The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-24
State Labor Federation Officials
and Superintendent and
Members Of Board of Peni-
Tertiary Argue Before Com
mittee.
Advocates of Measure to Com
pei Proper Labelling of Prison
Made Goods Declare Unfair
Advantage of Public Is
Taken and Free Labor
Suffers.

The State Federation of Labor was
well represented last evening, when
the senate committee on general laws
met to consider the Cannon bill to
require conv.ct-made goods To be so
marked. For more than two hours
the discussion was on, taking a wide
range.
f. c. Dawson. chairman of the
legislative committee of the State
Federation of Labor, opened the pro-
ceedings with an appeal for the pass
age of the bill, saying that it was un-
fair and unjust for INSCRIPTIONS
manufacturers to attempt to palm of
their wares by pretending they were
made in open shops. where free labor
lis employed
Mr. Dawson presented TO the COM
mittee a placard Issued by union labor
organizations on which was printed
the various brands and tickets adopt
ed by the makers of prison goods
with which to deceive the public.
Many of the goods are those manu-
featured in the Maryland State peni-
Tertiary at Baltimore. others at
Moundsville, w. Va. and others at
Missouri penitentiary at Jefferson
City.
Some of these goods are handled
right here in Richmond. are so
labeled that they will deceive any
one not familiar with the tricks of
the men engaged in operating prison
contracts
Major Wood. superintendent of the
Virginia penitentiary, was called to
make a statement. He said that he
believed that to mark the product of
the prison would be to restrict the
demand and sale of such goods.
There was, he believed. prejudice
against the prison made goods. To
that extent there would be a deprecia-
ton Of the earnings of the prisoners.
He explained at length the reasons
for not sending certain prisoners to
the roads, saying they were danger
Gus. that they would attempt to
escape and that they often had TO
be shot. Several times he had been
sorced to recall men sent to the
roads because Of their failure to do
good work. and attacks on guards
Fewer Trousers Factories,
L. l.. Scherer. a member of the
board said that he was opposed to
having the goods marked. He de-
clared that to do so would require a
large appropriation from the State 10
care for the men who would be
thought that the State would get any,
where from s35 600 TO $4,000 profit
this year from the men in the shops.
He did not believe that any concern
in the State had suffered from the
operations in the Virginia peniten-
tiary.
And just at this point there was
read a letter from the labor commits
sioner showing that there were sew
eral trousers establishments fewer In
the State at this time than there were
when the penitentiary contract was
awarded.
Senator Mapp asked regarding the
granting of paroles He was told by
Mr. Scherer that when the board took
up paroles it did not know If man
was on the roads, in prison or at the
farm. The record alone. he explain
ed. was laid before the board.
"And that record is made up by
guards and others, the convict having
no chance to appear or to be repre-
sented being wholly and completely
at the mercy of the guards" said DR..
Charles V. Darlington. former surgeon
at the prison.
Mr. Dawson closed the debate for
the time being. He wanted to know
why 1T was that members OF the board
had seen fit to come and to protest
against the breaking of contract
when they were supposed to see that
the laws were enforced. and he want
ed to know what interest directors or
officers could have in seeing that the
contract was not broken.
Would Deceive Public.
1t was shown that the contractors
had taken every precaution to protect
themselves by providing for such
contingency as the enactment OF a
nzf n arn tOy
and If it shall be adopted to have the
contract annulled.
Mr.. Dawson said that the men en-
gagged in the making OF convict goods
would not hesitate to resort to any
sort of trick to dispose of them and
to deceive the public. calling attention
to the devices used to accomplish that
purpose.
senator Mapp brought out the fact
that there was no way on earth by
which reasons for the refusal of a
parole at the hands OF the board could
be gotten. He cited an instance OF a
man in his own county whose time
was more than half up, and when APP
plication was made for reasons for
refusal he received letter from the
superintendent to the effect that the
reasons for rejecting the application
could not be made known. He said
that sometimes attorneys for the pros
ecution. sherifs and others requested
that their names be not given when
information was asked by the board.
The committee rose soon before z
o'clock, and the next meeting will be
held on Wednesday. 1t is believed that
the members are in favor OF reporting
the bill favorably.
Several times during the hearing
the idea was touched of having all that
a convict earns while in prison. that
is, the value. of his work. shall be
paid to his family while he Is in
prison, deducting only enough to pay
for his keep and guarding.
During the hearing 1t came out that
(Continued on Second pAge.)