Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-02-09
6MVCIS COMPETENT
PRISON LABOR IN IOWA FOUND
TO EQUAL FREE LABOR IN
EFFICIENCY.
AMEs WANTS FIFTY MEN
FoR WORK ON iioHWAYs
Last Years Experiment. 30 Successful
Demand Has Increased - Board Of
Control Declares Criticisms Of Fort
Madison Laborsrs Are Unfair-La.
bor's Financial Loss Thru Accident.


bor's Financial Loss Thru Accident.
Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Feb. 9.-Convict labor
is not inefficient labor. At least 1t is
not less desirable than free labor when
it is n the same footing. This was
demonstrated in Iowa last year. Con-
Wet labor without restraint and paid as
other labor is the equal Of free labor.
The experiment in the use of labor In
highway construction at Ames last year
was SO satisfactory that fifty men are
wanted for this year. 1t was found their
work was efficient in every way. And
it is quite probable that in other parts
Of the state where there is to be sys-
tematic highway construction. where
SO that real permanent work can be
commenced. convict labor will be used.
At Fort Madison, where the system
has long been in vogue Of permitting
persons who can be trusted outside the
walls to do labor Of certain limited
kinds away from the prison. On farms
and in outdoor work in the city, en-
ployers have found that where such la
Dor is paid the same as free labor tho
result is Just as good. In fact some Of
the contractors desiring to use men for
cellar digging, bricklaying and car.
pentry. prefer to use the convict labor,
tho paying the men just as much a
AthApu u,o,,1H ~0st <oe thox. nd i, chat thA
zeal OF the convicts to make good is
such that they really give better SER
vice for the money. This has. OF course.
given rise to much complaint on the
part Of persons In Fort Madison.
1.-THE attitude Of the laboring men at
Fort Madison is very unfair" said Mr..
Dixon, member Of the board, referring
to the effort to put q stop to convict
labor there outside the walls. 1.-THE men
who labor outside the walls get the
same a as others. They are not cut
ting rates or demoralizing labor condi-
tons. If there was a sufficient num.
Der Of men available at all times to do
the work to be done doubtless the con
tractors and employers would not care
to use convict labor at all. But when
We Insist upon the men getting full
wages, for their time and expect them
to do a full days work nobody ought
to object. These men are entitled to a
chance to earn a living IL they have
shown themselves to be trustworthy"
But the charge Of in~efficiency will no
longer be hurled at convict labor In
Iowa.
Labor Losses Thru Accidents.
When the state labor bureau gets re-
suits from its collection OF information
as to Industrial accidents in Iowa there
will be some interesting stories to tell
and they will surprise many people az
to the conclusions to be drawn.
For instance. Just last week the bu-
e completed tabulation Of one largo
sheet from the reports on Industrial
accidents. These reports were all from
one firm Of employers. The accidents
varied greatly. The reports show the
nature of the accidents, the name Of
the person injured, the time Of the ac-
cident, the time the person returned to
the employment, the wages, etc. A
simple computation from that one sheet
showing about fifty accidents, showed
that h wage loss to the persons in
jured aggregated over 1850. The loss
to the firm must also have been consid-
cradle.
SSAAAAAAcSlO4lC OIlCA says IUdI the
reports when fully tabulated will make
an astonishing showing as to the ag-
gregate loss to laboring men in wages
from industrial accidents Just because
Of time lost. II may amount to mil
lions in Iowa each e It is to aid in
%lessening this loss that the labor bu-
reau In connection with the work Of
the Iowa industrial commissioner, Is
engaged in securing the data regarding
industrial accidents in Iowa. (.
The Fort Dodge Controversy.
Whenever. the matter is properly
presented to the governor he will UNI
doubtedely issue an order for forma-
ton Of an arbitration commission at
Fort Dodge to settle the troubles of the
Iowa Telephone men and the company.
The matter was put up to him by the
Central Trades assembly, which is not
a party to the matter at all and could
not be recognized by the state as hav-
ing q direct interest. If it ONE to the
governor from the men affected or from
the union Of electrical workers to which
they belong the commission will be or
dered for arbitration as IL the case of
the Oskaloosa street car strikers. De-
lay has been caused by the failure of
the labor leaders at Fort Dodge to
properly understand the details Of the
new arbitration law.
1t seems that there was recently a
fierce contest in Fort Dodge over the
franchise and the people rejected a
proposed new franchise under which
there was to be some sort Of profit
sharing for the city. The influence Of
laboring men in the city is declared to
have been the cause Of the defeat. AS
a result the company discharged eight
of the men, accused Of aiding in the
defeat Of the franchise wanted. The
men Insist they were within their rights
and that they were discharged because
of connection with the union.
When the matter Is properly pre-
sented h parties to the quarrel will
submit names from which the governor
will select two arbitrators, who will in
turn select q third.
B ] GOD