Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-12-07

ground of competition suggest the fol-
lowing as proper work for prisoners
which will not compete with them, viz:
ID Breaking stone and building high
ways; CD farming, tS) building public
works; "a employing convicts at max
ling articles for other state Institutions
But first liz the one of the suggested
employments that will not compete
with free labor. If the convlc. builds
the highways, he takes INST so much
work from some one else. 4 he does
farm work, he is entering into compe-
titicn with the farmer. If he builds
public works, he does that which free
labor might and thus deprives such la
Dor of 50 much work. III he smanufac-
lures articles for other state institu-
tions he is supplying articles which
free labor might furnish. and thus
competing with it. You may search
the whole range of vocations and occu-
pations, varied and numerous as they
are, and not one can be round for the
convict to work at where his labor will
not compete with all others employed
in like Labor
Not only VIII the convict, if he is
given any labor, always compete with
free labor, but the four things sug-
gested for his employment as freest
T from competition are all objectionable
Read making Mould be very expensive
to the state in Watching the prisoners
and moving them from place to place.
There ARE only thirteen counties in the
state which have sufficient stone TO
make roads. Fhe roads are local af-
fairs, there would be no work in Win
ter, and what community of farmers,
for instance, would enjoy having a coll
onyo convicts IN the neighborhood?
And after all, the working of convicts.
on the roads would revive the chain.
gang, and the employment OF guards
armed With rifles possibly th. addition
uf bloodhounds. Would free labor
form Of convict labor on public works?
has Iowa or the cities OF Iowa on
which convic;s could be engaged And
would not the objections that are
brought forward against the chain.
gang and The armed guards in road
making work apply to pubic works
sConviets employed at farming would
compete with the labor Of the farmer
certainly. and where would the state
acquire enough land To furniS h employ
inent to LOCO conNicts, ard how could
il employ enough guards TO watch
them and keep them from escaping ! i.
Ia convict makes goods for the other
state Institutions certainly he is CONF
speting With In, labor Of the free man
Milo 8 einrleyed in makin.s ihe goods
the Institutions would ctierwise buy.
There is no getting away from this
competition business. 50 far ~ it goes
II The convict works he VIII conlpetr
with free labor, but as a mattsrof fact
the competition amounts 70 nothing
l { we VIII eliminate from TINS cues
ton az convict labor an political COM
siaeraiions and treat it as we would
any other business proposition, its so-
lnrion is easy. Experience has taught
that:
First Letting labor OF convicts by
or Oh the piece price plan Sc
cures rn9rc revenue to the state than
any other plan.
Second That it requires smaller
investment BY the state than under any
other plan.
uhiri That it requires less high
salaried officers.
Fourth That The convicts are as we'll"
8cared for under this as under any other
sisysteri.
That under II The risks always
iiiciden; 70 the conduct Of large manu-
f,irturing enterprises are avoided.
Ii | have snceeedsG in interesting
ypsi. gentlenen. ana oiher thoughtful.