Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-10-02
CONVICT LABOR
NOT AVAILABLE
OUTSIDE PRISON

If the farmers of Oregon desire to
continue the production OF flax the pen
ftentiary stands ready to purchase the
crop delivered at the prison flax plant,
hut there will be no further contracts
entered into involving the use of con-
vict labor outside of the prison walls.
This decision, prompted by the expert
enee of the past season, was voiced by
Warden r. E. Steiner at the meeting or
the state board of control, Wednesday
afternoon, and is approved by Governor
Olcott, who, under the state law, is di
Teetly responsible for the policy of this
institution.
AT the September meeting of the
board of control Warden Steiner pre-
sented letter voicing his opposition to
the use of convict labor in the harvest
ing of flax or in any other work in
volving the use of convicts outside the
prison walls. This opposition is based
On the difficulty experienced in secur-
ing sufficient labor to carry out these
contracts without resorting to the use
of .1hardboils' and the necessity for
maintaining heavy gun guards in order
to prevent escapes.
Warden Steiner in his letter to the
board calls attention to the fact that so
far not a single farmer had entered in
to contract with the state for the pro
duetion Of flax ON the new terms which
include delivery at the prison plant at a
price Of $35 ton for the first class
product, $25 ton for second class, pull
ed by hand, and $15 ton for flax cus
by mower regardless of length.
stIt has been demonstrated beyond
question that Oregon can grow flax Of
the very finest quality, also that our
climate is favorable for it's manufac-
ture,' Warden Steiner declares
ssIt is now time for this industry to
stand on it's own bottom. Flax must be
cared for at the same time that our
varied fruits, vegetables, grain, hay,
hops and other crops must be harvested.
Everyone knows what scarcity Of help
and high prices exist. The penitentiary
has performed its function in the flax
demonstration.
Warden Steiner's letter concludes
with a recommendation that other in
dnstries be established at the prison to
provide employment for the convicts in
the event the flax plant is compelled
e to close down because of lack of raw
material which now seems highly prob
able.
1fThey are willing to work if encour-
aged G.nd thereby assist in their main
tenance,' he declares. cit is proper
that these men be taught to learn trades
and to- save some money so that when
they again enter the world, they do not
do so with empty pockets, without a
trade and with a mind poisoned against
society. The state has it's duty to per-
form regardless of what the convict has
done or may do.
can immediate effort should be made
to install some industry which will af-
ford the inmates of the prison labor 50
that the men can be kept from Idle
ness and at the same time produce some
profit to the state. have in mind sew
eral industries which / think could be
profitably installed, but before making
a final report in this regard I woui.
advise an investigation of the most sue
cessful prisons in the United States 50
that we could get the benefit of their
experience and actual results"
Warden Steiner will leave within a
few days for a tour of the middlewest,
south and east, upon instruction of the
state board of CONTROL with view to
studying industrial plants in various
state prisons. His tour will include Co.
lumbus, Ohio; Jackson, Mich; Joliet,
m-; Saltwater, Mimi; Jefferson, Ind;
and possibly to New York where he
would inspect the famous Sing Sing
prison.