Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-25
BELGIANS INDIGNANT
Another American Contract Labor
Scheme Brought to Light.
SOHO TUBE WORKERS ON STRIKE.
Coal Miners Will Settle Their Scale at a
Meeting To-Day.
MANY LABOR GEMS FROM THE WORKERS

Arnold Schneider. Consular Agent of Bel
gium in this city, is at present gathering
data with view to exposing an American
employer of labor for attempting to import
laborers from Belgium. A few days ago he
received letter from the Belgian authori-
ties containing an advertisement taken from
the Journal de Charleroi, published on Feb
ruary 20, in Charleroi. the central industrial
city of Belgium. The substance of the ad-
vertisement translated is as foil ows:
Good workmen, and boys from 13 to Is
years Of age. are badly wanted in North
America. The company will advance the
necessary expenses for the trip, and will
make a contract for year at a salary of
from to 10 francs per day. Address NJ. P.
Watelet, Charleroi, Belgium.
There is nothing about the card to indi-
cate how many workmen are wanted. The
number is unlimited.
DEFTING THE LAWS.
1t is very evident that an open effort is
being made, however, to bring the men here
in open defiance to the laws of both the
Belgian and American Governments. It is
not surprising that the Belgian authorities
should endeavor to prevent the importation of
their own people, as their bess workmen are
mostly among those who come away. Mr..
Schneider said to DISPATCH reporter yester-
day afternoon:
81 think that just now, when there is such a
universal cry raised against foreign immigra-
tion by both press and people. it is unjust for
American manufacturers to break the laws of
not only this Government but of that from
which they get their men. Some of these man
ufacturers who import contract labor are the
most enthusiastic against foreign immigration.
I'm this case / am simply required to furnish
my Government with the law here regulating
the importation of contract labor and the law
governing the employment of laborers in col
leries and quarries. The Belgian Government
is opposed to the immigration of their people,
and especially their skilled workmen. Most of
the people who are coming now are good work
men.
COME HERE TO STAY.
They come here to stay; some Of them of
their own free will, others through inducements
offered to them. They do not leave their own
country temporarily. but they forsake their
native homes forever. They come here to live.
They buy their own homes in hundreds of
cases, as was shown by their recent purchase of
property in Jeanette, Charleroi and other
places in this vicinity.
The maj ajority of these people are industrious
and willing to work. You never see Belgian
tramp. A man who comes here and becomes a
producer is as valuable to the country as na-
tive born American. The Belgian Government
recognizes his value, and have placed very Sc
we're restrictions on immigration. 1t is but
natural that l should defend my people The
plate glass industry was introduced and de-
veloped in America by Belgians, and think
it's little hard for people to raise such an
opposition and then send authorized agents to
foreign countries to import laborers in direct
opposition to the laws"
Mr.. Schneider will make an effort to learn
who has advertised for the workmen and re-
port his information to the Belgian Govern
meQt.