
employees will, of course, share in the loss
by reason, II not through cheapened wages,
then of less opportunity for work. The
new venture is not likely to decrease their
hostility to the prison labor system and
the Democratic party Of Indiana. A num-
ber OF bicycle manufacturers were inter-
viewed yesterday about the new concern.
Mr.. David L. Whittier, secretary of the
Eclipse Bicycle Company, of Beaver Falls,
Pa, was seen at his home on North Penn
sylvania street yesterday. The Eclipse
company was formerly located In Inlianap-
oils, and yet retains it's branch Office here
Secretary Whittier is in thorough touch
with the trade in Indiana, and belle VI $
that the manufacture OF wheels by con-
vets or any cheap class Of labor will have
a tendency to demoralize the trade In In
diana. He had heard of the new venture
through a former employe Of the ECLIPSE
works. who recently applied to the off,
cials for letter Of introduction 40 he
managers Of the prison concern. Mr.. Whit
tier was surprised to hear that the Allen
Manufacturing Company had made the as
sertion that 1t intended building five thou
SdHo bicycles a pear.
III they undertake to build that many. -
he said, "the work will necessarily be of a
cheap order. Our firm puts out about si,
thousand wheels a year, and we employ
over three hundred men. The market Is
already overstocked with bicycles Of all
grades. and the new company starting out
to compete with an overcrowded marxe,
will have to manufacture cheap machine
do not understand what kind OF work
these convicts will do in a bicycle factory
1t requires skilled labor In nearly every de.
partment, and 1t is hardly possible that
many convicts can be found who will un.
derstand the business"
Mr.. Whittier says the bicycle industry ir
this city amounts to about fifteen THOUSAND
wheels a year. Between six and seven hun
dred men are employed In manufacturine
bicycles in this city. He says that STANDARD
manufacturers will pay no attention to the
cheap grade of machines but will continue
| to turn out high-class work.
Mr.. Fred Dickinson, OF the Munger com
| pany. said:
''The prison labor enterprise will no
much interfere with our trade, because We
make only the highest grade of wheel. and
| the Allen company will not be able to dc