National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-10-04
ITALIAN LABORERS.
Mr.. Petersen Explains Why He Employs, But
Does Not Import Them.

To The Editor.
In your report of the wOrkingmen's meeting
published yesterday morning notice pretty
liberal use OF my name by some of the orators
of the occasion in connection with certain
statements which seem to me to call for n
word of reply additional to that embraced in
the letters of the secretary of war and Capt
Symonds read at the meeting. l have been
for many years an extensive employer of all
classes of labor on great public works, such as
the Erie canal, the West Shore, and other rail
roads and numerous other works of less cele-
brity and Importance. ] have always per-
sonnlly directed my works attending to the
employment of hands. and experimenting
their operations. / have never employed
hands through agents or middlemen, but
whether working two thousands hands as on
the canal and the West Shore or four hundred
as on the reservoir here, | have had my Office
on the spot where my man could come and
get work at any time ut the regular wages,
provided we had room for him.
venture to say that no man In my employ
works harder or stcadier than do; so that
ought TO DO ms much entitled to u hear
ing on the capacity of IL workingman, perhaps
as any Ofthc orators mt the late meeting We're
What | wish particularly 10 notice In this
communi cation nro two assertions that were
made, concerning my system ut tho meeting
One was that had rented the Schuet2cn park
for three years and was using II to herd my
workmen In like so many animals, or words to
that effect This statement was entirely erro-
neOus have nothing whatever to do In any
way with the quartering OF my help. There is
but one man on the reservoir works whom /
provide with quarters, and that Is myself The
rest get their pay twice month and have to
look out for themselves, | cannot imagine
how man would make such an assertion as
that in public speech, when 1t was 50 easy to
ascertain the truth.
The other charge was that I employed on
the works some fifty Italians at 1917 cents per
day less wages than paid TO hands of other
nationalites on the same class of work. This
is true. These Italians are men who have
been in this country. some years.
Some of them, | understand,
are naturaliacd citNens Most OF
them have been employed by me elsewhere,
| pay them trlle smaller wages than do my
other help, not because they are Italians, but
because they are rs n race physically smaller
nnd lighter than the average of American
hands, white or cOlorcd, ana cannot handle
quite rs many cubic yards Of earth per day
rs the latter can In short, / employ these
men Just rs do Americans, lrshmen colorcd
men, or men of any other race or nationality,
and pay them according to what they can ac-
compllSh | know no other distinction among
labOring men and make none
II Is not necessary to discuss the question
whether II contractor has legal right that is
available and ut any price. In theory he UNI
doubleday has such a right but there are other
considerations involved In the question which
on the whole would operate to render the OK
crciSo of that right in many eases diillcult and
/
and coolies, an employer has an nndoubtod
legal right 10 import foreign lnbors en- dldSSt
under contract for specified term and at
wages considerably lower than those prevail
Ing In this country. But In the present temper
OF tho resident labor element he would with.
out doubt bo subjected to unuoyanCes and
haraSsed by disturbances and even riots, which
In tho long run would cnccWally neutrali2c
any advantages he might derIyo from the
lower rate of wages paid 70 such help. | have
never had occasion 70 try such All experiment
but my observation of the experience of other,
who have tried II leads me to the conclusion
that II does not pay. Therefore, all things con
sldcrcd, II is undoubtedly best In tho end tC
apply the doctrine of live and let live
10 the affair of emplOylngllahOr on any scale
large or SMALL and that has always been my
But nothing that | have admitted above
argues the right claimed by some of the ora,
| tors AT the late meeting to demand of me that
when IN individual comes to me seeking Yur,
| shall ask whore he was born, and II he tell
me hG was born In Italy Ishall tor that reason
refuse to employ him, Here Is whore the ora
| tors Of the late meeting OycrshOt tllcir mark
There will have to be radical changes not OnlN
In the laws and constitution, but in the soCa
aud business system of this country before any
such test rs that Cun be applied or demanded
| For my own part shall go ahead MS usual en-
p0ylng such men rs | can get ana payinl
them according 10 their capacity without re-
gard TO race, color or previous condition.
which believe is the Language of the lutes
amendment to the constitution
! regret that my name should have beer
given such undeSered prominence by tn,
orators of the late meeting, / have 10 qunrre
with them, and they can mGkunu Issue witt
me- All | want is To know that the working
men who work for me are sat SIZED % do FIJI
| days works for lolr days wages and for IN,
RESI- | hope 10 be left to attend 10 my business
in peace.
At all events | am sure that any one VIII,
| VIII take the trouble 20 examine my method
| of dealing with day luhOrCT Will hv convince
| that there Is not the slightest occasion for mp
| plying to me or u amy part of my force III,
| forty revolver" policy suggested By one OF tn
| orators at the late meeting.
Very respectfully GILBERT PETERSON,
WASHINGTON, D, o., oct, ?, 1854