Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-29
IOWA C0NViCTS WELL
4. 4 CARED FOR BY STATUTE
S.Afe sfnid DAILY Wage and Permitted to
Send Allowances to Their De-
pendent Fxmilfes.

Il StS..rhe convicts working on the roads
8 II, Iowa have j status differing from
that OF Tie conrlcts In the prisons OF
practically all other States" said
s6corgs Gordon Battle, the disting aishcd
New York attorney who appeared ON
behalf OF the National Committee on
( Prisons and Prison Labor In n suit to
Test the ccnst!tutionalty OF the con-
tract system of convict labor In tho
: State Of Ehodc Island.
~ I'm Iowa the men working on the
roads receive $3.50 per day for their
labor. they themselves paying for their
keep and clothing. and arc at liberty
to scnd the balance to their dependent
families. They are still under restrlc-
ton, hut their right to wage lifts them
out OF the slavery status into that OF
state wards
q ..rhc condition { these lowe con
Syicts is in sharp contrast to that of
sihe prisoners IN Rhode Island IN the
Slater state the labor OF at least 2oo
eof the prisoners Is LET by contract to q,
4irm of shirt manufacturers The state
asupplies the factory room. light, heat
aud power necessary, and pays for
transportation of materials and manu-
facturcd articles from and to the rail-
road station The contractoi supplies
The machinery. material aud super
vision necessary TO keep these prts-
.oners employed, and pays the State
so cents for each dozen shirts manu-
featured. The prisoner IS forced TO
labor under the terms OF this contract.
and receives no WACO for his labor.
'',rhe National Committee on Prisons
and Prison Labor contends that the
condition OF the prisoners working M
der this and every other prison con-
sfract is slavery; careful study proves
IT analogous to the condition Of the
negro slave before tho Civil War and
in accord with slavery as defined by
the Supreme Court % the United
States.
..siavcry is prohibited by the Con
stitution % the state OF Rhode Island
NSitiout the exception as 10 punish
incnt for crimo found in the Federal
and most of the state Constitutions.
The committee. therefore. claims that
the statute authorizing the state Board
of Supply and Control to let the labor
OF tho prisoners by contract is In con-
flct with the State Constitution, and
the contract. therefore. illegal.
ITO secure All opinion from the
courts, the COMMITTEES is backing an
cS-prisoner in his suit against the
prison contractors for wage for his
labor while in prison The committee
hopes through this case to forward the
movement for the abolition OF the con-
tract system OF convict labor, not only
in tho state of Rhode Island, but
throughout the country, and also to
show the right of the convict to re-
=,
through which he can contribute to-
wards the support OF mis- dependent
family.
THE action of many states in placing
those prisoners who can he trusted out
bte work on the roads is In line with
this forward movement. On the roads
the prisoner can do work which has
value great enough 20 permit the pay
incnt of the wage. Iowa has proved
The plan practical. West Virginia, New
Jersey and other States arc successfully
passing through the experimental stage.
swhile many more States will enact
Legislation permitting such work dur
ing the coming sessions OF the Iegis-
juturc.
The National Committee ON Prisons
and Prison Labor" Mr.. Battle con-
coluded, Stands firmly behind this road
work, when II Is conducted under con-
ditions fair to the prisoner and the
freo workingmaIi, and hopes in the
next. few years TO SEQ honor men
making good roads everywhere
throughout the country