The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-04

"thc TICKETS as ne wishes, disguised as
cheap by system of weekly payments of
~ on each ticket. The total cost per
ticket is say $50. "But that is immaterial
"hen your friends come, they can help
you pay for Them" says the agent.
but, says the immigrant. mo one knows
me here, and Ican's give you any security. /"
That's all right" SAYS the seller, 'sI
VIII take your word for it, but you must
make your payments regularly, otherwise
the company won't honor the tickets and
SO the bargain is concluded. Two dollars
down Is paid, and the weekly payments
are observed religiousiy. The human
pioou-sucker takes pains to sell the tickets
gooa IN about four months from the
GATE OF the sale, and if the buyer
misses one payment he loses all he has
PAID. mat system, in my estimation, de-
serves the attention of the government, be-
cause not only does the foreigner act hast
ny ana on the Impulse of the moment, but
ms action he often rues before he has been
year In this country But his friends in
Europe think he must have struck it rich
TO have accumulated money enough in so
short time to send for them, and they
rush peli-mell to America, and before leav-
I'D 10y PtOhiAcC t4clE iIlcflu5 10 seUu lot
them, and under the same condition one
emlgranf sends for the other to their
own detriment and to the detriment of
this country: but to the benefit of
few cutthroats. And what does all of
this lead to? These people come, here
they must live, they enter into fierce COM
petition with the very men that send for
them. Many time during 1854, 1885 and
1886 have | been witness to scenes in
which human kindness has been repaid
with curses, and often with blows
Have | overdrawn the picture? MOI
am positive / have not / challenge the
great papers of this country to investi-
gate, and find out for themselves and let
them courageously defend the rights of
the industrial masses.
And now for the remedy. Since my ar
rival in this country IN 1883, have heard
occasional complaints about emigration,
but to my sorrow have never seen a sin
cere effort from either the press or con-
gress to face the difficulty. / am in the
habit of speaking plainly to the working
masses, and / intend to speak just as
plainly to the press, congress and the
political parties.
Editors of noted magazines all commit
the fatal error of inviting college profess
sors or some other men of great literary
ability to discuss questions of which they
have no practical knowledge. Their
very life, the very circumstances
surrounding them, precludes them from
an actual knowledge of the case
they are treating of. 1t would be criminal
to allow the most scientific president of a
medical college to operate on a patient if
he has never handled the knife in dis
secting room. The president at a
law college, though his writing on pleading
were famous the void over, could not try
case before police judge if he had never
had actual practice. How can it be ex-
pected that the public should come to any
definite conclusion about the matter who
discuss the question in the col
umns of the newspapers have no
practical knowledge of the matter at issue.
The fact that the various remedies sug-
gested by those writers are as far from
each other as is the north from the
south pole proves my assertion that
they are theorists and not prac-
tical men. 1t may be policy
for the proprietors of the magazines to
have men fill their columns who can attach
to their names LID, or affix the title
senator or congressman. But it does not
help the people any. 1t certainly does not
help to solve the problem.
Congress too, Republican and Demo
cratic parties alike, shrink from the real
issue. l admit that there are political
reasons for shrinking from it; but it is
cowardice nevertheless. 1 perfectly
understand the delicacy of both par
ties, and therefore will suggest a
remedy that will take the responsibility
from both and place it where it rightfully
belongs.
As often as congress wishes to change
its tariff manufacturers and dealers
are consulted, and think such
consultation highly proper. But
why does not congress consult the work
ing masses as to the best way of restricting
immigration. 1t is true that when an i'm
migration committee traverses the country
it subponas the officers of the central
labor bodies and takes their testimony,
but this is very ineffective. First, the Off
GERS of labor organizations are not always
the best Informed, they are often chosen
because they can afford the necessary time
and money, often because of their con-
geniality or parliamentary ability. Sec
ond, when a committee gets to a city
today it leaves tomorrow or the
day after, and therefore no time
is allowed the witness to offer deliberate
opinion. 1t is all hap-hazard, and of no
value. Perhaps some will say, well,
there is no law forbidding labor
organizations from sending their delegates
to Washington to offer suggestions to con-
gress. Very true; but the law of supply
and demand regulates it that the working
men have not sufficient supply of money
to go to Washington and pay expensive
hotel bills there.
1t is well known fact that all crafts in
this country, be they manual, mechanical
or artisan, have their national organi-
cations. Hence 1 would suggest that
the United States labor commits
sioner, Carroll d. Wright. be en-
powered by congress to request
any national labor organization TO send
upon a certain date four delegates each,
no two TO represent the same section of
the country, he (Mr. Wright to divide the
countrvinto four industrial sections. Thus
We would have all sections and all trades
equally represented. Let these delegates
meet under the guidance of an efficient
government official and let them delib-
crate a reasonable length of time, say
from ten to twenty days, and frame bill
to regulate immigration. Such bill would
surely meet the wishes of the working
masses. and congress could then pass the
bill without its becoming partisan
measure. The above suggestion is
omen to amendment and / will be happy
To accent suggestions. It is true that in
such conscience we would have many a
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