The times., 1897-07-14
OBJECT 70 CONVICT LABOR
The Building Trades Council on
Record Against Prison Work.
Order to Employ Inmates of the
District Jail May Be ReconsiG-
ered-Labor Leaders Protest.

The Building Trades Council met last
evening at Electrical Workers Han, Presi-
dent William Silver i'll the chair.
The most important matter considered
was the employment OF convict labor On
the District Jau by Warden Leonard, un-
der order of the court in general term
This legislation was condemned i'll most
forcihle terms, and the protest OF the
Central Labor Union presented To Judge
Cox yesterday by Committee from that
body wao strongly indOrsed. The protest
which was presented To Judge Cox yes
terday afternoon by Messrs. Spohn, Silver.
owens and 11schenoT, representing the
Central Labor Union, is as follows:
To the Honorable the Supreme Court of the
District OF Columbia:
The Central LaDor Union, the Tepreeen-
tattve body OF the organized working men
OF the District Of Columbia. respectfully
ask that the order OF the honorable court
under which the inmates OF the District
Jail VIII be employed on the construction
Of Improvements at that Institution be re-
Voked.
We submit that the employment OF these
convlcLs VIII be a manifest injury TO those
OF our fellOw-workers wnO are now in
enforced idIeness, and who, 10 maintain
themselves as law-abiding citizens should
not be restricted OF the opportunities 10
earn an honest livelihood.
We further submit that the employment
of convict labor in competition with the
non-criminal and seIf-respecting wage
worker Is an evil the tendency of which in
many Instances has been 10 restrict the
field for honest employment, and men have
been driven to pauperism and crime. We
condemn the system as being unjust to
labor, as legal wrong which degrades labor
and should have no part in cur ciylliZa-
tinn. For years labor has experienced the
evil OF convict competition, and has de-
manded probibitive legislation We, there
fore, IN common with the wa ge-wOrRers OF
our country, regard the scheme OF the EN-
plOynIent OF COnvicts with disfavOr, aad
regret thatit should be applied at the caPi-
tai OF the nation, which is presumed 10
guarantee toevery citizen the largest meas
ure of industrial liberty, unrestricted by
unjust, Injurious and degrading cOmpett-
tiOn.
We, therefore, in the name OF organized
labor, respectfully submit our protest
against the employment Of the jail con-
vets upon work which should be con-
struCted by the honest labor OF the Dis
trict, and believe that after your wise
and impartial consideration, the order
viii be rescinded
1t was stated at the meeting last night
that Judge Cox had assured the committee
that tue employment of Convicts II the Jail
would not interfere with or affect the in
terests OF skilled labor, and further that
the matter would be duly considered by
rhe courtiH general term.
1t 5 understood that the greatest OBJ
lection OF the part of organized labor is
made with reference 10 the building Of
brick wln IL the rear of the jail, which, it
is said. is to be erected in the rear OF .he
jail building. This work, il is claimed,
should be given to the worknen of the
District.
The sec CretaIy was instructed 10 send
copy of the Building Trades Council cir
cular letter advocating the advantages
Of employing union labor to the business
men OF the city At the request Of the
Wood Workers. copies Of the letter VIII
be sent 70 mill owners especially.