The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-02
PAPER Signed by 5000 Asks
Abolition of Convict
Labor Contract.
OTHERS TO FOLLOW
n Effort to Do Away With
System 10000 Will Sign
Petitions.


the abolition OF tho convict labor con-
| tract system now in vogue. was pre-
| scented to the executive yesterday
morning IN the Capitol. accompanied
| by an explanatory letter from K. c.
| Dawson, president Of the Virginia
Federation OF Labor. Tho petition
handed in yesterday u the FIRST OF
series to be presented to the Governor.
It Is expected that before the last
paper Is submitted the signatures Of
81 900 citizens will have been afixed
to the request.
The Misunderstanding Manufacturing
Company. OF New York. - the present
holder Of the contract for labor in the
Virginia STATE Pen!tentiary. but such
wave OF indignation has followed Its
handling Of the privilege in the last
year that II 10 doubtful whether its bid
will be considered when the new con-
tract Is let Mr.. Davison's letter fol-
lows:
The Letter.
Richmond. Va. Nov. ], 1912.
His Excellency. Hon. William Hodges
Mann. Governor OF Virginia:
Dear Sir.-As the representative OF
the Virginia Federation OF Labor. and
representing the labor organizations OF
the state. I desire to enter a protest
in their behalf against the renewing
or the continuance OF the contract
labor system in the Virginia Peniten-
tiary.
The abolition OF the system has
been promised TO the people Of Vir-
sin,a on many occasions. and UP until
this time those promises have not been
fulfilled, and as the opportunity has
now arrived to make good those prom
ises and to rid the State forever Of
the contract convict labor system. we
hope you will see that there are no
contracts made for the labor of the
convicts OF Virginia
I'VE desire to call you attention to
the report Of the Board of Charities
and Corrections on page 81. which
says: If IL Is contended that some OF
our convicts cannot be controlled on
farms or at work on the roads. we re-
ply tina. II. after experiment. II -
found tina, some Of these men cannot
be safely or successfully employed AZ
above suggested. they can be put to
work inside the walls Of the prison in
the manufacture Of clothing and other
material used by our State institu-
tions. and thus be made profitable
without being brought into Compel
ton with honest labor.
THE above recommendation has
been made by very proficient depart
nent CT our State government, and one
which we believe had its creation In a
desire to thoroughly investigate and
recommend improvement in the unfor-
tunate and criminal cases OF the State.
and there is no doubt in our minds
that the Legislature that created the
Board Of Charities and corrections did
SO in the belief that their inyesttga-
lions and recommendations would ne
profitable to the State, and as citizens
of the State. We believe that the recon-
mendations Of that body should be car
ried out
Tt Is no, the desire Of the labor or
ganizations Of the State that the
criminals Of the State should be sup
by some. but We do not believe that the
labor OF tn. criminal element should be
sold to a private contractor who has
no other interest in the convict than
that Of making money from the use OF
his labor.
I'VE believe that the object Of the
law IS for the benefit Of society, and
not for the benefit Of any individual or
corporation
I'VE believe that the convicts should
he employed by the State. the laws OF
which have been transgressed. and IL
the profits Of the labor Of the convict
- in excess Of his maintenance. that
the surplus should be used to support
those who have been the dependents
Of the convict and thereby relieve
the State o. the burden In many cases
Of supporting the dependents of the
convict fn the charitable institutions
Of the state while the profits Of the
labor Of the convicts Is turned over
to a prison labor contractor.
There are many objections to the
contract convict labor system NJ may
he seen from the fact that many states
have aboIished the system entirsIy'
and there is no case. TO our knovledEe.
In which the eyssem has been abolish
ed that Il dsd not give entire satis.
faction to the citizens 70 know that
case has the system been rs-essahi'sh-
ed after once being aboiished
1T may be said that the financial
condition % the state OF Ssretnia WI
v,c,s In "a. own behalf. and our answer
60 that 8. 70 cali your attention to the
fact that the institutions Of the stase
require FOR ciothins. shoes and SUB.
, sss s%ou aa w . could ss secures q
every convict IN the priscns Of the
state were leased 60 . privase con-
tractor.
"a IN. sscs that Hon. woodrow vii
son Governor % New Jersey. and IN.
ie.1er 81 the Democratic party and
ehe nominee Of the Democratic party
for President % the rnised sssfec IN
rtnis FEDERATION Of Labor says thst
THs system % leasing criminals for
msuvSscsuYsng purpcses 60 private
contractors has been tired " recent
Seen most undesirsS,e. vas eIad 60
/. take part In the abolition Of the sys-
.Fyiscs experts the word over have
80 - sNe Sees sNeerpses q the state.
swS they have asserted 6efeve many
le~Wferences that no greet ADVANCE can
- 0e1e ju The recssSDso9 81 IL -