The Evening critic., 1884-03-03
THOSE ITALIAN LABoRERs.
The knights of Labor I'm Reply 90
DIR. Verdi.

Tho investigating committee Of District AS
sembly, No. GO, Knights Of Labor, has issued
the following in reply to Or. verdrs recent
card about the italian laborersi
"Had DR.. Verdi been content 70 deny tho
right OF the Italian labor importers to refcr o
him the workingmen Of the District would
have been glad to learn that no was no accom-
plico 10 the importation scheme.
"When DR.. Verdi goes further and in three
daily papers misstates facts regarding Italian
laborere, slurs organized labor, attacks tho
irish, and eulogizes the firm OF De Fillipo
Gennaro ct Co. labor importers) we feel justi-
at appears from Dr. verdps three explana-
tlons that he knows nothing OF De Fllllpo
Gennaro ct Co., and that no Knows all about
themi that he had nothing to do with theni,
and that he rendered service TO them; that
their work is humanitarian or philanthropc
afrair, but that no IL anxious to have nothing
to do with IL; that their reference 10 him was
fraud, but that their reference to tho Italian
Consul In New York proved their deserving
character. De Filllpo Genuaro ct 90. agree TO
furnish any kiad OF men desired, take charge
OF them, board and supply thcm, ana send an
oversecr with them, all on conditions to suit;
yet DR.. Verdi sees no evidence In this that
such labor Is eorvile.
1.-THE fact that there nre gangs OF mon
moved by the direction OF labor bureau
come these many labor brokers In Now York
city who stand between European paupers aud
american employersi They surely do not Inn
already full OF workiugmen out OF employ
ment.
ians do not depress wages is the fact that they
nlono broke down the great frolght.handlers'
strike In 1882. BY cheap, servlie, contract
labor they have supplanted others In railroad
construction, and their influence, In common
with tnat OF other contract labOrers, Is felt In
nll the industrial centres.
"ChnrItable societies have aided hundreds
OF families In Washington this winter, and
they report 1000 persons out OF work and In
want, with the labor market 80 ovorstOckod IL
would be impossible 10 bring hero ana set to
work large number Of outsiders unknown,
raw and foreign-unless they will work ut
enormous reduction on present wages.
ADO not the thousands OF Irish who arrive
''No, DR.. Verdi. The Irish do not come here
In contract bondage. Thercare no irish labor
brokers In New York. No strike ever failed
because freshmen cut wages. No freshman
delays his naturalization. Tho steamers
OF the new slave trade. do not ply between
Queenstown and New York, and II all
make as good citizens as tho irish no demand
for a limitation on immigration would ever
have arisen.
'eThe contract.labor comes not from Ireland,
but from the south OF Europe-Hungary, Italy,
Austria and Poland. Tho result OF this COM
Eeeniy felt BY free iaborcrs. bill is now W
pending In Congress designed to prohibit such
importation. tits supported by all the work
| the Italian more than Irish immigration, It ia
the fault OF neither tho Irish nor the Knights
| OF Labor.
'De Fillipo dennaro ct Co.'s letter to Mr
| Gleason revealed nothing new except that the
| servile importation seeks purchasor5 In the
| District OF Columbia. II 10 valuable evidence
| TO corroborate the charge that such importa
| tion 10 carried on ana Will be so used.
| "Employers need not bring the pauper Ia
borers TO Washington in order to get the bene
| 1T of their presence In this country. The nero
| fact that labor brokers In New York are ready
| at any notice to secure and send on any de-
| sired number OF laborers who will work for
starvation wages gives employers power
| over their employees which renders an attempt
TO demand or secure fair wages an impossi-
/ bility.
"Thus the system OF pauper Importation by
Its potentialitles produces It's enslaving effects
| in advance OF It's full ,tion ana beyond Its i'm,
| mediate limit. To de troy tho system Is one
| OF the alma OF tho Knights OF Labor, and thoir
| scccess will DO in no wise retarded whether
| DR.. Verdi is a silent partner OF De Flllipo Gen
| marc ct Co., or whether that 1rm has, as we
presume, used his name without warrant.
| "The Knights OF Labor have no hostility q
Italians as such. Our principles demand ant
| our sympathies prompt us to extend a help
ing hand to all struggling, aspiring labor, anC
in SO doing We do not stop 10 Inquire the M
tlonality, complexion, creed, age, or sex o
those who seek our sympathy and support
but It must be honest, free, self respecting Ia
bor; against all others We make war.
| "JoSEPH TANNING,
| "JoBN FALLoN,
"PAUL T. BOWEN,
| Investigating Committee OF District ASSOC
bly,, No. GO, Knights OF Labor"