The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-29

urlQg boots and shoes, and 81 per cent
Of the output entered into interstate
commerce. Fifty-seven per cent Of the
trade in convict brooms and brushes
chairs, ETC., 81 per cent Of the clothing,
10 per cent of the farming, 70 per cent
of the lumber, 80 per cent Of the coal
mining. ~ u.
r. Commercial Effect.
As to. the commercial effect of the
competition of convict-made goods, the
report says:
1"Reviewing the general question of
convict labor as a competitive factor,
it may be said that. manufacturers con-
demoralizing to markets and business
stability, compelling the reduction of
prices below fair margin of profit
and often even below the cost Of pro.
duction. Wages are forced to the low
est limit in a vain effort to lower the
cost of production to that of the prison
contractor. In some cases aSdeteriora.
tion of the quality of material used and
in others an entire abandonment to the
prisons Of the manufacture Of certain
grades of goods has become necessary
=
testimony of manufacturers is that the
low cost Of production Of prison-made
goods has enabled the prison manu-
facturer to drive the employer Of free
labor out Of the market or force on him
a reduction in the regular prices of
many lines Of goods.
Prison Made Furniture.
In furniture the character Of the
work done in prisons has changed en-.
tire11y IN recent years The, high grade
gether with the increased use of ma
chinery Gin use in six prisons in 1886
and sixteen in 1904) and the low prison
cost of production, have made it i'm
possible for the product of factories
employing free labor to compete with it
Prison made furniture has compelled
the abandonment to the prisons of'some
lines, the reduction in price Of others
and a cutting Of wages in an effort tc
keep pace with the reduction in price
The, competitive power Of the prison
product is greatly increased by the fact
that the output of seven prisons in five
states is controlled by one contractor.
"In brushes, the volume Of prison,
made brushes has been SO great and the
wholesale and jobbing prices SO low
that large number of the factories
formerly making this class Of goods on
large scale have entirely abandoned
that grade Of : product, and many Of
sell with the higher grades of their
own manufacture. Those still engaged
in direct competition with prison made
brushes can compete only, by giving q
better finish to the brushes, or by sell
ing them at cost and relying for theil
profit on their better grades.
Control Broom Market. =
In broom, and whisk making manu-
facturers employing free labor. have
been subject to. the. greatest price-de
pressing competition. It is favorite
to it as an occupation for convicts
which can be followed with the smallest
outlay of materials and machinery, an6
one in which unskilled labor can be
used to make crude product at cost
far below the cost of similar product
of free labor.
EtThe Chicago stockyards market fol
wood-bound cooperage has been practi
cally abandoned to the. prisons. In the
EDITION. appears, 90 per cent Of all saddle
trees being made in prison. In black
snake whips the prisons have been able
to drive out of existence practically al
the factories employing free labor
This is also essentially true Of whip
lashes, quirts and other small articles.
In binding Irvine the effect ha!
been to cause an accurate measurement
to be taken Of both the entire market
and the prison output, thus enabling
the manufacturers employing free Labor
to ignore for the most part the price!
made by the prisons. That is to say
when the annual consumption Of bind
ing Irvine was practically 10000 tons
ruined the factories employing FIRE,
labor had they not, fguratively, stepped
aside until the prison product was alb
sorbed and then sold their $4,000 tom
at a profit.
Quality Is Deprecated.
ssThe competition Of prison mad,
products, in some instances, forces tn,
weaker manufacturers to deteriorat,
the quality of their goods to NEE
prison prices. In this way the price
breaking power of the prison output i
augmented by the output Of those man
ufacturers who have had to debase TIN
quality of their wares to meet tn
true to a certain extent in boots an,
shoes, binding Irvine, whips and som
other lines.
1t is the settled policy of prison
contractors and prisons operated OF
public account to sell their prison mad
goods outside the state Of Manufacture
as far as possible There are local m an
ufacturing and political reasons for. do
ing this. IT has been repeatedl-
pointed out by manufacturers. and thei