Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-11

last few years, however, hat the bosses
who deal in their labor have imported
them into the United States.
About ten years ago certain enterprising
Greeks, with a little capital to invest, took
a notion to look over the bootblacking field
In this country. They saw that 1t was
great and profitable, and that 1t was oc-
cupied almost exclusively by Italians, who
maintained booths or chair stands outside
Of saloons and in other such public places.
Possessing a superior ~shrewdness, together
with q highly expert knowledge Of the
fundamental principle Of the shine bust
ness. the Greeks decided that they would
drive the sons Of sunny Italy out and con-
troll for themselves this lucrative form Of
enterprise.
s~hOe-Shinink Monopoly,
Which they promptly proceeded to do.
And, to begin with, they undertook to ele-
vate the business by setting up expen-
sively furnished shops exclusively for boot
blacklng purposes, choosing locations
where rentals were high. Customers
found II more comfortable and agreeable
to have their shoes shined in such places
than on the sidewalk. especially in the win
ter time, and before long, the system be-
ing steadily expanded and extended from
city TO city. the Italians found themselves
unable TO maintain themselves in competi-
ton. Today the latter have been practi-
cally displaced by the Greeks, who-that
Is to say, the slave ~boys-polish the boots
Of nearly all town-dwelling Americans.
The success OF the Greeks was a fore
| gone conclusion from the outset. Not only
had they superior knowledge Of the bust
ness, but they were able to employ the
requisite labor on such terms as to render
competition out OF the question. The boys
who toll in the bootblack ''pariors" receive
only a nominRl wage, and their condition
is practically one OF slavery. They are
half starved and are worked almost to
death.
Boarded By the Boss.
Invariably they are lodged and boarded
by the boss" the quarters they OCCUPY
being usually filthy and ~unsanitary. Sc
absolute is the restriction OF their liberty
that many Of these youngsters who have
been In the United States three or -four
years possess no knowledge whatever Of
the city in which hey reside save as re
CARDS the shop in which they labor. theil
living quarters and the streets they ira
verse in going and coming from theii
work. They have no chance whatever I,
learn to speak English or to become Amer
icanized. The bosses teach them that 4
they talk they are liable to be sent bacl
to their native country-that the govern
ment is seeking to dsport them, but tina
II they refuse to talk nobody can inter
fere with them in any way.
The boys wages, usually from $40 e
t176 . year. are not received by them. bu
by the parents. Or other relatives, In thei
native country. who nave sold their serv
ices. Incidentally they are bound by agree
ment to turn over to the boss all none!
they get In the way OF tips. which Eoe
toward the payment OF their board an,
lodging. some bosses post notices In thei
shops at Christmas time and at New Yea
stating that all receipts will 50 TO tn
boys as q holiday bonus On this accoun
customers tip the boys with exceptions
nbsrality. little realizing that every PENN
Of the money viii find It's way into TIT
yaWning pockets OF the slave driver.
Now, In order to understand why. ever
under such conditions. the boys are Anx.
ious above all things not to be sent bach
to their own country. II is necessary thai
one should comprehend something Of the
circumstances OF life among the ~peasantry
In the Greek province from which they
come
In that country the peasants are living