The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-12-26

as long terms, was more than four
hundred thousand.
AS to a highly promising, II not yet
thorough, reform in prison abor. the
principle has been applied in New
York for fifteen years. Pursuant, as
already mentioned, to the petitions OF
trade u%nionists and citizens who CO.
incided with their plan. h Consti-
tutional Convention OF 1894 adopted
an amendment providing that only
such goods should be made in the
prisons as were to be used In the pub
lie institutions OF the State and its
subdivisions. The August, 1S11. Is
sue Of the Prison Labor Bureau OF
the National Committee OF Prison
Labor. in announcing a forthcoming
complete report Of the status Of New
York's prison industries, avs it will
show tha under h State use sys-
tenn the prison population can not.
even with greatly increased efficiency.
come anywhere near supplying the
market which the law has thus pro-
vided for prison-made goods. In ad-
dition, at the Onandaga P~enitentiary
the stone quarry fs to be SO developed
as to supply sufficient work all the
year round for the convicts there.
Here we have methods for employ
ing prison labor which have been
shown through practice to be pro-
ductive, as nearly as possible. of un-
mixed goodwill, manufacturing ar
ttcles to be used in public institu-
tons and breaking stones for road
making. Further, some States have
successfully employed convicts in
making roads.
1t is now generally agreed hat n
victs should be paid for their labor
and that a part Of their wages should
go to their families. With these fea-
lures the New York program, supple
mented by road-making, presents the
leading requisites OF an effective
~alutary scheme. Under it prisoners
may be self-s%ustaining. as presum-
ably they were, on the whole. while
at liberty. The suffering Of those de-
pendent upon them may be allevi-
ated through a part Of their wages
The prison products do not disturb
the markets, the effect Of supplying
the public institutions amounting only
to a slight restriction Of the selling
field for certain manufacturers. The
factory wage-workers are not ex-
posed to convict competition. The
convicts may be kept steadily at
work. while undergoing a helpful
manual training. Limitations are set
to the temptations, or opportunities.
on the part of prison superintendenta!
wardens, commissioners-of whatever
title-for a vile and cowardly graft
Manufacturers operating their w
plants are rid of a d~iscreditable class
of competitors.
The change In public sentiment is
indicated by the legislation on the
prison labor problem in 1911. No
State this year a given new powers
Of leasing or contracting for convict
labor. Only one S extended the
field Of its ~lessees. Twenty-one have
made SONG provision for State ope-
ration or assumption OF industries.
Eight have provided for State con-
rnpton six for regulation Of prices
and standardization Of products, and
three for the branding OF prison
made articles Nine nave authorized
road-making OF road-stone crushing
by cenvicts. Provision for radical
changes in the methods Of admins
tration was made In seven States. The
principle Of relief for dependent fami-
lies Of prisoners was given some
recognition. All told, a good start
was made in the right direction.
Organized labor, the most forcefuI
social element in promoting these re-
forms, can welcome such opinions on
prison labor as the following, given
editorially in the employers Mines
and Minerals" for June:
There is no question but that
convicts should be made to work, and
at least earn their keep and the ex-
pense of maintaining the penal insti-
tutions, if the products Of their abor
do not enter into competition with
LIlOSc Oh Tree 1dDOT. mere Is d KIM
Of work they can do, and it is work
that fnterfereS least with free labOr.
They can crack stone in the prison or
Jail yards. and this cracked stone can
be effectually used to make, repair
and keep In order the public roads
If each State would put it's prisoners
to such use, it would materially re-
duce the just complaints against our
abominabie roads; and besides, the
privileges and rights OF free, honest
labor would be interfered with less
than by any other work"
It is true, with regard to prison
lem, hat in defending themselves
trade unionists have been protecting
not only the interests Of ~non-unionists
but of society in general.