Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-03
The Labor Question.

The annual report of the Massachusetts,
Bureau of Statistics of Labor to the Legis-
lature. contains a mass of information upon
topics of vital interest, common to nearly
every community The origin and object
. strikes - is clearly discussed, with impor
tant suggestions in relation thereto, and ag-
ricutural, domestic, manufacturing and 9TH
er interests are intelligently considered. We
have no intention Of attempting even the
most limited abstract of this six hundred
page document, but have alluded to it for
the urpOse OF introducing two or three par
agraphs which are copied from a condensa-
ton in the n Y Tribune. The first relates
to
THE HEATHER CHIME Al NORTH ADAMS.
The facts concerning the strike at North
Adams which resulted in the employment Of
Chinese are generally known, and are gwen
in full in he report. Mr. Sampson testified
recently before the Bureau concerning his
exp eriment, and among his statements are
these: . The work at first about the
average for beginners. My agreement or
contract was not made with the men person
ally, but was made and signed with Kwong,
CLong, Wing L Co. / have made no con
tract OF agreement with the men since ar
irving here. They are held 10 me for a Ger
tain number Of years at the end Of the
time they are at liberty to dispose Of them
selves ar they see fit, or renew the contract.
/ decline 10 shOtc the contract The payment
goes to the men, and Is by the month. The
money is put IN the hands of the foreman
/ (Sing) monthly. He keeps their accounts.
Inc men board IN club, and are having
things through the month, which he gets and
charges. lie deducts these, and unless they
want to send sums away, pays the rest over
I for their own use. | make out the drafts
and send them. These do not recognize
each individual, but some agent to whom a
! letter of instruction Is sent containing state
ments of account with different parties.
/ The agent takes the lincolnshire and satisfies
/ the claims Of individuals TO whom they are
/ indebted. pay nothing but cash. | paid
a dollar man 10 the firm through whom !
/ procured this help. They paid SO for the
! di-patches inquirIng into my responsibility.
Since the Chluamen have got TO work, there
/ have been threats Of blowing up the mill and
/ destroying Mr.. Chase the Superintendent,
and myself. These threats were not in
writing, but verbal and floating. The first
threats came through the CrspIn lodge, from
/ a man who SAID he would shoot the first
! ChInaman that came here Crispins have
made threats against US. but have suffered
no violence so far The Cinnamon don
seem to be afraid to 20 about the town at
all, thoagh they have been waylaid once OF
twice, and kicked several times Men have
slapped them in the face, but they don't say
anything about it, and when you ask about
1t, you cannot find who has been struck
/ They are out almost every evening. 1heu
ordinary food is meat and vegetables They
use tea, taking few swallows before and
after meals. but not drinking It with their
food. Their Yea comes from their own peo-
! pie. Coffee Is not drunk by them Rice Is
| their bread and butter. They have it at
every meal, to- ether with beet, pork mutton.
/ fish, and vegetables. - Sing = buys their
J food, and they have two cooks Of their own.
/ fesides cEer tea they have some preserved
/ things from China, ginger. etc. It will be
/ cheaper to manufacture shoes with Cinnamon
than with other workmen. When this kind
Of labor becomes general, the consumer will
4 reap the benefit