The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1911-09-22
DEMOCRATS
DENOUNCED
By Labor Union Assembled
in Louisville.
McCreary's Convict Labor Plank
Comes in for Flying at Hands
Of Organized Labor.

htuhoNiile, N.Y., oiptShhrci L. NJ
Democratic Party of the STATE was
= severely arraigned by the United
~Trades and Labor Assembly for its
attitude toward convict labor In rss-
olutions unanimously adopted at the
assembly meeting at Germanaa Hall
last might.
cratic leaders were asked by mem-
bsrs of the labor unions to inrorpor-
ate in their platform plank in OPP
position to Contract labor in prisons
and reformatories.
The request of the unions was
treated with silent contempt, ac-
cording to the resolution.
COMMITTEE BLUNDERS.
After stating that contract labor by
convicts is detrimental to wage work
ers, does not improve the condition
of those in the prisons, ard is in
furious to industry, the document de-
clares that the rssolu'icns committee
of the Democratic State Platform Con
vention blundered in its treatment of
an important consideration TO thu
working people.
The resolution is as follows:
Whereas, The leaders of the
Democratic party in Kentucky
were approached through corret
Spondence under the auspices of the
United Trades and Labor Assembly,
requesting thsm to define their pol
sition upon the contract convict La
Dor system as now practicsd at our
State penal institutions, and the fail
ure of the platform convention to in
corporate plank in said Democratic
platform favorirg abolition of con-
vict labor whsrs it comes into compe-
tition with free labor, and,
Whereas, Said leaders have prac-
tically treated us with apparer. ST.
lint contempt and have failed to &C
knowledge tho receipt of our ccm-
murtcation on this all-important ques-
ton, it is the s7nse of this assembly
that We express ourselve unhesitating-
ly to the voters CT this State and say
that the present contract system is a
curse to the convict, the State, the
prison officials, the fair employer, the
short-sightSd merchant and the hon
ust tuller for wages. Thu contract
system CT prison Labor as pres sent in
vogue i'm this State is Thurman, dis
honest and stupid.
DISGRACE OF CENTURY.
1t is a disgrace to our highly train
ed. scientific Twentieth century and
blot upon our boastsd civilization.
We firmly believe. that under tina
present systsm thsse institutions do
not apply to the moral education and
nsforlm of the unfortura,ss as lmpris-
oned therein, and that which Is point
ed to as raformafory. in nearly "
cry instance is nothing but factory,
producing an output competitive to
the cpan labor market. This trans
parent fraud should be abolished
convicts should be employed by the
State direct ON Us own account end
not on thu account of the contrac-
tor. The State may drive economic.
but it must securs social advantage
from the Labor of the convict.
The suggestion that men are taught
trades in prison under the conract
system Is ridiculous They lsarn how
TO make shirts and oycralls, which Is
womsns employment. They also
lam how to make chairs. and by so
doing have driven fair EMPLOY sns and
honest wage workers in that indus
Try cut OF the buslns.s.
The absascs OF th.se industries from
our city Is silent testimonial CT
the truth OF thsse facts, and many
Of our cltiz-.ns can nscall. In m ,mory
only. this brarch OF industry. which
was so largely repraaarnd in yals
gone by.
1t Is our firm belief. that our State
should employ the pris)nsns IN the
production OF ths ne1es5al1s of lifs'
!. for the maintenance OF themselves
and the inmates of other State irsti-
buttons. or e's road building
Made BIG MISTAKE.
We believe that tia Rsaoluf'on
Committee of the ID mocrat.c 6nte