The Evening critic., 1884-02-29
THE ITALIAN LABOR QUESTION.
Dr. Verdi Explains Ais Position nnd
Connection With the Matter.


WASHINGTON, d. O., Feb. %, 1884.
To the Editor Of The EUenia9 Critic.
S1R: l have Just read In your Issue OF to-
day your article "Down with pauper labor"
In which you introduce letter from Filippo
Gennaro Il 90. Of Now York Offering to
certain contractors of this city Italian laborers.
In that letter Gennaro & Co. refer the
contractors TO mo or TO the Italian Consul In
New York as to their standing. The Knights
OF Labor and you assume that therefore that
company and myself are engaged In importing
pauper labor, and In offering 1t at "pauper
prices"
Considering that 1 have lived uninterrupt.
edly In this city for twenty-seven years IL
would seem as II It would have been an easy
matter, both for you and the knights OF Labor,
TO get at the truth. ln the llrst place there is
nothing In the letter OF Messrs. Gennaro & 90.
indicating that they wish to Introduce any
labor that Is not proper and In conformity with
the laws and customs OF the country. In the
second place, there Is nothing In that letter to
lead TO the assumption that I am engaged In
aiding or abetting In the procurement OF such
labor.
The fact that the italian Consul OF New York
is offered as reference as well as myself
should have been q sufficient proof to any In.
telligent man that tho letter cannot originate
from any bogus concern or from any one at
tempting 10 impose such labor upon tho Amer
leans. Therefore, your romark that "Dr.Vordi
might properly be engaged 10 better business
than aiding TO I'LL this country with lot OF
these laborers," is gratuitous Insult and
charge without a vestige OF foundation.
The facts are; 1 do not know Gonnaro &
TO me as a firm engaged In protecting tho
poor Italian emigrants who have bsen robbed
OF their wages by American railroad contrac!-
ors. They, am told, take charge OF these lg-
norant emigrants and see TO 1t that they are
provided with labor and not robbed of their
wages, as hundreds OF them have beou dur
ing the last year in Pennsylvania, New York
and In some States IN the West. 1t Is simply
an act of humanity on tho part OF that com.
pany.
Instead OF attempting to force pauper labor
| In this country they are, l am told,
endeavoring 10 prevent American con-
from ssREasns those
rob them OF the half they have agreed to pay
| them. At any rate have nothing TO do In
| prised than when read that the Knights of
Labor and yourself have mixed me up In an
| affair for which have neither tho inclination
nor the time TO give II the slightest considera-
tho biblical text, "rho laborer 10 worthy of his
hire" and have always been In favor OF fair
| wages ior iair labor, l VIII say, however, that
| to seek labor IN this country as the Irish, tho
| German or tho emigrants OF any other couu'
| try; that since the riots and disturbances that
| have occurred, caused by the attompt Of the
| contractors to rob tho newly-arrived Italian
| emlgrants OF their small wages, have been
| IN favor OF an italian commission 70 instruct
those emigrants regarding the customary
wages In this country and see to IL that they
| obtain the same, and that the contractors give
SUFFICIENT security for the fulallment OF their
| contracts.
Instead OF aiding In the importation OF pau.
| per labor Ihave written advising that those
| Italians be seriously informed OF the habits
| and customs OF the laborer in this country. In
| justice to the Italian, however, must say
| that they are not "lazzaroni;" on tho contrary
they are faithful, painstaklng, expert labor
| ere, who, II properly understood, would greatly
| aid anc facilitate the development of the
great natural resources OF this country.
Before closing must protest against having
| my name used In connection with this ques
| tion, and state that do not stand sponsor fol
| Gennaro & Co. or any other 1rm, and that nc
one has had my permission to use me as refer
ence. TuLIx ,DI sUzzARA,yGHsfas