The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-08-29

Swedish Mill Hands Complain That They
are Held to Perpetual Seryitude.
WASHINGTON, Aug. % The State Depart
msnt has about concluded Its investigation
of the suncook MIL case. This is a New
Hampshire cotton mill, and sometime ago it
sent to Sweden for workingmen. These
1aborers were picked up for the mill by the
immigration SCENT Of the Inman Line
of steamers, and they were not skilled
operatives. The Company expected to
instruct them and make them useful
There was no contract to that effect but
the Swedes in some way became convinced
that they were expected by the Company TO
pay their steamship fare. They landed at
Castle Garden, in New York, where they
were met by a SuncoOk policeman, and
taken to the village where the cotton mill is
situated. They at once got into debt 10 the
mill for furniture, and to two village stores
for provisions and other necessaries of life.
One eff these stores is kept by the mill book
keeper. The Swedes were unable to pay the
debts contracted, and, according 10 their own
repre- sensations, which have been presented
to the State Department by the Swedish
legation: they saw no way out of their
of the Suncook Mn. They say
that the wages were so low and
the work so uncertain that they could never
save enough to be independent of their en-
ployers and the book keeper. Three of the
men say they were offered better pay in Mas
sachusetts, but they were told If they at
tempted TO leave New Hampshire they would
De arrested for debt under the statute permit
ting the arrest of debtors who are suspected
of being about to leave the State to dsfraud
their creditors The Swedish Government,
through its representative here, complains
that in effect the Suncook Mill is holding
these Swedes as slaves; that. as they cannot
get etter employment in New Hampsh re,
the sw which prevents their leaving the
State holds them to perpetual servitude to
the Employers in whose debt they are. The
men allege that the company was guilty of
great brutality in making the arrests, and
that they were dragged from their dwellings
at midnight, and otherwise maltreated.
At first 1t was supposed that the demand
OF the Company for the passage money, in
the absence of q contract, made a delicate
diplomatic question and that the Govern
ment would be called upon to at least make
formal representations 10 the New Hamp-
shire authorities. The Company now, how
ever, profess that this claim was based on
moral, and not on legal grounds, and that
the arrests were made for debts for the furni-
ture and goods at the stores. a charge is
made by The Company that the three men
were drunken and idle. The Swedish
Minister asks If the Industrious
who csn never earn enough to pay their
debts at the mill, must suffer for
the ortbless. and insists that all are intimi-
daied and prevented by the abuse of the
statute from leaving New Hampshire for the
purpose of lettering their condition. The
report 10 the Department, made by the Gov
err or and Attorney General Of the State will
pTObai ~ be accepted by the State Depart
1 me Mt pTeclu6inc the United Ssaie5 from
taking nny action, the offeDss if there be
any. eing against the State laws. The De-
partm' mt says that OF ZOO Swedes taken to
New England in this wa, none have COM
planned except these three. The sedish
MiLisrtr admits this. bat insists tha; his
changes sgainst the SuncoOk Mill are true,
ard % az they sTe supported by an agent
whom lie has sent 10 examine them.