Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22
OFFICIALS DEFEND
ARLINGTON CAMP
Sheriff Fields and Supervisor
Hedrick Laud Guarded
Convict Group.
BY LESTER N. INSKEEP,
Star Correspondent Of The Star.


ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT
HOUSE, Va, February blooming to
the defense Of the Virginia State High
way Commission In its decision to es-
tabl1sh prison camp here for 100 con-
victS to be used on the grading of the
Lee boulevard, Sheriff Howard B.
Fields today declared that Arlington
County has had some sad experiences
as result Of the importation Of cheap
LABOR Tor large construction Jobs, and
that he, as chief Of the law enforce
ment division Of the county, would
rather see 1000 convicts, under COM
petent guards, employed on the Job than
100 laborers recruited by contractors
from other places.
Model Of Efficiency.
The modern prison camp, Fields de-
clared, Is model Of efficiency and
cleanliness. The convicts are constantly
under supervision, are made to keep
regular hours and are confined to the
camp at all times when not employed
on the work to which they are desig-
mated.
If it were possible to recruit locally
the type of labor to be replaced by the
convictS, he said, he would take a Diff
ferent view Of the matter, but Airing
ton County has never had a great sup
ply Of cheap labor, and on every large
job done by contractors here there have
been brought in number Of men who
have constantly been in trouble and
who have been not only an annoyance
to the local police department, but to
the citizens as well. A number of
laborers from one job, he declared, re-
manned here, and most Of them have
spent the greater part Of the last year
In Jail.
Another advantage seen by the sheriff
IN the establishment Of the prison camp
here Is the moral effect that 1t will have
on the criminal element, especially the
violatorS Of the prohibition laws. He
believes that the sight Of the convicts
working under guard will 60 a long
way toward lettering wouldbe law
Violators.
The stand of the Highway Commits
sion Is also supported by Supervisor
B. M. Hedrick. who declares that the
grading Of the road is but a small part
Of the project, and that upon compile
ton Of the grading large sums Of money
will be spent upon this project, for
which work convict labor will not be
suitable
Furthermore, he says, with the de-
velopment OF this highway will follow
the building Of homes, the extension Of
water lines, the installation of public
utilities, the paving of connecting
streets, the extension Of bus lines, and
all Of the complex activities that fol-
low the development Of new territory.
These activities will furnish work, not
for hundreds, but for thousands Of men,
and not for weeks, but for years to
come"
Hedrick believes that the starting Of
the project Is the important thing, and
that no impeachment should be placed
in the path Of its progress.
Despite q dispatch from Richmond
which quotes Commissioner H. @. Shir-
ley as declaring that the Lee Boulevard
Is not an emergency relief project, and
that prison labor will positively be used
on It, the Associated General Con-
tractors Of America. by whom the pro-
test against the use Of conyicts was
lodged, continued In their efforts today
to foreStall the move. Shirley stated
that there are certain other projects In
Virginia, near Washington, on which
convict labor will not be used.
Plans Mass Meeting.
Mai. w. r. Richards, an official Of
the Associated General Contractors, was
today making arrangements with
Thomas r. Mechem, chairman Of the
Relief Committee of the Arlington
County Civic Federation, and repre-
sentative of organized labor In Airing
ton County, for the calling Of mass
meeting Of citizens to protest the con-
v1ct labor move. Mechem has called
special meeting at his home for Tues
day night. at which plans for the mass
meeting will be laid.
Through the Richmond once Of the
contractors body q protest was yester-
day f1led with GOV. John Garland Pol
lard. The protest was made through
Henry Taylor, president of the Virginia
branch, and was supported by Lee
Paschall, past State president of the
organization. and P. E. w. Goodwin,
State secretary.
Oficials of the Associated General
Contractors stated today that they are
not discouraged as to the ultimate re-
suit Of their fight for free labor and
that the campaign would continue.