The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-03-22
If the State Can Give Employment
After Crime, Why Not Before.
HIS SPEECH CHARACT ERISTlC.
\ General Arraignmcnt of the Veal
thy-Criminals Should he Protcc-
ted Against Society Under a
System Which Makes Crime
Necessary 30 secure En-
ploymcnt.

NEW YORK. March I.-About so
members OF the Nineteenth Century CLUB
gathered at the ballroom OF Delmonlcos
tonight 10 listen 10 an address to The
organization by Eugene y. Deos. the
labor agitator. There were a number OF
substantial business. professional and
scientific men present and the interest
IN Mr Debs words was rather out OK
the ordinary and the speaker wa ap.
piauded mildly several times during his
remarks. Mr. DeDs spoke on Prison la
bOr. its effect on industry and trade
Among other things. Mr. Debs said:
"lIere n this proud city, where wealth
has built its monuments grander and
more IMPOSING than any OF the seven
wonders OF the world named in classic
lore. IL you will excavate for facts you
will find the remains and bones ~ t0ilers
buried and imbeddsd I'm the foundations.
They lived. they wrought they died. In
their time they may have laughed and
sung and danced 90 the music OF their
clanldng chains. they married. propd-
gated their species and pcrpetuatcd con-
ditions which growing worse are to-day
the foulcst blOts man can conceive upon
our much vaunted civilization and from
these conditions there flows "a thousand
streams ol criem and vice which have
broadcned until they constitute pres
ent and over increasing menace 20 the
peace and security of society Jails. work
houses. rcformatories and penitentlaries
have been crowded with the victims AMI
the question how 60 control these ins,i
tutions and their unfortunate inmates Is
challenging the most serious thought a
the most advanced nations on tho globe
CAUSE. NOT EFFECT.
"rhe perncious effect OF prison con-
tract labor upon free labor $50 called.
when brought into competition with II In
the open market is universally conceded.
but 10 should not be overlooked that
prison labor IS itself au effect and not
cause and that convict labor Is recruited
almost wholly from the propertyless.
wage-earnlug class. and that the in
human system which has reduced com
paratyely few from enforced idcness 70
crime has sunk the whole mass OF labor
10 tho dead level of industrial servtude
"It is popular 10 say that society must
he protected against the criminals.
II prefer TO believe that criminals
should be protected against society ~
least while We live under system that
makes the commission OF crime necessary
10 secure employment Developing along
this line. 10 would be only a question of
time until the State would be manufac-
turing AN things for The use of the people.
and perhaps the Inquiry would Dee peril
nent. III the state can give men steady
employment after they commit crime. and
manufacturing can De carried forward
successfully by their labor. why can 70 not
give them employment before they are
driven 10 that extremity thereby pre-
venting them from becoming criminals
DANGEROUS CONDITIONS
Prison labor o. NOT lcn1unmhic for
the appalling increase iu insanity ln
suicide il murder. and q thousand other
forms OF vice and crime which p0'lute
every fountain and corf1min1tc every
stream designed 10 bless the world
Prison labor did nor create 0ur armV ~
unemployed but has been recruited from
i.s rank and both owe their existence ~
the same social and economic system.
These conditions are as fruitful 1f dan-
ser o. the onulent as they are degrading
tD the moor"