Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-07-19
THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR

Before the passage Of the alien con-
tract labor law, and which led to its en-
actment, some of the large corpora
tons of the country-notably mining
concerns-imported large numbers OF
Iaborers from foreign countries, their
object being to get the work done at
! less cost for labor than they could by
! the employment of home labor. 1t was
short-sighted policy and was so re-
garded by everybody of ordinary intelli-
gence at the time the practice was in
vogue. Unfortunately for the commun-
| ity at large, the restrictive laws were
not enacted by congress until the coun-
try was in a measure flooded with these
so-called cheap laborers. What the result
has been is known to every one who
reads the papers. Before the average
foreigner of this class was in the coun-
try long enough to speak its language
intelligibly strikes, lockouts and labor
troubles begun, and there has hardly
been day since that new era set in
that the country has not been notified of
fresh conflict at some point, SO that in
stead of being cheap, the imported labor
has proven the most expensive, not only
to those who have employed it but to
everybody.
To overcome the harmful effects
of overproduction from the
mines upon the traffic IN
the article produced-which excess was
and is but the legitimate consequence of
the abnormal increase of the labor re-
source-operators have resorted a sus-
pension of operations, or the scaling
down of wages to sufficient extent to
cause a strike, which has the same eff
feet, until the supply should be suffi-
GENTLY reduced to warrant resumption
of operations without reducing prices to
the consumer. AS consequence large
numbers of operatives are thrown into
enforced idleness almost continuously.
who become at once burden
either upon their fellow operatives
who may be fortunate enough
to be kept at work, or, as is frequently
the case, upon the community at large
who are appealed to to relieve the dis
tress and suffering unavoidably Incl
dental to such conditions.
And not only do we see this element
of imported laborers thus become an in
cubus upon the industrial interests of the
country in the manner referred to, but
in many instances they turn the tables.
so to speak, and instead of working for
less wages than our own native laborerS
demand, they fix their scale of wages
higher, and while refusing to work for
less themselves, arbitrarily interfere
and prevent, by force if necessary and
wherever they can employ it, anybody
else from accepting less rates, although
a lower rate would be entirely satisfac-
tory to many who would be glad of the
opportunity to work and earn support
for themselves and their dependents.
In view of the situation thus briefly
stated it is not surprising to see the
labor of the country organizing itself
into the strongest forms possible for
purposes of self-defense as it under
stands the question, nor yet that
it should call upon the govern
ment to assume control of certain
industrial interests of the country. 1t
is doubtful that this would entirely rem
edy the evils complained of if it could be
accomplished. The root of the trouble
is unquestionably found in overproduc-
ton, with the public demands at what
they are at present, and until these de-
mand's shall be largely augmented by in
crease of population, even the govern
ment could not undertake TO give con-
slant employment to all the mine oper-
atives at living rates of wages We are
not pessimistic in our views, but the
only hope of relief to the situation under
discussion in our Judgment Is to so adj
just the expenses of production that the
cost of the article produced may be suf-
ficiently reduced to increase its con-
sumption and the demand therefor.
When this is done the millennium may be
recognized as fairly begun, because it
will be the beginning of the end of con-
flicts and strife.
No. Much as it is to be deprecated
the question is very live one and bids
fair to become more animated in the
near future, and he will be a very states
man who shall be able to propose a
satisfactory solution of the perplexing
nroblep,