The Review, Vol. 1, No. 12, December, 1911

A rare glimpse into the social debates of 1911, this monthly issue from the National Prisoners’ Aid Association captures a pivotal moment when labor leaders confronted the use of convict labor. The centerpiece is a lengthy address delivered by a representative of the United Garment Workers of America, a union whose ranks were largely women and girls. He outlines how organized labor views prison work—not as a threat, but as a question of fairness, reform, and competition with free markets.

He argues that inmates should be employed in ways that teach skills and prepare them for citizenship, rather than serving the profit motives of private contractors or the state. The speech also calls for a balanced distribution of prison jobs so no single trade feels unfairly burdened, reflecting the broader progressive push for humane reform. Listening to this original text offers a concise window into the era’s labor politics and the early arguments that shaped modern prison‑work policies.