The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-12-05
USE or CONVICT LABOR
VIEWS or A FORMER PRfs-
ONER AT sALEh.
Says Present System Is an Abuse
and Would Point Out It's
Shortcomings.

er who lost limb at the time Of the
sensational escape OF Tracy and Mer-
| rill. and who was later pardoned by
| Governor Geer. has interested himself
In read matters, particularly with ref
erence to the employment Of convict la
Dor on the highways OF the state. In
! gram believes that the people are being
mulcted under the present system Of
using convict labor. and his letter on
the subject Is an interesting one. Some
days ago dispatch from Astoria tel
| ling Of the proposed new road law
which Represenattlye-eIect carnahan
WIN Introduce at The coming session Of
the legislature was printed In the Sa-
lem Statesman. Ingram read II and
was prompted thereby to write Mr..
Carnahan. His letter Is dated at sa-
lem and is as follows:
In this mornings Statesman there
is an article which / presume was
written by you, and for the interest OF
The public in Fegara-to road building.
Having been raised farmer and ac-
quired experience in other states where
good roads are made. ! am quite an ex-
pert In the matter, and consequently
take great deal of interest in move
ments OF the kind. Being mechanic
/ understand how 10 make the tools
with which to do the work.
Seeing by the Paper that you are
member of the legislature, there Is a
matter | wish TO call to your attention.
owing TO the interest you seem TO be
taking in the public welfare, and a
matter that should be thoroughly look
ed into. I refer 10 convict labor on
roads. | recently had an interview
with County Judge Scott tof Marion
county, about this subject, and found
him to be very much interested in 1t.
He had for some time been trying to
tind out about convict labor, but had
not thought of me. / was able TO tell
him many things he did not know.
Having been in prison for over 10
years, | kpow the place like a book.
and all about convict labor and the
abuses that have been and are still be-
Ing made of ii in the interests OF priv
ate individuals. Labor is sold now by
the state for Is cents a day, when 50
cents would be little enough. The la
Dor Of many Of the convicts VINO are
skilled workmen would be cheap at 81
to 50. so per day.
"As say. l know what convict la
nor is. worked all over the prison
and consequently know whereof /
speak. ] should like very much TO
have an opportunity to take commit
tee from the next legislature through
the penitentiary and explain the prison
from convict's point of view. Then
l would have no doubt OF your seeing
the waste that Is being made OF the la
Dor. at the expense Of the taxpayers,
who maintain the institution with large
appropriations. II occurs to me that
it is a very difficult matter for body
of meE to legislate for an institution
about which they know very little.
This is matter that should have your
attention regardless of politics or per-
sons.
Il am aware that this stove firm, in
order to get the labor as cheaply as
possible. makes the complaint that the
labor is inferior, and does not In any
way point out the good qualities OF the
worknlen, All men who get into pris-
on are not morally and physically as
bad as many people try to make them
appear. When men are cast into pris-
on they become public property. and
should be worked in such ways as TO
benefit the public, and TO encourage
them to take their places again as bet
ter men, and not a menace to life and
property
Il have read many newspaper articles
upon good roads committees and many
of them, to my mind, are written by
persons who never built rod of road
in their lives. Wind work Is very
easy l should like to take gang
of ,onvicts (say 25l on the road for II
months ana show the people of the
state what could be accomplished.
While l am lot identified with any
committees, claim to be an expert at
the work
Mr.. Carnahan says that 1ngrams
suggestion is not at all a poor one,
and he expresses the opinion that Ore
gon's convict labor should be employ
ed in the construction of 100-foot
road from the capital to Fort Stevens,
in the interests pf public protection,
Were a hostile fleet to take the forts
at the mouth Of the river they could
be held indefinitely with no better
means Of transportation than those af-
forded ut present, whereas a high
way such as Mr., Carnahan suggests
would give the invaded a chance to re-
captIre the posts.
r,,A~,~ ...x. .xx