National Republican., 1884-03-03
TIE pAuPER LABOR.
what the worlsingmen Say About Im-
ported Italians.

ported Italians.
70me Editor.
Had DR.. Verdi been content to deny tho
right of the Italian labor importers to refer
to him the workingmen of the district would
have been glad to learn that he was no accom-
plice to the importation scheme.
Whom DIR. Verdi goes further and in three
daily papers msstates facts regarding 1tal-
iau laborers, slurs organized labor, attacks
the Irish, aud eulogZes the firm of De Fillipo
Gennaro ct Co., labor importors) we feel JUS
titled in making reply.
1t appears from DIR. Yerdis three explana-
tions that he knows nothing of De Fillipo
Gennaro ct Co., and that he knows all about
them; that he had nothing to do with them,
and that he rendered serviCe TO them that
their work is humanitarian or philanthropic
affair, but that he is anxious TO have nothing
to do with it; that their reference to him was
fraud, but that their reference to the Italian
consul in Now York proved their deserving
character. De Fillipo Gennaro ct Co. agree
to furnish any kind of men desired, take
charge of them, board and supply them, and
send an overseer with them. all on conditions
to suit; yet DIR. Verdi sees no evidence in this
that such labor 10 servilo.
The fact that there are gangs of men moved
by the direction of n labor bureau" negatives
the idea of free labor. Whence come these
many labor brokers in New York city who
stand between European paupers and Ameri-
can employers? They surely do not import
high priced labor when tho country Is already
full of workingmen out of employment.
Contrary to DIR! Verdi's assertion that Ital-
ians do not depress wages is the fact that they
alone broke down the great freight handlers
strike in 1882. By cheap, servile contract
labor they have supplanted others in railroad
construction, aud their influence, in common
with that of other contract laborers, is felt
| in all the industrial centcrS,
Charitable 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 so overstocked it
would be impossible to bring here and set to
| work large number of outsiders-unknown,
raw, and foreign-unless they will work at
| enormous reduction on present wages
| DO not the thousands Of Irish who arrive
daily in this country try to subjugate labor?"
No, Dr. Verdi. The Irish do not come
here in contract bondage. There are no
| Irish labor brokers in New York. No strike
ever failed because Irishmen cut wages. No
lrishman delays his naturalization. The
steamers of the new slave trade do not ply
between Queenstown and New York, and if
all foreigners who come to this country would
make as good citizens as the Irish no demand
for n Limitation on immigration would ever
have arisen.
The contract-labor comes not from Ireland,
but from the south of Europe-Hungary Italy,
Austria, and Poland The result of this COM
petition, in all departments of industry, is
Reenly felt by free laborers A bill is now
pending in congress designed to prohibit such
importation. 1t is supported by all the work.
ingmen Of the country. If the measure affects
the Italian more than Irish immigration, it is
tho fault of neither the Irish nor the Knights
of Labor.
De Fillipo Gennaro ct Co.'s letter to Mr..
Gleason revealed nothing new except that the
IL Nats hN
District Of Columbia. 1t is valuable evidence
to corroborate the charge that such importa-
tion is carried on and will be so used.
Employers need not bring the pauper la-
borers to Washington in order to get the
benefit of their presence in this country. The
mere fact that labor brokers in New York are
ready at any notice to secure and send on
any desired number of laborers who will
work for starva ton wages gives employers O
power over their employees which renders an
attempt to demand or secure fair wages an
i'm possibility.
Thus the system of pauper importation by
its potentialities produces its enslaving effects
? in advance of its full action and beyond its
immediate limit. To destroy the system is
one of the aims of the Knights of Labor, and
their success will be in no wise retarded
whether DIR. Verdi is silent partner Of DE
Fillipo Gennaro ct Co., or whether that firm
has as we presume, used his name without
warrant.
The Knights of Labor have no hostility tt
Italians as SUCH Our principles demand ant
our sympathies prompt us to extend help
ing hand to all struggling, aspiring labor, ant
in so doing we do not stop to inquire the ma
tionality, 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,
JOHN FALLoN,
PAUL r. BOWEN,
Investigating Committee of District Assem-
bly,, No. &C, Knights of Labor.