The Van Buren press., 1899-01-28
G0nyicts as Roadbuilders.
from the Memphis commereiAl.Appeal.


Gonvicts as Roadbuilders.
From the Memphis CommereiAl-Appeal.
The people of Mecklenburg county,
N. c., always alert and progressive,
were the first to adopt the policy of
working conviets on the public roads.
As far back as 1866 the experiment was
tried and so satisfactory WAS 1t that at
several sessions of the legislature since
laws expanding the policy have been
enacted until today the convict problem
has been solved and the outeasts are
employed proitably and in a manner TO
prevent them from coming in conflict
with free and honest labor. The effect
on the eonviets themselves has been
most salutary La the first place they
do fair average work. The cost of
maintaining and guarding them is only
"a cents day and the saving to the
several counties and TO the state is
enormous. They are humanely treated,
the short term convicts being allowed
many privileges and liberties, some of
them being permitted to go home and
remain over Sunday. They do not at
tempt to escape, they are encouraged to
expires they are ready to return home
and become good citizens.
The plan followed by North Carolina
has been copied by several other states.
The state of Delaware puts her eonviets
to work on the roads and the state has
purchased gravel pits and rock quarries
where counties desiring road material
are supplied at cost. The experiment
has been found profitable and the policy
is being expanded
Rhode Island has demonstrated the
wisdom of the system and is finding it
profitable.
Iowa has also put her couvicts to work
breaking rock and digging gravel which
is sold to counties at cost for use on
wagon roads throughout the state.
California has gone into the business
and employs her conviets on roadbuild-
ing and in preparing road material.
She finds in it the solution of the labor
question.
New Jersey tried the experiment with
200 conviets and SO pleased were her
officers with the result that Warden
Grimes hopes soon to see eonvicts in
that state confined exclusively to road
building as it will completely settle all
labor agitation.
South Carolina has tried it for four
years and it has become more popular
each year. 1t is better for the convicts
and better for the state.
New York has tried it and is extend
ing the plan and the prison wardens re
port it entirely satisfactory and growing
constantly more popular.
All the progressive states are agitating
the question and before many years the
policy will be universally adopted. The
change was fought bitterly by those who
held high and profitable positions under
the reconcentrado system and by con
tractors who were making money out of
furnishing supplies. but wiser public
sentiment finally triumphed. In Ten
nessee it will take time to educate the
peol le. because those who control poll,
tics are largely interested in the present
system and will bitterly fight any prop
osition looking toward a change. There
is some ground for hope that the farmers
will take the matter up before long
While coal mining and cheap coal may
be good thing for few favored cor
porations who use it and for the rail
roads that collect large revenues for
hauling it, the farmers are in no way
benefited. They are still required to
render unto the state and to the general |
public certain number of days each |
season on roads which they seldom use.
Ii these roads were made and mended |
by convict labor the farmers could enjoy |
several days rest or employ their time
in something that would bring them in |
Il profit instead of working several days |
each year for the benefit of the way
farers.
Justice and common fairness would |
suggest that the thousands of free miners
and their families who are engaged in
coal mining should be spared the humili-
alton Of being thrown in lines OF life
where their daily efforts come in com
petition with the efforts of convicts and
where the power of the state is used to
cut down their wages. The wife or the
daughter who sees husband or father
the same labors AS are per
formed by convicted felons have rea
son to compla n against the fates. If
the wrath of offended justice and of
violated law int icts coal mining upon
as "A punishment honest men
who are impeccable, who have not sin
ned. who are endeavoring to support
heir families by honest labor have
Just cause Of complaint against any
government that wantonly degrades that
abor. renders it infamous, a fit punish
ment for thieves and murderers.
This question is not partisan one and
can not be made 80 because it rises above
and beyond politics into the broader
domain of economics and under the
brighter sun of humanity. The miners
are part of the union labor of the
state. and union labor throughout the
state should make their cause its own,
IN the irrefragable principle that IAN
injury to one is the concern of all -
When organized labor speaks nowadays
i 10 sure Of a respectful hearing.