Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-24
SLAVERY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Swedish Mill Hands Complain that
They are Held to Perpetual Servi-
tude.

WASHINGTON Special to Veao York Sum.
The state Department has about con-
cluded its investigation of the Suncook
Mill case. This is a New Hampshire cot
4on mill, and some time ago it sent to
Sweden for w0rkingmen. These laborers
were picked up for the mil by the immi-
grafton agent Of the Inman line of steam
ers, 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 nav
their steamship fare. They landed at
Castle Garden, in New York, where they
were met by SuncoOk policemen, and
taken to the village where the cotton mill
is situated. They at once got into debt to
the mill for furniture, and to two village
stores for provisions and other necessaries
of life. One of these stores is kept by the
mill bookkeeper. The Swedes were una
bic to pay the debts contracted, and. ac-
cordIng to their own representations.
which have been presented to the State
Department by the Swedish Legation.
they saw no way out Of their difficult
ties by remaining in the employ
of the Suncook Mill. They saw
that the wages were so low and the
work so uncertain that they could never
save enough to be independent of their
employers and the bOokkeeper. Three of
the men say that they very offered better
pay in Massachusetts, but they were told
that if they attempted to leave New
Hampshire they would be arrested for
debt under the statute permitting the ar
rest of debtors who are suspected of being
about to leave the State to defraud 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 can
not get better employment in New Hamp-
shire, the law which prevents their leav
ing the State holds them to perpetual sery-
itude 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 forcibly
dragged from their dwellings at midnight.
and otherwise maltreated.
At first 1T was supposed that the de-
mand OF the company for the passage
money, in the absence of a contract, made
a delicate diplomatic question, and that
the government would be called upon to
at least make informal representations to
the New Hampshire authorities. The
company now, however, profess that this
claim was based on moral, and not on
legal, grounds, and that the arrests were
made for debts for the furniture and goods
at the stores. a charge is made bv the
company that the three men were drunken
and idle. The Swedish Minister asks
if the industrious, who can never
earn enough to pay their debts
at the mill, must suffer for the worthless.
and insists that all are intimidated and
prevented by the abuse of the statute
from leaving New Hampshire for the pur-
pose of bettering their condition. The re-
port to the department, made by the Gov
ernOr and Attorney General of the State,
will probably be accepted by the State
States from taking any action. the offense,
if there be any, being against State laws.
The department SAYS that of thousand
Swedes taken to New England in this
way none have complained except these
three. The Swedish Minister admits this.
but insists that his charges against the
SuncOok Mill are true. and that they arc
supported by an agent whom he has sent
to examine them.