The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-01-01
WHITE SLAVES.
Railroad LabOTers Compelled to Work
for Nothing and Feed Themselves.

Railroad LabOTeTs Compelled to Work
for Nothing and Feed Themselves.
WATERFOWL, N. Y, Dec. 28.-Three men
named Charles Renner, Stephen Broes and
Otto Reyes, arrived at Carthage Saturday
night and we're glad to get shelter in the city
lookup. They were not tramps, but the
story they told was so similar to others that
have been heard in this section lately there
is little reason to doubt that there is some
truth in it.
Renner is an intelligent German, whose
story is as follows:
"Three months ago | left New York city
to work on the railroad near Tupper's Lake.
Our fares were paid to our destination with
the understanding that it was to be taken
out of the first money earned. They were to
receive 1.25 day and good board and lOdg-
ing at 80 cents day. Arriving there we
found that the contractors owned the store
and the boarding house. The latter was cold
and cherries; there was no stove to warm
it; the only means Of heating was a fireplace
cut in the wall 1t was simply large half
circle cut In the wall ard stones were laid
on the floor TO prevent burning. There was
no chimney; when the wind was IN the right
direction there was Il draught which carried
the wind away, but when II blew toward the
hole in the wall the smoke stayed in the room
and made it suffocating. The building was
so loosely put together that we were often
compelled to get up three or four times dur
ing the night and warm ourselves. The beds
were hunks Of which there were three tiers,
one above the other. In each one there was
quantity Of loose hay and one blanket
Pay day vas on Sunday always. On the
first pay day | went with the others to draw
my pay and when my NAM was called
stepped up. was informed that was in
debt to the company for ~. There was no
explanation given and we were compelled
to submit. | had $12 or $15 with me when
| went into the camp. Such big prices were
charged at the company's store that walked
to TuppcFs Lake and purchased what |
! needed
! "On the second pay dav thought 7 surely
/ would receive some money, hui on Deing
called found that | had been charged $40
for the use Of the cOmpany's tinware, and
every other man " the camp had been used
| in the same way, There were seventy of us
which made 500 for the use of the tinware,
and there was not 500 worth in the VIII ole
camp.
"We were all in debt to the company. The
next month was do better. We were told
there was nothing coming to MS. worked
until last Monday and became Disguised and
quit. These men with me did the same
We asked for our time and were told that
unless we returned TO work we would get
nothing. AS we had not had anything so
far and the prospects did not seem to i'm
prove we thought we should be just as well
off to quit and start away as to work for
ever in debt to the company. The con
tractors out there are all southern men and
so are all the bosses There are a great
many negroes and large number of Ital-
ians The latter have had much trouble.
A number Of them have been killedn
The men say that when they arrive at
New York they will employ an attorney to
obtain redress for them.