Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-14
WOMEN ENDORSE
PRISON LABOR BILL
Club Federation Directors to
Seek Passage of Hawes-
Cooper Measure.

The Halves Cooper bill. to take
prison.made wares out Of interstate
commerce. was Endorsed today by
the board Of directors of the Gen
eral Federation OF Women's Clubs,
who adopted a resolution urging IN"
STATE fe,lerations Ia do all in their
power To secure the passage OF the
bill.
The federation council acted favor
ably on the bill at a conference held
December J. and arranged the SEES
sion held today which closed the III
rectors' conference. Both senator
Halves of Missouri and Representa-
tive Cooper of Ohio. sponsors Oh the
bill in Congress, with representatives
Of the leading labor and manuiac-
turers' ORGANIZATIONS, spoke faFor-
ably of the bill aud expressed nope
that it will he passed at the present
session of Congress.
Sneakers today charged that prison
labor is a revival of slave labor aud
should he restricted for the protection
of free labor and free capital.
I'VE should stop the attempt 10
restore slavery in the United States,
Senator Hawes declared. land 1t is
time that we took steps to keep these
men from being put upon the auction
block and sold 10 the highest bidder.
Gives States Control.
Stating that he is an old State rights
Democrat. Senator Halves said that
the bill being discussed should not he
offensive 10 any political group. IL
permits n State TO do what il wants
To do without interference from an
other State, he said.
Mr. Cooper stated that the proposed
law merely regulates the sale OF con-
vict-made goods which is shipped from
one State into another. He explained
that Ohio has a law to regulate the
goods made in prison in that State.
but cannot regulate prison-made goods
shipped into that State
New York State has laws now regu-
lating the sale of prison goods manu-
featured in the State and those which
are shipped into the State, George w.
Davis. assistant attorney general OF
New York, stated. Mr.. Davis. who rep
resented Albert Ottinger. attorney gen.
eral of New York State. submitted an
extensive resume OF the prison labor
laws Oh tildl STATE
Scores Profit. Making.
Eve don't want people To profit
from misfortune and crime" EDGAR
Wallace. legislative representative "t
the American Federation of Labor,
said. I'VE don't want products OF these
people confined in our prisons to bring
about conditions which will prod lee
more crime he said. lie stated that
the Federation OF Labor has been at
tempting for years TO secure law
such as that provided by the ilaw. $.
Cooper bill. but that all Of their cf-
forts have been thwarted ~ So-called
reformers In the pay Of persons Who
have contracts for prison labor.
Mrs. John ID. Sherman, president OF
the General Federation Of Women's
Clubs. who presided. stated that she
considered the conference on prison
legislation one Of the outstanding
pieces Of work undertaken by that or
ganiZation. Miss Julia h. Jaffray Of
New York, chairman OF the legislative
committee, stated that she believed the
la copper bill. II passed. will mean
the ending Of unfair competition and
" i'll help State. prisoners, families and
free. manufacturers.
Other speakers at the conference
were Arthur T. Davenport. represent.
ing the international Association of
Garment Manufacturers; Irwin Rich
ard, president OF the Eastern Broom
Manufacturers and Supply Dsalers
Association Incorporated: William j.
Ellis. commissioner Of institutions and
agencies Of New Jersey. and Peter J.
Salmon. business manager VI the In.
dustriai Home OF the Blind.
Asks Tribute TO Council.
In her address last night on the pro-
posed memorial 10 the American WON
IN of the World War. Miss Mabel r.
Boardnan, secretary OF the American
Ped Cross, asked the federation to
present one of the columns Of the
memorial In memory o. the services
" wOmen's committee OF the Council
Of National Defense. The columns.
several Of which have been already
donated. cost approximately $1,000
each.
The knights Of Columbus and the
I. 81. T.. A. and y. W. q. A. have pur-
chased columns for the memorial In
honor of the women vino served these
orga nizstions in the World War. Miss
E0ardman said.
Lieut.. Col. II. Edmund Bulls traced
8tssS DFbFNDIIBgFI1h ~ h'iN A"'FpNaf az at'
address last night.
The businsss sessions ended this
morning, and the ma JDriiy ~ the
members Of the board went by bus this
afternoon To- wilt Mount Vernon.
They also stopped st Christ Church
in AIexandfis. A number ~ the d.
rsctGrs viii remain here next week ~
attend the Conference on the Cause
nd Cure for War