Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-24

to solicitation and encouragement. These
struggling unfortunates, induced to believe
there is an Ell Dorado where they will fare
better, and whipped by the desperation of
their necessities, become involuntary emi-
grants to America. and in most instances
they prove undesirable citizens.
They oftentimes sell their donkey or goat
or borrow money for the passage, which
costs from 500 to S26, at q rate that makes
the passage cost them $50 to 500. They are
taken in charge on landing by padrone or
labor boss, who herds them in a tenement
- house, and hires them out at wages which
he dictates and in which he shares with his
victim. One combination of agents in Aus
tria secured the emigration of $3.50 persons
In this country in one year. 9 Another COM
bination in Galicia induced Il, 406 to emi-
CRATE to this country within the period OF IA
months Mr. Mulholland, a contract labor
inspector at New York, believes 25 per cent
of our immigrants are induced to come here
in violation of the intent of the contract law
and by the representation of the agents of
the CARRYING companies. The effect of this
induced immigration is found not only In
the almshouSes and on the morals Of our
country, but its tendency is to constantly
lower our standard of wages.
The Cigarmakcrs and the Miners.
Fifteen wears ago the cigarmakers of New
1bIh N6Tt N1o PEI NOCh- OA
ferences arising between employers and
men foreigners were imported to fill the
places of our men, and wages were reduced,
for, whatever the wages might be to them, it
was higher than in Europe, and the foreign
cigarmakers came here until the worl1men
of our Eastern cities, 80 per cent of whom
were Americans 10 years ago, are now 10
per cent Americans and 90 per cent foreign,
and their wages have declined to an average
of IS per week.
A few years ago the coal regions of our
country were filled with Irish, Welsh, Scotch
and German miners, but these are being
forced out by ignorant and slavish laborers,
whose coming TO America was not prompted
by love of our institutions or the hope of
building home Their reckless expecta-
tions are for the time satisfied when they
drive out the native laborer and fill mis-
place, often at one-half his wages.
Under the influx of this class of immi-
grants wage remuneration is steadily tend
ing downward in the nsklled departments
of labor. and its influence, as with the free
stonecutters, is reaching ZIP and percolating
through every branch of skilled labor and
bringing down the whole American rate of
wages.
The Immigrant Must,Assimilate.
Immigration is in some measure TO be con-
sidered with reference to the assimilating
power VI llllS GUILTY. 1lON6N6I uCSl1uUlC
the immigrant he must learn our customs
take on the life of our people, become ac-
quainted with our Government, and the more
numerous the immigrants the greater diff |
Guilty in that direction. Much of our immi- |
grafton has become thoughtless and reck-
less; it comes without the sturdy purpose
that signalized the races that have contrib
uted so much to building up our institu-
tions. 1t is Indifferent to the things that
r., -
persistently incorrigible. All elements |
coming here in reckless adventure are likely |
to become dissatisfied before they can be as |
simulated into our life. Such coming adds !
nothing 20 their lot, but adds menace to
our prosperity.
These people displace citizens. If any
body is TO be idle, it will not be they, for
they live in niggardlv economy, and when
snow falls they carry home saving from
the seasons work greater than they could /
accumulate in three years at their homes.
In a large measure well paid labor is the in
fuence that has given TO our people their
unexampled prosperity and their average
high standard us citizens 1t is a crime to
rob them of so elevating a force; but the
pressure from below is steadily accomplish
ing this result.
1t Has Not Been Restricted.
The public regards the immigration legis-
lGtion of Congress as restrictive, but such
has not been the case, as more immigrants
have landed in America since the passage of
the law of 1882 than ever landed in the same
time before. From the discovery of the
country down to 1888, the close of the War
of the Revolution, is our colonization
period We count immigration as begin
ming at that date G7S3l, and up to 1920 250,-
600 foreigners came TO America. The fol-
lowing table shows the number of immi-
grants arriv wing since that fime.