The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15

Skilled Chainmakers Induced
to Leave England, but Go
Back at Request Of Friends
CLOSELY GUARDED
IN KAISER'S LAND
Efforts Made to Introduce the
Experts Into Establish
ments Located at Duisberg
SPECIAL CABLE TO THE CALL.


LONDON. July IA most remark
able story comes from Dudley regard
ing the attempt OF certain German
manufacturers to lure away accom-
plishcd chainmakers from England and
the ruses adopted by the Chainmakers'
Union to bring the men back.
The art of forging and welding the
links In a great ships cable requires a
skill that is attained by comparatively
few men after years OF practice. In
this German workmen are years behind
the times. and the finest chains in the
world come from the iron works OF the
Black Country.
Not long ago a Black Country chain
maker answered a German advertise
ment. Soon after a German. with an
interpreter, appeared in Stanordshire
and held out such inducements that he
captivated six men. four of whom were
on strike at the time.
Ellis, one Of the men. described his
journey to Duisberg, Germany, to the
correspondent.
I'VE were treated like lords" he said.
1--WE stayed first at the Midland Hotel,
Birmingham. Then we travelled in
style to Germany, where we were put
up at a first-class restaurant"
When the mems abilities were tested
in the works they made the links so
well that when put in tensile strain
tho iron broke before the weld gave
way. The director was so astonished
and delighted that he took the men to
his house and brought out the best wine
in his cellar for them.
The Chainmakers' Association heard
of the maneuver, and knew that if the
men were allowed to teach foreign
workmen the art Of chainmaking Ger
many would soon become a formidable
competitor to Staffordshire. Mr.. Stitch,
the secretary, was sent to Germany to
persuade the men to come back, but
they were having such good time that
they refused absolutely to return.
. Mr. Stitch returned to England. but
the manufacturers. as well as the union.
backed him up and sent him TO Germany
again with an interpreter. In the mean
time the mems friends had sent them
the Dudley papers containing comments
on the probable injury to the industry
which they were doing.
When Mr. Stitch went to Germany
second time he found that the English
workmen were not allowed to go any
where without German. who was
nominally an interpreter but was in
fact a warder. Mr. stitch was shadowed
everywhere he went, and every device
was employed to prevent him getting
into private communication with the
men.
He waited his opportunity, and when
he was dining one day at the restaurant
where the men lived he contrived to
pass a note to one of them The note,
which conveyed a strong appeal to the
men to come home and not give Ger
MANY the chance of beating England
at its own industry, was passed round.
The men decided to return TO England
They got away by the simple expedi-
ent of locking their warder-interpreter
in his bedroom that night and making a
rush for the station. Mr.. Stitch was
there. and hustled them into a carriage
without giving them an opportunity OF
waiting for their luggage. He did not
allow them out of his sight until they
reached Dudlex again