The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1895-03-15

NOuutaiudalc. Pa. March l3. 1895.
Politicians have been advocating d nigh
taTiH on the theory that il protects the
American workman against the cheap la
Dor OF Europe.
The price OF labor j. decided by compe-
UtOu the same a. any other commodity.
During the past ten wears coal operators
aud manufacturers have been importing
thousands OF HungarIauS. POlduderS and
Italians 20 break down the price OF AmeTI-
can labor. and the law makers have been
wiukiHg at il. The American lTbOriug
classes cannot compete with these foreign
ur>. and all ldburcT> that can secure en-
piOymeuJ IN other EOcatlUHS ieaYe the
places where cheap labor Is employed.
\ large number OF American labOrcrS are
lowered TO the same condition a. the pau
per iabOrcrS- y large proportion of civi-
lied IaDOriug men who cannot secure 9th
rr employ mcuI are trying 10 maintain the
standard Of American labor against the
onslaught of these bdrblTIauS of eastern
Europe. This il " hat i causing 50 much
agitation Ia the coal regions where these
cheap iutOTtTS are employed extensively.
American labuTcrS cannot compete with
this class of people for many reasons.
Their food Il of the poorest quality and
rarely costs each Of them more than four
dollars a month. II we 90 into any town
that these people iufy>J IT i common to
hear dealers ia supplies for working Deo-
pie talk about Hungarian meat, flour.
etc. Hotels keep Hungarian whi>key.
called '.pOlIukgy.' These dealers sell these
commodities TO the Hungarian people at a
greatly reduced rate. butcher in a
neigh hDurinE town informed me that he sold
all his refuse meat to these people, and
that they wOulu even buy IJ when II was
puJrid. During the strike last summer
they boiled chop and eat il. Their wearing
apparel does not cost them five dollars
year. They pay no taxes. As many a
thirty OF them live in Il house. 1he coal
operators generally charge them one dol
lar "a month each for rent. The writ r has
seen an old house that was not worth 500
bring in $50 a month 10 the operator.
They are ignorant and spend no money
or time with newspapers or books. They
work in the mines long hours. frequently
Il out of the II. and by this mode OF living
they can exist and save money On -
cents day-d sum Ol money that no
American can live ON. They diSplaCe many
American wurkmeH in the mines. They
are preferred because they. being ignorant.
are more easily robbed 10y the operator.
They DrI be the bosses Tor DmpiOEmrnt an
pav him money all the while they are en-
ployed To keep in his favor The writer
has seen an American workman refused
employment and filthy Hungarian given
work Il few minutes aiterWaTd. These
foreigners are different from the aliens
that come from Germany and the British
Isles. When German or English emf
grants come 10 this country they do 80 with
the intention OF making II their future
home. and live like civilized people. Tho So
pauper people do not come here with the
intention OF making IL their home. but to
return To their ndllNe lana dIter lheE hdYc
accumulated a few hundred dollars.
They are not only creating havoc among
our lahoriug people IN the mines. but they
ale Injurious To the country. They carry
out OF the country millions of dollars that
should be paid 10 our people. If this money
were paid To our American people the tax
PAYERS would not nave to support thOuS-
audS of people thai are now compelled to
secure aid. The country would not be
be UVerun with wOrkmen, commonly
called trampS. seeking work. T1e jails
would not be HE'D with persons who have
committed some criminal act in order to
procure living for their starving families
II the money were paid to our people il
would be retained in this country and all
trades would be benefited. for they would
spend il for provisions, clothing and HON :,
and il wouid benefit all laDurcr> that are
engaged in manufacturing these utilities.
If these people were prevented from com
ing into the country the tax payers Won Id
b. relieved of paying millions OF dollars
that they directly or Indirectly cause.
Millions of dollars are paid to soldiers
and other officials OF this state to keep
strikers i'm subjecIion during strikes that
they are mainly the cause of, and the tax
payers have TO pay FOR thousands OF dol
lars worth Of property that they destroy
duriuu labor disturbances. /. T..