The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-17
CONNECTS SHOULD Be
WORKED ON THE ROADS
A MABEL MANS SUGGESTION FOR
USE OF PRISON LABOR.
Do Away with Expensive Commissioners
and Put Prisoners to Work ON State
Highways, He Says. and Minnesota's
Highways Will Compare Favorably
with Famous Turnpikes Of Europe.
To the Editor Of The Journal,

To the Editor Of The Journal: as
In the administration of law and JUS
tice there is evolved q being set apart
from his fellow man. Whether crtmi-
nalty Is on the increase OF no does not
enter into this question. What desire
is to call your attention to mode OF
utilizing the criminaIthe prison labor
we already have.
In the past prison labor in Minnesota
has been used in the manufacture of
shoes, machinery and Irvine. Dishonest
labor is thereby placed in competition
with honest labor. CONTRACT labor is al
ways poor labor, and when prison labor
was let out under contract as formerly
1t was found exceedingly poor and has
in every instance come into direct con-
tact with honest labor. 15
A few have thought wise to place this
labor in competition with honest labor
in opposition to this or that trust. While
all Of US are opposed to trusts and
monopolies, some of us are also opposed
to the present scheme Of class benefits.
1t is .disgraceful when q great state
like Minnesota Is compelled to bow to
the beck of a few petty grafters playing
to the galleries and posing as trust
busters. But If you step quickly behind
them you will find one hand extended
back in expectancy. The present law was
promulgated purely in hope that the
Irvine interests would block it by the use
of dollars. The money was not forth
coming and the law went into effect.
Says It's Glass Legislation.
Under the present system the manu-
facture Of twine is purely class legisla-
ton. How many OF the people Of Min
neapolis, st. Paul, Duluth or other, cities
reap any benefit therefrom? The mer-
chant, the laborer, the professional man
where does he reap any benefits from the
making of twine? Many of us pay as
much taxes Or even more than our neigh
Dor, the farmer, and yet we are not
given the advantages he has. In a. part
to the same as any one else, of course
| but why more? ~ -
II Why not put. prison labor where it will
not come in direct conflict, with honest
labor and where it will not benefit any
particular class, but all alike?
| Work on the Roads.
Now, what of a; plan like ttis?: Place
the convict on the roads; let him build
state roads thruout the commonwealth
The federal government has offered sto
portion out to the state Of Minnesota
some $4,000 per tannu1n for period sim
ply on condition that the state appro-
pirate the same amount to be used III
the building of good roads, IL ga
Now, I suggest that we take the $780,
600 and combine It with our prison labor
and you will see that we can accomplish
much indeed. OF course, the state can.
not be covered In day or a year, but
in time Minnesota would have as flnt
f F1ana as the government turn VT r pixies
You may wonder how this might b.
accomplished. Ny ansWerSwould3 be: d.
not create any more expensive commits
sions, but simply utilize our present "a
ctltties. We have a state surveyor. LIE
him lay out grades and plan system
Of roadways thruout the state, more par
ticularly following the present system o
rural free delivery routes Obtain a roas
expert Of standing and give, him super
vision Of the roads. Parcel out the con
, victs in crews Of 100 men or so, unde
guard, and grade and macadamize tn
roads SO they will last q hundred years
, Nine months in the year men can worl
on the roads, and the winter month
they can prepare for next seasons worl
, by repairing their tools, etc. s....,
o., -:..- No ,system Now. -s..s,s-s - Z
1.-The: highways Minnesota will not hav
as good roads In a hundred years as sh
has now. During the past summer
drove over as moe a piece Of road a
one Ia apt to find at the present tim
| in the rural districts. On one side 9
the road the farmer had planted peta
toes clear out to the track. It was NO
} | a principal highway and the crop wa
: far preferable to the usual weeds stand
2 ing higher than ones buggy. Within :
3 few days an aggregation Of road ripper
> appeared on the scene. They must wor
3 out their road taxes, and as the road
! were good generally it mattered littl
. which road they tackled, and they fe
1 upon this one. The road boss was nc
. friendly to the planter, and he ordere
the men to pillow out his crop Of pota
e toes. The men at first protested, as the
a did not like to destroy a mans crop, an
Y especially where the road did not nee
Y working. But the boss insisted, and OF
r came the potatoes-and the road We
n almost impossible for weeks thereafte
I Such work never helps the road
d There must be system about anythin
S to make it success. The present hal
d hazard way of doing is destroying OF
: highways and the postroutes are beeon
# ing almost impossible.
Keeping Roads In Repair. s4s