Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-26
FOREIGNERS NEEDED.
Ex-Congressman Niedringhaus Says
Thousands of Tin Plate Men
WILL HAVE TO BE IMPORTED.
The WOrkmen in Wales Will Be Glad to
Come, as They Are Idle.
OWENS DECISION IN THE MATTER

ST. LOUIS, July 25.-F. G. Neidring-
haus, of tin-plate fame, was in much bet
ter humor when called upon to-day than he
has been since the strike at his rolling mill
was begun. He read the report from
Washington concerning the decision OF
Commissioner Owens, under which he can
import alien labor, and expressed surprise
at its publication, evidently thinking the
matter secret.
81 was very much surprised to see that
article in the newspapers and do not know
how they could have got it," began Mr..
Niedringhaus. 'It is not exactly correct,
however. In the first place, did not write
Commissioner Owens letter at all. 1 tele-
graphed him. Furthermore, did not ask
whether 1 could import labor; L knew L
could do that The law passed in 1885 is
very plain on that subject, and knew
under it 1 could import labor What L did
ask Commissioner Owens in my telegram
was whether it would be necessary to go
through any form in importing labor, and if
so, what it was. He telegraphed back that
it would not and that he would write me
particulars. / am now waiting to receive
his letter"
No Particular Nationality Wanted.
"Do you expect to import Welshmen or
Germans to work in your tin-plate mills?'
81 shall probably engage Welshmen, En-
glishmen and Germans. I do not think
shall confne myself to any one particular
class of laborers.''
Glow many men do you expect to bring
over?"
''That I cannot tell Just vet, but from
hot ha 20 h.
sand all told come to this country The
Tin Plate Manufacturers Association in
this country has % members, and have
seen it stated in newspapers that thousands
of workmen would come here to work in
the various mills to be operated. All the
members of the association are not going to
make finished tin plate, some making only
the rough goods. -
Chow many men will you employ at your
mill?"
''Well, if you include the rolling of the
iron from the pig, which is really part of
the industry, we will probably have 300 or
400 men, and probably as high as 5OO In
the iron department, however, we will not
need foreign labor, as American workmen
can do that part of the job.
Foreigners Need to Instruct Americans.
'Jt is only in the tin plate work proper
that We will need foreigners, as the work
men of this country do not understand that
branch of the business, it being new in
dustry. 1t is necessary for us to secure
skilled labor at the outset, and we can only
do by importing workmen. Americans can
learn it afterward. and we expect to employ
workmen whenever we can.
We feel it our duty to do so. The foreign
ers are needed to instruct our workmen,
however, in the business. Nearly all the
mills in Wales are shut down, and the work
men on the other side will be glad to come
to this country, as they get nearly 100 per
cent better pay here, and in some instances
even more than that
'In what particular branches of the tin
plate work are skilled Iaborers necessary"
'They are needed in several departments,
as the industry is new one in this country.
On that one roller we now have at the
works we employ Americans, and it is
American boys who make the tin plate we
now turn out