St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-16
THE IMMIGRATION BUREAU.
T. III. Lucas Protests Against 1t
on the Ground of Self.Protec.
tiou

T. III. Lucas Protests Against 1t
on the Ground Of Self.Protec.
ton.
The following letter from T. H.
Lucas OH the Te-establishment of bu-
reau of immigration is interesting, as
being clear explanation of the princi-
pie involved. Mr.. Lucas was repre-
sentative In the legislature which abol-
ished the bureau of immigration and,
from his intimate connection with TIE
affairs of organized labor, is well quail
fed to deal with the matter from an in
dustrial standpoint. The communica-
ton is too lengthy to publish entire,
but the following gives the most salient
points.
Editor Labor Department., Globe.
The labor agitation of 1886 in Mime
sofa resulted in the enactment of sew
eral legislative measures which both
parties had Endorsed in their platforms.
In the legislature of 1889 it was found
that party lines had been so re-estab-
lished that much of the industrial leg
lslatiOn was repealed or nullIfed. The
bureau of labor strtistics being almost
the only measure remaining. During
the past few weeks there seems to be
systematic agitation for the re-establish-
ment OF the bureau OF immigration. A
daily paper, which has usually been
fair and impartial to the working peO-
pie, began to champion the immigration
bureau. The trade and labor assembly
passed resolutions protesting against
the establishment of the bureau.
These were printed in the GLOBE last
Sunday. The evening paper thought
the trade and labor delegates couldn't
have read its previous editorials, or per-
baps did not understand them. At the
special meeting of the trade and labor
assembly on Friday evening last ma
jorty of the assembly endorsed my
views on the question, and the assembly
wished them printed in the GLOBE.
In brief, most of the arguments in
favor of establishing the bureau of i'm
migration assume that such bureau
would attract agricultural settlers and
develop the resources of the state. Now,
this is false assumption. The labor
organizations do not oppose any meas
ures looking to the general welfare of
the state. But they do aim to study
carefully industrial problems in all their
phases. They know that continually
bringing more people to the state will
simply mean greater Overcrowding in
. the cities, which already have large
{ idle population. Newcomers won't set
tile on farm lands when the present
small agricultural population is con-
stantly pouring into the cities because
unable to become prosperous On farms
under present conditions. But many
objections to the views OF labor organi-
cations come from people who think
swe only discuss wages in our unions.
Wehave got beyond that embryo state.
I'VE believe that all products belong to
the joint producers, and anybody who
takes the pans TO study the aims of the
X. of L., trade unions, Nationalist,
Christian Socialists and Anarchists
would find them ali teaching the people
to reach the same objective point, name
ly, that all material and ali natural
forces belong equally to all. That the
products of labor belong to the produc-
ers in proportion to their efforts in pro-
duction. That all special or specula-
tive privileges conferred by law are but
robbery i'll another name. That to in
vite immigrants for the purpose of rails
ing the price of natures material and
forces is but to rob by law, when to do
so by force is not safe. Ii any one can
show where raising the price of land
has put more wealth into the pocket of
the community, aud prove the state
ment. we too, then may deem it expedi-
ent to make many poor that Il few may
be uselessly rich.
THOMAS Ii. LUCAS.