Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-14
COMMISSIONER OF LABOR.
The First Report OF Commissioners Edward
Robertson-yiews Expressed.

Inc UrSL report OF OOmulSSlONcF VI
Labor Robertson is pamphlet of some
eighty pages, covering the field a:
thoroughly as possible under the cir
cumstances. II is not complete, and in
acknowledging this fact himself the
| Commissioner says:
Concerning the scarcity OF statistics
In this initial report, am compelled TO
say in self-defenSe, that the fault can
not be attributed TO negligence or want
OF energy on my part. The proportion
OF returns compared To the number of
blanks distributed averaged about one
in one hundred, employees and employ
ers alike disregarding the law and show
ing an evident disposition TO contribute
nothing TO the work OF the Bureau, or
at least, 10 not take the trouble neces-
Sary 10 comply with the request of the
Commissioner for statistics concerning
their respective occupations. The eX-
perienee OF other Labor Bureaus, how
ever, is but repeated in this Instance;
the reports, increasing in volume and
extent OF information from year TO year,
probably from the reason that as the
BENEFITS OF the Bureau become better
uuQtISloou lut lultItSb III It's WI mug >
eorrespOndingly developed"
In speaking Of the benefits OF organ
lied labor the report says:
The benefits of organization can
probably be best ascertained by compar-
iSon. Take, for instance, the condition
Of the working people OF the city Of
Wheeling, where almost thorough or
ganization obtains, and contrast IL with
that of the Upper Kanawha Valley,
where the very best organizations are
but superficial. In Wheeling we find
the standard of living of the working
people nearly on parallel with that OF
their employees, while their personal in
dependence is maintained at all times,
aud their personal rights recognized
and guaranteed. In the Kanawha Val
ley, as a rule, we discover that the
standard of living is miserably low,
being mere existence that
could hardly be properly called
Giving" while the workmen are sub
iect TO all sorts of impositiOns by the
capitalists, firms and corporations by
whom they are employed. This contrast
is not drawn from the imagination, but
is based on individual inspection OF the
condition OF the laboring people Of these
two sections. The diSgraceful treat
ment undergone by the miners OF the
Kanawha Valley and New River sec
tionS is carried to its greatest extent In
those localities undergoing development
where the main body of the working
men are ignorant cOlored people, who
ga T., 10 ctrh,,.ff n A nn0raH-
ing and humiliating systems and prac-
tees. Many of them live like animals,
having no habitation, while the scanty
wages allowed them are still further re-
duced by the robberieS practiced under
the company store system.
The benefits Of organization are en-
phaSized by the fact, that under all
conditions the formation OF trades
unions and labor societies univer-
sally tend 10 advancement OF
wages and improvement in other par
ticularS, while the lack or loss of organ
izatiOn has a directly opposite effect.
An examination OF the StatiSticS-meagre
As they are-well demonstrate this, for
there is enough To show that in every
section where organization prevails the
wages and working conditions are better
than in those sections where no organ
ization exists"
Foreign immigration is treated as fol-
lows:
The acquisition of honest, frugal and
industrial immigrants is especially de-
sirable in State like ours, not fully de-
veloped and SparSely settled. To make
the State populouS from this source, in
creased its Importance, and secures in-
ternal Improvement aud Increased valu-
alton. National legislation has been
enacted prohibiting the importation OF
pauperS, criminals, etc, to this country.
They degrade the character and dignity
OF citizenship, aud in the end become 4
burden and expense on the community.
Those who come here with their faml-
lies, seeking locations where they in-
tend TO reside, should be welcomed and
encouraged, for the energy and ambi-
ton displayed in order to better their
condition will develop good, law abiding
people, who who will help to build up
communities from which the State will
reap permanent benefits.
There is another class OF people
brought to this country in droves from
countries where the standard of living
is low. These people show no DISPOSE
ton TO change for the better after their
arrival, and have no intention of ever
becoming citizens. They are brought
here by those who desire to supplant
the home labOrer by 4 cheaper SubSti-
tute. and are often used rs menace to
compel the former to accept reduction
in wages. For this purpose, thousands
OF miserable and degraded people are
furnished with facilities 10 leave their
native country who otherwise would
be unable to provide for their pass
age. The effect produced on the
working classes by the presence OF these
people is bad, in that it tends to reduce
to their level many of our citizens, who
are compelled TO accept pauper condi-
tons in land of plenty, because the
greed Of gain OF employers is stronger
than their pride Of country. 1t is the
duty of all to strive to raise the stand
ard of citizenship, rather than lower II.
1t is fact that where this class Is in
troduced in large numbers, the standard
OF living among laborerS descends to a
low grade, and the morality OF the peo-
ple is affected, from the fact that these
foreigners seem to live as If they had
no hope in this world and no belief in
the world To come.