Page:Immigration and the Commissioners of Emigration of the state of New York.djvu/93

Rh was done dissatisfied me; my partners were not such men as I like to do business with, particularly Daley; his treatment of passengers was uncivil and brutal; he has often been known to personally abuse and assault them, and otherwise impose upon them. Another reason of my leaving the business was, there was too much money collected from the emigrants. We were employing too many men at high wages to make the business profitable, unless extortion was resorted to."

As stated above, it was one of the regular tricks of the, runners to promise to one of a large party of emigrants, who had or was supposed to have influence with them, free passage and other considerations, if he procured their patronage for a certain line. The individual who thus made himself a tool of the runners against the interest of his friends, was called a stool. The following testimony of George W. Daley will explain this more fully:

"The following," says he, "is a copy of a letter received by Mr Smethurst from Mr. Roach while I was a partner with them in the emigrant business, in Albany. There have been a number of similar letters written by different members of the firm; they are of frequent occurrence. Mr. Smethurst opened the letter and handed it to me, and I have kept it.

" ', May 20, 1847.

" ':

': There is three hundred emigrants on the Rochester, tonight. There is three families on her that are booked by Brische; they are friends of Mr. Swarts, and their friends in Buffalo are people of standing, and you must put them on a boat where they will be comfortable, for Brische has been to see me about them, and also Mr. Swarts. You must be easy with them about their luggage, and weigh it straight. All that have my tickets, put them through; the head man is a "stool;" make him jump. Send down Van Toble's tickets. I shall not send you any money till I come up. I think that I shall make some arrangements with Noyes, so that he will not be opposition here. Run the O. P. line strong this week. Yours, '