The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-27
AGAINST CONVICT GOODS,
The Local Trades Unions Take
Up the Fight for Free
Labor.
The Ironmolders and Sandstone Cut
tiers Communicate With Con.
gresSmen.

The trades unions have practically Joined
hands with the Manufacturers and Pro-
ducers' Association in their efforts to
drive convjct-made goods out of the mar
ket, and particularly those goods shipped
into the State from Eastern prisons
lronmolders' Union No. 164 took up the
subject recently ana last night the follow
ing resolution presented by special COM
mlttee was adopted:
To the 0ftcers and Members of Ironmotders'
Union No. 16L-BRoTHERs: Your committee APP
pointed to draft resolutions expressing the
sentiments Of this union relative to the prison
labor contract system, beg leave 10 repor. the
following Tor your consideration and approval !:
WHEREAS, The question OF prison convict
labor is receiving the attention of all persons
interested in free labor, and as our trade is
seriously affected by the importation of stoves
and hollow ware and other manufactured arti-
Giles, we believe 1t to be our duty to render all
the assistance in our power in favor of the bill
before Congress that prohibits the sale and
shipment OF prison goods into sister State
With the assurance that we viii do our part to
stamp out the system within the border of
California, therefore be it
Resolved, That We do, as trade unionists al
ways willing and ready to perform fair DAYS
work for a fair days pay, challenge the justice
OF being forced into competition with the
criminal class. The prison contract-la Dor sys-
tenn is one of the worst evils of our Sta and
1t is getting TO be generally felt. The practical
result VI cODNiCJ lhDOI Is 10 pdupeT1Ze honest
labor. The prosperity of the masses and the
promotion of morals would be benefited if the
system was wiped out Be it further
ResoLUed, That we are in favor of the bill in
the National Legislature and the sense of this
union Is, and we call upon our sister unions
throughout the country, whether brought in TO
competition or not, to use their influence by
requesting their Senators and Congressman TO
vote for its passage; and be II further
RESOLVED, That the corresponding representa-
tive forward copy of these resolutions to the
president OF the Ironmoders Union OF North
America, requesting that he lay the matter be-
lore the different local unions, requesting
their cooperation: and be IL further
RESOLVED, That copy OF these resolutions be
forwarded 10 our United States Senators and
Representatives in Congress, with the earnest
request, that both by voice and vote, they rem
der the assistance in their power to crush out
this pernicious system. K. Burnett, A. Nc
Dermott, A. Baker
The Sandstone-cutters' Union has also
taken up the same subject and has re-
Gently been corresponding with the Pacific
Coast representatives in Congress urging
them to support the same bill. Senators
Perkins ana White have replied to these
letters and promise to give the bill their
careful consideration. The union is par
ticularly interested in the subject of using
convict-cut stone for public buildings and
this. too, will be looked into by the Sem
ators named. This union further urged