The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-31

ton shall be made OF convict labor
when it shall have been removed from
competition with free labor? To end
the contract system is to deprive the
State of "a substantial source OF rev.
enue and TO impose upon the State
at the same time corresponolngiy
greater burden for the upkeep OF It's
prisoners II largely increased imam
cial charge is not to fall upon the tax
payers, some system for utilizing the
earning power of the convicts would
have 10 be put into effect.
The St Louis Post-Dispatch. view
ing the end Of prison contract labor
in the Missouri State Penitentiary,
well states the case
Light -heartedly 20 decree the abo-
lition of the Objectionable contract
system. in response to planks IN the
platforms of both parties and a strong
public demand. l. one thing "a very
easy thing. TO devise satisfactory
substitute is quite another thing. Inc
latter undoubtedly will involve some
additional expense for time Con
sidera BILE experimentation Will be nee
essary before practical results OF value
are achieved Anxiots EFFORT devoted
TO il Will not bring much public ac.
claim But the problem must be faced
and demands serious thought and at
tention.
Industries are conducted on state
account in some very successful
prisons The manufacture of sisal into
binder Irvine and other cordage Is
prospecting industry in some States.
Hundreds of convicts throughout the
country are employed in the manufac-
ture Of furniture. including rattan
furniture pearl buttons. shirts and other
garments on the State account system,
by which j. meant manufacture chiefly
for use in State institutions. With
care in marketing such products and
abstention from price cutting, officials
avoid offensive competition with free
labor" the Post Dispatch finds. The
change from the old system to the new
has been facilitated in some prisons by
continuing on the State account plan
for period some OF the industries
formerly controlled by contractors. \
number of States are ordering outdoor
employment for convicts and buying
large acreage for prison farms
Missouri intends TO introduce the
New York plan Of utilizing convicts to
make products required in state IN
stitutions and State departments.
Careful planning is necessary to sue
cess it is truly urged. Where prison
farm is established. much of the food
needed in asylums and other State
institutions could be produced.
There are several possible solutions
Of the problem in Virginia. The
Times Dispatch suggested a year ago
that short-term convicts be put at
work on the public roads to construct
a Statewide system of improved high
ways. while the long-term convicts and
those of "a nature unsuited for the
measure of liberty that would be per
nitted road-workers could be employed
within a stockade near a quarry under
heavy guard TO produce road building
material. On the other hand. the con
victs might be divided into two sec
tions-one TO work on the public roads
and the other to be employed on d large
State farm. 1t might be found neces-
sary to keep certain per cent Il the
prison population in shops to sanu-
facture products on the State accSunt.
At any rate, something will undoubted
Iv be found for the hands of the con
victs to do in Virginia when they are
emancipated from prison contract labor