Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-04-09


PRESIDENT ROBERTSON SAID
that shortly after the passage OF the
Mckinley bill, and when Roman Dooler
was president OF the Assembly, the at
tention of some members OF the Assem-
bly, was called to the fact that the ohlo
Valley China Company, located In North
Wheeling, had been accused OF import
ing laborers from Germany under con-
tract to work in the pottery. Mr.. Do
bier, and others of the leaders OF the
Assembly, took the rumors up ana
upon Investigation found that there
was sufficient evidence against the
China Company TO warrant tae mat
ter being brought before the United
States Treasury Department Tor lnvesti-
CATION by the Bureau OF Immigration.
The evidence which the members OF the
Assembly had collected was submitted
10 the department, and request was
made that special agent be sent 10
Wheeling to look into the mrtter more
thoroughly. The Department took
cognizance OF the complaint ana sent
Charles Golf, brother OF Judge Nathan
Golf. an agent of the Treasury Depart
ment, and connected with the Bureau
OF Immigration, to see what could be
done towards securing a conviction OF
the alleged offenders in the United
| States Court, under, the law prohlolting
the importation OF
FOREIGN LABoRERs UNDER CONTRACT.
MIR. Robertson further said Mr. Golf
came to Wheeling. and was here several
weeks, consulting with members OF the
Trades Assembly, and securing further
evidence. He secured what he led MIR.
Dobler and others to believe was sulh-
cient evidence to convict the Ohio Val
ley China Company OF the charge.
Mr.. Golf, after comforting with the
| Trades Assembly officials and the men,
bers of the China Company, reported to
the former that while the case had
much merit still he believed that 1t
could not be brought to successful issue
owing to the great influence OF the pot
terry proprietors and the technicalitles
Of the law, ana advised that no turther
| action be taken.
The matter was dropped and no more
was heard of it till the treasury de-
partment received letter, OF which the
one above read by President Robert
son, except the address, is a copy.
Their object, Mr.. Robertson said, In
approaching the department was to
prove that they were here as laoorers
! illegally, so that they might be sent
back to Germany. Their desire to re-
turn TO the Fatherland was created by
the fact that they are out Of employ
ment, and see no chance for earning
! living in this country for time at least.
They had been dismissed by the ONO
Valley China Company and were desti-
tute.
The evidence which Mr.. Golf had Sc
cured was deemed entirely sufficient for
all purposes, but that offered by these
| German laborers was overwhelming
They had letters bearing the signature
of the Ohio Valley China Company, ask
ing them TO come to America, and sup
diving them the money necessary TO pay
! their passage. These letters also In
structed them how to get to America
without detection. On former coca
sion q German immigrant, coming TO
America by way of Baltimore, to work
for the Ohio Valley China Co.,
had been sent back, he having
told the truth about his mission and the
| circumstances when placed under oath
at the port OF Baltimore. After his re-
turn TO Germany, he received letter
instructng him TO take passage by way
OF New York, to pass himself as mer-
chant. and TO travel as cabin passen-
ger. This letter carried on its face all
the evidence necessary TO convict the
China Company of collision to infract
the laws OF the country, and almost in
so many words admitted the illegality
of the enterprise in which the German
workmen
WERE IdPoRTUNED TO ENGAGE.
Mr.. Robertson said the matter was
taken I'm hand at once by the. Depart
ment. and In q few days Mr.. Roman
Dobler, a Treasury agent. arrived in
Wheeling. He was given charge OF the
letters, which were written in German,
and went back to Washington 10 make
some Investigations there, and have
the letters translated by the officials OF
the Department. The letters read as
badly for the China Company in Eng
lish as they had in German, and the
Department decided at once that 1t was
strong case.
Mr.. Robertson. continuing further,
said that Mr.. Dobler went over the
records OF the previous case while In
Washington, and discovered the result
of the Investigations made by Mr.. Golf.
He found that the case had been called
up in the Department, and that Instead
of the Department deciding that the
charge was not substantiated by suifi-
cient evidence, il had been gone over
with the representatives OF the China
Company present, ard that 1t had been
dropped because the China Com Dany
had satisfied q Republican official that
the men were brought here within the
provisions of the law TO establish new
| industry which had never been intro
duced into this country and for which
men sufficiently skilled could not be
found in the United States. This con-
clusion had been arrived at, and the de-
cision entered, and the case dismissed,
without the presence Of the prosecuting
parties, and without their knowledge.
MR. DoBLER CAME BACK
to Wheeling, and continued the investi-
cation and under instructions from I'm
migration Commissioner Stump, con-
suited with United States District At
torney Watts, and turned over to him
the evidence in his possession with a
view to bringing the Ohio Valley Com
pany before the United States Court at
its preston in Wheeling. Mr.. Dobler
went back TO Washington for further
consultation with the immigration Blu
reau aud to attend to some matters In
connection with the case which could
only be seen there.