The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-11-28

Legislature will give some attention
to the problem of convict labor. 1t has
been proposed that the state use con
victs for the building of model roads
throughout the state. There is little
plant. In fact that would be vain, for
the reason that this was ordered by
direct vote of the people themselves
and the plant constructed at consid-
cradle cost.
Convicts not employed in the man.
ufacture of Irvine are used in the
shirt factory in the penitentiary at
Sioux Falls. These shirts are made
under contract for private firms and
at SO low a cost that it becomes a
profitable arrangement for the con-
acting firm.
Iot many months ago, one of the
magazines devoted considerable space
80 the effect of convict labor upon
he industries in which it is employed
Under contract. In the case of shirt
making, for example, competitors of
those having the advantage of con
uinf tn11Nr ftr1 ~ pnanr.,y u za,.
their wages down to the minimum.
Whether this is responsible for the
condition or not, it is true that wo-
men and children SO young they are
almost babies, are employed at pitiful
wages to compete with the convict
labor sold at nominal prices by state
penitentiaries to shirt manufacture
ers. The same effect was noted in the
case of broom-making and the manlH
iacture of a variety of implements.
I The state does not need the few
cents a day received from the sale of
convice labor. 1t realizes a
lively insignificant sum, eve in a
year. But the state has found it eX-
tremely difficult to secure the con-
struction of really model highways.
For this work must be done in pursu-
anc of definite plans and carried out
systematically to it's conclusion.
This can with difficulty be done by To-
cal road authorities. Would it not be
a better business proposition to use
the convicts in the building of these
highways than to employ them in the
beggaring of employees in what ought
to be legitimate industries?
@-es<@
The Republican has been saying
for three years that the initiative and
referendum, as used in South Da-
kota, would prove a disappointment
in actual operation, if allowed to re-
main in it's present form. This is be-
cause it forces the people to vote
when they don't want to vote. Or at
least, it undertakes to make them
take an interest in consideration of
some special measure when they are
not interested in the subject. The peo-
pie are not going to be dubbed OF
argued into the legislative business.
Not only is this true, but it is also
true that those Interested in promot-
ing or defeating certain legislation.
deliberately calculate upon the lack
of interest by the public in their par
t'cular matter. Instead of being a re-
course for the people, by which to
insure popular government, the ini-
tiative and referendum, as it works
in this state, becomes an instrument
against the sovereignty of the state
government. BY I'LL means the per-
centage required for its use should be
increased from 5 per cent to 25 per
cent of the voters.
@SO-
REGENT HITCHCOCK is RIGHT.
The Republican takes pleasure in
Regent Hitchcock's ad-
dress of yesterday before the state
teachers association. He is the one
in the state who is devoting him
self seriously and earnestly to the
task of putting the states educational
upon a basis that will
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