Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-01
PLATEW0RKERSNEXT
Four of Them Alleged to Have Been
Imported From England
TO WORK FOR THE FORD SYSTEM.
The Amalgamated Scale Signed by the
Iron Manufacturers.
A FULL LIST OF THE CHANGES MADE

Joseph Keehner, who, with James
Mlchaels, is in the city from New Albany,
Ind, is authority for the statement that the
contract labor laws have been violated by
the Pittsburg Plate Glass Company, through
one of its employees Mr.. Keehner has been
here for several days, getting the plate glass
workers at Butler, Duquesne and other
places ready for organization into the
Knights of Labor. During his rounds
among the workers, he claims to have
secured the information that men have been
brought from England under contract, and
are now employed in the works of
the Pittsburg Plate Glass Company,
either at Creighton, Tarentum or Ford
City. Mr.. Keehner gives the name of John
Hunter, who he says, secured the services of
four men named Davidson, Gibson, Ogle
and Anderson. and brought them here from
England. Hunter is himself an English
man, and has not been in the employ of the
company more than five or six years.
Mr.. Keehner has the names of several
glassWorkers who say they are posted on the
matter, and are willing to testify, if neces-
sary, that the men were brought over by
Hunter for the Ford system, and that they
are now working for the company. He only
gave out the names of one of these witnesses,
John hampton, a workman at Duuuesne.
Mr.. Keehner does not state when the
alleged importation took place, or whether
the men were all brought over at the same
time or at various times; but as the matter
has been referred to Z. D. Layton, immi-
grant inspector for this district, it will be
thoroughly Investigated and all the facts
made known when the proper time comes.
WILL GO TO WORK AT ONCE.
Mr.. Layton was seen by DISPATCH
reporter yesterday afternoon. He had lust
received notification of the matter and be-
yond the statement that it would be his
duty to sift the report and institute proceed
ings in case violation was found to exist.
he did not say much. He will commence work
on the case Immediately.
A call was also made at the office of the
Pittsburg Plate Glass Company. Mr.. ]. B.
Ford has been out of the city. He returned
yesterday and went up to the works at Taren-
tum- His son. J. b. Ford, Jr., denied that SO
far as he knew, the firm had brought workmen
over. He knows Mr.. Hunter, but said the lat
ter had not been in England, and If he had
made any arrangements with men to come here
he must have done SO by means of correspond
ence. Continuing Mr.. Ford said:
$50 far as know we have not violated that
labor law since it went into effect In fact, 1
don't believe 1t would be necessary for us to
import men. 1t is true, there is a scarcity of
skilled workmen in America, and we are put to
great disadvantage sometimes, and indeed
have lost money on account of the present ap-
prentice system. but we have been very careful
not to bring men from England. When we get
short OF men, we put green men into the works
and in two months time we have them trained
SO they can do very fair work. We employ
about 1000 men altogether, and am satisfied
that none of them were brought here under
contract"
Ex-President James Campbell, of theWindow
Glassworkers' Association, was said to have
made use of statement in one of his annual
addresses to the effect that unless a change
were made in the apprentice system it would
would be importing men unfortunately.
call was made at his home on the Seuthside.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.
Mr. Campbell quoted from his report to his
association in 1887, in which he said: "While
we should guard the apprentice with jealous
eye. we should encourage more young men to
learn the trade. The necessity for such step
will arse before many years."
1t is for the purpose of preventing the impor-
tation of foreign workmen that Mr.. Keehner is
eye on Charleroi and Irwin. The former is
about ready to start up and the latter plant
will employ large number of men. The Ques-
tion that is troubling the people interested is
where are the men coming from to fill these
new places?" Mr.. Keehner says the English
firms cannot compete with the American
manufacturers; that they are being compelled
to shut down and their men will be sought BY
the manufacturers here. He also says that
Edward Lewis, Assistant Superb ttendent of
the He Pauw's glass works at New ALBANY.
Ind, is now in England, and he presumes his
purpose is to quietly make arrangements with
workmen there to come to this country.