The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 33, June 24, 1897: A Weekly Magazine for Boys and GirlsVarious
History
The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 33, June 24, 1897: A Weekly Magazine for Boys and Girls
Various
History, Modern -- 19th century -- Juvenile literature -- Periodicals
They formed committees to go the rounds of the various factories, and
see if any tailors were at work in them. Those who were found in the
shops were threatened, and ordered to leave off work at once.
The contractors got angry in their turn when their men were called out,
and many fights occurred, the police being kept busy arresting the
strikers and protecting the contractors.
When the feeling had grown very bitter on both sides, a contractor
appeared in the street where most of the tailors' shops are situated.
This particular man was much disliked by his workmen and the trade
generally. The moment he appeared in sight the anger of the mob broke
loose. Men and women attacked him savagely, beating him and throwing
stones at him. Fortunately for him, he happened to have a pistol with
him, and he was able to hold the crowd at bay until the police came to
his aid.
It is to be hoped that matters may be settled without further violence.
Thus far the sympathy has been altogether with the strikers, as the bad
pay and long hours of the tailors have been well known for a very long
time.
The attention of the Government has been directed to the present strike,
and Mr. Gage, the Secretary of the Treasury, sent a committee to inquire
into it.
He had been informed that the poor pay which tailors earn was due to the
fact that there were more workers than was necessary; and the trade was
over-crowded by Russians and Poles who are willing to work for
starvation wages.
Mr. Gage wished to find out whether too many Russian immigrants were
being allowed to enter the country, and whether he ought not to restrict
immigration for the protection of the tailoring trade.
The result of his inquiries has not yet been learned.
* * * * *
A gentleman in Texas who has read about the sufferings of the strikers,
and the poor wages they are able to earn, has written a long letter,
advising them to go out to Texas, and start fruit farms for themselves.
He says the land is waiting for workers, and the labor required is light
and pleasant. He thinks it would be much better for the tailors to go
where their labor would bring a good reward instead of starving
miserably in cities.
This suggestion is much in the same line as one made by Dr. Senner, the
Commissioner of Immigration at Ellis Island.
Dr. Senner does not think that the immigrants should be allowed to come
here and settle down where they please.
It is his idea that the Government should be kept well informed of the
places where colonists and laborers are needed, and when people come out
seeking work, they should be sent to those sections of the country where
work is waiting for those who want it.
Every ship brings out families of rough peasants seeking a home and a
living in the new country. Very few of them have friends in the places
to which they are going, and hardly any know whether it will be possible
for them to obtain work when they arrive at their journey's end.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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