New-York tribune., 1908-10-25
ON GUARD AT THE IMMIGRANT FLOODCATE

NO bat he must be physically competent 10
earn his living when he gets here. A deaf man.
Young and strong, turned back to-day II ne
went into the street he might be run over ana
killed or injured, in which event he would become
public charge. Greek farmer. with s4s. was
here this morning He old and broken down
The steamship that brought him over must take
him away The cash IN hand OF the immigrants
last year averaged H7. Laborers who come
under contract except professional persons and
servants are excluded II they were not excluded
EMPLOYERS could work ID strikes among their
worknen and Ill their shops and mills with cheap
hands hired in Europe"
What measure do you take to prevent the land
ing OF criminals and anarchists"
1T wouldn't be proper for to tell you We
stop about three hundred and twenty thieves. mur-
derers and anarchists year. Most OF our trouble,
however IS occasioned by Belgians and French
men who bring young women over in the state
rooms OF the best ships their nieces or daugn-
ters and sell or lease them out for evil purposes
have eighteen Of my best inspectors who go about
IN a boat OF their own while hunting these wolves
OF the sea"
ITO return TO your own experience" I said
you mentioned that you began work IN the mines
at the ge OF eleven?
Yes in Derbyshire. At first I traPper
boy. opening and closing the ventiat1ng doors IN
the entries Of the mine When I sixteen
was put in charge of all the ponies that hauled
the coa-and there were a good many OF them
I was q miner years later -Four times a week
: went to night school. where learned all about
Lincoln, Grant, Sherman. Sheridan and Robert Z
Lee. America I thought. was the place for me-
A lawyer Of the name OF Bone. rich man, was
much concerned in the school and the pit lads.
as youngsters were called. He offered TO ad-
vance money for my education as mining en-
gtneer BUT I told him poor boy had no chance
in England and that 7 meant 10 emigrats TO
America You can climb at home he said. y
there is any climb in you But he couldn't change
my mind I met him again just before 1 started
How much money have you? he asked
a. have the ticket in my pocket, replied and
z shiIlings besides.
Going away with only z shillings,' Mr.. Bone
said, is prepcsterous
so he lent me $50. And that's how cams TO
America
After the pie episode" I asked. what hap
pened?'
II heard a man say at the lodging house where
was staying that he needed miners 10
work in Ohio. The pay would be q day
with him TO place called Jeddo Run. and
boarded in his family. He sold his coal 70 farm
ers and 7 was expected. I learned, 10 walt for
my wages until autumn. I wouldn't agree TO that,
and made my way 10 the anthracite regions in
Pennsylvania. There I heard OF old acquaint-
ance who working near PtttsouTg. and in a
little while I joined him I was a strong young
fellow and had trouble IN earning $50 a week
Every month I TO a banker IN MonongaheIs
City and sent money to my mother. One day he
asked Why I didn't bring her TO America
That's what I intend do told him, when
I have saved enough money TO pay her passage
We'll. sir, the banker bought tickets that very
afternoon for the whole Watchorn family, saying
he would be glad 10 trust me- and in little while
my parents and five brothers and sisters were
comfortably settled in a mining town OF Western
Pennsylvania One of my sisters is the wife
Of a prosperous physician. He Is good man and
an elder in the Presbyterian Church My young
est brother died from injuries sustained in a foot
ball game. Another brother formerly my helper
in the mines is pastor OF the largest Methodist
congreg alton in Philadelphia
The men in the Watchorn family being employed
az good wages I returned to England and told Mr.
Bone that had decided 10 accept his offer and be-
come an engineer. The arrangement quickly
made on leaving Mr.. Bones office a messenger
met me in the street and gave a cable dispatch
It was from my brother. Ny father had been
killed the day before in the mine where he worked.
Consequently am not an engineer. I took the next
steamer home. IN ten days I again had a lamp
in my hat and pick in my hand Alexander
Denpster. now president OF the Pittsburs Coal
Company. my employer We often meet In
New York and talk old times
"One morning heard footsteps IN the entry OF
the mine Is this where Bob wstchorn works.
man called. He brought telegram saying I
had been elected president OF the miners unlen
for the Pittsburg district I was 70 answer
once After consulting with ny mother accepted
the cfice II Is step forward she said: take IL
That was my last day in the mines
Fourteen years ago l entered the immigration
service of the national government inspec-
tor. and have been promoted seven times. When
President Roosevelt called 10 Washington IN
1905 ana asked me to come 10 Ellis Island. he sim
ply said, IF you decide to go. remember. I want
tooth
aCcrzrsxAt.a Isos ex yauu n aaHsuA