The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-03-03
ALIEN CONTRACT LABOR LAW.

People were struck dumb with surprise
on Saturday morning on learning that
VIM. Hess of the Manitowoc Boiler
Works had been arrested for employing
a resident of Toronto, Canada as foreman
of his works. The man, G. w. Spry, was
recommended to Hess by friend in East
Saginaw. Hess wrote to Spry offering
him $3.50 per day and agreeing likewise
to pay half the expenses of moving here.
Spry came and began work some time
after January /, His work did not suit
Hess who is perhaps one Of the best
boiler makers In the northwest and a
very hard worker. Spry. although only
foreman, grumblingly did work as Hess
wanted it should be done. This brought
him rebuke from his employer and he
quit work IN consequence. Being of a
malicious disposition and knowing that
technically Hess had violated the law
against employing foreigner, he went
to a lawyer in this city and sought to
have Hess arrested for having made a
contract with him while he was at Toron-
to. The attorney refused to have any
thing to do with the case. Spry then
went to Milwaukee and hung around the
court house for couple of days. He had
Hess letters which offered him work
here and these he showed the immigra-
ton inspector, G. w. Mott, and asked for
the arrest of Hess. Deputy Marshal
Buckley came here on Friday and ar
rested Hess. The examination was held
before Commissioner Bloodgood
There is no need of commenting upon
the dirty job done by Spry. A man who
would use letters offering him employ
ment at $3.50 per day to injure the per-
son who thus did him a friendly act is
too contemplate for newspaper abuse
But just fancy the merits of law which
can be made such an engine of persecu-
tom Mr.. Hess has found it very diff.
cult to get all the skilled labor he needs.
His work has been such that contracts
have been pouring in on him and he has
sought everywhere for good boiler makers
but Is unable to secure as many as he
needs. He was forced to refuse a num-
Der of good contracts because of INSULT
cheney of help. The wages he offered
were good and when he employed man
living in Toronto who was recommend
ed to him by person in whom he had
confidence, he did not know he was yio-
lating any law. But think of the enor m
ity of the offense of inducing a man to
come from Canada to the United States
who Is capable Of earning $3.50 per day!
Think of Furnishing this crime by a fine
of 81 900 or imprisonment or both Think
OF arrestIng a man of Hess business
standing and character, taking him to
Milwaukee as a criminal, away from his
business which cannot fail to suffer by
his absence as he is at present without
a foreman, without sufficient help and
crowded with work, simply because he
hired a resident of Canada owing to scar
city of labor in this sectlonl What glor-
ious legislation which can be used to
harass man whose only offense is work
ing honestly to perform his contracts!
The feeling of indignation throughout
the city was most intense when the facts
became known. Spry's conduct was bit
terly denounced and he was deemed fit
agent of the law he invoked. Had he
been IN the city his presence would have
reused a mob.