The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-08-04
.sITl'|E |: hats: !. MADE:
!. UNDER PEON SYSTEM
Many Union Railroad Men and
Other Workingmen are Users
of Non Union Hats,
When they Know Of Peon System
/ in Vogue They Should Stop :
Wearing Them.

"Peon- made" hats of this notorious
firm after reading the Ubiquitous, un-
American contract exacted from, its
imported apprentices, then you are
entitled to the scorn and contempt Of
your fellowmen.
This Is strong language, but how
can. an American newspaper treat the
matter In any other light? The con-
tract Is repulsive to the spirit of our
institutions. No industry can expect
or enjoy the respect of any true Amer
lean that resorts to such measures to
make dollars.
The John B. Stetson hat has long
been a favorite among certain kind
Of workingmen, but few Of them knew
anything about the working conditions
In vogue in their factory. :.
Over in Britain In the early ages
apprentices were bound under certain
conditions for term Of years to serve
their masters. Recently the apprentice
laws Of England have been modern
lied, but the Stetson company evident
ly did not think much of the new Eng
lish laws so they searched among the
historic archives of some ancient Brit
1sh employers association and found
copy of one Of the old time inden-
lures. Their purpose was to make
agreements with italian, Greek and
Spanish padrOnes for the purpose OF de-
l1vering unto them young boys under
their care to slave in the Stetson fac
tory for period Of four years at a.
salary of $500 per week. The assump-
ton is, OF course, that the padrones re-
ceived a certain percentage from the
the factory on each victim during each
week Of apprenticeship.
We reproduce one of the un-Amer-
lean contracts, which, through the
kindness of a friend was handed to us
this week. We have substituted fictl-
cious names for the originals so that
the young man who served his term
In the Stetson prison shall not be made
the victim of the vindetti of the
padrones. 1t is as follows:
Relic Of Middle Ages.
This 1ndenture Witnesseth, that
Domin1ck Cusciatti, born July 3, A. D.
1884. by and with the consent of Patria
Garcia, his friend, hath put himself,
and by these presents doth voluntarily
and of his own free will and accord,
put himself Apprentice to The John
B. Stetson Company Of Philadelphia,
to learn the art, trade and mystery of
Hat Making, and after the manner Of
an Apprentice to serve the said John
B. Stetson Company for and during,
and to the full term Of his Apprentice
ship. which will be the 18th day. Of
May, 1906, next ensuing.
The said Masters reserving the right
to terminate this agreement, II said
Apprentice shall refuse to obey their
proper commands, or shall be found
physically unable to attend to his
work. During all which time the said
Apprentice doth covenant and promise
that he will serve his Masters faith
fully, keep their secrets and obey their
lawful commands; that he will do
| them no damage himself nor see 1t
done by others without giving them
notice thereof; that he will not waste
their goods, nor lend them unlawfu,,v.
that he will not contract matrimonv
within the said term; that he will not
play at cards, dice or any other I'M
lawtul game, whereby his Masters may
be injured; that he will neither buv
or sell, with his own goods nor the
goods Of others, without license from
! his Masters; and that he will not alb
sent himself day or night from his
Masters service without leave. nor
haunt ale houses, taverns, or play
houses, but in all things behave him.
self as faithful Apprentice ought to
| DO during the said term. He shall
conform to and abide by all rules and
regulations now In force, and herein
after adopted by his Masters for the
government of their Apprentices. And
| the said Masters on their part do
| covenant and promise, that they will
use the utmost Of their endeavors to
teach, or cause to be taught or in
structed, the said Apprentice in the
art, trade or mystery of Hat Making.
| and he shall receive as compensation.
when working, two dollars ($2.00) per
week.
1t appearing upon satisfactory proof
furnished to said John B. Stetson Com.
pany that said minor has been proper-
ly educated In reading, writing, and
! arithmetic, so as to render further
| schooling unnecessary.
And for the true performance of all
and singular the covenants and agree
ments aforesaid, the said parties> bind
| themselves each unto the other firmly
by these presents.
In Witness Whereof the said John
B. Stetson Company has herunto af
fixed its Corporate seal and Individual
parties set their hands and seals, done
INTERCHANGEABLE. Dated the LIST day of
June In the year Of our Lord one
thousand nine hundred and two.
VIM. F. GREY, President
H. DUPUY, Secretary. ,.
Apprentice, DOMIN1CK CUSCIATTI
Friend, PATRIA GARCIA.
Sealed and delivered in the presence
of Milton D. Gehris
(Seal Of John B. Stetson Company.
Smoke Puradora Cigar, Clear Havana
Union Label and Home Made