The record-union., 1896-01-25
rRrsoN LABOR AND rAxpAYNe.

The San Jose Mercury" says 1t is q
great problem how to prevent "un-
scrupulous competition with home
goods by the products of Eastern pris-
ons." There is no difficulty about it at
all. We are getting the convict-made
goods, from grindstones to paper col
lars. and from bicycles to denim jump
ers, from shoes to farm wagons and
from coarse clothing to field plows.
We cannot keep the goods out. The
right of other States to sell their prod
ucts in any State is fundamental one,
woven into the fabric Of the very gar
ments of the republic. What is the
use Of bothering about it then? Why
not. set our convicts at work to compete
with the grand rascals Of other States?
We should say that they ought to be
able to stand the other fellows OF, SO
far as our consumers are concerned.
Indiana is making a large percentage
Of all the bicycles sold into California
in her two State Prisons, and she has to
use artificial power at that. We have
idle power, idle convicts to pit against
Indiana's felons. Michigan, New York,
Tennessee turn out brooms, paper
boxes, paper bags, coarse shoes and
other stuff Of that sort, farm wagons
also, and q variety of small truck, all
of which we can make here just as
well. save only the wagons.
We have pulp in great quantity, cost
less water power and fat and lazy pris-
oners. who are supported by every hon.
est man who tolls. More than that,
these toilers also help support the fat
and industrious convicts of Michigan
and New York and Indiana and other
States. Why not now-sharp time-cease
and if we must use convict-made goods,
use those made by our own thieves,
murderers, burglars and such? Can
anyone give good reason for neg
ative answer?
Given, one pair of convict-made shoes.
enc pair of convict-made overalls, one
convict-made shovel, one convict-made
hat, one convict-made shirt. one pair
convict-made socks, one pair convict
made buck gloves. for which the honest
worker pays his hard-earned coin to
Eastern OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES it is
true, but that makes no sort of differ
epce. Now add to that bill of items q
tax to support a dishonest fellow idle
In State Prison; take the sum of the
items from the workers wages and we
have one side of the question.
The other side is this: Given, all the
items named at less cost in our own
prisons, for obvious reasons. to say
nothing of two or three middlemen be-
ing shut out. For these the honest
working man pays his coin, had by the
sweat Of his brow, while the tax to sup
port the convict idler remains in his
pocket.
The worker may reply that his tax is
So light it amounts to nothing against
the competition OF the convict with
free labor. Let him remember that his
tax is just as heavy as any other mans
IN proportion to what he earns. Every
dollar he acquires pays it's share OF the
tax in the way of supplies for his fam
ny and himself. When he buys Eastern
made prison goods, he pays q double
tax; namely. he contributes to the sup
port Of two instead of one convict, one
beyond the mountains and one on this
side.
No, it is not a great question. 1t is
simply a business commonsense one OF
making rascally loafers in prison earn
their salt, and enough more to relieve
the taxpayers Of the cost OF their cap
ture as well as keeping.
OF course, if employment can be found
for these idling thieves and cutthroats
assailants Of women and children, bur
glars, footpads and thugs, that win not
compete with any other home industry
but that win still fill the order Of self
support and relief of the taxpayer
which means every man who works
and eats, and sleeps under q. roof, well
and good. But the way out, and the
way to keep out the prison products Of
other States is to bar the way with
prison products of our own State.