Evening journal., 1920-03-15


which the prisoners arc now engaged is
very undesirable. Il Is unrcmunera-
tive. Men are earning 20 cents per day
who could easily earn s2 or $3.50 per DAY
at road making or farm work. II Is
uninslructive The men learn nothing
; which will be Of any service to them
in getting a living outside. IL is work
unsuitable for men. Running power
Z sewing machines on goods of this class
Is work suitable for women. II is un-
interesting. The man has no interest
except TO perform his daily task, and
. the work Is such that many men are
not adapted 10 ID and can perform only
a moderate task In order TO avoid
partlality the tasks are set so low That
many prisoners can perform them in
0 half time while others require full time
D This. however. unaVOidably results IN
partially because The quick and ready
0 men have time for extra work at which
. they can earn wages for themselves.
d The chief objection 10 this work Is
! The universal and not unreasonable pre-
mdice Of the labor men against contract
, prison labor This feeling Is 50 strong
, and so general that IL has driven the
/ system out OF all bul f. states of the
/ Union. and has greatly diminished the
) amount Of it in most Of those states.
: The generally accepted substitute for
! the contract system is the state use
{ system" whereby the prisoners are en-
ployed in manufacturing articles for the
, use Of the State or It's political sub
3 divisions -dOunties, cities and school
, districts. Under this system the prison
e. manufactures Office desks, school desks,
/ furniture, clothing, wagons, harness.
D., utensils. rugs, and what not, for the use
( of Offices, schools, insane hospitals
] hospitals for the sick. institutions for
5 children and so forth, II is doubtful
whether the state Use system could De
= successfully operated in a state win
. only 225OOO population, and with a
o. prison containing only 800 prisoners.
I / would suggest that the board OF
4 trustees take this matter up Win
- representatives OF The labor unions ana
3 representatives OF the manufacturers
< and cndeay0T TO agree upon some form
p of indoor industry which viii be ac-
. ceptable TO the labor interests, ooth en-
D ployers and employees, and viii COM
o. mend itself 20 your judgment as a
5 practical proposition which can De
/ operaled without loss 10 the country.
I have been surprised to flnd that the
q representatives OF organized labor were
p disposed 10 discuss this question far
} lly. While they are bitterly opposed to
: the contract system, have never found
I I a labor man who believed that prison
. ers ought TO be kept in idleness; and as
{ I understand their position, they are
20 willing that products Of prison laDor
should be Sold provided that the prls-
! oners are compensated at ordinary
4 wage for work Of the same value, ana
{ provided the goods are sold at the regu-
I lar market price.
e believe that you would reap a
70 distinct advantage by calling In the as
sistance of working men and employers
Z TO agree upon a working plan.
r, WAGES FOR PRISONERS.
c Ny study and observation Of prison
e labor for 81 years has convinced me
e that the solution OF the prison labor
IT question for such prison as yours Is u
e be found: first, in the organization oil
II your prison labor along the lines which
e YOU have established in the Delcastlc
y Farm: Namely, 10 do a iirst-class Job
= lust as good as can be done anywhere
j. second. In the production Of ilrst-class
n results. like your milk product, equal IN
d quality 20 the best anywhere; third, by
o finding O way to create such spirit IN
The prison that the prisoners themselves
r. will enlist heartily in this effort.
b have found that the most powerful
a incentive that can be applied is the al
u llowance TO the prisoner Of wages which
C he may be permitted TO use for the sup
4 mort of his family or for his benefit IN
C case he has not a family. This is not
r. a new proposition: il has been tried out
: for many years.
Vi In Minnesota 35 years ago, the pris-
!, oners were allowed wages, for every
= days good time earned. at the rate palo
II bv The contractor which was then .,
e cents per day. This gave the prisoner
II he earned an Of his good time, about
g 81. 20 per month, or s32.iO per year. TINS
g small amount was a great incentive I,
IT good conduct and industry. The WarueI
n said TO me THE good time money
IT governs the prison.
)f In Minnesota, at the present tlne
r wages are allowed TO prisoners 'both II
" the state reformatOry and the stat
Id prison. I'm the refOrmat0ry the allow
" ance Is from ten TO fifteen cents pei
4 daN In the State prison IL j. IRON
n 0fteen cents TO Sl.30 per day lhepor
le of Warden C.. :. Reed, 1917:
ID Tho state OF New York allows il
" lconvicfs The generous wage Of one an'
N one half cents per day: but Zines then
y. twenty-five cents per day Tor miscon
Is duet.
D The Alabama penitentiary owns cot
ton mill at Speigner operated by prlsol
Id labor. on state account. / visited IN
b. cotton mill two years ago ana Iouh'
2. MAT they were making cotton cloth 10
)t I-niied states army contractors. I'M
e regular hours of labor were eleven an'
ID one half hours per day. The super
'e intendent put II up TO the prisoners
IS mostly Negro men and women
r. as amatier Of patriotism Whethe
~ thev would work two hour
Df exira each day in order To increase IN
e. nroduct and offered to pay them 81 pc
s. ,veek extra for the twelve hours over
Id time The prisoners cheeriully ac
l. cepled this proposition. and when wa
e. ! ,here ihev were working thirteen an
IL ono half hours per day in the month o
I'd August. The president OF tne prisU'
lt hoard stated that the erect uPoh vi
IN Industry Of the prisoners nsn heen ;
nd favorable that it was his intention
IN continue the bonus after the hour
ee should be again reduced.
he In Washington county, Vernon
d. sheriff f. H. Tracy, has been accus
e. toned TO find employment lot ~ !.
ct county prisoners, serving sentence WI. WIZ
at neighboring farmers. The farmers nav
al | ~ =, e ., - 10 80 10 nor dqN for IN