The Evening critic., 1884-10-01
VERY VIOLENT TALK,
which the Federation OF Labor
bntons Promptly Sat Down Upon
the Alleged Importation of gtal.
Ian Labor DiaCunuen

which the Federation OF Labor
unions Promptly Sat Down Upon
-Ihe Alleged importation of 7tat.
Ian Labor Discussed.
The Federation OF Labor Unions held a pub.
Tic meeting last evening at tho hall corner Of
fouf-snd-l.h Il street ana Pennsylvania ave.
nue., e. W. oyster prosldlns. The object of
The meeting was TO enter an emphatic protest
aghibst phuper labor, and particularly against
,no ullogtd employment OF nfty.nve Italian
huoicrs through contract with New YORK
ageh's Tor work upon the water works exten-
Master workman Tanning related tho oxps-
ilences OF the revolt against italian contract
apor on tho Cincinnati southern Railroad
nine years ago.
Paul T. Bowen said that men had boon work.
ing In mud and water on the water works OK
tension AT S1.2o per day; but not TO complain
ABOUT lhis hardship had they met, but that
lnese haturalized and native.bOrn Americans
were moi allowed TO continue. They were sup
planled Dy a class OF men who had come hero
10 better their condition and were not to blanc.
WIZ were 10 Dlamo, IL not thcyY The result
Was inc outcome OF the competitive system,
Wnich had hurt many outside OF the District,
put DuI only now was It apparent here, Tho sys'
lem, and not the competitor, must be stricken
GOWN, IL was not right TO pour out any vlal5
ui wralh upon these poor people. The remedy
w9s political one.
IT. Fulton CAN'T OF Nebraska, denounced the
contract system, and In reference 10 this par.
ucular case said: "The contractors have
rented the schuetzen Park for three years, ana
lhe men wefo put In pens and fed like ami
mails. Four hundred OF those el1yes displlcO
and pauperizo 400 American citizons with
Families. This was but q commencement, but
men were everywhere gradually becoming
slaves. All workers wero indissolubiy con.
nectedi the 81 90 man and the 50 man are In
terested together IN this manner-all liable to
be victims OF the competitive system. Through
the efforts OF organized labor mon VINO had
been getting $3.50 per day a few years ago
were now getting $3.50. Mon, skilled labor
CIg, were working today I'm the al M
OF Alexandria for $l.50 per day, under the
presidency OIL the man who had the arrogance
10 sit as chairman Of the District Committee OF
the House OF Representatives. The speaker
described other instances OF oppression prac.
tlced on laborors In all sections. Tho same
thing had now commenced hore. When the
AGO Italians came II would BIO Just as cheap to
support them as paupers as II would be to
Keep the 400 American laborers displaced"
August Donath urged the presentation OF n
memorial to the Commissioners.
Is. @. Mcdonald protested against any moro
waltingon tho commissioners, which had been
60 frultless hitherto. lie said there was more
panper labor here than was thought OF, and
referred TO n tailor who had imported dozen
Italians lately. He intended to make emotion
after this ono got through, that each labor
union In the District eubscribo for forty 70.
volyers and go out and clean out these Ital.
lans. That was the only way TO do II. lie was
not AFRAID to face the music; he was heavy
enough 10 break rope anyhow.
MIR. oyster protested that not more than one
man In 500 favored the sentiments uttered by
Mr.. MGponald. He was sure the meeting did
not lndorse them, nor did any organization In
tho District. They wero not ready to start
revolution In the District OF Columbia.
"Did you ever zee revolution start In the
capital or the country asked Mr.. Mcdonald.
There VIII BIO one started right here"
a resolution was adopted for the appoint.
mert OF committee to taEe such action az
they cav Mt. The committee will consist OF
Messrs. Tanning, Oyster, Donath, Bowen,
Gault, Mum, Ennis and Fallon.
Mr.. Mum stated that no was deeply checked
and astonished at Mr.. McDonali's Violent
talk.
Mr.. Mcdonald was prevented from replying.
"wAR DEPARTMENT,
"WAsHINGToN, CITY, Sept. ~, 1881.
"SIR: The Department is In receipt OF your
letter OF the 9Th instant, IN which you state
that 1t has come TO your knowledge that the
work upon tho now reservoir being con-
struced In this city is performed by Italian
contract labor. e, labor imported under tho
contract system and expressing tho opinion
that, inssmuch 40 said work Is being done un.
der this Department. It Will look as IL Amer
lean worRmen have no friends among the ON.
GERS OF this Administration.
I'm reply, beg TO Inform You that the mat
ter was referred to the chief OF engineers, anI
by him TO Captain Thomas l.. Symons, Cjrps
OF Engineers, the officer In charge OF III work
In question, copy Of whose report Is here.
with Enclosed, from which 1t Will be seen that
31o men are on an average employed daily
on the new reservoir, and that OF this number
about nifty are Italians, who are hired by the
contractors as individuals, In tho same man
ner as me other laborers.
vt may be added for your Information that
this Department Is required by law to do work
OF this character, II possible, by contract, aud
mat when contract Is made under the Law, 1t
Is not Within tho lawful authority of the De
pariment 10 require the contractor TO employ
any particular person or to prevent him from
paid by him, or the hours OF labor Of his ON
"RoBERT t. LINCOLN"