The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-09-07
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THE ATTACK ON AsfMIDOwN.
Complete Refntation Of the Charges
In the HERALD
Boston ComIaeFcial bnlletin

Inc treatment that public spirited
manufacturer may expect at the hands
of the free trade press has been re-
Gently evinced by the attack OF the
New York Herald on Mr.. r. "A. Ammi-
down, whose leadership in the ranks
OF protection has been as long as it
has been glorious. Passaic. \. j., is
the seat OF mill Of Mr.. Ammidown.
/" Ammidown's Slave" Is the heading
OF an article in the Her1Id parporting
to describe the condition OF the opera
tiyes. Among them are 4 number OF
Hnngarians, OF whom the Herald says
The Hungarians exactesl only the
mercst pittNce for the support OF life
and they got it. The wages OF the
class 10 which they belong at Ammi-
downs mill are based to-day on this
memorable standard. The average
rate OF wages Is S. week. These
Hungafians drink enormously Of beer.
Yet, ON the other hand, some OF them
by living in the most abiect squalor
and misery contTive 10 save q little
Much Of the fuel and food that the
women obtain for the household is
picked up in the streets and around
the freight depots and stores"
As an indication Of how little reli-
ance can he placed ia the New York
Heraids statements, We give the
following extracts from the last
issue OF Htagafia, the organ Of
the Magyar race in America, which
gives a series Of interviews with the
Slaves" especially with the Hunga-
rians, on these very points. These
extracts are from the Hungarian
workmen's own statements. let il be-
remembered
"Some OF them make 81 to Sl5 a
week. others only s. 10 So according
20 their skill and industry. The sim
pier work, where unskiiled labor is
employed. is paid 81 day. Chiefly
women are engaged in work OF that
kind. The HungarianS live as decent
ana nicely e. sny other class Of
,sortinv people. Several own nice
brick cottages. bought with their saw
| jngs. A number g. others bought
town lots on which they wv erect
homes. At least thirty lots are at
present owned by Hungarian working
men. That does not look as A. II they
intended TO 80 hack 10 the Old coun-
try. They all feel that they have inn
proved their conditions by coming
over here and they mean TO stay
Wholesale importation of foreign
labor never occurred in Passaic. The
Hungarians came here singly, or in
small groups. In quest OF work, like
| laborerS come To other places. They
found work. aud their friends aud ac-
quaintances. learning of the opporsu-
nifty, followed them by and by and set
| tied down here. A considerable num-
her are already citizens, and many
| more have taken out their first papers.
"Tke children are sent te school reg
ularly and learn 10 read and write
| English. The parents are an intelli-
| gent class. Most of them were me
chanics in the old country, earning
| over there from - 10 90 HORNS ISIS to
SION year and board. They prefer
hy far the mode OF living over here
and besides being tc.i and lodged better
| they make a good deal more money.
| Since New Year. ISIS. | had people
come 20 me TO send money tn EUROPE
| "a their relations, and the amount for
| wardcd through me Is over ao0 florins
| although a good many Hungarian,
/ send their money through hungarian
bankers in New York.
I'VE pay S. rent and have five nice
| comfortable rooms. Our home j. far
better than in the old country. Cos
forbid that | should be Obliged 90 &
| back and live over there again. w
are treated deceatly and with respect
Though working in a factory, | fee
that | ana entitled 10 be respected rs q
lady.
They are not hard drinkers OF
week DAYS, nor Sundays either. The,
are As sober a. their American fe'lOA
citizens. They attend church -ervice'
and enioy the day Of rest IN a quie
way. It's true they like 10 sing OF
sundays. but people who sing are no
the worst"
"Ifthe HungaFiaHs could pick NJ
their fuel and food in the streets thei
La would hardly pay me To give al
paving work aud keep a grocery store
| Tits simply ridiculous to print suel
| bosh.
"Mv wife does no, work in the lac
tory. l pay s. rent tor three uic
rooms Our wages are paid in cash
land We are not obliged 20 buy our pro
visions from stores kept hy the mil
lowners. am eontented AMI happy
and do not think that | am ANYBODY
slave. think the Hungarian eiemen
II here numbers about 30 souls W
send our children - school VI
children all speak and write English.
such are the people over who's
. slavery the New York Hcn'dd Sait'
They are 4 tolerahle sample OF III
whole class 81 manual iaborcrs whor
| the free traders Woulsl reduce 70 IN
level OF their European compeutor'
'C;od forbid that ! should h. ehige
20 20 hack. from the hp> OF the "
ldusirious Magyar Woman. express
their condition n nutshell Som'
how or other these workers who haE
toilsd under no taTiG have hit
IhAnkerine for 4 reverslon 10 Their prs
. | yiouS condition.
One dollar t. g week wages
| Hungary, s. "a $is week wages
/. | America