The San Francisco call., 1896-05-15

s75 or 500 month for serving the Grand
Army at department headquarters. No
DOUBT this work could be performed by
some convict from Folsom prison for $40 a
month, but in the Grand Army there is a
patriotic sentiment in favor of giving en-
ployment to worthy comrades at fair
compensation, and within the scope of
that sentiment Comrade Wiegand holds
the job. If he should be supplanted, even
by convicted comrade, there would be
danger of another rebellion in this
country"
w. J. Ruddick, well-known and active
Grand Army man, said yesterday:
at is due to the memory of General
Grant that the monument in Golden Gate
Park should represent the work of free
men. | think Colonel Fred Grant ex-
pressed the idea when he said to New
York committee of workers that his father
was Union man. This is sentiment l
admit, but it is noble and patriotic senti-
ment and one which the people of San
Francisco respect. The workmanship of
the convicts may be equal in all respects
to that which the labor of free men would
give. The monument built by prison
labor might be beautiful, graceful and i'm
posing, but the knowledge that it was
prison work would be associated with the
enterprise. In California and other States
the laws provide that convict labor shall
not be employed on public buildings.
Here is a sentiment of respect for the dig
nifty and worth of free workingmen en-
acted into law.
"The intelligent, law-abiding orking-
man is sought to be protected from unfair
competition, as matter of right end JUS
.ice, but apart from that there is senti-
ment that his labor should not be de-
graded by having convicts his competitors
in the field of industry. Sentiment plays
a great part in the affairs OF human life,
and in this country sentiments connected
with the memory of Grant, Lincoln and
other great heroes are sacred.
'In the completion of this monument,
it is not fitting that any individual, any
society or any newspaper should be adver-
tised. The work should be completed by
public spirited citizens and should repre-
sent San FrancIsco's tribute to the momory
of Grant,
General R. H. Warfeld is decidedly of
the opinion that the monument should
not represent the labor OF criminals. He
believes that all of the work should be
done by free men.
Colonel ]. c. Currier said: "If l we're GO
ing to have a gift made to express senti-
ments of esteem and kindness for a friend,
of course l would not go to Chinaman
for the workmanship. Taking a senti-
mental view of the subject, / say a mis-
take was made in employing convict labor
on the Grant monument"
]. J. Scoville, another Union veteran,
thus expresses his opinion: 1.-The monu-
ment to our greatest soldier should be
m ade by free labor"
General w. H. Pratt remarked that the
sentiment for the employment of free Ia
Dor on the monument was worthy of all
respect.
In Grand Army circles and outside the
feeling is almost universal that the work
manship of convicts should not be repre-
sented in the monument.
George A. knight said: II respect the
sentiment that the monument should rep
resent the work of free men and l say
that the sentiment should be enforced"
The suggestion now that newspaper
should chip in 10 get some cheap glory
out of the mistake of the monument COM
mittee is not acceptable to the public. 1t
is suggested that the managers of the
monument can safely rely on the public
spirit and patriotism of San francisco to
carry out the enterprise in proper and
becoming manner.
That was the original spirit of the plan.
While the present managers are not
blamed for the failure to collect the vast
sums subscribed they will not encounter
any difficulty in obtaining the means ne
cessary to finish the work.
| Sooner or later public sentiment will de-
mand that the surviving members OF the
old executive committee of the Grant
| Monument Association should furnish for
publication q list, so far as can be ascer-
| tanned, of all subscribers to the monument
| fund, of the amount subscribed, and of
the amount actually collected, together
with an account of all disbursements.
For some time after the death of A. j.
Bryant it was not known definitely that
| there was any mOney in the fund. but