Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1912-12-17
TUESDAY. DEC. II 1912.
c0NYIcrs AID puRLIC ROAns.

a CORRESPONDENT OF the Sunday Star resents
IA an editorial which we published recently urg.
ing the necessity for caution in the matter Of employ
ing Delaware convicts in the construction Of good
roads We regret that he so far msconstrued the i'm
port Of that editorial as to gain the impression that
we are opposed good roads and in favor Of the main
tenance OF "sweat-shop" system of convict employ
ment in our County Workhouse at Greenbank. Moth
ing is farther from the truth.
For his comfort we desire to say that no reader
Of THE EVENING JOURNAL fail to know that
there is in Delaware earnest and uncompro-
missing advocate Of good roads than THE JOURNAL
With that policy so we'll established, 1t follows that
our suggestion for the exercise of caution in the en-
ployment Of convict labor emanaed from lack Of de-
sire to have good roads built all sections of our
State.
For his comfort we also admit frankly and freely
that think work the public roads would De much
more healthfu the convcts than the work they
are doing under the intensive and poorly-paid con-
labor system in in the County WorlShouse
at Greenbank
For his comfort We will say that our chief concern
in urging to do with the interests Of free
and honest good roads builders. and their employees
and. assuming that they would not object to having
their means Of livelihood affected by labor
with the practical working out of plans for the safe
employment Of prisoners upon public roads.
For his comfort we viii say that we made in that
editorial. and We make now, yelled other de-
Tense Of what he the "sweat-shop system that
now obtains in County Workhouse We not only
make defense OF II but say openly that re-
gard it gross ofense against free and honest labor
for the trustees the workhouse sell the labor
convicts to outside contractors at prices that
able those contractors to put those prson-made gar
ments the market at prices low that employers
of free and honest labor forced to beat down the
wages Of their many men and women employees
to starvation figures to meet the competition Of
those who traffic in prison-made goods
HE
rageous that State which refuses permit such
prison-made goods to be sold within its borders be-
such sale would be detrimental to free and hon
labor in Delaware scruple permit such
goods TO be made here at ridcuously low wage cost
and unloaded upon other communities. regardless OF
the effect such unloading may have upon free and
honest labor in those other communities.
We desire to say. however, that the free and hon
fest contractors and working who build roads in
delaware, when they are built, have just as much
right TO claim protection against convict labor as
have the and talors who protest against
what they call the "sweat-shop" garment making
work being done at Greenbank We have nc
doubt that road contractor thinks that his business
US deserving Of protection against convict labor
lbs the business OF an employing tailor. We have nc
doubt that the free and honest who does road
work when it is to be DONE thinks that his job is
worthy OF protection is that of the iourneymer
tailor or the seamstress. We fail to see how ever
the Star correspondent who complains of the injury
done to the free and honest tailoring business by
these conyct-made goods deny that similar harm
would not be done to the free and honest roadbuid
ing contractor and the free and honest roadbuildnl
workngman by convct-made roads.
We admit that the contention may be made that by
using the prisoners to build roads triple benefit vii
be deprived by the pubnc-a good roads system al
small cost; the receipt Of with which to pay
on the workhouse bonds and healthful condi
ton Of the prisoners. Eliminating the ethical cues
II no
put free and honest contractors and their work
men out of business, those benefits unquestionabl,
would
However, let us pass from that to another phase O
his complaint against that editorial advising caution
We suggested, objection to the plan to use tn
convicts roads that when the gangs were employ
ed roads remote from the workhouse it would b.
necessary to have prison-tght barracks where the
might be housed and guarded at night for the pro
lection Of those living in the neighborhood and that
in reality We should have to have a chain Of SINAI
jails to supplement the service of the main count
jails. The Star correspondent replies with the as
sertion that the Colorado system Of employing con
vcts to build public roads might be put in effect here
Under that system the convicts are not guarded a
night when at work on the roads They all are IN
90 their honor not to away or TO commit an
more crimes while at large They are CHARTERED :
Eight like workmen. It may be that the people {
Delaware would like to have gangs Of unguarded cor
wcts at work on the roads in the rural districts
the daytime and subjected only ordinary quarerin
at night but doubt it, We doubt that the farmer
and their wives and daughters would feel either SAT
or comfortable with such unguarded neighbors. The
might be educated up to it in time but we are {
the opinion that, if were made of the me
and women in the rural sections where those gangs
unguarded conyicts would spend most Of their tim
most OF them would prefer bad roads and goo
company TO good roads and bad company.
The fact that Warden Crawford used convicts
==s.sa stretch of good from>Prices Corner to