Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-21
IMMIGRATION AND LABe.:
Ganssal Master Rartmaa sovereign On the
Lodge Bill
Labc-!cs Men Wat 3 La. Requiring
an Educational Test to Pro-
tect Their Interests.

-"~~~SS~
ereign Of the knights sf Labor, who has
been in Washington for. couple of weeks,
during which time ,shas been closely
watching the interests of the order which
have been brought to the attention of Con-
Sress, does not, SO he said to a Star re-
porter, anticipate much good to result from
the enactment of the Lodge immigration
Dill II 1t is passed by Congress and ap-
proved by the President. because, as he re-
marked, the bill, in my Judgment, Is too
tardy to meet the demands of Justice"
continuing, Mr.. Sovereign said: 1.-THE
question OF immigration is receiving the
attention OF the leading humanitarians and
philosophers of the country. 1 have studied
81 subject for years. and carefully read all
the government reports on the matter since
1925 which was the year that the govern
heHt began to keep records of the kind
ana nave likewise examined the padrone
system IN New York and the Chinese ques-
tioh on the Pacific coast. i, therefore feel
warranted in declaring that in many cases
tne problem resembles the SMALLPOX When
man gets the smallpox we want to do all
t we can TO get the poor fellow out of his
trouble, but We do not take him to our
nom nome and put him in our bed to try to get
him well.
Needs n Remedy.
we rather apply the principles of science
10 his case, and leave his treatment to
those who understand how to deal with the
disease efectually. 1t is a question with
economists whether our CT alton Ia to
progress or retrograde, al. i little too
calculable injury.
IL Is momentous matter-this allow
ing great hordes of people, accustomed to
living under monarchial rule to land ON
our SHORES. and there Is possibility that
or enlightenment may not be able to
couhteract the bad influences they are GER
tain to disseminate. The assemblies and
unions all have standard that applicants
United States of America. which is a sort
OF great assembly. should require a stand
ara OF all who seek to participate In its
benefits - rs
Phe Educational Test
In speaking of the Lodge bill and its prob
able effect. if enacted. on immigration Mr.
+. NJ. Blake. chairman of the legislative
committee Of the Federation of Labor to-
day said to Star reporter:
The local Federation of Labor not only
interests itself in local legislative meas
u,es' Dat 1t Is ever ready to discuss and
advocate .meritorious bills introduced in the
general cause of labor. At it's last meeting
the resolution indorsing the Lodge Mccall
Immigration bill as published in The Even
ing Star, was thoroughly discussed and nm
, proved. l introduced the resolution because
am satisfied that the passage of such
Dill as offered by Mr.. Lodge will greatly re-
strict the immigration OF tina, class of labor
ers which is now contretIea hCdv and sou,
by the padrone SYSTEM IN
IN my opinion. the ,best feature of the
proposed enactment is the educational test
II Is held by some that ut Isl wrong to exact
OF immigrants an educationaI qua ALLEGATION
as a prerequisite for admission to this cnun
try. But do not lose sight of the fact that
next TO bill that would shut out every inn
migrant, this test will accomplish the pur-
pose OF Keeping out the class which has
caused the workingmen of America so
huch trouble in the past. and w ich today
threatens 10 drag our own iaborers down 70
the pauper standard of the old world The
class affected by this bin do not come among
US 70 engage IN agriculture in the south and
west put they are brought. here by parties
who expect TO profit by their labor. and are
dumped IN the denseiy' populated states of
the east. where they have the advantages
or me advanced condition of civilization
which the American laborer has been strlIg-
gHns 10 build up and maintain.
Classes Affected.
In the Senate committees report on the
Lodge Dill there is cited a table of the sta
ustcs OF llliteracy, showing that the
classes principally affected by the proposed
legislation are the Italians, Huns, Poles
and Russians. Ninety-tnree per cent of the
immigrants from all other countries world
not be excluded by this enactment The
classes shut out do not assimilate with our
Ieople, do not become naturalized citizens
ara IN their haunts, by kind of sponta-
neous combustion, are often kindlei the de-
structlve fires of anarchy. whose progress
threatens the very existence of free institu-
tons.
Ofhcial reports show that during the last
three years more than one-half of all i'm
migrants settled in Massachusetts, New
YORK pennsylvania, New Jersey and Hi
nois. and in the past year % out of each 100
went 10 these states, while 53 out of each
10 settled in New York and Pennsylvania.
Inc laborlng men of America may adyo-
cate social reforms till doomsday but so
long as the illiterate laborers of Europe
are permitted to enter at will, as has been
tfeir privilege for the past fifteen years,
we may look for continuation of the pres
ent social and industrial cond lions, that are
oally growing worse. The labor organiza-
tlons must come to the front and demand
OF their Representatives in Congress the
passage OF laws keeping this degraded and
degrading class out. Today we are fighting
many wrongs which are the direct and nee.
essary result of the invasion of our home
market by foreign laborers of the illitera to
class, and 1t Is time we should protest
against 1T If we look for better times,