The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1907-11-15
SUGAR IN TEXAS
AND CONVICT LABOR

A fact of some significance to the
American sugar industry is brought
out in recent article in the Houston
(Texas) Post. This paper devotes a
section Of lis special trade edition 10
the sugar and syrup industry of its
own State and presents many facts of
interest respecting II.
Thus. eight sugar mills. representing
a capitalization of S4,o00, 600 and a ca
pacity OF $4,000 tons OF cane, were in
operation last year. and they used the
product OF some $500 acres of Texas
land. The average yield was about 20
tons 10 the acre, equaling 5000 pounds
Of sugar. The total yield for the State
was about 5S.440,0O0 pounds last year.
a new factory is TO be added to the
list this year. with a daily capacity of
400 tons. The value Of last years SUI
gar crop was about s1S0S. 500. An i'm
portant by-prOduct of the mills is call
ed black strap OF which 1.500. 900
gallons were produced. valued at $780,.
eco.
But the point Of special interest to
readers of the American Sugar Indus
try and Beet Sugar Gazette is the fact
that practically all this important adj
6ition 10 the States wealth and pros
perity is the product of convict labor.
On all the large farms the laborers are
convicts. The State Of Texas has two
farms of its own which, together with
their mills. are operated by inmates of
the penitentiary. The planters who
own the other large farms hire convicts
from the state al a less wage than free
labor can be secured for, and under
conditions that provide certain sup
ply Of labor when it is wanted.
The sugar beet growers and beet su-
gar manufacturers in the northern
states can not but look with disfavor
upon system that solves so easily
the difficult labor problem with which
they find themselves confronted.
Northern sentiment would not justify
them in using convict labor on their
farms or in their factories in COMPETE
ton with free white labor. The eco
nomic side Of the question is one that
might affect them more seriously if the
Industry both South and North were
not already confronted by the compe-
titiOn Of foreign labor, cheaper even
than American convict labor.
The situation, however, is one that
tends to make one reflect. The differ
ence between convict labor and other
labor is on the whole a difference in
degrees OF liberty. The work of the
American convict may be sold by his
keepers for a price of which he re-
ceives no share. The work of social
ed free labor must be sold for price
determined by economic conditions.
The worlSingman's freedom is, there
fore, only relative freedom. He can
not control the price Of his labor, all
though he may enjoy the fruit of it.
Assuming a situation where capital
In the hands of few men controls |
an American industry and is also en-
gagged in manufacturing a product i
whose raw materials are imported
rom abroad. If the price Of labor is
90 high at home, more of the import
d product Will be used and fewer
American workmen will be employed.
suppose the men who own the capital
ire also in a position TO influence the
lction Of Congress on tariff questions
Viii their influence be felt on the side
f high tariff and high wages TO Amer
can worknen or low tariff and large
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