Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-05
THEY WILL RESIST IT.
The45ImpOrted Glassworkers
Propose to Appeal
TO THE BRITISH MINISTER
Against the Decision That They Must
Go Back to Europe.
INTERVIEWS WITH MANY OF THEM
They Say They Will Come Back Indiyid-
TO THE BRITISH MINISTER
INTERVIEWS WITH MANY OF THEM
They Say They Will Come Back Individ-
ually if Forced Home.
ONE OF THEIR PROSECUTORS TALKS

Line report IN yesterday OAofAIOh tudt
United States District Attorney Lyon and
Immigrant Inspector Robert d. Layton had
recommended to Secretary Window the re-
turn of the imported English and Belgian
glass blowers, was the one theme of CONVEX
sation all yesterday in the rising city of
Jeannette Those of the glass workers who
had not sought the rejuvenating influences
of camp life or other pleasant modes of
spending the summer dull season were seen
gathered in little knots at the depot, in
front of stores or at their homes, discussing
the all-absorbing question. 1t was no trouble
to find the men to interview, but rather diff
ficult to take leave CT those self-inter-
viewed.
Not many moments after the writer
had entered the phenomenal little city
and walked half way down Clay
avenue, he was surrounded by a
host of the very men he had sought. All of
these three parties of English and Belgian
glassblowers, who are the subject of COM
ment on both sides of the ocean, as having
been imported by contract to this country,
were represented. Among them was Mr..
i
conversant with labor interests in the Old
Country, and one Of the principal men in
his union there. Ben Campbell, brother of
James, about whom all this fuss has been
made, holding him as the alleged importing
contractor. Joined the group later, and
talked freely.
THEY OPENED UP.
On being interrogated the men were at
first as mum as a mummifed oyster, and re-
fused to commit themselves to the extent of
an admission that they existed at all. They
would not give their names, and refused to
believe anything they had read in the
papers, only insisting that they had not
been imported on contract, and feared
nothing. At last little reasoning, as to
probability at least, unbended them, and,
like the proverbial oyster aforesaid, their
jaws opened.
Said one: 81 don't understand your
American laws, or their workings, 1 pro-
fess; but, from common sense reasoning, 1
can't see how they can send us back. We
were not imported under contract. We
came as private individuals; we have
gathered together what little money we
could in England; many have sold their lit /
tie homes to come to the United States to
work. We have done SO; minded our own
business, and naught can be said against US.
You say we have been too mum, and not
given our side of the case to the reporters.
Why should we do otherwise? AS we have
told you, we have nothing to say. We are
not guilty of anything; we have nothing to
do with anything the papers have been full
of. Why should we act otherwise? They
cannot send us back without trial, if we
are accused of anything. Let them 60 on.
Pooh! it's all bosh!''
SEEKING INDIVIDUAL TRIALS.
None of the men seemed to know the law
in regard to contract labor, or the trial OF
their cases collectively by the commission,
and they declared that they were each here
on his own responsibility, and, before they
could be sent back, would each have to be
given trial. On this point they pondered,
The report in The DISPATCH was read to
them, and they stuck on the clause, eff tine
department at Washington act upon the
recommendation the men will certainly be
sent back, )" and at last possibility of the
truth began to take its hold on them.
A workman fresh from the factory Joined
the group, and in an earnest voice said.
"We will know before we 60 back; we will
apply to Sir Julian Pauncefote, British
Minister to Washington. That is what he
is here for-to protect and look out for the
rights OF British subjects. 1t can be fought
on the other side. There are lawyers there"
Certainly, we will fight it in every way
before we go, said another. eff we are not
wanted in this country, why, it is better to
go; but why should we? We can get work
at some other place than Jeanette or at
something else besides glass blowing.'
"There are organizations in England"
intimated one. When asked what their |
plans would be another said: "Let them
go ahead; they have said nothing to us. We |
have had no chance to prove our innocence,
nor have we been told to appear to answer |
anything. We have just attended to our |
business, and if we must go, why, we can /
do nothing. We shall not run off fall the |
men laughing at the idea. If we go back, |
we will go back as we came, without a |
blemish on our names. They cannot keep |
us in England; we can come back again in |
the next ship, if we want to, and have money |
to get back"
PRESIDENT CAMPBELL's BROTHER.
'It's all political scheme; there is moth |
fng in il, said Ben Campbell, joining the |
group. eff you want information, why |
don't you go to three labor leaders down |
town? They will stuff you full. You |
won't go back Undressing the men1 If |
they wish to, why don't they bring suit |
against my brother, Jim? I'd just like 20
have them! Jim is too much for all of |
them! They have been beaten all around. |
Wouldn't it make fine capital for the fall |
campaign, to say: we got the evidence
We sent the English contract laborers
back How would it look to add: We
sent in our best evidence, and the result of
all our researches, 10 Washington, and they
did not notice it at alp
''They cannot prove one thing against
Jim. They have got to convict some man
of contracting for laborers, or prove that
they were contracted for, before they can
send immigrants back"
During the latter part of this onversation
the men seemed very much interested, and
speculsted on the possibility of their being
returned, but could not decide that they
would be sent back without each of them
being given hearing. They were all very
good natured and talked with the reporter
until past 1 o'clock.
-Four others Of the English glassvorkers
were seen at their boarding house. They
came over together, and gave the following
names: Charles Speakman, Thomas Ather-
ton, james Holden and Thomas Holden.
They took the turn OF affairs philosophically.
They said they did not want to go back, Of
course, but if they must they must, and
they supposed that was the end of it.
They, too, said it was wrong to suppose that