The San Francisco call., 1897-02-07
FREE MEN
SPEAK OUT
Object TO Meet Competition
From Convict
Labor.
A MASS-MEETING LAST
EVENING.
Resolutions Were Adopted Set.
ting Forth the Views of
Workers.
PRISON DIRECTORS SHARPLY
CRITICIZED.
President Sonntag of the Manufac-
turerS' and Producers Asso-
citation Spoke.
PRISON DIRECTORS SHARPLY
CRITICIZED.
President Sonntag of the Manufac.
turerS' and Producers Asso-
citation Spoke.

The Manufacturers and Producers AS
sociation has put itself on record in re-
e ard to con vict labor in a manner most
emphatic. Under its auspices a mass
meeting was held at Metropolitan Tenn
pie last evening to discuss this menace TO
free industry, and in view of the brief agi-
tation the attendance was good. By far
the majority of the auditors were laboring
men.
Julian Sonntag, president of the asso-
citation, briefly stated the objects of the
meeting. John II. Roberts, secretary,
read the following list of vice presidents: ::
James E. Britt, ]. H. O'Brien. P. NJ. Delany,
T. w. Rivers, T. E Treacy, L. A. Henry, E +.
Bert, j. II. Mahony, L. /. Wolfe, l. Z. Jones, NJ
Z Gale, ]. II. Knowles, James A. Wilson, T. W..
Butcher.
Letters were read from Mayor Phelan,
Eugene F. Bert and General John II.
Dickinson.
In a prelude to his address, which was
the main feature of the evening, Mr.. Sonn-
tag spoke of the objects and scope of the
association which ne represent ted. This
organization, he declared, furnished en-
ployment which was the means of sup
port of $4,000 persons within the City and
County of San Francisco.
The Southwick bill was read and ex-
planned. Mr.. Sonntag said that the Manu-
facturers' and Producers Association was
doing what it could to secure it's passage
At San Quentin the prisoners are en-
gagged in making jute bags. This has
been benefit to the farmers of this State,
but few months ago, in conversation
with three of the Prison Directors, Mr..
Sonntag was told: 1--WE will divide tne
men. We will put $50 to making shoes,
$50 more to making buttons and others at
at similar industries. Mr.. Sonntag said: {:
mot if / can help it."
Mr.. Sonntag then referred to the work
of rock-quarrying at Folsom and said: /:
1--WE want 10 protect the quarrymen of
California. They employ 1000 men, and
at Rocklin to my certain knowledge
the quarries have been closed down for
three years on account of the O uarries at
Folsom. 1 believe in giving every man
fair wages, and he will not get the chance
if he has to come into contact with con-
vict labor
"Mr. Warden Aull," continued Mr..
Sonntag, wants TO make a record. He
wants to cut down the pro rata; for the
fact is that our prisons, with 1900 con-
victs, cost much more than it does for
the State of New York with like mum Der
of convicts. He wants this bill amended
SO that rock broken at Folsom can be used
on every highway, whether in a city or
not. If Warden Aull is successful in car.
rying this measure through, at the next
session they will go into the manufacture
OF shoeS, clotnlng ana other things.
There is a magnificent water power at
Folsom. There is a bill now before the
Legislature to consolidate the two prisons
and when these 2100 men are confined to-
gether, the cry viii go up, What shall we
do with oul prisoners? They are biting
their fnger-nails and suffering from de-
mentia.'
AZ say let them bite their fnger-naiIs.
The problem is not how we can en-
ploy the convicts, but how we can keep
our honest laboriug men employed
The following resolutions were then put
and adopted:
The people OF San Francisco in mass-meet-
ing assembled, do unanimously adopt the fol-
lowing resolutions:
That we indorse the Southwick bill, now
pending in Congress, which prohibits the
transportation of conviet-made goods from
one State to another.
That we also indorse the bill now before the
Legislature known House bill 2S2 and that
we ask all legislators to support the measure,
and that the secretary of this meeting be and
is hereby requested to forward copy of this
resolution TO each member OF the Legislature
now at Sacramento.
A. J. Oliver voted no and asked perHais-
sion to speak, which was accorded him.
he said he had opposed the resolution
as halfway measure and was In favor of
prohibiting all convict labor.
Gam Mckee, member Of the Molders'