The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-10
THE w HEN
IMPORTED LABOR.
Anarchist Most Favors the Committee with
His Yiews-TestimOny of Other Witnesses.

NEW YORK, Aug, 9-The emigration investi-
cation opened this morning with every promise
Of . lively session. Before the committee os-
sembled the witnesses began to arrive. The
first on hand was Commissioner Of Emigration
Faithorn, and next came Herr Most the fiery
Anarchist, neatly dressed in black and with hair
closely cropped and whiskers neatly trimmed.
While waiting for the proceedings to open he
took seat at the reporters table and began the
preparation of an editorial for his paper, the
Freiheit. Judge Simmons, the special treasury
agent. subp9naed Most on Wednesday. After .
long search for him be found him in bis
sanctum, and before Most knew who his visitor
was tie paper had been served upon him. Most
was the first witness called. and after describing
himself as the publisher Of the Freiheit. replied
to MIR. Ford's question as to what
kind of paper the Freheit was by saying:
WELL should call it an economical paper
it's an anarchistic paper" The witness said be
had been in this country for six years At the
time he came there was not a very large emf
grafton Of Socialists from Germany. but few
years previous there had been considerable, in
consequence OF law passed by the German
Parliament. They did not all seek America,
numbers going TO Switzerland, France and Eng
land as we'll. A great many preferred to be
near their old homes rather than come here.
The witness said he believed there were about
fifty million sympathizers with socialism In the
world, while there are only about three million
and half openly working in the cause. In the
United States he thought there were about two
million Anarchist sympathzers.
Don't You think our form Of government at
tracts Socialism, asked Mr.. Ford.
well, so far as my experience goes. think
not"
Don't you think our laws are more liberal
toward Socialists Than those Of other countriesfa
Your laws here are as severe as anywhere,
but you don't use them often"
The witness said there were more Anarchists
in Germany now than ten years ago. For the
past twelve months he did not think over a
dozen came to this country. He thought the
number of Anarchists in the United States had
been on the increase Of late years, and ascribed
this to the disseminat OF Anarchist literature
They were mostly Germans he said.
"Do they hold secret meetings. asked Mr..
Guenther
NO; sir. We only hold secret meetings when
"Have the Anarchists been forced to hold
secret meetingsP
"No'
"Not in Chicaeol"
mo, sir"
in prison in England, Germany, Austria and
this country for his Anarchist utterances. He
said the Anarchists believed revolution inev
liable. Most refused a witness fee when ten
dered him, and said he did not need it.
Immigration Commissioners Taiutor and Ste
phenson told the committee about the details at
Castle Garden. and furnished some statistics.
Thomas w. Watson. cloth fnisher, who
came TO this country In May, 1856, swore he
| came here in answer to an advertisement in the
Leeds Mercury. for 70 men TO work here. and
| now lives at Rox borough suburb of Philadel-
| phia. He answered tn advertisement and re-
| Fenwick Umbleby. who said he was to 60 to
| America manager for James Lees & Son,
| of Bridgeport He introduced the witness
to the man who had engaged him. and whose
name is Johnson This man arranged for
| him DR.. John Lees The witness made
contract with Leess agent Johnson. which the
/! latter drew up and both signed. The witness
produced the contract. which was read. 1t
Stated that il was q mutual agreement that
! James Lees q Son would employ Watson in
their trade of wooden manufacturing for twelve
months from the time OF his sailing from Liver
| pool. at :t3 10 shilngs a week. but either should
| have tho right to cancel the contract at the end
/ of six months, In which event the firm would
| pay his passage back. The witness came out in
accordance with this contract and worked for
| Lees & Son for one year and seven months,
| when he left them for better job
| Frederick William Graham testified that he
came from a nelehboring town to thato the last
| witness in Yorkshire, Enelsnd. He is dyer,
| and saw the advertisement which attracted
Watson. He answered it and saw UmSleby.
| Umbleby was the first man engaged, and after
| that he acted with johnson. Lees agent, in Sc
curing the Others and made the contract with
| him. Ii was drawn up and signed much like the
other. They then took him to see DR.. John
Lees and Um beby introduced him to the latter
| as The dyer" DR.. Lees said little. but evil
| IDENTIFY knew all about the contract The wit
| ness was TO get ga week. He came to this
] country and worked for Lees e. Son.
| Commissioner Stephenson, while on the stand,
| said thu present system OF examination at Cas-
| tie Garden was a perfect farce. The clerks
rushed the people through as fast as they could,
simply to get through with the work. He said
| thousands upca thousands had been landed
whom the law would exclude. He thought fully
per cent of those allowed to land had no
business here.