The Detroit times., 1911-05-08
CONFERENCE IS IN
|C0NTRAcT0Rs'GR|P
National Meeting Of Charities and
Corrections Is swayed by
Boss Cox and Others.
sy W. Q. SHEPHERD.


BOSTON, Mass, May s.-Boss COX
OF Cincinnati and his associates have
a clutch ON the national conference OF
charities and correction.
Prison labor contractors are a pow
ar I'm the conference. Men high up In
the councils have been really IN tne
employ OF the prison labor CONTRACT
ors and have used their enorts 70
prevent the national body from con
demning prison contract labor.
The conference has never taken a
stand In the matter. |
Though IL was kept secret, the
last meeting OF the conference broke
ND with a scandal impending.
The connection Of Boss Cox with
the prison labor contractors was es-
tablished by his being president lup
TO short time ago. Of the Ford-John'
son Furniture Co., one OF the largest
of prison labor contracting concerns.
He Ia one OF the leaders OF a 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 h. whit
taker, then superintendent OF an In.
diana reformatory, joined the nationai
conference of charities and correc-
lions and was made a member OF the
committee on organization. This COM
mittee chooses officers and commit
tees OF the conference.
~ lot
signed his reformatory position unueI
fire, after Gov Marshall had assured
him that he would be granted fair
hearing on charges about to be MADE
involving his relations with prison
contractors in his institution.
While Whitaker was on this organ
ration 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 Renerally known. He was pro-
tege of John G. Mott, president OF
several convict-working corporations.
In 1908 the prison contract repre-
sentatives on the organization com
mittee chose Maurice NJ. Barnard,
superintendent In Whittakers institu'
ton In Indiana, as a member or the
committee on law breakers. !
Barnard later resigned his state
position in Indiana after charges mad
been made in the public press that he
was receiving gifts from the Indiana
Manufacturing Co., a prison contract
or and one of Boyles clients.
In the conference OF 1910 Frederick
II. Mills. OF New York, who controlled
the Interstate Brush Co., which, at
that time had a contract for convict
labor In the Baltimore city jail, was
made a member OF the committee on
law-breakers! Ii
Having gained this foothold in the
conference the contractors began 10
use It's influence in fighting legisla-
ton against them.
Year after year Boyle appeared In
Washington before various congress
sional committees to advise against
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. Il
But a 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,
J. H. 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 reflect
cd. 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
to weed out all representatives Of the
prison contract system.
IN II Ii even probable that the national
Inference will pass q resolution con-
INNING as brutal and antiquated, the
|1tem OF forcing prisoners to work
oF contractors.