The Lamar register., 1905-01-18

The government is extending its
mighty hand to throttle nefarious
business which has been thriving Tor
some years past under the very noses
Of the authorities. 1t Is an old In
dustry, revived from time to Tine
aud may be described as system LOT
utilizing the immigration service LOT
the virtual enslavement OF multitudes
of white children Of foreign parentage.
The scheme In question has long
been known as the 'padrone system
and, in simple terms, consists OF an
arrangement by which great numbers
Of little boys are purchased in Italy
and Greece, and imported into this
country to work as bootblacks, ped
Glers, newspaper vendors. beggars, or
what not, under the taskmasters VINO
take from them all of their earnings.
giving them only in return wretched
subsistence, and often treating them
cruelty. These children, after their
arrival in the "land of the free.' are
bought and sold with Just about as
much regard for their feelings or
wishes as il they were dogs or cats.
The price of a small boy in southern
Italy or in Greece is from SIS to $5o.
Sometimes they may be obtained Tor
as little as $40. Children are plentiful
over there, and the poverty stricken
parents are not unwilling to allow
their young sons to go to America
wonderful country, where, as they
have heard. wages are phenomenaiiy
high and riches easily acquired. Pass
age on the steamship will be paid, ana
the cash received is so much bonus.
So the buyer collects a consignment
of boys without much trouble. He
prefers that they shall be not more
than nine or ten years of age. for
reasons which will presently appear.
The shipment of them is the only DIFF
ficulty, because they cannot be sent
In a bunch. lest the suspicious of our
Immigration authorities be aroused.
They have to be sent over by ones and
twos. accompanying adults, to whom
they usually claim relationship, and 1t
is necessary to coach them carefully
in the answers they are to give to
questions which are sure to be asked
when they reach Ellis Island. If they
fail in giving the proper replies. they
are liable to be sent back, and the
speculator loses the money he has
invested.
Buyers Make Trips Abroad.
The importer of these human chat
tells sometimes does his own buying.
making visits once or twice a year to
Italy, or Greece. for that purpose. But,
however this part of the business may
b. managed. the system on this side
Of the water is always pretty much
TIE same. The "padrone" (master) :.
who owns the boys by right Of pur-
chase, either rents them out to m; nor
bosses, at SO much a head, or .lse
puts them to work on his own accr unit
at peddling, blacking boots, or wat
ever employment may offer the lest
expectation of profit. In either else
he pays them their wages-50 cents
or 81 a week-and provides them With
meals and lodgings.
AS might be imagined, the board
and accommodations furnished to The
unfortunate little slaves are extremely
wretched. The food they get bar ely
suffices to keep body and soul to-
gether. and commonly they are Obliged
to SLEEP on the floor, 25 or 30 of them
in a room. 1t is not surprising tnat
their proprietors make money rapidly.
Many of the Italian banks in New
York, Chicago and other cities are
owned by men who were formerly
"padroni," and some OF them are e.ill
in the business.
If it be asked why the boys do Aot
run away from their masters, the
answer is simply that most of III EN-
are so young as to need to be taken
care of. Ignorant of our institutions
and language, they do not feel able to
look out for themselves amid the tnr-
moil of city. So long as they remain
with the ''padrone." they are sure, at
all events. Of food to eat and home
heaven save the mark-to go to. II
thuy took their affairs into their own
hands they might starve; and, be-