The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-25

CONVICT LABOR AGAIN.
The Discussion OF the convict labor
problem in the q! o during the past
few days has attracted marked attention,
and there Is SONS disposition to fully In
vestigate the plan for employing cenvicts
suggested by Mr.. Olsen, the assistant
stats labor commissioners. That there is
merit in the idea OF establishing a state
beet sugar plant to BIZ operated by prison
labor is evident from the interest dis
played in 1t since Mr.. Olsen's views were
placed before the public. It does appear
ideal, when compared with other plans
in operation which have been causing
confusion and constant worry on tbs
part Of public officers. It has seemed Inn
possible to put corwicts to work at all
without placing them in competition with
free labor In some particular Yet 1t IS
agreed that the eonwicts must work. Due
regard to society,", morality ard punish
to free labor, and at the same time OBJ
serve the logic OF a penftent1ary sentence,
is responsible for the confusion and
multiplicity of statutes on the subject.
Yet IN spite of the extensive field of ex-
pertinent, nearly everything tried has
proved mere or less Objectionable, and as
the situation is today the only general
plan likely To- survive criticism Is for the
state to enlist its prison labor in competi-
ton with some monopoly that has al
ready withdrawn it's industry from the
free ard profitable participation Of the
public therein. The tendency Of such
state competition must be to destroy or
break monopoly and thus restore to the
community its natural relationship to g
particular industry consequently it is
bound to work some good to free labor,
as we'll as to the material interests IF the
state
It seems plain that state beet sugar
plant operated by cenvicts would ulti-
mately result IN giving to free labor with
in the state a share in the industry which
it has not now and would not have other
wise. AT the same time 1T might be of
in the direction Of demonstrating without
loss the exact possibilities Of the indus
try In this latitude. It would settle many
questions concerning bonus, cost of pro-
duction. possible profits, wages. ETC., and
at no time would it interfere with free
beet sugar labor, II the latter should
come into existence later, for the state
| would not have to sell sugar until the
wage cost outside had been added, thus
allowing a reasonable profit to the farm
ers while keeping the price down to the
lowest possible point On the other hand,
If convicts working without wages and
with the assistance Of the best possible
mechanical appliances, could not produce
sugar from beets at a cost permitting a
reasonable margin for wages, the farm
ers would be- spared many a disastrous
experiment.
From every important viewpoint this
plan for employing prison labor receives
Endorsement, and it Is doubtful If the
problem could be solved as satisfactorily
IN any other direction. The chief diff
Guilty is. as has been stated, to avoid re-
ducing the amount Of employment enjoy
ed by free. labor, and this plan apparently
not only overcomes that objection, but
holds out promise of increasing, as, a re-
suit OF it's own operation, the field of free
labor. It is needless to say that the con-
Wet labor problem will never be solved
on more satisfactory basis than this,
and the plan Is therefore worthy Of the
best consideration from the people Of the
state. The Globe hopes it will be
thoroughly discussed and investigated.
Unless grave defects exist, which are not
now apparent, the plan should be adopt
ed at the earliest possible moment. It
would be a great credit to Minnesota to
be the first to offer a practical solution
of the vexations problem, and the
G b e believes that the opportunity for
the state to gain that honor Is now at
hand