The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1913-01-17

Many important matters will come
before you for consideration n dis
cussion, matters of utmost importance
I the people. and To the state, calling
for the exercise OF our best judgment
and intelligence. IL is. OF course, I'M
necessary for me to urge YOU 20 take
M your work seriously and earnestly
but I do kindly suggest that YOU settle
down to the serious and systematic
consideration OF measures early in
your session, and push the work
along with such speed as will not in
terfere with thorough and judicious
consideration, but ut the same time
will save congestion and confusion in
the closing DAYS. Your session is OF
brief duration. The time will quick
" pass. Out of my own experience |
have learned that nothing is more i'm
portant to successful Legislative ac-
complishment in our brief ~sixty-day
sessions than getting down 10 work In
the early days. The duties of n con-
scientious legislator are u and
often unappreciated. IL is my desire
to render you such sympathic assist
ance as | an. and | want each of you
TO feel free TO come 10 me az any time
for such advice and counsel as | may
be able TO give. | a TO work with
you. in mutual cooperation. for the
welfare OF the state we have under
taken TO serve.
In making appropriations you should
use the utmost care and circumspec-
ton, and economic wherever possible,
without injuring or Gripping any OF
the states legitimate institutions or
activities. Not a single dollar should
be expended. no office created or con-
tinued and no person employed except
such as is necessary for good and eff
ficient government. At the same time
! would urge you TO so provide for
each department of the state govern
ment as to enable il 10 serve the peo-
pie efficiently.
Hits Prison Contracts.
For long ! have believed that farm
operation vas the natural N proper
employment for ordinary prisoners.
especially the young. the first termers.
those who are serving short sentences.
and those. in general. who demon
strate that they are worthy OF conf
dence. learn thai the state owns
a tract of farm land. about 240 acres,
some distance north of the penitentiary
and am informed that this land was.
indeed, originally purchased for the
~penitentiary. IL is too far away 10
work adyantageously from the pen
itentiaary itself. | recommend that
you make provision for the immediate
erection of suitable buildings. n that
arrangements be made TO operate a
farm on this tract of land At once.
with the labor OF such of the inmates
as the warden and board OF charities
and corrections may deem best suited
and most deserving OF trust. IL II
proves successful. as il cen TO have
proven highly successful in other
states. Is could be extended from tim
TO time until employment OF this kind
was furnished 10 practically all of the
inmates who can safely be entrusted
in such work.
have examined with a good deal Of
interest the contract under which the
state is manufacturing shirts in the
~penitentiary for the Sterling Manutac-
turing company. | have always been
opposed To contract labor IN prisons.
Lately | have given some special at
tention 10 The matter. and am more
than ever convinced that in principle
and practice IL is absolutely wrong.
In this ~insance. the state Is here man
ufacturing an exceptionally good class
of working shirts for 80 cents a dozen,
3 cents a piece. | do not complain
especially on the ground that il may
not furnish sufficient proft. From
my standpoint. profit in a matter OF
this Kind is/a secondary consideration.
called your attention. first, 10 the
fact that the state, In making shirts
for such beggarly prices. is engaging
in grossly unfair competition with a
class OF workers already shamefully
underpaid. For this price the state
and machinery OF all kinds-cutting
machines. sewing machines and every
thing used in the manufacture OF
shirts except the material. unboxes
and unpacks the material. packs and
boxes the completed shirts. all for 3
cents each. Ny complaint OF the
price. remember. ia not especially that
II does not furnish the state sufl-
cient profit. but principally that IL is
trdtally unfair competition with the
workers In this line of industry.
Prison Labor Trust.
II Is claimed by those who should
be in a position TO know that the COM
bination known at the R~eliance-Ster-
ling Manufacturing company. OF which
the Sterling Manufacturing company
is a part. controls the contract In eley-
en- or more different state prisons and
reformatUries. and is commonly
known as the Prison Labor Trust"
that the company was organized about
ten years ago with a very small and
insignificant capital; that its profits
have been such that its growth is re-
markable, having now a paid. up CAPT
tai stock OF over $500. 900, and an an
nual business in the neighborhood or
$4,000, 900. II Is said that IN different
states the contract is let to different
individuals. partnerships or companies,
but that all such contractors are con-
nected with or a part OF the Reliance
Sterling combination.
There Is only n possible consider
alton which, under any circumstances,
could be offered in favor Of such labor
or the contract under which II is car
ried on. and that is that IL furnishes
employment. | will freely admit that
~ II was necessary 10 the employment
of the men that It would be eXcusable;
as between making shirts. even on
contract. and idleness, common Ia
manity would dictate that the men
make shirts. put there is no such al