The Washington times., 1904-01-26
PLIGHT
OF A GREEK LAD
Refused Wages and Turned
Adrift, He Says.
SUES FORMER EMPLOYERS
Worked Six Months for Passage Across
Seas and One Year on Alleged
Contract With Father.

Georgios Kavatas has filed suit before
Justice OF the Peace Charles s. B,,ndv
against Banajotis Chaconas, Georgios
Chsconas. and Straits Chaconas for S125
alleged wages for the year ended jan
uary II. Albert Sillers is the attorney
for the plaintiff
Georgios, or George, as his name is In
English. is a well developed. bright
Greek lad of fifteen years. He is the
son of Greek peasant farmer. Two
years ago he was dividing his time be-
tween going to school and helping till
his fathers scanty acres, for the family
was poor.
Dreams of Affluence.
From time to time rumors came to the
Greek farmhouse of PARKWAY America
where 50 many of their feIlow-country-
men had found profitable employment
To the Greek of the poorer classes. the
earnings of an American fruit vender
indicate affiuence. and the opportunity
to rise to real independence open to all
Americans. almost beyond their dreams
Among those who had come to the
United States from Sparta were the
three brothers Chaconas. who were
slightly known to Ilios Kavatas. father
OF George. The Chaconas brothers came
to Washington. and by Industry soon
established system of pushcarts and
fruit wagons. so that they were en-
ployers in this form Of produce vending
Several times they sent for lads from
their native country. and the ambition
or little George was fired 10 be one OF
the young emigrants.
Trip to America.
A year and a half ago the matter was
arranged and the boy, then thirteen and
one-half years of age, received a<ticket
at Panapotis to come to Washington.
He made the trip alone. His passage
cost something under $50.
George says that when he arrived he
was given TO understand that he would
have to work six months to pay for
his passage. This was satisfactory, so
he was given a basket of fruit, and
taught TO say "BananaS-OranRes
Nice fresh fruit" In good weather and
bad he stood on the street corners until
driven away oy the police, or went from
door TO door and barroom to barroom,
selling his fruit. When he was arrested
for "obstructing the sidewalk I'm pur-
suance OF the unique District law on
the subject, his fine was paid by his
employers, who count this as a matter
OF course, just as license. When his
six months was up he congratulated
himself that he was now his own man.
and in position 70 make his fortune.
Sent Money Home.
Though so far from home, George had
not forgotten the old father. He want.
ed to send some money home.
That is all right" said Georgios
Chaconas. according to the boy. You
make a contract to work for me a. year,
for which 1 will give you your board
and clothing, and pay you $125. win
advance you s25 now, which you can
send home
The lad jumped at the offer and the
money was sent home. His year was
up on January II. IN the meantime he
claims TO have earned enough extra
money to cancel the IS advance and
expected to receive his full $125. Instead
he claims, he was told that this year
work belonged to the Chaconas family,
according to a contract made between
them and his father His overcoat was
taken from him. he says, and he 7'as
turned adrift to hustle for himself. with
nothing to show for his years work
but the clothes on his back.
l[avatas' fate is said to be that OF
many lads from Greece.