The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-21
MR.. P0WDERLY.
What He Knows of immigration,
The Leader of the Knights of La
Dor on His Favorite Theme.
He Cites Cases of Foreign Contract
Labor Having Been Imported.
How the Degraded Hungarian Min
ers of Pennsylvania Live.
The Members of the Committee Give
Him the Opportunity to Express
Himself as to Trusts-Mor-
toms Contracts.

New YoRK, Aug. 20.-Collector Nc
Gone was the first witness to be called
before the committee on immigration
abuses. Witness said he never uses au-
thority in prohibiting undesirable persons
from landing unless the emigration COM
mssioners call his attention to the matter
lie cited and read sections of the amends
tory law TO support this action. While
Mr.. McGone was testiiying, General Mas
ter Workman 4. V. Powderly, OF the
Knights OF Labor, entered the room and
took seat.
Witness had a report some two months
ago that some stone cutters had arrived
under contract. lie notified the immigra-
ton board and received reply that the
stone cutters had not come under contract.
Witness claimed that the responsibility Of
allowing immigrants TO land rested en-
tircly with the immigration commissioners.
Witness thought the enforcement OF the
law should be left solely TO the federal au-
thoritios. Witness had investigated Capt.
Bells stories about naturalization and
found them false.
General Master Workman Powdcrly was
next sworn. lie said that the order was
in nourishing condition, and numbers
about 600, 900 in the United States. lie
said il excludes from its ranks bankers
LAWYERS, rum sellers anl professional poll
ticians A professional politician, hc said,
was man who - to be seen on election
l.. ..ttl. Ia. Int1 1aN I.sr lH.n.l lIn
| on the subject OF imported contract labor,
| Mr.. Powdcrly said the subject was most
rcprehcnshle one. Those foreigners who
come here under such conditions are
grossly immoral, and the influence which
ordinary foreigners meet In this country
never reach these competitors with honest
| labor. They are brought here under
| promises OF lands aud great prosperity,
which they never realize. Describing the
condition OF workers in the Pennsylvania
mines. Mr.. Powderly said It was scarcely
| descrihablc. In the coal regions the miner,
! have been driven out Of their employment
! by lIungarians and other cheap foreign
workers, who live in filthy state.
They live on the cheapest kind Of food
/ 30 that American miners cannot compel,
| with them. Their sleeping quarters ar'
simply disgusting. Their immortality, th,
| witness said, was startling. lie toll oi
conversation he had with an abandonc,
woman who acted ns huu- keeper for cigh
uungnrians. Those liunwrians, hc said
never learn the English language and her
together until they die or return 20 thci
naive country. They never bccum
Americanizcl. The universal opinion d
American worl,mcn, slid Mr. ioWdcrly
4. ssf. al..FE u|tftIF fIHsH lime
the pcnnsylwnia milpad Hungarian
and Italians who are designated only b.
brlss cheeks hung on their punialopns
nrc not desirable American citizens. The
bear no names aud their checks are IN
oucntlychangcd a. cheat them ont OF ihci
wages. Germans. hc found, took pride 4
leaning the English language. lie though
no person should be- admitted tp ciiiz' "a
gbip until hcis able torcad aud uudgr.iln
the declaration oi Independence and th
constitution Of the United states q
course. foreigners should not Do kept on
of the country until they are able to u
this. but our cOnsuls abroad should iuquir
and report on the character OF every ma
who leaves foreign countries for ia
; United States.
Neycrling 10 the Pennsylvania miner
Mr.. poWdcrly said that many instanc,
wcr, In his knowledge ol injury susilinp
by Ilungariins nnd other l1Uiguors bO
J cause OF their inability 10 read danger all
, nuls "Thpy live principally on salt pot
, nnd cornmril." said Mr. rONdcily, "nn
: thcy have no Ecruplcs ns 90 whose chicl
ems thpy steal have frequently heat
, American miners say these fellows ir
. steal their situations and then rob thym
/ - l. .u.E.l.W. ME NHWEt.lFHINH toll ~
. committee ui the cases II imported cp
, tract labor occurring ycan ago "hich i
the Knights ui Labor tD have thu b
: drawn up which, after an ain'nhiIill
J. MS paelcd. Violations aud cHusipns
G the law, he said, should not bc punish.
J.. by fine, bat by imprisonment III
d would be- the only elective way 70 e
h force H.
:, Mr.. oates asked The witness 30 inioi
!, the committee oi cases ui importation
contract labor which came within ]
i knowledge, and hc insiancrl thc barbo
?, lax mills as a place where u ia practice
" Al stipulated Immigration, no matter
- what nationality, ~ ohlccionahlr. 10
" V,rk mo- horses 10 because they ur fore
~ 90. A person who comes here OF his ON
a free will 10 better his condition is L
icclly satisfactory no matter from wa
country ho comps Tho only iofcIgu.
excluded from the knight Il labor nrg
q Chinese We protect them, but do
be- take them into our order
IA "What is tho object VI the orlcl
al asked Mr.. Oates
''Thc protection Of American labor
y piled MI r0Ndcrly
~ "in what manner
Of as 90 wages, ils condition In wo
1r shops. mines and mills aud iis home
*. rlrs. Furthermore, 81 educate the WO
-c. ingmcn 81 become their own employer
vat La reply 10 q question from Gen. Spin'
n, Mr.. pow1cry said that The trusts In
iis country are menace 81 the welfare Of
hc public generally and arc organized IN
dc interest oi the few to control the pfo1t
ol other mills In the same business
crush them out entirely lie had pcu0
4. knovlodgc oi coal trusts and know
le' tnJi,idual concerns could no moro Z
.he coal from Pennsylvania than they ca
re- Fay. Iio thought the strong arm she
nj. iIo outstfcichcd 90 crush out this 4
~. "Thcn YOU don't agree" said Mr Ga
~, "tbat trusts are private concerns wi
,is lcgiilalor, have no right 10 cgntrolF'
,s' HDccidodly not said Mr.. Powdc
~. owe regard them Ia the same way
80 900 10 highWaymcn."