Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-11
HERR MOST TALKS.
The Anarchist Leader Gives Facts Regard
ing the Order in America.

NEW YORK, Aug. 10.-The immigration
Investigation opened this morning with
every promise of lively session as before
the committee assembled the witnesses
had began to arrive. The first on hand
hand was Commissioner of Immigration
Taintor and the next Herr Most, the fiery
anarchist. neatly dressed in black aud
with hair closely cropped and white
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 had subponaed Most yes
terday, after n long search for him.
Most was the first witness called, and
after describing himself as the publisher
of the Freiheit, he replied TO Mr.. Ford S
question as TO what kind of paper the
Freiheit was by saying: well, | should
call it an economical paper--lt Is an an
archistic paper" He had been in this
country. said he, six years. At the time
he came there WAS not a very large immi-
grafton of socialists from Germany, but a
few years previous there had been con
siderable in consequence OF law passed
by the German parliament. They did not
all seek America, numbers going TO Swift
erland, France and England. as a great
rather than come here. Witness said he
thought there were about 100000 social
ist sympathizers in the world. While
there were but 3, 500, 900 openly working in
the cause in the United States, he thought
there were about >, 100000 anarchist sympa-
thiZers.
Don't you think our government at
tracts socialistss' 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
countries2"
''Your laws here are as severe as any
where, but you don't use them so often"
Witness said there were more anarchists
in Germany now than ten years ago. For
the past twelve months he did not tn ink
over dozen had come to this country He
thought the number of anarchists in the
United States had been on the increase of
late years, and described this to the dis
semination of ancharist literature. They
were mostly Germans.
DO they hold secret meetings." asked
Mr.. Guenther.
NO. sir: we only hold secret meetings
when we are forced to.
Have the anarchists been forced to hold
secret meetings."
mo. sir.
Not in Chicago?"
NO. sir
The witness acknowledged that he had
been in prison in England, Germany, Aus
tria and this country for his anarcist
utterances- He said the anarchists be-
lieved a revolution inevitable.
Most refused a witness fee when rendered
him. saying he did not need it.
Immigration Commissioners fainter
and Stephenson told the committee about
the details ut Castle Garden and furnished
some statistics
Thomas w Watson, a cloth finisher,
who came to this country In 1856. swore he
came in answer TO an advertisement in the
Leeds Mercury for four men. He answered
the advertisement and received an answer
appointing an interview with Fenwick
Umbleby, who said he was TO go to
America as manager for James Lees &
Son of Bridgeport, Pa. He introduced the
witness to the man who had engaged him
and whose name was johnson. This man
arranged for HIM TO see DIR. John
Lees. Witness made a contract with Lees
agent, Johnson. which the latter drew up
aud both siCped. The contract, which was
read, stated that it was mutual agree
ment that James Lees & Son would en-
ploy Watson in their trade Of wooden man
ufacturIng for twelve months from the
time OF his sailing from Liverpool at g p
Il week. but either should have the right
TO cancel the contract at the end OF SIX
pay his pass age back. 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 thar
be came from a neighb0ring town to that
Of the last witness in Yorkshire England
He was a dyer and saw the advertise
ment which attracted Watson. He
answered il and saw Mr.. Cmbleby
Umhleby was the first man engaged
and after that he acted with johnson
Lees agent. in securing the..rest and made
the contract with him. II was drawn M
and signed much like the ether. They
then took him 20 see DR.. John Lees an
Cmblcby INTRODUCED him 20 the latter 81
"the dyer" DR. Lees said little. but evi
IDENTIFY knew all about the contract Wit
ness was TO get ~ week He came to
this country ana worked for Lees & Son
Commissioner Stephenson ssid the pres
emit system OF examination at Castle Gsr-