St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-05-30
More Labor Refugees Es-
cape from Proctor.

Last weeks advertisement told story Of contract
labor in Vermont that asoushed and shocked the whole
state 1t was plain unVarnshed narrative of systematic
fraud and injury that involves the personal and CONNER
cia honor Of the machine candidate for governor. This
week we present the simple tale OF Mike Heller, 49,
Samuel Schwartz, H. and Simon Wisoskie, To-
These boys, on their sworn testimony, were brought
to Proctor under false petenses put to work heavy and
injurious tasks and then discharged with three cents
among them many miles from home and without money
enough to buy food.
The account of their adventures nigh be made mas
terpiece of fiction. We quote merely from the sworn
statements Of the boys told mostly their own language
MIKE HELLERS STORY.
1--WE were introduced 10 Mr.. Grossman, who hired Us
to go to Albany N T. to learn trade that he would pay
Sl25 per day. payable monthly the 18th day of the
month that he would pay our car fare and board till we
could draw our wages"
Instead Of stopping at Albany however, they were
taken Proctor reaching there about II o'clock Heller
continues;
The following morning at 20 minutes to 7, we
given shovel and set to work The boss was named
Tom O'Hara, who kept calling to US 10 hurry up-hurry
up-or 60 home; that worked three weeks and then
they discharged US and when we presented our time slips
to Mr. Grossman he took them and wouldn't give me but
three cents for my three weeks work"
Driven out Of wagon the boys slept that night on
excelsior in at the mill At o'clock they were
driven out Of the mill and later threatened with the jail if
they hung around the office demanding wages. They
begged ten CENTS bought loaf of bread then trudged
Rutland where they were cared for
SAMUEL SCHWARTZ SAID
II was to be paid Sl25 per day that worked three
weeks and they would not pay me or give my fare
home Said Give ticket home and that is all will
ask, that he, Grossman, said will call an officer and
have you locked up that working for Vermont
Marble Company that works at Proctor and Gross
man. Superintendent Davis and Mr.. Thompson were the
men that bossed us and with whom we dealt"
Story of Little Simon Wisloskie.
The baby" Of this pathetic group Of Proctor refugees
is little Simon WislOske he is Is years DID, small in
stature, weg II pounds and shows the marks of rough
or brutal treatment and breast When they threat
ened to put him in Jail at the marble shop office in Proctor
he replied
"All right put me in jail Then you have to listen
to my story"
After his boysh hunger had been satisfied BY CHART
able people in Rutland little Simon made the following
statement:
I am 10 years old, going on l6 I asked Grossman
for store book to get undeht and drawers as had no
clothing but what on but he would give me nothing
nor would they Grossman Thompson give me ticket
home. live with my mother and brother and sister both
younger than l. My father is in the crazy house. I am
SICK the men working with me pushed me off staging
and hurt my breast and wrist"
We make no comment on these statements Thew
support one another they verify Leo Rosenbun story Of
last week. -Four more refugees who reached Rutland the
same DAY as Heller and his friends confirm the latter's
story We let the facts speak for themselves.
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