The Washington times., 1908-08-21
LABOR MEN SEEK
CAUSES OF CRIME CRIME
{. L. u. Committee Members
Doubt That Wage Farmers
Crowd District Jail.

For years we have been credited with
filling the jails and warehouses OF the
country.
In my opinion this Is not so. In
our investigation Of conditions at the
jail IN this city, where, 1t is alleged,
conditions are frightful. we viii find out
The President appointed a commits
sion to make an investigation. whom.
1t would seem, from so-called popular
impression, know nothing about jails
We viii make a poll of the prisoners
10 ind out just how many are wage
earners, and how many are not, and
what brought them there. In their
frenzy OF pity over the wage earners,
many OF our investigators are prone TO
overlook absconding bank cashiers
grafters, blackmailers. and other black
legs in high life"
This paragraph terseIy sums up one Of
the most important features of an In
vestigation Of conditions at the Jail.
which viii be made by the committee
of i've from the Central Labor Union
appointed at the last meeting of that
body.
Emmett l. Adams, president Of Fed
eral Lodge Of Machinists, is chairman
or this committee, ana John Lorch,
president OF the Central Labor Union,
James L. Feeney, president of the Book
binders UniOn5 Sam DeNedrey secretary
OF the Central Labor Union, and Charles
i. smith, editor OF the Plate Printer,
are tfe other members.
Seek Cause Of Sentences.
Another feature that will be deveI-
oped by this committee is a search for
causes to ascertain the conditions that
eliminated IN Jail sentences for the
hundreds OF prisoners there. If pos
sible, the committee will develop Just
how far the crowded condition depends
upon the Industrial depression Of the
past several months, and TO what eX-
tent Industrial conditions generally AZ
feet the prisons.
An effort also will be made by the
committee 70 develop the effect on jail
conditions Of the recent building trades
strike, when hundreds Of mechanics
were imported into the city.
1t is alleged by the union men that
this is, ia part at least, responsible for
crowded conditions at the Jail They
allege that the mechanics imported we're
what are termed "hOaters.' and who
were not considered desirable IN the
cities from which they came. 1t is
further claimed by the union men that
these men throw out Of work mechanics
who had lived here all their lives and
Iros9ered, and who were paying taxes
toward the support Of the District gov
erumeut.
May Ask Penitentiary.
It is believed that the committee will
recommend the construction Of a peni-
Tertiary in Washington for the accom-
mediation Of local prisoners. At present
they are sent 20 MoundsviHe and At
lanta, where, in the terms of member
of the committee, conditions are fright
ful-much worse than they can possibly
be at the United States Jail here"
For years the American Federation OF
Labor has fought against convict labor.
The Federation does not believe that
convict labor, the labor OF men kept
and fed by the state and paid no wages.
should come in competition with the
product Of men striving To make a IiV-
ing and support families II is main
tanned by the Federation that the prod
uCt OF the prisons, maintained through
their taxes, is used 10 deprive them, 10
an extent, of their means of paying
these taxes.
Upon this point Will hinge the tight
for local peniJeutiary, as prisoners
sent TO MOundsyille and Atlanta. il IS
alleged, make products that are sold IN
this city, and not even the municipality
profits. II pays for the keep of its
prisoners, and gets none of the profits.
II is alleged by a member of the com
mittee that conditions at Atlanta, as
we'll as at Moundsville, are appalling.
Should the committee take action, it
viii indOr6e movement TO establish d
provisO that the convicts are not com
skilled labor.