The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-07

them here with him. "Ah," says he: "I
would not treat them as bad as I am
treated He is q human being, and ma
turally longs for company. As yet he
knows absolutely nothing of the condi-
tons OF the country he lives in.
Just at this stage of the game the benevo-
lent ticket peddler presents himself and
offers the immigrant as many trans
atlantic tickets as he wishes, disguised as
cheap by system of weekly payments of
IL on each ticket. The total cost per
ticket is say $50. 'But that is immaterial
when your friends come. they can help
you pay for Them" SAYS the agent.
But, says the immigrant, mo one knows
me here, and can't give you any security"
That's all right" says the seller, ~
will 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 religiously. The human
blood-sucker takes pains to sell the tickets
good In about four months from the
date Of the sale, and If the buyer misses
one payment he loses all he has paid.
That system, in my estimation, deserves
earnest attention of the government, be-
cause not only does the poor dupe act hast
lily and on the impulse of the moment, and
he often rues his action 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 pell-mell to America, and before leav-
ing they promise their friends to send for
them, and under the same condition one
emigrant 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 1884, 1885 and
1856 have / been witness to scenes in
which human kindness has been repaid
with curses, and often with blows
Have | overdrawn the picture? Mo- /
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, l have heard
occasional complaints about emigration,
but to my sorrow have never seen sim
cere effort from either the press or congress
TO manfully face the difficulty. am in the
habit of speaking plain to the working
masses, and / intend to speak just as
plain to the press, congress and the
political parties.
Editors of noted magazines all commit
the fatal error of inviting college profes-
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 from them
an actual knowledge of the case
they are treating of. 1t would be criminal
to allow the most scientific professor of a
medical college to operate ON patient if
he has never handled the knife in dis
secting room. The president of
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 this matter
when the very men that discuss
the question in the columns of
the newspapers have no practical
knowledge of the question at issue.
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-
teal 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 alike, shrink from the real
issue. | admit that there are political
| reasons for shrinking from it; but it is
| cowardice nevertheless. | perfectly
understand the delicacy of both par
| ties, and therefore will suggest a
remedy that will take the responsibility
| from both and place IL 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 inn
migration committee trayerses the country
ii subpenas 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 more often because of their con-
geniality or parliamentary ability. Sec
ond, when 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
practical value. Perhaps some will say,
well, there Is no law forbidding labor
organizations from sending their delegates
TO Washington 10 offer suggestions to con-
gress. Very true; but the law of supply
and demand regulates 1.-THE working
men have not q sufficient supply of money
to go to Washington and pay expensive
hotel bills there.
It is well known fact that all crafts in
this country, be they manual, mechanical
or artisan, have their national organi-
cations. Hence I would suggest that
the United States labor commits
sioner, Carroll d. Wright. be en-
powered by congress to request
all national labor organizations TO
send upon \ certain date four dele
gates each, to Washington City no