The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-04-11

no strikes or labor troubles in prisons.
Prison contracts are usually made for
eight years &nd generally continue in
definitely. This company pays for its
labor 50 cents per man per day: it's
competitors who employ free labor
pay an average wage of about 2 per
day. This company is supplied free
of rent with factory buildings, storage
warehouses and grounds inside the
prison walls, and with free heat, light
and power
Prison Trusts Boast.
To acquire similar facilities as this
company has obtained free with its
contracts would necessitate an addi-..
tional investment of approximately
$l,O00,000. Having to make no invest
r.ent for factory buildings, storage
warehouses, heat, light or power, the
company's funds are kept actively en-
gagged in liquid assets such as raw
materials, finished goods and ac-.
counts receivable These are. ideal
conditions for profitable manufactur-
ing =.
In contract entered in to January.
TO-, 1910, between Michigan authori:
ties and A. G. Tawse & Co., it is pro-;
Vided the company shall employ 100,
convicts and pay to the state 40:
cents per dozen for each dozen work
shirts completed.
NiQuity of Contract. =;
This interesting provision is also
noted in the contract: 1.-The party of
the second part (they company fur
Their agrees that none OF the work
shirts manufactured Under this, con-
tract will be sold In the state OF Mich
igan,"- Under the terms Of the Boo
her-Hughes bill these shirts would be
driven out of: every other state that
passed laws on the subject.
In speech last month, delivered
in the house of representatives, Rep
resentative Nolan of California, a
member of the labor group. said that
the convict labor system prevails in
"a of our states, and that in some
cases the contractor pays as low as
eight cents a day, although the av-
erage price ranges around so cents.
How Convlcts Are Worked.
OF the S6,036 prisoners, 1915 per
cent of them, or 51,172 were engaged
in productive labor in 80 different in
dustries: The total market value of
their product was s34,276,205. or
this amount nearly $17,000,0OO~ worth
of goods were produced under the
contract system in 81 institutions, To-
Gated in q different states. Over
$S,000,O00 worth of goods were pro-
duced under the piece-price system.
Ninety-seven per cent of these goods
were produced in penal institutions
and three per cent in Juvenile refor-
matories.
In answer to- the question, "Who
are the people who have fought this
leg1slation?' Congressman Nolan
said: Tearing away the masks and
DISCUSSES, we are face to face with
the prison contractor himself We
find him in his dual role. On the one
hand an exploiter of convict labor, on
the other a potent factor-yes; even
a high officer-in the councils of the
so-called prison reform associations.
Gompers Hits Hard.
THE only real opposition and the
only voice of protest has been that OF
the prison contractor, and he has
been careful to cloak and to hide his
opposition and to use as his mouth
piece either the warden or the So
called prison reform association. :.
"The ramifications of this contract
system are so great and the interests
and joint interests of this prison ring
this brief reference to the subject to
n Xo f1n toll
are all of record, and a careful per-
usal of the facts and figures, I am
sure, will convince the most skeptical
of you.
1.-THE fact remains that these con-
tractors have until recently been in
absolute control of the leading SO.
called prison associations of this
country, which are ostensibly in
prison reform, but in reality their
true object is to exploit the unfortu-
nate prisoner for their private gain
and to oppose any form of federal
legislation tending to eInancipate the
convict from the shackles@ of this in
iquitous system. Those are the only
motives which have actuated their op-
position" ,,..} )
The Misunderstanding Manufacture
ing company entered into contract
with the Rhode Island Board st Con-
troll in 1 s06 for five: years for suffi,s
cient labor to manufacture $50 dozen
shirts a day, at 80 cents a dozen: The
contract may be. renewed for another
five years at its expiration, but in the
event Of the passage OF any law BY
the United States which would intex-
fere with the sale OF the shirts. the
company may annul tho contract. z
EASTER SHIRTS, THE BIG
.nY7T TIgrFr y. IS 81 =, "a