The Detroit times., 1911-05-09
IS IN
CONTRACTORS GRIP
National Meeting Of Charities and
Corrections Is swayed by
Boss Cox and Others.
NV a SHEPHERD.

BOSTON, Mass, May s~-Boss cox
OF Cincinnati and his associates nave
a clutch on the national conference Oh
charities and correction.
Prison labor contractors are pow,
ar I'm the conference. Men hlgh up III
the councils have been really IN lhe
employ OF the prison labor CONTRACT
ors and have used their efforts 10
nreyent the national body from con-
demning prison contract labor.
The conference has never taken a
stand In the matter. 49,
Though Il was kept a secret, tue
last meeting OF the conference proke
mn with a scandal impending.
THE connection OF Boss Cox Win
the nrison labor contractors was es-
tablished by his being president Iup
To a short time ago) OF the Ford'Jonh'
SON Furniture Co., one OF the largest
az prison labor contracting concerns
He Il one OF the leaders Of system
which the prison labor contractors
have formed to fight legislation
against them.
< This In brief Is the story OF the con-
tract labor scandal in the conference
now told for the first time:
Several years ago William II. WHIT
taker. then superintendent OF an In
diana reformatory, Joined the natlonai
conference OF charities ana correc-
lions and was made a member or the
committee on organization. This COM
mittee chooses officers and commit
tees OF the conference.
Several years later Whitaker re-
signed his reformatory position under
IRE. after Gov. Marshall had assured
him that he would be granted lair
hearing on charges about TO be made
Involving his relations with prison
contractors in his institution.
While Whitaker was on this organ
ization committee he nominated Ed
ward Boyle, OF Chicago, as treasurer,
Boyle was head over heels in the pris-
on contract business, though this was
not generally known. He was pro-
tege of John G. Mott, president OF
several convict-working corporations.
In 1908 the prison contract repre-
sentatiyes on the organization com
mittee chose Maurice M. Barnard,
In Whittaker's institu-
ton In Indiana, as a member OF the
on law breakers.
Barnard later resigned his state
position In indiana after charges had
been made in the public press that he
was receiving gifts from the Indiana
Manufacturing Co., prison contract
or and one of Boyle's clients.
In the conference OF 1910 Frederick
In. Mills. OF New York, who controlled
the Interstate Brush Co, which, at
that time had contract for convict
labor In the Baltimore city jail, was
made a member of the committee on
law-breakers!
Having gained this foothold in the
conference the contractors began to
use its influence In fighting legisla.
ton against them.
Year after year Boyle appeared In
Washington before various congress
sional committees to advise against a
bill directed against prison contract
labor.
Then came the incident In the COM
|mittee room, when Miss Wood &C
|cused Boyle OF being in the pay of
the prison labor people. Boyle ex-
pected to be again chosen treasurer
at st. Louis. r
I. But circular was distributed
among the delegates to this effect:
why has the brutal, antiquated
contract system of convict labor never
been condemned by the national con-
ference? One reason is that for the
past few years Edward Boyle has been
treasurer. Boyle Is the attorney for
\ the following prison contractors:
Paramount Knitting Co., Indiana Man
'ufacturing Co., Indiana Chain Works.
IL. III. Winterbottom & Sons, Reliance
Manufacturing Co."
When the organization COMMITTEES
met the next day there was intense
excitement. The meeting was held
behind closed doors and the agitation
was kept secret. The result. how
ever, was that Boyle was not re-elect'
ed. A trust company was chosen in
his stead.
When the national meeting OF the
conference Is held in Boston several
weeks hence an attempt will be made
Ito weed out all representatives OF the
prison contract system.
II IL even probable that the national
Inference will pass a resolution con
INNING as brutal and Anticipated, the
@ystem OF forcing prisoners to worl
(or contractors.
DETROITER rs ARRESTED