Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-06
THE HIGHEST COURT
In America Will, if Mr.. Mckee
is Forced, be Appealed To.
THE OWNER OF JEANETTE
Says His Little City Will. Not Lose
Those 45 Glassblowers.
HE PROMISES TO GO THEIR BAIL,
To See if They Have the Same Rights as
Musicians and Actors.
THE E0WNER OF JEANETTE
HE PROMISES TO GO THEIR BAIL,
A VERY IMPORTANT PHASE OF 1T ALL


manufacturers at Jeanette, in whose en-
ploy the 45 imported Englishmen and Bel
gians are working, intend to make a test
case of the contract labor law, in the event
of an attempt being made to send the men
back to England. II any legal steps are
taken by Secretary Window the firm will
give bond and fight the matter in the courts.
1t necessary, they say, they will carry it to
the United States Supreme Court and let
that body decide whether the men will have
to 90 back or not 1t has also been ascerta:ned
that the officers of the Window Glass
Workers Association have decided to dis
tribute the As Englishmen among Western
factories and fill their places at Jeanette
with Pittsburg and Western men until the
matter blows over. This information was
obtained from gentleman who knows
what is going on in the association.
II. Sellers NICK ee, of the firm, returned
from Lakewood yesterday, and was en-
countered on Smithfeld street, looking
after matters pertaining to the Birmingham
Traction Company. The DISPATCH re-
porter asked him
WHAT HE INTENDED TO DO
about the recommendation of United
States District Attorney Lyon and Immi-
grant Inspector Layton, to send the men
back to England. Mr.. Mckee at first re-
fused to say anything, on the ground that it
would appear as if he wanted to fight the
United States officers. He parried the
query, and wanted to talk about the new
cable road, which will be one of the best in
the country. After much questioning he
consented to talk, and said:
81 do not think we are going to lose the
men. 1 have read all the news in THE
DISPATCH from time to time; but what
does it signify? 1 have seen it stated that
the men must 90 back. Who cares for that?
We certainly do not. We don't care for
the statements of the positive proof that the
men were imported here under contract.
do not say that they were; but suppose such
is the case. Are not all the musicians and
operate singers brought into this country
from Europe imported? Isn't this labor?
and isn't it contracted for across the water?
If managers have a right to make contracts
in Europe with high salaried labor, why
should we not have the same right to make
an agreement with low salaried, or common
labor. There is no difference. -
"We have been charged with making con-
tracts with the men in Europe to come
here and work for us. Why, we did not
have them two weeks until we discharged
three of them for drunkenness. Now if We
had contract to give these people employ
meat, we couldn't discharge them, could
we? There has been so much said about
them that we did not think it worth while
to reply To the attacks.
RESISTANCE is ASSURED.
"If any attempt is made to take our en-
ployes away from us and send them back to
England, we will resist it. As soon as any
steps are taken, we will give bail for the
men, and make an appeal. If necessary,
we will carry it to the Supreme Court and
test the matter. We have no desire to al
tagonize anybody, or resist the laws. but
we will protect our men from outside inter-
ference"
"What have you to say in regard to the
charge that part of the wages of the men
were kept each week to pay their board,
passage money and railroad transportation
to Jeannette?"
"Well, suppose we did retain a small part
of the mems wages each week? Suppose we
wanted to advance money to men to come
here to work for us? Isn't that our bust
ness, and is there anything wrong about ito
think not. After the men came here is it
not right that they should pay back the
money we advanced them? Such a transac-
. tion is legal, think. The men will resume
working in a few weeks, and if any attempt
is made to modest them we will interfere
The Supreme Court will knock this whole
matter high in the air, if it is brought be-
fore them"
The gentleman who furnished the infor-
nation about sending the men West, gave
inf Ha ha
reason the Englishmen were sent to jean
nette instead of to some different factory, is
explained in the antipaIhy of American
workmen to the tank furnaces. In the first
place, they were prejudiced against the
tanks, thinking that this system would
work injury to the trade. Messrs. Cham
bers & Mckee knew this, and, thinking
that the men would not give the tanks q
fair trial, concluded that they had
BETTER HAVE ENGLIsHMEN,
who had some experience working them,
and who would not try to bring out poor re-
suits. AS a consequence the Englishmen
were sent there, and the tanks have been a
success.
"When the men were hired they were
guaranteed so much wages on the test The
gatherers were to be paid SIS per month for
single-strength glass, and the blowers Sl20
was to average about $40 per month, while
the gatherer would get $50. They were to
be paid these wages, even if they did not
make more than one box per day. On these
conditions they had no trouble securing the
men.
''There is indeed scheme on foot to send
these men to other points, and allow other
workmen to take their places They will be
given working cards, and will probably find
employment in the West. They can go out
there, and even if the authorities have their
names. they will be lost to the world, and
in a short time the whole matter will blow
over. Then the men can return to jean
nette, if they prefer to work in the tank
factory. There is a tank furnace house at
Streator, Ill, and it is probable that some
of them will head for there"
A special telegram from Washington last
night said the papers In the case, recon-
mending that the men be sent back to En-
gland, are now in The hands of Secretary
Window, who will act in the matter in a
few days. The special states that it is'prob-
able warrants will be issued by the Gov
ernment and the men arrested. They will
then be shipped back to England via Bos-
ton, aboard the same ships they came
ever in.
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