The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-11-01
TIE LABOR UNIONS.
Their Position on Foreigners in the Trades.
Other Views,

Their Position on Foreigners In the Trades
Other Views,
To tie Editor o. L.s Ist&!iqsnfn.
SIR:-The only question that needi
further notice among the many quee,
samples OF advice given to the working.
men by Mr. Pendleton, is the point on
foreign immigration. He Gays workmen
should vote against the Mckinley bill,
because our employers have the privil.
eye OF hiring the cheapest OF any mum.
Der OF men who may want the Job. He
may think this is both new and news.
But what does,he propose to do about
it? He tells us this, but suggests no
remedy. Has he one? is he angry be-
cause employers enjoy privilege in the
employment OF labor which he cannot
have in the purchase OF commodities as
be may consume, for he employs no.
body? It matters little, however, what
his views may be on the question. What
we are raost interested in lust now is
to show what the trades unions know,
and what they have been doing, in re-.
gard to 1t, which will prove to be Meth.
er news nor new subject, but one
which has been discussed both nation
ally and locally in many trade unions as
any other question that concerns their
welfare, History tells, and from that
We draw.
During the year 1887 the National off,
GERS OF the ;Amalgamated Association OF
Iron, Steel and Tin Workers sent out a
circular requesting local lodges to in
slruct their delegates who would attend
the annual convention, to he held in
July OF that year, upon this question:
shall the National constitution be
amended SO that any person not citizen
OF the United States shall not be eligible
TO membership in any local union ?"
This way Of putting the question
brought on discussion. in which the
following ideas were involved:
First. Immigration.
Second. Imported foreign labor.
For number Of weeks these were the
absorbing topics among the membership
OF that association. The convention met,
acted upon the proposition and de.
ieated 1t.
This action put that organization on
record against the idea that it suffered
from being in competition with the Ia.
Dor OF the world. So much for that or.
ganizaiion.
The American Flint Glass Workers
Association, after two years OF discus.
sion on this subject, decided five years
ago on tariff Of 500 head on each
foreigner admitted to membership, and
he must in addition declare his inten.
ton 10 become "a citizen. / here give
you the section covering the case as II
stands in the National Constitution, and
/ might add that there are about ten
persons in this vicinity who have com.
Piled with its requirements: -
SECTION 9. Article %. Any foreigner
wishing to become a member OF this
union must be proposed by member
in good standing in a local union, when
his name shall be submitted TO the trade,
aud il elected by q majority OF local
unions he shall be admitted TO member.
ship on CASH payment Of 500; proyid.
cd, that it is his intention to become
citizen Of the United States when elipi.
BILE; the whole Of the admission fee 10
be paid to the local union.
The Window Glass Workers Associa.
lion Il. A. 800, X. OF l.. does not fear
legitimate immigration, but ten wears
ago they demanded law to prohibit the
Of labor by contract, and
The came Congress which gave us the
bill, gave them satisfaction
On that subject, by passing q law which
suits them. Other national oreaniza.
.ious, such as the cigar makers, mould. |
els, stone cutters aud masons, etc, are |
now discussing it. The Mckinley bill |
makes better discipline among trades
! whole on the question OF immigration |
MIR. Pendleton had better look out.
Respectfully yours.
], II. Rrpr-r