Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-12-27
CONTRACT LABOR.
How Immigrants are Imported Whole.
sale into this Country for
the Purpose OF
Reducing the Wages of American Work
ingmen-A System OF White
Slavery in Disguise.

NEW York. December Pa system of
introducing foreign labor into this country,
which was begun some three years ago,
has, during the past year, assumed such
proportions that it is beginning to attract
much attention throughout the coun-
try, and Congress, it is expected, will
soon he filled with petitions asking that
some means be adopted which will pre-
vent it. The system is one by which large
gangs of laborers are gathered together in
Hungary, Germany and Italy by the
agents of large corporations in this coun-
try and imported here, after having signed
contract to work SO many years at GER
tain stipulated price. The laborers, it is
said, are not correctly informed OF the
kind OF work they will have to do in this
country, and in consequence agree to
work for sum much lower than
that obtained by the laboring classes
here. This system has been adopted by
CAPITALISTS IN PENNSYLVANIA,
New York, New England, and, to some
extent, in the cotton-growing sections of
the South. Under promises of free pass
age to the land of wealth and liberty the
poor wretches are eager to sign the con-
tracts which, although they are not bind
ing here, the men believe them to be so,
and place themselves in position which
is nothing more nor less than slavery.
/ Under these contracts they put some in
mills, factories and mines, others are
used in railroad work, while those who
have no trade or profession are engaged
as common laborers on farms. An impor-
tant document recently issued by the
Knights of Labor, and largely circulated
among American workmen, calls upon the
latter to labor 'for the suppression of a
system which is for
THE UBIQUITOUS PURPOSE
OF reducing the wages of American work.
men and entailing upon their families all
the hardships, poverty and misery which
ever follow the displacement of any class
of toilers." The document also credits
Mr.. Henry Sterne, United States consul
at Buda Pesth, HungarA with having
said last year that an agency seemed to
be at work which, by misrepresentation
induces people to leave their homes, who
will not better their condition thereby,
nor benefit the country which receives
them. These people are shipped to the
United States like SO many cattle. A pc
tition to Congress, demanding the sup
preston OF the system, is also in circula-
ton for signatures, and calling for such
legislation as will forever prevent the i'm
portation into this country of foreign la
borers under contracts made abroad.
COUNT o. DE EsTERHAZY,
-who has established bureau for the pro-
lection of Hungarian immigrants, said
There is no doubt that a contract system
is being carried on, and l believe it has
reached larger proportions than anyone
believes. Certain it is that great numbers
of immigrants are landed on these shores
who are owned by capitalists. As far as l
know, persons who have been so inn
ported are satisfied, but this fact does not
apologize for the system. The men, wo-
men and children are virtually slaves. |
have long endeavored to discover who
the parties are who obtain the immigrants
on the other side, but have thus far been
unsuccessful. | know of several large
coal companies who have now in ..iileil
employ foreign labor, but whether the
latter have signed contracts l do not know
| certainly hope that Congress will pass q
! law to put a stop to such immipration -